IT is too common and manifestlye knowen with what pompe and vanity the Duke de Main and all those of his side , had vanted in euery place , of the supposed successe which they assured themselues to obtaine in the voyage which they enterprised in September last past , against royall Maiesty in the partes of Normandy . But it is more manifestly knowen how those vainglorious brags giuen out both by wordes and writing were gain-saide by God in the effectes which followed , for it pleased him clean contrary to their Imaginations , and published boastinges , to turne their glory into shame . As by the following discourse most plainely shall appeare to the comfort of all such as wishe the aduancemente of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ .

His Maiesty hearing that the enemy approched very fast intamped himselfe at Arques , a good league from the towne of Dieppe by the prudent counsaile of the Lorde Marshall de Birron . And viewing the place , hee by and by iudged , what the enemy was able to doe against him : whereuppon he caused certaine trenches to be made on the toppe of the hill , in most substantiall manner as farre from Arques as a cannon can shoote . A deuise so excellente and pollitickely framed , that all the Army ( for a néede ) mighte be couered therewith , out of all danger , vppon which trenches , his Maiesty planted foure péeces of great Artillerye , this being done in sight of a faire plaine , where he supposed the enemy would come to fight , whether also wée might come without any daunger , this Campe of the Kings was pitched close almost after the fashion of the Romanes in olde time . All the companies were quartered in villages rounde about according as his Maiesty had ordained their lodginges . The meane while the enemy approched more and more very fast , and on Friday the fiftéenth of this moneth of September , he came and lodged his vantgard within a league and a halfe of the towne of Diepe , whether his Maiesty was gone that morning to mark the enemies intent , who saw plainly by their present dealing , that they minded vtterly to spoil the suburbe called le Paullet , before hee came to Arques .

The king therefore with all diligence fortified the saide suburbe , but especially the milles which stoode must open to the enemy . Which being done , his said Maiesty woulde once againe as neere as he could with smal company mark and sée , how the enemy was lodged , and perceiuing through the occasion of some one that they were to forwarde , commaunded fiue or sixe of his company to geue them a charge , which was done to the losse of seauen of the enemy vppon that place , his Maiesty retourning at night lay in his quarter of Arques , doing nothing al that night . But many before day marched out of the subburbs of Diepe to the field who made against the enemy moste hot skirmiges , where mounsier de Chastilion commanded ouer the footemen , who shewed himselfe more and more a most skilfull and valiant leader , in so much that our Arquebuzers neuer discharged bullet in vaine . The horsemen also were so sette and placed by the king , who behaued themselues so well , that no person could passe to the enemy , without his expresse commandement , otherwise there had béene greate disorder among vs , so earnest were our souldiers to the fight .

Among other his Maiesty permitted certaine Englishe Lords well mounted and armed , and most sumptuously attired , I knew among the rest the noble gentleman maister d'Euerax , brother to the right honorable Earle of Essex , who was one of the formost and forwardest in the fight .

Who imployed themselues so valiauntly and with suche hardy courage that they fiue many of the enemies , and in lesse then the turning of an hand , threw them to the ground and tooke prisoners all that incountred them . About ten of the clocke this forenoone , we saw aboue the milles , how the enemy in great troupes came downe the hill , to continue their passage after some of their company which had already passed the brooke which seperated their armye and ours , and being entred in the medowe , they purposed to assault a village called Boutielle , where the kinges white cornet was , At what time wee sawe comming againste them the very same instant sixe gentlemen , well armed whom we knew not , but the King was since certifyed , two of them wer the Lords of Saint Marke and Sturbe , which tooke their swordes in hand to such purpose , with two Arquebuzeirs on foot , that the enemies being in number thirty or thirty fiue , which before had passed the brooke , were constrained to turne their backs and wade againe through the same brooke , to escape their hard pursute , flyinge with great feare and sorrowfull countenance . Vppon this accident it is greatly to be considered , that if the enemy might haue had their wiles without expulse , and that their whole Army might haue got ouer the water as those few did , our litle hoast had béene soone seperated in the halfe , by theire mighty and huge Armye , which woulde haue béene verye hardly ioyned together againe .

