THe Duke of Parma by nation an Italian, and bound in affec­tion to be a Frenchman: yet through fear & ambition grown a Spaniard by faction, as also through long practise by nature and complection, that is to say: as being replenished with vani­ty and presumption, hauing re­ceiued a commaundement from his maister the King of Spaine, to passe in person with such forces as were in the Low Cuntries, to the succours of the Leaguers the Kings rebels, did consider that albeit his said mai­ster seemed to be prouoked by the losse and reproche of those who comming in March before, neuer returned againe, yet the drift was as much or rather more a­gainst himselfe, then against those that he was sent a­gainst: and that his maisters purpose was grounded rather vpon the remoue of his footing out of the Low Cuntries, then vpon any opinion that he could atchiue any thing in Fraunce, wherein he was the rather con­firmed in respect of the expresse commaundement that withall he receiued, to take with him all such regi­ments of Wallons and Italians as were knowne to be any thing trustye vnto him, together with those [Page 2] Lords of the Country that he had any amity or credit withall, to the ende that all of them being thus a­broade, and him selfe entangled in some tedious­nesse in Fraunce: it might bee a fitte occasion and honest pretence with ease to bring in an other to com­maund in his stead, which is the matter whereat the King of Spaine hath most shot for these fiue or six yéers, wherin he hath found that the said Dukes proceedings in those Cuntries shewed plainlye that vnder the title of Gouernour he laboured for himselfe, as also that his ambition tended to lay hold vpon that branch, whenso­euer this withered tree should fall: as hauing therev­pon fixed a reuenge for the losse of his right in Portu­gall. Neuerthelesse hauing conceaued all this, he yet déemed that if he should excuse himselfe of this voiadge he should haue laide his marchandize too open, besides that peraduenture it might haue béene a sufficient ar­gument to the King his maister, to declare himselfe o­pēly against him, and by force to enterprise that which he sought to compasse by pollicy. Presuming therefore that he might better escape y ^e one way, then the other: and withall knowing it as yet no time by force to deale against his maister, as not being sufficiently setled in the Cuntry: besides y ^t there remained in the said Cun­tries a number of Spaniards with whom he had no in­telligence: he determined for this once to yeeld, and to accept of the commission to enter into Fraunce. Howbe­it somewhat to frustrate his masters drifts, and to the end to leaue behinde him no man to shut him from his returne: besides the aforesaid commission, he purposed to take with him also two regiments of Spaniardes that were appointed to remaine in the Countrie, ta­king his excuse vpon the great practises, purposes and deuises that he had in those partes, in respect wherof it was expedient at his firste comming, to woorke some [Page 3] great effect, which without the said Spaniards he was not able to compasse: heere-vpon before any counter­maund could be returned, he forced them to march, and according to the Spanish Prouerbe, consented to some losse, for feare of losing more: and so chose rather to leaue the Cuntry naked, and to giue the States oppor­tunity to wrest from him some holdes, then to remaine in danger to finde the gate shut at his owne returne.

Hauing therefore resolued to come into Fraunce, he was not content in his own fantasie to bragge that he was craftier then his maister, but thought also parti­cularlye to reape some profit of his voiage, and imagi­ning him selfe to be already Earle of Flaunders, he de­uised to renew the olde pretences of the Duke of Bur­gandy vnto such townes in Pickardy as stand vpon the Riuer of Some, and on that side framed his first practi­ses, as presuming to bring them to his own deuotion, yet imagining that if hee coulde not so soone compasse them, he would at the least laye earnest vpon them a­gainst he were stronger: this fruit did he purpose to reape of his voiage. The King of Spaine likewise had also an other purpose wherby to finde meanes to be rid of the said Duke of Parma, which was once more to re­uiue that languishing poison that hath lingered within him these two yeeres, that it might take effect during his being in Fraunce, so to haue some vpon whome to lay the blame, that he knoweth hath long béene layed vpon him selfe: but as the Italians are their craft mai­sters in matter of poison, so hath the D. found meanes so to preuent this drift by good counterpoisons, that it hath wrought no greater effect then the other.

