Читать книгу The Other Historical Essays - Frederick Schiller - Страница 5

The conquest of Metz was, however, also the only fruit of this campaign, for the other cities have been remarkably resistant, and people found them well prepared. The german Princes announced to the King that peace was made with the Emperor. This last one has hardly made peace with the local enemy, that he advanced already with a numerous army toward Strasbourg, to take back again from the Frenchs the bordering cities which they conquered. On the first rumour of this attack, the Duke of Guise threw himself with a numerous, bold troop made up of people from the nobility into the defense of the city of Metz where they expected the main attack. Verdun received Marshall Saint Andrew to defend it, and in Toul where the King has appointed Lord Vieilleville, the Duke of Nevers has thrown himself into defending this city without waiting for a royal order. The King allowed this situation, even if he would very much have appointed Vieilleville instead for this duty, and sent him rather to Verdun to defend this city with his good services, under Marshall Saint Andrew whose Lieutenant he still ever was.

Vieilleville fortified very much Verdun, only that to his greatest embarrassment, people learned that Duke of Alba would not come there, but rather has started the siege of Metz. He undertook, in that respect, to keep the imperial army which, despite its great size, must still be very active, so much as possible in the open air and then, to encircle it narrowly.

He did hence many damages to the enemy through some surprise attacks. He learned that the city of Estain in Lorraine, which was declared for neutral by the Emperor and the Frenchs, actually provided the imperial armies with many food supplies, and in that respect, he decided to conquer Estain. He went before the gates, accompanied only by twelve noblemen on horse, who each had a new servant by himself; he himself had four soldiers dressed as servants beside him. He left a small corps in a remote place, with the order of rushing close to him, at the trumpet call. Before the gates, he called for the Mayor and the officer, and reproached them that they supported the enemies of the Crown. They excused themselves by saying that they must be doing what their superiors ordered them, and were doing the best for their subjects by enabling them to sell their local products with some advantage to other people. “And can we also purchase something with our money?” said Vieilleville.“Oh! Why not!?” they replied. “Now, go in,” he ordered to the servants, “and pick for us and for our horses supplies worth six Thalers! In the meantime, may the trumpeters play a joyous little piece, for soon they will do something good for themselves!”.

The few lancers whom the officer has beside himself, wanted in truth to prevent the access of the gate to the servants; however, they would be badly pushed. The four soldiers climbed immediately on the portcullis which could not be lifted down. The twelve horses were already in the gate, and then the corps also came in, broke out into the city and hence, became master of the same city. Ten to twelve Spaniards, among whom a relative of the Duke of Alba, who were by an officer's and have nevertheless heard the noise, have escaped away from the city by jumping over the walls. Vieilleville was so irritated about this incident that he hanged the officer's nephew who has helped them.

Six days after this expedition, he attacked the village of Rougerieules in which were stationed five companies of lancers, and equally as many cavalry squadrons. The Germans in the village would be attacked and would either be killed or made prisoner. In the morning, at seven o’clock, everything was over, and Vieilleville was already, again, on the road, so that when a part of Margrave Albert of Brandenburg's army advanced towards the village, they found only an empty nest.

Vieilleville went back to Verdun to give his people and himself some rest, for in severe cold, he has not slept in a bed for three weeks; has also not changed his clothes ever since. It pleased him very much as he walked in the main church of Verdun, to see hanging on his left and right, in two lines, the flags which he has taken from the enemies and sent to Marshall Saint Andrew. He added to these the last eleven conquered flags and standards, and hence, twenty two pieces would be sent over to the King.

Hardly have eight days passed, when a courier from the King came to Vieilleville, through whom he received the order to go to Toul by the Duke of Nevers, and to assist him because it was feared that the Emperor who could not conquer Metz, would besiege Toul. He wanted to take with himself, as much as possible, the people he had in Verdun to strengthen the Duke, but could not do so, without weakening very much Marshall Saint Andrew, for it was not yet known specifically whichever of the two places was most in danger. Vieilleville took only a few men with him, and left the most experienced Captains with the Marshall.

