him to finde some meanes to compounde with the English and not to lanquish longer in the ordinarie losses of a lingering and preiudiciall warre The Duchesse of Bourgongne for her husbands priuate interest layes the first stone treating for the deliuery of Lewis Duke of Orleans as wee haue sayed This first act was seconded by the request which the Prouinces of the realme made vnto the King Charles calleâ— a Parliament at Orleans to treat of a generall peace the which ministred occasion vnto Charles to call a generall Parliament at Orleans whether not onely all the Citties sent their deputies according to the custome but all the Noblemen which came not in person sent their Agents for the subiect was to treat of a generall peace if it might not be effected to set some order for the men of warre for the ease of the poore people who could endure no more The King was there in person accompanied with these Noblemen the Earles of Marche Bourbon Vendosme and Richemont Constable and the Archbishop of Rheims beeing Chancellor of France The Agents of the Duke of Orleans of the Duke of Bourgongne and of the Earle of Armaignac assisted with the deputies of Paris Languedoc Daulphiné Guienne and other Prouinces subiect to the French The Chancellor a wise and an eloquent man did set downe at large the miseries of war and the inestimable good of peace but what better commentarie then the feeling of forepassed miseries and the visible demonstration of our present calamities It was decreed that in regard of a general peace they should make al necessarie 〈◊〉 with speede As for the ordring of men of war they should presently take some course to auoide confusion hereafter The Lord Chancellor the first President were chosent to negotiate this treaty with the English through the meanes and fauour of the Duke of Bourgongne as hauing layed the foundation presently a decree was made for the gouernment of soldiars both of horse foote and to discharge the army of hangers on the which did but incomber to the great oppressioÌ„ of the poore people This was the institution of the frank-archers The first day of May was appointed by the common consent of both Kings to meete at Saint Omer but the King of England was aduised by the Duke of Yorke his vncle who had succeeded the Duke of Bedford in his authority although the name of Regent was not giuen him since the Kings coronation that he should stand vpon termes as hauing no neede of peace but only mooued with compassion of the poore people and therfore he failed in the assignation But there fel out an vnexpected occasion to Charles which not only brake of the course of this businesse all others but had wel neere plounged France into greater miserie then before The King was gone to Anger 's where he had intelligence of the taking of Saint Susanne for his seruice one of the most important places of the Countrie of Maine and of his losse at the seege of Auranches which was ill attempted succeeded ill when as stranger newes made him loose the pleasure of this gaine forget the bitternes of his losse He was growne woÌ„derful wayward suspitious inclining visibly into too extremities being too familiar with some of his domestical seruants too seuere to his Princes chiefe officers either he shold not haue maried his eldest son Lewis Daulphin of Vieâ—â—ois so soone or else he shold not haue vsed him like a child But Charles lookt on him with sower countenance as if he had bin vnder the rod. All this was done of purpose practised by his secret councellors to keepe great men from attempting against him vnder the name of this yong Prince to the preiudice of his royall authority but what he feared chanced The Earle of Marche a prince of the bloud had the charge of the young Daulphin a Prince whom Charles trusted being both wise and temperate The Princes of the bloud discontented Lewis of Bourbon Duke of Alençon Godfather to Lewis was not so familiar with Charles as hee was accustomed The Duke of Bourbon was not altogether in so bad tearmes yet was he not so great in the Kings fauour as he desired greeuing that such base men should haue countenance These two Princes must lead the dance if their desseine had succeeded many wold haue ioyned but now they would be lookers on only At this time the Princes had men fit to execute their desseine the Lords of Chaumont Boueiquaut Prye with many aduenturers theeues and such like Tremouille hauing some notice of this plot Make a league to aduance the Daulphin offers himselfe vnto them and is intertained a matter as wisely performed by them as rashly done of him The proiect of these discontented Princes was to settle the Daulphin that hereafter all things might be done by his authoritie being ruled by the aduice of the Princes of the bloud and so in effect they would haue King Charles gouerned by his sonne For the execution hereof they first seize vpon the Daulphin The Daulphiâ— carried away by the princes with his owne liking who was an assistant himselfe to be freed from the Earle of March his gouernour He was lodged in the Castle of Loches in Touraine gouerned with great respect who seeing him of age married and of a liuely disposition gaue him great liberty hee might go abroad at his pleasure where he found the bastard of Bourbon Anthony of Chabanes with other Captaines aduenturers who conducted him honorably into Bourbonois The same day the Duke of Alenson seized vpon Niort and by his commandement Iohn de la Roche tooke S. Maxent The Duke of Bourbon hauing the Daulphin in his power a Prince full of youthfull courage he caused him to write to the nobility of Auuergne The Princes desseâ—â—e and to the Duke of Bourgongne praying them to ayde him in his desseins which was to haue more liberty to gouerne matters of state hereafter for the better satisfiyng of men of honour whom he did see to his great griefe kept back by certain flatterers which possessed the King his father to the great preiudice of the whole Realme These newes being brought to Charles he presently sends to the Duke of Bourbon to returne him his sonne and to the Duke of Alenson to deliuer his townes of Niort S. Maxent to theÌ„ both to come yeeld an accompt of these inouations who finding by their answers that they excused theÌ„selues and sought delayes he resolues to come to the effects and to suppresse this mischiefe in the breeding He was well serued at this time The Duke of Bourgongne lets the Daulphin vnderstand The Duke of Bourgongne answers the Daulphins letter that all his meanes are at his commandement so as it be not against his father but he aduised him to go vnto him not to aggrauate one error with an other being most certain that the shortest
troupe of others in the moneth of Aprill 1545. fired many villages neere vnto Merindol pâ—t many of the Countrimen into the gallies spoyled razed and burnt Merindoll being vnpeopled tooke Cabrieres by composition and against his faith in cold bloud hee cut in peeces fiue and twentie or thirtie men chosen at his pleasure rauished â—iues and yong virgins burnt about fortie in a barne whereof the most part were with child put aboue eight hundred to the sword and carried away many prisoners to Marsâ—â—lles Aix and Auignon This did too farre exceed a decree giuen against seuenteene persons abusing the Kings authoritie with too great violence who in his latter age toucht with a remorâ—e of conscience by reason of this horrible proceeding against his subiects whome hee had too lightly abandoned to these butchers greeued that hee could not before his death punish the authors of these murthers exemplarly lying in the bed of death he commanded Henry his sonne expresly King Francis touched in conscience not to make his memory hatefull vnto strangers nor subiect to the wrath of God in not punishing of this guilt Euen so that great King Dauid amongst other dispositions of his last will Thou knowest said hee to him that should sit on the throne after him what Ioab the sonne of Tseruia hath done vnto me and what he hath done to the two Commaunders of the armies of Israel Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Iether whom he hath slaine hauing shed bloud in time of peace Thou shalt not suffer his white haires to descend with peace into the graue But Salomon performed his fathers will more religiously Yet one at the least must suffer for many the chance fell vpon one that was least guiltie named Guerin an aduocate by proâ—ession who was hanged at Paris The Cardinall of Tournon Grignan and la Garde were in some trouble but more feared then hurt Menier escaped but hee died after being tragically possessed with a furie and a secret fire which consumed his bowels Gods iust iudgements vpoâ— murther The people of Guienne reconciled to the Kings fauour The yeare ended with the death of two famous personages Pope Paul the ninth of Nouember to whome succeeded Cardinall Iohn Maria Bishop of Mantoua and the vertuous Princesse Marguerite of Valois sister to King Francis deceased and wife to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre the fourteenth of December They say commonly that for all offences there needes but one satisfaction Seeing then that by the punishment of the cheefe authors of the sedition in Guienne the King had pardoned the commons he was not so inexorable but for a small satisfaction they were easily admitted to fauour so as in October past they of Bourdeaux had obteyned a remission binding themselues perpetually to his Maiestie To entertaine at sea for euer as wel they as their desceâ—dants two ships furnished for the warre to vittle the Castle of Trompet and du Ha and to renewe the victuals euery yeare By this meanes their Parliament was restored in Ianuarie and all things setled in their former estate By their example the three estates of Poictou Xaintonge Angoulmois Perigort Limosin and la Marche in the beginning of this yeare obteyned abolition of the custome vppon salt in Guienne paying foure hundred and fiftie thousand franks and fiue and twentie thousand for the satisfaction of the Kings officers of the said custome Then sprong there many and sundrie fiâ—ebrands of warre But before wee quarrell with the Emperour the English must yeeld vs Boullen The fort which the Lord of Chastillon had built in the yeere 1548. annoyed them much and the recouery of the forts of Selaque Blaeonnet and Bonlamberg and so many men defeated by the surprise of them gaue the Duke of Summerset and the Earle of Warwike to vnderstand that there was no thing but blowes to bee gotten in maintayning the warres of Boullen Moreouer the diuisions of England 1550. and the warre of Scotlanâ— called home their troupes So as for the summe before specified Peace with the Eâ—glish payable at two termes a peace was againe concluded with the English and Boullen restored to the King into the which his Maiesty made his entrye the 5. of May and did his homage wherevnto the Kings of France are bound by the institution of Lewis the XI as we â—aue elsewhere obserued Hereafter those small sparkles which began to appeare after the murther of Peter Lewis sonne to Pope Paul Farnese deceased slaine by his houshold seruants by the perswasion of Andrew Doria and Ferdinand Gonzague with the priuity and consent of the Emperour to seize vpon the Citty of Plaisance with the more facillity haue kindled so great fires as we shall see France Germany and Italy in combustion Paul had giuen â—arma to Octauian Farnâ—se sonne to the said Peter Lewis whereof he had institution of Iulâ—o his successor This Peter Lewis inclined much to the French party He had giuen victualls and ayde to Peter Strossy when as he came into the Countrie of Plaisance with â—ome forces for the seruice of the most Christian King and that which more inceâ—â—â—d the Imperialls he was suspected to haue assisted the Cont of â—iesque in an enterease made vpon Genes for the kings seruice the yeare 1547. in the which Ianeim Doria was slaine and Andrew Doria expelled This caused the death of Peter Lewis Faâ—nese Octauian his sonne had married the Emperours bastard daughter But they say that charity begins by it selfe The Emperour did labour him much he would gladly ioyne Parma to Plaisance that by lawfull meanes letting the Pope to vnderstand That Parma being of the patrimony of the Church the which was in his protection he ought to be preferred before Farnese seeing that Farnese could not keepe it but wiâ—h the men and money of his holmes The Pope being of a base mettall and fearing the touch tempted with the Emperours practises sends to Duke Octauian That he could no more furnish the extraordinary charges wherewith he had promised to assist him and Farnese finding that the Emperour laide this plot to dispossesse him off his inheritance he seekes a strong support in France against his father in-lawes practises The king who had not renounced the auncient pretensions of the house of Orleans to the Duchie of Milan declares himselfe but with the Popes good liking protector of the patrimony of the Church and of the Farneses The Emperour is in a rage who with his violent exclamations so terrifies the Pope as he abandons his vassall Octauian The Pope on the other side nothing well affected to the French grew bitter against the King he commands him to renownce this protection and for not obeying hee threatens to curse boâ—â— him his realme Thus Iulio the 2. not able to satisfy his greedy desire with the keies of S. Peter he vnsheaths the sword of S. Paul kindling by his madnesse these deadly diuisions throughout all Christendome as if the
For what is a Royaltie but the image of a fathers command the loue honour and obedience which children beare towards their parents bee the effects of the lawe of nature figured in their hearts A father commands ouer many children who although they bee planted in diuers parts as wee see in the peopling of great familyes yet all returne to the chiefe stock or stemme all acknowledge and honour the father all obey him while he liues by a more voluntary obedience for that it is meerely naturall Behold the patterne of a ciuill gouernement To apply it to our subiect it appeares the first man had this naturall authoritie euen as wee see it at this day As mankinde multiplyed into diuers families so this multitude had neede of a greater gouernement Man cannot liue alone society consists in commandement and obedience From this fountaine a royaltie springs 425. Looke what is done in a family the like is in a state by the same force of nature one commands and is obeied There this naturall respect is that bond of lawfull obedience So here in like sort whereas the commandement of one giues lawe to all for that the lawe of nature hath power ouer all it doth authorize this respect in the hearts of subiects by a voluntary obedience to their Kings as to their fathers And as wee neede not to be taught to honour father and mother So who is so vnkind that wil make any question to honour the Prince vnder whom hee is borne It is that which the originall of the first truth doth teach vs Honour father and mother not onely to tie vs to them that gaue vs life but to those that make vs to liue happily in the common societie of mankinde that is to the father in the house and to the King in the state as the father of our fathers Thus a Roialty is the most antient and best forme of gouernment when as the King is Father of his people according to the ordinance of nature as we shal shew else where at better leasure I hope this smal digression shal be excused for the necessity of the subiect A Roialty then is the Image of a fathers authoritie How can a father then whom God hath giuen by the course of nature be chosen by his children A succâ—sâ—iue Roiaâ—tâ—e is the best If to liue well according to nature and by consequence that which proceeds from nature be the best who doubts but a Roialtie the which God hath giuen vs by the law of State the soueraigne law of societie wherein wee are borne is without doubt better then that which depends on the tumultuous factions of people Thus much for reason Now let vs see what Authority saies By authoritie which speaks plainly in the goodliest estate oâ— the world which was the comon weale of Israel wherin God had planted his church as his most pretious iewel Truly the lawful Royaltie of the house of Dauid hath bin hereditarie successiue from father to sonne and from Cousin to the nearest kinsman A paterne whereby to frame a perfect estate farre better then the common weale of Plato who notwithstanding hath respected the bloud Royall in the race of Kings with great prerogatiue moued thereunto by the force of nature to acknowledge the best forme of gouernment in an hereditary succession whereas one is borne to commaund an other to obey I will dilate no more of so rich and ample a subiect hauing onely coated that which is necessarie for the circumstance of my purpose By experience But what shall wee say of Experience the mistres of fooles What is hee but may thereby feele the visible proofs of this truth Doubtles those Countries and States which haue kept this libertie to choose their Kings do often feele to their costs the tumultuous fruites of their elections striuing with much paine to maintaine this priuilege against the lawes of nature postiâ—g from nation to nation with much toyle and small profiâ— searching for that a farre off which they might easily finde at home and for the avoiding of tumults which might growe among equall Competitors they procure vnto themselues infinite troubles the which they might auoide in receiuyng of him willingly whome God should cause to be borne among them with a lawfull authority But some will obiect that which we cannot deny to haue beene practised in two Races That the French had in former times authority to place and displace their Kings as appeares aswell by the Kings Chosen by Parliament In old time at the reception of a new king they vsed to caâ—rie him vppon a target in a publike aâ—â—emblie which were borne vpon targets as also by the famous examples of Pepin and Hughe Capet Wherevnto the answere is true and plaine that this consent was but the seale of the naturall prerogatiue due to the race of our lawfull Kings and their dissallowing a declaration of their base slouthfulnesse vnworthy of that naturall prerogatiue wherewith they were honored in their birth and from the which they did degenerate in liuing ill And as we see in the succession of Kings the neerest allied holds the other by the hand so in these two alterations when as necessitie forced the French to change their King as when the like necessitie constraineth the children to giue their furious father a tutor wee may obserue that they haue alwayes made choise of men neerest to the blood royall preferring vertue before a maske of Authoritie corrupted with vice the publique good before the priuate interest of a vitious man reteyning nothing but the name of his noble race 426. They haue preserued as much as they could their naturall respect to the bloud royall The lawe made the King that is his birth But the law of nature The prerogatiue of a Kâ—ng is nothing impaired by the peoples consâ—nt at his last recâ—ption fâ—lâ—owed by the law of nations and the free consent of the people hath not beene the cause but the very effect of this naturall authoritie So this royall authoritie is limited and ruled by the souereigne law of State which doth so aduance the head aboue all the members of the bodie as they may not be separated For what is a King without subiects but a head without members the King preserues his estate as the head doth the bodie But as the head from whence life proceeds to the bodie liues with the bodie so the King who preserues the estate by his authoritie is preserued in the estate by the consent of his subiects In this inseparable vnion hee doth fortifie his power by theirs and his commaund with their voluntary obedience Plato sayes that Authoritie not subiect to controulment is pernitious to him that commaunds and to them that are commaunded It is a lawfull and profitable restraint for Kings and the necessary counterpoyse of their authoritie This lawe will haue euery member to hold his place in the bodie of a State And by consequence
