A recital of that which hath happened in the Kings army, since the taking of the suburbs of Paris, until the taking of the town of Humflet.  
Imprinted at London for toby cook. 1590.   

A recital OF that which happened in the Kings army, since the taking of the suburbs of Paris, until the taking of the town of Phalesey.  
ALthough that common examples do sufficiently show us, that patient forbearing sufficeth to give legitimate Princes the infallible victory of Rebellions, without the hazarding of battailes; yet not withstanding, the love of his majesty hath been so great towards his subiects, that for to redeem them from the oppressions which they suffer, and are yet to suffer through the continuance of a long war, he hath desired nothing more for the speedy ending thereof,( since the taking of arms in hand) than to adventure the iustice of his cause, vpon the success of a battle, having sought to draw all his enemies thereunto by al means possible. First of all, when they sought him in normandy, they reported, that they went not to give battle, but to a victory already gotten. At which time,( in their sight) he went to besiege and take the town and castle of Gamashe, and two dayes after to recover the town of Ewe; all their army being but 3. leagues off. Since that, in his return, he made five or six dayes journey on their side of the Some: not passing the river at Pont deal arch, as he might haue done, but deferred to pass at Muellan, for to receive them if they would haue given him battle. And since likewise, after the taking of the Suburbs of Paris, the day of his departure thence, his majesty kept his army ranged in battle four hours, to see if there would be any effect of that fury, in which it was reported they were arrived at Paris: as it hath been more amply declared in the former discourse. And his majesty being at the village of Linars under Mountlhery, remained there a whole day, thinking that his enemies, having been restend and refreshed three dayes in the town of Paris, would haue gathered stomach to haue come out, and haue given him battle there; which if they had put in practise, the King would haue met them half way. But being advertised, that in stead of troubling of themselves with this business, they thought it less dangerous to show their choler, in saccaging the particular inhabitants of the said city; executing those themselves, whom al men thought they should haue defended from being executed by others: imputing to the richest sort, and such as were easiest to be trodden under foot, that they were the Kings friends( to colour thereby their massacre and pillaging from punishment) regarding neither quality nor age, killing and drowning many, both men and women; making the world beleeue, that that which was executed through the valor of the Kings army, was enterprised by practices and intelligences, to excuse the slender care, and small courage of those, which were within the city: where they living at their pleasure, being so nested that there was no means to draw them out, his majesty determined to take the town and castle of Estampes, being moved thereunto by the advertisement he had, that the Lord Cleremont of Lodesue with fifty or three score Gentlemen had thrust themselves into it, through the assurance the Duke de main had given them,( and confirmed by many of his letters which were intercepted) that he would come to relieve them with all his army. His majesty knowing that the Duke de main had bound himself by his faith and honour to relieve Estampes, thought to give him occasion to seek the battle, through the besiegeing of it: and in hope thereof departed from the village of Linars vpon Sunday the first day of november, and arrived at Estampes with all his army; which he had environed the same day in the morning:& although he could not come thether before day light was shut in, yet at his first coming he won the suburbs, which the enemies made show they would defend. The very same night the town likewise was won, and the men of war did retire themselves into the castle; which was immediately environed,& approaches made, and two Culuerins were placed in battery, the Tuesday following by faire day light. Which they within seeing, and that the army which should haue relieved them, did not appear, nor that there was any news of it, demanded a parley, and yielded themselves the same day, with condition that eight of them should remain prisoners, until such time as they should cause seven or eight others to be delivered, who were name unto them. His majesty after the said agreement, did show that favour to the Lord Cleremont of Lodesue, to two masters of the Camp,& unto five others that should haue remained prisoners, to sand them away upon their oaths: so that there departed out of the said Castle, about 40. Gentemen, and above 200. souldiers, who were safely conducted half way unto Paris. His majesty considering that the poor town of Estampes in four moneths had been three times taken, and that although it had been necessary for him to haue kept a good garrison in it, yet notwithstanding( of his own nature being as easy to be overcome with pity and clemency, as he is invincible to his enemies) was content to take no other assurance of the town, than the oaths of the inhabitants, wherein he reposed his trust. And further, to put them out of doubt, that the castle should be no mean of their rigorous usage hereafter, he determined to rase the said castle,& to commit the keeping of the town to the townsmen only, persuading himself that they comparing the usage which they had had at his hands and his enemies together, it was the surest Garrison, to keep them in obedience. His said majesty remained ther until the