NEWS FROM Sir Roger Williams.  
With a discourse printed at Rheines containing the most happy victory, lately obtained by the Prince de Conty, Lieutenant general over the kings forces, in Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Poictu, Berry, Blaysois, Vendomois, Dunois, high and lower Limosin, and Perch, against the rebellious Leaguers, enemies to his Majesty.  
Whereunto is annexed the order or agreement of the Court of Parliament, held in Normandy at sundry times, and now lastly confirmed the eighteenth of August, to the utter abolishing of the Pope's authority, the taking away of his revenues, and the burning of his Bulls.  
Printed by john Wolf, and are to be sold by Andrew White, at the Royal Exchange, over against the Conduit in Cornwall. Anno. 1591.   

The Copy of a Letter, sent by Sir Roger Williams to the Citizens of Paris, concerning some false rumours by them lately given out.  
To the Colonels, Captains, aswell Spaniards as others being at this present in Paris.  
Having received intelligence by men of credit and good condition, that you & your Allies in the City of Paris, as well the masters of the Sorbonistes, as all other the favourers of the Spanish power, have given forth a false brute, that you have challenged the English forces, lying at Hauberuiller, to the combat, number for number. Whereunto I answer, that true it is, we are but four of the meanest companies, which might be chosen out of the Queen's majesties forces, our Sovereign Lady and Mistress, the Queen's most excellent Majesty of England: yet notwithstanding, if you please to do us the credit (having leave of the King's Majesty our master) we will meet you with two hundred English pikemen, and a hundred muskeeteers, between the Villette, and Paris. Where with the help of the great God, the world shall testify, that I, and my companies, shall not have the least fear of you. True it is, that for mine own part, I do esteem you brave soldiers, and would do more, if you were conducted by julian Romero, your late Colonel, Mondragon Sentio Daville, and the like, who of late have been discomfited and slain: but I doubt, that Sir Alexander de Nantes, and those which now command you, do willingly persuade the Governors and Ladies of Paris, that there is none other conduct in the world but theirs: only this I think, that what they do is upon compulsion. As for me and my companies, we have obtained leave of the King, to show that we are resolute to defend and disprove your rumours to be false & forged, if so it please you to repair to the place appointed, where I determine, that a hundred French Gentlemen in my company, (who have humbly besought the King, to permit them to try their valour with Pikes, though it were against six score of you, of such as you can bring) shall prove and allow the same to be just, & lawful. Thus staying for your answers, I kiss your hands in courtesy. From Hauberuiller this 16 of july.   

A Letter sent by the King, to my Lord the Prince de Conty, upon the taking of the City of Louuiers in Normandy.  
COusin, God hath so highly favoured me, that my City of Lowiers is this day delivered into my obeisance. The execution whereof was done at the hour of midday, and in my presence: for ten of mine possessed themselves with one of the gates of the said City. The Baron of Byron, whom I caused to come near with my forces, was also so soon entered therein; notwithstanding the fight was very fierce, in regard of the resistance made by the inhabitants, and Fontaine Martel, who had his company of an hundred Cuirasses in the said City: yet it pleased God I became master, losing there not above eighteen or twenty men, among whom were five Captains. Beside, I found myself able to make one of the gates of the City to yield, where thorough most part of the men of war and the inhabitants withdrew themselves. The Bishop of Eureux, and Fontaine-Martel, were found, taken by the hands of my Soldiers. There was found in the City a great quantity of Corn and Wine, beside other munitions, and the place itself in such estate, as it may be called one of the Forts of my realm. And hereupon I pray God to preserve my good Cousin in his safe and holy guard.  
From the Camp at Vernon, the sixth of june, 1591. Signed, Henry. And a little lower. Potier.  
On the outside was written.  
To my Cousin, the Prince of Conty.   

A discourse of the victory obtained by my Lord the Prince of Conty, Lieutenant general over the King's forces in Anjou, Tourin, Maine, Poctu, Berry, Blaisois, Vendomois, Dunois, high and neither Livosin, and Perch, against the rebellious Leaguers enemies to his Majesty.  