his Cradle and passed happily through many perillous difficulties To great 〈◊〉 hurâ—ull to an estate A happy and a wise Prince But as humane things are subiect vnto variety so we may say that the French Monarchie reuiued and died in him And at his death sprong vp the soueraigne authority of the Maires of the Pallace the which grewe to that greatnesse as they dispossessed this race of the Crowne It was Clotaires intent to gratifie his subiects and to ease the succeeding Kings but in effect it was a meanes to haue many Kings and to make the lawfull contemptible setting the seruant in the maisters place In truth as it is most daungerous in an estate to giue too much authority to a seruant so is it most certaine that the slothfullnesse and dissolutenes of these last Kings was a ladder whereby our Mayres mounted to this greatnesse to their ruines The which succeeded by degrees vnder the respect of the Kings name for from that time of Clotaire vnto the last King of this race are 120. yeares Pepin grandfather to that Pepin who was the first King of the second race was Maire of the Palace and began first to deale absolutely in the gouernment of the realme The lenity of Clotaire is also noted by another error for hee tooke so great liberty to do what he list without order as his subiects wold do the like And by this contempt of the lawe the King grew contemptible being not well obeyed in his age the which bred great quarrels betwixt great and small who shewed no great respect neither to King nor Iustice. In this Estate died Clotaire leauing Dagobert for his successor the yeare 632. DAGOBERT the first 633. the XI King of France DAGOBERT KING OF FRANCE XI DAGOBERT the first of that name tooke possession of this great Monarchie without any controuersie Some write that he had a brother called Aribert to whome he gaue for his portion all the Countrie on this side Loire but dying without children it returned to him againe At his coming to the Crowne he found great difficulties amongst his Subiects being bred vp without Iustice vnder the long libertie of ciuill warres and the lenitie of Clotaire whereto he prouided wisely reducing Iustice fortifying it by his authoritie with so good a moderation as no man was offended at his too great seueritie neither durst any man attempt against the lawes seeing both the reine and the rod in the hands of their lawfull Prince Thus hee pourchased the commendation of a good and wise King and peace to his people by their obedience to iustice To this good order he added profession to loue holy things and the better to confirme this opinion in his subiects minds hee built and inriched many Temples especially that of Saint Denis the which since hath bin the sepulchre of our Kings There were great numbers ofIewes in France the which were hurtful to the Realme he banished them by a perpetual Edict out off the territories vnder his obedâ—eÌ„ce But this zeale of religion was polluted with the foule blot of Adulterie which made him infamous both to subiects and strangers Amand Bishop of Paris admonished him of his fault but Dagobert impatient thereof banished him Pepin his Maire continued so in this reprehension that although Dagobert were moued and threatned to banish him yet in the end hee yeelded to reason by the vertuous constancie of Pepin and hauing dismissed many of his lewd followers he calls home Amand. An example for Princes seruants for the one to continue firme in their duties for the other to yeeld to reason Dagobert subdued the Gascons that were reâ—olted 645 brought the 〈◊〉 to obediâ—nce suppressed the Sclauons established the Realme of Austâ—asia and gaâ—e seasonable succours to the King of Spaine against the Saracens This is the sum of hiâ— armes led by Pepin â—hilest that he liued at his pleasure in his chamber amongst his woâ—en or in his monasterie at his deuotion He had two sons Sigebert and Clouâ—s Hauing assembled the Estates in great â—â—lemnitie he declared that he had ordeined Sigebert to be king of Austrasia and Clouâ—s King of France preferring the yonger before the eâ—der without any controuersie He gaue them likewise gouernours by reason of their yong ages And so he died in the yeare of grace 645. hauing raigned 14. yeares without any trouble A Prince to be numbred amongst the most worthy but for this blemish of incontinencie Thus vpon the facilitie of Clotaire the voluptuousnes of Dagobert layed another dangerous stone in the foundation of a new royaltie the which vnaduisedly they built for their seruants to their Childrens cost CLOVIS the second the 12. King of France The first of the idle Kings CLOVIS .2 KING OF FRANCE XII NOw wee take the declining of the hill to seeke the last of these Kings beneath in the valley who had nothing royall but the race the name and the habiliments hauing resigned their Maiestie authoritie and power into the hands of their Maires It shall bee sufficient to set downe their names the dates of their reignes and the continuance of their race vntil a more vigorous royaltie come to take his turne Hereafter in this first race you shall see our Kings but once a yeare the first day of May The manners of thâ—se idle â— Kingâ— in their Chariots deckt with flowers greene and drawne by foure oxen Who so hath occasion to treat with them let him seeke them in their chambers amidst their delights Let him talke of any maters of state he shal be sent to the Maire who deales with al that coÌ„cernes the state he opens packets makes answeres without any counsel but his owne He heares the complaints of subiects 646 and giues audience to Ambassadors of foraine Princes Hee ordereth all as it pleaseth him Hee giues reuokes dischargeth contracts ordeines makes Edicts and disanulls them To conclude hee frees his master from all trouble to impose it on him selfe But we shall see to what end he labours thus and why hee hath taken on him the authoritie and purse of his master Let vs now speake something of our Clouis Clouis then remaines in France a peaceable King and Sigebert his elder brother retires himselfe to his Realme of Austrasia according to Dagâ—bert their fathers decree This accord was embraced by two brethren of a good and mild disposition and was maintained wisely by their mother Nantilde and their Tutors A notable example of rare loue betwixt two brethren especially in great diuisions and the iealousie of mothers who do often support one child against another Clouis had marâ—ied a gentlewoman of Saxony named Baudour a woman of a good and holy life and much giuen to deuotion as the Abbaâ—e of Shelles S. Baudour with other foundations do witnes Whilest that she busied her selfe in her deuotion and to build monasteries Clouis laboured to confound his mind drowning it in the floud of his voluptuousnes Yet they obserue
one thing in him which shewes that hee was not wholy depriued of iudgement the which happened in a time of a great dearth To releeue the poore people he suffered them to take the siluer wherewith the Temple of S. Denis had beene couered by Dagobert Doubtlesse the care of the poore is a worke worthie of a great Prince Bountie is better then sacrifice and Christian soules be the true stones of a spirituall Temple where God dwels as in his proper mansion So as to nourish and support the poore the precious members of the Church is to build a goodly Temple Sigibert King of Austrasia hauing no children nor hope of any was so sollicited by Grimoald Maior of his pallace as hee adopted his sonne Childebert and sone after hee himselfe had a sonne and died leauing him heire generall of all his realme But Grimoald vnder colour of this adoption desirous to establish his son in the possession of Sigiberts estate takes his yong sonne and sends him to be brought vp in a monasterie of Scotland In effect he had seized on all the realme if Ercembault Maior of the Palace of France had not valiantly opposed himselfe against this his cruell vsurpation hauing defeated and taken both him and his sonne and punished them both by a sollemne sentence at Paris A notable example for many considerations but especially a singular proofe that God is the Protector of Orphelines and a iudge of the vsurpers of an others right Clouis had three sonnes by Baudour Clotaire Childeric and Thierri All three shall be Kings successiuely but Childeric was presently King of Austrasia left without any lawfull heire after the death of the sonne of Sigebert Hee raigned sixteene yeares and died in the yeare 692. hauing left his Realme in great peace without any enemie 662. CLOTAIRE the third the 13. King of France CLOTAIRE .3 KING OF FRANCE XIII CLOTAIRE the eldest sonne of Clouis was King of France fiâ—st vnder the gouernment of Erich and then of Ebroin Mayre of the Pallace a wicked and cruell man who shall minister occasion to talke of his life in the succession of these latter Kings Vnder his reigne he made great exactions vpon all the people who as he said liued too plentifully and forgat themselues by the inioying of too happy a peace Clotaire raigned foure yeares and died without name and without children in the yeere 666. of whom we may say as of the rest that succeeded him That they haue left nothing memorable but that they left no memory CHILDERIC or CHILPERIC the second the foureteenth King of France CHILDERIC .2 KING OF FRANC XIIII CHILDERIC the second son of Clouis was alreadie in possession of the realme of Austrasia but a greater drawes him into France 666 where he findes important difficulties â—or Ebroin doubting if Childeric should raigne he would take from him the dignity of Maior and giue it vnto Vfoald Maior of Austrasia who was his trustie seruant perswades Thierri the yonger sonne of France to seize vpon the realme and causeth him to be Crowned King But Childeric comes with a strong army being fauored by the French who hated Ebroin and in respect of him Thierri and were well affected to the elder so as he seizeth vpon Thierri and Ebroin Hee did onely shaue Thierri put him into the Monasterie of Saint Denis and he sent Ebroin to Luson in Bourgongne To small a punishement for so foule a fact nay rather a perpetuall pryson aâ—d insupportable torments had beene more meete for his ambitious spirit Childeric then was receiued of all the French to whome soone after he made a slender recompence for he grew so proud and cruell as there appeered in all places signes of his tiranny and cruelty One amongest the rest cost him deere for hauing caused a Gentleman called Bodille to bee whipped hee gaue him a iust occasion to seeke his ruine The French wearied with his insolencies take this barbarous act very disdainfully so as Bodille had an easie meanes for reuenge vpon Childeric although hee were a King he resolues to kill him and wants no friends to accompanie him in this execution The match is made to surprise him a hunting at their best adâ—antage Childeriâ— being there he is eniuroned by Bodille and his Companions who increase still and he being ill attended by his followers 678. is slaine by Bodille who followed by his confederates A 〈◊〉 punishment goes presently to a neere Castle whereas Blitilde the Queene remained great with child being entered he slew her with her child leauing a memorable example to Princes neuer to thrust their subiects into dispaire nor to abuse their authority to the dishonour and contempt of their Nobility which is their right arme Thus died Childeric hauing reigned but two yeares Leauing an odious memory to his posterity to haue begun well and ended ill cleane contrary to Childeric the first his Predecessor who began ill and ended well THIERRI the first the 15. King of France THIERRI I. KING OF FRANCE XV. CHilderic being thus slaine the French not able to liue without a king â—nd desiring none but one of the bloud royall post to S. Denis draw forth Thierri and establish him in the Realme from the which they had deposed him for his elder brother and make Landregesil the Son of Archembault Maior of the Pallace with whom they were well pleased during his Maâ—ralty A notable example both of the peoples consent gouerned by reason and the efficacy of the Soueraigne law the which is the soule of an Estate and the ground of a lawfull Empire The Realme was very peacefull in this beginning when as Ebroin perswaded by some discontented Noblemen leaues his Cloister and raiseth an armie in the beginning but small but it so increased by the kings contempt and his Mayors as he remaines a Victor with an incredible celerity Ebroin seizeth on the Kings person intreats him with all reuerence and respect and protests to require nothing but to bee held his most faithfull seruant as he had beene in his first reigne Landregesil was then absent who seeing the King taken and all the fauour of the French turned to Ebroin being victor hee willingly giues eare vnto him â—84 and vpon his â—aith and promise of good vsage putts himselfe into his hands A trâ—acherous murther by whome he is treacherously and cruelly â—â—ame Ebroin hauing begun this course continues his cruelty to satisfie his reuenging minde vntill that he himselfe after that he had murthered many good men contrarie to his oath amongest the rest Leger Bishop of Auâ—un hauing admonished him of his dutie and Marâ—in Maior of the Palace of Austrasia to whome hee had giuen his faith with a sollemne oath in the ende he thrust himselfe vnaduisedly into the hands of Ermanfroy a French gentleman his capitall enemy who slue him when he least feared it hauing nowe an imaginatâ—on to bee mounted to the toppe of his greatnes and to tast the
sweete Liquor of his insatiable reuenge A notable obseruation for treacherous and reuenging spirits who are then vanquished when they thinke to bee Conquerors Thierri a King in shewe is a spectator of these Tragedies as of a game at tables of his diuers Maiors which play at leuell coyle vntill that Pepin gets it and enioyes it onely with the Soueraigne gouernment of the French Monarchie Pepin during the confusions of these raigns had beene in Austrasia and purchased great credit with all men so as he was held worthy of this great charge the which he gouerned with so great wisdome and valour as hauing settled France in a peacefull Estate he had purchased more credit authority among the French then the King himselfe In the ende Thierri dies in the yeare 693. hauing raigned 19. yeares leauing Clouis and Childebert his Children for a witnesse that he had liued but in effect Pepin and his for the true heires of the Realme CLOVIS the third the 16. King of France CLOVIS .3 KING OF FRANC XVI BEing the eldest sonne of Thierri he raigned foure yeares and dyes without name and without children 693 to whom succeeds his brother CHILDEBERT the second the 17. King of France CHILDEBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVII WHO raigned 17. yeares 700. and dies in the yeare 718. hauing left two Sonnes Dagobert and Clotaire of like humour to himselfe DAGOBERT the second the 18. King of France DAGOBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVIII 719. HE raigned foure yeares and left two Children Chilperiâ— and Thierri with no better memorie then the rest So there passed fortie and foure yeares during which time Pepin had good meanes to fortifie his authority the which was in effect absolute by the negligence or rather idlenesse of these Kings who made a necessary way to newe desseins by their voluntary suffrance to incroach vpon their authority Pepin well acquainted with the humour of the French naturally bent to loue their Princes did not openly despise his masters but excused their weake dispositions not capable of much paine representing the heauie burthen of a great Estate and that the honour to gouerne iâ— is a trouble which costes deere He setled an impression in the Frenchmens mindes That those onely were worthie to bee Kings that knewe howe to gouerne So without any infinuating speech the ordinarie seruices hee did to the realme mayntayning â—t in peace his great prâ—fession to loue religion Iustice and the peâ—ple whose â—ase hee was wonderfull carefull of did recommend him to all men and the good turnes he did to all persons by reason of his charge did daylie purchase him many friends and seruantâ— Doubtlesse as it is as great policie to bee a good man so is there no small dexterity in the tâ—king of Citties and Countries by the hearts of men Thus Pepin layed the foundation and his successors finished the perfect building of a newe gouernment A lesson for our Kings to haue a care howe they referre the charge of affaires to their seruants Read and iudge O yee Kings and to whome they trust and howe This example doth verifie that they were better to be more careful and take more paines then to disroabe themselues of this great authority the which makes them not only eminent aboue all men but carries as it were a tipe of the Maiestie of God in the gouernment of the world 718 whereof they must yeeld him an account and not loose that by base cowardlinesse which they should mainteine by vertue But let vs returne to Pepin â—ee made great shewe to loue religion and vpon this cause he makes warre against Râ—bod Duke of Fâ—ise a pagan whome hee conquered and forced to receiue the Christian religâ—on â—ith all â—is subiects He restored Lambert Bishop of Traict to his dignity beeâ—ng expelled by â—broin and confined into a Monastery finally he infinitly fauored all that tended to the seruice of God and one of his chiefest cares was to aduance them that had châ—â—ge ouer the Church whose loues he had so purchased by this good vsage as they soone requited him causing the people to loue him with whome such as rule their consciences haue great authority This was a point of state as much as of deuotion He also made proofe of his valour in diuers sorts reducing the people of Germany on either side the â—hin to the obedience of the French who began to mutine and so restored the beautie of the realme of Austrasia He was carefull to maintaine Iustice and imbraced the people no waies oppressing them with any new impositions In the meane time he was not carelesse of himselfe and his Children He commaunded absolutely beeing armed with the authority of his Soueraigne neither was there any appeale from him vnto the King Hee had two sonnes by Plectrude Drogon and Grimoald he gaue Champagne to Drogon and after his death hee caused his sonne to succeede him with the title oâ— a Duke In the beginning he gaue the offices of great Master and generall of the Treasure to Nordebert his deere friend but after his death he inuested his owne sonne Grimoald in those places Pepin incontinent But as the vanitie of man transports it selfe beyond the lymits of respect it chanced in the end that Pepin forgat himselfe in his prosperity for not satisfied with Plectrude his lawfull wife hee fell in loue with a gentlewoman named Alpaide by whome he had one Bastard which shal be verie famous in the course of this historie vnder the name of Charles Martel and as the mischiefe encreased hee puts away Plectrude and marries Alpaide Lambert Bishop of Traict admonished him of this fault but he suffred Alpaide to cause him to be slaine by her brother Dodon who soone after â—elt the punishment of this bloud for being strooke with a disease of wormes not able to endure his owne stench he cast himselfe headlong into the riuer of Meuze Grimoald the sonne of Pepin following his fathers example abandoned himself to strange women disdayning his wife But this adultery was decre to them both for Grimoald too familiar with one named Rangare sonne in lawe to Rabod Duke of Frisâ— was slaine with him by a iust iudgement of God hauing taught him so filthy a trade to abâ—ndon himselfe to strumpets and to reiect his wife Pepin was so perplexed for the death of his sonne as hee died for greefe and choller against Rabod the author of this murther Thus both he and his sonne reaped the fruits of their adultery Vpon his deathbed he ordayned Charles his Bastard to succeed him in the gouernment of the realme but Plectrude imbracing this occasion Charles Martel bastard to Pâ—pin vpon the death of her husband and well supported by her kinsfolkes causeth Charles to be taken and put in pryson at Cologne and aduanceth Thibauld the sonne of Drogon her owne sonne and Pepins to the gouernment although in effect she vnder his name gouerned all the affaires of state This
Emperour Hunault and Ieffroy being authors of this warre remayned yet vnpunished Martel was diuerted by the warre he made against the Frisons whome he vanquished and forced to become Christians and to that ende he sends them Doctors A pardonable zeale in a warrior for in truth mens soules cannot be wonne by the sword nor religion forced but must bee planted in the heart by reason The punishement ofthese turbulent men was reserued vnto Pepin who knewe well howe to effect it as we shall see At this time King Thierri died hauing raigned fiue and twenty yeares in conceit and left Childeric his sonne not heire of the realme but of his idlenes to make the last release of the Crowne and consigne it into a better hande CHILDERIC the fift the 21 King of France and the last of the first race CHILPERIC .5 KING OF FRANCE XXI HE was King in shewe nine yeares 741. fiue vnder the authority of Charles Martel and foure vnder Pepin who dispossessed him made him a Monke and seated himselfe in his place as wee shall see in order But let vs obserue what remaines of Martel The care and toyle of great affaires with his old age hauing soare broken him hee resolues to dispose of things in time and to leaue a peace to his Children He had foure sonnes Caroloman Pepin Giles and Griffon all of diuers humours The disposition children and death of Martel Caroloman and Giles more modest and of a milder spirit Pepin and Griffon more rough and ambitious Whilest he liued hee greatly honored the Kings person neyther did he in open shewe meddle with that maine point of royaltie but in effect diuiding his authority to his Children with the title of gouernments He purchased them an inteâ—est by his vertue in time the possession of the realme To his eldest son Caroloman he left Ausstrasia to Pepin whom he knew to be of a more quicke and hardie spirit France as the bodie of the Estate And seeing Giles vnfit for armes and giuen to deuotion hee made him Arch-bishop of Rouan To bridle the turbulent spirit of Griffon and to take from him all occasion of debate he would not giue him any certaine portion but the good will of his elder brethren being taught by the experience of former raignes that many commanding brethren are dangerous to an estate shewing himselfe more wise and happy therein then Clouis Thus Charles Martel hauing liued fifty fiue yeares died in the yeare of grace 741. hauing commaunded absolutely in France twenty and fiue yeares as Maior or Prince of the French vnder the raignes of Chilperic Thierri and Childeric One of the worthiest men that euer liued either in this Monarchie or in any forraine Estate He was religious wise iust valiant modest in prosperity resolute in aduersity temperate in authority not passionate nor reuengefull dilligent and happie By these excellent vertues hee did quietly purchase this goodly degree whereby his posterity hath mounted to the royall throne although he had but the payne to get it and the honour to preserue the realme from ship-wrake in the weakenesse of these Kings and the stormes of many confusions His Children according to the diuersity of their humours had diuers euents Caroloman wanted no valour but hauing accompanied his Brother Pepin in diuers exploits in the ende he resignes him all his authority becomes a Monke and dies so at Vienne Giles full of ambitious heat not pleased with the wise resolution of his father did all he could to crosse his brother Pepin although hee had giuen him a sufficient portion in Normandie Transported with this spleene hee stirres vp the Saxons Bauariens and those of Guienne against him at diuers times In the end beeing sâ—ppressed in all places he vndertakes a voiage into Italie to attempt some thing against his brother but he was slaine by the way by a gentleman of Bourgongne as a man of no valour nor quality This fire was thus quenched and Giles died vnworthily leauing this lesson to postâ—rity That ambition hastens ruine and contrariwise That the one halfe is better then the whole Forerunnings or preparatiues to the raigne of Pepin PEPIN seeing himselfe alone in great authority vnderpropt by the merits of his Grand-father and father resolued so to behaue him selfe as his owne deserts should not onely confirme this reputation left him by inheritance but also perswade the French that hee was worthy of a greater command and by their free consents hold him capable of the Crowne He knew the humor of the French who loue and honour their King with an especiall deuotion and cannot bee induced to doe otherwise but by great and vrgent reasons Hee manageth this desseigne with such dexteritie 742. as hee effects it and the meanes which the prouidence of God did minister vnto him did as it were guide him by the hand for to him wee must attribute the principall cause of this notable change The Sarazins infinitly greeued with these two defeats prepare an other armie Ieffroye was also on this partie and it seemed this third League did threaten France with a greater confusion Pâ—pin remembring that his father had beene surprised sends forth his spies and being speedily aduertised he assembles all the forces he could with an incredible celeritie and finding himselfe first in armes he enters into Guyenne and seizeth on the passages of the Pyrenee mountaines Ieffroy being thus surprised sets a good face on it promising obedience to Pepin and is a mediator for the Sarrazins vndertaking that they should renounce their interest and neuer enter more into France Pepin obteining his desire being glad to haue preuented this storme and forced so redoubted enemies to receiue a law from him applied himselfe to the peoples humor who loue peace better then a bloudie victorie He dismisseth his armie busying himselfe in repayring of the Churches which the Sarazins had ruined in diuers places to ease the Citties that were spoiled and in giuing them meanes to recouer themselues to establish Iustice to vnburthen the subiects of publike charges and finally to let the French vnderstand that he was as fit for peace as warre The Church of Rome was then in great reputation throughout all Christendome and the Popes did onely busie themselues with the seruice of God Estate of the Church to maintaine Princes in concord and subiects in their liberties the which purchased them great credit for the singular respect Christian people baâ—e to religion Zacharie held then the Pontificall seat and had the Lombards for a cause of continuall feare being his neere and irreconciliable enemies against whome he could not haue more assured and speedie helpe then in France and by Pepins meanes who held the soueraigne authoritie Martel had alreadie auoided a most dangerous warre through the amitie he had with Luitprand King of the Lombards after whose death Rachise Duke of Friol chosen in his place threatens the Pope openly for all the Lombards faire shewes and his large
