vpon Earth which is the Realme of FRANCE whereof many Princes and Kings our Predecessors haue beene so Great Vertuous and Valiant as they haue purchased the name of The Most Christian King c The Kings of France cary the Title of Most Christian since Clovis Charles the Bald is called Most Christian in his Coronation Pope Innocent Honorius the 3 d. in their Bulles to King Philip Augustus and to Lewis the eighth called them Most Christian. The Apostolike Legate and three Bishops named in their Letters write that the Realme of France is Most Christian. Du. Tillet as well for reducing many great Countries and diuers Nations inhabited by infidels to the good Catholicke Faith rooting Heresies and Vices out of our said Realme and maintaining the Holy Apostolicke sea and the holy Church of GOD in their Rights Liberties and Freedomes as for doing many other goodly deedes worthy of eternall memory so as some are held for Saints liuing in the glorious company of GOD in his Paradise which our Realme and other our Countreyes and Signiories we haue thankes bee to GOD so well entertained defended and gouerned as wee haue augmented and enlarged it of all sides by our great care and diligence and by the aid also of our good faithfull and Loyall Officers Seruants and Subiects notwithstanding that soone after our comming to the Crowne the Princes and Noble-men of our Bloud and Linage and other great Noble-men d The Princes and Noble-men of the League were Charles of France the Kings Brother Iohn of Anjou Duke of Lorraine and Calabria Iohn Duke of Alencon Charles of Bourgondy Earle of Charolois Iohn Duke of Bourbon Francis Duke of Brittanie Iames of Armaignac Earle of Marche and of Castres Duke of Nemours Iohn Earle of Armaignac his vncle Iohn Earle of Dunois and of Longueville Bastard of Orleans Lewis of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol. Charles Lord of Albert father to great Alain and Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin of our said Realme or the greatest part of them had conspired plotted and attempted against vs and the Common-weale of our said Realme many great practises treasons and conspiracies so as by meanes thereof there hath followed so great warres and diuisions as it hath caused a wonderfull effusion of humane bloud ruine of Countries and the desolation of multitudes of people the which hath continued since our said comming vnto this present day and is not yet fully quenched but may after the end of our dayes reviue and continue long if some good order and course be not taken Wherefore hauing regard hereunto and to the age wherein wee are and to the certaine infirmity wherein wee are fallen for the which wee haue beene in great deuotion to visite the glorious body of Saint Claude so as with the helpe of our Creator wee are much amended and haue recouered health Wee therefore resolued concluded and determined after the returne of our said voyage to see our most deere and well-beloued sonne Charles Dauphin of Vienna and to instruct him in many notable things e Happy are those Princes which learn the formes of Gouerning well by the examples and instructions of their fathers Leon receiued them from the Emperour Basillius and Philip Augustus from Saint Lewis For if the highest knowledge of a Prince bee to know his Estate the knowledge cannot bee more faithfull nor certaine then from those which haue the experience The Booke of the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenete for the Instruction of his sonne associated to the Empire the which is now remaining in the Kings Library is onely vpon this subiect and as Monsteur Casaubon who hath it in keeping writes in an eloquent Epistle vpon Polybius Sciebat vetus regnandi Princeps ad negotia gerenda in quibus Repub. salus continetur illud adprimè defiderari vtingenia hominum probè nota sint quibus cum agitur siue illi sint subditi siue amici siue socij siue hostes The Prince who was old in Gouernement knewe well that in matters which concerned the safety of the Common-weale it was chiefly to bee desired that the Dispositions of men with whom they are to deale bee well knowne bee they Subiects Friends Allies or Enemies for the direction of his life in good manners gouernement entertainement and conduct of the Crowne of France if it please God hee come vnto it after vs. For the accomplishing whereof after our returne from our said voyage into our Towne of Ambois wee went into the Castle of the said place where our said sonne the Dauphin was whom we haue alwayes caused to bee kept and bred vp there where in the presence of a certaine number of Nobleblemen and Ladies of our Bloud and Linage and other great Personages men of our Councell Captaines and Officers both to vs and said sonne wee haue called our said sonne before vs and haue caused those words and Remonstrances which followed to be deliuered vnto him First after a recitall made by vs of the aforesaid things or of the greatest part of them to our said sonne wee haue let him vnderstand how much wee desire that after vs he might with the aid of God come vnto the Cromne of France his true Inheritance and that he might so gouerne and maintaine it as it might bee to his honour and praise and to the profite and vtility of the Subiects of his Realme Dauphiné and other Countries and Signiories and of the Common-weale f This Instruction regards onely the setling of the Princes affaires and doth not extend vnto the duties of Conscience nor to those vertues which edifie Kings Piety and Iustice. But to what end so many Instructions To make a Princes conduct happy wee must wipe these wordes out of his minde If it please it is lawfull If it may bee it shall bee A good Prince should not will any thing but what hee ought Caesar◠cum omnia licent propter hoc minus licet vt foelicitatis est posse quantum velis sic magnitudinis velle quantum possis vel potius quantum debeas For that all things are lawfull to Caesar therefore they are the lesse lawfull As it is a happinesse to doe what thou wilt so it is a greatnesse not to will any thing but what thou mayest or rather what thou oughtest Plin. Paneg. Traja Item That if it pleased God to work his will on vs and that our son should come vnto the Crowne of France wee haue commanded and enioyned him as a father may doe his sonne that he shall gouerne himselfe and the said Realme Dauphiné and Countries by the Councell and aduice of our kinsmen Lords of our Bloud and Linage and other Noblemen Barons Knights Captaines and wise men of our Councell and especially of those whom he shall know and finde to haue beene good and faithfull to the deceased our most honored Lord and Father whom God absolue to vs and to the Crowne of France that haue been vnto vs good and
next day Hee came where also were the Dukes of Berry and Brittanie and the Earle of Charolois the ports were well garded and the approches fortified and the King was in the like feare in the Castle as the Earle of Charolois had beene in the Bulwarke Euery man thought that the Publike weale Treatie of peace concluded at Bois de Vincennes which had beene so much exalted in this league should be preferred before all other conditions of the Treatie But it is a folly to thinke that what is desired of many can succeed when it depends of the affections of few men r Matters done hardly succeede but according to the intent of the first mouers Priuat interests and designes bande against publike intentions and seldom is it seene what all desire is executed by few which haue diuers designes They talked thereof when as all was done The Earle of Charolois had the Townes of either side the riuer of Somme Amiens St. Quentin Corbie Abbeuille the countie of Ponthieu Dourlans St. Requier Creuecaeur Arleux Monstreuil Croton and Mortaigne to bee redeemed for two hundred thousand crownes after the death of the Earle of Charolois The King to retire these Townes had nine monethes before paied foure hundred thousand crownes Monsieur did homage vnto the King for the Duchie of Normandy s Election of thirty six Dâ—â—uties to consult of the remedies of the common-weale and the ease of the people the King promising to coÌ„firme all that should be done by them The Duke of Brittaine held some places in Normandy which he kept still for he said he had contributed more for the charges of the warre then all the rest The Conuocation of the estates was resolued and in the meane time it was held fit to chuse 36. persons Reformation of the disorders of the realme of all the orders of France to prouide with the Earle of Dunois for the disorder of Iustice and the reformation of the estate The King made no difficulty to grant all they demanded reseruing vnto himselfe the liberty to hinder it His intent was to diuide the forces of the league and then to turne ouer his bookes of the sword and dagger t The Emperor Caligula had two secret bookes the one was called the sword and the other the dagger wherein they were noted that should be put to death with those kind of Armes Suet. cap. 49. where were written in red letters their names which had offended him during his retreat into Flanders and his fathers raigne which had followed his brother and the Princes of the league and especially they that had receiued him so easily into Normandy u King Lewis the eleuenth held Normandie the most important Prouince of his Realme he gaue it to his Brother but to delay him it was to faire a peece to giue for a portion Philip de Commines saith he had seene raised in Normandie fourescore and fifteene thousand pound sterling for he would not for any thing haue consented to giue him that Prouince if he had not beene assured of their constancy that held the chiefe places But the Normans who did alwaies thinke that their Country did well deserue a Duke consented to this change for the desire they had to haue a Prince which should remaine within the Prouince There were but three which desired rather to leaue their houses then to change their maister Iustice had greater power in their soules then wisedome The Seneshall of Normandy the Balyfe