A JOURNALL, OR Brief report of the late service in Britain, by the Prince de Dombes General of the French Kings Army in those parts, assisted with her majesties forces at this present there, under the conduct of Sir john Norreis: advertised by letters from the said Prince to the King's Ambassador here resident with her Majesty, and confirmed by like advertisements from others, employed in that service.  
Published, to answer the slanderous bruits raised of late by some evil affected to that and other good actions, undertaken against the enemy of God's true Religion.   fleur-de-lis 
LONDON Printed by john Wolf, and are to be sold at his shop right over against the great South-door of Paul's. 1591.   

AFter the winning of the Town of Guingcamp, the purpose of the Prince was, to have assailed the Town of Morlaix, to the end to have reduced the said Town, and the rest of Basse-Britagne to the King's obedience: howbeit understanding that the D. of Mercoeur was removed from Pontivy, where he joined with 4000 Spaniards, under the leading of Don ivan de Lagula and was marching towards Morlaix, by the way of Corlay: the Prince thereupon discovering the forces of the said Duke, which were of seven hundred horse, four thousand Spaniards, and two thousand arquebusiers French: considered how dangerous it might be to engage his Army before a town, until he were Master of the field, the enemy being of more strength than he, and in a country of advantage, and where he might be assisted with a multitude of peasants, long before armed and resolved for the enemy.  
Upon these difficulties, the Prince made stay about the Town of Guingcamp, aswell to amend the fortifications, as to repair the breach made by his Canon, (the better to assure the Town from the enemy) as to attend the bringing of two Canons, & two culverins, drawn from Breast to Lagnon, with certain powder, bullets, and other munition, conveyed out of England to Pinpaoul, to the end that the same being in place of assurance, the enemy might not take occasion to drive the Prince from his other enterprises.  
The seventh of june, the D. de Mercoeur arrived at Corlay, within three leagues of Guingcamp, a castle pretending to hold for the king, but in the possession of Madame de Guymenay, whose brother, Monsieur de Boydolphin is Lieutenant to the D. de Mercoeur, so that it seemed the party was made before hand, for that the next day after they did arrive, the castle rendered without seeing the Canon, and the Captain remained with the enemy: & from that place the Duke sent to the Prince a Trompeter about certain prisoners of ours, taken at Corlay, who signified to the said Prince that he had in charge from the D. to entreat him to appoint some day & place of battle: whereunto the Prince made answer, that it was the most acceptable news that could be brought unto him, and a thing which he had often sought and desired, and whereunto at this time, he hoped to enforce the said Duke to whom he would not return answer by the mouth of a Trompeter, which might be disaduowed, but by a writing signed with his own hand, which was accordingly performed as followeth.  
The Prince de Dombes Governor for the King in Dauphin, and General of his army in the Province of Britain.  
Upon a message delivered to the said Prince by a Trompeter sent to him from the Duke of Mercoeur, for other causes, by the which he was solicited to assign and make choice of some day & place of battle, desired by the Duke: he considering how speeches of that nature delivered by a Trompeter, might be disadvowed, and desiring as ever sithence his first coming into that Country, that some like occasion might be offered whereby the miseries and calamities of the same might have an end, which he had made appear by effects, thought meet for the better advancing of so good a work, by this writing signed with his hand, and sent by a Trompeter of his own, to signify to the said D. de Mercoeur, that the thing he most desired, was to come to the issue of so happy a day, and therefore would yield to him the choice of the day and place for that encounter, so that the place of meeting might be capable to receive the two armies in order of Battle, and to avoid the delays that might grow by want of resolution herein, he thought the Lawn of Menay very fit for this purpose, concluding, that if this honourable resolution should chance to be differred upon any alteration whatsoever on either part: he the said Prince doth protest before God and the world, that the honour and reputation of him that shall herein make default, shall incur the stain and prejudice that shall grow thereof.  
Dated at the Camp before Guingcamp, the seventh of june. 1591.  
The 8. of june the Duke of Mercoeur removed from Corlay to Saint giles, two small leagues distant from Chasteau-Laudran: The same day also the Prince departed from Guingcamp, about three of the clock in the morning, and lodged that night at Chasteau-Laudran, where his own Trumpeter with the Trumpeter of the Duke de Mercoeur met him, and delivered an answer from the said Duke signed with his hand, the contents whereof follow.  
The Duke de Mercoeur and of Penthieure Peer of France, Prince of the Holy Empire, Lord of Martigues and Governor of Britain.  
