notwithstanding the Earle of Dunois ambassage in such sort that the towne began to be greatly distressed wherefore the Duke of Orleans and the rest of the noble men of Britaine fearing the losse of the towne departed from Nantes and went to Rennes where they assembled their forces to leuy the siege Their men of armes were fower hundred and their footemen of their owne countries twelue thousande as some write as others but eight thousand besides three hundred English men and eight hundred Swissers and of artillerie they had great plentie Then in very good order they encamped abroad in the fields The names of the noble men of the armie were these the D. of Orleans the Lord of Alebret the Marshall of Rieux the Lord of Chasteaubrian the Lord of Scales an Englishman the Lord of Leon the Lord of Rohans eldest sonne the Lord of Crenettes the Lord of Pont l'Abbe the Lord of Plessis the Lord of Balynes the Lord of Montigny the Lord of Montuet all the which Lords with their companies whole forces encamped at a village called Andouille the wednesday being the 23. of Iuly the yeere 1488. aboue mentioned in the night there was an alarme among the Gascoins whereof it was feared some quarrell would haue growen betweene the Duke of Orleans and the Lord of Alebret but the matter was soone pacified In the mean time came newes to these Lords at the said village of Andouille the saterday the sixe and twenty of the said moneth of Iuly that the French had taken Fongieres by composition with these conditions that the soldiers should depart in safety with bag and baggage vpon which newes the Britains army determined to march to Saint Albin hoping easily to take the towne bicause the French garrison within it was but small and that in the meane time the soldiers that were departed out of Fongieres should ioine with them and increase their forces On the other side the French army marched also towards Saint Albin meaning to be there before the Britains but it so fell out that neither of them entered the towne bicause before they came thither they met fought For you shall vnderstand that the same saterday that the Britains receiued newes of the taking of Fongieres they marched to a village called Orenge two leagues from Saint Albin where they were aduertised that the Kings army marched against them with a ful resolution to fight with them The sunday morning the Britaines consulted of the order of their battell and bicause the footemen were iealous of the French horsemen that were in their campe and namely of the Duke of Orleans himselfe it was thought good that he and the Prince of Orenge should leaue their horses and put themselues on foote in the battell among the Swissers and so they did The vaward was lead by the Marshall of Rieux the battel by the Lord of Alebret and the rereward by the Lord of Chasteaubrian vpon one of their wings was placed their artillerie and their carriage And the more to terrifie the French with the great number of English men whereas there were in truth but three hundred English men lead by the Lord Talbot seauenteen hundred Britain footemen were ioined to them armed with iacks and red crossâ—s English like and the monday morning they raunged themselues in battell in this order aboue rehearsed hard by a groue of wood attending the French army The Kings army whereof Master Lewis of Trimouille Vicount of Touars being fiue or sixe and twenty yeeres of age was generall departed out of Fongieres with a full resolution to fight with the Britains The vaward was lead by Adrian de l'hospitall and Gabriell of Montfalzoys before the which ten or twelue valiant French knights aduanced themselues to discouer the Britains actions whose good order when they had viewed they retired to their company theÌ„ being in troupe al close ioined togither approched the Britaines army the artillerie in the meane time playing on both sides and greatly endammaging both the parties The French marched very couragiously and charged the Britaines vawarde where the Marshall of Rieux valiantly receiued them and acquit himselfe so well both he and his companie that the French left the vaward marched straight vpon the Britaines battell where the Britaine horsemen recoiled by meanes whereof their rereward being discouraged fled Then the French pursued them and slue all the footemen they could ouertake which disorder when the Britaine vaward perceiued they also disparkled and sought to saue themselues To conclude the French obtained the victorie and slue all those that bare the red crosse supposing they had beene all English men togither with twelue or thirteene hundred Britaines as well horsemen as footemen The Duke of Orleans was taken by the footemen and likewise the Prince of Orenge who had pulled away his blacke crosse from him and had laid himselfe flat vpon the ground among the dead bodies faining himselfe to be slaine but he was knowen by a French archer and both he and the Duke of Orleans