His Maiesty had sent the two companies of light horsemen of Mounsier de Lorges and Harambres to the medowe . Notwithstanding they had by and by a contrarye commandement to goe to Arques to méete Mounsieur de Birron : but all the while there continued this day greate skirmiges at the milles of Paullet . And his Maiesty aduainicing himselfe alwayes to sée theyr doinges , a Harquebuze shot came and strooke in the thigh of his horse , but many more bullets passed on the contrary side of Arques .

Now those two companies of light horsmen , ( of which one part belonged to my Lord the Prince of Countie , conducted by Mounsieur d'Armillie his lieftenant ) whom the king had before sent to Monsieur de Birron , had commandement of the said Monsieur , to go and spie out the lodging of the enemy , who lay in a village called Martinglize beyond the riuer , where also was the Duke , and Cheualliers d'Amall , of Nemoures and Sagonne , but our men being come to the place , ran vpon the enemy so fiercely , that they had no leisure to cary word to Monsieur de Birron of that they had sene , and with so great fury they did it being eager in fight , that they broke downe on horsebacke all theire rampiers or barrycades , and slue of the enemy more then an hundreth and fifty , some helde the Marques De menelaye to be in the number , besides diuers Captains and many good prisoners which they tooke .

The Cheualliers d'Aumall and Sagonne were the first that fled , with four regimens of footemen , who found more safety in their féete , then in their swords . His maiestye which was on the side of Diepe , perceiuing by the enemies doings that they determined some secrete mischiefe , came into his quartor , where he found how those of his side had most faithfully serued in that incounter latelye made , which was done so manfully , that if he had had those three handred horses redy which afterward came , we had brought away their chiefest forces . Notwithstanding we were very sorowfull for mounsieur d'Armille , who had receiued a dangerous wound through the body by a sworde , but wee haue good hope of his recouery . On Sunday the seuenteeth of that moneth , his Maiesty caused a Cannon to bee discharged against the enemy , on the side of Arques , while mounsieur de Chatellon made a moste valiaunt skirmige , winning many prisoners that day , from the enemy , without the losse of any one man , and but fewe of his soldiours wounded . Which was done while those of our side recouered a village where they flew thirtie men at the least . Euery day of that wéeke they spent in the like skirmishes , by the meanes wherof an infinite number of gentle men and souldiours came of their voluntarie goodwil , and yéelded themselues and seruice to the King , parte whereof were the troupes & regiment of Mounsier de Rubempree which before was taken of the enimie at Gornay , who followed the enimies armie for the safegard of their armes . On Tewesday the one & twentieth by breake of day , about fiue of the clocke in the morning , the enimie marched out from the saide Martinglize in battel ray , so wel ordered as might be , their faces set against Arques and against the side of our Swizers , the most part of their horsemen in sundrie troupes wonderfull strong and thicke , their footemen in their winges excellently well placed . Then the Lord de Billin with two thousand shot , was chosen to giue the onset vpon vs . But his maiestie who was a horsebacke vntill midnight , perceiuing that the einimies intent was to winne the riuer , and to passe the same , for which purpose they had made certaine bridges of wood to be cast ouer , he presently set such order in euery place , that they coulde doe him no hurt without great losse to themselues . And now hauing séene the order of their battell incontinent hee sent forth his light horsemen : And the company belonging to my Lord , the Prince ( gouerned by Mounsieur de Montater ) and his maiesties owne Cornet , wherein were my Lords le graund prior , le graunde Esquier , le count Rochfoucaue , le count de Rousye , le count de Rochford , with diuers other gentlemen which were nearest to the person of his maiestie . And these he placed by those that were his footemen , deuiding his Swizers in two partes . And in this order he set against the enimie , knowing that God could as well vanquish with a small as a great number , hauing earnestly desired his aide , as well by his publike as priuate prayers . Then marched he against his enimies with such resolued and princely courage , that the incounter and charges which hee gaue against his enimies ( being in number twentie fiue thousand men of warre , and himselfe but nine thousand ) was most wonderfull . The enimie lost at that time nere hand fiue hundreth men , beside prisoners and wounded souldiours : And the rest were in such feare , that eightie of our men chased and put to flight a thousand horsemen of the enimies , following the pursute most couragiously , and crying , God saue the King . But they were so astonished , that the helpe which the Duke de Maine had prouided to send to succour them , standing in a raye behinde , were so disordered by their owne men whom wée had in chase , who mingled them selues among the rest for safegarde , that they were all brought into such an horrible confusion , that had his Maiestie receiued the forces which afterwarde came , it had surely béene the end of our miseries , for we had not left one of them liuing . But our liues are not yet sufficiently amended , that we shoulde receiue so great a blessing of God . But when his Maiesties forces were refreshed , the launce-knights of the enimie , to the number of fiftéene hundred presented themselues in a little trench that was nearest to the enimy ( which was kept by part of our two hundred launce-knights ) who lifting vp their hands , protested vnto them , and desired to yéelde them selues to the King , condicionally that euerye one of vs might put vp our weapons . This was estéemed such good newes among vs , and so credibly belieued , that we made no other account but to receiue them with great ioy , and thereupon we were commanded that wee shoulde put vp euery man his weapon : so we mingled our selues among them without any suspicion of treason , shaking one another by the hand , then two of the Captaines of the saide launce-knights went to méete with the King : but being examined sodenly , faultring in their wordes , and scant knowing what they saide , named themselues seruants to the Duke de Maine . The meane while they fedde vs with faire wordes , onely to delay the time till their whole troupes of horsemen might come to sustaine them , desiring much to sée the King . But to come to the effect of their treason , the King hauing no confidence in them , commanded vs to march downe the medowes from them . And the while these villaines passed toward the Switzers ; as though in déed they would yéelde themselues wholy to the King . But on a sodaine they seased vpon Mounsieur le countie de Rochford : and séeing no more our horsemen before them ( and contrariwise theirs approching still ) they began to set vpon vs with all their might , while fiftéene hundreth more of their horsemen came marching along the Medowes in battell raye , very strong and close to chase vs . We being no more but two hundred and fiftie , or thrée hundred horsemen at the most . The Cornet of Mounsieur de Monpancier , and the Cornet of the great Esquier going before vs .

