with great pompe into Tournay 64. His message to the Duke of Britany 65. Hee separates the heads of the League 107. Two errours which he cōmitted in the assurance of his person 111. 112 His politick dissimulation with the Constable 170. His iudgement to distinguish spirits 183 His message to the King of England Ibid. He discouers the Constables double dealing to the Bourgundian 186. His iests vpon the peace made with Edward 4 th and his feare to haue them related againe 191. Learning disalowed by the Turke 219. Liberty the ancient coulour for innouation 80. Lie especially in a Gentleman how to be punished 169. Leige reuolts against the Duke of Bourgundy 103. Is supported by the French king 107. Submits it selfe and demands pardon 109 Hath her wals beaten downe 110. Is againe besieged by the Bourgundian 114. Loue without regard of honour or profite 58. Loue continued towards children for their fathers sake 76. M Marriage of Lewis the 11 th 6. Misery of imprisonment mittigated by kind vsage 177. miseries of France for 70. yeares 5. Modesty of Blanch daughter to Iohn King of Nauarre 6. Mony leuied vnder the pretext of warre and ill employed 46. Multiplicity of Popes 38. Murder iustified by the Duke of Bourgundy 2. N Nauigation contemned by the French 180. Neutrality in a subiect is meere Treason 98. Normandy yeelded to the King 99 O Obedience in a Souldier is as much commendable as courage 177. Obseruations of the Duke of Guiennes life 150. Occasion which caused an ouerture of peace betwixt the French and English 182. Opinion causeth terrible motions in the soule 15. Opportunity of fight neglected 81 Ostentation of Maiesty not suteable with misery 6. P Paris reduced to the French Kings obedience 9. Famisheth the Army which would haue famished it 91. Almost vnpeopled 99. Parpignan besieged and wonne by famine 154. Parts which frame a Prince 16. Peace of Bourges 3. Peter Hagembach his crimes iniustice and death 174. Phillip Duke of Bourgundy wins Dinan by force and ruines it 104. His death the greatnes of his house Ibid. His bounty courage and moderation 105. Pius 2 presseth the abolition of the Pragmaticall sanction 44. His affection to the house of Arragō and his threat against France 45. He disauowes his own writings 48. His death birth fortune and dignities 72. Plurallity of chiefes is for the most part ruinous vnprofitable 88 Pontoise taken by assault 18. Power which is not feared by strāgers is not well obeyed by Subiects 32. Pragmaticke Sanction abolished and dragged through the streets of Rome 51. Praecipitation is a shelfe couered with the shipwrackes which she hath caused in great occasions 78. Princes are especially to provide that great houses vnder their gouernment ally not themselues against their liking 19 Princes seeme very weake or very fearefull which giue an Enemy-army leasure to make a bridg 89 Princes in marrying regard not their pleasure but the necessity and profit of their affaires 144. They are no lesse bound by simple words then priuate persons are by Oathes 163 Q Quality of Cardinals 50 R Reasons which perswaded the English to peace 184 Reformations of the disorders of the Realme 95 Reception of the King of Portugall into Paris 219 Representations ridiculous 43 Reputation of a generous Father makes a valiant sonne lesse remarkeable 20 Rigor of Lewis in the beginning of his reigne 53 Royalty endures no equall 8 Rubempre staid at the Hage by the Earle of Charalois 66 Ruine and desolation of the Legeois 118 S Sedition ought to be smothered in the beginning 76 Sedition cloked by Religion 106 Siege of Pontoise 17 Siege of Saintron 109 Siege of Nancy 221 Seuerity of discipline is hardly obseruable in ciuill warres 80 Son-in-law against father-in-law 3 Succours of Men and Money sent to the Earle of Charalois 94 Suisses before Zurich 21. defeated 23. they send succours to the Duke of Lorraine 222 Summe of the Pragmaticke Sanction 49 T Talbot relieues Pontoise 17 Temporising profitable 149 Thornes and Roses of Marriage 44 Trechery most damnable 158 Treaty made without Liberty bindes not 119 Treaty of peace between the Frēch King and the Bourgondian 192 Trifles want not their moment and serue many times to driue weightier matters out of the heads of the people 132 Troubles in England 140 Truce betweene France and England prolonged 24 Truth not to be found in an enemies tongue 25 Tumults in Cyprus 127 Turkes make their profit of the diuision of Christendome 46 V Valour and bounty of Lewis the Dauphin 9 Valour and fidelity of the Scottishmen 117 W Water not to bee digged for in a neighbours house before we haue sought for it in our owne 148 Wisedome and temporising surmount all difficulties Words of S. Bernard 49 Words of the Duke of Bourgondy 79 Words of K. Lewis at his departure from the Duke of Bourgondy 119 Words betwixt the King of England and the Duke of Bourgondy 187 Y Youth and Inconstancy are Sisters of one Mother 78 A Table of the principall Matters contained in the last foure Bookes ADmonition made by the king to the Dauphin 70 Age becomes couetous when it hath not any need of goods 64 Alponso King of Castille his death 87 Anaxagoras his speech of the Sunne 11 Andrew Archbishop of Krane preacheth against the Pope 58. and persisteth in his proposition 60 Armies are not to bee entertained without tribute 42. Arras yeelded to the French King by composition 14 Artillery inuented 43 Audiences of Henry the third at his returne from Poland 159 Authority of the King is an Ocean 135 B Balue the Cardinall his policy to get out of prison 66 Barbarisme in the time of Lewis the eleuenth 190 Basnesse aduanced forgets it selfe the fauor which raised it 10. Basill excommunicated by the Pope 58 Beginnings of the diminution of Flanders 76. Bishop of Liege trecherously slaine being abandoned of his owne people 37. 38 Boloigne vnder the virgin Maries homage 13 Bosio's errour in the History of Malta 137 C Changes of gouernment at Florence 2 Charlemaine founder of the Vniversity at Paris 124 Chauvin Chancellor of Brittanie his lamentable end 10 Chronicles often follow toyes and leaue out most famous actions 88 Claudius Seissel his hard iudgement 121. Comandements extraordinary of the King 110 Confession of the fault is the best rethorick to appease iust choler 9 Conspiracy against the life of the French King miraculously discouered 31. 32. c. Contempt is the fore-runer of sedition 65 Contempt of discipline in Souldiers 184 Controuersie for the Lands of Berne Foix and Bigorre 84 Cosmo de Medicis his great riches and bounty 167. his exile and returne 168 Credit of Astrologians 188 Cruelties of Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople 46 Curing of the kings euill 123 D Danger in employing forraigne Souldiers 39 Death of the Lord of Nantoillet 199 Desolation is the house of Bourgondy 161 Discourse of a powerfull charme 127 Discommodities of prouision for Horse-men 39