Having perused the writing of the Prince de Dombes, sent, upon the challenge of battle, delivered by his trumpeter: even as he hath many times sought the occasion, and desiring nothing more, then by a battle to free this Province from the miseries wherewith it hath been overwhelmed, by the repair of the said Prince into the same, and to withstand the apparent ruin thereof like to ensue, by the domination of an heretical king, with the overthrow of our holy Catholic religion: for the desire he hath to see the issue of so happy a day, and because the day and place is referred to his election, is resolved to be ready with his army on Thorseday next at ten of the clock in the morning, in the fittest place for such an action between Corlay and Guingcamp, and to come onward the best part of the way: which ought not to be refused or diferred in seeking of any place more remote or unfit with out dishonour: the said Duke protesting before God (from whom as fight in his cause he hopeth of victory) that he never had other intent, and that if the said Prince shall either refuse or diferre this offer, he shall show to the world, that his actions are not answerable to his brags, and shall thereby blemish his honour and reputation.  
Dated at the Camp at Corlay the 8. of june 1591.  
Hereunto the Prince for many good reasons, gave such reply as the Duke might perceive, he would not contend with him only in terms, but to give him all the provocation that possible he might to come to hands returned him this answer.  
The Prince de Dombes Governor of Dauphin, Lieutenant General for the King in his army in Britain.  
Having seen the answer of Duke Mercoeur of the eight of this month signed with his hand, upon the offer made of the day and place of battle to be given, saith, he was sent into this province to chastise and punish those that are traitorously rebelled against the King, of whom the said Duke being chief, doth manifest how he shuneth and feareth the presence of the said Prince, and the pain and punishment of his rebellion: and in regard of the lewd imputations given by his answer to the King, & to the said Prince, he saith he lieth, and shall lie as often as he shall so say.  
At the Camp at Chasteau-Laudran the ninth of june. 1591.  
This Cartel was sent by a trumpeter, and delivered to the Duke in the presence of many of the principal men of his army.  
THe Duke greatly moved with this cartel, did openly by a solemn o'th' vow, within 3. days to offer battle to the Prince, and on the 9 of june being wednesday, dislodged, & that day encamped at Quelenec a Village about a league and a half from Chasteau-Laudran, situate at the foot of a high hill, which by deep hedges, ditches and enclosures, confronted a little heath of two mile's compass, to which Heath upon the discovery of the approach of the enemy by our army, the Prince mounteth on horseback, and goeth to discern and make choice of the place for the battle between the enemy and him, and findeth about three quarters of a league of the Village aforesaid, a large plain or Heath, skirted in the side of the enemy with a Coppice, a little hill, & the ground raised with ditches of great advantage for the enemy, who by three large passages might without any difficulty, enter into the said Heath.  
The tenth day of june, the enemy, within one quarter of a league of the Heath, showeth his whole army in order of battle upon the top of a hill: the Prince on the other side put his troops in ordnance within the Heath, disposing the same by the advise of Sir john Norreis into three battalions, whereof the infantry English made two, & the Lancekneights the third. This day was spent with some light skirmishes, entertained by our men, and followed even to the main of the enemy's army.  
The 11. of june being Friday, the enemy drew his army to the foot of the hill, and placed his artillery upon the side of the Heath, in a place of such advantage, as it commanded in the nature of a Cavalier all the whole Heath, where he possessed the ground near about him, & bordered all the hedges with shot: and by the time that this was performed our army was marched into the Heath in order of battle, and presently sent out two hundred footmen to view the countenance of the enemy, who advancing themselves, charged the enemy, drove them to their strengths, put them from their hedges and Barricades, and slew diverse of them. Upon the retreat of these two hundred men, the Duke put forth five hundred French, and three hundred Spaniards to repossess the places, whom he followed with the great of his arm. Which perceived by the Prince, remaining on the Heath with Monsieur de la Hunauldaye commanding the avantgard, and having his regiment of horse in battle on the right hand of the white Cornet, and General Norreis (who in this action gave good proof of his wisdom and valour) Monsieur de Pogny, de Pruneaux, de Monmartin, and de Bastenay, order was given for the putting forth of three hundred footmen, commanded by Captain Anthony Wingfield Sergeant mayor, and captain Morton, and the English horse lead by Captain Anthony Shirley, and the skirmish hotly prosecuted, the enemy let slip a great number of shot under the defence of the hedges, thinking to lodge them on the left hand, & to have taken some two or three houses, & a small wood upon the edge of the Heath. The Prince commanded to be drawn out of the battalion of the Lancekneights one hundred men, shot and pikes, and one hundred and fifty shot French, lead by the Baron de Molac, backed with forty light horse, conducted by Monsieur de la Tremblaye, appointed to force the enemy from the place they had taken.  