His death mounted the royall throne of France thus he raigned thus he liued and thus he died leauing to his posterity a happy taste of his name A religious Prince His manners wise moderate valiant louing his subiects beloued of them happy in father in children in his gouernment an excellent patterne for excellent Princes who by his example hold it for a resolute maxime That the strongest cittadell of a Prince is the loue of his subiects and the surest bond of their authority a respect gotten and preserued by vertue Estate of the Empire and of the Church BVt before we enter the raigne of Charlemagne we must briefely represent the estate of the Romane Empire the which was happily vnited to the French Monarchy and of the Church of Rome by reason whereof there happened great and notable exploits vnder his raigne The Empire in the West The Empire of Rome had nothing remaining in the West as we haue shewed Gaule was possessed by the French with the best part of Germanâ—e since the beginning of their Monarchie vnto the time we now describe it hath beene greatly inlarged In Gaule not onely in compasse of territories obedience of people but also in reputation of ciuility mildnesse iustice wisdome and valour aswell by the happy successe of their victorious armies as by the modest vsage of their victories towards such as they subdued In Spaine Spaine was apportioned to diuers nations Vandales Goths Sarazins pelmel some here some there Italy was in miserable estate Rome sometimes the head of the world was then the sinke of all confusion In Italy the Rendezuous of all furious nations as if they had vndertaken the ruine thereof by taske hauing sackt it three time for vnder the Empire of Honorius in the yeare of grace 414 the Goths by their King Alariâ— tooke it after two yeares siege and sackt it without demanteling thereof Fortie fiue yeares after vnder the Empire of Martian in the yeare 459. the Vandales vnder the conduct of Genserike their King take it againe sacke it spoyle it and disgrace it leading the widow of the Emperour Valentinian the third basely in triumph 768. In the time of Iâ—stâ—nian the Emperour the Goths vnder the command of Toâ—ila hauing vndermined it with a long siege tooke it sackt it and demanteled it Thus Rome was no more Rome but a horrible confusion after so many ruines retaining nothing of her ancient beauty but onely the traces of her old buildings and the punishment of â—ertyrannie hauing endured that which she had caused other Citties to suffer Behold Italy wasted infinitely tormented by sundrie enemies Italâ— desolate by the Goths who had vniustly afflicted all the nations of the earth The Goths had fiâ—st seized thereon and enioyed it long but as vnder the Empire of Iustinian in the yeare of Christ 552 they were expelled by the valour of Narses an excellent Captaine who deâ—eated their armie slew their King Totila and repeopled Rome so soone after the Lombards comming out of Germanie lodged in their place as if they had played at leuell coyleâ— being drawne thether by Narses himselfe discontented with the ill vsage hee receiued from Iâ—sâ—nian his maister The Lombards held Italy about 200. yeares By the Lombardâ— vntill that Chaâ—lâ—magne expelled them At the same time the six Gouernours for the Empire of Rome held Rauenna and some other Citties depending thus was the greatnesse of the Romaine Empiâ—e restrained but with such couetousnesse and insoleâ—â—â—â— as it tyred them no lesse then forraine foes That gouernment of sixe ended by the Lombards and the Lombards by the French as the sequel will shew who purchased credit euery where The which 〈…〉 by the Fâ—â—nch by comparing of the barbarous and confuâ—ed inuasions of these warlike nations they adding to the valour and good successe of their armes iustice pietie teâ—perance and clemencie this reâ—utation of vertue winning them as many hearts as theâ—r swords did Câ—tties During these confused and obscure times there passed about 400. yeares from the first sack of Rome vntill that Charlemagne expelling the Lombardes became absolute maister of Italie was made Emperour at Rome All this passed vnder the Empires of Theodâ—sius sonne to Arcadius of Valentinian the 3. Martian Leo the second Zenon Anastasiâ—s Iustin the fiâ—st Iustinian the first Iustin the second Tiberius Mauritius Phocas Heraclius Constantin the second Iustinian the second Philippicus Artemius Leo the third Constantin the third Leo the fourth Ireneus Nicephorus vnder whom by a publicke and sollemne contract the distinction of the Easterne and Westerne Eâ—pires was made The command of the West is left as it were in garde with Charlemâ—gne and the French nation But the East was in a bad plight although the name and â—eate of the Empire were yet at Constantinople for besides the dissipation of the State to increase their miserie a new sect sprung vp forged by Mahomet an Arabian borne Eâ—tate of the East vnder a colour of libertie by the mixture of sundrie doctrines and after a mouâ—d of carnall felicitie With this charme hee corrupted infinite numbers of people and erected a new Kingdome in the East from whence hee vtterly expelled the Romaine name with all the dignitie of the Empire This was in the time of the Emperour Heraclius in the yeare of grace 623. an infamous date The beginniâ—g of Mahomets sect to note the beginning of Mahomets blaspemies Hee began in Arabia hauing wonne credit with the Sarrazins who were Arabian Souldiars desperate aduenturers and discontented with the Romaines and by the first beginning of his new doctrine hee gotte so great reputation as hee assembled an infinite number of men armed with an incredible celeritie vnder the enseigne of liberty So as he marched as a conquerour in all places hauing not onely subdued by the force of these tumultuous troupes Arabia where hee was borne but also Persia Palestina Iudea Egipt and Affrike and then ranging ouer Asia the lesse he came to the gates of Constantinople in lesse then thirtie yeares Buâ— the prouidence of God caring for the preseruation of his Church opposed the Frâ—â—ch Monarchie against the violent rage of Mahomet which else had ouerflowed all Europe into the which hee had already made a breach by Spaine had gotten a great countrie and was ready to inuade France if Charles Martel had not stopt his course at Tours as wee haue sayd During these confusions in the Empire the Bishop of Rome grewe great by these ruines The Goths and Vandales were more enemies to the estate then to religion for although for the most part they were Arriens yet did they aduow themselues Christians The Estate of the Church of Rome and held the common signe of Christianitie so as in the taking and sacking of the Cittie of Rome the Bishop was somewhat respected in his fauour the people built vpon the foundation of the ruined houses and many of the
her peeces other estates might be built Not long after the death of Charlemagne it began to decline The foolish lenity of Lewis his sonne was the beginning the which was continued by the disordred confusions of his successors who in spight one of an other hastened the ruine of their house making the way by their vices and misfortunes This is the substance of all the Kings remaining in this second race the which wee cannot represent but in noting faithfully the order of those confused times during the which this barke hath beene in a manner guided without a Pilot and without helme by the wisdome of God who hath miraculously preserued it amidest so many tempests And therefore without any tedious discourse being intricate enough of it selfe I will labour to shew as in a table both the continuance of this race and the diuers motiues of eâ—â—nts to bring Hugh Capet vpon the stage and carefully to shew the estate of his posâ—â—rity as the chiefe end of my desseigne Lewis was surnamed the meeke or gentle as well for his deuotion wherevnto he was more giuen then to gouerne his estate as also for his great facilitie which was the cause of many miseries both to himselfe and his subâ—ects He began to raigne the yeare 815. and ruled 26. yeares Emperour of the West and King of France His father had not greatly imployed him in affaires obseruing his disposition and had marryed him with Irmengrade the daughter of Ingram Duke of Anger 's an officer of the Crowne of France hauing giuen him the Dâ—chie of Guienne for his maintenance By this wife Lewis had three sonnes Lothaire Pepin and Lewis who acted strange tragedies against their father To his second wife hee married Iudâ—th the daughter of Guelphe Duke of Sueâ—e by whom he had Charles surnamed the Bald who succeeded him in the Crowne of France Bernard the sonne of Pepin was King of Italy as Charlemagne had decreed Lewis more fitte to be a Monke then a King was so giuen to deuotion and of so soft a spirit as he made his authority contemptible both within and without the realme This disposition vnfit for a great command made the nations subiect to the Crowne to fall from their obedience Base facility the Saxons Normans Danes and Brittons And although Lewis did his best to preuent it yet could hee not preuaile but made himselfe wholy contemptible in attempting that which he could not effect and after his vaine striuing compounding of great controuersies with vnreasonable conditions Bernard a young man and ambitious was perswaded by the Bishops of Orleans and Milan to attempt against his Vncle Lewis and to seize vpon the realme of France which belonged not vnto him So his ambition cost him deere and that sodenly for being in field to go into France against his Vncle with an imaginarie fauour of the French to be proclaimed King it fell out contrary for both he and all his Councellors were taken by Lewis his subiects Lewis wonderfully moued with the presumption of this springall as we often see milde natures fall into extremities of choller when they are moued hauing both his Nephew and Councellors in his power A furious 〈◊〉 he despoiles him of his realme of Italy declares him and his vnworthy confines him to perpetuall prison and puts out his eyes the like he doth to all the Bishops and Noblemen he could get and after some fewe dayes patience he chops off their heads This act was held very strange proceeding from Lewis and committed against such persons it began to breed a generall diâ—ike the which was aggrauated by a domesticall dissention all which together caused a horrible Tragedie Lewis had indiscreetly giuen portions to his children making them companions of his regall authority After the decease of Bernard hee gaue Italy to Lothaire and did associate him in the Empire Lewis his indiscâ—etion to Pepin hee gaue Aquitaine to Lewis Bauaria and would haue them all beare the name of Kings Lewis good to all was too good to his second wife Iudith an ambitious woman who hauing one sonne by him called Charles had no other care but to make this sonne great to the preiudice of the rest not foreseeing that they were of power and could not patiently endure the iealousies of a mother in lawe nor the words of an old man being too much affected to the one of his children against the rest at the suggestion of a Mother in lawe an ordinary leuaine of bitter dissention in families of the second bedde Moreouer this imperious Germaine abusing the facilitie of her good husband played the Empresse and Queene ouer all to the discontent of the greatest who had no fauour with Lewis but by the fauour of his wife they did hate and contemne him as beeing vnworthy to raigne suffering himselfe so slauishly to be gouerned by a woman This was the generall motiue of their discontent but there were many other particularities which grewe dayly vpon diuers and sundrie occasions The Bishops were most of all incensed against Lewis by reason of the death of those men of the Church whome hee had so cruelly caused to be slaine with Bernard So Lothaire Tragicall rebellion of childâ—â—n Pepin and Lewis by the aduise of these malecontents resolue to seize â—â—on their Father Mother and young Brother to dispossesse them of all authority and â—â—en to gouerne the State after their owne appetities wherein they must vse force and a publicke consent Lothaire as ring-leader of this desseigne leuies a great army and calls a Nationall Councell of the French Church at Lions 829. supposing sooner to suppresse Lewis by this meanes then by a Parliament Lewis appeerâ— he receiues all complaints against himselfe and yeelds to the Censure of the Prelate which was to retire himselfe into a Monastery there to attend his deuotion and to resigne the Empire and the realme to his Children This was put in execution Abâ—se in the Clergy Lewis was conueied to Soissons to the monastery of Saint Medard his wife and sonne were confined to other places and the whole gouernment committed to Lothaire and his brethren â—hus Lewis so much addicted to Church-men as he purchased the name of deuout was ill intreated by them receiued a poore recompence for his so humble submission The name of a Councell venerable of it selfe did at the first retayne men supposing that this ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction did not extend but to admonition but seeing this tragicall attempt of the Children against the father there was no good man but stoode amazed at this presumption and pittied their poore King beeing brought to such calamity But all power remayned in the hands of the rebellious Children and the greatest of the Church were guilty of this outrage secking to maintaine their decree Lewis impâ—iâ—â—ed by his Children Thus this poore Prince to the generall greefe of his subiects continued in prison fiue yeares for he entred in the yeare 829. and came
sprong the first occasion of the fall of this race a King of small merit A confused and vnhappy raigne hauing performed nothing praise worthy for in that wherein hee desired to winne the reputation of doing well hee did exceeding ill His greatest ambition was to seeme a good Vncle to the onely daughter of his brother Lewis with whome hee had made so strict a League of loue He married her to Boson as I haue sayd but the euents shew that he married her with an iâ—tent to goâ—erne her inheritance at his pleasure Being proclaymed Emperour hee leuies a great and mightie army and goes in person into Italie His pretext was to suppresse the Dukes of Spoletum and Beneuent who â—ought to free themselues from the subiection of the Empire and to become Soueraigâ—es but â—is intent was to seize vpon the strong places of Italie Charles seekes to deceiue hiâ— Neece and so â—y conseqâ—eâ—ce of that which belonged to his Neece Hermingrade But Bosâ—n her husband discouering her Vncles intent preuented him ioyning with the sayd Dukes and prouiding for the Citties of Italie with all expedition 879. as his wiues inheritance and then hee aduertised Charles entring into the Countrie that it was needlesse for him to passe any farther and to put Italie to vnnecessarie charges seeing that he himselfe could gard it sufficiently the foresaid Dukes did submit themselues to reason But being easie to iudge that Charles hauing an armie in field Charles diuerted from the warre of Italy and a resolute desseine would not retyre without constraint Boson makes factions in France in the heart of his Estate to diuert him An easie matter both for their discontents against him and the miserie of that age nourished in the libertie of vnciuill warres This occasion drew Charles from this vniust desseine for at the first brute of rebellion he turnes head towards France but there chanced more to him then he expected for he not onely left his Neeces patrimonie but his owne life in Italie with a notable instruction Not to loose this life for the desire of an other mans goods Thus died Charles the bald at Mantoua the yeare 879. leauing the Realme to his sonne Lewis Where he dies the which hee sought to augment with an others right LEVVIS the second called the stuttering 27. King and Emperour LVDOWICK .2 KING OF FRANCE XXVII HE raigned onely two yeares and succeeded his father likewise in the Empire but not without opposition for the Princes of Italie sought to be Soueraines and the Germaines bearing impatiently the confusions passed desired to restore the beauty of the Imperial dignity greatly decayed in Italie by such as possessed the â—aâ—ds of the Empire They spared not the Pope himselfe who by little and little vsurped the Imperiall rights in Italie These complaints being made to Lewis the Emperour Iohn the 3. Pope of Rome came into France to redresse that which conceâ—ned the Sea of Rome He was courteously receiued by the King 880. staied in France a whole yeare and there held a Councell at Troyes in Champagne The raigne of Lewis was very short The Pope was scarcegâ—ne but hee was lodged in the bed of death He had no lawfull children but two bastards Lewis and Caroloman both men growne whereof the one was already married to the daughter of Boson King of Arles His wife was with child In the doubtfulnesse of the fâ—â—ite which should be borne he must prouide a Regent to gouerne the realme if it were a sonne And although Lewis loued his two bastards deere'y yet would he not haue them Regents but made choise of Eudes or Odon Duke that is to say gouernour of Anger 's the sonne of Robert of the race of Widichind of Saxony of whom we haue before made mention to bee Regent of the Realme and experience taught Lewis leaues his wife with childe that his iudgement was good Thus Lewis dyed hauing left nothing memorable but a sonne wherein I obserue three notable things The efficacie of the Lawe of State preseruing the right of the lawfull heire not yet borne The minoritie of a King subiect to many confusions and miseries and the liberty of great men in the weakenesse of a young Prince who fiâ—he boldly in a troubled streame In this raigne happened the Eclipse of the Empire The first check giuen to this second race was by a League which dying in shew made the King to dye in effect and in the end carryed away the Crowne burying both the King and all his race in one tombe This History is very obsâ—ure by reason of the Regents which are numbred among the Kings during the minoritie of the lawfull heire and therefore good directions are needfull in so confused a laborinth of diuers raignes Behold therefore the simple and plaine truth Lewis the Stuttering being dead the Parliament assembled to resolue for the gouernment of the realme vntill that God should send the Queene a happy deliuery The estates honour the Queenes wombe and if it were a sonne appoint who should be Gouernour to the King and Regent of the Realme vntill he came to the age of gouernment There was no Prince that made any question to the Infants title that was to bee borne or that sought to take the adâ—antage of the time to aduance himselfe vnder colour of neerenesse of bloud but it was concluded by common consent they should carefully preserue the Qâ—eenes wombe vntill her deliuery The Kings will was plaine for he called Eudes as we haue said to be Gouernour to his child vnborne and Regent of the realme Regents crowned as Kings but Lewis and Caroloman bastards of France had so laboured for voyces as they preuailed against this Testamentary decree and were chosen Regents by the Estates who for confirmation of this authoritie decreed they should be crowned yet with a profitable exception for the pupils interest the lawfull heire of the Crowne A dangerous proceeding A dangerous course making seruants taste the sweetnesse of Soueraigne command which made the way to a horrible confusion and multiplying the authoritie of many masters did greatly preiudice the lawfull heire the which may not without extreame danger be imparted but to one onely The Queene was happily deliuered of a sonne the which was saluted King and was called Charles of whom wee shall speake hereafter The day of his birth was the 12. of December Charles borne after his â—athers death in the yeare 881. But we must now passe 22. yeares full of troubles before our pupill comes to age so as to marche safely in so obscure a laborinth wee must distinctly note the diuers parcels of this interreigne 882. The Minoritie of Charles called the Simple the which continued 22. yeares vnder 4. Regents whom they call Kings LEwis and Caroloman Brothers the bastards of Lewis the Stuttering chosen by the States raigned two yeares or there abouts to whom they adde Lewis the idle the sonne of