France did belong vnto him The Earle of Foyx sent his Ambassadors and Deputies to the King being at Bordeaux to conclude the treaty p The cheife condition of the Marriage was that the children which should be borne without distinction of malâ— or female should succeed in the counties of Foix and Bygorre He past to Bayonne to end a controuersie betweene the 2. Kinges of Nauarre and Aragon 1462. and Henry King of Castile his Nephew A controuersie begun with great spleene and was continued with the like and had not ended without excesse if he had not dealt in it for the parties flattered themselues in their pretentions were blind in their interests and found that the obscurenes proceeded rather from the thing then their owne blindnes But behold the causes and the effects After the death of Charles the third q Charles the third King of Nauarre taking delight to build at Olîta died suddenly in September 1425. the threescore and foure yeare of his age and the thirty nine of his raigne he was buryed at Pampeluna King of Nauarre the Crowne past from the house of France and Eureaux into that of Castile and Aragon not without trouble and discord Iohn second sonne to Ferdinand of Aragon married Blanch Infanta of Nauarre presumptiue heire of the Realme of Nauarre and widdow to Martin King of Sicilie and it was agreed by a treaty of marriage that in case she should die before her husband hee should raigne the rest of his life in Nauarre after king Charles the third his father in law Of this marriage was borne at Pegna Charles Prince of Viana born Charles Prince of Vianna a title belonging to the eldest Sonne of the King of Nauarre r Charles the the third King of Nauarre ereected Viana into a principalitie and did affect it to the eldest son of Nauarre in the yeere 1421. as Dauphin to that of France The Asturiez in Castille and Wales in England Charles the third his grandfather made him to bee sworne heyre of the Realme by the Estates after the death of Iohn his Father Charles being dead Iohn was declared King of Nauarre by some and Blanch his wife was acknowledged Queene by others yet both were crowned at Pampeluna Iohn had great warres with his brother the King of Castille Marriage betwiâ—t the Prince of the Asturies and Blanch of Nauarre who did confiscate the lands which he held in Castille Iohn Earle of Foyx reconciled them by a marriage betwixt Henry Prince of the Asturies sonne to Iohn King of Castille and Blanch Daughter to Iohn king of Nauarre s By the constitution of the marriage of this Princesse which was of 42112. Florens of gold wee may iudge in what estate K. Charles the third had left the Realme of Nauarre The marriage was celebrated with great pompe and solemnitie but the Prince was vnable to consummate it The which the Princesse did long dissemble Shee had great cause to complaine of this want and to wish her selfe to be a widdow or her husband vnmarried t The dissembling of couiuâ—all imperfections is very seemly especially in a woman Tullia a great Romane Lady is blamed for her ordinarie complaints murmùring at her husbands disabilitie De viro ad fratrem de sorore ad viruÌ„ se rectius viduam illuÌ„ caelibem futurum Tit. Liu. but like an other Eusebia shee did long suffer for the disabilitie of Constans desiring rather to wrong her youth and beautie then her modestie A while after Blanch Queene of Nauarre died and king Iohn married againe with Ione Henriques Charles Prince of Viana fearing that his alliance would keep him back from the hope of raigning and from the inheritance of the Queene his Mother did not dissemble his discontent u A desire to raigne makes the father iealous of the sonne Plutarc saith in the life of Demetrius that the greatest and most ancient of all Alexanders successors did glorie that he feared not his sonne but suffered him to approch neere his person holding a Iauelin in his band pretending that by the lawes of the Realme his Father by marrying againe had lost the fruit of the Crowne Behold all naturall affection is altered betwixt the Father and the Sonne The desire of rule makes them enemies the Father growes iealous and would not suffer his Sonne to come neere him armed On the other side this second wife seeing her selfe mother to Ferdinand did what she could to show that she was mother in law to Charles x What will not an ambitious mother doe and vndoe for her children D. Ioane lying in the bed of death by reason of a Cankar which did consume her remembring what she had done to assure the Realme vnto her Sonne spake often these words with sighes which are reported in the 21. booke of the history of Spaine O my Son thou hast cost me deare For him she had caused Don Charles to bee poysoned and neuer ceast vntill this young plant were quâ—â—â—ht by the nipping cold of her bad intentions seeking to haue a share in the regencie of the Realme in the absence of the king who had reuiued the warre in Castille Hence sprung those two great factions Factions of Beaumont and Grandmont that of Beaumont which followed the intent of of the Prince against the King and that of Grandmont which was for the father against the sonne so as presently the Realme was diuided into two kings two constables Lewis of Beaumont Earle of Lerin was Constable to the Prince and Peter of Perault was Constable to the king The kings cause as the better and more iust remained victorious the Prince beeing twice ouerthrowne is forced to flye to Alfonso king of Arragon Valencia Sardinia Maiorca Minorca and Sicile hee had recourse vnto his clemencie and besought him to pardon him The king who could not forget the loue of a Father vnto him who shewed the dutie of a Sonne receiues him but hee had new aduertisments that hee made secret practises to trouble him wherefore he sent him prisoner vnto the Alferie of Saragossa from whence hee was drawne by the Cattallans who tooke armes for his libertie Charles of Nâ—uarre poisoned by his mother in law but he went out of the prison to enter into a graue y Charles Prince of Viana died being forty yeares old a valiant Prince a great Historian a subtill Philosopher and a good Poet hee translated Aristotles Ethicks into the Castilain tongue and hee wrote the History of Nauarre vnto the time of King Charles his Grandfather For the very day of his deliuerie he was poisoned and dyed with much repentance for that hee had rebelled against the king his father The Infant Don Ferdinand was acknowledged heyre of the crowne of Arragon They of Cattellonia tooke armes to reuenge the death of Prince Charles The seditious who blow the cole of this desection said that his soule walked in the
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.