This direction was valiantly prosecuted by ours, but specially by the English, so as the enemies horse and footmen which were in the plain were forced to fly, many slain, and the rest driven to save themselves within their Artillery, where the whole strength of Spaniards, with the rest of their army was placed. There was taken in this charge Monsieur de Guebrian Colonel of the footmen of the enemy by Monsieur de la Tremblay, and slain Don Roderigo, chief Mareschall of the Spaniards, a Spanish Captain, and to the number of two hundred French, and three score Spaniards.  
This resolute charge so amazed the army of the enemy, that our men were suffered within ten paces of their Cannon to disarm the dead, lead away prisoners, and retired at their ease, the enemy never proffering to follow.  
In this charge Captain Anthony Shirley gave such an example to the French horse, as was admired and much commended in all the army, and the commanders on foot performed their parts with no less valour and reputation, namely, the Sergeant Maior, Captain Dolphin, and Lieutenant Long, who behaved himself most valiantly, and received in his body five harquebus shot: but all such as by God's help within few days he will be able to return again into the field.  
The residue of the day wherein this charge was given, was spent in slight skirmishes and canonades.  
The twelfth of june, the enemy made a very great show to come forth to the battle, but at the last, sent out some number of shot to the skirmish, against whom captain Anthony Shirley with fifteen horse and a few foot, made head, and put them speedily to their heels, pursuing them to their Barricades, where his horse was shot in the head, and Master Kempe a Gentleman of that Cornet slain, and Master Charles Blunt his horse killed under him with the Canon, and himself somewhat wounded.  
The thirteenth of june, the enemy also offered some light skirmishes, but would not abide any charge either of horse or foot.  
On Monday the 14. of june we expected the battle, as undertaken by Don ivan de Lagula General of the Spaniards, in the honour of S. john whose day it was with them, but nothing was done: and that day seemed to end their choler, for that the Duke did prepare the same night to dislodge, withdrawing his Cannons from the place where they were planted, and the day following repassed the hill where he first appeared, and from thence retired to Quelenec, where yet he remaineth.  
The Prince hereupon after he had continued his army on the Heath, from Friday the eleventh of june, till the fifteenth of the same, always in a readiness to have given battle (the weather having been for the most part exceeding wet) withdrew his artillery, dislodged his army, and returned every troop to the several quarters, where they had before lodged, expecting the intention of the enemy, thereby to advise of the means to attempt upon him.  
The two armies continued encamped the one near to the other by the space of six days, in all which time the enemy never durst presume to draw his army into the Heath, nor make choice of ground for battle, notwithstanding the bravery of his challenge.  
On Wednesday the sixteenth day of june, Monsieur de la Nouë with the troop of the Conte Montgomery being an hundred Curates, and the Conte de Combourg came unto Chasteau-Laudran, whose arrival giveth hope of good success in the kings affairs, to the ruin and confusion of his enemies.  
The Prince de Dombes in a particular Letter of the twentieth of june, sent to the King's Ambassador here resident with her Majesty giveth this testimony of the valour of our General and Nation.  
I Send this brief discourse of the late action, wherewith you may acquaint her Majesty, protesting truly unto you, that I observe daily more and more the valour and worth of General Norreis, who hath so worthily carried himself in all these actions, that he hath won great honour and reputation here, and so have all the Captains and Soldiers of that Nation under his conduct: and if the Spaniards had had courage and valour like to these English troops which it hath pleased her Majesty to send unto us, we had made an end of the miseries of this Province, by the happy issue of a battle.  
And Monsieur de la Nouë in a Letter of the 21. of june to the said Ambassador, yieldeth his opinion of the actions, and of the General and our Nation in these terms:  
THe enemy was retired two leagues from our Army before my arrival, and is sithence gone further off: believe me there was made a brave attempt upon him, as General Norreis can best signify unto you, who was present at all that was offered. Our determination is still to draw them to Battle, which can not at all times at our choice be effected, as well by reason of the qualtiy of the Country, as that the Duke of Mercoeur will commit nothing to hazard. Without the succour sent hither by the Queen of England, Brittaigne had been greatly in danger, (I mean so much thereof as is possessed by the King) who in that respect is greatly bound unto her Majesty. It is a very fair and gallant troop of men, and are commanded by a most brave Captain General Norreis, a man very tractable, and with whom we are well fitted in disposition.  
FINIS.