THE COPY OF A LETTER SENT INto England by a Gentleman, from the town of Saint Denis in France.  
Wherein is truly set forth the good success of the King's majesties forces against the Leaguers and the Prince of Parma's power.  
With the taking of a convoy of Victuals sent by the Enemy to succour Paris. And the grievous estate of the said City at this present.  
Imprinted at London by Thomas Scarlet for Thomas Nelson. 1590.   

THE COPY OF A Letter sent into England by a Gentleman from the Town of Saint Denis in France. Wherein is truly set forth the good success of the King's majesties forces against the Leaguers and the Prince of Parma's power. With the taking of a Convoy of Victuals sent by the enemy to succour Paris: And the grievous estate of the said City at this present.  
AFter that the Prince of Parma was come into the dominions of France, he sought opportunity where he might best plant himself and his army in safety, meaning by policy first to settle himself in some part of the King's regiment, and to come with such force as upon sudden the king could not remove, except he should raise his siege from before Paris, and then to make war upon him, which were greatly to the kings hindrance, and the great advantage of the enemy, for while the king had been making war upon him, the Leaguers might have had the easier means to have brought in fresh men and victual to have comforted that City, which is in wonderful distress, and the famine so grievous among them, as it was never greater at the siege of jerusalem. The true estate whereof is in most lamentable sort discoursed in the latter end of this Letter. But the king whose magnanimity is known and found sufficient throughout the kingdom of France, perceiving the intent and policy of the prince of Parma, neither meant to raise his siege from the City of Paris, nor to suffer that part of Picardy to be unfurnished for the princes welcome. For having planted that notable warrior Monsieur de la Now, his principal lieutenant for those parts, being a man known to be both politic and wise, and for martial affairs found and approved to be one of the best in all France. This Monsieur de la Now hearing of the prince's policy, who came thither with xx. thousand men, divided them into three parts, and purposed that one part should go unto the town of Lanie, being in number three thousand, other five thousand should departed another way for the succour of the Leaguers, and to enlarge the army of the Duke de Maine. The rest he determined should stay with his own person, whom he seemed at the first to conduct back again towards Brussels, but on a sudden took another way, and passed with his power towards Artois, where with great policy he is planted, yet far enough for doing any great harm, for he is ten leagues from the king, and hath entrenched himself within a wood, where he lieth very strong. Thus having dispearced his army into three parts, he appointed men of great experience to be leaders of them, so that Monsieur la Now advised against whether of the armies he were to join his forces, so he cast about & met with the five thousand who were marching to join with the forces of du Maine, and thereby to make him and the Leaguers more stronger, against whom he had such good success, that he discomfited the greater part who escaped by flight, but many of them came short home. And while la Now and his forces were thus busied, the other three thousand went to a town called Lanie, where making some show of battle, the governor thereof (as it is said) had before sold it to the prince, and suddenly he yielded it, whereupon the soldiers who were Spaniards issued in and most cruelly put the inhabitants thereof to the sword, and for certainty those butcherly governors and soldiers not therewith satisfied, did cut and mangle the dead carcases into pieces. Which when it came to the ears of the king, he was very sorrowful, & wrote unto his governor and forces in those parts, commanding them to revenge that bloody act, wherein they overslipped no fit occasion for performing of the king's commandment. So that within few days, notwithstanding that they had strongly entrenched themselves, & seated a sufficient garrison therein, with the loss of a few men the said town was recovered, and those in the town together with the said soldiers recompensed with the like rigour. Which doubtless was but the just judgement of God upon them, yea, the Captain who at the first had betrayed the said town and sold it for a piece of money, was at the receipt of the said money stabbed in with a dagger by a common soldier, who among them reveled away his Spanish reals, which he was receiving for his reward, even as wickedly as he had purchased the same. Thus may we see how the just judgement of God lighteth upon such wicked blood suckers, & although they are a small time preserved from it, yet in the end it lighteth on their own heads to their utter confusion. The prince of Parma having thus settled himself and divided his