A LETTER SENT by the French King vnto Monsieur de la Verune Liefetenant for his Maiestie at Caen in Normandie, concerning the most happy victory which he obtained against the Leaguers and Rebels in his Kingdome, vpon the 14. daie of March last past, according to the Romane computation.
Wherein is effectually set forth the truth of the Kings proceeding to the said Battaile, and the true number of both the Armies, and of those that were drowned, and taken prisoners in the same.
Whereunto is adioyned the late agréement of the Lordes and states assembled in the Court of Parliament, holden in Normandie since the said fourtéenth daie of March. 1590.
Truely translated according to the French Coppie.
LONDON Printed by I. Wolfe for William Wright. 1590.
it hath pleased God to giue vnto mee that whereto I had most desire, namely, that I had meanes to giue battaile to my enemies, hauing a sure confidence, that in béeing there hée would graciously assist me for the obtaining of the victorie, as it is come to passe this daie. You haue héeretofore vnderstood, how after the taking of the towne of Honnefleur, I came to cause them to raise the siege that they held before the towne of Mullen, offering battaile vnto them, which in shew they séemed to accept, they hauing in number twice as many more as I was able to make. But perceiuing they would deser the matter till such time as they might ioyne their forces with the fiue hundred lances which were sent vnto them by the Prince of Parma, as they had done oft times before. Afterwarde publishing abroade that they would force me to battell in what place so euer I was, and did thinke to haue recouered an occasion of more aduantage against me, to come to encounter me at the siege which I made before the Citie of Dreux: but I was loth they should take the pains to come so farre, but so soone as I was aduertised that they had passed the riuer of Seane, and also that they did turne the head of their battaile towards me, I did resolue with my self, rather to raise my siege then to faile to go méete them before hand: and hauing vnderstoode that they were within sixe leagues (which is twelue miles) of the sayd towne of Dreux, I departed on the munday before, and went to lodge at the towne of Muncon court, which was thrée leagues from them, there to passe the riuer. On the Tuesdaie I came and lodged my selfe, where willingly they woulde haue lodged also, for their harbingers and marshalles were then come thether to appoint them theyr lodginges
On the morrowe I did set my selfe in battayle in a verie faire plaine, within one league of the enemie, which playne they had made readie for themselues the day before, whether also they came right soone with their armie, but so farre from me, that I had great aduantage to séeke them so farye of, being content that they shuld recouer a village néere vnto me, the which they were glad to obtain. The night being come, we were all constrayned to lodge our selues, which wée dyd in the néerest villages about mee. This daie hauing very earlie in the morning made meanes to knowe their intent, and what they would doe, and perceiued that they were all there present, but yet more farther off then they were yesterdaie, I then resolued to approch so néere them, that of necessitie they must néedes ioyne, as in déede it came to passe, betwéene ten and eleuen of the clock in the forenoone, where they came forward verie brauely, vntill such time as theyr armie was planted in a place somewhat conuenient, where before they had not aduaunced themselues, estéeming it the best and readiest waie to giue the assault. The Battayle was giuen, wherein God woulde haue knowen that his power is alwaies readie to helpe the right: for in lesse then one houre after, hauing cast forth their choller in two or thrée charges which they had made and abidden, all their horse men, began to take part with ye King, vtterly forsaking their infanterie, who were a great number, which the Switzers perceiuing, yéelded themselues presently to my mercie, rendering to me the Collonels, Captaines, Souldiers and Ensignes. The Launce-Knightes and French men on theyr side, had not leasure to take this resolution, for there was slaine and rent in péeces more then twelue hundreth of the one, and as many of the other, the rest were taken prisoners, and enforced to flie into sundrie wodes and desarte places, there to stande to the mercie of the Countrie men. Of their horse-men there were about nine hundreth or one thousand slaine, besides those that were drowned in passinge [Page 5]the riuer of Dury, who were a great number, the rest that were better horst escaped by fight, but it was with greate disorder, hauing lost, both bagge and baggage. My self neuer forsook to follow them in chase, til they came neere Mantz. There white Cornette I wonne, and it remaineth with mee, and he which bore it is my prisoner, twelue or fiftéene other Cornettes of their horse men were taken. Twise as many of their Infanterie, al their Artillerie, many Lords pris [...]ners, and a greate number slaine, especiallye such as were Commanders, of whom as yet I haue no knowledge, but of this I am certain that amongst the rest, the county Egmont who was Generall of all the saide forces, which came thither from Flaunders was slaine. The prisoners all say that their army was foure thousand horse men, and twelue or thirtéene thousand footemen, whereof I am assured the fourth parte is not lefte liuing. As for my parte it was but two thousande horse men and eight thousand foote men, but of these horsemen there came vnto mée since that I was in battaile the tuesday and weddesday sixe hundreth horse. Likewise the last troupe of the nobility of Picardy, conducted vnder the Lord of Humiers, being 300. came vnto me but halfe an howre before the combat began. It is a miraculous worke of God who first gaue me this resolution to assault them, and then by his grace so happely to accomplish the victory: to whom be all glory and praise. And that praise which vnder God is dew vnto mée, I giue vnto my Princes, Officers of the Crowne, Lords and Captaines, and to all the Nobility which I found following the matter with such heate, and imploying themselues so courageously, as their predecessours neuer left more fair ensample to their generosity, then them selues in this had done, to their following posteritie, & though I cā not but be greatly contented & satisfide herewith, yet herein I account them like my self, and the rather when they did beholde that I would employ them in no other place then wher my selfe made way before [Page 6]them: I haue euer more followed the successe of the victory with my kinsmen the Princes of Conde, the duke of Monpensier, the Countie of Saint Paule, the Marshall, the Grand Priour of France, Aumont Trimouille, the lords of Giskey and of Greury, and many other Signiours and Captaines, my cossen the Marshell of Biron remained in the body of the army to vnderstand newes of mée, which fel out and, as I euer hope wil, prosperously.
