A Brief discourse of the marvelous victory gotten by the King of Navarre, against those of the holy League, on the twentieth of October. 1587. Both in English, and in French as it was printed in France. Whereunto is added as soon as it came to my hand since the first Impression, The true copy of a Letter sent by the King of Navarre to his Secretary at Rochil, aswell in confirmation of the victory against the Duke joyeuse, as also the overthrow that the Swissers gave to the Duke of Guise. LONDON Printed by john Wolf dwelling in Distaff Lane near the sign of the Castle. 1587. ¶ A brief discourse of the marvelous victory gotten by the king of Navarre against those of the holy league, on the twentieth of October. 1587. THe King of Navarre took his way toward his Army, being strangers, by the borders of those provinces which favoured him most: and to this purpose, he was to pass the rivers of Drougne, and Lile. The Duke of joyeuse had in charge to hinder the abovesaid passages, notwithstanding all dangers that might ensue, thinking, that having over thrown the king of Navarre, by all likelihoods of reason, the army that was come out of Germany, and from other places to his aid, should not be able to do any good. The King of Navarre, accompanied with the Prince of Conde, and the Earl of Soysson, determined resolutely to pass the said rivers. But the Duke of joyeuse opposed himself to hinder them, being strong, and having a great number of horsemen with him, which the King of France had sent him. The Duke of joyeuse took up his lodging at Barbezieux, and afterward at Chalais: The King of Navarre took his up at Archiac: and afterward at Monlieu, and the nearest places thereunto: both parties having fully determined to get the passage of the river of Drougne, and especially the lodging of Coutras, whereas most conveniently they might pass. There passed many occasions of fight by the way, and the King of Navarre, according to his wont diligence got the lodging called Coutras upon Drougne, an hour before the Duke joyeuse could come: Who had already sent certain light horsemen to take the place, who at the coming of the King left it. This was on Monday in the evening, being the nyntenth of October. On Tuesday next following betimes in the morning the Duke of joyeuse marched forward and encamped himself between the Roch Chalais & Coutras, with all his army: and pointed to fight his field half a league from Coutras, with the most vantage that might be. The king of Navarre on the otherside of Coutras, goeth and setteth his men forward in battle ray, causeth his ordinance to pass the river, the which the evening before he could not do, and caused them to be brought before him, and determined with all his men to be ready to fight, whom he found very willing and forward. He caused every company first to enter into prayer to almighty God. He appointed his army in such sort, that all his ordinance might do him service without hurting any of his own men. In so much that indeed his ordinance did that which was done to great good purpose, the Harchebuses did the like, so that there was not any one part of his army, but that got great benefit of victory. And yet the king (by the judgement of men) had the chiefest victory of all. So that about eight of the clock the ordinance began to play, and before nine of the clock they came to handy strokes. The battle was quickly ended (being a thing most strange by means of the great difference that was in the multitudes of the Duke joyeuse his men) so that at ten of the clock there was not one man amongst the enemies that did fight. Although that in this most notable overthrow as yet there appeareth not above twenty men lost on the King of Navarre's side, nor any man of calling, or that had any government under him. The King of Navarre was so forward that grasping with the enemy endangered himself greatly. The Prince of Conde had his horse stain under him. The Earl of Soysson took with his own hand divers prisoners. The Lord of Turenes horse was slain under him. God who had appointed the success of the battle, gave the victory to the King of Navarre, in the which the Duke joyeuse was slain. All his chief men were either slain or taken, except the Lord of Laverdin, of whom as yet they know not what is become. Many ancients and standards were taken, and amongst them the chief standard of al. The footmen all slain. The ordinance taken. The carriage lost. About three hours after the battle was done, being returned to the place where the battle was fought: they rendered great thanks unto God. They buried the