forces, he prepared to send a convoy of victual to relieve the City of Paris: There were furnished for this Conuoie five hundredth wagons laden with victuals, namely beef (a meat little used among the French) with mutton, and sundry sorts of fish both salt and fresh, with meal and corn unground. There was also in the same twenty hundredth dozen of bread all ready baked, because of the great want of those in the City, who were in such case as they would willingly have eaten the same raw, and the meal & corn unbaked, rather than they would have stayed the dressing or baking thereof, so grievous and extreme is their present famine, as after more at large appeareth. The king's majesty having intelligence by his espials of this convoy, and that such provision was coming from the prince towards Paris, he determined with all policy and force to prevent the same, lest the rebellious Cities should take courage unto them, and thereby conceive to have some great resistance by means of the enemies to the estate royal, and so take occasion to triumph the more. This convoie of victual, as I said before, being sent towards Paris, came peaceably within four or five leagues of the place, being guarded with a sufficient band of men, whereof the king having not only intelligence, but also of a Captain which issued forth of the city of Paris, who with fifteen hundred men went to meet and receive the said convoy of victuals, sent forth presently diverse of his companies under the conduct of the Earl Chastilion, who practised not only to intercept their passage, but also their returning back again, in which service the kings faithful subjects so courageously behaved themselves, that in short time they had their desire, for on a sudden being in a readiness, they had a sight of the said wagons whom in short space they took, and slew all those soldiers that came with the said convoy to defend the same, & made so hot an assault upon the soldiers which issued forth of Paris, that they were all taken and slain with the loss of a few of the king's soldiers. The prince's forces understanding by their scouts what had happened, durst not come on nor approach to resist the king's forces, while they were in fight with the convoy, whereof the valiant Chastilion having intelligence, venturously set forward, and with the king's forces made towards them, and after a fierce and valiant assault made by them upon the enemy, who at the first gave a very strong and stout resistance, they were all put to the sword, saving some few who escaped by flight, but never a man of those escaped alive which issued forth of the City of Paris.  
Thus with great joy the said convoy was brought into the said town of Saint Denis, the value whereof is by common estimation thirty thousand pounds and better, being so much victual as they could in reasonable sort provide for them in three months.  
But so soon as the Parisians heard of this news, they were wondrous sorrowful, and were filled with so great heaviness, that they rested out of all hope to live to see the day when any succour can be sent them by the enemy: and are at this present persuaded, that all that ever the Prince of Parma can do for their relief, is but to linger in that place where he is, and so to weary the king by detracting of time as he did in the low Countries, when he came thither first.  
Since this discomforture of the enemy, the Duchess of Guise, the Duchess of Maine, Le Cheuallier de Aumale, and divers other of the chief of the Leaguers have disguised themselves in simple attire and thereby secretly issued forth of the said City: by means whereof they are secretly escaped, being not able any longer to endure the unspeakable famine that is in the same: for the Lanceknights even against nature and reason are through the extreme famine constrained to eat their own natural children.  
Before this Convoy aforesaid, came down towards Paris, the prince of Parma after he had entrenched himself in this wood, in the middle whereof is a strong Castle, he sent five hundredth of his horsemen to take view of the king's Camp: who were espied by two hundredth of the king's horsemen, those two hundredth set upon them and chased them into their own Trenches, where within their own Trenches and in the way to the Trenches they were all slain.  
The prince of Parma, will not by any means enter into battle with the king, although he have been very much urged thereunto, yea, he hath endured the terms of cowardice for his often denials, having had much advantage offered him to enter the field, wherein he excuseth himself in this sort, that he hath no commission from the king his master, either to make battle or to fight in the field against the French king: and that his only charge was to victual Paris if he could, and to secure those of the League with his Forces and Council. And with this resolution, he continueth still in the said place, without offer of any fight, except some small skirmishes between his and the kings Soldiers.  
