A true discourse OF THE DISCOMFITVRE OF THE duke OF AVMALLE, WITH HIS TROVPES OF horsemen IN picardy, BY THE duke OF LONGVE-VILLE.  
Also other troops of men discomfited in Beausse, by the Lord of Chastillon:  
Together with the king of Nauarre his letters to the Inhabitants of Orleans.  
AT LONDON Printed by Richard Field, according to the French Copies first printed at Tours. 1589.   

A discourse VPON THE DISCOMFITVRE OR OVERTHROW THAT THE duke OF Aumalle, and Lord of Ballagnay with their troops of men sustained by the Duke of Longue-ville, and other Lords and chieftains on the king his part. And of the raising of the siege at the town of Senlis in picardy.  
IT is well known in france, how at the end of April last, Monsieur de Thore, in the kings behalf, went up and down in the town of Senlis, conferring with the good and faithful inhabitants thereof, and seeking to maintain the people in their due obedience to the king his majesty. He then had three dayes space before that the Parisians( who were amazed to see the sudden reducing of the said town to his majesties obedience) could come thither, or could cause the Duke of Aumalle to come and besiege the foresaid Senlis: during which time of three dayes the said Monsieur de Thore had leisure both to furnish the town with victual & munition, which he did abundantly provide of all things necessary for the keeping and defence thereof. Also he caused to come thither, of choice men, out of every the villages in the valley and duchy of montmoremcy, a sufficient company to fortify the town: so that there were two thousand able and resolute fighting men, at the least, who were ready to stand against any forces that should seek to assault the town. This he did, not that the place was of such strength,( for that was weak enough) but reposing trust in the courage and faithful mindes of the inhabitants and souldiers that were there. Then the Lord of Mainneuille, who is now called the governor of Paris because the Duke of Maienne was not there, came first out with a company of Parisians well armed, and the Duke of Aumalle was there almost as soon as he, with a company of brave horsemen, and a fort of sootemen: and they besieged the town, being at the first dash to the number of four thousand men. immediately, the Parisians and other their partakers, came posting from many places, being well horsed & furnished, so as in short space there were gathered five or six thousand men well provided besieging the town. On Friday the fift of May they sent to Paris, for to haue ordinance, and the same day were three pieces sent them and no more: that is, two Canons and one Culuerine, which, for that none could be found to conduct them with so much speed as they wished, the way that they used was thus: There having been an order taken at Paris not long before, that of sixtéeue Colonelles that were in sixtéen quarters or parts of the city, one should march every day in good order, and well furnished, with eleven or twelve hundred men, out of the City, for to keep the Castle of Saint Vincent, whatsoever might happen: this Friday it happened that the Colonel and captain of Aubret his regiment was assembled for to go and gather together another regiment and company Colonelle for captain Compans, the one of the Shirifes of the said city of Paris: the said regiment of the captain and Colonel d'Aubret was constrained, going along vpon our Ladies bridge, whereas they should haue turned by the grieve, toward S. Anthonies gate, for to go to the Castle of S. Vincent( whither a little before were gone their baggage, their apparel, victual and such like) that they might go forth strait by S. Martines gate, to conduct the said ordinance, which was carried a little before toward the Suburbs, under the charge of one Brigard, the procurator of the hostell of the city: and the next day, being saturday, in the evening, they came before Senlis: where at the first coming, they hailed the town with a canon shot, at the noise whereof on a sudden all the souldiers came to the wall of the town, and offered to make as great a breach in the wall, as they would demand without their using of canon shot, seeing that they promised to give the assault: and hereupon being presently summoned to yield unto a composition, they promised to make answer on the morrow: whereupon a report came to Paris, that they of the town had offered 3. score thousand