saturday following, during which time there arrived a Gentleman sent from the queen Dowager, bringing a request, which she presented unto his majesty for to beseech him, to show her iustice for the cruel slaughter committed vpon the person of the late king her husband. His majesty deferred the answer of this request, until such time as he sate in counsel; where being the day following, the Gentleman was called for; who after he had delivered his message, the request was red aloud in the presence of al the Princes Mareshalls of France, and principal Lords and Gentlemen, of which there was then a great number about King. By which request, besides the desiring of his majesty, she did adjure not onely the Princes& nobility of France, but also all the Princes of christendom, to be assisters in this just cause. His majesty making answer himself, declared that he highly commended her vehemency in following this suit, and sent his said request unto his Court of Parliament transported to Towers, that his attorney general, with the Atturuey of the said lady, might make the information against the offenders, to the intent the matter might bee determined afterward in his presence, in manner and form convenient. And for his own part, although the said suit were commendable in the said lady, yet he would not cease to prosecute the matter, but vowed in the presence of the company, that he would employ his travail and arms, until such time as he had done the iustice, that God had appointed him to do. So that as the pitiful terms of the Request of the said lady, had filled the eyes of all the hearers with tears; the princely answer of his majesty had quickly dried them with a desire of reuenge. At which time was renewed by thē all with a loud voice, the oath of not laying down arms, until such time as they had revenged the hateful death of the late King their master:& to haue seen their countenances, it had not been for the profit of the League, that this request had been presented at the day of a battle. But the King seeing, that neither shane nor loss could make his enemies come out of Paris, and that there was no hope of bringing them to battle, but by extreme necessity, he sent back again the Duke de Longueuile with the forces that he had brought with him out of picardy, to refresh themselves in the said province, Monsieur La now returning with him. he did the like also by the Lord de Giury, which came and met him with a very good troupe at his departure from the Suburbs of Paris, sending him toward the country of Brie: and with the rest which he had, he was determined to make a little voyage to the river of Loir, being called thether by many occasions: and this he did, staying until his strange forces that arose first were further on their way, than they were then. So he departed from Estampes, on Saturday the x. of november: and taking his way through the country of Beausse, being advertised that the town of Ianuille, which is in the midst of the same, stopped all the passages, desired to win it in passing. And being arrived upon the Sundare, the captain that was in it, made a show of defence, but seeing the Canon approach, yielded it; and departing with 200. arquebusiers, his majesty entred the same day, and lodged there the morrow after: those of the town receiving no displeasure nor discommodity, no more than if they never had rejected the obedience of his majesty. The King leaving good garrison in the Castle, which is a reasonable good place, departed thence, going through the Land of Beausse, to the town of Chasteaudun. Where as soon as he was arrived, he sent to summon the town of Vandesme, which is his ancient patrimony, and the ancient title of his predecessors; and although that thereby they were double his subiects, and therefore the more culpable in taking his enemies part: yet notwithstanding he having a more care to keep them from further offending, than to punish them for their first fault, did lodge three daies at the said Chasteaudun, for to give them respite to aduise themselves. But God who reserved them for an example of his iustice, would not suffer them to accept the offers which his majesty offered them to receive them to his good favour: but on the contrary becoming more insolent and stiff-necked, constrained him to assail them. whilst the King lodged at Chasteaudun, the captain of the Swisses arrived, which were sent by and by after the death of the late King deceased by the colonels of the four Regiments, which are in service of his majesty, for to know the pleasure of their superiors, whether they should continue in the service, or ask their leave to return? Who reported unto his majesty, besides the answer which they gave unto their said Colonels from their superiors, that they had express charge from them to give his majesty to understand, that they did not onely command the Colonels and Captaines of the said Regiments to continue in doing him good and faithful service, but also that they did offer him all such other succour as he should need; holding from that hour the same alliance and good friendship confirmed with his majesty, which they haue had with the Kings his predecessors; which is a thing quiter contrary to that which his enemies boasted of, that the said Regiments should bee called home, and should do his majesty no service. he departed from the said Chasteadun the fourteenth of november, and the same day his army environed the town of Vandesme. The King arriving at the town of Mellay the sixteenth day, before he lighted, he went and viewed the town and castle, which are both of reasonable strength, the said town being enclosed with a good ditch well watered, and with a good wall well flanked, and in many places