This notable and subtill treason astonished vs so much , that the most part of our company maugre our chiefest commanders , went backe towarde our Switzers , which Switzers neuer moued or shronke for all that , but stood still most firmely , shewing such a manly countenance , that the enimie suspected our shrinking was but for a pollicie to bring them within the daunger of the Switzers , as was a great likelyhood : for retyring in such good order as we did , wee put our selues in two partes : our Arquebuzers very well placed , so that if the enimie had passed a little farther ( which he durst not doe ) they had surely had their payment , , and the whiles our Cannons played vpon them and killed many . And they séeing , that by the diligence of the King , we which were before in great disorder , were so soone set in faire and good order , who in this extremitie being on the other side , to gather the troupes together , to the end he might expulse these traiterous launce-knights ( which he did ) he shewed himselfe both King , Captaine , and souldier , al at one time , bearing himself with such a princely courage that thereby he became the onely myrror to incourage the Switzers them selues , as they haue since confessed . But his magnanimious and hardie exploites was not done without perrill of his royall person , for one of his bootes was pearced , and his horse was hurt with a Caliuer shotte at what time his Maiestie fought both on horsbacke and on foot , with the assured assistance of the Marshall de Birron , and so much preuailed , as though the enimie had had the lesser , and his Maiestie the greater number .

The enimie then retired himselfe very shamefully , and sore scattered , leauing their dead & ours , in the fielde behinde them , séeking to shroude themselues in the village of Martinglize , marching about by the hill to scape from vs . On the side of Dipe to paullet , Mounsieur de Chastelon , and Mounsieur de Guittery had a good number of footmen , of the which mounsieur de Chastillon brought fiue hundred good Calléeuers , who came very fitly , the very instant that the treason was discouered . His Maiestie stayed yet in the fielde and commaunded that certaine péeces of Ordenance should be brought to our little trenches , to bee discharged against Martinglize wher the enimie laye . Which being done , he after commanded all persons in most solemne sorte to render thankes vnto God for their deliuerance , euen as he had before desired his aide in his iust cause . Then greatly did his Maiestie commend the seruice of the Switzers in the presence of their Captaines , and in drinking , he drunke vnto them for the valiant exploites performed that day by them .

