XCVI.
French.
Grand Cité a Soldats abandonnée,
Onc ny eut mortel tumult si proche,
O quelle hideuse calamités approche,
Fors une offence n’y sera pardonnée.
English.
A great City shall be given up to the Souldiers,
There was never a mortal tumult so near,
Oh! what a hideous calamity draws near,
Except one offence nothing shall be spared.
ANNOT.
This is concerning the taking of the Town of St. Quentin in 1557. because the Author saith, no tumult was like this, so near the year 1555. when our Author writ.
He calleth it great City; because it is one of the most considerable in France, therefore it was besieged by the King of Spain with 37000. men, and 12000. Horses and 8000. English. The plunder was given to the Souldiers; for it was taken by assault.
There was never a mortal tumult so near; for the Souldiers taking revenge upon the Inhabitants, and Garrison, put all to the Sword; the Admiral having much ado to save himself.
In consequence of this our Prophet cryeth, O what a fearfull calamity; because the taking of this Town joyned with the loss of St. Laurence did almost ruine France. He addeth, except one offence nothing shall be forgiven; that is, the Town should be afflicted in all respects, except that it should not be burnt. The taking of this Town was upon the 27 of August, 17 days after the Battle of St. Laurence.
The loss was so great to France, that the King was fained to call the Duke of Guise back from Italy, and Charles V. hearing this news, asked presently if his Son Philip was not in Paris, as much as to say, it was a thing he ought to have done.
But God permitted that the King of Spain went another way, and in the mean time, the King of France strengthned himself, and the Duke of Guise took from the English, Calais, Guines, and the County of d’Oye. The Spanish History saith, that Philip had forbidden to touch any old people, Children and Ecclesiastical persons; but above all St. Quentins reliques.