MY Lord the Prince of Conty, being come into the country of Poictu, with the Army which he conducted for the King's service, consisting of a great number of Noble men and Infantry, to the end he might purge this Province of the oppression and tyranny, which the rebellious Leaguers (enemies to his Majesty) exercised on his subjects: to bring those places which they unlawfully used into his majesties obedience, and freely to deliver this Province: Being advertised the Viscount de la Guierche had besieged Belac with two Cannons, one culverin, and a Bastard piece of ordinance: resolved with himself to march right & directly thither, to raise the siege of the said Viscount, or bid him battle, if he durst tarry his coming. But his excellency having attained so far as Lucac,, a very great days journey, was given to understand, that the Viscount himself had withdrawn his siege, and according to the natural villainy, wherewithal the Leaguers are familiarly acquainted, had betaken himself with his Cavalry to Chawigny, leaving his Cannon and Infantry at Mont Morillon. Which when my Lord the prince perceived, and that he had lost the occasion of giving a fair check to the presumptuous Viscount (who by an extreme mischance saved himself from the sight of my Lord of Trimovile, he marched but a little before, and not able to be succoured by the prince, could not fight with him, but was constrained to leave him to slight) concluded now with himself to fasten on the said City of Montmorillon, which at the same time he caused to be summoned: but they within being not willing to make any answer, his excellency commanded to give them certain volleys with the cannon, after which he caused them to be summoned again: but they still continued in their resolution to keep aloof.  
On the morrow (being the sixth day of june) at five of the clock in the morning, his excellency changed the battery, which endured very furious till the tenth hour before midday, and then my Lord the prince commanded to give the assault, which was done very courageously on all sides, and continued the space of three long hours together. But in the end, our men having taken the high town, compelled the enemy to retire into the low town (separated by the River which passeth thorough the midst) where they hide themselves within a Chapel, and there prevailed so well, as they did greatly endamage our men on the side toward the high town. But the Prince seeing advisedly into the danger, sent five or six charges from the Cannon against the gate of the Chapel: which being immediately broken, the enemy was constrained quickly to forsake it. This gave our men occasion to pursue them so bravely & cheerfully, that God (who evermore assisteth with his divine bounty, such as in good zeal fight for his name, and in so just a quarrel, and for the service of their King) favoured them so graciously, that they conquered both the high and low Towns of the said Montmorillon, having put to the sword more than five hundred footmen, and sixty Cuirasses, two masters of the field, and all the Captains slain, wounded, or taken prisoners, whereof my Lord the Prince caused many to be hanged, by example of that which the Leaguers did at S. Savin.  
This brave exploit was done, without loss of aniemore on our side, than one soldier, being of his Excellency's Guard who was slain, and one Gentleman, named the Seigneur of S. Martin. The Marshal of our company of armed men, was hurt with an arqebus in the arm, and very few of our soldiers beside were wounded. Three other places afterward were yielded, to wit, the Towns of Chawigny, S. Savin, le blank en Berry, with the Castles of Bourg-Archambault, Plaisance, Bel-Arbre, Auailles, Belauue, Angles, and Bisse, beside many other that are as willing. So that more fair and fortunate effect hath not been seen, then of this happy and signal victory, wherein it pleased God to bless my Lord the Prince, as he hath evermore done in all his enterprises, returning still to the great advantage of the King's affairs and service, whereby his poor people shall receive great comfort. Thus first was the siege of Belac raised by the Viscount of Guierche, and only upon apprehension of the coming of my Lord the Prince: the Viscount with his cavalry in rout, posted away in the greatest disorder that could be: Montmorillon taken by assault: all the Leaguers Infantry shamefully scattered: four Cannons besides other munition, and seven Ensigns taken: so many places likewise yielded at the same time into the King's obeisance: and infinite other, who attend nothing else, but that his Excellency will receive them to their first and natural duty, which is to obey his Majesty, as all good & true Frenchmen are bound to do: to God therefore be all honour and glory.  
The order of the assault, neither the names of the Captains and heads of the contrary part, is spoken of in this discourse: because it is but a letter or remembrance of the deed done and lately effected at the Camp at Montmorillon.   

The order or agreement of the Court of Parliament held in Normandy.  