dead. They burned the lodgings of the enemy. And they did all other things that might beseem such a notable victory. God of his goodness grant that in like sort it may continue to the benefit of this Realm. The King of Navarre notwithstanding his good success seeketh to win his adversaries by his great courtesy, having entreated his prisoners and such as were wounded in such sort, as that they have great cause to acknowledge and confess that he loveth France and French men, and knoweth well how to discern those that are of the League. being enemies of the country, as he would do if he could, even in the midst of the greatest force of the battle. The names of such as were slain. Monsieur de joyeuse. Monsieur de Saint Sauueur his brother. Monsieur de la Roche du Maine the younger. Monsieur le Comte de la Suze. Monsieur de Fumel. Monsieur de Roussay the youngest de Piennes guidon de Monsieur de joyeuse. Monsieur de Nensuy de perigort the elder. Monsieur le Comte de Govallo. Monsieur le Comte Daubijou. Le Sieur de Coullons brother to the Comte de la Suze. Le Sieur de Brize the bearer of the Cornette blanch. Le fils du Sient de Rochefort Croyzette. Le Sieur de Guzacq. Cornette de Maumont. Le Sieur du Bourdet de Xaintonge standard bearer of Saint Luc. Le Sieur de Vaux Lieutenant de la compagnie de Monsieur de Belle-garde. Lenseigne du Sieur de Montigni. Tarcelin Maistre de Camp. Le Chesnel his chief captain. La Vallade one of his Captains. Le captain Boculaud. Le jeune Campelz qui portoit un drapeau. Le Sieur de Pleviault. Le Sieur de Saint Fort guidon de Saint Luc. Le Baron de Theunes. La Brangere. All these were men that had charge under them. Prisoners taken, and some of them wounded. Monsieur de Belle-garde taken and hurt. Monsieur de-Sainct Luc. Monsieur de Sansac. Monsieur de Cypierre. Monsieur le Marquis de Piennes. Monsieur de Gautrel, Monsieur de Montigny Capitainé de la port. Monsieur de Ville-comblin Lieutenant de Monsieur de Sowray. Monsieur de Chasteaurenard guidon du Sieur de Sansae. Monsieur de Mowent Captain of the light horsemen. Monsieur le Comte de Monsoréau taken and hurt. Monsieur de la Patriere guidon de Monsieur Laverdin. Monsieur de Chasteau-meux. Monsieur de Chastelu. Monsieur de Lawerdiere guidon de Monsieur de la Suze. All these had charge under them. Le Sieur de Broeil-baudet. And there are a great many Gentlemen wanting, and as yet not known. FINIS. Discours, sommaire de la Miraculeuse victoire, obtenue par le Roy de Navarre, contre ceux de la Ligue, le vingtiesme d' Octobre. 1587. LE Roy de Nauarre prenoit son chemin vers son armée estrangere par l'abord des provinces qui luy sont favorables, & pour cest effect auoit à passer les rivieres de Drougne, & de l'Isle. monsieur de joyeuse auoit charge de luy empescher ce passage á quelque peril que ce feust, pensant que luy des-faict par une raisonnable consequence, l'armée estrangere ne pourroit subsister. Le dict Sieur Roy, assisté de Messeigneurs le Prince de Conde, Comte de Soysson, se resoult de passer. Ledit Sieur de joyeuse de l'empescher, renforsé de plusieurs compagnies de gens-darmes, que le Roy luy avoit enuoyées. Le dict Sieur de joyeuse prend son logis à Barbezieux de puis à Chalays. Le Roy de Nauarre à Archiac. Et puis à Monlieu, & lieux prochains, resoluz tous deux de gaigner le passage de la Drougne, & sur tout le logis de Coutras ou elle se pouuoit plus commodement passer. Il se passa des occasions de combat sur le chemin. Aussi le Roy par sa diligence accoustumee gaigna le logis de Coutras sur Drougne, une heure premier que ledit Seigneur de joyense y peust arriuer. Qui avoit des ja enuoye quelque chevaux legers pour le prendre, qui le quitterent à larriuee dudict Sieur Roy. Cestoit le Lundy au soir dix-nieufiesme Octobre. Le Mardy ensuiuant de grand matin Monsieur de Ioyeuses se rend entre la Roche Chalays & Coutras, avec son armée. Et prend sa place de battle à demyelieue de Coutras, au am le plus advantageux qu'il peust. Le Roy de Nauarre de son costé part de Coutras, & luy va au devant, met son armée en bataille. Faict passer la riuiere son canon, qui le soir pardevant ne lauoit peu passer. Et le faict mener à sa teste. Resoult tous les siens à ce combat, qu'il trouua pleins dardeur & devotion. Faict fair la priere à Dieu de troupe en troupe. Dispose au rest son armée en telle sort, que toutes les pieces seruirent, & pouuoyent fair leur effort, sans incommoder ni les vns, ni les autres des siens. come de faict son artillery joua fort à propos, l'arquebouserie de mesme, & ny heut party de son armée qui n'eust notable part de la