led prisoners to Saint Albin vnder sure garde The Lord of Alebret seeing all ouerthrowen fled away and escaped The Marshall of Rieux also saued himselfe and retired to Dinan The Lord of Leon the Lord du Pont l'Abbe the Lord of Montfort and diuers other noble men of Britaine were slaine and of other soldiers to the number of sixe thousand of the Kings part was slaine Iames Galeot a valiant and a renowmed captaine and to the number of a thousand or twelue hundred common soldiers This battell was fought vpon monday the 28. of Iuly the yeere 1488. Soone after the Duke of Orleans was led to the castell of Luzignen and from thence to Poictiers where he remained a certaine space and lastly to the great tower of Bourges The second day after the battell the Lord of Trimouille sent certaine heraults to Reims to summon the towne to yeeld to the King who after consultation had answered the said heraults that the King had no right to the towne and that wrongfully and without cause he made war vpon the countrie of Britaine and that notwithstanding his great armie he could not ouerrun the countrie as he hoped for God who defended the Britaines right was able to do as much to him as he did to King Iohn before Poictiers and to King Philip of Valois at Crecy adding further that they would not yeeld the towne and that if Monseur de la Trimouille came thither he should finde fortie thousand men in the towne whereof twenty thousand were men of defence This answer was reported to the said Trimouille who staied a long time without replying one word thereunto and afterwards by the same heraults aduertised the King thereof being at Angiers Whereupon the King assembled his Councell to determine what was to be done in this case Some yea almost all were of opinion that the towne should be besieged but Master VVilliam of Rochfort Chauncellor of Fraunce held the contrarie opinion
author that writ of those times But on the contrary side for the cōfirmation of that which Commines writeth in this place first La Marche reporteth that the bloodie fluxe entered into the Dukes campe lying before Nuz which it is verie like consumed many and impaired the health of many more With him also agree the Annales of Burgundie which report that the Duke lost 15000. men before Nuz which being well considered and this withall that the siege endured a whole yeere and yet in the ende the Duke forced to depart frustrate of his purpose whereby his soldiers had not onely their bodies tired but also their mindes discouraged I suppose no man of sounde iudgement will thinke that the Dukes armie could be otherwise than in verie poore estate Now that you haue heard all that Meyer hath or can obiect against the credit of this historie which also how substancially he hath prooued I leaue to the iudgement of the wise and indifferent reader to consider it is good reason you should also heare what opinion other authors haue both of Commines and of his historie and how honorable testimonie in their writings they giue to them both Annales Burgundiae lib. 3. pa. 930. speaking of Commines testifie thus of him He was one of the wisest gentlemen of his time and the best acquainted with all matters of state as appeereth by his historie whereof the Emperour Charles made so great account that he neuer slept before he had read certaine chapters thereof for the finishing of his daies worke Which sure this noble and sage Emperor would neuer haue done if Commines had been a reporter of lies especially of the said Emperours owne great grandfather whose life and death are so amplie in this historie treated of Paulus Aemilius giueth such credit to Commines that al that he writeth in the history of France of the raigne of Lewis the 11. is onely an abridgment of him wholy taken out of his writings Ferron in his supply to Paulus Aemilius historie maketh in many places very honorable mention of Commines highly commending him both for his great wisedome and vertue and sinceritie in his historie Lodouico Guicciardini no French man but an Italian in his description of the lowe Countries fol. 220. calleth Commines a writer woorthie of great commendation And fol. 310. and 311. thus he writeth Of the Noble house of Commines was Philip de Commines Lord of Argenton who wrote the historie of his owne time verie sincerely he was a noble personage of great enterprise and of him diuers authors make honorable mention Heere we haue the true testimonie of sundrie woorthie writers for to vouche all were too tedious on Commines behalfe which ioined with the approbation of the noble Emperour Charles the fift are sufficient as I suppose to maintaine his credit against the venemous dartes of Meyers sclanderous accusations Now as touching Commines life the onely thing that Meyer blameth therein is his departure from the Duke of Burgundies seruice for the which he inueigheth no lesse bitterly against his person than before he did against his historie for fol. 