THe Court and Chambers assembled, seeing the King's letters of declaration, given at Mante the fourth of july last, following upon a former declaration made by the said Lord, at his coming to the Crown, wherein he confirmed what will he had to conserve whole and sound the religion catholic, Apostolic and Roman in this realm, had given in charge to proceed against one, naming himself the Nuntio of the pretended Pope Gregory the xiiii. who contrary to the dignity, authority of the said realm, and liberty of the French Church; published certain Bulls in form of admonition against the king, princes of his blood, and other princes, prelate's, ecclesiastical, officers of the Crown, and all other his faithful subjects and servants. another agreement was made by the Court the thirty. of januarie. 1590., upon the king's letters patents, bearing date the fift of that month and year, against a pretended Legate come into France: whereby the said Court made defences and inhibitious to all Curates, Vicars, and other ecclesiastical officers, as also to all persons, of whatsoever quality or condition they were: not to receive any charge, neither act or expedition proceeding from the said pretended Legate. And if any were found so hardy, as to enterprise or proceed to the publication and reading thereof: it was enjoined to all such as found them with the deed, on pain of being declared guilty of high treason, to seize upon their bodies, and to present them in justice before the judge royal. another declaration was published in the Court the xviii. day of August, 1591. with a copy of the said pretended Bull, sent from the above named Gregory, who calleth himself Pope, dated the first of March. 1590. Signed Vestrius Barbianus, and underneath A De Alexiis, and on the outside Registrata apud Marcellum Secretarium: whereupon the Attorney general to the king, and Thomas the Advocate general proceeded in manner following.  
Among things natural there is such an order, that one dependeth upon an other, and to avoid confusion, the inferior are subjects to the superior. Even so among men, the divine providence hath given a natural inclination, to one to command, and to others to obey, in whom lieth the greatness, quiet, and welfare of realms, and commonwealths, where the Kings, Princes, and Magistrates ordained to be above, are marks and prerogatives more than other, which maketh them sacred & inviolable, as representing lively the image of the divinity. Such therefore are we bound to obey, as the wisest in all times past have with one voice witnessed, that the bonds which we hold or retain one to another, of what estate soever they be: are not of such virtue and efficacy, as those whereby we are restrained and bound to regard and honour our Kings: to expose our lives, goods, and all means else for their safety, and for the execution of their commandments. But beyond this natural inclination, there is nothing so much expressed in all the holy Scripture, & which hath been more religiously observed in the church of God: then using prayers public and particularly, for the prosperity of Kings and Emperors, albeit they were Pagans and Infidels. Such likewise ought to be the vows and orisons of the Prelates and Pastors, for the life of their Princes, and prosperity in their affairs, following therein the ancient counsels and determinations of the good fathers, and holy personages: and so well hath this order been preserved, as thereby hath the catholic religion flourished, and realms and great Seigneries filled with patience and charity, with continual and free invocation on the name of God. And principally might this be noted in this realm of France, the true prop or stay of religion, and refuge to the seat Apostolic in all her afflictions: till now that certain ambitious and unthankful men, being little contented with the excessive good turns they have received from our Kings, and aspiring to their height of estate and life, have filled this Realm with Sedition, Felony, Barbarism, and cruelty. And as this unhappy and insatiable ambition, hath made them forget all right and piety, so well know these Rebellious conjurers, that in all time's religion hath had a most mighty puissance over men, and that under the shadow thereof, the Pagan's themselves have held their Monarchies, estates, and authorities▪ even so under this pretence they lay down the foundations of their pernicious purposes, and making traffic of the gifts and blessings of the holy spirit, have with counting money bought the selling tongues of many ecclesiastical persons, made drunk with like ambition, and the great promises of the authors of this rebellion, and by blasphemy and hypocrisy, have filled the house of God with all execrable abominations, making the flesh to sound where the word of God ought to be preached, by burnings, murders, massacres, spoils, and subtle practices, and by fearful outrages have deceived and drawn to them the worst sort of people, the weakest and fanatical spirits.  
Then have they called to the partage and dissipation of this flourishing Realm the Spaniards, ancient enemies to true Catholics, and this French estate, without whose aid, nevertheless the predecessors of their King had never obtained the crown of Spain, and all the people yet live in Arrianisme and Sothike heresy. And to heap impiety and wickedness together, they caused to be done that cruel, abominable and detestable Parricide on the late most Christian King, a religious and catholic Prince, whom God absolve.  
