[434] Bulletins, série 2, xii. 188. [435] Vaissière, 186-188. [436] Ascham, ii. 280; Gachard, ii. 853. [437] Ascham, ii. 278. [438] Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, Edward VI., i. 85. [439] Bucholtz, vi. 467. [440] These extracts from manuscripts preserved in the Biblioteca of Zelada, near Pavia, are published by the kind permission of their owner, Count Antonio Cavagna-Sangiuliani. [441] Manuscript vii., Biblioteca di Zelada. [442] Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, Edward VI., i. 79; Granvelle, iii. 522. [443] Hubertus Thomas, 464. [444] Hubertus Thomas, 467; L. Haüsser, i. 625. BOOK X THE FRENCH INVASION 1551-1553 I. Michaelmas Day, 1551, was memorable, both in France and Germany, for a snowstorm of extraordinary severity, followed by an alarming earthquake and violent tempest, omens, as it proved, of impending disasters. In this same month of September, Henry II. recalled his Ambassador from Augsburg. Ten days later he declared war. For some time past he had been supporting Ottavio Farnese, who was in open revolt against his father-in-law, and carrying on secret intrigues with Maurice of Saxony and the Protestant Electors. The Marquis Albert had never forgiven the Emperor for the affronts of which he imagined himself to be the victim, and, after vainly offering his sword to the English King and his hand to Princess Mary, he went to France as Maurice's emissary. Here he concluded a secret treaty, which was signed at Friedewald on the 5th of October by the German Princes, and ratified at Chambord by Henry II.[445] [Sidenote: SEPT., 1551] INTRIGUES WITH FRANCE] Charles's affairs were in a critical state. The war of Parma was a heavy drain on his resources, and had swallowed up the gold of Mexico and the best Spanish soldiers, while Maurice's treachery had converted the strongest body of imperial _Landsknechten_ into foes. "The Emperor doth little yet," wrote Roger Ascham from Augsburg, "but the French be a great deal aforehand. He is wise enough, but hath many irons in the fire, and everyone alone to give him work enough, the Turk by land and sea, the French sitting on his skirts, beside Magdeburg and the rest."[446] The discontent in Augsburg rose to the highest pitch when, one day in September, ten preachers were summarily banished. The imperial residence was besieged by crowds of furious women, clamouring to have their babes christened, and guards were doubled at every gate, while Charles sat within, enfeebled by gout and reluctant to face the coming peril.