crownes as some said; 100. thousand crownes as other said: for their answer they hanged out & spread vpon the walls outward a great painted cloth, in which they had hanged portrayed together two persons, the Duke of Mayenne on the one side, & the Duke of Aumalle on the other, and the Lady Montpensier kneeling at the feet of them with her head all vncouered, weeping, and tearing her hair: and the people cried out with vile opprobrious speeches, that the same was the portraiture of the composition that they demanded. This drove them to sand again unto Paris for strength of Canon shot to beate the town to dust, as they said. The messengers were turned away thence as slightly as might be, without obtaining that they came for, and excuse was made that they lacked bullets, and such pieces as they demanded: and that was partly also for a distrust they had in the Duke of Aumalle, who had oftentimes refused to come and join himself with the Duke of Mayenne, by reason of ambition that is betwixt them: moreover, because that they thought that the Lord of Ballagny was coming thither with great strength of men, and seven Canons. Before the coming of which Lord of Ballagny, they of Senlis made a sally out of the town of a hundred horsemen: whereat they that besieged the town were so amazed, that they thought best to fly, and especially the Parisians cast away their arms, flying, and hiding themselves in bushes on every side: of which hundred horsemen, fifty came back into the town, and the other fifty kept the field for to aid any that might come to succour them. Then the Lord of Ballagny with his companies of men, came and joined with the Duke of Aumalle, & they with their ten Canons, began the battery on Wednesday, the seuentéenth of May, and within a while the souldiers confusedly gave assault to the foresaid town by the breach made the same day, which was in truth a great breach: notwithstanding, they had the repulse, by reason they did that without the appointment of the general of the army. About noon word came that the Duke of longueville accompanied with the Lord of Humieres, the Lord Bonniuet, the Lord dela Noue, the Lord of Giury, of Mesuiller, of tower, and other Nobles of the province of picardy, were at hand, to the number of a thousand horsemen, and three thousand sootemen, for to aid the town of Senlis. whereupon, the foresaid Lord of Ballagny pitched in camp the best power of his men: & being then accompanied with the Lords of Main-uille, of Sayssenall, of Mesieres, of Congy and others, coming near the said Duke of longueville, the horsemen of Cambray marched on in good order, thinking to overcome the footmen of the said Duke of Longueille: which footmen divided in the middle, and gave room for the ordinance, which shot so furiously among them of Cambray and among the walloons, that seeing so many of themselves overthrown, they were forced to retire. Afterward, they coming to a set battle, fought stoutly on both sides, and with great courage, the ordinance of the said Duke of longueville, still making great spoil among the souldiers of the Duke of Aumalle, in so much that the souldiers began to conceive such great-dread, as neither the Duke of Anmalle, nor the Lord of Ballagny could ever gather them together again by their cheerful words, or goodly shows whatsoever: and the army that held the siege fled all away presently. Which thing encouraged the Duke of longueville, with those that had been besieged, issuing thick out then, to follow them in chase, and kill them with handy blows. By which mean they hold now safely the town Senlis, haue gotten all the munition that the Duke of Aumalle had, powder, bullets, and ordinance, about fifteen hundred, or near two thousand be slain in that place, hesides those that were pursued and slain as they fled in diuers villages. The said Duke of Aumalle is hurt, and the Lord of Ballagny is also hurt in the face, though it be but a little: and the Duke of Aumalle is gone back to S. Denis, fearing lest he should not be in safety, nor very well welcome to Paris: the Lord of Ballagny saved himself by flying to Paris, there feigning that he would take order for the gathering together again of the souldiers, because he would seem to threaten his enemies, and to encourage again the brave souldiers of Paris.  

The copy of a letter, written by a certain Lord, to a kinsman of his, the twentieth of May. 1589.  
