History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain Part 57 (1/2)

[216] Cabrera, Filipe Segundo, lib. IV. cap. 7

[217] De Thou, Histoire Universelle, tom. III. p. 246.

[218] It is Brantome who tells the anecdote, in his usual sarcastic way.

”Encor, tout religieux, demy sainct qu'il estoit, il ne se peut en garder que quant le roy son fils eut gaigne la bataille de Sainct-Quentin de demander aussi tost que le courrier luy apporta des nouvelles, s'il avoit bien poursuivi la victoire, et jusques aux portes de Paris.” uvres, tom. I. p. 11.

Luis Quixada, in a letter written at the time from Yuste, gives a version of the story, which, if it has less point, is probably more correct. ”S. Magd. esta con mucho cuidado por saber que camino arra tomado el Rey despues de acabada aquella empresa de San Quintin.” Carta de 27 de Setiembre, 1557, MS.

[219] ”Para no entrar en Francia como su padre comiendo pabos, i salir comiendo raizes.” Cabrera, Filipe Segundo, lib. IV. cap. 8.

[220] ”Si l'on m'oyoit tenir quelque langage, qui approchast de faire composition, je les suppliois tous qu'ils me jetta.s.sent, comme un poltron, dedans le fosse par dessus les murailles: que s'il y avoit quelqu'un qui m'en tint propos, _je ne lui en ferois pas moins_.”

Coligni, Memoires, ap. Collection Universelle des Memoires, tom. XL. p.

272.

[221] Gaillard, Rivalite, tom. V. p. 253.

[222] Burnet, Reformation, vol. III. p. 636.

[223] For notices of the taking of St. Quentin, in greater or less detail, see Coligni, Memoires, ap. Collection Universelle des Memoires, tom. XL.; Rabutin, Memoires, ap. Nouvelle Collection des Memoires, tom.

VII. p. 556 et seq.; De Thou. Histoire Universelle, tom. III. pp.

164-170; Campana, Vita del Re Filippo Secondo, parte II. lib. 9; Cabrera, Filipe Segundo, lib. IV. cap. 9; Monpleinchamp, Vie du Duc de Savoie, p. 152.

Juan de Pinedo, in a letter to the secretary Vazquez, (dated St.

Quentin, August 27,) speaking of the hard fighting which took place in the a.s.sault, particularly praises the gallantry of the English: ”Esta tarde entre tres y quatro horas se ha entrado San Quentin a pura fuerca peleando muy bien los de dentro y los de fuera, muy escogidamente todos, y por estremo los Ingleses.” MS.

[224] Letter of the earl of Bedford to Sir William Cecil, (dated ”from our camp beside St. Quentin, the 3rd of Sept. 1557,”) ap. Tytler, Edward VI. and Mary, vol. II p. 493.

[225] According to Sepulveda, (De Rebus Gestis Philippi II., lib. I.

cap. 30,) no less than four thousand women. It is not very probable that Coligni would have consented to cater for so many useless mouths.

[226] ”The Swartzrotters, being masters of the king's whole army, used such force, as well to the Spaniards, Italians, and all other nations, as unto us, that there was none could enjoy nothing but themselves. They had now showed such cruelty, as the like hath not been seen for greediness: the town by them was set a-fire, and a great piece of it burnt.” Letter of the earl of Bedford to Cecil, ap. Tytler, Edward VI.

and Mary, vol. II. p. 493.

[227] Rabutin, Memoires, ap. Nouvelle Collection des Memoires, tom. VII.

pp. 537-564.--De Thou, Histoire Universelle, tom. III. pp.

149-170.--Campana, Vita di Filippo Secondo, parte II. lib. 9.

The best account of the siege of St. Quentin is to be found in Coligni's Memoires, (ap. Collection Universelle des Memoires, tom. XL. pp.

217-290,) written by him in his subsequent captivity, when the events were fresh in his memory. The narrative is given in a simple, unpretending manner, that engages our confidence, though the author enters into a minuteness of detail which the general historian may be excused from following.

[228] De Thou, Histoire Universelle, tom. III. pp. 173-177.--Cabrera, Filipe Segundo, lib. IV. cap. 13.--Sepulveda, De Rebus Gestis Philippi II., lib. I. cap. 32.

[229] De Thou, Histoire Universelle, tom. III, pp. 163, 176.--Garnier, Histoire de France, tom. XXVII. p. 377 et seq.

[230] ”C'etoit un proverbe recu en France pour designer un mauvais general, un guerrier sans merite, de dire: _il ne cha.s.sera pas les Anglois de la France_.” Gaillard, Rivalite de France et de l'Espagne, tom. V. p. 260

[231] ”Aussi les Anglois furent si glorieux (car ils le sont a.s.sez de leur naturel) de mettre sur les portes de la ville que, lors que les Francois a.s.siegeront Calais, l'on verra le plomb et le fer nager sur l'eau comme le liege.” Brantome, uvres, tom. III. p. 203.