of Rouen and one named Picard who was afterwards Generall of Normandy The History owes them this testimony of honor x To doe well among men of honor is easie and ordinary but not to suffer himselfe to be transported with the coruptions of the time nor to follow the violent passions of a multitude but to desire the good to dare vndertake it and to effect it in a bad season in the which vice is honored with the recompence of vertue it is an infallible argument of a spirit wonderfully disposed by nature to all good and commendable thinges the which is the more considerable for that there is some difficulties to retire ones selfe out of a presse that runs headlong and that the imitation and example of ill presents it selfe alwaies with much heat At their departure from Bois de Vincennes Departure of the Earle of Charolois euery one to tooke his course the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine went to Rouen the King did accompany the Earle of Charolois to Villiers the faire They lodged together for a proofe of the confidence they had one of another The King was the weaker hauing but a small troupe but there was order that 200. men at armes should come to accompany him to Paris An act of wisedome as commendable as those of precedent conferences and trusts had beene dangerous for in such occasions there is nothing more safe then not to giue any aduantage to his aduerse party to wrong him y All assurances of friendship faith and promises which may be drawne from an enemy are good and profitable but by reason of the inconstancy of men and time there is none better then so to fit himselfe as he may haue noe meanes to hurt him The Earle of Charolois hearing thereof was troubled and caused his men to arme and stand vpon their gardes z Vppon the suspitioÌ„ which the Earle of Charolois had of this ' troupe Phil. de Com. speaketh thus It is almost impossible that â— great Noblemen can agree together for the reports and iealousies which they haue continually And two great Princes that will entertaine friendship should neuer see one another but send honest and discreet men who shall entertaine them and repaire their errors Morning being come the King bad the Earle farewell and returning with them that came to fetch him he freed him from al subiect to distrust his intentions He entred gloriously into Paris The Kings returne to Paris to haue so happily calmed the storme which threatened him and two daies after his arriuall hee caused them to feast him at supper in the Townehouse The greatest personages were inuited with their wiues hee thanked the Parisiens for their fidelity and constancy in so important an occasion he commended them that had done him good seruice a It is a great content for good men to see how the Prince esteemes their courage and fidelity and among others Robert of Estouteuille to whom he restored the Prouostship of Paris which he had taken away he hauing held it during the raigne of King Charles his father He displaced the first President of Nanterre b When as Lewis II. came vnto the Crowne he made Helias of Tourette first President who dyed soone after and this place was giuen to the President of Nanterre at the suit of Iohn of Bureau a Knight Segneur of Mâ—nglat and gaue that charge to Iohn Dauuet first President of Tholousa he tooke the seales from Moruillier
was not obserued for the Princes were aduertised of all the resolutions that were taken against them yea of the time and of the sally which should be made vpon their Armie in three seuerall places the first and the greatest towards Paris the second towards Pont Charanton and the third by Bois de Vincennes Wherefore all this siege the king was euer in Iealousie t They watch in vaine for the safety defence of a Town besieged if fidelitie sleepes at the gates the gard must bee committed to them whose loialtie is well assured for that one night he found the Bastille gate open towards the field The Chronicle saith it was on Thursday the 29. of September He was conceited it had beene done by Charles of Melun but he made no shew of it Wise Princes should not lightly call in doubt two such deere and precious things as the reputation and loyaltie of their seruants u It is hard to repaire and recompence the iniuries done to faith and reputation Famae et fidei damna maiora sunt quaÌ„ quae estimariqueant Tit. Liu. Phil. de Commines saith notwithstanding that the king had not a better seruant that yeere then this Charles de Melun and the Chronicle attributes to his care the honor to haue saued Paris The best blowes which were giuen at this siege were drawne from his head and from the wise resolution which he tooke not to haue any thought but to diuide the company he had forces sufficient to fight with all the Princes together without paine or perill they had not yet past their Apprentiship in warre Onely the Duke of Calabria knew something hauing learned it vnfortunately in the warre of Naples The Earle of Charolois had in his youth followed his Father in his Armies and Battels but a long peace had made him forget more then hee knew As for the Duke of Berry and Brittanie the amazement wherein they were when as the Canon played vppon their quarter made it knowne that warre was not their Element The Historie hath obserued that after the Armie had past the riuer of Seine the Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria troubled themselues much to haue the souldiers march in order and represents them so well armed as they seemed to haue a great desire to fight But when it describes the equipage of the Duke of Berry and Brittaine it makes a right Prosopopeia seruing onely for the number and pompe They did ride saith Phil. de Commin vpon little nags at their ease carrying for the most part but little light Brigandins yet some said they had nothing but little gilt nayles vpon Sattin that they might not weigh yet I know not the truth He that goes to the warre without his Armes shewes that he hath no desire to come neere blowes FINIS THE CONTENTS OF the fourth BOOKE 1 Entry of Queene Charlot into Paris She is accompanied by Amé duke of Sauoy her Brother and Bonna of Sauoy her sister 2 Rebellion of them of Liege and Dinand Their Insolencie against the Duke of Bourgondy The seuere punishment of their folly 3 Death of Phillip Duke of Bourgondy greatnesse and felicity of his estate his bounty and reputation in Europe his chiefe Actions 4 Entry of Charles Duke of Bourgondy into Gand sedition for the abolishing of customes 5 Wisdome of K. Lewis the eleuenth to descouer the desseines of the Dukes of Brittaine and Bourgondy His Army in Brittany 6 Newe reuolt of them of Liege They consult whether they should put their hostages to death An Ambassage from the King to the Duke of Bourgondy touching that The taking of the Towne of Liege and the desolation thereof 7 The Ganto is acknowledge their errors The Duke makes his entry there armed The King deuides the Dukes of Normandy and Brittaine from all Intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy 8. Enteruiew betwixt the King and the Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne his perplexity in the apparant danger wherein he was he treats with the Duke of Bourgondy and accompanies him to Liege 9 The Liegeois beseeged by the King and the Duke of Bourgondy their furious sallie they are surprised spoyled and slaine 10 The King returnes to Paris his wordes leauing the Duke of Bourgondy continuation of the warre in the Contry of Liege 11 A breefe recitall of the chiefe actions life and death of Alexander Scanderbeg King of Albania THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE FOVRTH BOOKE PARIS was all in Feasts and Ioy for the happie successe of the Kings affaires who had so wisely pacified the windes which threatened his ship with shipwracke but much more for the discharge which he made of certaine souldiers and impositions which the people found insupportable a On Saturday the third of August 1465. the King remitted the fourth peny of the wine to the eight tooke away all impositions except of MarchaÌ„dise of the six farmes in grosse These publike ioyes were doubled by the Queenes entrie into Paris Queenes entry into Paris She went by Bote to our Ladies church past to the Celistins and so to the Tournelles She was accompanied by the Duke Amé her Brother and the Lady Bonna of Sauoy her Sister married to Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan The Historie of these times as curious to represent the order of Feasts that were made as that of Battels b Paul Aemilius obserued a wonderfull order and disposition in feasts saying that there was the like suffâ—ciencie of Iudgement to know how to order a Battell fearefull to the enemies and a feast pâ—easing to friends for the one and the other dâ—pend of good iudgment to know how to order things Plut. as if the knowledge of the one gaue as great proofe of sufficiencie as the other reports the magnificence and addes that in the house of Iohn Dauuet the first President they had made foure bathes they were alwaies acknowledged among the delights for the Queene and for the Ladies Her indisposition and that of the time would not suffer her to bathe One of the bathes was for the Ladies of Bourbon and Sauoy the other for the Daughter of the Lord of Monglat married to the sonne of Nicholas Balue brother to the Bishop of Eureux and Perrete of Chalon a Bourgesse of Paris This woman is particularly named in diuers places of the Historie and here shee hath her share in the delights and pleasures of the bathes The Duke of Sauoy procured libertie for his Brother Philip whom the King married vnto Margarete the third Daughter of Charles Duke of Bourbon and of Agnes of Bourgundie but the content of his libertie was not of such force in his remembrance as the distast of his imprisonment the apprehension whereof made him to follow the humors of Charles Duke of Bourgundy against the King Amé dyed three or foure yeares after in the Towne of Orleans of a Flix c Ame the third dyed at Orleans about the end of Iune 1471. he left 2.