355. where he maketh mention of the Duke of Burgundies cruelty vsed at the castle of Nesle which he tooke by assault the yeere 1472. he hath these wordes Crudelis hic visus Corolus animo turbato crediturque quosdam ex familiaribus parum habuisse fideles ex quibus hand dubie er at Philippus ille Cominius or tu Flandrus Dominus Ruscurii qui hoc anno transfugit adregem quisivir fuisset probus integer nequaquam deserto Dominc suo deserta abiurata patria ad talem transisset tyrannum aliosque ad idem faciendum solicitasset quantiscunque muneribus inuitatus Againe fol. 366. thus he saith Causam cur transfugerit aliisque nonnullis author fuerit idem faciendi non lego cum autem Cominius in suis scriptis causam suae defectionis reticeat non dubium puto quin ob faedum aliquod patratum scelus more proditorum aufugerit Whereunto somewhat to answere in Commines behalfe I say that what cause mooued him to leaue the Duke as we certainely know not so is it not like that he departed from him for any heinous offence bicause he was neuer charged with any neither is Meyer able to produce any one testimonie as euen himselfe in this place is forced to confesse that he forsooke the Duke in any treacherous sort neither is he able to prooue that he sollicited any to leaue the Dukes seruice during the Dukes life though without all proofe most vniustly he charge him therewith For if Commines had departed with the betraying of townes and castles to the enimy as de Cordes did if for attempting to destroie the Dukes person as Baldwine the Dukes base brother and the Earle of Estampes his cosin did if for both as the Earle of Campobasso did his offence could no more haue beene concealed than the others aboue mentioned was Wherefore as Meyer reasoneth that bicause Commines no where in his writings vttereth the cause of his departure it is like he departed for some hainous offence so one the other side with much more reason it may be answered that bicause neither Meyer nor any other Historiographer in their writings vtter the cause of his departure like it is that he departed for no hainous offence but onely for his owne aduancement or safetie or both without seeking by traiterous practises to harme the Duke as the aboue named with diuers others did But let vs now examine what by all presumption was the cause of his departure from the Duke and secondarily whether his departure from one Master to another being in hostilitie be excusable which two points being throughly discussed it shall plainly appeere to the world whether he be iustly to be charged with any euill dealing for leauing the Duke of Burgundie his first Master and vnder whose dominion he was borne As touching the first point I am of opinion that Commines by his departure from the Duke of Burgundie sought both his owne aduauncement and his safetie the former whereof he had iust cause to hope for at King Lewis his hands as a thing well deserued at the Kings being at Peronne where Commines wisedome and great credit with the Duke of Burgundie as say the Annales of Burgundie stood the King in so good stead that by his onely meanes he was restored to his realme libertie and life which otherwise had beene in great danger as by the course of this historie most plainly doth appeere Wherefore Commines could not but assure himselfe of great aduauncement at King Lewis his hands as well bicause of the Kings great liberalitie as also for his owne desert neither did his hope faile him as the sequele well declared On the other side at the Dukes hands no great aduauncement was to be looked for both bicause the qualitie of his seruice to the Duke and the King was not alike and so consequently the desert
and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates page 40 Chap. 15 How by the diuision that hapned betweene the Dukes of Britaine and Normandy the King recouered the said Duchie which he had giuen his brother page 42 Chap. 16 How the new Duke of Normandy returned into Britaine in very poore estate and vtterly discouraged bicause he had failed in his enterprise page 43 The second Booke Chap. 1 Of the wars betweene the Burgundians and Liegeois and how the towne of Dinand was taken sacked and rased page 45 Chap. 2 How the Liegeois brake the peace with the Duke of Burgundie then Earle of Charalois and how he discomfited them in battell page 48 Chap. 3 How some of the Citizens of Liege agreeing to yeeld their towne and others refusing so to do the Lord of Hymbercourt found meanes to enter into it for the Duke of Burgundy page 52 Chap. 4 How the Duke of Burgundy made his entrie into the towne of Liege and how the citizens of Gaunt where he had beene euill intreated before humbled themselues vnto him page 55 Chap. 5 How the King seeing what had happened to the Liegeois made war in Britaine vpon the Duke of Burgundies confederats and how they two met and communed togither at Peronne page 57 Chap. 6 A discourse wherein is declared how greatly learning