Immediately the next day, the council with the Duke of Nevers took place, during which it would be decided to defeat by any possible manner the Albanians and the Italians who were in very strong number in Pont-a-Mousson, and to make an end to their rambles. Vieilleville and his troops from Verdun offered to open the hostilities, and promised to compensate richly them with the robs which this garrison has committed. He sent secretly to Pont-a-Mousson, immediately, for a high priority mission of information gathering, one of his trusted men and spies, two of whom were by his side, a man very knowledgeable about whatever to answer to the questions which people could ask him, and about whatever kind of information he has to notice carefully.

He should pretend to belong to the House of the widowed Duchess of Lorraine, Christine, a niece of the Emperor, and performing commissions for her at the imperial camp. He went in there late in the day using as a valid excuse, that he could not travel further on this day, hence giving himself in advance an occasion to observe the strengths of the enemies, and whatever they could be preparing. This skilful and decisive man put himself hence on his way, without anyone noticing, with his yellow banner which was the sign of neutrality in Lorraine; and arrived in less than three hours before the gates of Pont-a-Mousson. People asked him where he came from, where he would go to, what he intended to do and if had letters with him. He demanded to be led to the commanders; certainly, was the answer given to him. As he advanced before them (these were Don Alfonso of Arbolancqua, a Spaniard, and Fabricio Colonna, a Roman), he knew to answer so skilfully to all their questions, that they could not be discovering his very specific mission. He then asked the permission to retire in his place and inquired whether they have something to recommend to His Imperial Majesty. He hoped to be by him the next morning, and would do for them such faithful services.

They asked him, when he travelled through Toul, if he knew that troops from Verdun have come there, led by a certain Vieilleville. He then answered: ”Oh! These damned french frogs! He recently left Estain which he attacked, hanged one of my brothers, who was with my uncle and was officer there, because he has helped the Spaniards escape over the city walls. May he be plagued! If it did not cost me my life, I would have revenged myself against him; for the injustice committed was too great! We are all bound to do anything to serve our Lord, as it is our case with the Emperor and my Duchess. For if two of these Lords were captured; hence, people may learn about many secret actions to be done for His Imperial Majesty. And this enraged man has killed my poor brother, and he could not hide his bad deeds otherwise than by breaking the neutrality. May he be damned eternally!”

Fabricio Colonna and Don Alfonso who knew very well about Vieilleville’s expeditions and knew particularly this last detail, praised him highly. They took him aside and promised him to avenge the death of his brother, if he would do whatever they will ask to him. He answered, that he would not spare his life in that respect; however, he previously asked them to see the Emperor to bring him over the message from his Duchess. They asked him why he did not have any letter. “Because,” he said, “my message contained certain state secrets about the King of France. If I do not care now about transmitting the content of these letters; hence, I could put the whole province in jeopardy, for if I am caught, such letters would constitute a breach of neutrality, and I would also run the danger of being hanged, or at least, tortured!?”. They allowed themselves to be content with such explanation, and as they already believed to have won him to their cause, they had him led back to his place of stay, with the order to open him the gate of Metz at the earliest morning, without inquiring further about his occupations.

With the break of the day, he showed himself at the gate which would be opened to him without any further question. He went into the camp, remains there the whole day, and knew so well to appease the Duke of Alba, that he even received a letter from him for Fabricio and Alfonso concerning their affairs, in which they would be particularly commissioned to be attentive to a certain french commander, named Vieilleville, who has caused many damages to Margrave Albert's camp, and is now, from reliable information, for two days in Toul with his troops. They were ordered to treat well the messenger, whose zeal for His Majesty's service was known. They should, in that respect, not have any scruples to use him.

Immediately after receiving the letter, these spanish commanders praised him very much and said to him, that, indeed, it was not necessary for him to show his letter of recommendation to the Duke of Alba, for since yesterday, they have already, through his speeches, been convinced that he is imperially inclined. If he wanted to be rich, he should only use anything possible to bring into spanish hands the military leader Vieilleville who has so damaged the Margrave's camp. He answered that he wanted nothing else than to be able to kill him, so that he can pull his heart from his body, to avenge his brother's death. He demanded their help to that end, as a faithful servant of the Emperor, to assist him in this enterprise with all due power, for his brother was hanged at His Imperial Majesty's service.