COusin, I stayed this bearer until I had some good news to writ. I even now haue received some by a man that I sent to Paris: he saw the companies of monsieur d'Aumalle, that were discomfited at Senlis by monsieur de longueville, accompanied with monsieur de la Noue: he got safe himself the third day after his flight to Saint Denis. Ballagny is safe at Paris, and cheereth up the people that be altogether amazed and adread at this overthrow. He promiseth them new forces out of the low Countreyes, but he hath the money. judge you whether this be the way to make them well again. They haue lost ten great pieces of ordinance, three that belonged to the Arcenall, six to rosne, and one to Amiens: that was done on Wednesday toward evening. My man could not tell me what men they lost, for he came in hast to bring me this good tidings. Make acquainted herewith Master Warden of Seux, and M. Warden of Souuray. You know also what monsieur de Chastillon did on Thursday toward evening. This hath been an unlucky week for them, and so I trust will the whole year be. Continue your friendship to me, and make account, good cousin, that I will do the like to you always.  
Your well affectioned Cousin, and better friend, M. R.    

THE LETTER OF A certain GENTLEMAN OF BEAVSSE to a friend of his being a Citizen of Paris, touching the overthrow of the forces of Monsieur d'Aumalle, written on Thursday the 18. of May. 1589.  
I Haue been even amazed a thousand times, to think of the news that haue been reported to me for certain & true, touching the establishing of your matters at Paris, and that you haue so often sent me for true, many tidings that were but invented by some cunning fellowes, who deceive & abuse you, while they go about other manner purposes than they make you acquainted with: which is the cause, Sir, and my good friend, that I haue written this unto you, that ye may not be ignorant of that which happened yesterday: knowing that you shall haue the matter reported there with you far otherwise than is true, because they would not haue the Citizens discouraged, and to feed you daily with hope of some high enterprises, that you expect at the hands of this holy and invincible army, that Monsieur the Duke of Mayenne hath so long kept in this country without doing any thing, making great promises, the least of which is, that he will bring the kings majesty to that pass that the most mutinous fellowes in your city desire to haue him: and for a trial, he hath in deed, when the greatest forces of the king were away, drawn nigh enough. True it is that he wet back again, as was best for him to do, and after that he had done somewhat as he might, being obstinate a long time, after his so great enterpriseing he gave place to the kings presence, and at the coming of the king of Nauarre, he got him bark as soon as he understood that he was near, but this is not the onely argument that I writ of, but for to tell you that we knew how discontented the strangers and walloons of his army were, so as they would needs haue been gone, and that the said Lord had much a do to make them stay, and I believe the cause why they be not yet come back, is the hope that he put them in of receiving new forces, and fresh supply from the companies in picardy, which he looked for from the Lord of Aumalle, I tell you plain that this their hope is choked: for on Thursday last at three of the clock after noon, as I understood by a friend of mine, the Lord of Chastillon, passing by Boisgency, and being sent to the war by the K. of Nauarre, with two hundred horsemen, and as many arquebusiers, understanding that certain of the Duke of Aumalle his troops came that way, for to set vpon the Lord of Lorges, who had beaten the way the day before, directed his course toward Bonneuall, and with him twenty of his Gentlemen for scouts, who were lead by the Lord of Founquerolles: they meet with Arcleinville, governor for the Duke of Mayenne at charters, who had with him fifty horses, they make towards hun for to bid him battle, he meeteth with them, they use the matter so that they kill five or six of his men: he retireth and giveth alarm to the troupe that was but a quarter of a mile thence, the troupe came orderly under the leading of the Lord of saveuze, where were the Lords of Brosses, that had a faire troupe of six or seven score gentlemen, all the choice of noble birth in picardy on their side, to the number of three hundred horse, with five and twenty or thirty arquebusiers, with the Lord of Forceville, & many other Gentlemen of name: then the