march on for the way was such as they must either aduance forward or retire back they charged the Dukes troupes beat them back and force many to seeke their safeties in the Lake into which they waded vp to the chins but they were noe more assured in the water then on the land the fury of the victorious souldiour slue them like Duckes It was presently made red with the bloud of this slaughter many fled to the next Forrest and were slaine there The Duke returned from Suisserland as r He that will see in what equipage Xerxes returned out of Greece wâ—ether he had led a huÌ„dred thousand men let him read the tenth Satire of Iuuenall * Xerxes did out of Greece * Sed qualis redijt nempe vna naue cruentis Fluctibus ac tarda per densa cadauera prora Has toties optata exigit gloria paenas The Suisses hauing continued three dayes vpon the place of Battell they dismist halfe their troupes and with the rest recouered the places which the Duke had taken Petterlingen Romon and Milden they enter at Losanna without resistance and find that all were fled Suisses enter the contrie of Vaux They become masters of all the countrey of Vaux and think to doe as much vnto Sauoy to make it knowne that they that would not be their friends were their enemies s Aristenus saith in the 9. Book of Titus Liu. speaking of the Eâ—oliens Romanos aut socios habere oportet aut hostes media via nulla est The Romans must either haue fellowes and friends or enemies there is no middle way that there was no meane betwixt both The Lady Yoland Mother and Gouernesse to the Duke had broken the Treaties of Alliance hauing fauoured the Earle of Romonts quarrell against them and giuen passage to the Duke of Milans troupes and to the Bourgonians to make warre in Suisserland Geneua compounds with the Suisses The Towne of Geneua paying foure and twenty thousand Florins was presented from the storme which their Bishop of of the house of Sauoy had drawne vpon them The Duke retired into the Franch Contie Affliction of the Du after the Battell opprest with so many griefes and discontents as no man durst come neere him If this great Battell did not draw water from the ayre as they say that after great and bloudy Battels there shall fall great showers t After great Battels follow great showers for that there is som God which doth wash and puâ—ifie the earth polluted with humane bloud or for that the dead bodies and the bloud which is spilt cast vp grosse vapors which thicken in the ayre Plut. it did from the eyes of many widdow women and Orphanes for the number of the dead was eighteene thousand of both sides the Historie of Germany speakes of two and twenty thousand The Duke vexed at this vnfortunate successe the which hee had attempted more to reuenge the iniuries of the house of Sauoy then for his owne and fearing least the Duchesse of Sauoy should reconcile her selfe vnto the King her Brother The Duchesse of Sauoy seazed on by the Bourgundians and that the Sauoyards should follow the fortune of the victory he commanded Oliuer of la March to seaze vpon the Duchesse and her two sonnes He stayed her neere vnto the ports of Geneua set her on horsebacke behinde him and gaue order to them of his troupe to doe the like vnto her two sonnes and two Daughters The Duke of Sauoy was saued and carried to Geneua Oliuer de la March hee went on his way all night past the mountaine came vnto a place called Myiou and from thence to S. Claud and from thence to Rochfort and in the end to Rouure neere vnto Dijon The King drew her from thence by the Lord of Chaumont and caused her come to Tours u The Duchesse of Sauoy being prisoner at Rouure sent vnto the King to beseech him to set her at libertie If she had not bin in these extremities she would not haue done it the hatred had been so great betwixt the King and her whether he went after his departure from Lyon Being arriued there he saluted her with these words Madame of Bourgundy you are very welcome To whom she answered that she was a good French woman and ready to obay his commandements He took her at her word and this first answere was the best x The first answeres of women are commonly the best It is that which Vlisses coÌ„sidered in Homer pressing the soule of a woman to answere speedily Their humors and their passions were very contrarie to extract the essence of true and perfect loue She leaues the D. of Burgundies partie Many things had past in their liues which had as it were losened the Cyment of this brotherly affection Philip de Commines saith that he conducted her to her chamber and caused her to be well intreated True it is that he had 〈◊〉 great desire to be rid of her and she as great to be farre from him The King would willingly that shee had married the Princes her children to his humor but she excused her selfe and wrought so as by his meanes and the mediation of the Duke of Lorraine and the Arch-duke of Austria she retired from the Suisses some of those lands which they had seazed on paying fifty thousand Florins for the charges of warre but it was not possible for the Earle of Romont to recouer his Eight daies after the King caused her to be conducted into her Contrie with her children but before they parted one from an other they would be assured of the promises of loue which they had made and not trusting to bare words they added writings and others They depriued themselues of that content which their wils might haue receiued in producing freely the effects of a reciprocall affection and confidence But they had rather be bound to religion then to Nature From this Flower-de-Luce are issued two Princes which haue gouerned in Sauoy y Aâ—e the 3. Duke of Sauoy husband to Yoland of France succeeded Lewis the second his father in the yeare 1468. Philip the seuenth D. married to Mary of Bourbon Philibert the eight to Margaret of Austria the ninth Charles to Beatrix of Portugall the tenth Emanuel Philibert to Margaret of Valoâ—s the eleuenth Charles Emanuell to Catherine of Austria She was mother to Philibert and to Charles Philibert raigned ten yeares vnder her charge euery one desired to haue this Prince in his power King Lewis as his Vnkle by the Mothers side Charles Duke of Bourgundy as his kinsman and neighbour The Earles of Bresse Romont and Geneua his Vnkles by the fathers side who would exclude Galeas Duke of Milan who had giuen him his Daughter tooke also the gouernment He dyed and left noâ— children Charles his brother succeeded him and married Blanch of Montferrat of them was borne Charles the sixt whose barren raigne was but nine monethes shorter then
his hand which descouered his heart l The discommodities of great Princes cannot be hiâ—den Ariston saith that pouerty is a lampe which doth lighten and make all the miseries of the world be seene The Kings affaires would not suffer him to bee more liberall to this Prince of good effects then of good words Lewis refuseth him succors If he had no other consideratioÌ„ but of the estate of Spaine he had taken an other course but he had alwaies for a perpetual obiect the greatnesse of the house of Bourgondy whereof he durst nor iudge so long as the Duke was armed and therefore he had rather fayle his friends then himselfe To resolue of the succors which the King of Portugall required of him hee consulted rather with reason then affection m Resolutions taken by the Counsell of affection are subiect to change those which are grounded vppoÌ„ reason last perpetually which layed before him his great expences in Germany and Lorraine for the entertainment of his armie which he might not dismisse vnlesse hee would runne the hazard of a surprize and scorne not to haue foreseene that which concerned himselfe n Wise men see all accidents in their thoughts they cannot bee surprized 〈◊〉 word I did not think it coms neuer out of their mouthes Seneca cals it the word of ignorant men Audimus aliquaÌ„do voces imperitoruÌ„ diceÌ„tiumâ— Neâ—ciebam hoc mihi restare sapiens scit sibi omnia restare quicquid fattum est dicit sciebam VVe sometimes heer the words of ignorant meÌ„ saying I did not know that this would haue happened A wise man knowes that all things may happen Hee saith whatsoeuer is done I knew it The King of Portugall thinking that if he might soe reconcile these two Princes affaires The King of Portugal mediats a peace in vaine as they might haue no subiect to doubt one another he should dâ—aw succors from them both he vndertook to goe into Lorraine to perswade the Duke to reconcile himselfe vnto the King His voyage was not long for vppon the first propositions he found that his enterprise was impossible and so returned to the King who continuing the honors which he had done him at his arriuall intreated him to see Paris and in the meane time procured a dispensation for him from Pope Sixtus the fourth o Notwithstanding that D. Ferdinand D. Isabella of Castille made