Those who saw this zeal being expressed with tears, were now under his power for they did not have any more doubt about his motivation, embraced him; and Don Alfonso will hang around his neck a golden chain, worth fifty Thalers; however, he rejected this present with reluctance and said that he would never take something from them, if not in exchange of a distinctive service to the Emperor and in another occasion than this one where his own interest is mostly at play, for he has to avenge his own blood in this precise instance. At the same time, he offered them not to press him further, and only to give him free hand. They should only allow him now, to appear before the Duchess immediately; he promised, upon his return, to bring them good news.

Such a noble refusal to accept a present, and all the beautiful words totally convinced Don Alfonso and Fabricio; hence, they did not any more doubt his loyalty. They allowed him now to travel in order to see him again soon.

He put himself immediately on his way and came back to Vieilleville who held him already for lost, for he was already absent for three days. The news which he brought with himself, gave to this one a bold and strange tactical idea which he also immediately put into work, without entrusting it another human being. He instructed him to go back to Pont-a-Mousson and to tell the Spaniards, that Vieilleville would ride to Condé-upon-Moselle at the break of the day; to hold talk there with the Duchess who was staying there; for the Duchess feared that if the war between France and the Emperor should still last longer, people may have her son dance on a Piemontese song (to kill him for his land like the Duke of Savoy); he should, however, use the namely words. He should still add that Vieilleville who feared the garrison of Pont-a-Mousson, one hundred and twenty horses strong and with some equipped with cannons, would accompany him. He needs, by the way, really not very much to rush, so that Vieilleville has enough time to take his dispositions, and could only ride at his usual pace.

In the night, around eleven o’clock, the messenger left and arrived around two o’clock in the morning by the Spaniards in Pont-a-Mousson which would be set into a joyful surprise with his report. With the most possible rapidity, they took their dispositions for this lucky capture which completion they really did not doubt any more. The whole garrison which was still stronger than the enemy opposing it, must leave by horse, so that only somehow fifty guns were left in the city, and people can judge the victory already for certain.

Vieilleville has, in the meantime, as soon as the messenger has left the gates of Toul, called together all his senior staff with the Duke of Nevers, and declared them, that he projected a courageous enterprise whereby they must however be ready to spend ten hours on horse. He assured them that something important would come out thereby, and would give them much honour and advantage. All were happy with the project and made themselves immediately ready. They left the city, rode for three quarter of an hour up to the bridge toward the forest of Rouzières. There, Vieilleville divided the troops and put it in ambush in different places. He himself held the surrounding plains with hundred and twenty horses, and anyone coming his way, whether worker or wanderer, would be arrested, so that the enemy could not learn anything about their presence. As soon as the enemy would be in sight, everyone should do whatever he himself would be doing; the trumpets should not sound, until he ordered so, or else, it would be at the cost of their head. Readers must still be told that during the absence of his messenger, he has inspected the whole territory, in order to occupy the camp correctly, to see where he, as an experienced soldier, could set up his ambush most efficiently.

After ordering everything in this manner, hardly three hours went by before the enemy showed up. “We are returning to Toul,” said Vieilleville, “as if we wanted to flee; yet, in slow steps, and should they start to follow us galloping, so we will also gallop until they have passed our ambush. Should this situation actually take place; then, they will be ours without us losing a single man.”

The enemy who saw them fleeing, followed them in strong gallop, already proffering shouts of victory. As soon as they passed the ambush, Vieilleville ordered: “Halt!” and allowed the trumpet to sound. At the same time, they constituted a front against the enemy, and prepared themselves for the attack. At this moment, ahead of the ambush, hundred and twenty horses on one front, fifty light cavalry on another, two hundred guns on horse on a third front, which all broke out among unbelievable shouts and sounds of drums, in full ride, surprising the enemy which they completely stormed: “Tradimento! Tradimento!” shouted the enemy. In the meantime, Vieilleville brought down anyone coming across him. Shots were fired from all sides that people only heard the following shoutings: “Misericordia, Signor Vieilleville....Buona Guerra, Signori Francesi!” The flow of bullets went in full multitude down the human beings and horses alike; hence, Vieilleville allowed the combat and massacre to cease; and the remaining soldiers surrendered themselves, after putting down the weapons, in grace and disgrace. Two hundred and thirty soldiers died on the spot, and twenty five would be wounded, among whom also their leader Fabricio Colonna. The remaining soldiers would be made prisoners, and not a unique one was allowed to report to Pont-a-Mousson about their comrades' misfortune.