house of Armagnac done to France against the English freed him from all suspition of intelligence with them being most certaine that they were neuer no good English men they haue alwaies resisted them they haue spent their liues and goods to expell them out of the realme and had detested them hauing slaine their Predecessors cruelly and inhumainly f Bernard E. of Armagnac Constable of France for maintayning the quarel of the Crowne was slaine at Paris and flead Hee serued the King so courragiously as all good Frenchmen were called Armagnacs But such was the misery of the Age as they must aduow that which was beleeued more by coniecture then by assistance He that is held of all men to be wicked is forced to doe wickedly All waters returne into the sea from whence they flow This goodly Prouince of Armagnac consisting in the lands which are called the Counties of Armagnac and Falensac base Armagnac Perdiac Biran and Baran in the Viconties of Lomagne Auuillar Fesensaguet and Brouliois In the Siegneuries of Lectoure Auzan the base riuer whereas Castellnau stands and Malbourquet Aure Magnoac Barrouce Nestes is wholly come to the crowne of Nauarre vnder the raigne of Henry of Albret King of Nauarre Earle of Foix and Armagnac FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the sixth BOOKE 1 THe Duke of Bourgondies discontent for the death of the Duke of Guienne 2 Cruelties committed at Nesle in Vermandois 3 Memorable Seege of Beauuais 4 Spoile done by the Duke of Bourgondies Armie in Normandy 5 The King drawes the Duke of Brittaine from all intelligence with the Duke of Bourgondy 6 Ambitious desseines of the Duke of Bourgondy for the which hee goes to the Emperour Frederic to Treues 7 Assembly at Bouuines and the Resolution taken against the Constable 8 The King and Constable parle vppon a causey hauing a barre betwixt them 9 New desseignes of the Duke of Bourgondy in Germany 10 The King stirres vp the Arch Duke of Austria the Suisses and some Townes in Germany against the Duke 11 Peter of Hagembach the Duke of Bourgondies Lieftenant beheaded at Brissac 12 Army of the Duke of Bourgondies in the County of Ferrette and vppon the fronter of the County of Bourgondy 13 Places taken and burnt by the Kings troupes vppon the fronter of Picardy and in Artois 14 Ambassage sent by the King vnto the Emperour Frederic who makes answer by an Apologie 15 Continuation of the Siege of Nuze the Constables pollicy 16 Edward King of England passeth into France and sends Letters of defiance vnto the King 17 Wisdome of the King to auoid this storme 18 The Duke of Burgondy leaues the siege of Nuze 19 The Constable failes of his promis made to the King of England and the Duke of Burgundy 20 Ouerture of a peace betwixt the two Kings and conferences of their deputies 21 The King labours to make the Duke of Burgundy vnderstand the Constabels double dealing 22 Truce for nine yeares betwixt the two kinges where-with the Duke of Burgundy is discontented and the wordes he had vpon that subiect with the King of England 23 Good cheere made to the English at Amiens 24 Enteruiew of the two Kings vpon the Bridge of Pyquigny to sweare the peace 25 Wordes which escaped the King vpon the treatie of the peace THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SIXTH BOOKE IF the death of the Duke of Guienne had not put this exception into the Kings mouth Matters are changed his word which was a The simple word of a Prince bindes him as much as othes doe priuaâ— persons AlfoÌ„so Panormi in his life as much as all the othes of his religion bound him to restore Amiens and S t Quentin to the Duke of Bourgundy The Duke who was then in Arâ—ues to recouer them seeing that the King had changed his minde resolued to loose all or to haue all Hee wrote vnto the Townes to rise against him and speakes more vnworthily of him Death of the Duke of Guienâ—e breakes the Treatie then Artaban K of Persia did of Tiberius b Suetonius writes that Artaban railed of Tyberius by his letters reproaching him with his muâ—thers Parricides cowardise veluptuousâ—esse Parricidia caedes ignauiam Luxuriam he exclaimes of him as a Tyrant ouer his subiects a Murtherer of his brother and periured of his promises and in this fury he begins to make war by fire which he had neuer done A kinde of hostilitie vnknowne to Christians and to those generous Nations which carry not their sword to kill but in fighting c To spoile the vanquâ—shed to put thâ—m toraÌ„some and to wast their countries is the iustice of warre but this was neuer allowâ—d â—fter a victorie wâ—en as an enemie yeelds It is a wicked thing saith Plato in his commonweale to burne spoile and make one an others countrie wholly desolate it sufficeth to carrie away their annuall fruiâ—s and who hold that the fewer they kill the more there remaine to honour their triumph He besieged Nesle in Vermandois Cruelties committed at the taking of Nesle into the which the King had put a Captaine called Pettie Picard with three hundred Archers of the Isle of France who defended the Bourguignons assaults valiantly but being prest by necessitie hee accepted of a composition for himselfe and his men to depart with their liues and Armes But the trecherie was strange beeing followed by an excesse of brutish cruelty As soone as the besieged were disarmed the Bourgundians â—lue them Euery man thought that the Church should haue been a Sanctuarie vnto him euery man ranne thither and the souldiers made such a slaughter as the bloud ranne in all places The Captaine and his companions were hanged The Duke was no lesse pleased with the bloud then the sacke of the Towne Entring into the Church he spake these words more fitting for a Busiris then for a Christian Prince and of the bloud of the most Christian Kings d In the Chronicle of Lewis the eleuenth these words are read vppon the desolation of Nesle On Friday the 12. of Iune 1472. the Duke of Bourgundy entred the church on horseback the which was halfe a foote deep with the bloud of poore Creatures which lay naked and dead there And when as the said Bourguignon saw them in this maner hee began to smile and said that he saw a goodly sight that he had with him many good butchers Behold this is goodly I haue good Butchers Inhumane words of the D. of Bourgundy The griefe for the death of Monsieur and for the losse of S. Quentin transported him to these outrages which then were noted by the Cassandras of those times to bee the chiefe cause which prouoked Gods Iustice to cut off the course of his daies in reuenge of innocent bloud e A cruel prince continues not long The Emperor Anastasius the fourth was so and had no religion In the end an old man with a sower countenance