great oppositioÌ„s at Rome against the marriage of King Alphonso of Portugall and D. Ioane his neece his sisters daughter yet the Pope granted a dispensation at King Lewis his instance to marry with D. Ioane his Neece The Chronicle and Martinienne make a curious relation of his entertainement which was the 23. of Nouember 1476. The Lord of Gaucour Gouernour of Paris Reception of the King of Portugal into Paris and Robert of Estouteuille Prouost of Paris went to meet him on the way to Orleance towards the wind-mill The Chancellor of Oriole with the Presidents and Councellors of Soueraigne Courts and many Prelats went forth The Magistrates presented him a Canopy at Saint Iames gate The Rector of the Vniuersity with the Doctor and Regents receiued him at St. Stephens the Bishop and Clergy of Paris at our Ladies Church The short dayes and the long speeches added fire to the greatnes of the ceremony p Fire carried before the Prince was one of the ornaments of Maiestie it was not in a Linke or Torch but in a Lampe or Lanthorne Prenuncius ante Signa dedit cursor posita de more Lucerna Corippus lib. 2. Herodian saith that Pertinax came vnto the Senate not suffring them to carrie fire or any other markes of the Empire before him The President Bertier saith that the same honor was giuen to the Patriarks in the Greeke Church and the tiâ—le of Balsamon In Respons de Patriarch Prâ—uileg They caused fifty torches to march before him to conduct him to a Marchants house called Laurence Herbelot in the street of Prouuelles The shewed him the singularities and beauties of Paris hee saw the Court of Parliament of peeres the most sacred Senate of Europe where he did number as many Kings as Senators Francis Hale Archdeacon of Paris A cause pleaded in Parliament by two 〈◊〉 the Kings aduocate and Peter of Brabant an aduocate of the Court and Curate of S. Eustache pleaded a cause the Chronicle saies that it was a goodly thing to heare Heere the ignorance of those times moues me to pitty few men were learned and few learned men taught in France Italy had gathered vp some wits of that great shipwrack of Greece The tyrant of the East would not allow of any exercise of learning q Greece hath giuen these goodly wits vnto Italy Emanuel Chrisoloras an Athenian George of Trebizoâ—de Theodore de Gaza a Macedonian Ierâ—nimo Spartiate Gâ—egory Typhernas Iohn Argyropile of Constantinople Laoâ—â—â—c Chalcondile Athenian Marcus Musurus of Candie and Iohn Lascaris For they make him beleeue that learned men are soone possest with great and heigh resolutions against the seruitude which keepes them vnder r Books Sciences teach men of iudgement more then any other thing to know themselues and to feele the smart of seruitude the losse of libertie But this light could not passe into France through squadrons of men of war and good books which are not preserued but in the Temple of peace lay yet in the dust of Cloysters they were not made common to the world and they feared much that the masters in speaking well and eloquently in a Chamber would not be so in doing well in field in sight of the enemies s Cato perswaded the Senate to send away Carneades who was come to Rome on the behalfe of the Atheniens for that his cloquence drew the youth of Rome to follow him disposed the rather to immitate to speake well the to doe well in war in the managing of affaires Plut. that all eloquence was growne rusty in Barbarisme These great and goodly actions of those times in the which they must spread the maine failes of eloquence were giuen to Doctors of the Sorbone They vndertooke to make Ouerture at the Estates and to iustifie or condemne Princes before the Kings Councell See heer a Curate of the greatest parish in Paris who makes proofe of the grace and greatnes of the French eloquence in the first Parliament of France before a strange King the Ignorance of those times found none more capable he deserued to haue money giuen him to be silent rather then to speake t The ancient Orators got money both to speak and to be sâ—â—et One demaÌ„ded of Demosthenes what he had gotten for speaking hee answered I haue sold the silence of one day for fiue talents Plut. After that the King of Portugall had stayed somtime in Paris they put into his immagination as iealousie doth easily possesse aflicted mindes that the King who had at the same time confirmed
loyall Officers Seruants and Subiects g Bodâ—n writes in the fourth booke of his Common-weale Chap. 4. that K. Lewis the 〈◊〉 made another Edict declaring all offices perpetuall if resignation death or Fortune did not cause some change and hee ordained that a Destitution by forfeite should not take place if the forfeiture were not adiudged Item Wee haue also expressely commanded and enioyned him that when it shall please God he come vnto the said Crowne of France that he shall maintaine all the Noble-men of our Bloud and Linage and all other Noble-men Barons Gouernours Knights Esquires Captaines and Commanders at warre in their Offices and charges and all other hauing the command of men and guard of Townes places and Forts and all other Officers either of Iustice or other of what condition soeuer not changing or disappointing any of them vnlesse they bee duely found faulty and disloyall h An Officer which feares to be disappointed holds all his actions pure and keepes himselfe from failing Yet a Prince should neuer displace without cause and one of the greatest commendations which they giue to king Robert is that he neuer disappâ—â—â—ed any Officer if he had not offended and that there may be a due declaration made by Iustice as is requisite in that case Item Vnto the end our sonne may and will consider of entertaine and accomplish our said Ordinance Iniunction and commandement wee haue laid before him the great miseries inconueniences and ir-repairable losses which befell vs soone after our comming vnto the Crowne for that we had not maintained them in their estates charges Offices i King Lewis the eleuenth coming to the Crowne did suddenly disappoint all his fathers ancient seruants who handled him in such sort as he was ready as hee confest after-ward to quit his Crowne and his estate the which hath continued long to the great oppression and ruine of many of our Countries and Subiects and doth yet continue although that God be thanked we haue not lost any thing of the Crowne but haue augmented it with great Lands and possessions hoping shortly with the pleasure and good will of our Creator to settle peace and tranquility And that if our said sonne should doe the like and should not continue the said Noble-men and Officers the like or worse might happen vnto him and that as hee loues the good honour and increase of himselfe the said Realme and others our Countries and Signiories hee should haue a speciall care not to doe any thing to the Contrary for what cause soeuer Which Remonstrances made by vs to our sonne the Dauphin for the good of the Crowne of France and to the end the said Ordonances Commandements and Iniunctions made vnto him should take effect and bee in perpetuall memory wee haue demanded of our said sonne k A marke of great mildnesse in a seuere Prince and of great bounty in a difficult Father hee doth not vse his authority ouer his sonne for so iust a command Hee first sounds his will then hee suffers him to consult with his obedience the bond whereof is sealed with the Seale of Nature the which hath not giuen to men any Commission to command others and to make them subiect except the Father whom Procles calleth The Image of the Soueraigne GOD. what hee thought and whether he were content willing and resolued to entertaine the same things and other deliuered by vs and especially touching the said Charges and Offices Whereunto he hath humbly made answere and said That he would willingly obey acomplish and performe with all his power the Commandements Instructions Ordonances and Iniunctions which we gaue him for the which he did most humbly thanke vs. Moreouer wee commanded him to retire himselfe with some of his Officers which were there present and conferre with him vpon those matters which hee had propounded vnto him and resolue whether hee would entertaine all that wee had enioyned him The which hee hath done and then he spake these or such like words vnto vs Sir with the helpe of God and when it shall bee his pleasure that these things happen I will obey your commandement and pleasure and will performe and accomplish all that you haue enioyned me Wherevpon we said vnto him That seeing he would doe it for the loue of vs he should hold vp his hand and promise so to do and hold The which he hath done Item After many other things declared by vs concerning the same matter and also of many Noble-men our aduersaries within our realme l A Prince cannot leaue a more profitable and fruitful precept vnto his sonne