After this bold and victorious enterprise, Vieilleville sent some of his people, including the captured hostile leader, back to the Duke of Nevers; the other wounded soldiers or prisoners, however, would be brought to a secure place. He told the Duke that he could not yet sent the three looted flags, as he needed them for an enterprise which just came to his mind. As people pressed him to say what an enterprise this was, Vieilleville answered that he was not any of those fools who sell the fur before capturing the bear. He did also not want to act like Fabricio Colonna who has sent his messenger to kill him, and now was depending upon his grace.

After this group has left, Vieilleville called his messenger and said to him: “take my white flags, my helm and my arm shields, and go to Pont-a-Mousson. When you will be fifteen minutes away from the city, begin to gallop and shout “Victory!”, tell people that Colonna has beaten Vieilleville and his whole corps, and that he is bringing him prisoner together with thirty or forty other french noblemen. Show them the heraldries on my weapons. Take with you four unknown servants who will help you carry them. Take hence a bunch of broken lances with the little, white french flags to support your speech. Show them an appropriately joyous figure, and degrade me with whatever words you can find; say even that you must be seeing my heart out of my body in two hours, if you are not relieved with ten thousand Thalers. Do also not forget, as soon as you are by the gate, to climb it, as if you wanted to hang my heraldries on the same gate and stay by the iron cratings and drawbridges, so that people do not lift them down. God will do the rest.”

Suligny, hence was named the messenger, headed valiantly to complete his mission which he also executed punctually. In the meantime, Vieilleville ordered all his lancers and guns to hide the white flags and the red banner of the deceased, and otherwise, to put on themselves everything that could be perceived as signs of the imperial or Burgundy armies. From the conquered spanish flags, he gave one to Lord Montbourger, another to Lord Thuré and a third one to Lord Mesnil-Barré with the order to kill whoever came out of the city to see the french prisoners, if such person was not an inhabitant. Should, however, Don Alfonso forget himself so much, that he should abandon the place to congratulate Colonna over such an important victory; hence, they should capture him and remove his weapons without doing him violence. “Now, go, in the name of God,” said he, “the city is ours, if no one will betray us.”

Every one was stunned, for he has still not revealed anything to anyone until now, and people knew not yet what he was up to, when he sent the messenger. This one galloped, as soon as he approached the city with his four weapons carriers and called: “Victoria, Victoria! The damned Frenchman, Vieilleville, and his people are all beaten! Fabricio has led him prisoner to Don Alfonso. Here are his weapons, his shield, his insignias! There are more than hundred deaths on the spot, all the others have surrendered or are wounded. If it was up to me, I would have piled them up one on top of the others. Victoria! Victoria!”

The joy among the soldiers was so great that the few of them who have remained, could not wait to see Vieilleville and honour Fabricio, for people did really not doubt the truthfulness of the story. Don Alfonso, as soon as he saw the weapons and shields of a Prince, so many pieces of lances and white flags, asked not any further question, but rather jumped on his horse and rode, accompanied by twenty men, to meet Fabricio. Orvaulx and Olivet, totally dressed in red, came to him, shouting: “Victoria, Victoria! Los franceses son todos matados! (The Frenchs are all killed)”. Alfonso whom this shouting and the language pleased totally, went ever forward. They fell onto him at once, surrounded him, threw down whoever was around him, including the servants and took him prisoner. Other people came afterward according to their rank in ever greater number; however, all received the same fate.

Now, Vieilleville ordered Mesnil-Barré to give Don Alfonso one flag from his own company, and allow him to ride between the two others. One of them, named the Greek who spoke Spanish, must say to him, that if he did not utter “Victoria!” when approaching the city gates, he would receive a bullet in the head. Mesnil-Barré should lead this mission. Everyone started now to gallop, as people were at a close shot before the gates. The Greek went ahead, told about the Spaniard wonderful feat, so that the garrison which was truly spanish, as it saw Alfonso among the persons who were galloping and shouting, opened the gates and allowed everyone in. People did not give them, however, not any more time to pull up the bridge, for suddenly they spoke another language and shot altogether. “France! France!” will they now be shouting. The guns started also to pound and took over the gates, and hence Vieilleville became master of the city. People found in the same city an unexpectedly great supply of provisions which the widowed Duchess of Lorraine has secretly built up there, through the river, for her uncle serving under the Emperor's armies.