obserue the entrie of the souldiers The King of England being aduertised of this disorder sent to intreat the King not to suffer them to enter That shall not be answered the King but if it please him to send some Archers of his gard to the Port they shall let in whom they will This was done the King hauing by his dissembling obtained that which some greater brute had made difficult But Lewis had no money in his Coffers to pay the summes that were agreed vpon He found how difficult it is to draw money from a multitude in an vrgent necessitie a Although they say that a Prince should haue no other treasure then in subiects purses yet there may fall out such vrgent occasions as if behaue it not in his owne Coffers he is in dangerous estate His Treasurers refused him Paris furnisht this summe vpon assurance to bee repayed within three monethes There remained nothing but to choose a place for the enteruiew of the two Kings Piquigny noted by the Predictions of England This was at Piquigny a towne which the Sibilles of England had long before noted for so great and happie an action They made a barre vppon the bridge of the riuer of Somme in such sort as they might passe their Armes freely yet without any wicket for their bodies the King remembring that he had heard say b That which is past teacheth the present In the like occasion Duke Iohn was slaine at Monter eaufaut Yonne whether he was come vnto the Dauphin who since was Charles the seuenth to treat an accord that the doore which was left at the Barre at Montereau Faut-Yonne did serue to aduance the execution which caused so many calamities in France For Duke Iohn being inuited to passe with three more not two paces off receiued the mortall blow from Taneguy of Chastell The 29. of August 1478. the King came first vnto the Barre for that he was in his owne house Enteruiew of the two Kings at Piquigny and receiued a strange Prince c Many take this ceremonie otherwise and that it is for the greater Prince not to come first vnto the place but to be stayed for He was accompanied by the Duke of Bourbon and the Cardinall of Bourbon his Brother In these actions of shew hee tooke delight to haue some one attired like himselfe Phil. de Commines was so that day He had eight hundred men Edward came thither after being aduertised by a Gentleman of the Kings arriuall The Duke of Clarence his Brother did accompanie him thither The Duke of Glocester would not bee there for this Truce discontented him he had behinde him all his Armie in Battell either of them had twelue Noblemen d Princes shold neuer meet at a Parle but with equall assurances of either side Philip K. of Macedon would not goe to land but did parle from the prow of his galley with I. F. who was vpon the shore and beeing demanded by him of whom he stood in feare I feare not any man answered Philip but the immortall Gods but I trust not them I see with you Tit. Liu. lib. 32. to accompanie him There were foure English Lords on Lewis side and as many French of Edwards to see if there were any practise to the preiudice of their master Edward ware a Cap of blacke Veluet Edward a goodly Prince with a great Iewell of stones made like a Flower-de-Luce a goodly Prince and of a gallant stature but began to grow grosse e Phil. de Cō saith that Edward was one of the goodliest Princes of that age but at this enteruiew hee began to grow grosse Beauty is a qualitie which doth adorne the rest which are necessarie in a Prince But this is vaine without the rest it is more fitting for a woman and serues but to please Maximin son to the Emperor Maximin was so fair as the women desired to be beloued of him and that hee would make them mothers Iul. Cap. Comming within two or three paces of the Barre he put off his Cap and made two or three low reuerences before hee came vnto the King who attended him leaning vpon the barre after very kinde imbracings to make the heart speake by these demonstrations of loue and affection the Peace was sworne vpon the mass-Masse-booke and the Crosse. The King who knew Edwards humor fitted his Discourse to entertaine him with a content which cost him nothing entermixing still some merry speech among their most serious affaires And for that Edward had youth beauty and loue in him hee intreated him not to returne into England before he had seene the Ladies of Paris and that the Cardinall of Bourbon who was their present should giue him absolution Edward shewed by his eyes and his silence that this Sumons was pleasing vnto him The King prest him no farther The King offers that which hee would not haue accepted remembring that his Predecessors had beene too familiar there These two Princes were so cunning as it was hard for the one to haue any aduantage of the other the policy of the one appeared outward and the other kept his close within f Some shew their Art at the first incounter others hold it secret and there the deceit is not discouered before one is deceiued Heerevnto is applyed the controuersie which was betwixt the Foxe and the Leopard for the variety of their skinnes The Leopard bragd that his was fairest without being marked with diuers spots that is nothing said the Foxe my variety is within They conferred long together to open their hearts one vnto an other or rather for Lewis to discouer Edwards thoughts who for that he was not like vnto him in iudgement and experience was not so warie The King found that hee had an extreme desire to assist and defend the Duke of Brittany and that hee held himselfe bound vnto it saying that hee had neuer found a better friend at need As for the Duke of Bourgundy hee did not seeme to bee so carefull of his fortune for when as the King said vnto him What shall wee doe if my Brother of Bourgundy will not enter into the Truce The King of England answered Lewis soūds K. Edwards thoughts I will summon him againe and if he will not hearken to it I referre my selfe to you two The Constables fortune remained In the first conference of the Treatie the King of England being highly offended that hee had fayled of his word had said that hee could let the King know his bad seruants and how to conuict them of treason towards his Maiestie The Deputies had not much regarded it holding it to be a pollicie to terrifie the King with such practises and Intelligences and although there had been some thing yet the estate of the Kings affaires did not allow of too curious a search of the fidelity of his subiects g There are seasons when as it is not good to discouer all diseases