It could not but be a great comfort unto the people in their misery, when the king received some of them with great courtesy and gave them food, which drove the rebellious Nobility openly to confess, and from their hearts to think, that he was a king of wonderful virtuous and merciful disposition, and would gladly have yielded themselves, if their repentance might any way have pacified the king's displeasure, but for as much as they did all know, that the king who is and ever hath been a true fulfiller of his word and promise, hath made an oath, that none of the conspirators of the deceased kings death shall escape and remain pardonable, but that he will be revenged of them for their unnatural treason, and that nothing but their lives shall pacify their heinous murder committed: and in respect thereof, they keep themselves so long as they may out of the kings hands. The French king God be thanked, is wondrous well provided of all things fit for war, and with him is joined all the chiefest nobility and princes of France: he hath of footmen thirty thousand, and seven thousand Horse. And with this Army the king continueth still against Paris, which City is not likely to hold out long, especially by reason some of the chief of the leaguers is fled from thence, whose countenance daily held them in awe. The Lord God bless and prosper the kings royal Majesty, and send him the victory over all his enemies, to the glory of God and advancement of his holy word, for there was never in France a king of so noble a courage, so skilful in the wars, and so hardy against the proudest foe, which is all the grief the enemies have, because they have to deal against so valiant a Soldier.  
From Saint Denis the second of September. 1590.   

A TREATISE CONCERNING THE EXTREME FAMINE OF THE CITY of Paris at this present: which is as grievous as it was at the siege of jerusalem.  
THe King's Majesty, having often heard of the great famine and miserable calamity, whereinto the obstinate parisians had wilfully plunged themselves, only through the persuasions of the chiefest of the leaguers side, being for the most prat of the Clergy. And albeit the extremity were great, where into they were fallen, yet the report of the increased misery, since that time hath sounded so lamentable in his royal cares, and amongst all the rest of his princely and honourable train, that the remembrance thereof will not easily pass or be razed out of mind: the certain truth whereof, is as followeth.  
After the king had entered S. Denis, as you heard long since with all his power, and that he was in full possession thereof, 
The Citizens of Paris issued forth to the king.  there issued out of Paris divers and sundry times many poor creatures, resembling rather the Anatomies of death, than people possessed with life, so sore were they wasted with famine, and consumed through extreme hunger, that excepting the skin, there was nothing left to cover their feeble bones. So that it prevailed nothing to be young or beautiful in this case, or to boast of health, or to have heaps of gold, for their stomachs desired that, which for gold nor silver could be gotten, yea their very hearts failed them for want of necessary nourishment, whereupon they became careless of life, desiring death or speedy delivery from this their miserable estate, that they might no longer behold with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, the bitter cries of their starved children, and the wonderful multitudes of their friends and kindred, which for want of food daily died within that populous and great City. Resolved therefore to finish their doleful days, or to find relief for maintenance of their loathed lives, with leave of the cruel governors they issued (as I said before) out of the City, and presenting themselves before the king's soldiers, fell down at their feet, yielding themselves to the king's mercy, about the number of a score at a time, men, women and children, who being brought incontinent before his royal majesty, so soon as they entered his sight, with bitter tears trickling down their cheeks they prostrated themselves at his feet, and as loud as their feeble voices would serve, they cried, Vive le Roy, God save the king. His majesty amazed at the view of so pitiful a spectacle, 
The kings merciful heart.  and moved with a kingly compassion towards them, saw with his eyes and conceived in his heart, what intolerable famishment the obstinate City had already endured, but having a desire to learn further of the state thereof, after he had well viewed the persons of these miserable men, he demanded of them the intent of their coming. Whereupon they returned this answer, that forasmuch as they were not able any longer to endure the grievous famine whereinto they were brought by the long and deserved siege which his Majesty maintained about their City, and being brought so low, that the governors could not by reason of their weakness employ them in any service, they had free liberty to departed the City if so they thought it convenient: as being people that were likely with many more in the City, to cause an infection to arise by means of sickness among the rest of the inhabitants, wherefore, said they, most noble and victorious king, we are come unto your Highness, acknowledging that we are unworthy of any longer life, by reason we have been most unjust and rebellious subjects, 