Regarding Don Alfonso, people found him the next morning still fully dressed, dead, on his bed. Vincent of La Porta, a Neapolitan nobleman who was delivered to Vieilleville, could not be forced to get him undressed, although people asked him so pressingly. Cold could not be held responsible for his death, for the nobleman and six other soldiers with whom he kept watch, entertained in the room such a great fire, that people could hardly get in there. It was doubt and heartfelt misery which made him precipitate himself so foolishly into the attack, which took his life in such a violent way. Adding to that, still, the shame and the fear to ever appear before his master who was already irritated against all the military leaders and best officers of his army, as the Duke of Alba wrote to him the day before his capture; this was the content of the letter translated by the Greek in French, in which some ridiculous passages come forward. The letter started in the following manner, after some complimentary introduction:

“The Emperor really knew that the breach (before Metz) is rather considerable, but since none of his officers dared to go in there, he allowed himself to be carried there by four soldiers and asked very angrily, when he saw it: “But for God’s sake! Why don't people go in there? It is indeed large enough and looks like a tomb, what else do you need to begin an incursion, by God!?” I answered to him that we knew certainly that the Duke of Guise has dug a very wide and great retrenchment with innumerable fire holes behind the breach, so that any army could be engulfed there. “To hell!” continued the Emperor, “why have you not attempted to get there?” I was necessitated to answer him, that we were not before Düren, Ingolstadt, Passau, or any other German cities which surrendered themselves, when they were only burned; for in this city, there are ten thousand brave men, sixty to eighty of the most excellent french lords and nine to ten Princes of royal blood, like Your Majesty; you know that our bloody and victorious attacks, always make a lot of losses. After this presentation, he would only get even more angry and said: “By God! I see well that I do not have any man; I must bid farewell to the Empire, to all my plans, to the world and retreat in a cloister, for I am betrayed, sold or at least, so terribly served in a way that any Monarch cannot be! By God, after three years like these, I will become a monk!”

“I assure you, Don Alonso, I would have immediately left his service, if I were not a Spaniard. For he is badly served in this siege; hence, he must rely upon Brabancon, a military leader of the Queen of Hungary who commanded mainly this siege and so to speak, is to be considered french, the same way as the city of Metz enjoys a french climate; and he is bragging about a connivance with many inhabitants, among whom the Tallanges, the Baudoiches, the Gornays, many old, noble people of the city of Metz. We have also attacked the city on its strongest side, our mines were discovered and did not produce any effect. Hence, everything went badly for us and against all hope, went even worse. We have to fight against human beings and the climate. He does not regret it and remains firmly there, and to cover his stubbornness, he blamed us and accused us of all the misfortune and his mistakes. All these days, he sees his infantry storming there massively and particularly our Germans who are covered with mud up to the ears.

Please send to us, indeed, the eleven ships with provisions which Your Highness of Lorraine has determined for us, because our armies have suffered infinitely. Before anything else, however, pay respect to Vieilleville who came from Verdun to Toul with his troops, for the Emperor already augured many terrible things, as he has already for long heard about his braveness and astuteness; he even said that without him, he would have already been King of France; for as he invaded the kingdom in Provence, Vieilleville preceded him and through one of his war tactics, has made himself master of Avignon; hence allowing the Constable to pull together his army which hindered him to advance further. I give you, as my relative, news about it for it should cause me pain, if our nation which he favoured hence lesser and honoured like the others, gave more cause for dissatisfaction to the master,... and so on.”

After reading this letter, it was clear what was the true cause of his death, for Alfonso has failed on all the points mentioned in there.