an enemie who departs discontented x Words of contempt or mockery inflame mens hearts to other resolutions theÌ„ are expected Cabades a Captaine of Persia besieging Amida and finding 〈◊〉 that the siâ—ge would be long difficult resoluâ—a to leaue it The inhabitaÌ„ts grown proud thereat came running to the waâ—s calling him coward and mocking at his retreat Wherewith Cabadeâ— was so incensed as â—e returned prest forced and spoiled the Towne The Deputies of either side met but could not agree euerie one seeking to maintaine his owne The King told his that he would not haue so many words and causing the Dukes deputies to come he shut himselfe in with them and before they parted concluded a Truce for nine yeares beginning the 13. of September 1475. and ending the same day in the yeare 1484. The Duke would haue Baldwin Bastard of Bourgundy the Lord of Renty Iohn de Chata and Philip de Commines excluded and to loose the benefit of this Truce the which notwithstanding was not so soone published to saue the Dukes oth who had sworne not to hearken vnto it so soone As they were vpon the Treatie the King of England being discontented that the Duke of Bourgundy treated apart sent Thomas of Montgomerie vnto the King to assure him that be would return in the Spring with a mighty Armie to finish the Duke of Bourgundies ruine but the King who loued him well where he was answered that the Truce which was then in question was no other then what had been made with him without any alteration but that the Duke desired to haue his Letters Patents apart Thus a peace was made both with the English and Bourgundians These mists which were so thick as there was no hope to see the Sunne all the day were disperced in a moment leauing France in the same cleerenes that it was before The wisemen of those times saw and did acknowledge the particular care of Gods prouidence ouer this Monarchy hauing by his singular grace escaped so terrible a storme It was not the first brunt nor the greatest fit which tryed the firmenes of her forces The foundations of this Estate are so well layed y Al the estates in the world haue tried her Inconstancie what are become of the Empires of Assiria of Persia of Media of Egypt of Iudea of Macedon Quicquid in altum â—ortuna tulit ruitura leuat Whatsoeuer fortune hath raised on high is to fall againe And Plato saies that euery thing is in this world as vpon Euripus sometimes aboue sometimes beneath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her lawes haue so wisely preuented all kindes of accidents that although there bee nothing constant in the world and that nature turnes euery thing sometimes aboue sometimes beneath yet it stands amidst the greatest shakings and supports it selfe like a Colosse with his owne waight The composition of this body is so strong and vigorous as it entertaines it selfe euen with his excesse and disorders other Estates with all their good order are not in better case and the least disorder they commit brings their life in danger z Plutark said that the reputation of Sparta was like vnto a body which alwaies tooke a dyet which was distempered with the least disorder The Kings wisedome was the Instrument of Gods prouidence to free this Realme from the danger which did threaten it It is true that if necessitie which hath no law did not excuse the proceedings of this Prince and if the honour of the action did not remaine to him that hath the profit there might be exceptions taken to that which the King did to haue this Peace A wise Prince and lesse fearefull would haue aduentured a Battell rather then be subiect to his enemies pride but these high and generous formes of treating are buried in the ruines of proud and triumphant Rome and there is nothing remaining but admiration which the History represents The Romans neuer receiued condition nor capitulation a As the Romans did neuer receiue offers nor conditions from an enemy so long as he was armed so did they neuer goe whether they called them If thou beest mighty thou maist force me if thou canst not I must goe whether my commoditie leades me from an armed enemie they neuer made retreat in disorder Neuer did Generall of a Roman Armie giue place to any one were he a King Neuer did they in strange Prouinces quit the markes of their authoritie Neuer did they allow a stranger how great so euer to enter into their lodging on horseback b When as Tigranes came to Pompey to yeeld himselfe into his hands the Sargeants told him that he must light for that no man was euer seene to enter on horseback into the Romans lodgings Plâ—t And in a word neuer had Prince his minde and resolutions raised to more generositie FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the seuenth BOOKE 1 THe Constables perplexitie after the peace 2 The King sends for the Constable 3 The Constable leaues S. Quentin and retires to Mons in Hainault 4 The King seazeth on S. Quentin and summons the Duke of Bourgundy to effect the Article of the Assembly of Bouuines touching the Constable 5 Hee is deliuered to the King and conducted to the Bastille his processe made condemned to die and executed 6 Profit and blame which the Duke of Bourgundy receiued by the Constables death 7 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy in Lorraine 8 Attempt vpon the Dukes life discouered by the King 9 Armie of the Dukes against the Suisses 10 The Kings voyage to Lyon 11 Siege of Granson The Suisses giue and winne a Battell and recouer Granson with a great spoile 12 The Duke seeks vnto the King for a continuance of the Truce 13 Rene of Aniou King of Sicile comes to the King at Lyon 14 Duke of Bourgundies Army before Morat defeated by the Suisses 15 The Suisses enter into the countrie of Vau and the Duke retires into the Franche Conty 16 Yoland Duchesse of Sauoy the Kings Sister leaues the Bourgundian party 17 Alfonso of Portugall comes to demand succors of the King 18 Henry the fourth King of Castille declared vnworthy of the Crowne 19 Accord betwixt the King of Castille and the King of Portugall 20 Affliction heauines and griefe of the Duke of Bourgundy after the Battel of Morat 21 Rene Duke of Lorraine besiegeth and takes Nancy 22 Armie of the Duke of Bourgundy before Nancy and treason of Cont Campobasso 23 Defeat of the Duke of Bourgundy and his death an obseruation of his courage and a memorable example of his Iustice. 24 Death of Galeas Duke of Milan THE HISTORY of LEVVIS the XI THE SEVENTH BOOKE AT the Treaty of Piquigny the Constable of Saint Paul resembled a Tree beaten with three contrary winds which notwithstanding conspyre all together to teare it vp by the roote The Constable in ill terms with all men a Great wits doe often-times commit great errors and you