Now seeing that the divine providence hath miraculously preserved and raised King Henry the fourth, reigning at this present, (who in so just a cause is assisted by all the Princes of his blood, the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and the better part of good Prelates, the principal officers of the Crown, and the Nobility beside, who all with one voice, demand and breath for nothing else but the expiation of a deed so heinous, the re-establishing of this estate, as also the religion Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman, and the restitution of those great Signeuries, which unjustly they have detained in his realm of Navarre since the time of his majesties great grandfather, and to reprove the title which they by usurpation pretend to this Realm:) these rebels opposing themselves against him, have made, & do make, by their accustomed practices, to run under hand divers scandalous libels against the honour of the king, the princes of his blood, & his good & faithful subjects: to overthrow all order, to induce them forsake the yoke of obedience, & wander from the service & fidelity, which they own to his highness▪ by the disposition of all right, divine and human. Notwithstanding, they shall not be shaken by such sinister deceits, the grace of God assisting, the wisdom & valour of the king, their loyalty in defence of this realms dignity, & the perfect freedom of the French Church: following the examples of their predecessors who in like & less case, employed themselves, & bravely held head against all the Pope's enterprises: who sometimes forgetting themselves against their benefactors, would insult upon the pre-eminences, rights, and authority of the French church, and this Realm, which stands exempt from all excommunications, & interdictions: as the Popes, namely, the hottest, and most audacious, hath been enforced to confess, by many authentical Bulls; yea and in case of commination, or declaration of such censures, by great and grave deliberation of all orders, have been with unanimity withstood, as well by substraction of obedience, as of money and goods.  
Which examples of so weighty consequence, might and ought withhold the pretended Pope, by name called Gregory the 14. from enterprising in this Realm a matter so bold and monstrous, as to send and publish certain infamous libels, scandalous, and full of impiety, sedition, and heresy, under a mask of Religion, in form of Bulls, by his pretended Nuntio M. Marcilius Laudrianus, authorised (as he saith) under his two Seals. But the rather is this done, in respect that the Pope Sixtus Quintus his predecessor, was in the beginning of his pontificacy left beguiled by the perturbers of this Realm, and being afterward by certain Princes and especial Lords informed touching the truth and estate thereof, that all the principal Catholics and men of worth and the goods of all qualities, were (to the great disgrace and danger of the catholic Religion) pursued by the Leaguers and rebels: chased from their houses, piety and religion trod under foot, the Churches by them contuminate and overthrown, the Priests and religious ransomed and slain, and a million of such innocent souls as have been cruelly massacred, continually crying to God for vengeance due to such misdeeds, and the taking of his holy name so wickedly in vain: he would now by his fatherly provision safely foresee, this scandal to christianity, by abridging the course of his life so shamefully practised, and by the Spanish faction hindered from any convenable remedy, which yet turned to the shame and confusion of the Leaguers and rebels. Hereupon the Attorney general calling for the said writing or Bull in form of an excommunication or interdict from the said Pope Gregory the xiiii. of that name, against the King reigning at this present, and all the good Catholics of his Realm: for the observation of justice, ordained that the said Marcilius Laudrianus the pretended Nuntio, should as a common enemy and kindler of hatred, be pursued, taken and apprehended alive or dead, to be delivered to justice if it might be possible. And if he happened not to be apprehended, he should within three days be summoned to the Town of Pontellarche, which was nearest to the City of Rome, wherein he had published the said scandalous Libel, there to be proceeded against, according to the Laws of the Realm. In mean while, it was most expressly forbidden to all the King's subjects, of what estate or quality soever they were, not to acknowledge or use any obeisance to the said Pope, nor to pay him directly or indirectly any right, under the name of first fruits or such like pretence. And not to pursue or receive of him or any other, of what quality or condition soever they were, his complices adherent, any collations, confirmations, or provisions for benefices in this Province and primaty of Normandy, graces, dispensions, or other expeditions, neither to answer, bear or cause to be borne, by way of banque or otherwise, gold or Silver to the Court of Rome, likewise not to obey or pay any thing to the Archbishops, Bishops or other Prelates his adherentes, who had put in execution any of the pretended diffamatory Libels, so scandalous in form of excommunication and interdiction: on pain of confiscation of body and goods, as infringers and perturbers of the public peace. And that the ecclesiastical persons should be admonished to assemble together, according to the Kings will contained in his letters, that they being spoiled by the ambition of the League, setting before their eyes the fear of God, the quiet of their consciences, the honour and dignity of their charges, the conservation of the catholic Religion, the virtue and success of such as have advanced the same: should never suffer the liberty of the French Church to be in any sort diminished. But being assisted by their Kings and their sovereign justice, to oppose themselves against all the Pope's enterprises: considering when they were known in their greatest promotions, they that were enemy to the Crown of France, ever used some means and practices against them. As it happened by Pope Martin the fifth, in the cause of the Emperor Sigismond, when he declared against the King and many other: yet they re-established this fair French church in her former right, in purging it from the vices which slipped thereinto, by the violent passions of these disturbers, and such as they framed of their mind: which to effect, they held Counsels and Smodes, true and only remedies against schisms and heresies: moreover, by that Court was foreseen and prevented the scandals that might arise by the exposing and reading of such Libels and pretended admonitions.  