Upon hearing these news, the Duke of Nevers came himself before the gates of Pont-a-Mousson; people would precisely be making preparations to serve the lunch there. Vieilleville went to him immediately; it would be concluded that a courier would be sent to the King, to whom people did also not forget to give Duke of Alba's letter to Don Alfonso. Another messenger, with the name of Habert, was sent into the imperial camp to observe whether the Duke of Alba would be undertaking something against Pont-a-Mousson or not, for the city was very badly fortified, and Vieilleville was of the opinion, that they should rather immediately leave this city than fortify it, in order not to break the neutrality and not to give any reason to the Emperor to secure the other cities of Lorraine.

The next day, Vieilleville proposed to undertake, under the protection of the imperial insignias, some incursions in the surrounding and hence to attract the enemies. The Duke of Nevers wanted to take part in it despite all the dissuasion; hence, he left Vieilleville all the dispositions and the commandment. They left with approximately four hundred men and made many prisoners on the way, as some hostile troops rode practically into their hands, holding them for Spaniards and Germans. Hence they went until Corney, half way between Pont-a-Mousson and Metz, and only two small hours from the imperial camp. As they found nothing there, Vieilleville proposed to go forward for an additional half an hour, despite the fact that they were not sure, whether it was a safe plan or not. On the way, they met a large convoy of sixty carriages under the protection of two hundred men who all fell into their hands. Now, it was however too late to go back to Pont-a-Mousson, for they were four hour riding away and it was snowing very heavily.

It would be decided to spend the night in Corney, even if a very uncomfortable night quarter awaited them there. The next morning would be spent again riding; this time, they met people on six carriages with wine and other much coveted foods which the Duchess of Lorraine sent to the Emperor, her uncle, for his table. Eight noblemen and twenty men convoyed these delicacies among which twelve Rhine salmon, half of which were prepared as pies. As they saw the red insignias, they said to themselves that it must be the escort which the Emperor has sent for them. How great however was their surprise, when they heard these people at once uttering: “France!”, and hence, all of them would be taken prisoner.

One of the imprisoned noblemen, called Vignaucourt, asked: “Is this troop not belonging to Lord Vieilleville?” “Why?” asked Vieilleville himself. “Because it is him who has taken Pont-a-Mousson with the imperial insignias, about which the Emperor is extremely irritated. I was yesterday in his levee, and I heard him swearing that if he caught him, he would give him a bad time. This traitor of Vieilleville, said he, has taken over Pont-a-Mousson with my insignias and killed in cold blood my poor Don Alfonso; he also killed all the sick persons he found there, and taken away the foods which were determined for me. However, I swore to God before all the living persons, that if he falls this time in my hands, I will teach him to commit such treachery and to use my name, my weapons and insignias to my disadvantage. Even the most powerful and most courageous Prince must be killed for behaving in this manner! He should be assured that nothing else than death through pikes awaits him; and I damn him from this moment to the moment of this punishment, if I catch him.

And to all of you, I mean to you who command my army, what kind of people are you, that you did not undertake anything against these men? For until yesterday, I still did not hear that anyone of you have remained loyal to me; Vieilleville is still fighting with his soldiers in red sashes with the spanish and burgundian military insignias with which he killed many thousands of my people, because no one of you did see any mistrust in his moves. To hell! How can you bear with such a situation? And is not my honour and my service not dearer to your heart?”

“Upon this angry manifestation, a murmur was heard among the Princes and Counts who were in his room, and they left completely angry. Vieilleville better be careful; for they are very angry at him, particularly the Spaniards, because of Don Alfonso of Arbolancqua, whom he killed in such a terrible manner.”

Vieilleville answered that Don Alfonso was found dead on his bed, and no one has precipitated his death. Vieilleville would rather wish never to have lived than to know himself guilty of such act. He feared, hence, not so much the Emperor's menaces. His honour demanded him to prove that accusing him of such inhumanity was not true. Vignaucourt noticed from his speech that Vieilleville was addressing him; but the other people with him winked at him, indicating him not to continue the conversation further.