then to make him knowe the friends of his Estate to cherish them and the enemies to beware of them the one and the other are known by the effects but men regard but the face and God seeth the heart who haue alwayes beene contrary to vs and our said Crowne from whom part of the miseries and inconueniences aboue mentioned haue sprung to the end he might haue a watchfull eye ouer them we haue recommended vnto him some of our good and loyall Seruants and Officers which were there present and some absent letting him vnderstand how well and faithfully they had serued vs as well against our enemies and about our person as also in many and diuers sorts Of which things and of euery their circumstances and dependances we haue ordained and commanded our louing and faithfull Notary and Secretary M r. Peter Parrent to make all Letters Provisions Patents and declaratory clauses of our said will and commandement that shall bee needfull as well during our said Reigne as that of our Sonne and in the beginning of his said Reigne by manner of confirmation to the said Officers and confirming theÌ„ in their said Charges and Offices and we haue so coÌ„manded enioyned our said sonne to cause it to be done by the said Parrent as our Secretary and his Wee also command by these Presents our louing and faithfull Councellours of our Courts of Parliament m Presently after the death of Lewis the Parliament of Paris decreed that the Officers should continue in their charges as they had done before attending the answere of the new King the which shewes that charges are suspended vntil that his pleasure hee knowne according to an ancient Decree made in October 1382. of the said Realme and Dauphine Exchequer of Normandy Maisters of our Accounts Generals and Councellors of our Treasurie of Iustice and of our Aids Maisters of requests of our houshold Prouâ—st of Paris and all Bailiffes Seneshals Provosts and other our Iustices and officers or their Lieuetenants and euery of them to whom it shall belong which are at this present or shall be hereafter in our time or our sonnes that they obserue entertaine and accomplish and cause to be obserued entertained and accomplished from point to point inviolably our present Ordonances and Declarations and all and euery thing contained in these Presents with their
Polyb. lib. 11. Mathias held it not fit for his reputation nor courage to attend them hee goes to meete them with eight thousand horse and hauing furnished the Towne of Vratislauia with victuals and munition he lodged himselfe in the sub-vrbs and there attendeth them with a resolution not to hazard any thing c A Prince shold not stay vntil his enemy come vnto him and force him to feed him at his charge Euery day they made Sallies and Skirmishes to the Polonians losse who neuer returned but with griefe for some prisoners taken but many more slaine And to shew that hee did little esteeme their Attempts and that hee could loose little and get much he caused scaffolds of Wood to bee built vpon the Walles for the chiefe Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Towne It is a great aduantage for a Generall of an Army when hee is assured that victory brings him great profit great effects and that the losse cannot equal the gaine and for those chiefly who were not made but to bee beloued They beheld the Knights who made Sallies vpon their Enemies and cast themselues couragiously into dangers for their sakes At their returne they commended their valours and encouraged them to continue If they were hurt they were the first that drest them if they returnd victors they presented them the prisoners Armes and colours which they had taken The Princes of Germany desiring to diuert this storme and fearing that this fire kindled vpon the Frontier would flye further laboured to quench it Ernestus Duke and Elector of Saxony and Iohn Marques of Brandebourg e The courages of these 3 Princes were vanquished by the eloquence of the Marques of Brādeburg who in the Assembly of three Kings of Casimir King of Polonia Ladislaus King of Bohemia and Mathias King of Hungry discoursed with such grauity and vehemency vt prae admiratione adstantes obstupuerint Ita tune virtute Ernesti Saxonis eloquenti◠Ioannis Marchionis haec or a Germaniae magno discrimine liberata redijt ad tranquilitatem That the assistants were amazed with admiration So then by the vertue of Ernest of Saxony and the eloquence of the Marques Iohn that coast of Germany was freed from great danger and recouered peace made an Army of six thousand horse and presented themselues before Vratislauia protesting that they came thither to no other end but to set vpon him that would not liue in peace So by their meanes a peace was concluded the 12. of February in the yeare 1475. and Silesia was diuided betwixt Ladislaus and Mathias Mathias makes war against the Emperour This war being ended he began an other against the Emperour he besieged Bohemia and forst the Emperour to demand a peace Pope Sixtus and the Senate of Venice for that they would not incense the Emperour tooke from him the pensions which they had giuen him to the end that the Emperour should not think that they fauoured his designes Death of Mathias Huniades yet for all this Mathias did not forbeare to presse the Emperour to effect that which he had promised him seeing that hee thought to entertaine him with the vanity of his words hee began the warre againe and besieged and tooke Hambourg vpon the confines of Austria and Hungary Mahomet thinking to make his profit of this diuision ouer-ran the Countries of Dalmatia Carinthia and Friuly and carried away a great number of slaues but they were set at liberty and they that led them cut in peeces being incountred by Mathias Captaines f The portrait of of 〈◊〉 Prince makes him of a higher sature then the ordinary of men open and quicke eyes his eye-browes eleuated a bigge head a faire face and of a good complexion a large forehead flaxen haire The Emperour Fredericke sought a peace of him the which taking no effect there was a truce concluded Soone after Mathias g Hee that hath written the History of the kings of Hungary ends the discourse of Mathias life in these tearmes In somma non si può diro altro di vantagio se non ch'e vanita il persuadersi che altre personnagio si trouasse alhora in tutte lc parti pareggiante l'inuitto glorioso Matthia Coruino se l'ambitione d'vna principessa Aragonesse non lo hauesse tyrannegiato To conclude there can bee no more said but that it is a vanity to think that there can bee any one sound comparable to the inuincible and glorious Mathias Coruinus if the ambition of a Princesse of Arragon had not tyrannized ouer him died at Vienna in Austria of an Apoplexie in the yeare 1490. being 47. yeares old He had taken to his second wife Beatrix daughter to Ferdinand King of Naples by whom he had not any children suffering himselfe to be transported with her ambitious humors enemies to all rest The commendation which is giuen him of a great Prince and a great Captaine doth not blemish that to haue made the Sciences and learning to flourish againe and to haue fauoured them that made profession thereof and among others Iohn of Monroyall the Ornament of the Mathematickes He replenished his library with the rarest bookes hee could finde out of the which are come some fragments of Polybius and Diodorus Siculus h A Prince which affects glory esteemes them that are the Trumpets The most valiant haue done things worthy to be written and haue written things worthy to be read Corn. Sulla Caesar Augustus Claudius Traian Adrian If after the death of Mahomet they had put Zizimi into his hands as he desired and besought the Pope he had ouer-throwne the tyranny of the Ottomans for Bajazeth vpon these apprehensions sought to be at peace with him but the Pope would haue him make warre against the Hussites of Bohemia Let vs returne and see what Lewis doth in his sad melancholike thoughts of that day which must bee the Iudge of all the rest he hath giuen an end to all his designes and the law of Nature will haue him end he◠doth not liue but by intreaty and the dayes which remaine serue onely but to the end he should husband them that they might profite those which hee hath past and lost His Seruants comfort him and his Physitians haue no meanes to cure him they entertaine him with vaine hopes and diuert his thoughts from any thing that might augment his waywardnesse And for that they told him that a Northerly winde which did then reigne made mens bodies sickly and did hurt the fruits he commanded the Parisians to goe in Procession to S. Denis to cause it to cease i The Chronicle saithn that to appea this Northerly winde all the Estates of Paris went diuers dayes in procession to S. Denis in the moneth of February that the same prayers were made in May following for the kings health But he was more troubled with distrust Distrust of Lewis 11. It is a torment vnto him in comparison whereof
