News FROM ROME, Spain, Palermo, Genevae, and France.  
With the miserable state of the City of Paris, and the late yielding up of sundry Towns of great strength, unto the King.  
Translated out of Italian and French into English.  
LONDON Printed for Thomas Nelson, and are to be sold by William Wright. 1590.   

News from Rome.  
IT is credibly reported by Letters from Chiavenna that there was one of the family of Lucemburge, a Papist by profession, and yet a servant to the French King, passed through Chiavenna, with three score horse, and stayed there one day. And the next day following, he departed from thence to Zappei de Briga towards Venice. He goeth in the behalf of the house of Bourbon: from sundry the chief of the Nobility of France, to deliver a message to the Pope, and to have conference with him and the Princes of Italy, for the firm establishing of Henry de Borbon King of Navarre, now the lawful French King: under whose obedience they are willing to live. Which thing he very boldly avouched unto the Pope's face, and told him that they sought to have it confirmed with quietness. Adding further that if the Pope and those Princes of Italy would not allow thereof, that they would defend the same with fire and sword. And hazard their lands and livings in maintenance of his right. Whereupon the Pope after due consideration taken, gave answer to the Messenger, viz. That fore much as he saith he is lawfully descended thereunto. And that the chief States and Potentates of Germany are determined to defend him for the recovery of his said right. That he would not any more send aid to trouble and vex him, as heretofore he hath done: so as the King would acknowledge himself established therein by the Pope's means. And in so doing and yielding unto some such Popish conditions as the Pope would deliver him in writing: he would therein further him to the uttermost (whereto this Messenger made answer that he knew certainly, that the King would never condescended thereunto.) Whereat the Pope replied saying: That were it not that the King is a Hugonite by profession: he worthily deserveth to bear this title. Viz. The great Caesar of the World. With which glorious Title he offered to grace and honour the King, so as he would change his Religion.  
IN the City of Rome, there is an old ancient Monument long since erected of stone, and it is called Pasquil: whereon many notable things are from time to time set up in the disgrace of the Pope of Rome. Upon which said Pillar, there was set up soon after the departure of this Champion: three several pictures, either of them being contrary to the other.  
The first picture was as it is here lively pourtraghed forth Viz. First the Pope set out gorgeously in his Robes and triple Crown: and a stranger holding him by the beard, with a dag set close to his breast pronouncing this sentence unto him: viz.  Red Rationem villicationis tuae. 
Which being seen to the Common people made them greatly to murmur and be of sundry imaginations. Some were of this opinion, that it pretended the murdering of the Pope, or some treason to his holiness: others imagined, that it prophesied the fall of the Pope's kingdom, and alteration of the Antichristian Religion and state of Rome, and others supposed it to be done only in the derision thereof. Whereupon some favourer of Christian Religion in the City of Rome, that durst not openly be known, wrote certain verses upon either of those several Pictures: and after scattered them in the streets of Rome, where soon after speedy search was made for the Author of them, but he could not by any means be found out.   pope in his regalia being threatened by a commoner 
〈…〉  

Thou Pope that dost for gold, deceive full many souls.  
And seekest nought at all, but spoil of Christians blood,  
Fall down before thy God, whom thou dost still offend,  
And let Repentance be, the staff of all thy stay.  
Else shalt thou soon perceive, God's wrath is on thy head.  
Unto thy charge preach truth, cast of thy paltry trash,  
Thy Masses and thy Marks of plain Idolatry,  
Seek not to blind those men, that do thy folly see,  
But of thy wicked life, see just account thou make,  
'Gainst God do not rebel, nor those whom he anoints,  
But shed forth brinish tears, for all thy deeds amiss.  
Else shalt thou be cut off, and kingdom trodden down,  
By him that now in France, of right doth were the crown.   
FINIS   

THe second Picture before recited was in this manner. There was Pictured forth the King of Spain lying in his bed sore sick: and a Physician standing before him, who taking the King by the hand and feeling of his powlees: saith unto him. Viz.  Durabit tempore Curto.  the ailing king of Spain attended by a physician 
The verses made upon that Picture were these. 
 