especially in histories profiteth Princes and Noble men page 60 Chap. 7 How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castle of Peronne by the D. of Burgundies commandement page 62 Chap. 8 A discourse wherein is shewed that an enteruiew betweene two great Princes for treatie of their affaires hurteth more than profiteth page 64 Chap. 9 How the King to deliuer himselfe out of the castle of Peronne renounced his league with the Liegeois page 67 Chap. 10 How the King accompanied the Duke of Burgundie making war vpon the Liegeois who before were his confederates page 69 Chap. 11 How the King arriued in person with the Duke of Burgundy before the citie of Liege page 71 Chap. 12 How the Liegeois made a desperate salie vpon the Duke of Burgundies men where he and the King were in great danger page 73 Chap. 13 How the city of Liege was assaulted taken and spoiled and the Churches also page 75 Chap. 14 How King Lewis returned into Fraunce with the Duke of Burgundies consent and how the Duke proceeded in destroying the countries of Liege and Franchmont page 77 Chap. 15 How the K. by subtill meanes perswaded the Lord Charles his brother to take the Duchie of Guienne for Brie and Champaigne to the Duke of Burgundies discontentment page 80 The third Booke Chap. 1 How the King tooke occasion to make war anew vpon the Duke of Burgundy and how he sent a Purseuant of the Parlament of Gaunt to sommon him to appeere at Paris page 82 Chap. 2 How the townes of Saint Quintin and Amiens were yeelded to the King and for what causes the Constable nourished the war between the K. and the Duke of Burgundy page 84 Chap. 3 How the Duke of Burgundy tooke Piquigni and afterward found meanes to make truce with the King for a yeere to the Constables griefe page 86 Chap. 4 Of the wars among the Princes of England during these troubles betweene King Lewis and Charles Duke of Burgundy page 89 Chap. 5 How by King Lewis his aide the Earle of Warwicke chased King Edward out of England to the Duke of Burgundies great griefe who receiued him into his countries page 92 Chap. 6 How the Earle of Warwicke tooke out of prison King Henry of England page 96 Chap. 7 How king Edward returned into England where he slew in battell first the Earle of Warwicke and then the Prince of Wales page 99 Chap. 8 How the wars reuiued betweene king Lewis and Charles D. of Burgundy by the sollicitation of the Dukes of Guienne and Britaine page 101 Chap. 9 How the finall peace treated of betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the king brake off bicause of the Duke of Guiennes death and how these two great Princes sought to deceiue each other page 105 Chap. 10 How the Duke of Burgundy seeing that he could not take Beaunais before the which he had laid his siege went to Roan page 108 Chap. 11 How the king made peace with the Duke of Britaine and truce with the Duke of Burgundy how the Earle of Saint Paul escaped for that time a conspiracie that these two Princes made against him page 110 Chap. 12 A discourse very fit for this place of the wisedome of the king and the Constable with good aduertisements to such as are in credite with Princes page 114 The fourth Booke Chap. 1 How the Duke of Burgundie being seazed of the Duchie of Gueldres sought to encroch further vpon the Almaines and how he laid his siege before Nuz page 116 Chap. 2 How the towne of Nuz was succoured by the Emperor and the Almaines against the Duke of Burgundie and of other enimies that the king procured the Duke page 120 Chap. 3 How the king wan from the Duke of Burgundie the castell of Tronquey the townes of Montdidier Roye and Corby and how he sought to perswade the Emperor Frederic to seiz vpon all that the said Duke held of the Empire page 122 Chap. 4 How the Constable began to be had in suspition againe as well of the king as of the Duke of Burgundy page 124 Chap. 5 How the Duke of Burgundy leuied his siege before Nuz by composition and how the king of England his confederate sent to defie king Lewis page 126 Chap. 6 Of the trouble the Constable was in and how he sent letters of credit to the king of England and the Duke of Burgundy which after were in part cause of his death page 129 Chap. 7 How the king clothed a poore seruant in a cote armor with a scutchin and sent him to speake with the king of England in his campe where he receiued a very good answere page 131 Chap. 8 How truce for nine yeeres was treated of betweene the kings of Fraunce and England notwithstanding all the lets and impediments that the Constable and the Duke of Burgundy made page 133 Chap. 9 How the king feasted the English men in Amiens and how there was a place assigned for the enteruiew of the two kings page 136 Chap. 10 How the two kings met and sware the treatie before concluded and how some supposed that the holy Ghost came downe vpon the king of Englands pauilion in the likenes of a white pigeon page 140 Chap. 11 How the Constable after the truce made with the English men sought to excuse himselfe to the king and how truce was also concluded for nine yeeres betweene the king and the Duke of Burgundie page 143 Chap. 12 How the Constables death was fully concluded and sworne betweene the king and the Duke of Burgundy and how he went into the Dukes dominions where by his commandement he was