confirmed by Pope Alexander the sixth in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and one and shee caused the Monastery of Saint Laurence of Bourges to be built The habite of her Religious women is a blew or skie couloured Gowne a white Kercher and a red Scapulaire with a Cord of tenne Knots signifying the ten Vertues or Consolations which the Virgin Mary had in her life l The ten Knots of this Cord had relation first to the purenesse secondly to the wisedom thirdly to the humility fourthly to the faith fiftly to the vertue sixthly to the praise seuenthly to the obedience eighthly to the pouerty ninthly to the patience and tenthly to the pitty of the Virgine Mary She dyed at Bourges the fourth of February one thousand foure hundred and foure Her body was burnt and the ashes cast into the wind in the first troubles when as the Earle of Montgomery tooke the Towne of Bourges Charles his sonne succeeded him at the age of thirteene yeares The Histories of those times speake much of the greatnesse of his courage and the weakenesse of his braine They all agree that hee neither had any great vnderstanding nor much wit Two great defects in two little words the which are much dilated in the actions of his life whereas wee see that hee attempts lightly and giues eare to many things which are alwaies preiudiciall to them that hearken to them m A Prince should stop his eares to reports and should flye them Clandestinas existimationes nullisque magis quam audientibus insidiantes susurros Melius omnibus quam singulis creditur Singuli enim decipere decepi possunt nemo omnes neminem omnes fefellerunt Secret suggestions and whisperings which circumuent none more then them that giue eare vnto them It is more safe to trust all in generall then any one in particular A man in particular may deceiue and bee deceiued no man hath deceiued all men neither haue all men deceiued any one man C. PLIN. PAHEG If the felicity of an estate dependeth of obedience if to obey well depends of commanding well if to command well depends of a Princes wisedome what good coÌ„mandement can be expected from a Prince who neither hath a sound iudgment nor hath gotten any thing to make it better What hope is there that hee shall euer be able to command others and himselfe well After that Philip de Commines hath shewed that hee was touched with the like feuer of the braine to Charles the seuenth his Grand-father and to Lewis the eleuenth his Father who both feared their Children and that for this cause hee soone past ouer his griefe for the death of the Dauphin his sonne He addes that this Prince was alwaye little DispositioÌ„ of Charles the eighth both of body and vnderstanding but hee was so good as there was neuer a better creature seene Claudius of Seissill saith That hee was a good Prince Noble and of a greater courage then of body couetous of honour and glory desiring all good and honest things as much as his age could beare and that hee failed in the flower of his youth when as hee began to vnderstand his owne affaires Peter Desrey a Champenois who hath written his Chronicle saith That hauing past the weaknesse of his first Age youth gaue great hopes of more force and vigor of his Spirit and that hee did exercise himselfe in the knowledge of many things which make Princes learned in the difficult knowledge of all n The knowledge how to reigne and commaund is the highest and most difficult of all others Bookes may helpe much for that they furnish examples whereof the shortnesse of life cannot see the hopes But a good vnderstanding doth all The knowledge which comes froÌ„ books may serue for an ornameÌ„t but not for a foundation The Phylosophy of Princes is constancy faith and sincerity other scyences are but as Paintings as Plato saith After the death of his father saith this Chronicler and that hee had taken vpon him the Royall dignity he began very willingly to reade bookes written in the French tongue and had a desire to vnderstand the Latine and to do like a good Prince hee imployed his youth willingly to serue God deuoutly and to heare the councell of wise men desiring to learne how to gouerne well Notwithstanding that the carelesnesse of Lewis the eleuenth to haue him Royally instructed and bred vp hath ministred occasion to the most famous Historian of those times and which hath beene since to write that which cannot bee spoken but of a Prince ill bred and worse brought vp yet let it not displease him for this Charles whom hee giues vs for an Ignorant Man is the same whom hee compares vnto Iulius Caesar for that his comming and his victory in Italy was but one thing o Carlo condotto ad allogiare al Castel Capoano gia habitatione antica de re Francesi hauendo con marauiglioso corso d'inaudita felicita sopra l'essempio di Iulio Caesare prima vinto â—he veduto con tanta facilita che non fusse necessaria in questa espeditione ne spregare maivn padiglione ne rompere mai pur vna lancia Charles being conducted to lodge in the Castle of Capua an ancient habitation of the Kings of France hauing with an admirable course of vnheard of felicity beyond the example of Iulius Caesar vanquished before hee had seene and that with so great facility as in the expedition he had no need either to pitch a Tent or to breake a Launce For it is true that hee strooke more amazement into Italy at the brute of his comming then the Gaules had done by their descent in former times Hee put all the Potentates in alarme Pisa at liberty Florence in feare and Sienna in iealousie and hauing the effects of his desire greater then those of his hopes hee entred armed into Rome with his Launce vpon his Thigh hee planted his Cannon on the Market-place and made himselfe to bee acknowledged and admired of all men for the Deputy of the liuing God for the reformation of the disorders of Italy and without striking stroake or pitching any Tent hee entred a Conquerour into Naples and in his returne hee marched as it were vpon the belly of Italy being all banded against him to hinder his retreate And although that France hath not reaped the glory and fruit which shee promised vnto her selfe by this voyage it sufficeth that the cause was iust and glorious for wee must iudge of things not by the euents and executions but by the causes and motions of their wils that haue done them p He that considereth of things by the euents doth iudge of the whole Image by the heele In all occasions we must settle our iudgements not vpon the issue execution but vpon the causes intentions of them which doe them and the differences of things Polyb. lib. 2. This course might haue carried me vnawares to
good in Court it is greater happinesse for a Man when as the Prince whom hee serues doth him a great fauour for a small merite wherefore he remaines bound vnto him which should not bee if hee had done so great seruices as the Prince had beene much bound vnto him Wherfore hee doth by nature loue them more that are bound vnto him then those to whom hee is beholding When as pride goes before shame and confusion followes at the heeles c Pride is alwayes followed by Ruine and Shame Dominare tumidus spiritus altos gere Sequitur superbos vltor à tergo Deus SEN. When hee changed his seruants he excused this change saying That Nature was pleased with variety Hee said That if hee had entred his Reigne otherwise then with Feare and Seuerity hee had serued for an example in the last Chapter of BOCACE his Booke of vnfortunate Noblemen And considering that secresie was the soule and spirit of all designes he said sometimes I would burne my Hat if it knew what were in my head d Metellus said the like that if hee knewe his shirt vnderstood his secerets hee would burne it Hee remembred to haue heard King Charles his father say that Truth was sicke and hee added I beleeue that since shee is dead and hath not found any Confessor Mocking at one that had many bookes and little learning hee said that he was like vnto a crooke-backt man who carries a great bunch at his backe and neuer sees it Seeing a Gentleman which carried a goodly Chaine of Gold hee said vnto him that did accompany him You must not touch it for it is holy shewing that it came from the spoyle of Churches It is long since that this sacrilegious liberty hath beene in custome and that Princes that would please GOD and Men haue detested it but custome to euill hath more power ouer the willes of men to entertaine them in it then it giues horror and shame to flye from it e Caesar did bite Pompey to the quicke for that hee had taken away the ornaments of Hercules Temple Pecuniam omnem ex fano Herculis in opidum Gades intulit and giuing himselfe the honour to haue caused it to bee restored Referri in Templum iubet He took delight in quick answers which were