Hitherto had the D. of Parma béen alwaies an Ita­lian, but afterward he played the Spaniard in earnest. And firste to begin, when hee was most resolued vpon this iourneye, then seemed hee coldest and most vncer­taine, [Page 4] to the end so to terrifie the D. of Mayne, and to driue him into such necessitie as to do him this homage: namely, to come euen home to his gate to begge his helpe, wherto indéed was he forced, yea euen to come to Brussels, where he was receiued with such grauitye or disdaine, besides that he came but badlye furnished, that in this Court he séemed not of so much accompt, as euen any his messenger comming from him ought to haue doone, as also at that instant all y ^e Spaniards be­gan to haue him in such contempt, that from thence­foorth so long as they stayed in those parts, they abated no whit therof, yea it still rather encreased then other­wise, so that they returned him home againe without any resolution vpon his propositions, and vtterlye ig­norant in all matters except of spanish reuerences and ceremonies which he was forced to learn while he stai­ed at the Court.

Afterward the said D. of Parma suffered himselfe to be courted and sollicited with sundry embassages, stil waiting that the necessity of the Parizians encreasing: the D. of Mayne with his partakers should call vpon his presence with greater submissions, and receiue him with more fauour: vpon these lamentable and pittifull supplications and protestations the D. of Mayne also for his parte ment to ad the same pollicie as he had be­fore vsed, in hastening the firste succours that he recea­ued by sending y ^e Lord of Villeroy to the King, to shew some desire to talke of peace, as also he counsailed the Parizians to send foorth the Cardinall of Gondy, and y ^e Archbishop of Lyons, as their deputies to his Maiestie, with séeming to be desirous to yéeld, so to put hammers in the Spaniards braines, and hasten their comming: which in trueth was the best meanes and greatest per­swasion that he could haue vsed. Thus when the D. of Parma was resolued vpon his going, and had alreadye [Page 3] set forward his forces, namely the Spaniards whome hee would not leaue behinde: hee began to send foorth throughout the world a thundring of his iourney into Fraunce, with the discription of his armye, wherein were named more Princes, Dukes, Marquises, and Earles then are in all the States of Spaine, and that his power was some 18. or 20000. footmen, and 3000. horse, but such as he painted forth for so many Alexan­ders or Caesars, able to conquer a whole new worlde if any were discouered: he gaue his troopes also proud ti­tles, yea euen the Terses of his Spaniards, some hee named Amutinados, others Mansferidos, and others such lofty names, as might suffise to make the Mares cast their foles: neither did he forget also to publish the state of his furniture, of his great stable, of his Pages, sumpters, and the couers of his fourescore Moyles and Cofers, the noise of whose bels he thought sufficient to make all the townes that helde for the King to yéelde: also his great quantity of great locked carriages full of vnknown engins, which at one only discharging should carry away a whole armye.

Being entred into Fraunce, where he found no re­sistance (for the most of the nobilitye were gathered to the king) he neuer enquired but how many daies march it was to Rochell, the taking whereof he purposed to assure himselfe off by the way, fearing nothing so much as least the Viceroy of Pampelune should come & méete the King in the plaines of Burdeaux (whether he ima­gined he should flée at the onlye sound of his comming) and there ouerthrowe him before his arriuall, and so take from him the honor of this ouerthrowe which he accompted most certaine: Neither had his forerunners failed to instruct the Preachers of Paris, who already exalted him as the great Tamburlayn, yea the grauers were in hand with pictures of brasse and marble for [Page 6] him as for the deliuerer of Fraunce. Thus with all his Cocodrils teares and Spanish smokes, he marched on, leauing in all places where he went, the tokens of the most barbarous and notable cruelties that were euer practised against the Moores, giuing out that if the king stil remained before Paris, he would not lose one houre but straight goe and giue him battaile.