a strong village at the least a strong house into the which no man could enter but by a draw bridge which was a happy chance for him the rest of his armie lay in other villages round about But as he sat at dinner suddenly one came running in and brought newes that the Marques of Montague the Earles brother and certaine other were mounted on horsebacke and had caused all their men to crie God saue King Henry Which message the King at the first beleeued not but in all haste sent other messengers foorth and armed himselfe and set men also at the barriers of his lodging to defend it He was accompanied with the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain of England a wise Knight and of the greatest authoritie about him who was maried to the Earle of Warwicks sister yet notwithstanding was true and faithfull to his Master and had three hundred horse vnder his charge in the Kings armie as himselfe told me With the King was also the Lord of Scales the Queene of Englands brother and diuers other valiant Knights and Esquires who all perceiued that this busines went not well for the messengers brought word that the report was true and that the enimies assembled to assault the King But God so prouided for the King that he lodged hard by the sea side neer a place where a little ship laden with victuals that followed his armie and two hulks of Holland fraughted with merchandise lay at anchor he had no other shift but to run to saue himselfe in one of them 1 The Lord Chamberlaine staied awhile behinde him and talked with the lieutenant of his band and diuers other particular men in the Kings armie willing them to go to the enimies but to beare true and faithfull harts to the King and him which talke ended he went aboord to the rest being ready to depart Now you shall vnderstand that the custome in England is after the victorie obtained neither to kill nor raunsome any man especially of the vulgar sort knowing all men then to be ready to obey them bicause of their good successe Wherfore these soldiers after the Kings departure receiued no harme Notwithstanding K. Edward himself told me that in albattels that he wan so soon as he had obtained victory he vsed to mount on horsebacke and cry too Saue the people and kil the nobles for of them few or none escaped Thus fled King Edward the yeere 1470. with two hulks and a little bote of his owne countrie accompanied with seuen or eight hundred persons hauing none other apparell than they ware in the wars vtterly vnfurnished of mony and hardly knowing whither they went Strange it was to see this poore King for so might he now well be called to flie after this sort pursued by his owne seruants and the rather for that he had by the space of twelue or thirteene yeeres liued in greater pleasures and delicacies than any Prince in his time for he had wholy giuen himselfe to dames hunting hawking and banketting in such sort that he vsed when he went a hunting in the sommer season to cause many pauilions to be pitched to solace himselfe there with the Ladies And to say the truth his personage serued aswel to make court as any mans that euer I knew for he was yong as goodly a gentleman as liued in our age I meane in this time of his aduersitie for afterward he grew maruellous grosse But behold now how he fel into the trobles aduersities of the world He sailed straight towards Holland and at that time the Easterlings were enimies both to the English men and the French and had many ships of war vpon the sea wherefore they were much feared of the English men and not without cause for they were very good soldiers and had done them great harme that yeere and taken many prises These Easterlings discried afar off the ships wherin the King fled and seuen or eight of them began to make saile after him but in vaine for he was far before them and fell vpon the coast of Holland or somwhat lower for he arriued in Freezland by a little towne called Alquemare 2 as neere the which as was possible his mariners cast anchor for bicause it was ebbing water they could not enter the hauen The Easterlings came in like maner and anchored hard by them minding to boord them the next tide Thus we see that one mischiefe neuer commeth without company King Edwards good successe was now cleane altered and his thoughts quite changed for not past fifteene daies before this misfortune he would little haue beleeued him that had told him that the Earle of Warwicke should chase him out of England and subdue the whole country in eleuen daies for in that smal space he brought it to due obedience Further he mocked the Duke