At this moment, Vieilleville decided to pull back together with the Duke of Nevers. Hardly were they half an hour away from Corney, when Habert came in and warned them, indeed, not to spend the night in Corney; for the Prince of Infantasque was coming over with three thousand guns and thousands of horses towards midnight, and has sworn the Emperor to deliver Vieilleville dead or alive. “Welcome, Habert, you bring me good news!” he said afterwards and pressed now the Duke of Nevers to pull back to Pont-a-Mousson, because he has not prepared himself to face such a Prince; he himself, however, wanted to remain there and awaited this Spaniard with one of his great speech. “Do you all want to support my decision?”, said he with a raised voice. “You have never done war otherwise than through malice and surprise attacks.” He then took the red flags and tore them down into pieces, ordered the spanish banners to be hidden and the french insignias to be put on. All his men answered unanimously that they wanted to die at his feet, and tore off everything red they had on themselves. The Duke of Nevers told him that it was an act of temerity to stay in a village which does not have any fortification, where people could come from any side. “It's the same thing!” answered Vieilleville, “I know how to beat this army, or at least, to chase it away. Do you see there this bush and on the left this forest; in each, I have hidden two hundred cavaliers who should fall upon them unexpectedly, if they are intending on attacking our village, and even if hundred Princes of Infantasque are coming; yet my men could put up with them! Just let me take care of this, with the help of God, I hope to perform everything well, and in lesser than two hours, I will be avenged.”

As the Duke of Nevers saw that Vieilleville could not be deterred, he also decided to join in this enterprise which he himself did not recommend to Vieilleville. Now, it would be decided to go to Corney, to make all the necessary dispositions; they were only a thousand steps away from the village, when they saw a man running through the green cornfield where they were halting. It was the Mayor of Villesaleron who already did good services for them. This one said that they should save themselves, that the Margrave Albert of Brandenburg was also advancing with four thousand infantry men, two thousand horses and six canons to the village. Upon hearing this, to Vieilleville's great embarrassment, they were forced to leave the village. The eight noblemen from Lorraine would be freed. Still before leaving, Vignaucourt said that he would really not be surprised, if Vieilleville really has performed such things, since he was so excellently served; for he would be damned, if the person named Habert was not the person he has seen in the Emperor's room where he pretended to be sent by the Chief Commander Schertel, as this one was sick in Strasbourg. Just that he has seen this Mayor four days ago selling bread and wine in the Margrave's camp.

The following Sunday, on January 1st, 1553, Vieilleville learned through deserters, that the Emperor has lifted up the siege of Metz, about which he said to the Duke of Nevers: “I have always thought that the Emperor was too old and too podgy to deflower such a beautiful, young Lady. The Duke did not understand this allusion; “I am making a pun”, he said, ”about the name of the formerly besieged city, Metz which means virgin in German and also in French!” They found this pun so witty and interesting, that they mentioned it in the urgent message which they immediately sent to the King, to be the first to announce him the end of the siege.

Vieilleville is now living for three months, calmly, on his estate in Durestal, and was recuperating from the war efforts. In the meantime, people have thought of him for the position at the palace of the government of Metz, where Lord Gonnor presently commanded; the Dukes of Guise and of Nevers, particularly, have favoured him ever since they were eyewitnesses to his acts in Metz.

But the Constable threw himself in between, and told people that Lord of Gonnor who also has stood up the siege, could not be thrown out of the position, and it would be rather preferable for Vieilleville, if the King made him into his Lieutenant in Brittany where he has his family and possessions. For the Duke of Estampes, current Governor of Brittany, was very sick; it would hence be Lord Gyé, his Lieutenant, who would follow him, and Vieilleville would receive the latter's position.

Vieilleville would be told about it, secretly, fifteen days before Easter 1553 through Secretary Malestroit, in order for him to take a decision. The letter of April 22nd, 1553, from the King really arrived and was written so as to translate the Constable's wish. Vieilleville answered to the King very respectfully, why mainly four causes prevented him for accepting this grace.

Firstly, Estampes was nothing less than very sick; accepting the position would estrange them from each other, as they are now in good terms; he remarked regarding this position that he was indeed two years older than the Duke of Estampes.

Secondly, he has a lot of relatives and friends who, maybe, could rely upon their ties and could act against the laws, since he was an enemy of partisanship; hence, he must act most severely, and it would be sorrowful for him to see his acquaintances being treated as criminals.

Thirdly, he was still really not in the years to see himself placed in a province where people could live calmly and has nothing else to do than to take a walk on the banks and observe the tides. He was forty two and hopes still to be in stand to serve His Majesty before the enemy.