At his entrye into the Realme, the saide Lord of Mayne sent to receiue him the Lord of S. Paule, some­time a Page, and afterward one of the housholde ser­uants of the Lord of Beauuaies Nangy, and now one of the most famous Lords of the leaguers armye. But when he came within thrée daies iourneye of Meaux, the saide Lord of Mayne in person with the cheefest of his Captaines was to sée him, but did but smally reco­uer the honor of his iourney to Brusselles, as being so meanely furnished, that the Spaniards who thought them all Angels (so greatly were they adorned with feathers) did so disdaine them, that they neuer suffered any but only the said Lord of Mayne to enter into the Chamber, yea scarsely into the D. of Parmas lodging.

Being come to Meaux, which was about the ende of August 1590. he shewed himselfe astonied to heare that the King was still before Paris. There began he to take possession of absolute commaundement ouer the army: And to shew that he esteemed neither the D. of Mayne nor any of his leaders for Captaines, with­out farther counsell or aduice, he changed all their pur­pose, and where they were resolued to marche toward the harte of Fraunce, and to draw toward Paris, he thought it better to take his way along by the Riuer, and hauing viewed the Carde, he appointed his lod­ging at the towne of Chelles, yet was he much amased when he knew that the King had preuented him in sea­zing vpon the saide lodging, but afterward comming [Page 7] foorth with the Duke of Mayne to viewe the plain, and séeing the King comming with a good troupe directlye toward them, they were contented for that time to take no néerer sight, yea he was more amazed the next day, when he knew that the Kinges whole armye was come within a small League of him, euen into the sight of eache other: but when from the top of a little hill he descried it in battaile araye, a chilling feare began also to seaze vpon him: for perceiuing in two or thrée squa­drons 4000. french horse, whereof there might be some 3000. gentlemen, and some 800. Reisters, also 10. or 12000 French footmen, and some 4000. Switzers, and withal among them such a countenance, that he might well thinke that they meant not to trouble him with following them into the plaines of Burdeaux, there to abide the battaile: this poore Prince was so daunted and in such a rage, that as it is said he swore & blasphe­med God in thrée or foure languages, least he should not vnderstand him: and complained vnto the said L. of Mayne that he had brought him to the slaughter, nei­ther doo wee read in the fables of any so sodaine meta­morphosis as was there presently made, for from furi­ous Lyons as at y ^e first they were, they were presently transfourmed into Foxes: who thought no longer of assailing, but of defending themselues: and in liewe of appearing any further, each of them fell to making his denne in the earth, which by great good hap was in a Marsh, well ditched of it selfe and of a strong seate.

Then had they the pleasure to beholde this Armye in battaile aray thrée daies on a rowe, which seemed as many colde wéekes to temper their heat, that was all wasted vpon the taking of the little Town of Laigny, that stood at their backes, wherin he that was the Go­uernour, resolued a while to stay for them, in full intēt to abandon it at their comming, for indéede it was no [Page 8] way to be holden, as appeareth by the sequel, but he sée them come so disorderly, that at length himselfe tooke courage and held out longer then reason required: Ne­uer did madde dogs so teare in peces any carrion, as did these Spaniards all that they found in the said town, without exception of age or sexe, either of Churches, which they reserued for the scaffoldes and theaters of their most horrible cruelties and infamous abhomina­tions: which notwithstanding, yet grew they no whit the more couragious or desirous of the battel that they had so often bruted, for their appetites and lusts therto were glutted with séeing it so often offered.