him but after some yeares patience the French the Germaines by a common consent resolued to dispossesse Charles and to call a more sufficient to the place euery one according to the limits of his countrie Charles dâ—iected from the Empire and â—eâ—lme The Germains made choise for their Emperour of Arnoul sonne to Carolâ—man the sonne of Lewis the gentle retayning the respect they bare to the bloud and memorie of Charlemagne Thus the Eclipse of the Empire chanced not altogither but this change was the first motiue to alter the Imperiall dignitie whereof afterwards was framed an estate in Germanie vnder the title of an Emperour as we shall see The French likewise reiect this miserable Charles from the regencie of the realme and call Eudes or Odon Duke of Anger 's named by the will of Lewis the stuttering So this poore Prince is dispossessed of all his estates and abandoned of euery man reiected both from realme and Empire hauing so ill prouided for himselfe in time of prosperitie as he remained naked without a house where to shroude himselfe from the disgrace of this shipwrack being banished from his Court and dâ—iâ—â—n into a poore village of Sueuia where he liued some dayes in extreame want 891. without any meanes of his owne or releefe from any man in the end he dyed 〈◊〉 dies poorely in a village neither pitied nor lamented of any in a corner vnknowne but to haue beene the Theater oâ— so extraordinarie a Tragedie That one of the greatest Monarkes of the world should dye without house without bread without honour without mourning and without memorie but the note of this end so prodigiously memorable A notable patterne of the vanity of this world in diuers circumstances In Charles in the people and in the Chastisement The fruits of this memorablâ— example In Charles to learne by his example to carry themselues wisely both in prosperitie and aduersity Hee wanted no iudgement and had aboundance of wealth but hee was neither temperate nor wise in his abundance in the which the actions of his life shew him to haue beene imperious and indiscreet purchasing enemies in contemning those that had raysed him to those dignities hauing beene too confident in himselfe and carelesse of the condition of mans life and from this extremitie he fell into another in the time of his greatest afflictions suffering himselfe to be carried away in the current of melancholie and his soule to be swallowed vp in despaire In the People who worship him in the beginning whom they deuoure in the end and with an inexcusable malice tread vnder foote the afflicted and without due consideration of the true cause of affliction they esteeme no crime greater then affliction it selfe whereon they should haue pitty and detest the vice the which they couâ—r with the cloake of prosperity But from Charles the People and the Rodde let vs ascend to him that holds it which is God and learne to depend on him both in wealth and woe not trusting in our selues when we abound nor distrust in him when we are in greatest extreames the which he can easily redresse Doubtlesse greatnesse commeth neither from the East nor from the West God raiseth one and pulleth downe an other that weighing duly the vncertaintie of this life and profiting by the example of others we may learne not to be wise vnto our selues but to stop our mouthes and open our eares and eyes to see what God doth and heare what he saith seeking the true remedies of consolation in him that neuer failes the afflicted which flie vnto him So that great King and Prophet banished from his house said I haue held my peace for thou hast done it and The Lord is iust in all his wayes A most reasonable warrant of Iustice and excellent fruite of afflictions Such was the entrie and end of Charles the Grosse at the first a King and Emperour and in the end lesse then his most miserable subiect After him Eudes came in place thrust forward by them that had reiected Charles the â—rosse EVDES or ODON named Regent by Lewis the second called the stuttetering â—nd receiued by the Estates the thirtith King of France ODON KING OF FRANCE XXX 894. BEhâ—ld Eudes at last who should haue beene in the beginning Hee began to raigne or rather to bee Regent the yeare 894. and raigned eight yeares and some moneths but not without difficulties For the order of the historie wee must carefully obserue his race which in the end shal gaine the hâ—ghest place 〈…〉 whence 〈…〉 We haue made mention of Wâ—aâ—eland of Saxony one of the most famous personages of his time Being greatly fauoured by Charlemagne hee sent a sonne of 〈◊〉 into France named Robert or Rupert who had great dignities This Robert had two sonnes Eudes and Robert who shall soone minister matter to taâ—ke of his life This last Robert was father to Hugh the great and hee father to Hugh Capet who in the end shall sit in the royall throne we shall see by what degrees and meanes But to vnfold maâ—y dâ—ffiâ—ulties which aâ—peare in the reading of this historie and in the diuersitie of titâ—es giâ—â—n those that are descended of Eudes race we must obserue that the name of Eâ—â—â—e and Dâ—ke were titles of gouernment and not of inheritance and that their gouerâ—ments were temporary Duke and 〈◊〉 buâ— titâ—es of Officers so as one the same man being possessed of diuers gouernments at diuers times doth carrie in diuers respects the title of Duke and Earle of those Prouinces whereof hee hath beene gouernour the which was vsually for a yeare or for thâ—ee So as wee fiâ—d in this house Dukes of Anger 's Paris Guienne and Bourgâ—ngne according to their commaunds Eudes vndertooke the gouernment of the Realme according to the decree of the Estates â—hen it had mâ—st need of a good Pilot. He was held to bee a good and a wise man yeâ— could 〈◊〉 not â—lease all the French that had called him to the Regenciâ— They complaine that Eudes was well pleased to rule and to keepe the King in awe 896. being no more a child after so bad gouernment of the former Regents Eudes maligned in his Regencie such as sought to bee partakers of the authoritie vnder the yong King did vehemently insist against Eudes to haue him leaue the gouernment of the realme but necessitie did contradict it not permiting him to abandon the helme in these tempests In the end after many clamors Eudes authoritie is limited to the gouernment of Guienne Eight yeares passed in these contentions but now the seed of innouation was in the heart of the State the libertie of priuate men hauing cast away all respect all the members of the bodie were sicke and the soueraigne authoritie shaken by a generall disorder which in the end changed by degrees Italie wauered France full of â—actions Germanie was quite fallen away as I haue sayed and France
died This vnexpected 〈◊〉 hauing much troubled Lewis made him to prouide for the rest of his children and the 〈◊〉 of the time among so many of his subiects which did check his authoritie by their greatnesse moued him to looke more carefully therevnto to make him gâ—eat whom he had appointed his successor in the realme aboue the rest Lewis was his second sonne whom he resolued to crowne King in his Brothers place and to marry him Guienne is one of the worthiest members of this estate Lewis the yong marries the heire of Guienne the Dukes were yet of the â—â—mainders of great Charlemagne as we haue seene William was then Duke and had but one Daugâ—ter to bee heire to this great and rich Countrie Lewis resolues to take thâ—s Daughter for his sonne and so to end all strife This Daughter was called Ellenor she was giuen in marriage to Lewis which was called the yong to distinguish him from his father Lewis with whom he raigned Lewis expected a great aduancemeÌ„t by this alliance but the euent wil shew that he had not reckoned with God aboue As for his other children he leaues them to the discretion of the eldest whome he had resolued to make their superior both in authoritie and power that they might depend onely vpon his fauour He made Henry his third sonne Bishop of Beauois the other Philip Archdeacon of Paris Peter Earle of Courteney Robert Earle of Druex and married his onely daughter Constance to Raimond Earle of Saint Gilles and Tholouse which shewes that it was a great house as we shall note in our Theater of Langudoâ— but the course of the historie shall make vs see plaienly that this alliance did not warrant Raimond from the miseries that fell vpon him after this raigne 1137. Lewis the Grosse hauing thus prouided for his estate dyed aged 61. in the yeare of grace 1137. the 25. of October Lewis dyes leauing one Sonne setled in his Realme with an apparent peace yet breeding great troubles for the State hauing raigned twenty and nine yeares LEWIS the 7. called the yong 41. King of France LEWES .7 KING OF FRANCE XXXXI The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—aigne HE â—egan to raigne in the yeare â—137 and raigneâ— 43. yeares This long raigne was nothiâ—g happy and conteiâ—es nothing in it that was memâ—râ—bâ—e but that the â—oundatioâ— was laide for a long caâ—amitie â—â—r France The subiect was tâ—e more â—oâ—â—ble for that the mischâ—â—fe came frâ—m thence from whence gâ—â—â— was to be expected wâ—ich was from the heire of Guienne In hope and expectatiâ—â— a 〈◊〉 of rest but in effect a â—eâ—â—n of lamentable confusion 〈…〉 Mâ—nâ—rchiâ— and transported â—â— vnto Strangers The estate of 〈…〉 and some mutiners suppresseâ— who in the beginning of 〈…〉 tâ—emâ—elues vnder colour of the Fathers weake old age and the 〈…〉 â—of the Sonne France continued in great quiet and the accorâ— made betâ—ixt the 〈◊〉 Henry the 5. The Christians â—ssures in the â—aâ—â— â—mperour and the Popes had pacified the dissentioÌ„ which had troubled all Christendom But the affaires of the Christians in the East were not answerable to their happy and victorious beginning so as all the Kings and Princes of â—urope were called by extreame necessitie vnto their succours Such was their estate as all things fell out happily in Asia to Godefroy of Bouillon and that the taking of the Holy Land and Ierusalem did seeme an absolute conquest to the Christians but the Turkes on the other side slept not they enter Palestina with an armie of six hundred thousand men as the Greeke Historie of those times doth witnesse Godefroy fights with them the combat was great and the issue happy for the Christians Godfrey of Bouillon dies if the death of that great and famous Prince had not followed soone after and too soone for the affaires of Christendome which began greatly to decline by his decease Baldwin his brother was chosen in his place A Prince valiant enough but vnfortunate At his first entrie he very indiscreetly charged a great troupe of Sarrazins where he was beaten with so great dishonour as euen then he lost both courage and authoritie although during his raigne which was seuen yeares Tyre Apamea which they call Raphanea notable Citties were added to this new Kingdome of the Christians Fouques Earle of Anion his sonne in law succeeded him but hee was scarce in possession when as he was slaine a hunting with a fall leauing two children Baldwin and Amaulry and the affaires so dismembred as they could no longer stand pressed within by deuisions and without by a dangerous warre The Christians loose all in the East so as all these goodly Prouinces gotten with so great facilitie were through these ciuill dissentions among Christians lost within few dayes Behold new Ambassadors from these yong Princes and all the great States in Asia To the Pope Emperour and King of France emploring their aides else they were vndone to the shame of Christendome and triumph of those miscreants Lucius the 2. was then Pope Conrad of Sueuia Emperour And Lewis King of France S. Bernard whom they called the Mellifluous Doctor for his sacred diuine eloquence liued then hauing wonne great reputation with the French for his doctrine holinesse The Pope imploied him much to perswade the King to imbrace this action and to succour their afflicted bretheren Lewis resolues easily The Emperor and King of France resolue to succour the Christians his zeale being strengthened by the perswasions of this holy man Conrad of Sueuia tooke the like resolution so as they are both well affected to imploy all their meanes to crosse the complots of these miscreants and to settle the Christians affaires in the holy land when as behold a great mischance which had almost hindred all their resolutions Alberic Archbishop of Bourges being dead the Pope without the Kings priuitie to get footing in France of his absolute authority which he had so much disputed with the Emperour aduanced to the Archbishoprick of Bourges a fauorite of his named Peter and sent him with his Buls to take possession of the place Lewis who had alwayes supported the Sea of Rome in all their quarrels who had seene his Father ready to enter into a deadly warre with the Emperour vpon this occasion who moreouer prepared himselfe at the Popes perswasion to imploy not onely his treasure but his owne person in a voyage to the East for the common good of all Christendome seeing this act of the Pope directly contrary to the liberties of the French Church was mightily discontented with this his proceeding as if he purposely meant to braue him at his owne doore It is a priuilege time out of minde of the Kings of France that they admit not any to Ecclesiasticall dignities preferred by the Pope or chosen by the people if he be not agreeable to themselues The reason is apparent to auoide either disloyaltie ignorance or ill life in such
and publicke Violence Charitable Liberall and Iudicious to giue with Discretion To conclude the Patterne of a great King by whome our Kings should take example to learne how to gouerne the Helme of an estate in the tempests and stormes of manie toyles and confusions and by the managing and successe of his raigne to gather this goodly Poâ—sie or rather to take this pasport for the confirmation and greatnesse of Kings That a vertuous King is in the ende happie howsoeuer hee bee compassed in with difficulties But before wee enter into a new raigne order requires that wee obserue the estate of the Church and Empire Fredericks humilitie to the Pope Estate of thâ— Empire had somewhat calmed the violence of these factions and his voyage to the Holye Land to performe his full obedience seemed to bring a perfect peace to Christendome when as behold a newe cause of troubles Frederick going for Asia had with the consent of the Princes of the Empire The Pope opposeth agaiâ—â—â— the Emperour confirmed his eldest Sonne Henry Emperour but hee being dead and his Sonne Henrie to succede him Pope Innocent opposed an other Emperour which was this Otho of whome wee haue spoken The Emperour muâ—theâ—red by 〈◊〉 who succedâ—â— him and did excomunicate Henry in hatred of his Father Frederick Otho ambitious of commande caused Henry to bee murthered in his Chamber But it chanced that hauing committed this fact hee went to receiue that disgrace in France 1223. which was his death and Frederick the second succeeded him â—oâ—as he liued when as our Augustus left the Crowne to his Sonne Lewis Of Italy In the meane time the Guelphes maintained the Popes factions withall vehemencie and the Gibelins that of the Emperour The Cittie 's swelled with these humors which distracted their mindes into sundrie factions whereof grew those cruell contentions euen in their owne bowels The heads of Guelphs and Gibelius the which haue continued long with irreconciliable hatred At Rome the Vrsins and Sabelles against the Colonnois Frangepans Cesarins and others At Florence the Medicis Ricci Bondelons Amidees Cerchis against the Strossi Saluiati Passi Albicci and Donati At Genoa the Flisques Grimaldi Fregoses against the Spinoles Adornes Dories and so at Bolonia Milan Ferrara Mantoua Luques and other Citties which by these dissentions haue lost their liberties and are fallen into the hands of diuerse Princes Venice was wise in thâ—se deuisions preseruing her libertie against both factions whilest the rest dismembred and ruined one another The Popes had still an eye vpon France to confirme their authoritie there as they had done in Sicilia and England The Popes soueraigne authoritie ouer Christendom not ceasing vppon euery light occasion to censure it or to threaâ—en it with their censures But our Kings by the wise Councell of their Parliament at Paris restrained them not suffring them to vsurpe any thing ouer their royall prerogatiue and the libertie of the French Church But howsoeuer the Imperiall State being made subiect to the Pope the way was easie to draw all the Kings and Princes of Christendome to obedience and to aduance their throne aboue the rest Their great reuenues and the shew of their stately and sumptuous traine kept the people in obedience but the deuoute respect of religion the strictest bond to tye soules was the fundamentall support of this soueraigne authoritie the which not being limited within the bounds of mortall life without doubt struck an vnauoidable terror into mens consciences ouer which it had power So as the Pope gaue lawe to all men and whosoeuer obeyed not what they commanded he was excommunicated by this spirituall authoritie of the Keyes which they say doe open and shut Paradice binde and loose sinnes This beleefe setled in the mindes of Christians bred a great deuotion and respect in them and did minister daily new meanes to encrease it At that time sprung vp many orders of religious Friars and Monkes and out of S. Bernards Schoole very famous in those times from this streame grew two branches One was called The poore in Lions the other the humble of Italy which liued of Almes and conuersed with other men expounding the Scriptures and reprouing the abuses of the Church with the like zeale and libertie as we see at this day in the writings of S. Bernard This free and plaine reprehension displeased the Pope who suppressed these two orders with his censures and confining the desciples of S. Bernard to Cisteaux he confirmed 4. new orders of religions The Franciscans instituted by Francis an Italian the Iacobins by Dominick a Spaniard Orders of religious men Carmelites by Albert Patriarke of Ierusalem the Augustins by Innocent the third The Vniuersities of France Germanie and Italy were carefully entertained by meanes of the great reuenues of the Church to settle and augment the Popes authoritie the which was mightily encreased by the diligence and dexteritie of such as instructed the youth easie to receiue such impressions as were giuen them especially their teachers hauing great power ouer their soules Such was the estate both of the Empire and of the Church when as Lewis the 8. entred the royall throne after the decease of his father Philip Augustus Lewis the eight Father to Saint Lewis the 43. King of France LEWES .8 KING OF FRANCE XXXXIII LEWIS was thirty yeares old when he beganne to raigne 1223. in the yeare .1223 was crowned with his wife Blanch beeing then the mother of many children His raigne â—eâ—th Hee died in the yeare 1226. hauing raigned but three yeares neither noted for his vices nor coÌ„mended for his vertues only famous in that He was Sonne to an excellent father father to an excellent Sonne bearing his name not beeing famous inough of himselfe His father imployed him confidently but with small successe The manners of Lâ—wâ—â— the eight He desquieted England but reaped no benifit That which is most remarkable in his raigne Languedoc one of the goodliest and ritchest Prouinces of the French monarchy began to returne to the Crowne froÌ„ the which it was dismembred by Hugh Capet and left as â—n inheritaÌ„ce to the Earles the means was by the ruine of CouÌ„t Raimond chiefe of the Albigeois The Albigeois take their name of a diocese in Languedoc Languedock returnes to the Crowne whereof the head is Alby the 22. Bishoprike of this large Prouince but this name was common to the whole party for that a priuate impression deuided from the common beleefe of Christians which hath caused them to be held for heretikes tooke its beginning with this people of high Languedock and so was dispersed into other Prouinces In this difference of religion we may obserue diuers humors iudgements and censures Diuers opinions touching the Albigâ—ois In so great an vncertâ—nty I will report plainly what is written by the most approoued Authors not giuing any Iudgement the which belongs to the reader neither wil I
of K. Alphonso attending meanâ— to repaire his affaires in better season In the meane time Simon doth promise himselfe the property of all Raymonds estates the which he had gotten with his Sword but for that it was apparent that the King of France would hardly grant so goodly a Prouince taken from his kinsman to one of his subiects Simon therefore flies vnto the Pope by whose authority this war was chiefely ingaged from whom he attended his chiefe recompence hauing laboured for him Innocent the 3. finding that Philip who would not desist in his pursute against Iohn King of England notwithstanding his interdictioÌ„â— would not be moued now by his simple authority to leaue so important a peece he assembles a great Councell meaning to force the King to yeeld vnto his will â—he Patriarkes of Ierusalem and Constantinople were there in person The Councell of Latran and those of Antioche and Alexandria sent their deputies there were 70. Archbishops 400. Bishops and 1000. Abbots Priors The Emperors of the East West the Kings of France England Spaine Ierusalem Cipres and other Kings Princes and great estates had their Ambassadors By a decree of this notable assembly Count Raymond was excommunicated with all his associats The Earldome of Tholouse giuen to Simon of Montfort by the Pope his lands adiuged to Simon of Montfort for his seruice done and to do to the Catholike Church Philip could not gain-say this decree confirmed in a maner by the consent of the whole world He therfore receiued SimoÌ„ to homage for the Prouince of Languedoc whereof he tooke peaceable possession but he did not long enioy it â—or seeing himselfe inuested he began to oppresse his new subiects An Eâ—le is lost with ouer griping The people of Languedoc finding themselues oppressed with this insupportable burthen of Simon they resolue to call home their Count Raymond who was retired into Spaine to seeke some meanes to recouer the possession of his estate His case was not desperate for hee enioyed the Earldomes of Viuareâ—z Venaissan and the Citty of Auignon places kept by his subiects during these occurrents whether Simons forces were not yet come Raymond being called by his subiects returnes into Languedoc accompanied with a notable troupe of Arragonois being discontented for the death of their King Alphonso The whole Countrey baâ—died against Simon hating him as an vsurper Simon hated by his subiects of Languâ—doc for hâ—s oppression â—yâ—â—nie and detesting him as a tyrant for doubtlesse vniust violent things cannot continue Whilest that Simon seekes to bridle the Citties of his new conquests leaping from place to place with an infinite toile behold Raymond is receiued into Tholousâ— by intelligence with great ioy of the inhabitants Simon abandons all the rest and flies thether but he finds a stop for comming to the gates of the Citty as he approched neere the walles to parley he was hurt in the head with a stone wherof he died The example of Tholouse made the greatest part of the subdued Citties to reuolt Simon of Montfort left two sonnes Simon of Montfort slaâ—n before Tholouse Guy and Amaulry vpon the reuolt of Tholouse the one seizeth vpon Carcassone the other of Narbonne but Guy was slaine in Carcassone by the Inhabitants who were the stronger Amaulry hauing fortified Narbonne repaires to Philip Augustus beseeching him to succor him in his necessity Philip had the Wolfe by the eare for as on the one side he desired this goodly Prouince for himselfe rather then for the children of Simon of Montfort so was he also restâ—ained by the authority of the Pope and Councell He theâ—fore sends his sonne Lewis into Languedoc to reduce the Country to his obedience But he had scarce taken any one Castell when as his fathers death calls him home Count Raymond receiued againe in Languedock So as Count Raymond his subiects of Languedoc had time to reuiue their spirits recouer many places gotteÌ„ by Simon The king of England would neither assist nor send to the coronatioÌ„ of Lewis although he were held as Duke of Guienne 1223. This occasion moued Lewis to warre against him Warre in Guienne against the English whereby he got Niort and Rochel and Sauary of Mauleon Gouernour for the English retired to his seruice This losse made the warre more violent Richard Earle of Cornwaile brother to Henry King of England passed into France with a goodly armie and hauing taken S. Macaire Langon and Reolle Townes seated vpon the Riuer of Garonne and defeated some French troupes he made way for a truce which was fauourable for both parties But especially for Lewis being desirous to settle matters in Languedoc the which troubled him for the daily proceedings of the Albigeois yet was hee loth to labour for another For this reason he treats with Amaulry Earle of Montfort touching the right he had to that Countrie with whom hee preuailed the more easily for that hauing lost the greatest part of the Prouince he was not able to hold the rest with the Kings dislike to whom hee resigned it by order of a decree made by the Pope in the Councell of Latran and in recompence hee made him Constable of France with the consent of Pope Honorius Lewis compounds for Languâ—doc with the â—oâ—n of Simon Montfort Hauing compounded with the Children of Simon Montfort hee resolued to winne Count Raymond to his deuotion and to perswade him to lay aside armes whereof hee did see the euents to be very doubtfull His intent was to vnite this rich Prouince of Languedoc to the Crowne But reason which saith that no man thinkes his owne too much the respect which great men do vsually beare one to another and the alliance which the house of France had with the Countie of Tholouse were great restraints for the couetousnesse of Lewis But how soeuer he determined to make himselfe the stronger to prescribe them a law To this end he leuied a great Armie fortified with his Edicts by the which hee thunders against these poore Albigeois as Heretikes and Rebels These Edicts were of force whereas his authoritie was respected Count Raymond considering with himselfe the cruell beginning of this warre and the continuance of the like miserie in these second armes fearing to imbarke himselfe the third time with a people against his King is easily perswaded by Lewis to reconcile himselfe to Pope Honorius Thus Raimond leauing to oppose himselfe Count Raymond submits himselfe vnâ—o the Pope yeelds to Lewis and perswades the â—arle of Cominges the chiefe agent of his desseignes to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people go to Rome they make their peace with the Pope and leaue the Albigeois to the mercie of Lewis who seeing them without a head imbraceth this occasion to their ruine High and base Languedoc was wholy in his power by Raymonds departure Auignon remained with many other places in the Countie of