rampered within. The Castle was much stronger, being situated vpon an hill, environed with a good ditch towards the field, and a great height over the town, the wall good and defended with many towers. The governor of the place was the Lord de male-benehard, who perceiving that it should be besieged, he called unto him certain Gentlemen his friends, and kept in it an ordinary garrison of four Companies of footmen, which were four hundred men strong, besides those of the town, who were seven or eight hundred men bearing arms. The day of his arrival he caused the suburbs of the town to be won,& partend my lords the marshals de byron and d'Aumount, the one on the one side of the river, and the other on the other side, with the troops of the said army. And having well considered of the form of the siege, he determined first to deal with the castle, which was of most strength, to make an end at once: for that the Castle being won the town could not escape, which would not so haue happened, if he had begun with the town. He passed Fridaie and Saturdaie to view where he should place the battery, and to put things in a readiness: wherein the presence of his majesty, was worth the labour of fifty others; for he stirred not from the work all the day long, and part of the night. In the mean time, the said Malebenehard who had before( whilst the King was at Chasteadun) desired to parley with the Lord of Richelieu great provost of France, with whom he was familiarlie acquainted: afterward, when as the said provost did go to him into the town, he knew not almost what he required, but that he desired, that without yielding the place, the army might retire. Feeling himself afterward pricked in conscience,& in danger of the siege, he required again to speak with the said Lord of Richelieu, who returning the second time, came back again as uncertain and ill satisfied as at the first. wherein it well appeared, that God would make him throughly feel the recompense of his deserts, having given him respite enough long time before the iudgement happened, for to seek remedy, and not permitted him to help himself with resolution, as it came to pass. For his majesty having passed all the night in conducting and placing the artillery in battle, began at the dawning of the day to beate two towers of the Castle, to take away the defences of the breach, which he purposed to make: but after the bestowing of an hundred or an hundred and twenty Cannon shot, and having made a hole in one of the said Towers, where onely two men could pass in front, the Souldiers desirous of the assault, certain of them being onely commanded to see if they could lodge in the said Tower, 
Here the Englishmen would haue assaulted, and were impeached by Monsieur Chattilion, and expressly forbidden.  they got up, and with a fury entered the retrenchment: and being followed with the rest, some conducted by the Baron of Byron, and others by the Lord of chastilion, they made those with in so dismayed,( although they were a great number) that after they presented the combat, they fled; and abandoning the castle ran into the town: where they were followed so neerelie, that the said lords with part of the said Souldiers, entred pell mell with them, and made themselves within less than half an hour masters both of the castle& town. The said Male-beneherd and al his Souldiers, being retired into an house, did yield themselves incontinent unto the aforesaid Baron of Byron, not otherwise, but at the Kings mercy: so that there was never town seen battered& taken by assault( as it was) with less murder; for there was not one man lost of the army,& few of his enemies, his said majesty having pardonned all men, except the said Beneherd, and a seditious grey friar,( whom all the inhabitants themselves accused to be the author of their mischief) were executed. There was no mean to keep the town from pillaging, but the Churches his majesty caused carefully to be preserved, that there entred not one man into them. The morrow after, he caused his men of war to depart the town, and suffered the Inhabitants to return to their houses, not permitting them any longer to be pillaged and ransomed. he restored all the ecclesiastical persons unto their several charges, much more peaceably than they were, when the town was in occupation of the League. The example of this iustice saved more than a thousand mens lives: for four or five little towns thereabouts, who professed to hold against the King, taking example by Vandosme, yielded themselves in less than four or five dayes. The Castle and town of Lauerden began first, and were followed by the towns of Mount-ouert, Mount-richard, and Chateau-du-loyre, who did all great hurt, especially to Towers, keeping the passages unto it. The town of Vandosme being taken, finding himself so near Towers, his majesty minded to make a small journey thether, to see the lords of his council, and to determine with them certain principles of his business: leaving in the mean while the army to bee conducted by the Marshall Byron; by whose presence he reduced all the aforesaid towns, except Mount richard, which was reduced by the voyage which his majesty made unto Towers.  
he departed from Meslay by Vandosme upon Tuesday being the one and twentieth of november, and arrived the same day at Towers, two hours within night: where he was attended with so great joy and gladness of all the people of Towers, and such store of lights there was in the streets at his arrival, as if it had been at noon day.  
The same day at night, my lord the cardinal of Vandosme, came to do reverence unto the King, and received entertainment and countenance agreeable to his nearness in blood unto the Kings majesty.  