The King perceiuing that there was no meanes to force them to the fight, much lesse to get them to it vo­luntarily or of their own accord, shewed them an other point of brauerye, and yet with a militarye discretion, which was soone confirmed by the effect thereof: name­ly, by seperating his army sixe or seauen Leagues from him, retaining about his owne person skarde the third parte, which notwithstanding they neuer drew toward him, neither durst they enterprise any thing vntill they perceiued him to be further off: but his Maiestie loath to loose time, went to besiedge y ^e Towne of Clermount in Beauais, where he staied aboue 10. daies, during the which out of this great armye they might haue dismis­sed some troups through fauour of y ^e townes Pontoise & Beauais, which they held neer vnto Cleremount, ei­ther to haue raised the siege, or at the least to haue mo­lested his saide Maiesties armye, which as then was weake in horse, yet suffered they the Town to be taken partly by assault, and partlye by composition, without any their defence or allarme.

Howbeit while they perceiued his Maiestie thus oc­cupied, after many their secret & great deliberations, and sundry their preparatiues, as if it had béene to as­sault [Page 9] thrée or foure townes at once, according as they gaue out: they resolued to beseidge the Towne of Cor­beil (the same is a small Towne hauing a bridge ouer the riuer of Seyne, of no strong scituation, neither ea­sie to be fortified by mans industrye, as by the sequell may be well proued) which they that were in it, with commission rather to linger the enemy, then obstinatly to withstand him, tooke assurance to defend by reason of their maner of procéeding, so that at the fortnights ende hauing beene beaten with a number of artillerye, brought from Paris, also hauing holden out and repul­sed one assault, they quailed the enemies for returning any more in fiftéene daies after. In the meane space the Duke of Parma erected an arsenoll, wherein he kept a number of woorekmen, that laboured night and day, not suffering any of them to come foorth or to speake with any body, yea he kept so sure watch that none, no not the Duke of Mayne might know what was in do­ing, insomuch that men thought it to be some deuice to transporte Corbeile euen whole, and to send it vnto the coast of Spaine, but in the end it was found to be certaine boates couered with earth and turffe, wherin to transporte Souldiers to a breach made on the other side of the riuer. Finally after a moneths delay, the de­fendants hauing been too obstinate, and beaten with 22. peeces of Ordinance from breake of daye almost vnto midnight: being in manner all maymed with the can­non, the towne was taken by a generall assault, wher­of the French made the first pointe, yet when the Spa­niards entred, they vsed thē as enemies, and slue more of them that had opened them the gates, then of those that had kept them so long shut: there practised they whatsoeuer new inuētions and most horrible cruelties that their industry was able to affoord.

The Duke of Parma could not méete with ingeni­ours [Page 10] or architects enowe to describe the plant of this seidge & Towne of Corbeile, not in such state as it thē was, but in such sort as he deuised, as also he purposed to make & builde a fortres in it, wherby to make it im­pregnable, to which end he sent into all partes of Eu­rope, hauing so far foorth bound this poor small Town, (which among vs was of no fame, but onlye in respect of the number of Peach trées that growe among the Vynes thereabout) that now it shall be accompted one of the strongest holdes of all Fraunce, howbeit onelye with such as shall neuer heare what hath since ensued.