He demands them to this end aâ—cording to the conuentions This charge being deliuered in the Towne house where thâ—se miserable Bourgeses were assembled by his permission to giue their Countâ—y their last farewell they gaze one on an other terrified with so pittilesse a condition As they al stood mute in this common calamity one of the troupe breaking this mournfull silence Sâ—eâ—â—g â—aith he I haue so often imployed my life for my Countriâ—s good should I nowe feare to 〈◊〉 it for my last oblation A notable farewell of the Calisâ—â—s O my Countrimen I doe cheerfully offer my head to the King of Englands 〈◊〉 and will liue no longer in my Countries myserie This hee spake without teares and with so resolute a countenance and a browe so manly big as hee mooued the whole company so as all with one generall voice 〈◊〉 Let vs go to the death it is the last duty we can performe to our poore Countrie Immediatly there was pressing among this great multitude who should be of the six to carry their heads to Edwards triâ—mphe They were chosen out drawen bound and led to execution The Queene hauing notice thereof desired to see them who were brought bound in the executioners hands The Queene 〈…〉 This spectacle mooued her to weepe and compassion caused her to beg a pardon of the King beseeching him to giue life to these men worthy to liue after so constant a loyaltie She obtayne her request and leaue for them to remayne still in Calais esteemed to continue faithfull to their deliuereâ— who had shewed themselues so constant in the faithfull loue of their lost countrie The history did owe this digression to so commendable an act The same Some brought Edward a wisshed successe in Brittaine Troubleâ— in Bâ—iâ—â—ain touching the quarrell for the Duchie Philip had taken Iohn of Montfort and Edward in exchange tooke Charles of Blois whome he led into England and still weakeneth Philips authoritie in Britain and settles his owne Thus passe the affaires of this world euery one hath his turne Vertuous Princeâ—â—es in their husbands miseries The two Duchesses of Britain Ioane the wife of Iohn of Montfort and Ioane the wife of Charles of Blois did wonders in keeping those places they had in their possessâ—ons during the imprisonments of their husbands without entring farther into the discourse of the female wars of these Amazons worthy yet of eternall memory hauing so couragiously releeued the afflictions of their imprisoned husbands and neuer yeelded to necessity Newe troubles in Flanders Flanders likewise grewe mutinous by Edwards practises being then greatly respected for the successe of his victorious armes The Flemings receiued their Earle Lewis of Malle without any opposition beeing sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at Cressy but the Kings of France and Eâ—gland contended who should winne him Lewis was in heart a Frenchmâ—n The Citties were generally affected to England The marriage of this young Prince was great Edward desired him for his daughter but especially the oportunitie of this rich County for his affaires He comes himselfe to Gand to compasse his desire but the euent was not answerable The Earle of 〈…〉 into France for although the Earle made shewe to imbrace this alliance at the great instance of his subiects yet his heart was otherwise affected who vnder colour to go flie at the Heron goes out of Gand with a smal traine flies to Paris to Philip who hauing receiued him gratiously perswades him to espouse Marguerit the second Daughter of the Duke of Brabant thereby to cut off all hope of marying with England Thus the hatred of these two Princes continued which in the ende must breake forth into hostâ—le effects Pacardy was the stage of their lamentable tragedies from thence the miserie was dispersed ouer the whole Realme 1348. Philip giues the gouernement to Geoffry Earle of Charny the Lieutenancy to Anthony of Montmorency They fortifie the Towns and bridle Calais beeing assisted by a great number of voluntary Nobility louing the coÌ„mand of these two great captaines as a schoole of military discipline to shewe that the French did not faint in their afflictions These losses were then repaired by the gaine of the country of Daulphiné one of the noblest and goodliest Prouinces of this Realme And this was the occasion Imbert or Vmbert Daulphin of Viennois hauing lost his eldest sonne in the battell of Cressy as I haue said and his yongest being two or three yeares old by a strange accident they say that he himselfe let him fall out of his armes as he plaide with him at a window thinking to feare him moreouer hauing Amé the 6. Earle of Sauoy an irreconciliable spightfull enemy beeing too weake to resist him nor able to make choise of a kinsman to repaire his estate being wearie of the world and decayed in iudgement he resolues to cast himselfe into the King of France his protection to oppose him against his enemy and to put this goodly inheritance into his hands thereby to preuent the Earles greedy desire Forthwith hauing aduertised Philip of his intention and being graciously intertayned by him he giues all the Countrie of Daulphiné to him and his successors Kings of Francâ— vpon condition that the first son of the house of France should carry the name of Daulphin of Viennois the armes of the country of Daulphiné should be quartered with the armes of France that the Nobility whole country shold be receiued with their priuileges Amé Earle of Sauoy otherwise a deare friend to Philip sends his Embassadors to make his benefit of this exchange but it was not for him all that he could obtaine was to exchange some land with that which laie intermixt within his territories adioyning Daulphin incorporate to the crowne the better to liue in quiet afterwards Daulphiné was thus incorporated to the Crowne of France For we cannot with any reason doubt but in old time it was a meÌ„ber of this our Monarchy as likewise Sauoy was but in these diuersities of portions vnder the children of Lewis the gentle as we haue noted before the Realme and Empire swallowing vp both the effect the name of the Realme of Arles in the which these Estates were comprehended haue maintayned themselues by a remarkable distinction and so vnder the authority of the Empire they haue since held their soueraignty not acknowledging any Emperour but their Princes Daulphiné is returned to his first originall and Sauoy maintaines it selfe vnder the obedience of his soueraigne Prince vnto this day As for the name of Daulphin giuen to the first sonne of France the execution of Prince Imberts will was not put in practise before Charles the fift sonne to Iohn then Duke of Normandy in the life of his father Philip and not giuen to Iohn in the yeare 1348. The towne of Montpâ—llier purchased to the crowne The yeare following the Citty of Montpellier one of
young Germaine Prince of a good house but not of abilitie to support Ioane so as she held him not as a husband but vsed him as a Stallion Amidest these alterations of Naples the sea of Rome was not quiet for after the death of Pope Gregorie XI who retired from Auignon to Rome the Colledge of Cardinalls fell to a horrible contention for the Popes election the Romains being resolute to haue one of their owne nation and the French one of theirs from whence sprong that strange Sichsme whereof we shall speake Vrbain the 6. was chosen at Rome after the decease of Gregorie the XI and the French Cardinalles yeelded to this election but for that they sayed they had beene forced by the Romains who had them in their power and threatned to kill them vnder colour to change the aier hauing obteined leaue to goe to Anagnia they retier to Fundi a Cittie of the realme of Naples fauored by Queene Ioane French by stock and humour A Schisme in the Church and there they choose Clement the 7. for Pope to oppose him against Vrbain Clement retyred to Auignon and Vrbain keepes at Rome Two Popes two Seas two Factions which trouble all Christendome with horrible confusions Clement seekes to fortifie himselfe and as France held for him so did he labour to haue Naples wholie at his deuotion by reason of the neerenesse much importing for the Cittie of Rome where the chiefe quarrell was debated Contrariwise Vrbain the 6. to be reuenged of Ioane a partisan to Clement the 7. his enemie hath recourse to Lewis King of Hongarie the first interessed beeing brother to him whome this strumpet had slaine that he might oppose the same scourge which had alreadie corrected her But Lewis excusing himselfe by his age and the infirmity of his body sent him Charles issued from that Lewis Prince of Durazzo who we sayed was sonne to Charles of Aniou seeking euen in the race it selfe a man to punish this wicked woman giuing him a goodly armie to that ende Ioane seeing this great storme readie to fall on her flies to Pope Clement the 7. and by his aduice adopts our Lewis Duke of Aniou of whome we nowe treat Lewis hauing prepared his army and beeing crowned King of Naples and Sicile by Pope Clement the 7. in Auignon hee lands at Naples to take possession of the realme Estate of Naples wherevnto the lawefull heire and the Popes authoritie did call him But he came too late for Charles of Durazzo being parted from Hongarie with his army and happylie landed entred the Country ouercame Otho the pretended husband of Ioane and holding him prisoner he forced this miserable woman to yeeld vnto his mercy the which was too great for that he only caused her to be smothered betwixt two pillowes Queene Ioane taken and smothered deseruing as cruell a death as her life had bin execrable Notwithstanding all these difficulties Lewis of Aniou thrust forward by his owne ambition proceeded hauing giuen such order to his affaiers after the adoption made by Ioane in his fauour and the Popes coronation as he procured all the Captaines of places to hold for him hauing ingaged them by money and golden promises so as many places held good for him and the people desyred him being glad to be freed from Ioane and to haue so mightie a Lord to maintaine them in peace Lewis enters the realme of Naples at the first hee winnes Tarentum and Beri Lewis Duke of Aniou and King of Naples by Adoption dies but whilest he determines to proceede in his desseines death surpriseth him making an ende of his infinit ambition and of all his toyles but not of his childrens Lewis and Charles nor of their posterities Thus Charles Pince of Durazzo of the race of Aniou called the Hongarien for that he had beene borne and bred in Hongarie and brought vp by King Lewis remayned peaceable King of Naples 1384. leauing two Children Ladislaus and Ioane who shall prepare a newe stage whereon our Princes shall soone playe their parts as you shall vnderstand Let vs nowe returne to France The Duke of Anious departure put all authoritie into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne The Duke of Berry and Bourgongne in credit who began to manage the affaiers of State at their pleasures There was no great loue betwixt them although they were bretheren but onely to maintaine themselues against such as might hinder their ambitious plotts And for that they had knowen the Chanceller Dormans to be wholy affected to the Regent they perswaded the young King to dismisse him for some reasons the which are not specified in the Historie The Chancellor Dormains disgraced But Princes want no colours when they will disgrace their seruants Peter Orgemont was appointed in his place after the seale had remayned some time in the hands of Robert of Corby first President of the Court of Parliament of Paris and of Philip Moulins a Chanoine of the sayed Cittie But Flanders which alwayes bred some monster in that age stirred vp by the English and pufte vp by the ridiculous conclusion of this great and vaine preparation began new troubles and had practises with them of Paris to drawe the rest of the Citties of the realme into some popular league New troubles in Flanders These newes put the King into great perplexitie the rather for that he had surprised certaine letters from the Maillotins of Paris to the white capps of Gand to make a correspondencie betwixt them the accustomed Leuaine of rebellion with ill aduised people As these things amaze both the King and his Vncles behold Richard lands at Calais with an army vnder the command of the Duke of Lancaster who at first spoiles Picardie and then plants himselfe before Ypre The English enter Picardie and beseegeth it The Gantois had made a good shewe both to the King and Duke of Bourgongne vntill that time seeming resolute to obserue their former accord but the English armie being entred into Flanders they go to field and ioyne with them before Ypre The Kings Vncles muster men in all places with great dilligence and intreat their neerest friends to come speedily to their succour The Duks of Lorraine and of Bar make hast the Duke of Brittain comes with a goodly troupe They haue sodenly assembled twentie thousand Frenchmen at armes besides the succors of Lorraine and Brittain the number of foote is not specified Charles thus accompained comes to Saint Denis in France and hauing taken leaue of the Martyrs according to the ancient custome of Kings and giuen the foreward of his army to the leading of the Constable Clisson and the Duke of Brittain the Constable marching before the Duke A great quarrell growes for Precedence by reason of his place the ground of a dislike fell out betwixt them which beeing nourished by diuers occasions shal be the subiect of a great desaster both for the King and
men which chanced in the beginning of the yeare 1394 shal burne farther and kindle a greater fire betwixt the vncle and the Nephewe foâ— the space often yeares vntill the death of Philip Duke of Bourgongne leauing this hatred hereditary to his posterity There is no meanes which the Bourguignon doth not attempt to wrong his Nephewe of Orleans Certaine Augustin Fryars vndertake to cure the King by incisions in his head wheâ—by he was in great danger of his life These counterfets were brought forth publikely in their habits and beheaded but the scarres of these wounds will remaine in Lewis his â—ace who recommended them vnto the King The women are dealers in these actions The Duchesse of Bourgongne perswades Queene Isabel that Lewis his meaning was to kill the King her husband his children These impressions are confirmed by the graue and sweet discouâ—ses of the duke her husband who by degrees setled a hatred in the Queenes minde agaiâ—st her brother in-law Thus this faction is much fortified by the authority of Queene Isabel and by her with her husbands name whom she makes to speake what she pleaseth sometimes as her will directed him but not alwaâ—â—â— Yet this weake braine is the checker of all these courâ—ly pollicâ—es by the meanes oâ— women who are continually about his bedde or his chaire to distemper his braine with variety of newes springing from their wretched passions and this poore Prince is sometimes won sometimes lost and alwaies tormented wâ—th these imporâ—unâ— discoâ—râ—es Vâ—lenâ—ine to the Duke of Orleans an Iâ—aâ—â—an and daughter to Iohn Galeaz one of the cunningest and most subtill witts of her time which subtilty some held she increased by coniuring would not yeeld to the brauadoes of these two Princesses against whom she opposed her selfe not only by her husbands degree but also by a politike courage bred in her selfe visiting the sicke king with such ciuill entertainment as her greatest enemies could not finde any honest colour to deny her the dore So as the King did not onely willingly see her but did call for her and in his greatest fits did know her onely among all the rest refusing to take any thing but from the hands of his good Sister of Orleans The more the Kings loue kindled a iealousie in these two Princesses her enemies the more it raysed vp the mind of Valentine and by hir meanes of her husband who remeÌ„bring too hatefully the degree whereunto he was borne and the wrong done him in reiecting him yet hauing neither dexterity nor meanes to win many seruants he gaue the Duke of Bourgongne all aduantages being graue cold pleasing and modest so as by his wise teÌ„per he disolued the heate of the Duke of Orleans immoderate vehemencie who tyring himself with the shew of his greatnesse makes it known by effects that all the authority was in the Duke of Bourgongne for whosoeuer had neede of any publike helpe he must pasâ—e through his hands what busines soeuer chanced either within or without the realme the true rendez-uous was at his lodging Thus the Vncle made his Nephew towalke horses as they say although he chafed and stamped beyond all measure These diuisions troubled the whole court making them to neglect the affaires of state and what can we obserue more famous in so disordered an estate Al businesses are done in the Kings name yet without the King vnlesse the parties would haue him to countenance some great passion I do purposely omit all that which passed in this raigne touching the schisme of the Church and the house of Aniou in the realmes of Naples and Arragon not to breake off the course of my intent meaning to represent in due place all that concernes this forrain history Richard King of England sends his Ambassadors to Charles to congratulate his recouery offring him a generall peace and demanding his daughter in marriage The Kings relapse delayed the conclusion for a time Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France but soone after by the care of the Duke of Bourgongne who had a great interest in this alliance by reasoÌ„ of his country of Flanders it was concluded in the yeare 1395. Charles had some intermissions by meanes whereof he could ride Richard repayres to Calais and Charles to Ardres whether Richard came to ratifie the peace concluded betwixt their Ambassadors and to receiue his new spouse The Kings encountred one another with loue and kindnesse making shewes of great good will but it was a short ioy for either of them For as it seemed that the quiet of these two realmes had beene setled by this generall peace sealed by this marriage and seasoned with so many reciprocall shewes of cordial affection betwixt these two great Kings behold a great combustion in England which intangles both these Kings in this common calamity Richard being of himselfe effeminate carelesse voluptuous and idle grew more delicate by this profound rest built vpon the alliance of his enimy who alone might haue quickned him He is alwayes with his yong wife imbracing her dallying with her and attiâ—ing her with such contempt of his authority abassing himselfe too much to his subiects so as he grew contemptible vnto his enimies who presâ—med to attempt against his person The ordinary warres of England against France had caused many necessary impositions without any grudging of the subiects but when as necessity ceased by this generall peace the people require to bee relieued William More makes an oration vnto the king in the name of all the English in generall Richard hauing no meanes in these infinite exactions to supply the charges of his idle voluptuous life contemned his subiects request and in the ende pressed vpon the same matter by the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arondel in the name of them all he puts them vniustly to death The English madde with rage for the death of their deputies flie to such remedies as despaire giues to necessitie From this general discontent sprong a strange Tragedie against Richard for the English seeing themselues thus despised by their King they cast their eyes vpon Henry of Lancaster his cousine and hauing called a Parliament they put Richard into prison and crowne Henry of Lancaster in his place Richard King of England put from the Crowne Richard being forced in open assembly to resigne the Crowne and to condemne himselfe to perpetuall prison as hauing abused his royall authoritie and his subiects But this tâ—agicke change concernes the Histoâ—ie of England This may bâ—ieflie suffice for ours in the conference of our estate with theirs Charles did greatly grieue at this deiection of Richard his sonne in lawe from whom he expected great loue and quiet for his subiects But who seeth not the vanitie of this world both in great and small to feare a shower euen when the Sunne is hottest Hee sends for Isabell his daughter of twelue yeares old whom Richard had not yet toucht being content to behold her