Blind King what dost thou mean to bathe thy hands in blood  
Of Innocents', and such as guiltless be,  
Thou covetst to obtain the glory of this world,  
Which is like sléeting Snow that melteth in the Sun:  
Thy gold doth thee besot, and God thou dost forget,  
Thou thirstest after that which thou shalt never win:  
Thy kingdom is too large, and that doth thee bewitch,  
Thou aimest full at France, yet dost thou miss the mark,  
Because thou wouldst thereby procure sweet England's harm.  
Well mayst thou send to seas, thy shipping tall and huge,  
To do thy neighbour hurt, and gain thyself no good:  
But when thou so hast done, thyself if so thou live,  
Shalt see and say with me, that God is sore displeased,  
And bids thee be content, thou hast not long to live:  
Seek therefore for thy end, and set thy soul at rest:  
So shalt thou live for aye, else die with great unrest.   
FINIS.   

The third and last picture was in this manner, viz. The City of Geneva defended by the hand of almighty God, (though assaulted by the Duke of Savoy) was delivered from danger of the Duke's forces: and he forced to fly away naked, looking back upon the said City of Geneva, and crieth out saying,  Nessio amplius quo vadam.  the Duke of Savoy fleeing the city of Geneva 
The verses written on the third Picture were these. 
 
Thou Savoy Duke that headlong seemst to run  
To spoil a City of no small account,  
Whose walls and gates are kept by God himself,  
Who bids thee back or he will daunt thee so  
As greatly shall return to thy unrest,  
Retire thou thence, and say as other did,  
When seven stout Kings by force did it bessiege,  
God doth and will defend it still from harm.  
It is not force of Canon can do good  
To win thy will of that fair maiden town,  
Shoot thou strong bullets, it for to disgrace,  
They will rebound even back unto thyself  
Retire for shame, and if thou manage arms,  
Bestow thy force 'gainst them that will thee fear,  
Even such I mean as fight against the Lord,  
And daily seek his Gospel to deface,  
But if thou be of that disloyal mind,  
And wilt not pray to God to pardon thee,  
And so repent thee of thy former miss,  
Then fly from God. Geneva sure is his.   
FINIS.   

These Pictures and Vearses did so far incense the Pope with all the fraternity of Friars, Monks and Abbey lubbers in Rome, that they fell in a rage, cursing and condemning with bell, book, and candle, the Deviser, Painter and Author of those pictures and verses, and did oppose themselves against the authors thereof, swearing to pursue them to death if ever they were known.   

The News from Spain is.  
THat the King is sickly, very weak and wondrously grieved with his great losses of men & munition which he hath sustained within these two years, as well within his own dominions, as also on the coasts of England and Ireland, France and Flanders. He was lately complotting of a new intended mischief, and with some convenient speed pretended a new Invasion for England, whereto he made great preparation: and to that purpose sent sundry traitorous persons secretly into England, being seminary priests, to persuade the people from their obedience, and to hearten on lewd and wicked members, to become favourers and associates of that Invasion. But I think no subjects in England having seen the fruits of the Spanish and Popish dissembling, will now become favourers of such treasons, nor be harbourers of such traitors. But all things therein doth fall out contrary to the King of Spain's expectation. For now his own subjects do resist him, and have made plain denial for coming at any time hereafter in warlike sort against the Realm of England: For which cause the King of Spain hath put to death sundry of his chief Captains and men of good birth and calling, and hath sworn the death of the Duke of Medina for that cause only. Who in the defence & safety of himself, hath taken an Island: and sundry men of calling and soldiers do take parts with him, and are become very mutinous against the King of Spain. This Duke de Medina was chief General of the huge army of Spaniards that came by sea to invade England, when it pleased God that the most part of them were slain with the sword and drowned in the sea: the success of whose voyage daunted the hearts of all Spaniards for ever, for invading this land. Which as the Almighty hath sundry times defended from danger, so no doubt but he will still defend and support the same from Turk, Pope, and all other enemies whatsoever: which thing is likely by the prayers of good Christians to be the more easily compassed, for that God is the anchor-hold of England's hope and safety.   

The News from Palermo in Cicilie.  
THe certain news is, that the Nobility of Palermo in Cicilie (being within the dominions of the king of Spain) have of late utterly banished from thence the Spanish Inquisition, which hath of long time continued there amongst them in very sharp sort, and was unto them of Palermo wonderful grievous: for such was the severe proceedings of those inquisitors, that they would spare no man, woman, or child from the fiery and extreme tortures of death, that did once repine, mislike, or speak against the superstition of their Friars and idolatrous religion there used. Whereupon the Pope, the King of Spain, and chief of the Inquisition, are determined to send power thither, and to make war against them, only to constrain them again to receive the said Inquisition, which they utterly refuse to do, and are all sworn to the contrary.   