And to the end you may know all thinges that hath passed , that nothing may be forgotten here worthy the noting , we are most credibly informed that Saga collonel of the light horsemen on the enimies side dyed that day , who was since buried in Roan with mounsienr Saint Vidal chiefe maister of their Artillery , the Lord of Saint Andrew brother to the Countie of Saux , mounsieur de Vuiuille yonger sonne to the Marshall of Vienele , the Chiuallier de Picart and many other of name and account whom I can not remember , we tooke prisoners the Earle of Billin , Marshall of the Campe . Tremblecourt , le count de Loraine who had the first regiment , and mounsieur Sauelack with diuers other Captaines for the fight was so heat that nothing could be heard , which was the cause that manie died which woulde gladly haue yéelded themselues to our mercie . And although we deserued no such fauour at Gods handes , yet he blessed vs in such sort that we lost but seauen and twentie men in all this fight : neuerthelesse we were verie sorrowfull for the death of Mounsieur the Count de Rousy ( brother to the Count de la Rouchfoucaue ) and Mounsieur de Bacqueuille whose vertues were most commendable among all men but especially the valiant and hardy seruice which they performed in this fight , wherein they declared their wonderfull courage . Neither can I forget Mounsieur le graund Prior who séeing Monsieur Sagonne , ( a most proud and ambitious enemie , and one that boasted himselfe ouer all men , for the opinion hee conceaued in his manhood and strength of armes ) he called him to the fight , and so néere they ioyned togither that when they parted , Sagonne bore away his markes : And sée the iudgement of God vpon this vnhappie man , lighting down from his horse he broke his necke .

The next day after , that is to say , on Saterday the thrée and twentie my Lord Stafford ( Ambassadour to the most Noble Quéene of Englande ) arriued at Déepe , bringing both money and victuals , but he sawe not his Maiestie till the next day . About midnight the same Saterday wee perceaued that the enemie changed his opinion , and that he would rayse his armie ( which in déede he did on the Sonday morning very early without any sound of Driumne or Trumpet in sight of his Maiestie and all his armie ) which were for the most part in battell raye on the otherside of the hill , where my Lord Ambassadour mette him : this remoouing of theirs was doone with such great feare and so cowardly , that they left their wounded men in their villages behinde them , leauing by the way both their victualles and munition for warre , and to their greater shame , they staied not so much as to giue their Sentriles warning to retire or saue themselues . They tooke their iourney as though they went to a Towne called Ewe , but we pursuing them tooke some prisoners , who being demaunded the cause of their soddaine retire , were founde in diuers tales concerning the same , for some sayde it was because of the comming of the English shippes which lately ariued there , wherein they doubted great aide to be sent to his Maiestie . Some other saide it was vppon occasion of placing of newe Gouernours among them , in stéede of those which had béen slaine , whereupon great strife grew among them , some allowing of one man , some choosing an other : but we must referre that vnto God , who can worke confusion among his enemies when it pleaseth him . Then the enemie went past the forrest and riuer , to S. Vax , Quinqueuille , and Bures , & lodged himselfe on the otherside of the towne of Déepe , where he spredde his troopes all about , intrenching himselfe in the néerest Villages , as Ianuall , Boutiles , Apeuiell , and others . The king séeing that caused his battell to be pitched in the plaine néere Arques , and sent the regiment of Monsieur de la Gard into the Castle of Arques ( but the day before he brought all his armie into Déep and the suburbes of the same , with thrée péeces of great ordinance ) and being come , all that night he caused great and large trenches to be made in a place called the Mount of Cattes , on the side of the enemie , so that he had a faire defence in the morning , in which place he lodged a part of his footmen , vnder the Gouernement of Monsieur de Chastelon , with thirtéene ensignes of Suitzers : the rest of his armie he placed in the towne , and in the fort of Paulet , but in the fort of the Mount of Cats on the side of Ianuell the King caused two double Cannons to bee planted , which were shott off vpon the enemie without any shott in vaine , because they were all on an heape , and their horsemen could not come into their quarter , but by the fauour of the Cannon .