Lord of Chastilion changed his place to a trot, for to entertain them. Charboniere and Harambure with their con, panies of light horsemen, were on his left wing on the other side. saveuze setting forth before his arquebusiers, set his company of Lanciers in ranks, and cometh a great place, without breaking rank, for the space of a quarter of a mile. The trumpets sound the charge on both sides, the Lord of Chastillon casteth about a little, to stay for his arquebusiers, and placing them, he maketh two hostes of the horsemen that he hath, he goeth to the skirmish. saveuze cometh forth very bravely & courageously, galloping for thirty paces, his arquebusiers on horseback give the onset near enough: the L of Chastillon his footmen receiveth them: who, after the first arquebusiers were discharged, even during the fight, rushed in among the horsemen, killed many horses with their sword, and of them were slain one that had been of the king of Nauarres guard, and two souldiers of the garrison of Boisgeney, and no mo. saveuze, who on a sudden had bent himself against the light horsemen, taketh right, and chargeth so furiously the Lord of Chastillon, that the first ranks were broken, he unhorsed and laid along, and eight or ten of his Gentlemen incurred the like miffortune: among whom were Mouy, Rosny, S. Sere, Fresillon and Chamballam: two or three of which were hurt with lances, and twenty or thirty of their horses slain. The Brosses at the same time set vpon the rearward of the Lord of Chastillon, so that his troupe was greatly troubled. At length the Lord of Chastillon, and others that were overthrown, recovered themselves, and fell a fighting with their swords on foot, and he himself adventured so far, that he was hurt on the face with a broken lance. In the mean while Harambure, who had the leading of the king of Nauarre his light horsemen, next to whom was Fouquerolles in rank, set vpon saveuze and his company so furiously, that he entered and broke ray, so as he made them fly, and disperse themselves in such fort, that they could not be gathered together again. They were then pursued, and stayed in the same place where were assembled of Picalds above six score Gentlemen: the residue were pursued a good mile and a half, and were slain by the way flying, to the number of threescore & mo, with al the arquebusiers, two Cornets taken, and the bearers of them slain, forty Gentlemen taken, among which were Saueuse and Forceuille: Many of account were hurt, where as the Lord of Chastilion lost but one Gentleman, and but three souldiers as I said before, and there were hurt none but Chamballam and two or three others that were hurt with lances and swords, yet their hurts are not deadly. The Lord of Chastillon won the field. This is a beginning to make them look unto their own consciences, that are risen up against the king. I was desirous to let you understand hereof, that ye might know the truth, which is hidden from you by cozening shifts that they haue to feed you with false rumors. I learned this by a Gentleman that brought a letter, the copy of which I now sand you. He understood all the particulars by them that were at the discomfiture. look to yourself, and aduise such as are well disposed to take a good heart to thē. I will now trouble you no longer, until I haue other good news come to my hand: in the mean while I commend me to your good grace, praying God to keep you. From Chasteaudun, May 19. 1589  

The copy of a letter written by a Lord, to a kinsman of his, vpon the discomfiture of the troops of the L. of Aumalle, near Bonneuall, on Thursday the 18. of May 1589.  
COusin, you shall understand by N. the happy execution that Monsieur de Chastillon made yesterday at four of the clock near Bonneuall, vpon the troops of Monsieur d'Aumalle, being lead by Sauenze. He took saveuze and another of the chieftains: some of the Captaines were slain, and about two humdred of their men, the residue are prisoners, and their colours are gotten away. To be short, this is as happy a victory as any that hath been gotten in these warres. All the kings enemies that came out of picardy are stayed there. This will be good news for the king, and fit for his dealing with them of poitiers. The foresaid N. will tell you all particularly. Resting myself thereupon, I will say no more, but will pray God, good Cousin, to keep you.  
Your very good and faithful friend. M. N. From Saint Die May 19.    

A LETTER OF THE KING OF NAVARRE TO THE MAISTERS of Orleans, written the two and twentieth of May, 1589. From Baugency.  
