A Particular and true Narration of that great and gracious Deliverance, that it pleased God of late to vouchsafe unto the City of Geneva, namely upon the twelve of December last in the year 1602.   printer's or publisher's device 
AT LONDON Printed for George Potter and Richard Canter, dwelling in the Popes-head Alley near the Exchange. 1603.   

A true Narration of that great and gracious deliverance which God gave unto the City of Geneva the twelve day of December last, in the year. 1602.  
SInce the year. 1528. that Geneva was freed from the government of their Earl, all Christendom knoweth that sundry, divers, and great enterprises have been practised and attempted against the said City, and that by great persons: some whereof inhabited the City, and some were Strangers.  
And this attempted, to be performed one while by Traitors within, another while by Enemies without: and the same both overt & covert. Some whereof set themselves only against the Ecclesiastical government, other some against the Politic: and others seeking the overthrow of both. God notwithstanding always preserving it as the Apple of his eye, in so much that as Israel heretofore did upon good respect say, Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up. Psal. 129.1.2. So Geneva may at this time well confess, From my youth upward they have attempted against me a thousand mischiefs; but yet they have not been able to overcome or destroy me.  
Yea, Geneva hath often times found to be true the saying of David. Psal. 34.19. Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivered him out of them all.  
Yea, Geneva may testify unto us that to be true, which the Prophet saith in an other place: He that dwelleth under the defence of the most high God, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psal. 91.1. especially it may profess it more at this time, then at any time heretofore: It having a fresh (by experience) tried, that the Lord is near unto them that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be afflicted in spirit. Psal. 34.18.  
For, the Duke of Savoy having resolved to surprise the Town of Geneva, by scaling the Walls: that he might the more easily attain unto it, some few days before, sent Master Rochette chief President of the Senate of Chambery to the Magistrates of Geneva, to let them understand that he was resolved to live in peace with them, since it hath pleased the French kings Majesty to have comprehended them in the treatise of peace betwixt him and the King: and that they might be sure that he would observe it inviolable in every point.  
Nevertheless the Duke of Savoy (an old and heinous enemy unto Geneva) did departed from Thurin on Tuesday the vii of December, and arrived at a Town called La-Roche, distant from Geneva four of their Leagues: where he had three thousand men, some Spaniards, some Italians, and some French and Savoyers: who on Saturday the xi of the same month the same night, having called unto him their chief Captains and Leaders, did discover unto them his enterprise, exhorting them to behave themselves valiantly: out of the which, he made choice of three hundred of the bravest and resolutest of them, to give the assault.  
From thence they marched towards the City of Geneva at one of the clock after midnight, where they arrived about two of the clock in the night: the Duke himself stayed some quarter of a League from Geneva.  
Then Monsieur Dalbigny, who was his Lieutenant general (and the chief of this enterprise) demanded, ministered, and received their Oath: That they would live and die in this execution: he promising to be the first, to do the like with them.  
Moreover, he made them to promise, that they should not defile any Maiden or Woman: nor fall to pillage, till they had received the signal from him.  
This ended, they approached the Walls of the City, being favoured with the darkness of the night, a thick mist, and sharp wind, and caused his men to cast into the Towne-ditch certain Faggots: on the which they raised three Ladders, in a rank tied together. (It was in a place distant some fifty Paces from the Sentinel, betwixt the Newgate and the Money-gate.) The first (being about threescore in number) all Shot, entered the City. One of them feigned himself to be the round, and went toward the Sentinel for to kill him: who feeling himself hurt, slipped down from the Terrasse (which is a Hill of earth) who being also favoured with the darkness of the night and thick mist, came into the City by the Gate (called Tartase) which is commonly open, because it is within the Walls, and gave the Town the Alarm.  
The Citizens hearing it, armed themselves strait ways: so that in an instant, all places, bastions, and passages were filled.  
But howsoever they used all diligence, it was impossible for them to hinder the entrance of some three hundred of the Enemy, (which were as hath been said) all Captains and Commanders, men of authority and courage, armed from top to too: as they understood afterwards by the confession of certain Prisoners.  
The Enemy placed themselves in order upon the Walls of that quarter, in a place distant from the Corpse du Gardiner some two hundred Paces, endeavouring to possess the Newgate, and so to give entrance by their Petart unto their Men, which stayed without at the Bridge-foot.  
Coming near unto the said place with their Petart, he that carried it, and should have fired it, was killed by an Ambúscado.  
The Gate (where there were but twenty and five men of the City) was lost and won again three times: yet the Enemy was finally constrained to retire, by the means of an Italian Captain called Brandano, coming from the townhouse of the City with some thirty Citizens: who with a great fury and courage, fell upon them.  
The Enemy seeing themselves thus put back, did seek to get the Gate called Tartase: from whence they were repulsed by the means of the Corpse du Garde. From thence they returned towards the Mony-gate, intending to force it, but all in vain: for the Portcullis was let down, and the Chains up, and five hundred Citizens were appointed to guard the heart of the City.  