The morrow after, those of the Parliament, came personally to salute and aclowledge the King; the first President making the Relation: which charge he executed in substance and eloquence most happelie, and to the great contentment of his majesty. All the other bodies of the Chamber of accounts, Court of aids, of the Finances, of the Iustices of the law, and the Maior and Iurats of the town did the like. And likewise the ecclesiastical persons of the town, all with great show of joy, and hope of happy and quiet reign of his said majesty: wherein they were the more confirmed by the answers which they received likewise from him, in excellent terms, and kingly eloquence. The same day the ambassador of Venice was granted audience: where he presented first of all the letters of the signiory unto his majesty, and afterward declared the ioy they had of his happy Succession unto the Crown; beseeching him to accept the offer of the friendship of the said signiory unto his majesty,& to promise and assure them of his, to maintain the good intercourse between his crown, and the said signiory: whereunto his majesty answered very well and wisely. he was determined to haue stayed but one day at Towers, but they were so desirous to see him, that he could not depart until the Saturday following. At which time, with one journey he went unto his army at the Castle of loire, which is ten good leagues off,& and departed thence the morrow after for to go toward Mans, which long time he was desirous to besiege. He lodged twice by the way. And being arrived at Yuray leuesque the xxvij. day, one league distance from the said town of Mans, which he had caused to be environed the day before by the Lord of Fargesse: he sent to summon the said town. unto whom the Lord of Boisdauphin( which commanded in it for the League) made an answer, as if he had been resolute to bury himself in it, and all those that were with him, rather than to depart out of it;& began to burn a great part of the suburbs of La Cousture, especially that part which was without the retrenchment of the said suburbs. But the said Lord of Fargesse came vpon them with his troupe, and saved a great part of the aforenamed suburbs. Immediately after the Baron Byron, and Chastilion arrived with the greatest part of the French infantry, by whom the same night was the aforesaid retrenchment won, which was in some places twenty foot high, and might easily haue attended the Cannon: and from that time it was supposed, that they were easier to be dealt with, than was looked for. The morrow after the xxviij. of the said month of november, his majesty came and lodged in the said suburbs, which is faire, and in a maneer more commodious to lodge in, than the town. And the same day he caused all the other suburbs to be won, except the suburbs of Saint John, that was on the other side of the river of Sarthe, which was won the morrow after, the said Boysdauphin having caused more than half to bee burned, and that which was next the bridge, which was the fairest housing. All their valour appeared in nothing but in that. For three daies following, whilst the Gabeons were a making and other preparatives necessary for the battery, and the pieces brought to their places, his majesty himself having passed whole nights therein, upon the second day of September, began to beat certain defences of the wall of the said town. immediately after the first volleys of the Cannon, that brave speech which they had given at the summoning of the town, was turned quiter contrary into submission. So that Boisdauphin and his people not imagining that they should haue been so sharply dealt withall( for within three houres they should haue had assault given them, which they were not well resolved to abide) demanded a Parley; and in fine before two of the clock in the afternoon, the said town was yielded unto his majesty: notwithstanding that there were in it more than an hundred gentlemen, and twenty ensigns of footmen, who during the time of the Parley, did dishonour each other publicly. The Gentlemen said, that the Souldiers would not fight, and the Souldiers said, that against their wills the Gentlemen would compound. As in truth it was a thing very strange, having caused the people to spend more than 5000. crownes in the fortefying of the Suburbs of their towns, burnt more than a 100000. crownes worth of housing, and( as it is said) ruined the country six times as much more, for to abide three volleys of the Cannon, and afterward to yield the town: which without the great care that his majesty had had of it, had never been kept from pillage: but he commanded the gates to be kept shut. And to the intent that none should take occasion to go into it, he would not lodge in it himself, but kept in the suburbs where he first was lodged. There were two soldiers found with a Chalice which they had stolen, and were hanged immediately, although they were known to be men of value. The thundering of the Cannon was heard at Le Fort-berne-herd, when the count Brisaac was arrived with two Regiments to succour the said Town of Mans: who was so made afraid, that he ran back again 12 leagues; and in retiring, fell by chance into the Reisters quarter that served his majesty, who would not dislodge as they were appointed,& carried away for their booty 30. or 40. horse and chariots without the loss of any man. His majesty restored first into the town of Mans, the Bishop and the Lord of Fargesse his brother, which had been governor before,& pardonned the rest of the inhabitants, who came all, as well ecclesiastical, as other, to give him thankes, with protestation of their fidelity and perfect obedience. During the abode, which the King made at Mans, five daies after the taking of it, the Castle of beaumond yielded first of all, and the Castle of Touvoie, and likewise the greatest part of the Gentlemen, which were in the town of Mans, and others which had been seduced by the League,& put themselves into the Kings service; who was accompanied in that siege with more than five hundred Gentlemen of the provinces thereabout. Amongst whom there were many Marquesses, Counties, and other great Lords.  
