[1] [2] The losse of saint Quin|tins netleth the French king.The French king therefore being sharplie nettled with the late losse of saint Quintins, and a great péece of his countrie adioining, and desirous of re|uenge, thought it not meet to let slip this occasion, but rather to aduance the same with all expedition, ac|cording vnto the plot laied by the conestable before hand. The king yet neuerthelesse hauing an armie in a readinesse (although the conestable were now pri|soner, and therefore could not be present himselfe) to imploie where most aduantage should appeare, de|termined with all spéed to put in proofe the enterprise of Calis,The duke of Guise with a great armie commeth to|ward Calis. which long and manie times before was purposed vpon, as it was well knowne. This prac|tise was not secret, but that the deputies of Calis and Guisnes had some intelligence thereof, and in|formed the queene and hir councell accordinglie, as well by letters, as by sufficient messengers: for not onelie Iohn Hiefield master of the ordinance was sent from thense to giue due aduertisement of the French kings purpose, & to haue a supplie of things necessarie for mounting of the great artillerie wher|of he had charge; but also sir Rafe Chamberleine, capteine of the castell, was likewise sent to giue the like aduertisement, who returned not past two or three daies before the duke of Guise came thither with the armie. And so either by wilfull negligence, or lacke of credit by the quéenes councell here, this great case was so slenderlie regarded, that no proui|sion of defense was made, vntill it was somewhat too late.