The copy of a Letter written by the Lord of Themines, Seneschal of Quercy: to the Lord Martial Matignon, the kings Lieutenant General in Guyenne, concerning the battle at Villemure, and the victory achieved against the enemies of his Majesty.  
Also, A Decree of the Court of Parliament sitting at chaalon's, against a rescript in form of a Bull, directed to the Cardinal of Plaisance, and published by the Rebels in Paris, in October last.  
Faithfully done into English by E. A.  
Hereunto are adjoined, the reports of certain letters, of News out of France, and Savoya.   fleur de lis 
LONDON Imprinted by john Wolf.  
1593.   

THE COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN by the Lord of Themines Seneschal of Quercy, to the Lord Martial Matignon, the kings Lieutenant general in Guyenne concerning the battle at Villemure, & the victory achieved against the enemies of his Majesty.  
MY Lord, I account it my duty to advertise you, of such occurrences as have passed before Villemure, together with the occasion that I entered thereinto. Which was this: Being arrived in the town of Montauban, I found the affairs in so bad estate, and the said place of Villemure without speedy succour in such danger of loss: besides all not seeing wherewith to take the field, I determined to go thither with a hundred of my companions, and three hundred footmen. Hereof my Lord did I first give you notice, as also of such means as I made account off to come to relieve me with a sentinel: for I foresaw that the los of the said Villemure was of very great importance concerning the kings service, and the good of your government: which (that being taken) all the towns here about with in Quercy would have forsaken. This necessity would not give me leisure to attend your permission, according to my duty, and therefore it may please you my Lord to accept this reason for my excuse.  
I will not stand to discourse unto you, the combats and sallies performed in one month, the time that I was besieged, as also that in our sallies, we got great advantage of the enemies, besides the taking of their ensigns, and forcing of their trenches: for seeing themselves thus molested, they were forced to make forts at all the corners of their camp. In the mean time the Lord of Montmorency, sent the Lord of Leques, of Chambault and of Montoison to secure the said Villemure, who after eight days purposed to approach toward the enemy by a fort that they made show to assail: but the place was by the enemies army so succoured, that without farther endaungeringe of any thing, they returned to attend some of my friends: among others the Lord of Messillac, whom I had employed, and the Lord Giscart, also the Lord of lafoy Land, whom I had left to gather the forces of the Country. Upon their arrival, they approached the enemies upon Monday the nineteenth of this month, and them assailed at the very trenches, which, not finding all their horsemen in guard, were forced. This advantage lost, the enemy grew into such fear as not yielding such battle as I expected namely of their strangers, they were overthrown, and the most part drowned, namely the Lord of joyeuse, their artillery was taken, whereof were five Cannons or culverins, There were also found those of the town of Montaubon, that were taken from the regiment of the Lord of Espernon, where I was present with twelve horse, and that in good time, for the saving of a Cannon, which they had abandoned. All the said enemies Ensigns were taken, also all the leaders of their footmen, either dead or taken. To be brief my Lord: It was a very great overthrow. There be dead between twelve and fifteen hundred men, and about a hundred prisoners. It may please you my Lord in your packet to his Majesty so far to honour me as to give him to understand of my duty performed in effecting this service, as also if you please to honour me, as to give him to understand of my duty performed in effecting this service, as also if you please to honour me with your commanndements.  
From Villemure the twentieth of October 1592.   

A Decree of the Court of Parliament, sitting at chaalon's, against a rescript in form of a Bull, directed to the Cardinal of Plaisance, and published by the Rebels of Paris in the month of October last passed.  
IN as much as the kings Attorney general, hath declared unto this court that the Rebels and seditious persons to the end to execute such wicked and wretched purposes, as they have long since forecast, for the usurping of this crown, against the true and lawful successors of the same: not content with replenishing the Realm with murder, massacre, robbery, and spoil, also with bringing in the Spaniard, a most cruel and most pernicious enemy to the Realm of France, but also perceiving that the inhabitants of the rebellious towns, began as it were out of a long lethargy and swounde, to recover, and to enter the path of Obedience, whereto, by God and nature they are bound to their lawful King: to the end utterly to quench and stop up all pricks and points of charity toward their country, which in them began to shoot and waken, and to reduce the Realm into greater trouble and division then before, do frame themselves to proceed to the election of a new king, for a pretence whereof, they have procured the publishing of a certain writing in form of a Bull, importing power and commandment to the Cardinal of pleasance to assist and auctorize the said pretended election. Wherein the said rebels and seditious persons do openly reveal that which hitherto they had concealed, namely that they have taken the pretence of religion to cover their wretched and damnable enterprise & conspiracy: A matter which every good Frenchman and Catholic ought to detest and abhor, as being directly repugnant to God's word, all holy decrees, all counsels and the liberty of the french Church, which also openeth a gate to the utter ruin & subversion of all policies & humane societies instituted by God, namely of this so famous and flourishing Monarchy, the foundamentall law whereof doth principally consist in the order of lawful succession of kings, for the preservation whereof every good man and true frenchman is to hazard his life rather than to suffer it to be altered or violated, being the hinge whereupon the certainty and peace of the estate doth torn. Desiring provision for the same.  