At that time the towns of Sablee, Lauall, Chasteaugountere, which are all towns of importance, and many others which are not of so great name, were reduced unto the King.  
Before his departure from Mans, his majesty was determined to take the town and Castle of alencon: and whilst his army marched thether, under the conduct of the Lord Marshall Byron, and of the Lord Baron Byron his son Marshall of the camp, he thought good to make a small voyage to Lauall, to the intent, by his presence to comfort the nobility and people of the country, which were newly reduced unto his obedience, and likewise to cause the Prince Dumbees to come thether whom his majesty desired to see.  
He arrived at the said Lauall the ix. day of December, and there came and met him a great way without the town, all the ecclesiastical persons, as well Chanons, as other religious persons, with their ornaments, as they were accustomend to go in Procession: and having by the mouth of one of them made their submission, and protestation of their fidelity and obedience, accompanied the King until he entred the town, singing always vive le Roy, in very good music. There came out likewise the magistrates of the town, and met him: and the people cried each where with an incessaunt cry, vive le Roy, whilst that his majesty passed through the town.  
He abode there eight or ten dayes, and the afore said Prince Dumbees arrived with a great company of the nobility of britain, to whom it was great honour to be known unto his majesty, and he was most courteously received.  
certain of his Troupe departing from the company, took in their way coming the Castle of Chasteubriant, and brought with them the captain and many others prisoners.  
His majesty having spent certain dayes with the Prince Dumbees, and taking order for the affairs of that province, he sent him again to his charge; and dispatched monsieur Marshall D'aumount, for to gather his strange Forces together. And the King came from Lauall unto the town of Maienna-la-Iahes, where he was very well received, and assured himself of the Castle, without leaving any other Garrison in the Towue. he arrived at alencon the three and twentieth day, having passed a most foul country.  
And as concerning my Lord Marshall Byron, who departed with the army from the town of Mans the ninth day of the said month of December, he could not arrive at alencon till the fifteenth day following, by reason of the foul way, 
Here the English entred a bulwark or rauelin, well environed and defended with water, by pulling down a draw bridge with a hook, and would haue assayed to to enter the town, but them arshal Byron forbade them expressly.  which hindered the carriage of the ordinance: and having caused the town to be environed certain dayes before by the Lord of Artray, who at his first coming took the suburbs, and drove them of the town afterward to come to composition, and yield; captain Lago( which was governor) retiring himself into the Castle with four hundred and fifty Souldiers, making show that he would defend it; the place being very good and strong, environed with water, good walls, good flanks, and great Towers.  
The said Lord Marshall being entered into the town, kept so good order in it, that it was not seen that it had been besieged, the shops being kept open the same day, as if it had been in peace.  
At the hour of the entry, he caused the artillery to be brought before the Castle, and shot at the defences, and had so far proceeded in this business, that having found means to take away their water, he could in little space haue made breach. His majesty being arrived as aforesaid, he shewed him all that was done, and also what was intended to bee done: who answered immediately that the siege would not be long,  
The said captain Lago that was in the Castle did imagine little less, and at the summons which his majesty did cause to be made, for to declare that he was come, he began to be astonied: and the morrow after he parleyed, and the same day the composition was agreed upon, to save his life and his souldiers, with their arms and baggage.  
His majesty having foreseen for the assurance of the said place, left for governor the Lord Artray, with a good garrison in the town and Castle, and departing the seven and twentieth day, he went and lodged at Seas, where the Bishop and clergy with the magistrates came and met him, and received him so well, that he trusted unto the inhabitants of the place, without leaving therein any other Garrison.  
He departed thence the morrow after for to go to Argenton, which is a good town, in which there is a Castle of reasonable strength: and there was in the said town and Castle three ensigns of footmen, which the county of Brisaac had left there: who with the chevalier Picard and his Regiment were come from Paris, and had promised to show himself at all the sieges which his majesty would take in hand, and impeach him from the taking of any of the towns in the country of main, and base normandy: notwithstanding he shewed himself at none.  