made without study for if there be premeditation they loose their grace On a time seing the Bishop of Chartres mounted on a Mule with a golden bridle hee said vnto him that in times past Bishops were contented with an Asse and a plaine Halter The Bishop of Charters answered him That it was at such times when as Kings were Sheepheards and kept Sheepe The Annals of Aquitane which report this adde that that the King began to laugh for hee loued a speech which proceeded from a sudden wit Hee loued Astrologians and this loue proceeded as it were from a naturall and hereditary curiosity hauing much troubled the mindes of his fore-fathers Charles the fifth was gouerned by them Credite of Astrologians and gaue them meanes to teach Astrologie publickely in the Vniuersity of Paris Hee had for his Physition one called Monsieur Garuis Cretin a great Astrologian f CHARLES thâ— fifth caused many Bookes of Astrology to bee Translated into French he built a Colledge for Astrologie and Physicke and gaue them the Tithes of the Village of Caugie and caused the foundation to bee confirmed by Pope VRBAN the fifth He caused the Natiuity of King Charles the sixtth to bâ—e cast by Monsieur Andrew of Suilly The like curiosity made Charles the 5 th to loue and cherish familiarly Michael Tourne-Roue a Carthusian who was very skilfull in the practise of Elections Hee made that of the day when as the King went a hunting where as hee found the great Stagge which had a Coller of Copper about the necke wherein these words were written Hoc Caesar me donauit Caesar gaue me this The figure of it was set vp in the palace of Paris Hee was also much bound to the aduice which Iames of Angiers gaue him of the bad Intention which two Augustine Monks had to open his skull who were beheaded at Paris g In the booke of SIMON of Phares which is in the Kings Library wee reade this IAMES of Angiers was in that time who discouered the false intent which the two Augustines had which did open King CHARLES his head saying They would cure him beeing ignorant both in Physicke and Chyrurgery They were suborned by PHILIP Duke of Bourgondy as was said to worke this effect The matter beeing discouered the said Augustines were degraded and lost their heads as was reason Hee also made great account of Charles of Orgemont who foretold him that the Duke of Aniou his brother should bring nothing backe from his voyage at Naples but shame want and misery the which happened for all the Knights which had followed him returned with white stickes in their hands h Vpon this Prediction SIMON of Phares speakes thus The French were forced to flye and the Duke of Millan forgetting his Faith and Oath did kill them that were taken and suffered the Dogges to eate them and therefore let this be an aduertisment to the Kings of France and to the French neuer to trust in a Lombards tongue or dyed in Hospitals He was also aduertised of the issue of the voyage which Boucicant made to Genoa and of the treason of the Marques of Montferrat and of Count Francisque CHARLES the seuenth had Astrologians all his life Hee entertained in his Court IOHN of Bregy a Knight who cast the Natiuity of AME Duke of Sauoy and of the Lady YOLAND of France his wife and Germaine of Tibonuille who fore-told the death of King Henry the fifth and of Charles the sixth He receiued into Pension and into his house IOHN of Buillion whom the English had kept prisoner at Chartres for that hee had fore-told that which hahpened vnto them at the siege of Orleans Hee gaue entertainement also to SIMON of Phares borne borne at Orleance whose booke of excellent Astrologians is to be seene in the Kings Library i This Symon of Phareswrites of himselfe that hee did foretell The great famine at Paris and the great plague which followed vnder the raigne of Charles the â— that the Lands were vntilled and the woods so â—full of wolues as they deuoured women and children and that it was proclaimed that for euery Woolfe they could take they should haue two shillings besides that which the Commons might giue Maister Lewis of Langre a Spaniard a Physition and Astrologian at Lyon told King Charles of the victory he should get at Fromigny in the yeare 1450. of the great plague which was at Lyon a yeare after for the which hee gaue him forty pounds a yeare pension In all the chiefe actions of the life of Lewis the eleuenth wee finde that Iohn Merende of Bourg in Bresse did cast his Natiuity and speaking of his
History of the said King and not yet printed Bernard of Girard Signior of Haillan in his second booke of the estate of the affaires of France He answered me that hee held it from them who thought they knew it well and that he hath written many other things of like consequence vpon the beleefe of Tradition Princes will haue their loues excused for that loue doth not alter the generosity of a great courage Caesar did sacrifice his heart to Armes and Ladies d Wee cannot find a more perfect patterne of Ambition and Loue then Caesar As for Ambition his life is full of it For Loue he had the Maidenhead of Cleopatra he made loue to Eunoë Queene of Mauritania to Posthumia wise to Seruius Sulpitius to Lollia of Gabinius to Tertulla of Crassus to Mutia of Pompey and to Seruilia Sister to Cato and mother to Marcus Brutus He changed wiues foure times But I finde this Prince sometime in delights which were not ordinary nor scarce knowne to the Kings of France his Predecessours His Chronicle speakes of Bathes prepared for him for the Queene and Ladies I was of opinion that he had brought that custome from Flanders when Phillip de Commines speakes of the excesse and dissolutions which peace had brought into the Low Countries hee makes mention of Bathes The great and superfluous expences saith he of men and women in apparell The greatest and most prodigall bankets that I haue knowne in any place The Bathes and other feastings with women great and disordered and with little modesty Delights and pleasures are not fashioned in an instant e Besides the Bathes of Agripina of Nero of Vespasian and of Titus Rome hath beene beautefied with them of Domitius of Alexander of Gordian of Seuerus of Aurelian and of Constans Marcus Agrippa to purchase the peoples fauour caused 170. Bathes to be built in Rome to the end that euery Quarter should haue one Antonin was the first that decreed they should pay nothing for Bathing for before him they gaue the fourth part of an Assis. they haue their beginning increase and continuance That of Bathes was the like At Rome in the beginning they did wash nothing but their Armes and legges after labour and painefull toyle for that they would not haue their members vncleane and their pores stopt with sweate They did wash the whole body at Faires and health was the end of Bathing as a thing generally held holdsome since health is growne vnto voluptuousnesse and they adde vnto it vanity and needlesse pompe The rarest Marbles of Affrick and Alexandria were sought for and the most industrious Caruers and Architects were employed in these Bathes as for the building of Temples If Temperance gaue no other content vnto a Prince but the quiet enioying of health Fruites of temperance he should be wonderfull curious f Health is to be preferred before all things as the richest presâ—nt of nature Pithagoâ—as said that men should demand 3. things of God Beauty Riches and a good constitution of minde and body for there is not any thing but we should do for that which is the best and richest present which Nature hath giuen and without the which liâ—e is but a languishing and all other felicities troublesome and importune men are miserable in that they know not the price of things but by the losse of them They do not taste of rest but in labour nor of peace but after warre nor health but in sickenesse When they are sicke they make vowes to health when they are in health they do what they can to be sicke They sacrifice to health and eate the meats of the sacrifice euen vntill they burst so as drinking eating sleeping playing watching sicknesse itselfe health and all the actions of mans life are so many steps to death g One demanded of Hypocrates a rule for his health he answered him Cibi potus somni Venus omniaâ— oderata sint Let thy meate drinke sleepe and Venus sports bee moderate And although that delay of payment be no quittance yet life is longer or shorter according to the Order of these things Princes are not alwaies knowne in these eminent places they must be seene in actions which are not so glorious Let vs look vpoÌ„ Lewis the 11. in his priuate carriage and course of life Great spirits haue not their heads alwaies busied with great affaires their thoughts descend often to meane things and of small consequence Egypt worships her Gods cloathed in those formes which are farthest from the Maiesty and greatnesse which she thinkes is in them