of Burgundie for spending his treasure in defending the sea and wished that the Earle were already landed in England But what excuse could he make now for himselfe receiuing so great losse through his owne fault saue this that such a mishap was not to be doubted of which excuse a Prince growen to mans estate ought to be ashamed for it will not serue Wherefore let King Edwards example teach all Princes that thinke it shame to feare their enimies to be wise in time for notwithstanding that the greatest part of their seruants through flatterie vphold their sayings and that themselues also by such words suppose to purchase an opinion of great courage yet sure whatsoeuer is said to their face wise men account such language but meere folly for it is great honor to feare that which is to be feared and to prouide for it accordingly Further a wise man in a Princes companie is a great treasure and iewell if he may be beleeued and haue leaue to speake the truth By chance the Lord of Gruteuse the Duke of Burgundies lieutenant in Holland was at that present in the place where King Edward arriued who being aduertised by certaine that the King sent to land both of his arriuall and of the danger he was in of the Easterlings gaue commandement foorthwith to the said Easterlings not to touch him and went also himselfe into the Kings ship to welcome him And thus he landed 3 being accompanied with his brother the Duke of Glocester who afterward named himselfe King Richard and a traine of fifteen hundred persons The King had not one peny about him but gaue the Master of the ship for his passage a goodly gowne furred with martins promising one day to do him a good turne and as touching his traine neuer so poore a company was seen But the Lord of Gruteuse dealt very honorably with them for he gaue much apparel among them defraied the King to La Hay in Holland whither he himselfe also waited vpon him Afterward he aduertised the Duke of Burgundie of this aduenture who was maruellously abashed at the newes and had much rather haue heard of the
the Earle and his brother with a great number of gentlemen and the slaughter of the poore people was also great For King Edward at his departure out of Flaunders resolued to cry no more to saue the people and kill the nobles but he had conceiued extreeme hatred against the communalty of England both for the great fauor they bare the Earle of Warwick and for other respects also wherefore at this battell he spared them not Of the Kings side died about fifteene hundred and the field was valiantly fought At the time of this battell the Duke of Burgundie lay before Amiens where he receiued letters from the Duches his wife that King Edward hir brother was not a little discontented with him alleaging that the aide he gaue him was giuen in euil sort and with euill will so far foorth that he was almost vtterly forsaken of him and to say the truth the King and he after this neuer loued one an other Notwithstanding the Duke supposing that this victory would greatly further his affaires caused the newes to be published in all places I had forgotten to tell you how King Edward finding King Henry at London lead him with him into the battell aboue mentioned This King Henry was a very simple man and almost an innocent and if I haue not heard a lie incontinent after the battell the Duke of Glocester K. Edwards brother who afterward named himselfe K. Richard slue this holy man K. Henry with his own hands or caused him to be slaine in his presence in some secret place 2 The Prince of Wales was landed in England when this battell aboue mentioned was fought hauing in his company the Dukes of Excester and Sommerset with diuers others of his kinsfolkes and ancient folowers of his house His army was to the number of forty thousand as I haue been informed by diuers that were with him and if the Earle of Warwicke would haue staied for him it is very like the victory would haue been theirs But the Earle feared both the Duke of Sommerset whose father and brother he had slaine and also Queene Margaret the Princes mother wherefore he fought alone and would not tarie for them 3 Marke heere by this example how long ancient factions and partialities endure how much they are to be feared and what great damage ensueth thereof So soone as King Edward had obteined this victory he marched incontinent against the Prince of Wales where another cruell battell was fought for the Princes force was greater than the Kings notwithstanding the lot of victory fell to the King and the Prince was slaine vpon the place 4 with diuers other great Lords and a maruellous number of common soldiers The Duke of Sommerset was taken and the next day beheaded In eleuen daies the Earle of Warwicke subdued the whole realme of England at the least brought it to obedience and in one and twenty King Edvvard recouered it hauing fought two great and cruell battels Thus you see what sudden mutations haue been