The Citizens kept by constraint.  and unworthy that so gracious and merciful a prince should open his mouth unto us, nevertheless, most mighty king, had it not been through wicked persuasions, we had never yielded to hold on so cursed a side, but with whom persuasions could not prevail, they used means to enforce, being well assured that they hold the most part by constraint, whose bodies being enclosed within the stony walls of Paris, have every day their hearts enfolded with their king, considering within what small compass there is food enough with favour and gentleness to be gotten, and yet they be at the point of death even for a small quantity of bread, that may with their eyes behold even plenty among beasts while they themselves pine and cannot come by it, whereby the difference is showed betwixt the favour and fury of a king, and therewithal, the recompense of obedience and rebellion:  
We confess therefore, most noble king, that th' mighty and just God hath bend himself against us and poured forth the viol of his wrath over these traitorous confederates of the Leagures, of which number we must of force account and acknowledge we have too long been, and therefore we humbly submit ourselves into your majesties hands, to deal with us as it seemeth good in your sight.  
His Majesty having heard this lamentable complaint, revived their hearts with a favourable countenance, and according to his princely disposition, in a mild manner demanded what provision of victuals (in their judgements) remained yet in the city, and what it was wherewith they hoped to sustain the lives of so infinite a multitude as remained in the town, wishing to declare the same in all truth and simplicity of heart, even as they would hope to find mercy at his hands for their known and manifest rebellion, and how long time they supposed the same would last.  
Before the mighty and dreadful God of heaven, who knows the secrets of the hearts, and shall judge the thoughts that are hatched by untruth, so will we, said they, show and declare this to the king, as far as our memory and knowledge doth stretch. And if your majesty find us false let the same be recompensed with the vildest death that ever any did endure. And herewithal one of them who was known of best judgement, and that had been of great account in times past, put forth his voice before the king, and most part of the princes and nobles about him, 
Necessity finds many shifts.  speaking as followeth.  
Necessity the whetstone of man's wit, having enforced me among these my companions and sorrowful associates, with an infinite multitude of my friends, kinsfolk and neighbours to search for sustenance, for the maintenance of me and my poor wife and children, 
Necessity finds many shifts.  inquired by all means after food when it became scant in the City, being the only care that every person had to seek for the same: and albeit after a small time that we were besieged, wholesome food was kept wonderful close and scant among us, yet our ears were ever so diligent to hearken after it, that by one means or other we always heard where it was to be had for money, and although the provision was great within the city, yet by reason of the marvelous multitude of inhabitants, within five months after, there was no wholesome food to be had for gold nor treasure, for the Nobles and principal of the city, suspecting a long siege, got as much thereof as they could for their own provision, and the cloisters with the university did the like: and as for the Clergy, they stayed not behind any in that matter, being men wise enough to take the choice before all other, by which means the common sort of the Citizens soon found the smart thereof, and in vain sought they after that they could not find: when flesh failed, butter and cheese began to grow precious at rich men's tables, though at the first they much repined thereat, as people that had not been much acquainted with such course cates. But the just God seeing our unthankful hearts, that scorned his gifts, and despised his blessings, in two months after sent such a change, 