victoire. Bien que certes sa Majesté (au jugement de tous) heust la principalle. Tanty a que sur les huict heures l'artillery commença a iouer, & avant neuf heures on vint aux mains. Fut la bataille si tost decidée, (Chose estrange en legalite de toutes forces,) qu'a dix heures il ny avoit homme de l'enne mi qui rendist combat, mesme qui feust en veue, Sans toutes-fois qu'il se soyt perdu en une si notable des-faicte (qui paroisse encore) vingt hommes soyt de pied, soyt de Cheual du cost dudict Sieur Roy de Navarre, ny mesme pas un de mark, ou homme de commandement. Le Roy de Nauarre est venu aux main● jusques à Colleter. Monsieur le Prince, son Cheval tué. Monsieur le Prince de Soyssons y à faict des prisonniers de sa main, Monsieur d● Turene son cheual tué. Dieu qui à ordonné l'issue des Batailles, a donné la victoire au prince, en laquelle Monsieur de joyeuse à esté tué. Tous les chefz ou mortz ou prins, reserué le Sieur de Lauer● din, qu'on ne sçait encores qu'il est deuenu▪ Les inseignes & cornettes prises, mesmes la general. L'infanterie toute des-faicte, L● canon prins, Le baggage perdu. La victoir● suyuie trois heures ou plus. Laction de grace faicte à Dieu au retour au champ de la Bataille. Les mortz enterrez. Les logis de l'ennemi bruslez. Et tout ce en somme qui peu● appartenir aux circonstances d'vne signale● victoire, Que Dieu luy doint poursuyure au bien & estat de ce Royaume. Le Roy de Nauarre les à voulu vaincr● encores en courtoysie, ayant tellement tracté les prinsonniers, & les blessez qu'ils ont tous dequoy cognoistre, q'uil ayme la France & les Françoys, & les sçayt bien discerner davec ceulx de la Ligue ennemis de l'estat, come 〈◊〉 feroit s'il pouuoit dans le sort des armes. MORTS. Monsieur de joyeuse. Monsieur de Sainct Sauueur son frere. Monsieur de la Roche du main le jeune. Monsieur le Comte de la Suze. Monsieur de Fumel. Monsieur de Roussay puisné de Piennes guidon de Monsieur de joyeuse. Monsieur de Nenfuy de perigort laisné. Monsieur le Comte de Govallo. Monsieur le Comte Daubijou. Le Sieur de Coullons frere du Comte de la Suze. Le Sieur de Brize qui portoit la Cornette blanch. Le fils du Sieur de Rochefort Croyzette. Le Sieur de Guzacq. Cornette de Maumont. Le Sieur du Bourdet de zaintonge ensign de Sainct Luc. Le Sieur de Vaux Lieutenant de la compagnie de Monsleur de Belle-garde. Len seigne du Sieur de Montigni. Tarcelin Maistre de Camp. Le Chesnel son premier captain. La Vallade l'vn de ses Capitaines. Le Cappitaine Boculaud. Le jeune Campelz qui portoit un drapeau. Le Sieur de Pleuiault. Le Sieur de Sainct Fort guidon de Sainct Luc. Le Baron de Theunes. La Brangere. Tous ayans charge en l'armée. Prisonniers & Blessez. Monsieur de Belle-garde pris & blessé. Monsieur de Sainct Luc. Monsieur de Sansac. Monsieur de Cypierre. Monsieur le Marquis de Piennes. Monsieur de Gautrel. Monsieur de Montigny Capitainé de la port Monsieur de Ville-comblin Lieutenant de Monsieur de Sowray. Monsieur de Chasteaurenard guidon du Sieu de Sansac. Monsieur de Mouuent captain de chevau legers. Monsieur le Comte de Monsoréau pris & blesse. Monsieur de la Patriere guidon de Monsieur Laverdin. Monsieur de Chasteau-meux. Monsieur de Chastelu. Monsieur de Lawerdiere guidon de Monsieu● de la Suze, tous ayans charge. Le Sieur de Broeil-baudet. Et plusieurs autre gentils-hommes non encore recognus. The true copy of a Letter written and sent by the most excellent King of Navarre, to his Secretary of estate, Monsieur de la Marcilliare after the battle lately had at Cowtrace. MArcilliare I dispatch Pomenia unto you, to let the masters of Rochel to understand of the happy & absolute victory which God hath given me, in the which battle the general of the enemies army is slain, and with him almost all the Cheestains and captains are likewise either slain or taken. The great Ordinance, Artillery, Cornets and Ensigns, both of horsemen and footmen are taken, with a general dissipation of the whole Army, for the which it is dutiful that in public and private sort, we render thanks to almighty God. I pray you further the present supply: for we must go to meet our Roytors, who for their part have given an overthrow to some part of the Duke of Gwyse his army, which now dareth not scarcely to show himself any more before them, but keepeth himself aloof in the back of the forces, to give the looking on. You shall also have an eye to the performance of my orders and commandments, and to that which may concern my affairs. And so I pray God to keep you in his safeguard. From Countrace this xxi. of October. 1587. Your most loving M. Henry.