It would be too hard for him, fourthly, to serve under Lord Gyé who was his subject, and with whom he was not really in good terms. He knew that His Majesty has thought about him for the Government of Metz, and he was amazed how people threw themselves so much between the King and him, and have undermined everything which he has planned.

As the King read this letter, he would be irritated that people opposed him in such a manner, called the Constable and said to him very determinedly that Vieilleville should have the Governorship of Metz, that Gonnor should leave immediately Metz and that Vieilleville should go there; a change which really happened. He exercised a very extended omnipotence through which he decided about life and death, and which would be so limiting to the Commanders of Toul and Verdun, that they, so to speak, were only his Captains. He brought with him two month salaries for the garrison and allowed it to be disbursed to each man, with the War Commissar calling the roll. Otherwise, it was the Captains who would receive the payment for their companies, and generated hence around them some form of servility. The inhabitants of Metz gained a lot with this manner of proceeding, as they depended otherwise totally upon the Captain's grace, when a soldier was owing them something. After that Gonnor has tendered everything that was in the arsenals, he abandoned Metz and recommended particularly the Sergeant Major of the city, Captain Nycollas and the Provost, named Vauré to Vieilleville; he praised them extraordinarily in their presence, which created immediately a mistrust in Vieilleville; however, he did not allow people to remark anything.

He found the garrison in great disorder, it has become so proud of having resisted a siege from such a powerful Emperor, and a week did not pass, where five to six disputes did not break out about who has acted most bravely. Often such disputes broke out among officers who defended their soldiers' glory; often the soldiers would break their necks for their officers. Vieilleville was, for that reason, in great embarrassment; he feared arousing a rebellion by giving drastic orders which were the more dangerous as Count Mansfeld commanded in the Luxemburg territory and had many troops, particularly in Thionville, just four hours from Metz. The inhabitants themselves were completely worried about the situation, for after the Emperor's retreat, they realized that they could also not count on the french support. For that reason, the gregarious officers were severely blamed and ordered in a painful manner to remain in the barracks, no member of the spiritual authorities, of nobility, not even members of a tribunal, could relieve them from this situation. On the other side, Vieilleville could not allow such liberalities against his honour and dignity to continue; and so he decided to do whatever it may also cost to show his courage and to restore authority and obedience.

He rapidly gathered, in that respect, all his senior people and announced them his plan, as he was still at that time responsible about the orders and the punishments to be given in cases of disobedience; and no one, no matter of what standing he may also be, should be excepted from his authority. Everyone who knew him well, knew how firmly he sticks to his cause when he has given sufficient thought about such cause, and hence offered him unrestrictedly their help; yet, they told him in this occasion, that he has been lesser severe in allocating the latest salaries. He told them, however, that it was shameful to allow oneself to be dominated by avarice; and that this vice was not compatible with a soldier's honour.

“I am firmly resolved, he said, not to depart the least from what I will command and order; and would rather choose death! In the afternoons, the orders would be read with greater solemnity, particularly on the great marketplace where all the cavalries were performing their marches with their officers”; he himself was on the same marketplace, on his beautiful horse, in the middle of his body guards made up of Germans, some very beautiful people whom the Count of Nassau has sent him, with their imposing halberds and fighting axes, dressed in yellow and black, for these were the colours which Lady Vieilleville has given him when she was still a young lady, and which he has also ever since kept. It made such an impression onto the soldiers and officers, that in two months, no more dispute would arouse among them than the one between two soldiers over a game in which the first one killed the second. Vieilleville necessitated the officer in whose company belonged the surviving soldier who has hidden himself, to bring him before court where the killed soldier first and then the surviving one would be beheaded.

Shortly afterwards, people announced to him that some soldiers, under the excuse of hunting, attacked street merchants who were bringing foods into the city and took away their money. Toward midnight, people arrested three of the attackers who immediately were tortured so severely, that they gave the name of seven of their accomplices. He allowed these immediately to be fetched from their beds and participated himself in the capture with his guards and soldiers. These ten street robbers would be brought to his lodging where four of the merchants were also present; and as they would recognize their attackers, they would immediately be tried. In the morning, at eight o’clock, three of them were already dismembered and the others hanged, so that their Captains learned about their death even before about their capture.