Here followeth the Copy of their Letter, to the Governour of Lion.
My Lord,
You have known before this by many of your Letters, how his Highness of Savoy, notwithstanding he knew, and had confessed that we were included in the Peace made in the year 1600. between his Royal Majesty of France, and him; hath nevertheless divers times oppressed us, by detaining our Rents, prohibiting of Trade, other violences and extortions, refusing to hearken to the just and pressing remonstrances, which his Majesty hath made him several times in our behalf; but hath also contrived many designs to surprise us in time of Peace. Now it is so, that for the encompassing his pernicious design, the Lord d’Albigny, Saturday last, the Eleventh of this Month, did bring before our Town, on the side of Plain Palais, about two Thousand men, Horse and Foot, all choice men, and hath caused to pass about 200. of them over our Ditch, by the Corraterie, and having set up Ladders one within another, hath caused them to come into our Town, about three of the Clock in the Morning, upon Sunday the Twelfth of this Month, encouraging them himself, being in the Ditch; so that being come down into the Town, some went towards our New Gate to force it open, and give entrance to their Companions, who were in the plain of Plain Palais, others went towards the Mint Gate, that they might by this means come into the middle of the Town. But it hath pleased God to look upon us with his favourable Eye, and to give such a Heart to the Citizens, that they beat them back, and killed the best part of them taken upon the place, the rest hath been taken, and since that Hanged by our Order, the rest threw themselves down from the wall; so that we hear, many of them are either dead or grievously wounded. It is a wonderfull deliverance of our God, for which we are particularly bound to Praise him. But as it is probable, that the said Lord d’Albigny will continue his ill designs, by so much the more that we hear his Highness is not far from us, we do intreat and request by all our affection, that you would be pleased to consider what prejudice the taking of this place would be to his Majesty, and to continue us your favour, and assist us with your wise and prudent advise, &c.
Many did judge of the success of this enterprise by the beginning, and were more forward to write, than to perform well. The King had notice that the Duke was Master of the Town, and the manner of doing was represented with so much felicity and facility, that there was less reason to doubt of it, than believe it. The Truth was not known, but by the advise of the Governour of Lion, which came before any discourse that the Town did publish after its deliverance:
The Duke went Post back again over the Mountains, and left his Troops within three miles of Geneva in three places, at Tournon, Fossigny, and Ternier, he caused his Embassadours to say to the Lord of Berne, that he had not made that enterprise to trouble the Peace of the Cantons; but to prevent l’Esdiguieres to seize upon it for the King of of France, who should have been so powerfull a Neighbour, as would have given them great occasion of fears and jealousies.
The success of this undertaking made it appear, that God will not have those Treaties to the assurance of which his name hath been called for a Witness, to be violated, whatsoever appearance or pretext of Religion there be.
Thus Gentle Reader thou seest by all these Circumstances the Truth of our Authors Prognostication.