in England K. Edvvard caused many of the people to be put to death in many places especially such as had made assemblies against him And from that day forward raigned peaceably in England till his death though not without great trouble and vexation of minde I will heere end my discourse of these English affaires till time and occasion serue in some other place only adding this that of all the nations in the world the English men are most desirous to try their quarrels by dint of sword The Notes 1 Our Chronicles report that the Duke turned on the Kings side at Couentrie before the Kings comming to London and they vary also in other circumstances from our author 2 Our histories report otherwise of King Henries death for he was slain in the Tower and not so soone after the battell 3 Our Chronicles report that the Duke of Sommer set was at Barnet field with the Earle of VVarvvicke and repaired afterward to the Queene and was taken in the second battell and then be he aded 4 Our histories write that the Prince was not slaine in the battell but soone after hauing had communication with King Edward How the wars reuiued betweene King Lewis and Charles Duke of Burgundy by the sollicitation of the Dukes of Guienne and Britaine Chap. 8. I Wil now return to our affairs on this side the sea wherof I haue made no mention since the Duke of Burgundies departure from before Amiens the Kings returne into the country of Touraine and the Duke of Guienne his brother into Guienne The saide Duke of Guienne continued still his sute aboue mentioned for his mariage with the Duke of Burgundies daughter whereunto the said Duke in word euer shewed himselfe willing but in deede meant nothing lesse both bicause he purposed to vse hir as an instrument whereby to entertaine all the world and a marchandise to put euery man in hope of and also for that he stomacked the euill practises they had contriued to constraine him to this mariage perforce The Earle of Saint Paul Constable of Fraunce busied himselfe in this treaty very earnestly desiring that the mariage might seeme to be effected by his onely meanes and procurement On the other side the Duke of Britaine traueled therein to the end the whole honor thereof might redound to him The King was as busie as the best to breake it off though needlesly as well for the two reasons aboue alleaged as also bicause the Duke of Burgundy was not desirous of so great a sonne in lawe wherefore in vaine the King troubled himselfe but he could not see another mans thoughts And sure he had iust cause of feare for if this mariage had taken effect his brother should haue beene so mighty that he and the Duke of Britaine ioined togither might haue put the Kings estate and his childrens in great danger In the meane time about these affaires many ambassadors passed to and fro as well secretly as openly This often passing to and fro of ambassadors is a thing very dangerous for vnder colour thereof many times euill practises are set abroch yet notwithstanding ambassadors must of force both be sent and receiued They that shall reade this historie will aske peraduenture what remedie I can deuise against this inconuenience bicause it seemeth almost remedilesse For answere whereunto I will shew mine aduise notwithstanding that I know a number far better able to discourse heerof than my selfe Ambassadors that come from perfect friends with whom no occasion of quarrell can arise must be well intertained and permitted to come often to the Princes presence I meane if the Prince be wise and of comely personage otherwise the lesse he be seene the better Notwithstanding when he must of necessitie be seene let him be well apparelled and well instructed what to say and vse short speech according to Princes amitie which vsually is but short But if ambassadors be sent openly or secretly betweene Princes that are in continuall
and put his forces into it Diuers others also he named whom he had sent to other great townes and this matter he made Monseur de Lude and two or three others to debate with me It became not me to reason against him nor gainsay his pleasure but I told him that I feared Master Oliuer and the others whom he named would not so easily take these great townes as they supposed The King vsed this communication with me bicause he had altered his minde and hoped by reason of his good successe in the beginning that all the countrie would yeeld vnto him Moreouer he was counselled by diuers and was also of himselfe inclined thereunto vtterly to destroy this house of Burgundie and to disperse the seniories therof among diuers men some of the which he named vpon whom he was purposed to bestow the Earldoms namely Henault and Namur that border vpon Fraunce with the greater seniories as Brabant Holland and the rest he meant to win certaine Princes of Almaine to his friendship to the end they might aide him in the atchieuing of his enterprise All the which matters it pleased him