In the mean time, those of the City assaulted their Enemies through the houses which were near unto the Walls of the City: but the Enemy gave great resistance, and came still up by the Ladders, to the number of three hundred: whereby their courage increased much, and fought valiantly; crying-out as loud as they could (but especially a Trumpeter standing upon the Walls) Vive LE'spaigne, vive Savoy: God save Spain and Savoy: the Town is won.  
They forced two Houses near the Wall with two Petarts, and many of their chiefest Men thereby entered the Houses, meaning thereby to gain the place called La Monnoye: but suddenly they were constrained to retire, with loss of men: For one hundred and fifty Harcobussiers, Musketters, and pikemen of the City, were sent to secure them: yea, the Women came with Halberds and sword, all resolute to die, or to repulse the Enemy, ere he should wax stronger: which thing succeeded well. For the Enemy having perceived that by the discharging of a Canon, that was on the Bulwark of the Newgate, being charged with Chains and Nails, one of their Ladders being broken, and betwixt thirty and forty of their men (which were coming up) sore maimed, were greatly astonished, and none of them durst afterwards come up: Those which were got into the City, were also much amazed, and began to fly, hearing the sound of the Retreat, running down with more haste than they came up: a part of them did fall headlong down into the Ditch: the rest, being an hundred, or sixscore, were either killed, or sore hurt: except thirteen, who being taken alive, refusing to confess any thing, were hanged the same day, notwithstanding their offering of great Ransom.  
The fight dured from three of the clock to five.  
At the break of the day the Enemy retired to Bonna and Roche.  
Monsieur Dalbigny was at the foot of the Ladder, making show to come up: but seeing all succeeded not well, feigned to have a qualm come over his stomach, and so retired himself.  
Amongst the prisoners that were hanged, were Messieurs de Sonas Schaffardon, and Dartinac: their sentence was, that having in open peace attempted against the City, they were not to be esteemed as Prisoners of War, but as Robbers and Martherers: and that therefore they deserved death. Then was there a Jailhouse of purpose set up on the Bulwark of the Newgate, whereon they were hanged in the afternoon the same day.  
The dead (besides these thirteen) were about four score, besides those which were drowned in the Ditch: and many sore maimed.  
Among the dead, was the son of the marquess De Lullin, the son of the marquess De Trefort, Monsieur de Cornage & de La Tour, Lieutenant and Aancient-bearer to Monsieur Dalbigny.  
The heads of all the dead men were cut off, and set on Poles upon the Walls where they first entered: their bodies were cast into the Rhosne.  
The Enemy retired themselves to a Village called Etrenblieres, distant some League from Geneva, carrying many of their dead and maimed men: amongst the which were the Baron De La Valdisaire, General of the Footmen, and many others of Command: and being arrived at Roche, and making a review of their men, found betwixt three and four hundred of them wanting.  
The Duke caused four Captains (being Spaniards) to be hanged, for not executing their charge, in assaulting of the town on the other side: which being done, he himself road post to Thurin.  
Those of the City lost some sixteen men: amongst whom, was Monsieur Canal, one of the Privie-counsel, being three score and ten years old, Captain Vandell, Mark Cambiago, Peter Cabriol, Master Nicholas, Masson, Bandieres, Debolo, and some others: and some twenty hurt.  
The City was presently relieved with three hundred Swytsers of Berna, being their neighbours and confederates, looking daily for more: Praising the Lord for this great and wonderful deliverance: a singular continuance of his mercy, that he laughing at their complots, had taken the cause of his people into his own hands: and as a just judge, discomfiting their Enemies, hath made them sink down into the Pit, which they had prepared for those that know the Lord, and trust in him. Let therefore Israel trust in the Lord, for with the Lord is mercy and great redemption.  
OF all this Narration there is a double use, and he that hath a sanctified heart, shall (no doubt) profit by it therein.  
First, we may see what affiance or trust is to be given to the words and promises of the Popish and Spanish faction: of the which, the Savoyard is not one of the least limbs or members: and that should move us not to be so ready to rely or rest upon their fair words and speeches, as some would have us, but to carry ourselves (if not suspicious of them, yet warily with them: and the rather, because it is a received maxim amongst them, and as one would say, an overruled case) that Faith is not to be held with Heretics, such as they (unjustly) hold us to be.  
Secondly, we may behold that great regard, and more than fatherly care that the Lord hath to preserve and defend them, that with godly sincerity and singleness of heart, walk in the obedience of his whole truth: and that should on the one side provoke us to be more zealous of his glory, then in these cold and careless days many men would have us, and we are in deed. And on the other side, it should stir us up with confidence of heart, and assurance of hope, wholly to depend upon him: who, though for the trial of our Faith, the proof of our Patience, the punishment of our Sins, and sundry other causes, best known to his own Wisdom, he appoint us to be sundry ways exercised, yet will together with the temptation, make an issue out of the same, and provide a way for us to escape, as shall be most for his glory, and our good: And this should be no mean comfort unto us, in the days of our tryalles and tribulations.  
FINIS.