The News from Geneva.  
THat whereas the City of Geneva was lately besieged with a mighty power, brought thither by the Duke of Savoy, who intended to have razed the walls thereof, made a conquest of the City, and to have put the Citizens with their wives and children to the sword, yet God be thanked the Citizens have of late greatly discomforted the Duke's power, and caused him to remove his forces further, which is greatly weakened both by sword and sickness, so that there is great likelihood you shall hear of the Duke's departure thence very shortly, to the better quietness of the Citizens thereof.   

The News from France, and misery of Paris.  
SInce the most wonderful and miraculous work of God (now bruited in the cars of the world) concerning the great victory, which he gave unto the Christian King Henry of Bourbon (a man for his valour, worthy everlasting honour) it is not unknown, how after he had pursued the enemy in chase full five hours and more, and having put many thousands of them to the sword, though they were more than three to one. And after that he had put the Duke de Main to flight, who since hath withdrawn his wife and children from Paris unto Perone, that sundry towns hath since yielded themselves to the mercy of the King's Majesty, as Vernon, Mentz, and sundry other towns of strength are now presently like to be delivered into his majesties hands. Great and likely was the sign that God fought for this gracious King, when the night before the battle he showed a miraculous token of victory to the King's side, namely, by a pitched battle seen in the sky, where in fight of many thousand persons, the lesser number did overcome the greater: as it fell out afterward by the King's side, who being but a small number, did put many thousands of the greater number to the sword. Since which his good success the King hath gotten the towns of Corbeyle and Melum.  
Corbeyle was yielded up unto his Majesty, but the town of Melum he won by the sword, where was great effusion of blood upon the enemy. These towns stand upon the river of Seine and Laigney upon the river of Marnes, by means whereof his Majesty hath stopped up all the passages of the rivers, so as no aid can come unto them of Paris.  
The King is at Clow, and having cut off them at Paris from receiving in any succour of victual or otherwise: he hath besieged Meos, and sendeth some of his forces against Saint Dennis.  
The Pope hath lately sent his Legate into France, to discharge the King of the excommunication which was before pronounced against him, saying he did it before by false information, and hopeth that he will become a most Christian King, and that the Crown of France doth of right appertain unto him: and to that purpose the Pope hath written to the Clergy, commanding them to obey and pray for the King upon pain of his excommunication.  
It is wonderful to see the present and grievous estate of the inhabitants of Paris, which City is still withhold from the King's Majesty: yet they have sought to the King since the departure of the Duke de Maine, to receive the said City upon conditions, whereto the King will not grant. He willeth them to yield it up unto him as his right, & to stand to his mercy, which they have refused to do, but in the end it will be the worse for themselves.  
They of Paris do continue seeking to have speech at Noise, and do verily think that the Duke de Maine will forthwith send them some great and mighty army to succour them, being now hardly pressed up for want of victuals: which thing is unpossible for him to do, by reason of the passage which is stopped up, as is before specified. The greater part of the inhabitants in the City of Paris, are overruled by their governors, that they begin to grew mutinous amongst themselves. And the Friars do daily preach unto them, & persuade them still to resist the King, though it be with the loss of their own lives. Which thing the poorer sort are constrained to consent unto, though contrary to their wills, and by reason of their want, they are ready to kill one another for victuals.  
Death stands there in every man's door, and threateneth their utter ruin for their wilful stubbornness: and though the poorest do live in great penury, yet the richest among them do make many a hungry meal. So that now it is the common report of every French, man in France, They of Paris cannot hold out above ten or twelve-days at the most Those of Quillebeufe have taken a galley which came from Roan, laden with goods of the Duke de Aumal and other chief men: who had taken those goods from out the houses of the King's servants.  
Thus have you heard how wonderfully God hath defended the King's Majesty even in the danger of death, where at such time as the enemy made full account to have slain the King in his flight, he was by God's providence constrained to the himself, and in the flight compelled to warm himself, and to escape in a soldiers jacket. This was the will of God, to confound him that sought the confusion of his King, and as the same God that so defended him, hath sent him since towns of great strength, to resist and tame the fury of so mighty a so, so doubtless the same God will still deliver him from danger, and speedily send him his chief and strongest Cities and walled towns yet detained from him: and as well deliver his chiefest enemies into his hand, as also to draw the hearts of all his subjects unto him, maugre the malice of such miscreant helhounds and detestable traitors, or the hellish crew of the unholy League, now up in arms against his Majesty, for whose speedy confusion and overthrow, all the true and faithful favourers of the King, will continually pray. And for the prosperity and defence of their most gracious King and Country.  
FINIS.