h Nicias going froÌ„ Councell shut himselfe vp and caused Hieron his man to say that hee left his owne affaires to thinke of the publicke yet in the meane time he informed himselfe by a Deuine of the issue of his affaires and thought of his mines of Siluer which he caused to bee digged Plut. in Nicias Nicias makes men thinke that he extracts the quintessence of his wit for the affaires of State whilst that hee entertaines himselfe with the hope and profite of his Mines Traian did sometimes spend whole nights in telling tales with his seruants i It is good a Prince should be sometime familiar with his seruants but the more rare the better Traian surprised them sometime at meate he came to their houses without Gard and spent whole nights there Xiphilinus But they do not all w that Titus went to the Bathes and washt himselfe openly with the people Affability is a goodly thing so as it draw not neere to contempt When as Lewis the 11. was in his solitary aboade at Plessis he tooke delight to go into the Offices and to talke with the first he met One day he went into the Kitchin whereas he found a yong Lad turning of the spit he demanded his name of whence he was and what he did earne This Turne-spit who knew him not told his name that of his father of his Village and although hee were in the Kings seruice yet he got as much as the King For the King said he hath but his life and so haue I God feeds the King and the King feeds mee k A small matter rayseth the fortune of a man and changeth his basensse into greatnesse Mahomet Bachas who was Vizier to three Emperâ—urs was beholding for all his greatnesse to a leap which he made when he was yong Sultan Solymari being at a window which did looke into a Garden let fall a Letter euery man ran downe the slâ—ires to fetch it but Mahomet who was a yong Lad leapt out at the window and brought the letter vnto the Emperour This ready answer pleased the King who drew this Boy out of the Kitchin to make him serue in his Chamber froÌ„thence raised him to great wealth Behold how fortune fauours euen theÌ„ which haue no knowledge of it nor seeke it not Hee added to the pleasures of solitarinesse those of rusticke Husbandry I haue seene by the
he haue force and authoritie where he liues ouer others if he bee learned and hath seene or read it will either amend him or impaire him For the bad impaire with much knowledge and the good amend Yet it is credible that knowledge doth rather amend him then impaire him were there nothing but the shame to know his owne euill it were sufficient toâ—keepe him from doing ill at the least not to wrong any man whereof I haue seene many experiences among great personages whom knowledge hath drawne from many bad desseignes and also the feare of Gods punishment whereof they haue greater knowledge then ignorant men who haue neither seen nor read History IT is a great aduantage for Princes to haue read Histories in their youth Lib. 2. Chap. 6. where they may plainely read of such assemblies and of the great fraudes deceipts and periuries which some of the ancients haue vsed one against another hauing taken and slaine them that haue relyed vpon such assurances It is not said that all haue vsed it but the example of one is sufficient to make many wise and to giue them a will to stand vpon their gard And in my opinion one of the greatest means to make a man wise is to haue read ancient Histories and to learne to gouerne himselfe wisely thereby and by the example of our predecessors For our life is so short as it sufficâ—th not to haue experience of so many thinges Besides we are decayed in age and the life of man is not so long as it was wont to be nor their bodies so strong All the Bookes that are written were to no vse if it were not to reduce things past to memory where we see more in one booke in three monthes then twenty men liuing successiuely one after another can see by the eye or learne by experience Although that enemies nor Princes be not alwaies alike notwithstanding that the subiect be yet is it good to be informed of thinges past Nourishment ALl men that haue beene great Lib. 1. Chap. 9. and done great matters haue begun very yong And it coÌ„sists in the education or coms from the grace of God This is spoken by the Author vppon the good education of Lewis the eleuenth without the which it had beene impossible for him to haue surmounted those great difficulties which he had in the beginning of his raigne and to blame that of the noblemen of his time who were not bred vp but to shew their folly in their speach and apparrell They haue no knowledge of any learning and there is not a wise man among them They haue Gouernors to whom they talk of their affaires and not to themselues and they dispose thereof and there are such Lords which haue not sixescore and ten pounds starling yearely rent which take a glory in saying speake vnto my officers thinking by these wordes to seeme great men In like manner I haue often seen such seruants make their profit of their maisters giuing them to vnderstand that they were beasts And if happily any one returnes and desires to know his owne it is so late as it serues him to small purpose A Princes subiects haue cause to greeue when they see his Children ill bred vp and in the hands of bad conditioned men Nature A Naturall wit perfectly good excells al other sciences that may bee learned in the world Example of Lewis the eleuenth who without any knowledge of learning had the reputation and the effects of the wisest Prince of his age Hope ALL well considered our only hope must be in God In the end of the first Book for in him lies all our assurance and all bounty which cannot be found in any worldly thing But euery man knowes it too late and after that he hath need yet it is better late then neuer Age. THe fathers old Age makes him to indure the Insolencies of his sonne patiently Lib. 1. Chap. 2. Example of Philip Duke of Bourgondy who dissembled the bad vsage of his sonne the Earle of Charolois to them of thâ— house of Croy. Foresight VVIsemen discerne so farre off as their life is not sufficient to see halfe of those things which they haue foreseene Lib. 3. Chap. â— Carelesnes and vigilancy MAd and distracted Princes are not to bee blamed if they gouerne their affairs ill Lib. 6. Cha. 4. but they that haue their iudgments sound and are well disposed of their persons if they spend their whole time in idlenes and folly they are not to be pittied if they fal into misfortunes But they which diuide their times according to their age somtimes seriously and in Councell and somtimes in feasts and pleasure are much to be commended and the subiects are happy to haue such a maister An Alphabeticall Table of the principall matters contained in the first seuen Bookes of this History A ACcord betwixt the King of Castile Portugal fol. 220. Affaires of a Prince are then effected with most safety and aduantage when he hath won that person who is most in credit and authority with the other with whom he Treates 166. Affection of Maisters to bad seruants is the cause of much disorder 14. Alphonso King of Portugall comes to demand succours in France 215. But is refused by the French King 218. Alphonso proclaimed King of Castile 217. His death Ibid. Amazment breeds strange effects 80. Ambition hath no other law then the fancy of the Ambitious 77. Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death 120. growes fearefull of Scanderbegs valour Ibid. Army of the Earle of Charolois 79. Articlâ—s of a peace betweene France and England 165. Attempt against the Duke of Bourgundies life discouered by the King 206. B Balue the Cardinall imprisoned in a cage of his owne inuention 132. Basile besieged by Lewis the Dauphin 22. Battell of Firmigny 30. Battell at Montlehery 81. Battell at Wakefield 56. Battell of Varna 121. Battell of Morat 213. Battell of Nancy 224. Beauuais besieged 164. Birth of Charles the eight 146. Boldnesse after danger past 86. Bothwell in great fauour with the King of Scotland 232. C Cadet rescueth the Earle of Charolois 83. Challenge sent to the Duke of Bourgundy 3 Charles the seuenth disinherited by his father Charles the sixt 1. Hee armes against his sonne Lewis the Dauphin 12. He takes the Castle of S. Maxiant 13. His reprehension of the Duke of Bourbon 14. His fragility 26. His Death 27 Charles Duke of Orleans led prisoner into England 3. He dieth for sorrow 69. Charles of Nauarre poysoned by his Mother in Law 61. Charles Duke of Berry retires into Brittany 70. His solicitatioÌ„ of the Duke of Bourgundy to assist him for reformation of disorders in France Ibid. Campobasse his treason against the Duke of Bourgundy 223. Charles Earle of Charolois afterwards Duke of Bourgundy his negligence in trayning his Army 82. Is in danger to be slaine or taken 83. His repast among dead bodies 84. Runs into vnseene danger 94.