Rats, mice & other vermin good meat in Paris.  that the flesh of Horses, Asses, Dogs, Cats, Rats, Mice, Weasels, and Moles, became dainty dishes at gentle men's tables, and bore such a price, that no poor person was able to compass any, & then our queasy stomachs began to be contented with any thing, were it a frying pan full of Frogs, a dish of snails,, or a Skellet full of garden worms sod in broth: she that went in her hood, would have been glad to have licked her lips after them, and would have bidden her dearest friend to the banquet, had he not been of her own household, so sweet a sauce and so savoury did hunger make the same to taste, and yet many of those that thus have fled, and yet would be glad to meet with the worst of these things rehearsed before they felt the force of hunger, with many oaths, said they would starve unto death before any such corrupt thing should comfort their stomachs, and yet was all this but a taste of famine, and nothing comparable to that which afterward fell upon us, for in short time our bread of pease, tars, oats and acorns utterly failed us, so that none could be had or found in any place to be sold, although we would have killed one another with thrust, to have gotten the quantity of a farthing loaf (far worse than any which in former time we gave our horses) though we would have given a French crown for so much, and those vermin also that we prepared and dressed, as before is showed, was on all sides so caught up and eaten, that in the end there was none to be gotten, neither for one nor other: and then began such mortality through famine, 
Ten thousand dead of famine in Paris.  that ten thousand have already died thereof, as may be seen in the register book, and at this present, ten thousand more are like to perish through the like extremity. A most grievous and intolerable burden sufficient to enforce a flinty heart to remorse and pity, how great a warning ought this to be to all cities that are in a flourishing estate, where plenty poureth forth her treasures, in so much that delicacy is become loathsome, in respect of an unsatiable desire, and daintiness will not be contented without great superfluity, every man wishes for better, and no man thinketh that he hath goods enough, and few remain thankful for any thing: consider, you that use excess, and will not so much as lift up your eyes, much less your hearts, to render praises for so great benefits, consider (I say) how joyful & glad many nobles & men of great worship would be of the worst bit or bone that you fling under the table to your dogs, while yourselves in the midst of your excess, sit turning with your knives point, the meat in divers dishes, and can scant among them all find one morsel to fit your fancy, notwithstanding how gladsome a present the least of your loaves would be in Paris, let those imagine that can conceive of their misery, and how many would entreat upon their knees, to be preferred, as it were, to the shaking of the table cloth, or carrying away of the trenchers. Undoubtedly, I am persuaded, that if the daintiest mouthed dame in Europe had but one months experience of the like want, she should afterward while she did live, esteem better of the least crumb, than she doth now of all the dainties upon the table. I beseech God be merciful unto us, & forgive our unthankfulness, & grant us grace to reform our lives, lest we be plagued for our lewdness. But to return to the former matter.  
The King having heard this doleful discourse, proceeded further, 
The kings second demand.  and demanded whether before their issuing forth of the City, they had found no means whereby they of the town might have something to put into their bellies to strengthen the heart, and to help the stomach, and abate the fury of hunger.  
Three weeks (said the reporter) we continued without any sustenance, save only Flies and Béettles, 
Flies and Beetles.  whereby we sought to sustain ourselves, with divers other like things, till in the end our empty entrails enforced us to seek some means for relief, at what time the people devised to gather all kind of roots such as grew within the compass of the walls, which being parched or otherwise dried, we ground them in a mill, and therewith made us bread, but alas, slender comfort conceived we thereby, though we were glad of any thing, for in less than two days, our people were constrained to find some other remedy against hunger, whereupon it was devised to saw all the timber we could come by and convert it into dust, 
Bread of sawdust.  and thereof to make us another sort of bread, which device continued longer than many of the former, and contented us a great deal better, by reason we had some quantity thereof to fill our empty stomachs, but this was not to be had without money, except a body had of their own wherewith to make it, in so much that all the wood planks and boards which conveniently we could come by, was put to that use, and when this began to grow something scant, every man having care principally to nourish himself and meditating daily how to invent means to procure sustenance, being a thing wherein every one applied his wits, at length the extremity was such, that the Churchyards were digged for dead men's bones, and all the said bones they carried together into one place in the city, 
Dead men's bones eaten  where they might lie from the rain, the which afterward being washed and dried, were beaten in pieces and ground, and thereof an other sort of bread was made, and thus we were glad to feed our stomachs with the bones of the dead. In which time if it may please your Majesty to pardon my long and tedious discourse, I am to declare a most woeful accident which then happened. 