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
might be helpt by his nourishment hee did not care to breed him vp in those vertues which are worthy of a Prince These defects proceeded not so much from the fathers fault as from the time p In thâ—se daies they held that learning did wrong to courage and the most valâ—ant of those times were very grosse and ignâ—rant They say also that Italy being giuen more to learning then Armes had giuen a great aduantage to them that had conquered it where the old errour was sworne by the greatest Families that the study of learning did daunt their courages Hee would not haue him learne any more Lattine then these few words Qui nescit dissmulare nescit regnare q King Lewis the 11. would not haue his sonne learne any other Art but how to dissemble in the which he had pasi Maister he also said that in reading bookes he should find so many accidents and perils as he would becomelesse couragious A Prince leaues his sonne learned enough when he hath made him capable to force obedience Obedience is the Science of Princes r There is not any Science necessary for a Prince but to command well and to bee well obeyed Of his two daughters hee loued none but her whom hee gaue to the Duke of Bourbon the eldest was a sadde encounter to his eyes Hee fayled also in the affection which hee ought vnto the mother for hee gaue her not so good a share of his heart as shee ought to haue had CLAVDIVS of Seyssell saith That whilst hee was in the vigour of his age hee was not loyall of his person Hee alwaies kept her meanely attended in some Castell for the most part whether hee went some times to see her Lewis the 11. a bad Husband more for a desire to haue Issue then for any delight hee tooke in her and for the feare shee had of him and his sowre vsage of her it is credible that shee had no great delight nor pleasure in his company But that which is worse towards the end of his daies hee sent her into Dauphiné and did expressely command that shee should not bee neere his sonne when hee should bee King Of all the contentments of life that of marriage is most to bee desired It is a roughs passage the waies are flanked with Bushes and Thomes it is impossible to go vnto the end of it but some Brier or Bramble will catch hold of you s Marriage is good of it selfe but it is subiect to bad accidents To explaine this truth Gregory brings a comparison of a way which is cleane and straight yet hath on either side brambles which may catch hold In via quidem munda non offendimur sed à latere nascitur quo pungamur We are not hurt in a cleane way but it growes from the sides wherewith we are prickt Greg. 12. Moral And the great Prince which did draw all sorts of Sciences aboundantly out of the Treasures of the Eternall Wisedome doth number the concord of Marriage among his chiefest felicities holding him happy that hath a wise wife and aduowing that there is not any thing more pleasing vnto God then Nuptiall Concord That of brethren is no lesse pleasing vnto him Lewis bad to his brother there was not any betwixt the King and the Duke of Guienne his brother and wee cannot say that of them which is written of the two Twinnes t Two brethren were held Twinnes for that being toucht with the same Infirmity the beginning progresse and declining was equall in either of them August lib 5. de Ciuit. that the one had a feeling of anothers infirmity There was no resemblance of Complexions and Will betwixt them The Duke of Guienne hauing seene that his presumptions in the League of the Common-weale and those of the Dukes of Brittany Bourgundy Bourbon had beene recompensed and to draw fauours from the King it was good to make himselfe to bee feared hee still continued his practises with them that might terrifie him and held his spirit in the apprehensions of warre This great rigour which the King vsed towards him might well bee excused and maintained with this great reason not to make the Princes of the bloud great in a time of trouble and liberty If his brother had had a greater share in the State and if his portion had lyen neerer to his enemies the League of the Common-weale had continued longer In the beginning hee thought to content him in giuing the Dutchy of Berry u The Dutchy of Berry was giuen him for his portion in Nouember 1461. in the yeare 1465. he entred into the Dutchy of Normandy and the Lands which the Duke of Orleance held there as the Counties of Mortaigne and Longueuille to him and to his Heires Male then the Dutchy of Normandy with power to impose all sorts of Subsidies But hee did all this onely for the necessity of his affaires and to dispierce and cut assunder the storme of the League Soone after hee draue him out of Normandy and compelled him to retire and with-draw himselfe into Brittany as poore as euer This seuere course was approued and allowed by the three Estates who held it not fit nor conuenient to pull so goodly a Flower from the Crowne saying that hee should rest himselfe contented and satisfied with the offer which the King made him of twelue hundred pounds Sterling yearely rent with the Title of a Dutchy and foure thousand eight hundred pounds Pension x This offer was made according to the Ordonance of King Charles the fift in October 1374. by the which he would that Lewis of France his second son should haue twelue hundred pound sterling yearely rent for his portion and 4000. pounds giuen him to furnish him In the end hee gaue him the gouernement of Guienne but hee commanded Iohn of Popincourt President of the Accounts at Paris not to inuest him with his Letters before hee had deliuered and resigned vp the others and made his renounciation This was but a scantling of the whole peece for of this great spacious and goodly Prouince of Guienne hee had nothing but the Country of Bourdelois Bazadois and Landesse Hee neither enioyed it long nor yet possessed it quietly for being there hee presently found great troubles for the limites and bounds which the Kings Officers stroue and contended for and for the which the Duke of Bourgundy would haue taken Armes but it was compounded and verefied by the Court of Parliament two yeares after Death gaue him a more contented quiet and certaine Portion in the other world If death had not done the like grace to the Duke of Orleance and drawne him out of the cares and afflictions of this life hee had declared the cause of the same resolution the which hee made knowne to King CHARLES the seuenth The violent death of LEVVIS Duke of Orleance his father hauing inuited the English to mount vpon the Stage and there to