all gouernment Thus Lodowicke commands Milan absolutely and Robert serues the Venetians yet Galeas and the Earle of Caiazze children to Robert shall returne and doe Lodowicke good seruice in the State of Milan Then began Lodowicke to increase in authority grauing the Dukes picture on the one side of their coyne and his owne on the other not without the muttering of many namely of Isabell the wife of Alphonso Duke of Calabria sonne to Ferdinand King of Arragon as proud and haughtie a woman as her husband was weake of iudgement and without courage This repyning made Lodowik to hasten his resolution And thus he proceeded when the Duke went forth of the Castell his brother remained within and Lodowicke conducting him home the captaine did vsually come forth vpon the bridge to receiue him Lodowicke vsurpes Milan and suprizeth the Castell One day among the rest Lodowike staies him purposely a little without the bridge to drawe forth the Captaine whome Galeas and the Earle Caiazze seize vpon and on such as followed him They within drawe the bridge Lodowicke lights a candle sweares to cut off their heads that were in his power if they yeeld not the place before the light be burnt The which they do He enters and placeth men at his pleasure he putts the Captaine in prison arraines him vpon colour that he meant to deliuer vp the Castell to the Emperour He staies some Germaines and makes them beleeue that they treated in fauour of the house of Austria which of old time pretended some right to the Duchie yet afterwards both he they were set at liberty Lodowike is now maister of the fort He must seeke means to maintaine this vsurpation yet least he should growe too odious he makes all dispatches in that name of Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan his Nephew a Duke in name only but he in effect In the meane time Isabell sollicits her father and Grandfather to reuenge the iniustice and tyrannie of Lodowike Lodowike vnderstood well that this acte would offend many Princes that his insolent and not accustomed exaction of money made his name odious to all the people of the Duchy and that Ferdinand King of Arragon with his sonne Alphonso would not faile to imbrace the quarrell and right of Iohn Galeas and of their Isabell. To crosse them he cunningly to the preiudice of the ancient confederacie of the Estats of Italy makes a league betwixt the Pope the Venetians and Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan his Nephew arming himselfe alwaies with that name for their common defence and namely of Lodowikes gouerment vpon condition that the Venetians and the said Duke should either of them send presently two hundred men at armes to Rome and greater forces if need were for the recouery of such places as were deteined from the Church by Virgilius Vrsinus in fauour of Peter of Medicis his kinsmaÌ„ associat with Ferdinand Alphonso And more to crosse their estates Lodowick who could not subsist in the midst of their vinted forces sends an honorable Ambassage to the King wherof the Earle of Caiazzo was the chiefe assisted by Charles of Balbiano Earle of Belzoioso Galeas of S. Seuerin who had married a bastard of Lodowicks who greatly vrge the title he had to this goodly and pleasant countrie of Naples They easely drew the king to tast a vaine glorie of Italie perswading him by great offers of seruice succors of men money and munition But before we passe the Alpes let vs examine the estate of Italie the right which our Charles pretended Since the declining of the Romaine Empire Italie neuer enioyed a more happy prosperity then about the yeare 1490. A long peace had made the most barren places fruitfull it abouÌ„ded in people riches great men of state and good witts in learning industrie and military fame such as that age could produce beautified with the state of many Princes not subiect to any other coÌ„mand but of themselues Laurence of Medicis a Cittizen of Florence The Estate of Italie 1490. was a great meanes to hold things in this prosperous estate a man of a quiet spirit experienced in affaires iudicious of great authority aboue all his fellow Cittizens for that he gouerned Pope Innocent the 8. his kinsman absolutely renoumed throughout all Italie He knew that the greatnesse of other Potentates would mightely shake the Common weale of Florence and therefore he sought by all meanes to hold them equall by a generall obseruation of peace Ferdinand of Arragon King of Naples a wise Prince and of great reputation did much affect this publicke quiet but he had worke at home Alphonso Duke of Calabria his eldest son being much discontented seeing that Iohn Galeas Sforce Dâ—ke of Milan his sonne in Lawe should carry but the naked and simple title of Dâ—ke vnder the oppression of Lodowike his Vncle. But Ferdinand hauing yet a fresh impression of the late reuolt of his subiects of Naples not ignorant that at the first motion they would open their armes to the house of France considering the affection which most of his subiects bare vnto it of old he feared least the diuisions in Italy should drawe the French to inuade the Realme of Naples preferring a present benefit before the indignation of his sonne desiring rather to vnite himselfe with the other Estats especiallie that of Milan and Florence to countermine the Venetiens greatnesse being then fearefull to all Italie puft vp with the late ouerthrowe of the Duke of Ferrara father in lawe to Lodowike after a long and dangerous hazard of their estate Lodowike was in the same predicament with the rest and moreouer peace was farre more necessarie then warre for the preseruation of an authority lately vsurped Herevnto that commendable inclynation to peace which he found in Laurence of Medicis did mooue him And considering that in regard of the inueterate hatred betwixt the house of Arragon and the Venetians they should hardly make any firme League betwixt them he therefore concluded that Ferdinand and his sonne should not bee at neede assisted by any other to crosse him in his desseins and hauing them alone opposite he should easily withstand them So Ferdinand Lodowike and Laurence continued the alliance cherefully which they had renued in the yeare 1480. for 25. yeares all the meaner Potentats in a manner leauing vnto them to whom the Venetians greatnesse was wonderfully suspected managing their affaires apart not imparting their couÌ„sells to the body of the coÌ„mon league watching onely oportunity to growe great by the publike discords Tâ—oubles by the death of Lâ—â—â—ence of Mâ—dicis Being all thus vnited they were too strong for the Venetians yet were they full of enuie and mutuall iealousie one prying still into an others estate and continually crauing desseines so as they could not long liue in true and faithfull friendship The death of Laurence of Medicis was a great cause of the breach of this generall peace An vnseasonable death for him
might easily desend it The could not enter but with the tide and wind and the foure first ships repulsed had fallen backe vpon the rest of the fleet and disordred them They must of necessitie fight neere vnto their land 1545. and fauoured by their Fortes and Canon had they not meanes to hinder the approach to the great preiudice of â—uâ— fleete and our ships bording and grapling the force of the current had driuen them on ground one vpon anotheâ— There was as little reason to fight at anchor the Cables might be cutt and this inconuenience auoided the danger was not lesse for the nature of the current is to turne the prowe so as our ships in steed of the prowe or the broad side must haue presented their poupe to the enemie Moreouer their anchors not â—ble to stay the ships sodenly by reason of the violent turning of the streame eyther the Anchor or Cable might breake and by consequence cast the ships on ground They therefore propound two things in counsell either to saile into Picardie to fortifie the Kings armie The French consult to take the Isle of VVight to fortifie it and to cut off all succours from Boullen or to fortifie the Isle of Wight Many reasons perswaded the most part to the last opinion for hauing the Iâ—le at their deuotion they might easily become Lords of Portsmouth one of the goodliest ports of England and forcing the enemy to maintaine a continuall armie both by land and sea to crosse the Conquerours desseins it would consume them in exceeding expences Moreouer they kept the passage of Spaine and Flanders and might in time till the Iland and make it yeeld victuals sufficient to maintaine men for the garde thereof Without doubt this was an oportunitie which hath not since happened to oppose a strong barre betwixt both the realmes But let vs say that he which holds both land and Sea within the palme of his hand would leaue this Iland in the power of her ancient and lawfull Lord. But howsoeuer the Admirall might easily haue left foure thousand men and foure thousand Pioners for the defence of the Iland as he did to â—ortifie the Kings armie before Boullen after the ouerthrow of the Cheualier d' Aux a Prouensall and Captaine of the Galleys of Normandie leauing his Fleet well manned As the Admirall lay at Anchor before Boullen a Westerne winde ariseth and makes him to seeke harbour vpon the coast of England Being at the Perrais and there kept by force of winde and a swolne sea the English fleete thinking to haue the aduantage imbarke speedily being a hundred good ships and come with full sailes against our men hauing the winde in powpe The violence of the windes the greatnesse of the seas which might haue taken from our men the vse and seruice of their galleys gaue them hope of victorie On the other side the Admirall feared that the tempest would driue him to shoare or force him to weigh Anchor in disorder for that the bad wether would not suffer them to keepe together and with great danger to passe the straite at Calais or else to take his course towards Flanders and so they might stop his passage in his returne moreouer foule wether might stay him so long as hee should want victuals and in the meane time the enemie who to attend him at the passage would come to Boullen would disturbe the Kings Fortes that hee pretended to make the which he desired by all meanes to preuent And therefore following the aduice of his Captaines hee attends at Anchor the change of the tide The next day the winde and tide fauours him so as he desires to incounter the enemie The night passeth and at the breake of day the English armie appeares He followes them but was so becalmed as he could not aduance but with the tide Eyther seeke to gette the winde and coasting neere salute one another with the Canon Some ships are sunke and some men perish in the sea In the end the enemie seeing our men to haue gotte the winde set saile and take their course to the Isle of Wight hauing both winde and tide which carried them without disorder to their Port and the night approching ended the combate The enemie hauing recouered a safe Port the Admirall tooke his course towards New-hauen to refresh his Armie and to land many sicke men languishing in the shippes This was about the middest of August In the middest of August the King meant to execute his enterprise vpon Guines whereof we haue spoken His armie was of twelue thousand French twelue thousand Lansquenets sixe thousand Italians and foure thousand Legionaries a thousand or hundred men at armes and seuen or eight hundred light horse But the fort before Boullen was no more defensible then eight dayes after it was begun Fiâ—st not built vpon the point as it was appointed right against the Tower of Ordre but against base Foullen so as it could no way stoppe the entrie of the ships into the hauen The Marshall of Biez excused himselfe that they had giuen him to vnderstand he should find no water there and that thesoldiars could not lodge for the violence of the winds Secondly hee relyed vppon his Ingeneur Anthonie Mellon an Italien Captaine who was held to be a man of experience and a good souldiar who being ignorant of his measures made the worke fruitles for two moneths The Marshal notwithstanding assures the King that within eight dayes the fort would be defensible but it was no more forward then at the first day And to couer this defect he lets the Captaines vnderstand that he is aduertised how the enemie assembled at Calis to come and succour Boullen by land holding it in danger to be farnished he was therefore resolued to passe the riuer and to abandon the fort And without imparting of any thing to the Lord of Estrue Marshall of the Campe who contradicted this desseine hee leaues three or foure thousand men in the fort and goes to lodge at Mont-Lambert within Canon short of the Towne to make head against the enemie and to fight with him if he came to succour the Towne But what lâ—kelyhood was there that the English being weaker in force and numbers would hazard a battaile and by land seeing that one shippe would carrie more victuals then a thousand carts come and victuall a Towne which daily he might refresh by sea without danger in sight of the enemie But in effect it was a great honour for the Marshall of Biez to see so many yong Princes subiect to his commaund and if Boullen had beene recouered he had lost the authoritie to command so goodly and mightie an armie The hope of a battaile made all the youth in Court post to Mont Lambert the Dukes of Anguien Neuers Aumale Thouars Lord of Tremouille the Earle of Laual and others who by continuall skirmishes sometimes with gaine sometimes with losse did trie their valours with the
armes and by a generall proclamation both within the Cittie and abroad commaunds them to arme and to fall vpon the Huguenots with warrant from the Pope the King and the Court of Parliament Then they kill they fill the prisons they massacre many When they find no holes to hold them the riuer is heaped vp with carcasses they cast them aliue out of the windowes and if they labout to recouer the banks they beat them downe with stones and staues The Protestants shut vp in the Towne house hauing no other helpe but to despaire of health resolue to sell their liues deerely They had Canon and with the thunder thereof doe amaze their enemies they make many sallies with great effusion of bloud on either side They treat an accord with them They demaund an assurance for their liues and goods with the obseruation of the Edict It is reiected and so this vnciuill fatall combat continues many dayes In the end the 16. of May they graunt them To retyre in safetie leauing their armes and harnes in the Towne house They goe forth towards night But oh confusion it is the best expedient to disarme an enemie with dispensation of conscience with whom they will keepe no faith At their going forth they imprisoÌ„ such as they can lay hand on the rest scape by the gate which they held some recouer Montauban or other places of their partie others are subiect to the mercie of the pesants and souldiars lying in the fields So as aboue three thousand fiue hundred persons saith the Originall lost their liues in this mutinie The Catholiks are now absolute maisters of the Cittie they beate downe the Protestants Temple and foure dayes togither they kill imprison and spoyle These broâ—es and popular tumults haue often times confounded the authors themselues and the spoile of rich houses is a very dangerous and attractiue bayte The Parliament knowes it well and begins now to feare least the insolencie of such to whome they had giuen libertie should fall vpon themselues They therefore leuie a summe of money to content the companies and to voyde the Towne of them So Montluc and Terrides march against Montauban Fourquenaux against Bezieres Mirepoix the yonger against Limoux The Court hauing the gouernment without controul displace two twentie Councellors that were least partiall and most suspect with some cheefe menâ— condemne prisoners and from the end of May vnto February following they execute by diuers manners foure hundred persons This massacre of Toulouse that of Gaillac in Albigeois against eight score persons Montauban and the approch of Burie and Monluc had so amazed the Inhabitants of Montauban as they abandon the Towne but the taking of Agen and the troubled estate of Bourdeaux as we haue heard called away both of them for this time In the meane time Arpaion and Marchastell putting two thousand men into Montauban had put courage into them when as newes comes that Monluc Terrides comes to beseege them with a thousand horse and fiue thousand foote the which made the Captaines take a new resolution to go to Orleans The people are amazed feare driues many out in confusion the drum sounds they issue forth tumultuously forsake the Towne and abandon the gates But which was the better expedient either to die in defence of their houses and families or to fall into the hands of the enemie from whom they might expect no mercy The most part being surprised in the fields were forced to yeeld their throats to their swords that pursued them others brought to Toulouse ended their liues vpon sundry gibets the Captaines and some few others recouered the Towne The 24. of May Monlucs armie arriues but being content with some skirmishes Three seeges of Montauban and to haue wasted the corne hee retyred to make a greater leape Hee returnes in September following with nine companies of men at armes a great number of voluntary gentlemen 25. enseigns of foot foure companies of Argoletiers and three of Spaniards which made twelue hundred men and thirteene peeces of artillerie The partie was stronger on either side then at the first for Duras and Marchastel were entred vnder hope to leade both the companies and Canon to Orleans So as Monluc hauing lost some six hundred men in diuers skirmishes and refused to fight with Duras who offered him battaile he retyred the second time Then Duras and Marchastâ—l leading away the troupes vnfurnished the Towne of two great Canons and two field peeces the which were afterwards lost in the battaile of Ver. Monluc aduertised of the estate of Montauban by Fontgraue one of the Captaines of the Towne hastens thither offers the scalado and giues the alarum in three parts Two hundred recouer the first courtyne being followed by the two enseigns of Bazourdan Laboria borne in the Towne and Captaine there beats them backe and with the slaughter of two hundred of their men forceth them to leaue their attempt to winne it by force The 13. of October they batter it with nine peeces of artillerie and continuing vntill the two and twentith of the moneth hee beates downe a peece of the wall Bazourdan will needs discouer the breach but being shott in aboue the left pappe he could not returne with any newes The next day they giue a furious assault the more couragiously the assailants presse them the more resolutely the assailed defend themselues men women and children euery one in his place Often times they obteine that vnder the foxes skin which the Lions cannot effect Labâ—â—ia might doe much to draw the Inhabitants to composition Terrides promiseth him the gouernment of the Towne vnder the Kings authoritie and three companies entertayned Hee accepts this offer But his new proceeding brings him presently into suspect so as hauing no more credit and the Cittizens resolute not to giue eare to any capitulation with men who hauing say they no faith cannot keepe it with any men Laboria followed by his sergeant retyres himselfe to Terrides campe from that time vnto the 15. of Aprill the day of the publication of the peace the seege passed in assaults sallies and skirmishes wherein the besegers lost aboue two thousand men with a great number of Captaines and worthie gentlemen without any profit Carcassonne Castelnaudarry Reuel and Limeux were partakers of these disorders The Protestants of Carcassonne had their exercise in the suburbs The 16. of March 1562. the Catholiks hauing taken vew of foure or fiue thousand men giue an â—larum to the Protestants assembled in the suburbs Carâ—â—ssonne and others they made them to leaue the place at the sound of their Canon drums and trumpets they pursue them kill hurt hang and ransome them Castelnau darry was subiect to the like fortune about fiftie persons were murthered with the like furie and popular tumult Those of Reuel hearing of the confusion at Toulouse saued themselues at Castres and els where leauing their famiâ—lies and goods to the mercie of theeues and robbers Some