After this seidge, Parts which by this small begin­ning gathered assurance of much better, for the ful fur­nishing of their bonfiers, did almost make an end of burning that small store of wood that yet remained, wherof now they haue greater want then euer. The Duke of Parma was inuited thether to sporte him, the banquets were prouided, his lodging was furnished with the best of the Kings moueables, the Princesses and Ladyes had decked and made themselues readye, yea there were that euen purposed to snare him in their loues, wherby afterward to marry with him: But his loues & affections resting in a fatter and more fruitfull soyle, he was no whit moued with all these baites. And contrariwise being iealous of his prize, he stayed there yet thrée wéekes to prouide for the preseruation there­of, kéeping his counsails secret, wherto euen the Duke of Mayne had but sildome accesse, only giuing out that he purposed at one instant to set vpon Melune, Prouince Montereau, and thrée or foure other Townes standing vpon the Riuer of Seyne, so to set free the vpper side of the Riuer, as meaning also to doo the like with Poissy. Meulan, Mante, Vernon, and Pont del' Arch that stand beneath the said riuer, but all this grewe to nothing: for contrariwise finding no great safety for him selfe so [Page 11] néer to Melune, whose garison did dayly molest him, he determined to retire from Corbeile: which he had no sooner doone, but he heard that the said garrison of Me­lune had recouered it again, and cut in péeces 7. or 800. men that he had left there in garison, which newes was also seconded with y ^e reprise of Lagny: heervpon the L. of Mayne with the Parizians came and coniured him to returne to the recouery of Corbeile, from whence he was not past six or seauen Leagues off: but his firste price forced him to resolue not to vndertake it again the second time, as being well aduertised, that he that was now in it was thorowly resolued to his defence: albeit he then protested to returne. Neuerthelesse seeing that the L. of Mayne had againe sent the Lord of Villeroy to the King to séek to renew some treaty of peace (yet was not his embassage without his knowledge & con­sent) he ment to turne the same to his owne vse, and therevpon made no haste to returne as he might haue done, but lingered them, in hope that at his returne he would yet enterprise somewhat, sometime propoun­ding vnto thē Chasteau Therry, sometime Compiegne, which was only to cullour his aboad in those partes, that tēded but to wait whether y ^e most mutenous and zealous Leaguers would not finde thēselues gréeued at this parly of peace, & so haue recourse to him to make him their General, & to abandon the D. of Mayn, as al­so for his part he failed not to procure thē to be vnder hand therto solicited, as giuing thē to vnderstand that he misliked of this treatye of peace, and denying the graunt of his consent therto, in hope thereby to trippe the D. of Mayne, for he had by experience found that the conduct of an armye or any great enterprise could not beare two equall powers, because that growing vpon diuersity of accidents, they would also bréede di­uersity of opinions, whereby each parte being of force [Page 12] sufficient to maintain his opinion, it was necessary for either of them to stand in feare of his companion, and so consequently he sought to assure him selfe, which could not be without the ouerthrowe of the one or the other. Héereto he imagined that he might attaine by the ouerthrowe of the Duke of Mayne: but the Spa­niards had in Fraunce borne themselues so insolentlye and that indifferently, against aswell those that called them as those whome they pretended to subdue: that the people abhorred them more then death it selfe.

Thus séeing him selfe then frustrate of the drifte wherby he pretended to recouer the reputation that he had lost in this voyage, he iudged that héereafter euery thing would grow woorse for him, and therefore in ear­nest resolued to departe: but therein also he found one let that hindred his imagined diligence. For the King séeing that come to passe, which at the beginning (yet with discretion and iudgement) he had foretold of the D. of Parmas comming: namely, that he should be dri­uen to retire before the yéere were at an end, thought it also necessary not only for his owne reputation, but also for the restrayning of him from all surprizes in his returne, to holde him as short as he might: and ther­fore determined euen in discretion to be present himself: and as he is alwaies resolute in his opinions, so hath he two incomparable qualities, namely spéede and cou­rage in his executions, which commonly are most fa­uoured by fortune, and doo alwaies bring forth the gre­test and most wonderfull effects.

Vpon this resolution, without any noise he depar­ted the fourth day of Nouember from Escouis in Nor­mandy, with one troup of horse and an other of harque­buziers on horseback without any cariages, leauing his mayne battaile with the Lord Marshall Biron, to employ according as they had concluded, and so came [Page 13] with all spéed to Compiegne, where immediatly vpon his arriuall he inuited al the nobility of Picardy which is great, to come to assist him to y ^e honour of his house, to reconduct the Duke of Parma out of Fraunce, who had deserued that fauor at his hands, if not for any ser­uice doone, yet for the small hurt that he had sustayned by him, whereupon within a fewe dayes he had nye a thousand good horse, with whom he began to séek after the Duke of Parma, who craued none of these curte­sies, but could haue béene content to haue stopped the belles of his Moyles so to passe with lesse noyse, for be­ing loath to aduenture to passe the Cuntry of Picardy with his owne troopes alone in the Kings face, who had no footmen, neither halfe so many horsemen as he, he vrged the Duke of Mayne to assemble all his horse to accompany him, as not caring greatly what might become of Mayne, so himself were in safety, and so stai­ed for his succour.