question treated by Bodin in the second booke fourth chapter of his Common-weale but very superfluous for there is not any one but knowes therein what he should doe the President la Vacquery whom hee had drawne from the seruice of the Princesse of Flanders came vnto him with a good number of other Presidents and Councellors in their scarlet roabes The King being amazed to see this red procession demanded wherefore they came Sir answered la Vacquerie we come to resigne vp our places into your hands and to endure whatsoeuer it shall please you rather then to wrong our consciences in verifying the Edicts which you haue sent vs. Hee was very sensible of these words of Conscience and did not willingly like of any thing that was spoken to charge it he presently called them backe and promised neuer to doe any thing but what should bee iust and reasonable yet this course was not commended by them who compare a Magistrate leauing his charge for that he cannot allow of the Princes will to a Marriner which abandons the Helme during a Tempest A Magistratâ— should not quit his charge for any respect or to a Physitian who iudging the Disease incurable doth not vovchsafe to apply Remedies to asswage the paine when as hee sees those that may cure it are in vaine In these occasions the examples of good men whom wee must imitate and the aduice of wise men whom wee must honour should carry a light before iudgement Hee who first in France had the keeping of the sacred Seales of two Crownes seeing himselfe sometimes forced to haue the constancy of his duety striue with the absolute commandements of the King shewes how others ouer whom the dignity of his Office his vertues experience and merits giue preheminence should compose and gouerne their Actions When as the King to free himselfe from the Importunity of some Spirites which are hard to content and who abusing discretion in demanding grow discontented when they vse liberty in refusing commandes him to passe the Seale for things which exceede the ordinary formes of Iustice and are both without President and Reason o Example is a cleere light in doubtful things for those which are not grounded vpon example cannot bee maintained by reason Quod exemplo fit id etiam iure fieri putant That which is done ly example that they thinke lawfully done Cic. ad Sulpitium Hee hath beene heard to say that hee should hold himselfe inexcusable vnworthy of his charge and to carry the Title of the first Minister of the Kings Soueraigne Iustice if hee did represent vnto him the wrongs which it receiued in commaunding him things forbidden by the lawes and which should bee odious to his owne iudgement if importunity had not rather wrested then obtained them from his bounty Iustice is the felicity of Empires they haue seene how discreetly to his Admonitions hee added most humble prayers not to wrong the most sacred thing which the wisedome of God hath left to Princes for the felicity of their estates And when these Admonitions haue not preuailed that his Maiestie hath had other motions and that the effects which seemed contrary to Iustice haue made him see causes which Time the Men and the Affaires haue made lawfull and necessary hee hath alwayes conuerted his Reason into Obedience contenting himselfe to haue shewed the integrity of his minde without opposition against the will of his Prince which is aboue the Lawes and doth declare all that iust which doth accomodate his Affaires for there is no Lawe which commaundes a Magistrate to ruine himselfe in maintaining Iustice against the power of his Prince and Wisedome which carries a light before all other vertues will that a man faile in any thing rather then himselfe p Among the Precepts which Polybius sent to Demetrius to draw him out of the danger into which youth and indiscretion had ingaged him this is remarkable Quit all rather then thy selfe When as the Princes will strayes from reason it must bee reclaimed mildly by discretion wee must thinke that hee can doe nothing without the aduice of his Parliaments q Kings haue alwayes had a Councell a part to consult resolue vpon the great affaires of their estate The peeres of France did not enter into the Kings Councel their quality did not priuiledge them if they did not please the King It is also obserued in the Ordonances for the gouernment of the realme and for the Regency in the absence and minority of Kings they doe not in any sort speake of the Peeres of France The King should bee no King if there were in his Realme an Authority aboue his Great resolutions which concerne the safety of the State are not treated of in great Assemblies where as the secret which is as the soule cannot bee long kept in but doth euaporate r Matters are neuer kept secret in great Assemblies whatsoeuer was done in the Senat of Rome was blowne abroad the Senators Children told newes to their Mothers and Titus Liuius wonders that the Embassadors of Greece and Asia had discouered nothing of the speech which King Eumenes had vsed in open Senat against King Perseus Monarkes haue alwayes had a Councell separated from the Senate which is otherwise busied enough with the flowing and ebbing of Sutes and they haue not onely reserued great affaires to their Councell but they would haue chosen persons confifidently to impart vnto them their most important affaires This is not without President for the greatest and most happy Founders of the Roman Empire had besides the Senate a Priuie Councell of few persons s Iulius Caesar had for his priuy Councellors Q. Paedius and Corn. Balbus Augustus had Maecenas and Agrippa with whom hee treated his greatest and most important Affaires The Parliaments haue the care of the execution of the Kings Edicts they publish them and cause them to bee obserued they keepe the Registers that at neede they may haue recourse to them It is true that Princes haue sometimes shewed themselues so absolute in their willes as the wise men of their Councell not beeing able to restraine or moderate them haue often allowed the oppositions which the Parliaments haue made to their Edicts and fauoured them for that they were conformable to reason and agreeing with the publicke good For although the Soueraigne bee aboue the Lawes and that hee may derogate from Right and Law wherein Soueraignty doth properly consist yet it is necessary that the absolute power bee restrained by the Ciuill and that he consider that in destroying the Law and offending Iustice he is like vnto the Iuy which puls downe the wall that beares it vp I leaue it vnto the wise to consider if they did well to put into the mouth of King Charles the ninth Words of K. Charles to the parliament the thirteenth yeare of his Age and the second of his Reigne these wordes t These wordes are