apprehended To make the Estates protest to liue and dye in the faith set downe by the Councel of Trent to cause it to be signed in the open Parliament To reuoke and disanull all publike Edicts in fauour of the Protestants and their associates and to pursue them to the death that should hinder the extirpation of heresies To cause the King to reuoke the promises made vnto the Protestants and to prescribe a certaine time vnto their associates in the which they should present themselues before the Ecclesiasticall Iudges to be absolued and then to be sent vnto the King to purchase pardon of the crimes committed against his Maiestie To cause the King to name a Lieutenant generall a Prince capable of experience and fit to encounter the rebellion of Princes that should seeke to hinder the effect of the precedent articles and who neuer had had part societie nor communication with heretikes 1476 to whome both hee and his Ancestors had euer beene professed enemies And to require his Maiestie to honour the Duke of Guise with that charge being indued with all the perfections requisite in a great Captaine and woâ—thie of that Commission To cause Iudges to bee appointed to examine the crime committed by the Duke of Alensoâ— declaring himselfe cheefe of the Heretikes authorising the exercise of herâ—sie and forcing his Lord and brother to augment his portion To cause the sayd Dâ—ke to come to Court with the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condé and by ordinary and extraordinary forces to seize vpon the said Duke King Prince and all other that had accompanied them and followed them in their enterprises To cause such Captaines as the parrishes should giue to the Duke of Guise to put all Protestants their adherents and complices to the sword both in the Countrie and in walled Townes To subdue by force or intelligence the reuolted Prouinces to be masters of the field to blocke vp the Townes that were opposite and to put all to fiâ—e and sword that would make head against them And after this goodly and infallible victorie hauing wonne the loue of the Clergie Nobilitie and people to take exemplary punishment of the Duke of Aniou and his complices then by the Popes consent and permission to put the King and Queene into a monasterie as Pepin his Ancestor did in former time to Childeric and for an acknowledgement and in fauour of the Romaine Sea to abolishe the liberties and priuileges of the French Church These highâ— and great proiects were harkened vnto receiued and fauoured in the Court of Rome from that time those of Guise did not cease to dreame of the meanes to aduance the effects But this was to reckon without their host They haue compassed some of their conclusions but the end proued quite contrary to their meanings wherein wee admire a most singular prouidence of the King of Kings whereby hee hath vnto this day mâ—raculously balanced and in the end by his singular grace setled the estate of this Realme The articles of this association were fiâ—st drawen at Peronne in Picardie but disgâ—ised with goodly shewes The first League at Pâ—â—ronne to blind them that would examine them more exactly which were to maintaine the Law of God â—o restore the holy seruice thereof To preserue the King and his Successors in the Estate dignitie seruice and obedience due vnto him by his subiects To restore vnto the Estates of the Realme their rights preheminences and ancient liberties And for the execution of these articles a certaine forme of oath was propounded inflicting paines of eternall damnation to the associats that for any pretext whatsoeuer should withdrawe themselues from this League and a bond for such as should bee enrolled to imploy their goods persons and liues to punish by all meanes to ruine the enemies and perturbeâ—s thereof and to punish them that should faile or make any delaies by the authoritie of the head as he should thinke good This done there were nothing but posts carrying the first newes of these dessâ—ines They cast many libels throughout the streets in many good Townes they murmure that they arâ— too much supported by the Edict they practise some to serue as firebrands to kindle a new warre and vnder this plausible and commendable title of the name of the Church and diuine seruice the people a fit matter to nourish ciuill diuisions giues eare to such as seeke to thrust them into mutinie The King was daily aduertised of new complots Hee found that this match did kindle a fiâ—e of perpetuall combustions within his Realme On the other side hee hated the Protestâ—nts and would ruine them by degrees but not by such instruments as wrought without his authoritie His mother likewise hated them to the death and greatly deâ—ired the ruine of the heads being well content that these confusions should still diuide the French so as holding the staffe in her hand shee might terrifie her children and maintaine her authoritie make warre and giue peace whensoeuer shee pleased 1576. Thus she causeth the Duke of Alenson to come to the Court and the King to eâ—tertaine his subects of both religions The Duke of Aâ—erâ—â—n reconciled to the King in hope of better concord by meanes of 〈◊〉 reconciliation and to cut off all new factions he deferred the generall assembly of the Estates vnto the fifteenth of December following He presumed likewise that all hâ—s subiects abhorring the ruine of Townes the desolation of Countries and the spoyle of Strangers would gladly prefere the entertaynment of a peace sollemnly sworne before the continuance of warre and by this meanes hee should preuent all tuâ—bulent persons and bridle the Protestants whome he ment to consume otherwise then by open warre whereby neither his predecessor nor he himselfe had gotten any honorable triumphes The day appointed for the Estates comes the King himselfe begins it Hee â—aments the calamities of his realme The beginning of the Parliament whereof the tender age in the â—hich â—is brotheâ— and himselfe were in the beginning of these ciuill warres may well iust fiâ— them that they were not the authors and motiues Hee protests to haue no desseine nor desire but for the safetie and quiet of his people whose miseries hee would redeeme â—ith the price of his life Hee coniures the assembly to assist him in his hoâ—y res lution To deuise some meanes to redeeme the lands of the Crowne engaged for aboue a hundred millions of gold to vnite themselues firmely togither to roote out all â—eeâ—s of partialiâ—ies to reforme abuses establish Iustice and to restore the Realme to the ancient dignitie Birague the Chancellor adds the rest but the two maine poâ—â—ts of 〈◊〉 speech were to â—ustâ—fie the Queene mothers gouernment and to demand moâ—ey â—eter d' Espinac Arch-bishop of Lion and the Baron of Senecey are speakers the 〈…〉 the Clergie the other for the Nobilâ—tie and both conclude a publike exercise of one onely religion in
of the aduantage which he had ouer the said heretikes That for a present reformation of affaires and to preuent the feare the Catholikes had to fall vnder the commaund of heretikes he would call a Parlement of the three Estates of France and resolues presently to reuoke many impositions which oppresse the people As for the priuate complaints against the Duke of Espernon and his brother I will saith he alwaies make it knowne in all occasions that I am a iust Prince and will preferre the common profit of my Realme before any other consideration The duke of Espernons iustification But the two brethren Espernon and la Valette say To what ende should they make an enterprise at Paris to take the Duke of Espernon who was then in Normandie and why made they â—arricadoes euen to the gates of the Louure armed the people and seized vpon all the chiefe places of the Citty to chase la Vallete from Valence and other parts of Daulphiné where he remained And if the confusions of former ages haue kept other Kings from acknowledging our fathers seruices and he hath rewarded his merits in his children what bee those iealous and malicious heads that enuy our fauours with his maiestie What censure what rigour what lawe may keepe a King of France from aduancing to authority some fauourites who reuiue in them the vertues of their ancestors Moreouer the League makes mention in what places our fauour hath beene imploied the treaties of the Duke of Espernon in Guienne his being acquainted with Cleruauts negotiation for the Huguenots of Metz the enterprises hee hath made vppon Cambray his late fauour to the Reistres in their returne his secret conference with Chastillon the consultations of that tumult which hath lately happened in Paris the taking of Vallence Tallard Guilestre and other places from the Catholikes of Daulphiné and his practises to stay the yeelding of Aussone But we say would to God we had in like sort taken Chaalon Dijon Montrueil Cambray and all that are subiect vnto his Maiesty within the heart of France They tearme vs fauourers of Heretikes And yet we haue in sixe moneths taken from them by the sword all their conquests in Prouence the King since the death of Henry the bastard and Grandâ—Prior of France had giuen this gouernement to the Duke of Espernon which former Gouernours could not do in twenty years The taking of Sorgues in Daulphiné by vs two during the frozen time of winter and the ouerthrow of the Hugâ—enots Suisses by la Valette but especially the last disvnion of the Suisses from the Reistres which made the way for the Duke of Guise to defeat them at Auneau and the discontent wherein the Duke of Espernon left the King of Nauarre at his departure out off Guienne are not these sufficient testimonies that their accusations are as friuolous and malicious as the sale of offices wherewith foâ—ke chaâ—ge them for iustification whereof the Duke of Espernon offers to present his head at his Maiesties feete if it be proued that he had euer any such thought in his soule Contrariwise who hath during the reignes of Henry the second and Francis the second managed the treasure without controll but the house of Guise whereof the latter â—ollow the steppes of their Predecessors Who haue forced the King to exact vpon his subiects but the warre which they haue kindled and drawne his Maiesty into what house did euer from so small a beginning grow to so fearefull a greatnesse To conclude no man shal blame vs for being Pensionars to the King of Spaine to haue hindred our King from the recouery of the Seigneuries of the Lowe Countries nor to haue stollen away the reuenues of his generall receipts Wee will no wayes hinder this goodly reformation we are not in Court nor in the Kings presence Let vs see the first fruits of this so commendable a gouernement Haue you left Paris haue you yelded it to the King your Lord and naturall Prince Nothing lesse you haue reuolted Câ—rbeil Melun and Pontoise you haue with false perswasions withdrawne the best Citties of the realme But we will in protesting to bee ready to deliuer iâ—to his maiesties hands with our liues and honor all the offices â—harges gouernements and places which it hath pleased him to commit vnto vs inuite our accusers to doe the like And if they will pretend in quality of persons let them vnderstand that whatsoeuer eyther party holds it appertaines vnto the King neyther can they keepe it but at his pleasure Thus the two brethren iustified themselues whilest the Court of Parlement makes knowne vnto the King by their Deputies their griefe for this insolencie which had forced him to abandon Paris They appeale vnto his clemencie and bounty Deputies of the Parliament with the King They present for an humble excuse of his officers the weaknesse and feare which had forced them yeeld to so violent a reuolt beseching him to returne into his Citty and to giue rest and content to his Maiestie order to his affaires grace to their purple robes and authority to their offices and by his presence to disperse the mutinies which diuisions had bred For answer The Kings answer I doubt not said the King but you would willingly haue reformed this disorder if it had beene in your power neither of your persisting in the same affection and fidelity which you haue testified to my forefathers I am not the first that hath beene toucht with such afflictions neither will I leaue to be a good father to such as shall be good children I will alwayes intreat the Parisiens with the quality of a father as children that haue strayed from their duty not as seruants that haue conspired against their maister Continue in your offices and receiue from the Queene my mother the commandements and intentions of my will This answer was soft and colde but after dinner he addes a sharper part and calling back the Deputies I know saith he wherefore garrisons are set either to ruine a Towne or for distrust of the inhabitants But what cause had the Parisiens to presume that I would destroy a Towne wherevnto I haue brought so many commodities by my presence as ten or twelue townes would thinke themselues greatly benefited thereby and what distrust could I haue of a people whom I loued of a people in whom I trusted Haue they lost a loafe or any thing whatsoeuer by meanes of these pretended garrisons I sought the preseruation of my good Cittie of Paris and the safety of my subiects meaning by a strict search to put out a great number of strangers whom I knew to be secretly crept in They haue offended me yet am I not irreconciliable neither haue I any humour to ruine them But I will haue them confesse their faults and know that I am their King and maister If not I will make the markes of their offence remaine for euer I will reuoke my Court of Parliament my
Diuine Fortune We must not vse the inhumanitie of Gneus Pâ—so although he were an vpright man and free from many vices but hauing not the true rule of reason hee tooke rigour for a resolution of seueritie who being aduertised that two Souldiars going forth togither the one was returned without his companion he condemned him as a murtherer of him that was absent and as the condemned man was in the hands of the Executioner at the place of Iustice his companion whome they held to be dead returned This rigorous Iudge hearing that the officer had protâ—actâ—d the execution he caused him to be apprehended to be brought vnto the scaffold with him the Companion taking for a pretext that he was the cause of this mischeefe by his absence and to him he added the officer iudging him worthy of punishment for that he had brought backe the first condemned whome hee should haue presently executed according to the sentence It is not fit in all causes to stand so stifly vppon Iudgments as Alexander the Great did who had rather pay a fine for Athenodorus then remit it for somtimes a temper of humanitie is commendable as in this case Imitating the example of Pâ—ince Titus the Son of Vespasian when he deliuered Iosephus out of prison saying vnto the Emperour his Father after that hee had commaunded the prisoner to be vnbound It is reason O Father that with his bonds the dâ—shonor should be taken from Iosephus for he shall bee as if in the beginning he had not beene bound But if wee vnbind him we must cut the chaine for so they vse them that are vniustly bound A speech of a woâ—thie Prince witnessed by the History of Iosephus worthy to be spoken before a great King and well approued of by the Emperor As true lippes please Kings and they loue him that speakes iust things with a pure heart Pro. 16 v. 13.22.11 And therefore to make an end of the Plaintifs miserie with that of Iosephs the Court if it pleaâ—e hauing in some sort regard vnto their request shall set them at Libertie declaring them innocents of the cryme of hospitalitie violated and of the murther wherof they haue beene accused without adâ—udging vnto them notwithstanding any Reparation Charges Domages and interests against the Accuser seeing she hath not nor cannot be iudged a Slanderer So either partie obtayning what they may hope for by reason Pro. 21. v. 1. things iudged shall remayne in their authoritie and God who holds the Kings heart in his hand as little brooks of runing water inclyning to his will shall make him raine happely and his Posteritie after him as all good Frenchmen and true Christians doe wish by a happie Marriage so as our great Henry the fourth siting in the throne of Iustice Ibid. 20 v. 8. or represented by his Councellors mayntaining his Countries shall disperce all danger by his looke and euery one will say with Saloman the wel beloued of God That the seat of the King which iudgeth the poore iustly shall bee firme for euer Ibid 29. v. 14 The sentence of the Court vpon these Pleadings pronounced by the first President on Monday the 17. of Ianuary was confirmable to the conclusion taken by Monsâ—â—ur Aduocate for the Kings Atturney Generall 1600. The King and Duke tooke great pleasure to heare them Both gaue their opinions on them that had best pleaded but aboue all they commended the equity of the Court which dismissed the parties free froÌ„ further sute The King at the Dukes request graunted a pardon to a poore woman an Adulteresse that was condemned to die whose Adulterer had beene executed for that he had abused her being a house-hold seruant so had she beene in like sort but that she was found with Child This Pardon was granted by the King vnto the Duke notwithstanding any opposition made by the Court the Kings Councel shewing the consequence thereof His Maiesty would haue it passe of his absolute authority Yet vpon condâ—tion that shee should liue in perpetuall priâ—on and norrished at her Hus bands charge All these good receptions all these exerciâ—es al these pastimes did not make the Duke forget the care of his affaires he had sayd vnto Monsieur de Villeroy That he was not come to yeeld vp the Marquisate The King on the other side being at Fontainbleau sayd vnto him That he shold be alwaies his friend but he would haue his Marquisate The Duke was aduertised that the King had sayd priuatly in his Cabinet That the Duke was a braue and a gallant Prince yet he kept his Marquisate These words made him presume that â—he râ—port which the Cheualier Breton and Roncas had made vnto him that the King was desirous to see him and that they should agree was not true for whensoeuer the Dâ—ke spake â—o the King in priuate touching that businesse he desired him to referre it to their Councâ—â—ls And although this was a very important businesse yet the King had one which did presse him neerer which was his Marriage Being aduertised as wee haue formerly shewed by Sillery his Ambassador at Rome Monsier d' Alincourt come to Genua thâ—t the Pope had granted his desire touching the nullity of his marriage â—e sâ—nt Aâ—incourt Gouernor of Pontoise to thanke him and to aske his aduice vpon the alliance hee desiâ—ed to contract with the house of Florence He came to Lions to passe to Auignion by the riuer of Rhosne and so to Antibo whether the State of Genoa sent him a Galley well appointed to conduct him to their Citty where hee was receiued with all the honors fit for the greatnesse of the Prince that sent him and worthy of the credit reputation which the name of Villeroy carries among the friends of this Crowne They did cast lots there where he should be lodged which fell to the Pallace of Grimaldy where hee was defraied two daies at the charges of the State The Ambassador of Spaine went to visit him He came to Rome on Ashewedensday the 6. of Fâ—buary He went to the Senate was seated in the Dukes place and â—aw the order they held in their Councells and Deliberations where they graunted him liberty for two Galley-slaues Frenchmen that were in the Gallies of the Seigneury the one was a Parisian and the other a Lionois which they esteemed a fit fauour to gratefie a Prince He went in post to Rome the Ambassador met him with a great number of French Gentlemen hee lodged him in his house and the second day of his arriuall he had audience of the Pope He continued in Rome â—ntill Easter during his aboad he did see the Vice-roy of Naples make his entry into Rome comming to do homage vnto the Pope for the Realme of Naples presenting vnto him a white Steede for an acknowledgemeÌ„t of the see â—000 ounces of gold comes to fourescore thousand Crownes for the inuestiture of Naples for that it is
hope the which finding no solide bodie runne after the shaddowes of his imagination and flattered him so pleasingly as he thought not to die saying that they could not supplie his place if hee were dead Noting among all them that thought themselues most capable great Wants and Imperfections Yet in all these extremities he had nothing that lulled him so much asleepe as his owne prayses Sometimes hee would say Is it possible that the King should bee so vaine as to make him to apprehend death and to thinke to terrifie him therewith But hee conceiued of things according to his imagination the which was not answerable to the truth On Munday the Chauncellor returned to the Pallace to determine on his sentence The Iudgement of the processe They continued vntill two of clocke in the afternoone in giuing of their opinions They were drawne from one principle of truth as manie Lines are from one Center did concurre all in one resolution conformable to the conclusions of the Kings Atturnie generall That it was iust necessarie and profitable to quench these burning flames of Ambition in the bloud of the Duke of Biron if they would not see all the realme in combustion A whole day and a good part of the night would haue beene spent if euery one had giuen a reason of his opinion Those of the great Chamber onely and the Presidents of the Inquests spake what they would The Iudges opinions This subiect is like vnto a great thicke forest they know not what Tree to choose It is so full and so rich as aboundaÌ„ce of reasons troubles the choise And these were the cheefe There was a concurrence of a great Cryme a great Merit All France was a witnes of the one and of the other the truth was apparent Principall reasons of their opinions The proofes which are required to discouer a â—ecret cryme are here made perfect Proofe by mouth the prisoners answere Proofe by writings letters and instructions Proofe by the Deposition of witnesses against whom he hath obiected no exception which might impugne that which they sayd maintained But these 3. sorts of proofes we see that monstrous attempt against the Kings person verified that furious CoÌ„spiracie to trouble his Estate to make it a prey to his enemies both the one and the other doth make the prisoner guiltie of high Treason in the first and second degree Hee confesseth that hee would haue done ill that his intent was written and imparted to others and yet he neuer did ill That it neuer past his thought That thoughts are not to bee punished as he sayd That the desire to sleaâ—e makes not a theefe In treason the intent is unishable It is true but the guilt of treason is so detestable as the intent how farre so euer from the execution is punished and reputed for the effect Repentance which followes after and changeth the desseine may well serue for the offence but it helpes nothing for the punishment A Gentleman hauing attempted to kâ—ll King Francis the first repented and reuealed it in his confession yet being accused by his Confessor he lost his head As the respect of the image of God grauen in the Maiesty of Kings frees them from all Lawes made by men so the dignitiâ— of their persons doth warrant them from al enterprises conspiracies of humaine mâ—lice the which dares not once thinke to put them in practise against their Images much lesâ—e against their Persons The proofe of an intent although it were not resolued nor determined goes not vnpunished which passeth often times vnto things without life To Howses Images Ashes yea and to the memorie it selfe This cryme troubleth the dead thirtie or fortie yeares after their funerals for that it is not extinct in dying and the which is contrary to common sence and naturall humanitie they punish the Child the Wife and the Familie for the Fathers offence being a contagious Leprosie and hereditarie to all his race The Father cannot excuse his Sonne And the Senator Fulutus was commended to haue put his Sonne to death for that he had beene one of Catelins conâ—â—iracie Let him then plead no more that he hath done no euil it sufficeth that hey ould haue done it Lawes are not made for bad actions onely but for Councells also and resolutions His intent began the cryme occasion had ended it if hee had not beene preuented If he had done no other euill but to giue eare to the promises and perswasions of the enemies he were guiltie For in matters of State the subiect cannot dispose of any point of his will without the permission of his Prince We must not stay tiâ—â—enimous beasts haue bitten and then kill them nor Traitors intents executed â—eâ—ore wee discouer the Treason It is then to late to iudge of the cryme but to complaine of indiscretion then they seeke no more releefe from Law but they flie to Armes It is not then time to accuse and to punish but to weepe and to flie The Cittie of Rome laboured in vaine to resist Caesar after that he had subuerted the Lawes vsurped the Dictatorship and terrified all Italie with the brute of his forces If they shouâ—d haue stayd vntill the prisoner had executed his desseins there had beene no talking of Iustice nor of State You must not tarrie tâ—ll the house shake and be readie to fall you must vnderproppe it and repaire it in time It is a miserie sayd the Emperour Domitian when they will not beleeue a Conspiracie against Princes vntill they bee slaine by the Conspirators Now that God by a singular worke of his prouidence hath discouered this Conspiracie it toucheth the health of the State the honor of the Court to punish these Conspirators Reason requires that the example may make knowne how execrable this offence is for the which it is lawfull to torment the dead and terrifie them that be liuing to make the Children partakers of their Fathers punishment and to assure them rather of miserie then of life that the world might haue more horror of his wickednes then feare of his punishment The Kings Clemencie hath had his turne now Iustice must take hers making her authoritie to be feared and admired 〈◊〉 vnto the Sea which is more admired wheÌ„ the waues are swolne riâ—en vp to the clouds then when it is calme and still But they consider the qualitie merit of the prisoner First Iustice hath her eyes blinded and shut from al distinctions but that it houlds the offence greater in a great person then in a meane and by this proposition the punishment must be greater The faults of meane men are hidden in the multitude their fortune and reputâ—tion is one thing Those which raysed to great places doe good or harme by the example of their good or bad actions are they which are knowne and discouered to all men In matters of rebellion and crymes of State they regard not