The Court admitting the request made by the king's Attorney general, hath received and doth receive it, appealing as of abuse from the grant and purchase of the said Bull, and the power thereof, therein containing the publication and execution of the same, and whatsoever else hath ensued, it hath holden and doth hold to be well relieved: doth decree that Philip of the title of Saint Onuphrius, Cardinal of pleasance, shall therein be summoned, in defence of the said appeal, and whatsoever the exploits, performed in this town of chaalon's, by public cry, shall be of force, and in effect and valour, as if they were performed upon his own person, or habitation. In the mean time the said Court exhorteth all Prelates, Bishops, Princes, Lords gentlemans, Officers and the kings subjects, of what estate, condition or calling so ever, not to suffer themselves, to be led or won with the poison or charms of such rebels, and seditious persons, but to persist in the duty of good and natural Frenchmen, and still to retain that affection and charity, which they own to their king and country, neither to cleave to the subtleties of those who under the colour of religion, do seek to invade the estate, and to bring in the barbarous spaniards, and other usurpers. It doth also expressly inhibit and forbid all persons, not to retain or keep the said Bull, neither to publish the same, or therewith to help themselves: neither to favour the rebels, or to transport themselves into any such towns or places as may be appointed for the said pretended election. Under pain to the noble men to be disgraded of all nobility and to be denounced Infamous and Peasants, they and their posterity: to the clergy to be deprived from the possession of their benefices, and punished together with other the offenders, as guilty of treason and desturbers of public peace, forsakers and traitors to their Country: without hope for ever hereafter to obtain pardon, remission or abolition. It also inhibiteth all towns not to receive the said rebels or seditious persons to make their said assembly, neither to lodge, foster or harbour them. The said court also decreeth that the place where such deliberation shall have been taken, together with the town where the said assembly shall be made, shall be razed topsy-turvy, without hope of ever being re-edified, in perpetual remembrance to the posterity of their treason, treachery and falsehood: It also enjoineth all men at the alarum bell to overrun all such as shall transport themselves into any such town, to assist the said assembly. Also there shallbe Commission delivered to the said Attorney general, to inform against those that have been the authors and promoters of such conspiracies and monopoles, practised against the state, and all such as have aided or favoured them. And this decree, to be published with the sound of the trumpet, and common cry, in all the quarters of this town, and sent to all the seas of this resort, there to be read, published and enroled with all diligence, by the substitutes of the said Attorney general. Whereof they shall certify the Court, within the space of one month, under pain of suspension from their Offices.  
Done in the Parliament the 18. of November 1592. at chaalon's. Saigcot.   

By Letters of good credit, received this month of january 1593.  
THe Duke of Florence hath sent succour by Sea, to the French King, the which succour hath been encountered by king Philip his Galleys, but the Florentines have given them the overthrow, and are arrived safe to deep.  
They of the League, have created Lieutenant general for king Philip in the kingdom of France, a Spanish Cardinal which is in Paris.  
The parliaments of France which do hold for the king, have a statute, by the which it is ordained, that all them which do, and shall adhere to the League, are declared convinced of high treason, and that therefore, they and their goods are confiscated to the king, and if any Commonwealth, do adhere thereunto, it is ordained that the same shall lose all their privileges and liberties, and that (the walls of the same being beaten down) it shall be left like a barren villadge.  
They of Paris are in great extremity, so that the Crochetors, and other of the common sort, were risen against the better sort: but they have appeased them, by increasing their ordinary: and so they keep them now quiet.  
The Duke of Savoy being in Piemount, to resist the Lord des Diguieres, sent to the Duke de Terra nova, governor of Milan for help: who sent him his own son with many of the nobility of Milan, very strongly provided, and they being joined with the Duke, did approach the Lord des Diguiers, who passing little for them all did take in their sight a strong castle, the which he had bessieged near Thurin, and after that, he fought with them a very sore battle in the which, the son to the governor of Milan was slain. The Duke of Savoy put to flight, and his whole army defeated, many of the Duke's men were slain, and many were taken prisoners.  
The Duke of Lorraine hath fought lately against the Duke of Bullion, there were many of the Duke of Lorraine his men slain, and many were taken prisoners, amongst which were found about four hundred Gentlemen.  
The king doth aessmble his army about Chartres, to resist the enemy stranger, which is entered within France under the conduct of the Earl Charles Mansfield.   