This Court and Chambers assembled, have ordained and do ordain, that these Letters shallbe published, heard and registered: requiring the Attorney General to the King, who already hath received them, openly to declare and manifest them, how that the said Bull given at Rome the first of March 1591. is abusive, scandalous and injurious, tending to sedition and trouble of all the Christian estate: contrary to the word of God, holy decrees and liberties of the French Church, proceeding from wrong and not from right, stuffed with error, impiety & deceit. It is ordained that it shallbe torn and burned before the Palace gate, by the Executioner of public justice. Forbidding all persons, of what estate, quality or condition soever, to keep, read, publish or commune thereof, on the pain of confiscation both of body and goods. Likewise that all Colleges, Covents, Chapters, Commonalties, bodies of Cities, Curates, Vicars and such like▪ shall not assist or favour such communications, publications or readings, on pain to be attainted & convicted of high treason, and deprivation of all privileges, prerogatives and exemptions. Commanding likewise all persons, that shall have knowledge of such as secretly keep it, read or talk thereof: quickly to reveal them to the Attorney general, or his substitutes in the place, who have in charge to make secret search, and thereof to certify the Court, on the pains aforesaid.  
The Court also declareth, the said Pope Gregory the xiv. of that name, an enemy to the King and the estate of France, as also the peace of christianity: a troubler of the religion catholic, apostolic and Romain: a partaker with the League and conjuration, done aswell against the King now reigning, as also the late King Henrye the third of most happy memory, traitorously and cruelly murdered by the means and procurement of the said rebels. Forbidding all persons of this province and primaty of Normandy, to send to Rome for obtaining of Bulls, writings, collations, graces, dispensations, or other expeditions, neither to carry directly or indirectly thither, gold or silver, on pain of being declared an enemy to the estate and deprivation of their goods and possessions. Moreover, that the said Marcilius Laudrianus calling himself Nuntio to the said Gregory, shallbe apprehended alive or dead, to be delivered to justice, and if he cannot be apprehended, he shallbe summoned three days in the public places in Pontellarche, being nearest to the City of Roan: the first eight days hence, and the two other by three days and three days following. This doth the Court declare for good and available, and that this present agreement shallbe sent into all the bailiwicks of this jurisdiction, to the end that none may pretend ignorance thereof.  
Pronounced in judgement at Caen in Parliament the third day of August, 1591.  
Signed. De Medyne.   

THis Edict being published, the Pope's Bulls were burned in divers places of Normandy, diversly in some place after one sort, in some place after another sort: in as infamous manner as could be, and to omit all the rest, I will only show you how it was burned at Toures.  
The Magistrates and the common people of Toures being assembled, before the Palace gate, there was a Pillar erected, a little distant from the foot thereof, there was a fire made by the common Hangman of the Town: then did he take the Bull and hang it on the top of the Pillar: which being done, he kindled another fire at the very foot of the Pillar, which by degrees crept up the Pillar, until it took hold of the Bull which presently was consumed with fire, to the great joy of all the beholders.  
FINIS.