Men worth twenty or thirty thousand pound made common soldiers.   
There was then dwelling among us, a very honest and substantial man, which was sergeant over one of our companies, for the skill they found to be in him, who was employed as were the rest of the Citizens to be a soldier in the City for those which of late were esteemed men worth twenty or thirty thousand pound, were enforced to become common soldiers, whose substance thereby is wasted and brought to nothing, so much need have they of men in the city. This Sergeant before spoken of, coming home to his house about seven days ago, his wife and his children came presently running about him, hoping he had brought something for them to eat, at what time there was a neighbour or two in the house staying his coming, and with his wife lamenting the common calamity, hoping from his mouth to hear some news of the yielding up of the City into your highness hands. But the cries of the starved children interrupting the talk betwixt him and his neighbours, the poor man with a sorrowful heart sat him down, fetching a deep sigh, not knowing what to do for them, the children still cloying his ears with their pitiful complaints. Ha Father, said they, will you see us die for want of bread? if there remained any thing upon our bones beside the skin, 
The complaint of children for lack of food.  we would not let to feed thereon: but if no other remedy may be found, let the one of us serve for food to the other, or else spare not our lives to feed our mother and you, better were it for us by death to be rid of our misery, then to endure a famine the end whereof is unknown: is there ought in this City save men to feed upon? why may not the one of us devour the other alive, or why are the dead bodies of men covered in the ground that might serve a hungry stomach to feed upon. The father looking upon them with a heavy heart, after many tears shed on every side, having pondered these speeches, started up as a man purposed to give them encouragement, and with a comfortable voice briefly said unto them, be content my children, and be of good cheer, so soon as these my friends are gone, I will give you that which shall content you, but alas, if it were sufficient for us all, I would be loath to part with their company, notwithstanding I hope they consider the time as it is, and will not think any discourtesy herein, being assured, themselves in the like case would do the like to me, then turning to his neighbours he said, the time hath been we would not have denied our meat, but our money, but now our money is nothing in respect of our meat, and woe be unto them that would not give the poor money to buy meat where it is to be had, wherefore I beseech you leave us a while till we have refreshed ourselves, then after I will answer any thing I shall hear spoken by you: hereupon the two men departed, and shortly after, knowing that their dinner lasted not long, these persons went again thither, knocking and calling for him, marveling that no body came to make answer, wherefore being very familiar friends, and suspecting they had been in their upper chamber, went up, whereinto they no sooner entered, but presently they espied the good man, 
A man first hanged his wife & children, and after himself for lack of food.  his wife and two children (about the age of fourteen years) all hanged one beside another, and a bill upon the good man's breast, wherein was written, By this means did I first set my wife and children out of misery, and after myself, for which offence I ask the Lord mercy and forgiveness: and that your highness may be the better satisfied of the truth hereof, the men be here that first heard his words, and after were woeful witnesses of this Tragedy, in such extremity remains this miserable City.  
His Majesty that scant could refrain tears to hear this doleful discourse, 
The Parisians causers of their own destruction.  answered: Ah Paris, thy blood be on thy own head, it is thyself and not I that hath caused this great calamity, the Lord be witness twixt thee and me, and reward me after the innocency of my heart? after these words causing the starved people to be refreshed, he departed into his chamber, commanding that no more should be suffered to come forth of the City in such sort.  
Thus have you hard the good success of the kings Majesty, whom no doubt, Almighty God prospereth and preserveth, with the evil success of rebellious people, and the enemies against God's truth, whom he in justice punisheth, and doth in his just judgements bring to confusion: Almighty God still prosper the kings proceedings, and send confusion to his enemies, except they speedily repent and yield themselves unto him, as in right they ought, which God grant. Amen.  
FINIS.  woodcut of a walled garden or fortified town, as seen from above (?)