these butchers attending their misery Lewis King of France punisheth the rebells shut themselues into the great Tower of S. Donas Lewis doth first bury the body of this good Earle honourably the which had lien without sepulchre and then doth punish the murtherers and their complices rigourously But this is not all He must prouide for the Earledome remayning without a Lord by the death of Count Charles deceassed without children Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders There wanted no pretendants William of Ypre sonne to Philip of Flanders the second sonne of Robert the Frison King Henry of England who desired greatly to ioyne this goodly Country with his Normandy Stephen of Blois Earle of Montreuill and Bologne Baldwin Earle of Hainault and William the sonne of Robert called Court-house brother to the King of England but his sworne enemy hauing vsed his father ill and kept him prisoner Lewis was soueraigne Iudge of this controuersy Flanders depending on the crowne of France He assigned all the pretendants of the Citty of Arras signifiyng that his intent was to do him iustice but in effect he inclined to fauour adiudging the Earledome of Flanders to the last that is to William of Normandy to binde him with more strict bounds against his â—â—nsman On the other side the Flemings assemble at Ypre and chose William of Loâ— Lord of Ypre The King aduanceth with his forces to Ypre to preuent this popular election where he enters the stonger and forceth William to renownce it VVilliam of Normandy made Earle of Flanders From thence he goes to all other good Citties where by his authority he causeth William of Normandy to be receiued for lawfull Earle and puts him in solemne possession by a publike act But his fauour had ill bestowed this goodly inheritance of an vnworthy man whose fury depriued him presently Lewis hauing installed him He oppresseth his newe subiects returnes into France William insteed of winning his newe subiects by equity and mildnesse begins to oppresse them after a rigorous and imperious manner by infringing of their preuileges ostentations of his authority taxes subsidies newe impositions and by all other meanes which Princes that seeke to loose their Estates hold to torment their subiects He had so far exceeded as the Citties without any wauering resolue to prouide a better Earle and to this intent they seeke a head The memorie of their good Earle makes them to cast their eyes vpon him that hath most right to this inheritance as the neerest kinsman which is Thierri son to the Duke of Alsatia and of Gertrude daughter to Robert the Frison The Flemings intreat him to come into their country The Flemings chooâ—e them a new Earle promising him all assistance to conquer the State He comes and is receiued with an extraordinary ioy by all the people All the Citties assemble to acknowledge him by order and dismisse William of Normandy who seeing a flat repulse by this people thus freed repayres to Lewis for succour in this extremity Lewis fayles him not his army marcheth with great speed hee himselfe comes in person and is receiued into Arras from thence he adiornes Thierry to come and answer before him as his soueraigne by what warrant hee carries himselfe for Earle this sommons is made vnto him at Ypre whether he had retired himselfe Hauing condemned him by default Thierrithe new Earle of Flanders defeated he approcheth his army to Ypre to vexe the inhibâ—bitants Thierri sallies forth with a notable troupe of men they ioyne the fight is fierce but the check falles vpon Thierries forces who with much a doe saues himselfe in Alost William pursues him and approcheth the towne sommoning the Inhabitants to obey and to deliuer vp Thierri as an Vsurper VVilliam of Normandy stâ—â—â—e in Flanders But he was not aduised that one with a Crossebow shot an arrow at him and pierced him through the arme Behold hee is wounded and within two dayes he dies Thierri and the Flemings send presently to Lewis to beseech him to receiue them into fauour whereby he may be assured of theyr faithfull seruice Lewis consents and confirmes him and hauing caused him to take the oath of fidelity and receiued his homage after the manner of his Ancestors 1121. he returnes into France But Flanders continued not long in quiet as we shall see hereafter To these stirres of Flanders were added some garboyles in Bourbonois and Auuergne Archibauld Earle of Bourbon was deceassed leauing one sonne of the same name Troubles in Bourbonois but a young man and a brother called Haman who abusing the time in the weake minoritie of his Nephew would make himselfe Maister of Bourbonois pretending the Earledome to appertaine vnto him by the death of his elder brother to whom hee must succeed in order as the yongest of the house The mother and friends of Archibauld opposed against Hamon the right of representation inuiolable in France in great houses which is that the sonne of the eldest brother represeâ—ts the Father and without doubt succeeds in all his rights to enioy them as if he himselfe liued for that the Father reuiues in the Sonne Hamon building his chiefe interest vpon force would not admit any reason that made for his Nephew so as the matter was brought before the King who by the aduise of his Councell declares Archibauld the lawfull heire and puts Haman from his pretensions commanding him to leaue the possession of Bourbonois free to his Nephew 1123. This Archibauld did afterwards marrie his daughter Beatrix to Robert Earle of Clermont in Beauuoisis sonne to the King S. Lewis The stâ—â—ke of the house of Bourbon and of this marriage by the royall stemme is discended the most famous race of Bourbon the which at this day doth happily enioy the Crowne and realme of France But Haman who held some places in Burbonois would not leaue the possession refusing to obey the Kings commandement relying vpon the fauour of Eustache Earle of Auuergne who sought to free himselfe There was a priuate subiect of complaint against him hauing displaced the Bishop of Clermont against the Kings will These occasions drew the King into Bourbonois where hauing besieged Haman he ended this controuersie in fauour of Archibauld The affaires of Auuergne were more difficult by reason of William Duke of Guienne who imbraced the cause for the Earle of Auuergne pretending that he was his vassall This quarrell seemed to take a long course but it was pacified by this meanes Lewis had six sonnes Philip Lewis Henry another Philip Peter Robert and one Daughter Constance He had crowned his eldest sonne Philip who dyed by a strange accident going to take the aire on horseback Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident a Hog passed vnder the bellie of his horse the which being feared did shake this young King so violently as he threw him downe and so brused him as within few dayes after hee
Queene the 17. of October The Princes gouerned by their innocencie arriue the eeue of All Saints and passe from the Portereau to the Kings lodging vpon the Estappe The Princes arâ—â—ue betwixt two rankes of armed men The Cardinall of Bourbon and the Prince of Roche-sur-yon receiue them Not a Courtier nor a Bourgeios meetes them and for their first affront when as they sought to enter on horse-back according to the vsuall custome they were answered with a Brauado The great gates do not open The King attended them at the first hauing done their duties to his Maiestie and no man aduanced to bid them welcome I am said he to the Prince of Condé aduertised from diuers places that you haue made many enterprises against me and the estate of my realme and therefore I haue sent for you to know the truth â—rom your owne mouth Lewis iustifies himselfe so plainly and doth charge his enemies so directly as the King himselfe could not impute these accusations bâ—t to the wilfulnesse of his Vncles agâ—inst his owne bloud But he was possessed by them and suffered himselfe to be easiâ—â—e abused So hee commands Chauigny The Prince of Conde impriâ—oned Captaine of his gards sent by them of Guise to seize vpon the Prince Chauigny shuts him vp in a house hard by beâ—ore the which they make a fort of Brick fâ—â—nked with Canoniers and furnished with field peeces to defend the approches The Lady of Roye his mother in law was likewise carried from Anici a house of hers in Picardie prisoner to S. Germaine in Laye by Renouarâ— and Carrouges Ierosâ—â—e Groslot Bayliffe of Orleans vnder colour that his father had beene Chancellor to the deceased King of Nauarre and hee an affectionate seruant to the Princes accused also to be the Protector of the Lutherans in Orleans was likewise imprisoned two dayes after the Princes arriuall La Haye Councellor in the Court of Parliament at Paris who did solicite the Princes affaires was also in trouble Amaury Bouchart maister of Requests vnto the King and Chancellor to the Nauarrois was sent prisoner to Melun which others brought from Lions to haue proofes against the Prince whose triall they did hasten with all speed But they meant no harme to Bouchart he had already retired himselfe and blabbed by his Letters to the Cardinall of Lorraine to the preiudice of his maister Neither the informations taken at Lions by the Marshall S. André noâ— the prisoners at Melun were sufficient to make the Prince a spectacle vpon a scaffold They send for the president of Thou Commissioners to aâ—aigne the Prince Bartholmewe Faye and Iames Viole Councellors of the Parliament at Paris to examine the Prince vpon the point of high Treason and if this peece of batterie were not of force then to touch him vpon the point of religion and to condemne him for heresie The Prince propounds diuers causes of recusation and appeales from them to the King The priuie Councell reiects his appeale and decrees That vpon paine of high treason the Prince should answer before these Commissioners He answers purgeth himselfe cleerly of all crime and aduowes his religion freelie The Prince condemned By this confession iudgement was giuen against him he condemned to dye a day appointed the x. of December to countenance the beginning of the Parliament They onely note the Earle of Saâ—cerre the Chancellor and the Councellor Morâ—ier which did not pollute their soules with the approbation of this vniust sentence This sentence should in the end cause the ruine of all that were accused or suspected as well for matter of State as religion And for the execution of this desseine the forces of the realme diuided into foure marched already into diuers Prouinces vnder the command of the Duke of Aumale and the Marshals of S. André of Brissac and of Termes And with the same furie the King of Nauarre should bee confined into the Castle oâ— Loches the Constable and his children to the great Tower at Bourges the Admirall and some principalls into one at Orleans the which was afterwards called the Admirale neere to that of S. Aignan But behold there are two more violent and more brutish councellors Brissac and S. André they hold opinion that to auoide trouble in giuing the King of Nauarre any gardes they should put him to death they imploy both poison and sword but neither succeeds God had otherwise decreed reseruing these princes for a more honourable death But howsoeuer let vs confesse that the Lord hath strange meanes to punish the ambition of great men we shall scarce see any one of those which acte these furious parts vpon the theator of this Historie end his dayes by an ordinarie and naturall death The x. day of December approched and the Deputies for the Estates ariue by degrees They presently forbid them in the Kings name vpon paine of death not to moue any thing concerning religion his Maiestie hauing referred this controuersie to the Councell which the Pope being then Pius the 4. successor to Theatin lately deceased appointed to begin at Trent at Easter following Those of Languedeâ— amongst the rest came furnished with ample instructions both for the State and religion but they found meanes to stop their mouthes seizing both on their persons and instructions The ix day of the moneth they giue commandement to the King of Nauarre to be ready to go to horse-back their meaning was to carry him to Loches whilest they should present the prince his Brother vpon a mournefull Scaffold to the people of Orleans But O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declared the worke which thou hast done in their time A miraculous deliuerie and in the old time before them Behold the King is taken during Euen-song with a great fainting continued with a paine in his head at the left eare accompanied with a Feuer The Guisâ—ens notwithstanding send forth many Commissions to leuie men and command the Marshaâ—l of Tâ—rmes to ioyne with the Spaniard who tooke the way of Bayonne to spoile the Country of Berne and then to assaile all those whome he should finde to haue fauored the King of Nauarre and the enterprise of Amboise It may be they would haue sold their liues deerely Seauen or eight hundred gentlemen go speedily to horse followed with fiue or six thousand foote resolute when the Marshall should passe Limoges to â—emme him in betwixt two riuers He hath some intelligence thereof and râ—tires to Poitiers This desseine being made frustrate the Kings sicknesse encreasing those of Guise meane to proceed with violence and to murther the King of Nauarre God raysed vp the Cardinall of Tournon who thinking to do a greater act preuents it Hee aduiseth to attend the Constables comming with his Children and Nephewes to the end sayd he that killing one we saue not the rest who afterwards may do more harme then the Princes The dispaire of the Kings helth made them of
Guise to set a good countenance on a bad cause And the Queene mother seeking to hold her authority by supporting them of Guise calles the King of Nauarre into her closet As he was entring a Ladie of the Court sayd to him in his eare My Lord denie the Queene Mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead So he signed what shee desired A grant of the right which hee might pretend to the gouernment of the King and Regencie of the Realme and his reconciliation with them of Guise Vpon this graunt she promiseth to make him the Kings Lieutenant in France both for peace and warre and nothing should passe but by his aduice and of the other Princes who should bee respected according to the degree they held in France In the meane time death presseth the King The death of Fancis the 2. and those of the house of Guise shut vp in their lodging and seized vpon three or foure scoore thousand frankes which remained yet of the treasor came not forth in two dayes vntill they were assured of the King of Nauarre who hauing imbraced one an other all quarrells seemed to be layd vnder foote In the end this Catarre with a feuer brought the King to his graue the fourteenth of December hauing giuen no time by reason of his yong age and the shortenesse of his â—aigne to discouer any thing in him but onely some shewes of courtesie continency and modestie vertues which his Vncles had easily corrupted by the tast of crueltie which they began to make an impression of in his soule as they did in his successors little lamented for his person but of such as possessing him in his â—oâ—age grounded the greatnesse of their vsurped estates vpoÌ„ his life to ouerthrowe the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme whatsoeuer some wretched writers do babble whose soules haue beene as vendible as the Guisiens armes were then new in our France This death gaue life to the Prince of Condé opened the prisons for such as had beene committed for his cause reuiued an infinit number whome the Princes condemnation had drawne into danger countermanded the troupes of Spaine which aduanced towards Bearn disapointed Montluâ— of the Earldome of Armagnaâ— the which he had deuoured in hope by the promises of the house of Guise and brought many of their most secret seruants to the King of Nauarres deuotion CHARLES the 9. the 61. King of France CHARLES THE .9 KING OF FRANCE 1560. NOW we fall from a feuer into a frensie Wee shall see vndâ—â— aâ—â—ther pupill King of eleuen yeares of age raigning in the wrathâ—â— God the heauens to powre vpon this Realme all the curses 〈◊〉 promised against a nation whose iniquities hee will punish 〈…〉 dâ—â—pleasure A raigne cursed in the Cittie and cursed in the 〈◊〉 cursed in the beginning and cursed in the ending Mortality 〈◊〉 and â—amine haue followed it euen vnto the end The heauens aboue are of brasse and the eaâ—th vnder iâ— of iron the carcases are a prey to the birds of the aire to the bâ—â—sts of the field and no man trouble them They suffer no thing but wrongs and robberies and no man releâ—â—es them Men marry wiues but others sleepe with them They 〈◊〉 and plant but the nations whom they haue not knowne deuowre the fruit To conclude there is nothing but cuâ—sing terror and dissipation The 23. of December the Parliament began and that which the Queene mother most desiâ—â—d the coâ—firmation of heâ— Regencie allowed by the Chancellor and afterwards by those that were the speakers Iohn Quintin of Autun a doctor of the Cannon Lawe at Paris A Parliament â—â—ld â—t Orleans for the Clergie the Lord of Rochefort Damoisel of Commerâ—y for the Nobility Angelo then Aduocate of the Parliament at Bourdeaux and afterwards Councellor there for the people The Chancellor propounded manie articles touching the meanes to pacifie the troubles and the remedies for that which concerned the estate and religion to discharge the Kings debts Quintin would haue the ministers of the Church inforced to discharge their duties not altering any thing in the reformation thereof the which cannot erre not to suffer any other then the Chatholike Apâ—stolicke and Romish religion Against such as demanded Temples and against the deliuerer of their petition meaning the Admirall against whom said he they should proceed according to the Canon and Ciuill constitutions for the prohibiting of such bookes as were not allowed by the Doctors of the Sâ—rbonne and for the rooting ouâ— of Lutherans and Caluinists â—ochfort did speake against the iurisdictions vsurped by the Clergie against the disorders growne among the Nobles against the wrong done to the true Nobilitie against the confusions growne by confiscations for matter of religion against seditions of the meanes to order the Clergie to containe them in their vocation for the releefe of the people especially in matters of Iustice the which should be reduced to a certaine number of Officers Ange insisted much vpon the ignorance couetousnesse and dissolution of the Clergie whence proceeded the greatest part of these present scandales The next day vpon the Admirals complaint to the Queene Mother Quintin excused himselfe vpon the instructions which were giuen him in writing and in his second speech hee did moderate his pleâ— to the Admirals content The Estates continued their conferences and made the beginning of this yeare famous by some prouision for matters of religion whereby it was forbidden vpon paine of death noâ— to reproach religion one to another and commandement giuen to all Iudges and offiâ—ers to set at libertie all such as had beene imprisoned for the said religion Many other good necessary lawes were published but with more confusion then profit And in truth a number of lawes ill obserued peruert Iustice and giues the people occasion not to regard them But when they come seriously to handle the discharge of the Kings debts and that the Nauarrois submits himselfe to restitution If it be found that he hath receiued any extraordinary guifts those of Guise and others which could not make the like offer found meanes to frustrate this proposition by the referring of the Estates to Ponâ—oise hoping hereafter to find some deuise to preuent their yelding vp of any accoumpt Put of to Ponâ—â—oise And in truth all these assemblies vanished away like smoake without any other resolution then to lay the paiment of the Kings debts vpon the Clergie The King of Nauarre the other Princeâ— of the bloud the Constable seeing themselues held to no end in Court and that for matters of State they had but the leauings of them of Guise it made them trusse vp their baggage to retire with an intent to crosse the regencie of the Qâ—eene Mother and the Guisiâ—ns authoritie To frustrate this desseine she makes a new accord with the Nauarrois doth associate him in the gouernement of the realme and concludes with him that leauing the title of Regent he should