Those of the town of Argenton, being determimined to yield unto his majesty, came& met him, most humbly beseeching him to receive them into his fauonr, which he granted them most willingly; which the Souldiers seeing, retired themselves into the Castle; beseeching his majesty to suffer them to depart with their lives& baggage, which he consented unto.  
His majesty was advertised the same day, that those of the Garrison of the Castle of Damfront, understanding that he had summoned the Inhabitants of the town, and that they were determined to aclowledge the King, entered into consultation what they should do, being of contrary opinions, and thereupon put themselves in arms one against another: It happened, that those that would submit themselves to his majesty although they were not half so many in number as as the others were, encouraged with the Iustice of their cause, had the victory: and the Baron of Vernie governor of the said Castle was slain, and certain other: whereupon as well those of the Castle as those of the town sent unto the King to crave his favour and clemency, which they obtained. And he sent unto the town to bee assured of both parties, which was done, without omitting any force or excess.  
The King remaining for this cause one whole day at Argenton, departed thence vpon Sundaye the one and thirtieth of December, for to go to the siege of Falese, the Castle whereof is very strong,& esteemed to be the best place in base normandy, next unto the Castle of Caen, and therefore the count of Brisac put himself into it, with the chevalier Picard and his Regiment, having won unto them many Gentlemen and Souldiers of the country, vaunting that they would repay the honour of their companions, who had yielded and lost all the other towns, and that at this place, all the spoils that had been gotten, should be surrendered.  
His majesty the night before, had sent the Baron of Byron to environ it, with certain troops of men of war, as well foot as horse, who came thether so happily, that he found the connte of Brisac come out of the town, purposing to burn the town of Guibray, which is as it were one of the suburbs of Faleze. Who perceiving the said troops, the fire he brought with him was not any way able to heat him so much as to make him abide them, but returning with all speed into the town, he left Guibray whole: and the said Baron de Byron did not onely cease vpon it to lodge his majesty, but also at the same instant did make them run away out of the suburbs of the town, joining even to the gate, part whereof they themselves had burned a little before.  
His majesty being arrived, went presently with the marshal of Byron to view the town and Castle, which are both strong; the said town being environed with a great pool, whose water could not be drawn away, the wall being good, and flanked with good towers, and the approaches difficile for the planting of ordinance; the Castle being much stronger, garnished with great and strong towers and very good walls, with a donion separated, ditched with good and great ditches: and besides all this the count of Brisac well accompanied with Gentlemen, Captaines and Souldiers, with a great show that he would not haue made this proof but with intent to get honour, and to defend the place effectually, as in deed unto the Summons which his majesty did make the next day, he made an answer convenient unto such a resolution, which was that he had vowed unto God, that he would never speak of any composition for that town, which made all men think, that he would haue defended it better than he did.  
His majesty( whose presence in such like affairs is the perfect school of extreme diligence, determined so to begin, as that he would not make 2. works of one) did batter the Castle; for that the Castle being won, the town could not hold out, and caused the morrow after, with great expedition, Gabions to be made for the battery, bags to be filled with earth, and all things necessary to be done. Which was so diligently followed, that in less than three dayes all was in a readiness, and had begun to batter vpon the Thursday, but that he stayed for three Cannons which monsieur Montpensier brought him out of the Castle of Caen: which could not arrive at the said siege until that very day.  
With the Duke Montpensier there came betwixt twelve and fifteen hundred French Souldiers, and a good Troupe of the Gentlemen of the country,& certain Companies of men of arms. Those with in the town did never sallye out: but otherwise made always a good show of a resolution in them, and in their words were over lavish, performing afterward so little as they did.  
His majesty pretending to make three batteries, two of which, from sundry parts should batter at the breach of the said Castle; and the third to bee placed vpon a rock, which should scour curtain wise along, behind the breach of the said Castle. he began vpon Friday the fifth day of Ianuarie at eight of the clock to beate two great towers, which flanked from the one unto the other; the one of which served for a defence unto the breach, which he purposed to make. After the bestowing of four hundred Cannon shot, the top of one of the Towers being fallen, and a hole being made in the other tower that defended the breach, which hole opened into the said Castle, his majesty caused it to be battered for the speedy breach which would be made in it: for there needed but the beating away of a little piece of the wall. Then he commanded certain troops of Souldiers, to go and view if they could lodge in the said Tower, vpon which certain of them entering the hole, which was pierced through the Tower into the Castle, finding no resistance, called their companions, and so entering one after another, in very short space they became Masters both of Castle and town.  