By other Letters that came on the 20. of this month of january 1593.  
THe Duke of Espernon, hath taken Anthebe, and all the country about the same, so that all Provence is now brought under the kings obedience.  
He hath sent a hundred horsemen to the Lord des Diguieres in Provence.  
The Lord des Diguieres hath brought under the kings obedience, all the valley of Angroigne, and the country about it, and hath forced the Papists of that country to contract with him, by which contract, they are bound to pay every month, thirty thousand french crowns, for the maintenance of his army.  
The Duke of Florence, and the Venetians, have levied six thousand Swissers, to aid the French King, against his enemies.  
The Mareshall d'Aumont, hath taken the town of Dynan in Britain.   

copy DE LA LETTRE DE MONSIeur de Themines Seneschal de Quercy, enuoyée à Monseigneur le Mareschal de Matignon, Lieutenant gen eral du Roy en Guienne, concernant la bataille de Villemur, & victoire obtenue contre les ennemys de sa Maiesté.  
MONSEIGNEUR, ie tiens de mon debuoir, de vous advertir de ce, qui s'est passé devant Villemur, & de l'occasion, qui me fit ietter dedans: C'est, qu'estant arriué en la ville de Montauban, i'y trouuay les affaires en si mawais estat, & ledict am de Villemur en tel danger de se predre, s'il n'estoit promptement secouru, & ne voyant dequoy me mettre à la campaign, ie me deliberay de m'y en aller avec cent de mes compaignons, & trois cens hommes de pied. I'en donnay la nowelle à vous premierement, Monsieur, & apres à tout ce que i'estimois avoir de moyens, pour me venir releuer de sentinelle: car ie prevoyois que la part dudict Villemur estoit tres-importante au service du Roy, & au bien de vostre gouuernement: car celle-là prinse, toutes les villes de ces enuirons, qui sont dansle Quercy eussent quitté. Ceste necessité ne m'eust peu donner loisir d'attendre vostre permission: car c'estoit ce que ie deuois. Vous receurez en ce subject, s'il vous plaist, Monsieur, mon excuse. je ne m'arresteray à vous discourir des combats & sorties, qui se sont faictes durant un mois, que i'ay esté assiegé, & que en noz sorties nous auons gaigné grand advantage sur l'ennemy, prins des drappeaux, forcé des trenchées, tellement que se voyant travaillez de ceste sort, ils auroyent esté contraints fair des forts à tous les coings de leur camp. Durant ce temps Monsieur de Mommorency enuoya Monsieur de Leques, de Chambault, & de Montoyson pour secourir ledict Villemur: & au bout de huict iours ils sevoulurent approcher des ennemis par un fort, qu'ils firent semblant de vouloir attaquer, mais ce am fust secouru de l'armée desdicts ennemis, tellement que sans vouloir rien hazarder, ils s'en retournerent pour attendre de mes amis: entre autres Monsieur de Messillac, que i'auois employé, & lesieur Giscart, & lesieur de la land, que i'auois laissé dehors pour assembler les forces du pays. Lors qu'ils ont esté arrivez, ils s'en sont venuz aux ennemis le lundy dixneufiesme de ce mois, & apres les avoir attaquez par le haut de leurs trenchées, & n'y trouuant toute leur caualerie en guard, ils ont esté forcez. Cest advantage perdu, l'armée enemy se mit en tel effroy, que sans rendre tant de combat, que ie croyois, mesmes des estrangers, ils ont esté deffaicts, & la pluspart noyez, mesmes monsieur de joyeuse, l'artillery prinse, ou ily a cinq pieces de canon ou colewrines, celles de la ville de Montauban y ont esté trowées qui auoyent esté prinses au regiment de Monsieur d'Espernon, ou ie me trouuay avec douze chevaux, & bien à propos pour sawer un canon, qu'ils auoyent abandonné, tous les drappeaux desdits ennemis prins, tous les chefs de gens de pied morts ou prins. Bref, Monsieur, c'est une tres-grande deffaicte, il y a de morts, de douze à quinze cens hommes, & environ de cent prisonniers. Vous me ferez bien l'honneur, s'il vous plaist, Monsieur, que lors que vous despecherez à sa Majesté, vous luy ferez entendre le debuoir, que i'ay rendu à l'effaict de ce service: & meferez aussi, s'il vous plaist, l'honneur de me commander. De Villemur, le vingtiesme d'Octobre, mil cinq cens nonante deux.   

ARREST DELA COUR DE Parliament seant a chaalon's country le Rescrit en form de Bule, address au Cardinal de Plaisance, publié par les rebelles de Paris, au mois a Octobre dernier.  