His maiestie also for his part sent for the Duke of Neuers to bring him as many horse as he might, to the end to furnish himselfe the more honourablye: but be­fore they could ioyne, knowing that the Duke of Par­ma marched, he was straight at his héeles, and at his first comming sending his men to the warre, the 22. of the said moneth, he defeated a whole company of Spa­niards without the losse of any of his, or sauing any of the others. The fiue and twentith, himselfe purposed to view them, and hauing sent before the Lord Baron of Biron, Marshall of the Campe of his army, with some troupe of horse, himselfe followed at hand with an other: raising such an allarme in the enemyes Campe, that he drew them all against him selfe, and in their fa­ces charging them a dozen times, he retired with lesse then two hundreth horse without any losse, hauing so amazed them, that they encamped all night at their [Page 14] first lodging: At his departure thence, his Maiestie found himselfe within one leage of the Duke of Mains lodging, wherupon suddenly without drawing bit, he purposed to finde him at his bed, but that good Prince being therof aduertised, presently getteth on his bootes againe, taketh horse and at randon casteth himselfe in­to the Duke of Parmas armes, leauing that quarter ful of cariages and sick persons.

Within few daies after the saide D. of Neuers ioy­ned with the king with a good troope, as did also the L. of Gyury maister of the Campe of his light horsemen, and the Lord of Parabelle, who returned from Melune, where because he could not sée his highnesse, he would not let him departe without kissing his handes. This renforte being come to his maiestie, al his men became better courtiers then before, for dayly they were with the Dukes highnesse at his vprising and downelying, and still with new booties, albeit he marched so close, that he tooke not the twentith parte of his ordinarye lodging, leauing without pitie or mercy, a tayle of his people that could not make so good spéed, of whome the peasants also had as little. Thus in this feare, with this shame, a bitter repentance for his entrye into Fraunce, and good protestatiōs neuer to return again, the D. of Parma with as much of his armye as could saue it selfe, was driuen away, leauing the good D. of Mayne to attend in his returne, whatsoeuer it may please God.

In the meane time the King went to S. Quintins to refresh him selfe, where he was magnificallye recei­ued: and soone after the Towne of Corbie was restored into his Maiesties obedience, through the good conduct of the Lord of Humiers, and other noble men that fra­med that enterprize: a town of very great importance, in respect of the scituation, as standing in the middest [Page 15] betwéene Amiens, Perone and Dourlens, to whome togither with other the townes of Pickardy, this will be a scourge, as in short time will appeere.