Those within being sore dismayed, without any fight they retired themselves into the Donion spoken of before; out of which they sent three Gentlemen the same day, to beseech the King to receive them vpon any composition; who answered, that he would not receane them, but at his own pleasure; and that they should prove his clemency, without binding himself unto any condition. Yet notwithstanding, the morrow after suffering the county Brisac to come and submit himself unto him, he being overcome with the pity he had vpon the young Gentleman, granted to choose fifteen of the best of them, whom he would keep prisoners as warlike enemies, and the rest should be at his majesties disposition.  
It were not well done to take away the Souldiers honour that were at this siege, who in truth did their endeavour: but wee must aclowledge this to haue been Gods work, as a thing most admirable unto us that saw it, that at one instant those that seemed to be furious Lions, were metamorphosid into meeker things than lambs. The town being thus taken by assault, could not be preserved from pillaging and saccaging: so that by this may comparison be made, between the entertainment that those receive, which fly unto his majesties clemency, and those which obstinately attend the force of his army; the one being made wholly desolate, and the other rejoicing in a full and perfect quietness, making a profit of their loss, obtaining by their taking and reduction free liberty, in stead of the hard captivity which they suffered under the unlawful government of others.  
It is to be well considered, of what great value the wise and happy government of his majesty hath been; his enemies being constrained to confess, that it is to be wondered at, and until this time unknown, having in less than two moneths travailed eightscore leagues, with such a great army as his, troubled with a great deal of ordinance, many swissers, and other strange Nations; and in this time taking the suburbs of Paris, made five or six notable sieges, taken fourteen or fifteen notable towns, having eleared the provinces of Vandesme, Tourain, Aniou, and main, of all that his enemies held: and not only recovered the towns, but the hearts and affections of those that most hated him. All his exploits being done by the force of his arms, and presence, and terror of the same; without practices of treasons, murders, monopoles, or fraudes: leaving those guiles, unto those that deal with unjust actions, assuring himself his cause to bee so just, that it was able to support itself without the help of any thing of a contrary nature, having always this commendable maxim in regard, that evil can never serve to any good purpose.  
Is it possible that GOD hath so condemned the poor inhabitants of Towns, that he will suffer them any longer to be so blinded in spirit and body, as not to consider of the mischiefs wherein they haue plunged themselves, and howe those unto whom they give themselves over, and receive for friends, become immediately the cruelest enemies they can haue: who after they haue sucked from them al that they can draw, while they are with them, and by little and little made them subiects to the simplest soldiers of their troops, if there bee any brute of the Kings army coming, in stead of preparing to preserve the people, use no other industry, but to burn half their towns, and the greatest part of the Villages within two miles round about, then making them to travail day and night in making carriers and retrenchments: and yet when they are besieged, if they do but see the Cannon, think themselves excused of their honour, in making their composition to depart with their lives and baggage saved; leaving no token behind them of their protection, but one half of the towns in ashes,& the people with a halter about their necks: so that if the Prince they haue to deal with were not merciful, a whole forest could not furnish for gallows that would be employed.  
Is it possible that they see not nor know not( that those which haue been so ready to move up these seditions, are now so audacious& malicious as to maintain them? and that his majesty defending his kingdom against tyranny, his people against strangers, and iustice against iniquity) the success of his enterprises, must needs be correspondent to the equity of his cause; that inevitable destruction will come vpon them that resist him, if the word of God( as it is) be true. For our parts, we most humbly beseech God, to make them able to consider and aclowledge it, and above all things, that it would please God to preserve his majesty, from al mishaps that might happen unto his person, and prolong his life: for so great need haue we of France of his presence, that the ordinary course of the longest livers would be but too short.  
AFter the siege of Falese, the King gave the English men leave to depart; and he himself with his army, to weete, the French men and swissers, Rutters& Lants-knights went unto Lizeux, which within ten dayes after he took: and from thence his majesty went unto Humflet, which he did batter vpon Fridaie the xvi. of Ianuarie. At which time, part of our English Forces were shipped at Dines in normandy, and the rest, the morrow after.  
FINIS.