The first day of October the enemie planted sixe péeces of ordenance vpon the toppe of the hill by Ianuall shootting fiue or sixe vollies of shot into the towne , wherewith was slaine one of the Kings Cookes , a woman , a maiden , and a boye , doing also great hurt vnto two shippes which lay at Anker in the hauen . But they withdrewe soone after their Cannons from that place , because by our Cannons their master gonner was slaine , & two péeces of their ordenance dismounted , which was done by a skilfull English Cannoneir , who was presented to the King by my Lord Stafford , Ambassadour to the Quéene of England . The fourth day of October the enemie broke downe all their Rampiers or Gabions , because our men visited them more then they desired , making them to forsake them euery foote , And séeing they could no better preuaile the enemie retired himself againe with great shame and losse of men , and the vtter ruine of his armie ( after he had vsed all the cruelties that might be ) taking his way toward Picardie , not daring to fight against the helpe which was comming towarde the King . His Maiestie little thinking of the enemies sodaine departure , sawe how he raised his campe on a soddaine in sight of them all , whereupon he presently imagined that he went to fight against the helpes which were comming towarde his Maiestie , ( which were brought by the Earle of Soysson , the Duke de Longeuiell , and the Marshall d'Aumont before they could ioyne with his Maiestie . And the more his highnesse mistrusted the matter by their shifting into thrée seuerall places and neuer farre off from his Maiesties armie . But his grace knowing that these helpes were come within seauen or eight leagues , he determined with thrée or foure hundred horsemen to go méete and ioine with them , leauing the Marshall de Birron in Déepe with all the rest of the armie . And although the enemie was but fiue leagues off when his Maiestie ioyned with his newe forces , yet in sight of them all : his highnesse tooke parforce the towne and Castle of Gamasche , and since hee tooke in like manner the towne of Ewe , which was as great an occasion as might be to procure the Duke de Maine to the fight . But in stéede thereof , and fearing he should be constrained therevnto , he most cowardly went ouer the riuer of Some , into Picardie , séeking to excuse this shamefull retire with a greater disgrace , for he published abroad that he was constrained to come downe into Picardie to take him selfe possession of the townes of that Prouince , which matter was before intreated of by his Deputies , in the towne of Aras at what time the saide Duke de maine had bound himselfe to the Spaniardes to deliuer all those townes into their hands : but the Spaniards wold not come to aide him , before he had performed what he was bound to doo , vnto which composition hee was in doubt the people of those townes would not easily censent . The King which had a speciall desire to bring the enemie to an open battell : séeing he would not do it so long as he was on this side of the riuer of Some , and now being the first that had passed the sayde riuer , he thought it now vnpossible hee should be brought thereunto . His Maiestie therefore resolued himselfe to stay for the enemies returne backe againe , not caring much for his passing into Picardie , for that he knew the people wold neuer yéelde vnto him . And although the Frenchmen in their heate and naturall hastinesse , sell sometime into sedition and rebellion , yet he knew their anger lasted not long , and that they are not so farre degenerated from the opinion of their Ancestors , that they would ( to please another mans minde ) subiect themselues to a strange Gouernement , hauing so many examples before their eyes to beware , knowing also that there is no Dominion in the worlde more swéete vnto them , then their owne Countrie .