friends, I am very sorry to come and visit you with such a company and to be constrained after so long time that I haue been coming toward you, to show unto this province and to your neighbours about, those verations and discommodities that war brings with it. I haue notwithstanding heretofore yielded testimonies enough both before God and men, of the distiking that I had in maintaining warres: I haue by many and sundry actions shewed, that my bearing arms was to none other end, but to procure peace, that in hope hereof I am bold to bear arms: having this conscience, I trust that God will bless me in my battailes: especially now, when as even in the sight of all christendom my King hath honoured me so much as to yield himself the judge of my right intentions, and he is become the best witness that I could wish, of mine innecency. I haue in general many times exhorted france to desire the own quiet and rest. I haue according to my duty in service to the King my Lord and master, and for the good of my ceuntrey foreseen and manifestly spoken, ever since the beginning of the last civil warres, against the evils wherewith they haue now filled the estate of this realm. My foreseeings thereof proved as true as my protestations and speakings of it were unprofitable, to my great grief ( God having sent his rod of dissension vpon this poor realm.) Yet will I not cease to deserve well of the realm: my country shall rather fail in duty towards me a Citizen thereof, than I a Citizen will fail in duty toward my country: and as long as I shall see this sick commonweal breath or gasp, I will not once leave it, until it be either wholly cured, or that I be dead with it. look what I haue done in general, that will I do in particulars, wheresoever occasion shall be offered. And I am glad that coming to you( before that the matter come to be tried by force of arms) I may assay what good order, reason and mild courtesy may win your hearts unto: For you, whatsoever madness, or infectious disease God hath laid vpon you, those are but things now ordinarily incident to france: I assure myself that you are of the race of those men that alone did assist king Charles the seventh when he fled to Bourges, and aided him against England, against Burgonie, Guienne, normandy, britain, and almost all France that was confederate against hun. I cannot but stil wonder, and am astonied to think how ye should become so senseless, as now to make no more account of that most famous title of your ancestors: I cannot devise what argument might be so effectual, and of such importance, as to make you so lightly to leave your side lity & loyalty, the oath which even from his birth every one of you hath sworn to his country, the vow that ye haue reiterated or made again and again, at the coronation of so many kings, and the same oath, wherewith you haue stand bound these many yeares, and yet so abide under this king, whom God at this present hath given vs. I cannot imagine what might drive you to think that a slavish estate under the Spaniards, should be more pleasant than to live at liberty, according to the manner of France: that the cross of Lorraine, or of burgundy, should better govern the estate, than the ancient and fortunate Flourdeluces, which be reverenced all christendom over. To conclude, that the name of a traitor, of a rebel against his magistrate, against his Prince, to be a despiser of his commandements, and a violater of his majesty, should be better, and more honourable than the name of a good Citizen, and a faithful subject. But you will say, it is an vnféemely thing for me that haue born arms for the liberty of conscience, if I should blame your doings, that are grounded vpon a colour of the like. That which may serve for an excuse to those of the religion, ye would hold to be lawful for you: but seeing you like to take them for example, go yet no further than they. If they would haue gone about to plant their religion in france by dinte of sword: if they had gone about to make any war offensive to the king, before they were set vpon, & forced to defend themselves, O what would men haue said then? They never did so: they always stood vpon their defence, always ready to receive peace whensoever it was offered: and yet notwithstanding, onely because that the anointed of the Lord, he to whom the sceptre belongeth, was against thē, God did not always bless their arms: for to declare unto the people that there is nothing so dear unto God, as the maintaining of the majesty of kings, which is an image of his own majesty, and they are his Lieutenants on earth. You haue heretofore accused those of Rochell, you haue unjustly called them traytors and rebels, because they would not give over the liberty of their conscience, nor hazard their lives to the mercy of their enemies. If you spite at them with those goodly names, stay a while as well as they, until you see Edicts published, by which all the catholics of France shalbe accounted and used as traytors: wait till ye see them slain throughout all the good cities and towns that be near you, and that an army of men shall come thundering vpon your walls for to spoil you: then shal fear indeed excuse your taking arms, and necessity your rebellion. But until that time, my friends, what hast haue ye to make your children a race of faithless truce breakers, rebels and traytors. But ye will say that then it will be no time, and