You vnderstand by this briefe dispatche how well I follow these good beginnings, especially the ample particularities of this victory, whereof I was the more desirous in the meane while to aduertise you, as loth to holde you from the pleasure which I know you will conceaue thereof. I pray you imparte these newes to all other my good friends there about you, but aboue all to render thankes to God, whom I pray protect my good Lord of Veronne in safety.
AN ACT OF PARliament, for the taking of all the goods of al the Leaguers and Rebels, thei complices and adherents, holden at Caen in Normandy vppon the foureteenth day of March last past. 1590.
By the Kings priuiledge.
The true Coppy of that Acte taken out of the register of the saide Courte of Parliament.
Trulie translated according to the Frenche coppy.
LONDON. Printed by I. Wolfe for William Wright. 1590.
VPon the complaint made by the Kings Atturney generall, as also by the decrées of his said Maiesty, that the Acte of the Court which was before ordained and enioyned to the Bailiffes, their deputies and other Officers, for the diligēt procéeding in taking of the goods, moueables and immoueables apertayning to the Leaguers and Rebels their complices and adherentes, hath since béene neglected, whereby they ought to haue procéeded in the sale of the same moueable Rents & immoueables, & to haue all the money so gathered for the goods to the Kings vse. Yet forasmuch as the saide Bailiffes with their deputies, hath so negligently procéeded in this matter vntil this present day, that there hath but little thereof come to the hands of the Kings receauers, the Kings Atturney generall hath therefore published the same in the said court of Parliament, and made request that it would please the Lordes and States assembled to graunt redresse therof.
Whereuppon the saide Courte graunting right to the saide request, hath ordained, commaunded, and straightly enioyned all the Bailiffes in their liberties, and their liefetenants in their precincts, spéedily setting al other affaires aside, to procéede in the taking of the saide goods, moueables and immoueables, debts and duties, with the names and actiōs of the Leaguers and Rebels, their complices and adherents, as well ecclesiasticall as ciuill, noble and ignoble, of what qualitie or condition soeuer. And to take all their saide goods and moueables, rents, and immoueables, and to make sale thereof to the vttermost penny, and all the money so taken to bée paid vnto the Kings receauers in euery seuerall prouince: and the same to be effectualy done without fauour, fraud or deceite, vppon paine that the saide Bailiffes and their deputies for want of the dew execution of the said Act, bée seuerally condempned in the valew and estimation of all [Page 10]the moueable remoueables and immoueables so appertaining to the saide Leaguers. And to bée further charged in sending Commissioners at their owne proper coste to be appointed for the dew execution thereof, according to the true meaning of the saide Act. And to the end that the same may be done effectually, the saide Court of Parliament hath ordained and enioyned all the saide Bailiffes and their deputies, euery moneth to sende into the seuerall Courts of the saide precincts, a true notise in writing of all the goods that they haue taken and solde as well moueables, as rentes and immoueables, and therwith all such somes of money as they haue receaued for the same, to bée paide from time to time to the Kings vse, vppon paine of the Kinges displeasure and such further punishment as by his Maiesty shall bée thought méete. And to the end that no man shall bée ignoraunt of this present Acte, the saide Courte hath ordained that the same shall bée Imprinted and published abroade, and sent to all the saide Bailiffes in their seuerall precinctes: and there published and registred: and the déedes of the saide publication to be recorded and sette vp in their seuerall Courts, that they may haue daily recourse thereunto when néede shall serue.