reported by Bodin in the 3 d book of his Common weale the first chapter and hee addes that the Parliament made other admonitions for that there was a diuision vpon the publication of his Letters which gaue occasion of the Decree of the Priuy Councell the 24 of September following by the which the diuision was declared void the Parliament forbidden to put into deliberation the Ordonances proceeding from the King concerning affaires of State the which was also done by letter patents in the yeare 1528. I will not that you deale with any other thing but to doe good and speedy Iustice for the Kings my Predecessors haue not set you in the place where you are but to that effect and not to make you my Tutors nor protectors of the Realme nor preseruers of my Citty of Paris And when I shall commaund you any thing if you finde any difficulty I shall bee content you acquaint me with it which done without any further reply I will bee obeyed But when the State is gouerned by a wise Prince whose reputation is grounded vpon great and eminent vertues they haue no other part in the Estate The Authority of the king is an Ocean but the Honour and the Obedience u The duety of a soueraine Magistrate is to obey the Prince to bend vnder his obedience to coÌ„mand his subiects to defend the warlicke to resist the mighty and to do Iustice to all A Regall power is an Ocean into the which all others like vnto Riuers loose their name They bee as Starres which borrow their light from the Sunne and haue none in his presence It is sometimes necessary that they resist those commandements which haue beene rather extorted by importunity then obtained by reason from the Princes motion and the admonitions which they make in such occasions should bee alwayes considered But if the Prince haue other Reasons and other respects and that his thoughts go not the common way it is not for them to shew themselues difficult neither must they attend a third command and it were better to dissemble and support some things extraordinary to the Princes will then to incense him It is well knowne that the obstinacy and resistance of PAPINIAN to the will of CARACALLA made him more cruell and violent x Caracalla hauing put his brother Geta to death he commended Papinian to make his excuse vnto the Senat. Papinian answered suddenly That he would not do it and that it was not so easie to excuse as to commit a particide Caracalla incensed with this answere put him to death and continued his cruelties which a more discreet proceeding had restrained Spartiat Wise men thinke one thing but they do not vtter it They alwayes wayes goe one way but they goe not still the same pace If a storme hinders them from comming into the hauen it is wisedome to obey the Winde and not to bandy against the Tempest y The Office of a Wise man is comprehended by Cicero in these words Vt in nauigando tempestati obsequi artiâ— est sic omnibus nobis in administranda Repub. propositâ—m esse debet Non idem semper dicere sed idem semper spectare As in sailing it is Art to obey the Tempest so should all wee doe in the gouernment of the Common-weale Not alwayes to speake the same thing but to look to the same end Lewis the eleuenth strained his absolute power vnto the height His Prouost went and tooke prisoners out of the Consergerie of the Pallace and caused them to bee drowned right against the Mercers Grange Towardes the end of his dayes hee found his Conscience much opprest with the contempt of Iustice hee would haue repaired it but he was come to the Sabaoth of the weeke when it was no longer lawfull to labour In Aprill 1482. hee sent vnto the Court of Parliament an Act of the Oath which hee tooke at his Coronation z The King in his Oath at his Coronation doth promise to defend his subiects from all violence wrong and that in all iudgements hee will commaund equity and mercy to the end that God who is mercifull may grant it to him and his subiects to exhort them to doe good Iustice and to free him from that bond It is that wherein the condition of Princes is to bee lamented They are laden with the very weight of their Consciences and with the excesse which hath beene committed throught all the Orders of the Realme for that they haue neglected the remedies What peace can a soule haue which labours to fight against his owne faults and other mens a It is a troublesome enterprise to correct his owne vices and to striue against other mens Neque enim multum prodest vitia sua projecisse si cum alienis rix â—ndum est Neither hath hee profited much that hath cast away his owne faults if hee must contend with other mens SENEC Hee that shall consider how easily hee did communicate with all sorts of persons and how willingly hee did heare them he will thinke that if hee had not a care of Iustice in generall hee had done it to all men in particular But hee erred as well in this as in any other thing But it is equally bad to giue eare to all the World and not to any man and hee made it knowne that in matters which are held perfect among men there is alwayes some thing to bee taken away or added and that is onely perfect where there is nothing wanting nor any thing that exceeds it b There is nothing perfect in the vertues of men Nothing can come from man that is in euery degree perfect Nunquam è mortali semine nascetur qui sit omnibus bonitatis numeris absolutus Hee shall neuer bee borne of mortall seede that shall bee absolute in all goodnesse DIONYS HALIC lib. 8. PHILIP DE COMMINES hath obserued in two places of his History that his eare was open to euery man In the first hee saith Neuer any man did lend so much eare to men nor did enquire of so many things as hee did nor that desired to knowe so many men In the second Hee medled with many meane things of his Realme which hee might well haue forborne but his humour was such and so hee liued And his memory was so great as hee remembred all things and knew all the world both in all Countries and about him It is the office of a King to heare the complaints of his subiects with mildenesse and gentlenesse which doth not blemish Maiesty God who hath constituted them Iudges ouer their Subiects will require reason of the Iustice which hath bene demanded and not done c Kings should giue an account of the administration of Iustice ouer their people Wisd. 6. Audite Reges terrae intelligite discite iudices finium terrae praebete aures vos qui continetis multitudines placetis vobis in turbis nationuÌ„ quoniam data