that you will provide for that before hand. If ye would esteem your cause and end to be better than theirs of the religion, ye must think that it will necessary follow, that God will no less favour you than them, seeing you follow them for example. Call to mind, that they had to deal with the state of france when it was flourishing, with kings that were well obeied, well settled, that they were often surprised, and their chieftains slain. They never gave a blow, but first they received twain: they never had the forecasts that you haue, and for all that they be yet alive and at liberty, God be praised: will he do less for you when ye shal be set vpon? And ye all know that you are yet stronger than they, and that you can never haue the enemies that they haue had. Who doth make you to run headlong so rashly? what madness is it, for fear of some evil that may displease you hereafter, to make yourselves presently unfortunate, and in miserable state? for to hinder a fault that may be, to committee a manifest crime: for preventing an evil far of, to cause and suffer an innumerable sort of evils: for assurance of liberty to your children, to bring them up in bondage: for making sure to them their quiet estate & their goods, to give them over unto warres and robbery? believe me, my friends, they that put this in your heads, do go about to make your backs as footsteps to get up unto the scaffold of their ambition: but they forgot to tel you, that if the scaffold fall( as no doubt it shall) they shal come down headlong, and you will be stisted under them, if they come not down betimes, and that you do not get you away before all be overthrown, Aduise you well of the matter, it is but to put you in a vain fear, to persuade you that our king( who is the most catholic king that ever was) will compel you to leave your catholic religion, he is far from threatening you that. But what, should I be he that should do it? I am not your king, neither shall I ever be( if it please God.) If I should be called thereto, I would not be so unwise, but I would fly all occasions that might breed civil war and dissension in a realm. I am glad that I may now talk so familiarly and neighborly with you. You haue seen there but for two dayes, wednesday and thursday last, the beginnings of the success that God sent your armed men at Senlis, and here, even in the view of two of the greatest cities of france: look vpon it at is not for you to make war against your king, whether he had occasion to punish the Duke of Guise, yea or no. There haue at other times been in france some of as great a house as he, that haue been more shamefully used: and yet the people sooke not an evil quarrel in hand. Soueraigns are not to render an account of their sceptre to any but to God: when things are done, we must look to obey them: you shall never do well as long as your foundation is so ill. And if ye would complain, that governors would be set over you, or a garrison of men that would tread you under foot, and make you for●s and such like: albeit these be the ordinary complaints of all cities and towns, which be not lawful in a peaceable and well governed realm, yet the disorders of our realm hath made them fitter to be received. If you would but desire it, I know not certainly my L. the king his mind, but I am surely persuaded, that forgetting your offences, he will be at one with you, if ye will but frame yourselves to aclowledge your faults, and crave parden. And doing thus, you shal not need fear that any but your own selves shall drive you to leave your religion, that any other shall build your forts but yourselves, that ye shal be your own garrison. And that is more fit and profitable for you, than to be always in pain and at alarm, having need always of an army to guard you whensoever ye go out at the gates never so little, to see your corn fields, your houses and vines on a fire, your wives and children spoiled, while you go about to reuenge another mans quarrel. My friends, if I were a Spaniard, or one of Lorraine, I would not talk thus unto you, I would be glad to see you at war among yourselves, and to see myself even at your gates ready to spoil you, or to besiege you: I would imagine that I had the spoil of you already. This is it whereat the enemies do glory and boast, & if I were as they be, I would wish it no otherwise: but I am a Frenchman, I am one of your Princes, I haue a right in looking to the safeguard of you, therefore speak I this unto you. You may, if yeé will, keep you where ye are in safety and rest, being masters of your own houses, so as ye will gently yield obedience and dueties, as you owe, unto your king: and as your example hath made many fools, deal so now, as by following of you many may become wise. And believe me friends this one word, that in truth if but your only city had rebelled, ye ought to haue been sore punished, but seeing the contagion is general, it must be cured by clemency. certain it is, nevertheless, that as the city or town that first began rebellion shall by inst desert be the more punished for crample sake, so that which first shall seek for mercy, shall far more easily find favor, than that city or town that shall stay unto the last pinch. I assure you my friends, that I shalbe glad, and think myself happy, if I may be employed to win you by clemency, rather than to subdue you by force: For I am a Frenchman, and yours.  
henry.