So his Maiestie staying yet a while in the town ' of Déep , as well for the affaires of Normandie ( where he lefte the Duke de Monponcier ) as also to receiue the foure thousand Englishmen , sent vnto him by the most renowmed Quéene of England . He departed from the said Déepe the one and twentieth of October , taking small iourneyes on this side the riuer , kéeping himselfe still on the enemies side vntill he came to Meulan , ten leagues from Paris , whether the king with all spéed purposed to goe , thinking that the enemie for his credits sake , and in respect of the promise which he made to al those of his side , hereafter to performe , would come to their aide at the least , and what he woulde not doe to winne Déepe , he would doe without faile for the defence of Paris . In consideration wherof the king thought good to go ouer the riuer of Seinne at the bridge of Mullin , which done he came presently to Paris , for two causes : either to compell the enemie to the fight , or to make him retire from Picardie , where by treason he sodeinly tooke the towne of Ferre , and he might well doe the like by others , especially because the most part of the nobilitie of that countrie came to méet the king . His Maiestie a mile from Paris lodged his armie in the néerest vilages round about , and the verie same daie his Grace went all about to suruaie the trenches along the suburbes on the other side of the riuer . And sodeinly by the aduice of the Princes and Marshals of France , with other expert Captaines , his Maiestie determined to assault the sayde suburbes the next morning by breake of daie , by thrée seuerall troupes , and in thrée sundrie places , whom , he diuided himselfe into this sorte . In one of the troups were the foure thousand Englishmen , vnder the gouernment of my Lord Willoughbie their generall , with two regiments of French men , and one regiment of Swisers , with the Marshall de Birron accompanied by the Baron de Birron his sonne , and Monsieur de Gettrie , with diuerse other noble men , who had commandement to assalt the suburbes of Saint Marcel and Saint Vidor . The second troupe was of foure regiments of French men , two regiments of Swisers , and foure companies of aduenturers with the Marshall of Aumont accompanied with Monsieur le Grand Esquier , and Monsieur de Rieulx Marshall of the field , and a good number of Nobles and Gentlemen , who had in charge to assault the suburbes of Saint Iames , and Saint Michael . The third troupe with ten regimentes of French souldiers , one regiment of Lanceknights , conducted by Monsieur de la Noe & Monsieur de Chastellon assaulted the suburbs of Saint Germain Bucie , and Nele , each troupe hauing a good number of Gentlemen on foote well armed , to sustaine the footemen , if anie extreame resistance should be made . Moreouer , on the rereward of euery troupe , two Canons and two culuerings were planted . He also had separated all the horsmen of the armie in thrée companies , his Maiestie commanding ouer the first , Monsieur le Count de Soyson ouer the second , and the Duke of Longueuill ouer the third , each of them appointed ouer one of the thrée sides of the suburbes . And in this order the first of Nouember by breake of the daie , the said suburbes were so shaken by the Kings power , that in lesse then an houre they were all taken , with the losse of fiftéene hundreth of the enemie or there about , winning also the same time fouretéene Ensignes and thirtéene péeces of ordinance great and small . And with such furie we followed the chase of our enemies that our men were mingled among them , euen within the verie gates of the citie . And had the Kings great ordinance come so soone as it was appointed , the gates of Paris had bin surely beaten downe before they could anie waie haue strengthened them . So his Maiestie came into the suburbes of S. Iames about seauen or eight of the clocke in the morning , the people crying along the stréetes with a loud voice , God saue the King , with more shew of ioy , then any feare at all . Beside , the King obserued so good an order among his souldiers , that no man started from his companie for anie pillage , till the quarters were appointed what they shoulde doe . The enimie about an hundred and fiftie shot , tooke for their defence the Abbie of Saint Germaine , shewing them selues as though they would holde it perforce , as they might verie well doe by reason of the strength thereof . But about midnight being by vs charged to render the same , they gaue ouer their holde , and then was his Maiestie maister of all the suburbes beyond the water , which are estéemed almost as bigge as the Citie of London within the wals . All that daie we imployed about the intrenching of our selues before the gates of the Citie , and in setting Warders in euerie place . His Maistie was aduertised about midnight , that the Duke de Maine came into the Citie of Paris with his forces . Whereby the King had part of his wish , because the enemie was now retired from Picardie . He would therefore trie if he woulde fulfill the other part of his desire , that is to make battaile against him , that he might not altogether execute his iustice against the wals of the Citie , and his owne subiects who were greatly seduced by the bad persuasions of his enemies , wherevpon he stayd all the Thursdaie to sée if they would come forth to the fight . But séeing they shewed not anie féeling of their losse receiued the daie before , the king came forth of the suburbes the Friday morning , and set himselfe in battaile raie offering fight to the enimie , but staying in the field from eight of the clocke in the morning , vntill eleuen , and séeing all that time no man appearing , hée marched quite from thence , contenting himselfe for that time , to haue enterprised and executed vpon that Citie , that which heretofore was neuer done , leauing his enemies a perpetuall reproch among all men , that being offered the fight , durst neuer come thereto . Which may serue for a speciall warning hereafter , neuer more to beléeue the greate brags and baunts which they haue and shall publish of their great valour and courage , which was a manifest token to the inhabitants , how néere they were brought to their utter ruine and confusion , and as for the helpe which they had , it was almost worse vnto them then the losse of all their substance . And I cannot thinke but they did at this time sufficiently learne to their cost , that they cannot stand in safetie , without the kéeping of a great & mightie armie , the charge whereof would be worse vnto them in the end , then if they were taken by the furie of the enemie . And no doubt but it would be the vniuersall desolation of that faire and wealthie Citie , which is the chiefe and principall ornament in the Realme , of whose welfare and safetie his Maiestie hath plainly shewed he hath more tender care then themselues .