This is the true discriptions of the battailes, victo­ries and triumphes of the D. of Parma throughout his whole voiage, these be the crownes and pillers whose inscriptions were ready prouided: he came to plant a Colony of Spaniards in Fraunce, but he did but sowe it abroad in the fieldes, which haue lyne couered with their dead, out of whose ashes they shall not spring a­gaine as dooth the Phenix, for out of such carrions can proceed nothing but serpents and other such venomous beastes: and the battaile which this poore Prince tho­rowe a principall pointe of industrye imagined to haue escaped in great, he lost by retaile: for it is most cer­taine, that of all the great numbers of horsemen and footmen that he brought in, he carried away not past 7. or eight thousand, and those in such state, as if they had come foorth of some spittle house: he came to restore Pa­ris into liberty, to take againe all the Townes that holde for the King in the Prouinces thereabout, and to send him beyond the Riuer of Loyre: but he hath left Paris in greater want then before, as hauing all the riuers straighter closed vp both aboue and beneath thē euer they were: so farre also hath he béene from reco­uering any one towne, that the King hath wonne one euen before his face: besides that after y ^e King had him in chase, the L. marshall Biron hath recouered what by force and what by composition, foure Townes, and aboue twenty fortresses and castles wherein the enemy kept garrison: hauing as his maiesties cause is most iust, prosecuted the warre against them, especiallye by the executioners of high iustice: he came also to pur­chace authority in Fraunce, and to strengthen himself with practises and fréendship, but hath lost all his cre­dit [Page 16] in this parte: for they haue accused him to haue be­trayed his maister, and the Spanish name is grown so odious among them, that they are ready to enter leage to goe and leauy warre in Spaine, in reuenge of y ^e out­rages and insolencyes that they haue receiued. This poore Prince who findeth himselfe sicklye and of no long life, came with intent heere to shut vp the steppe of all his labours, by some notable act which might haue made his memory famous, and vphelde that vaine re­putation which with small labour and lesse merite he had already purchased: but contrariwise he hath héere encurred a reproche and shame which will giue such a blemish to his reputation as will neuer be wiped out againe. But if in this voiage he hath doon his maisters businesse but badlye, as hauing spent him a million of golde, and lost him a great number of his best men, and returning loaden with nothing but gréefe and shame, euen at their hands in whose help he came: he hath yet made a wurse market in the Lowe Cuntries that are vnder his charge, where the Earle of Nassawe and the States during his being in Fraunce, haue taken the townes of Steenbergue in Brabant, and Oudemborg in Flaunders, with twenty other holdes, and 30. or 40. péeces of Ordinance in the same.

Moreouer besides all these mischiefes already come to passe, there is yet one more of farre greater conse­quence readye to happen, yea euen ineuitable: for the said D. of Parma hath through the saide iourney ouer­slipped the occasion either to satisfie the Princes of the Empire in their sute to the King of Spaine for the re­stitution of those places that he holdeth and vsurpeth in the Dutches of Cleue & Iulick, and other y ^e members of the Empire: either els, if he mean not to do it, which is very likely, to prouide himselfe to defend & kéep them perforce, which now he can hardly doo in time conueni­ent, [Page 17] in that y ^e said Princes of the Empire standing dis­content for that they were not satisfied in their said de­maunds, are fully resolued without further treatye or parly to bring down the mightiest and strongest army that hath béene leauyed in Germany in a long time, a­gainst the which neither the D. nor his maister haue any thing to oppose, so that of necessitie they will reco­uer those places, which hitherto haue beene the Mother nources of Flaunders: besides that this iourney being enterprised vpon choller and disdaine, it is to be presu­med that such an army being once in the field, wil not so cease, neither shall want any pretences to proceede fur­ther. These be the fruites of this his voiage, or rather we may saye, the effects of Gods iustice, who knoweth how to reuenge such extreame presumption and ambi­tion, when men doo least look for it.

This could not the king of Spaine wel comprehend in the ouerthrow of his great army which he had proui­ded for y ^e wrongful inuasion of England but must néeds heap on this new testimony, which besides the losses a­boue mentioned doo also draw on the ouerthrow of the reputation of his only man, that was able to beare the name of a Captain, which heereafter he shall finde to be of as great importance vnto him, as any thing y ^t euer he did. These be euident tokens that Gods diuine good­nes is purposed to fulfill his prophecies against this v­surper and wrongfull enterpriser as he did against He­rod and Pharo, also that vpon his fal and ouerthrow he wil build vp the glory of those whome this man purpo­sed to destroy. This therfore is all that can be gathered out of the trueth of the Duke of Parmas whole iourney after his entrye into Fraunce, vntil the last day of the moneth of Nouember, wherin he departed with shame which is not héere set downe to any other ende, but to serue as a remembrance to any such his fauourers as list to vndertake the writing of this History.