SUR ce que le Procureur general du Roy a remonstré à la Cour, queles rebels & seditieux pour executer les meschan's & malheureux desseings qu'ils ont de longue main proiettez pour usurper ceste Couronne sur les urais & legitimes successeurs d'icelle, non contens d'auoir remply le Royaume de meurtres, massacres, brigandages, & pillories, & avoir d'abondant introduit l'Espagnol trescruel & trespernicieux enemy de la France, voyans que les habitans des villes rebels commencoient come d'vne longue lethargy & pamoison à returner à soy & reprendre le chemin de l'obeissance dont Dieu & Nature les obligent enuers leur Roy legitime pour du tour amortir & reboucher les points & aigullions de la charité vers leur Patrie, qui se reveilloient en eux & remettrece royalme en plus grand trouble & division que devant, se disposent de proceder à l'eslection d'vn Roy. Pour à laquelle donner quelque couleur, ils ont fait publier certain escrit en form de Bule portant powoir & mandement au Cardinal de Plaisance d'assister & authoriser ladite pretendue eslection. En quoy lesdits rebels & seditieux descowrent apertement ce qu'ils ont iusques icy tenu cachè, & qu'ils n'ont fait que prendre le pretext de la religion pour cowrir leur malheureuse & damnable enterprise & conjuration. Chose que tout bon Francois & Catholic doit detester & abhorrer come directement con traire an la parole de Dieu, aux saints decrets, conciles & libertez de l'Eglise Gallicane, & qui owre la port à l'entiere ruin & eversion de toutes polices & societez humaines instituees de Dieu, mesmement de ceste tant renommee & florissante Monarchy, lafoy loy fondamentale de laquelle consist principalement en l'ordre de la succession legitime de nos Rois, pour la conservation de laquelle tout homme de bien & uray François, doit exposer savie plustost que souffrir qu'elle soit alteree & viollee, come le gond sur lequel turn toute la certitude & repos de l'Estat requerant y estre purvey.  
LA COVR en entherinant larequeste fact par le Procureur general du Roy, l'a receu & reçoit, appellant come d'abus de l'octroy & impetration de ladicte Bule, & powoir y contenu publication, execution d'icelle, & tout ce qui s'en est ensuivi, l'à tenu & tient pour bien releué, ordonne que philip du titre de S. Onuphre Cardinal de Plaisance, ser a assigné en icelle, pour defendre audit apple, & vaudront les exploits faits en ceste ville de chaalon's, à cry public, & seront de tel effect & valeur come si faits estoient à person ou domicile. Et cependant exhort ladicte Cout tous Prelates, Euesques, Princes, Signior, Gentilshommes, Officers & subiets du Roy, de quelque estate, condition & quality qu'ils soient, de ne se laisser aller ou gagner aux poisons & ensorcellemens de tells rebels & seditieux, ains demourer au devoir de bons & naturels François, retenir tousiours l'affection & charité qu'ils doiuent à leur Roy & Patrie, sans adherer aux artifices de ceulx qui soubs couleur de religion veuillent enuahir l'Estat, & y introduire les barbares espagnols & autres usurpateurs, faict tresexpresses inhibitions & deffences à toutes personnes, de te nir ny avoir chez soy ladite Bule, icelle publier, s'en aider, ou favoriser lesdits rebels, ny se transporter aux villes & lieux qui pourroient estre assignez pour ladite pretendue election, Sur pain aux Nobles d'estre degradez de Noblesse, & declarez insames & roturiers eux & leur posterity, & aux Ecclesiastiques d'estre decheuz du possessoire de leurs benefices, & punis ensemble tous contrevenans, come criminels de leze majesty, & perturbateurs du repos public, deserteurs & traistres à leur pays, sans esperance de powoir obtenir à l'aduenir pardon, remission ou abolition, & à toutes Villes de recevoir lesdits rebels & seditieux, pour fair ladicte assembly, les loger, retirer, ou heberger.  
Ordonne ladicte Cour que le am ou la deliberation aur a esté prise, ensemble la Ville ou ladicte assemblee se fera, seront rasez de fonds en comble, sans esperance d'estre redifiez, pour perpetuelle memoire à la posterité de leur trahison, perfidy, & infidelité, enjoinct à toutes personnes de courir sus à son de toxain, country ceux qui se transporteront en ladicte ville, pour assister à icelle assemblee, & sera commission deliuree audict Procureur general, pour informer country ceux qui ont esté autheurs & promotheurs de tells monopoles & conjurations faictes country l'Estat, & qui leur ont aidé ou favorisé. Et sera le present arrest publié a son de trump & cry public par les carefours de cest Ville, & envoyé par tous les sieges de ce resort, pour y estre leu, publié, & enregistré à la diligence des substituds du Procureur general, dont ils certifieront la Cour dans un mois, à pain de suspension de leurs estates.  
Faict en Parliament le XVIII. Novembre M. D. XCII. A chaalon's.