to acquaint me with bicause I had counselled him before to take the other course aboue rehearsed wherefore he would that I should vnderstand the reasons why he followed not mine aduise Further he alleaged that this course should be most beneficiall for his realme the which had sustained infinite troubles bicause of the greatnes of this house of Burgundie and the mightie seniories that it possessed And sure as touching the world his reasons carried great shew though in conscience me thought otherwise notwithstanding such was his wisedome that neither I nor any of his seruants could see so far into his affaires as himselfe did for vndoubtedly he was one of the wisest and subtilest Princes that liued in his time But in such waightie affaires God disposeth the harts of Kings and great Princes which he holdeth in his hands and directeth them into those waies that best serue for the executing of his determinations for vndoubtedly if it had pleased him that the King should still haue continued in that course which he of himselfe had deuised before the Dukes death the wars that haue been since and yet are had neuer happened But we were vnwoorthie on both sides to enioy that quiet peace that was then offered vs which sure was the onely cause of the Kings error not want of wit for as you haue heard in wit no man excelled him I write of these affaires at large to shew that when a man attempteth any great enterprise he ought at the first thoroughly to debate it to the end he may choose the wisest way but especially to submit himselfe to God and humbly to beseech him to direct him into the best course which is the principall point as appeereth both by the scriptures and by experience I minde not heere to blame the King nor say that he erred in this behalfe for peraduenture diuers which knew and vnderstood more than my selfe were then and yet are of his opinion notwithstanding the matter was not debated there nor elsewhere Further those that write Chronicles frame their stile commonly to their commendation of whom they speake omitting diuers points somtimes bicause they know not the truth of them But as touching my selfe I minde to write nothing but that is true and which I my selfe either haue seen or learned of such parties as are woorthie of credite not regarding any mans commendation For no Prince is to be thought so wise but that he erreth somtime yea oftentimes if he liue long as should well appeere by their actions if they were alwaies truly reported The greatest Senates and Consuls that be or euer haue beene haue erred and do erre as we may reade and daily see When the King had reposed himselfe one day in this village neere to Peronne he determined the next morning to make his entry into the towne for it was yeelded him as you haue heard And at his departure he drew me aside and commanded me to go into the countrey of Poictou and the frontiers of Britaine telling me in mine eare that if neither Master Oliuers enterprise tooke effect nor Monseur de Cordes reuolted to him he would cause all the countrey of Artois called La Leuée lying vpon the riuer of Lis to be burned and that done returne againe into Touraine I desired him to be good to certaine who by my means were become his seruants and to whom I had promised in his name pensions and great rewards whereupon he tooke their names of me in writing and performed all that I had promised Thus I tooke my leaue of him for that time But euen as I was taking horse Monseur de Lude came to me whom the King for certaine considerations fauored greatly He was a man much giuen to his owne priuate gaine and as he cared not to deceiue and abuse any man so was he also very light of beliefe and often beguiled himselfe He had been brought vp with the King from his childhood knew which way to feed his humor and had a very pleasant head He came and said thus to me wisely after a iesting maner what depart you now when you should be made or neuer seeing the great things that fall daily into the Kings hands wherewith he may enrich those that he loueth For my part I looke to be gouernor of Flaunders and to make my selfe all of golde in vttering the which words he brake foorth into great laughter but I had no lust to laugh bicause I feared that this proceeded of the King Mine answer was that I would be right glad if his fortune might be such and that I trusted the King would not forget me A certaine knight of Hainault was come to me not past halfe an hower before my departure who brought me newes of diuers with whom I had peswaded by letters to put themselues into the Kings seruice The said knight and I are kinsemen and he is yet liuing wherfore neither wil I name him nor those of whom he brought me this aduertisement His offer in few words was to yeeld vnto the King the chiefe places and townes in Hainault Whereof I aduertised the King euen as I was taking my leaue who after he had talked with the said knight told me that neither he nor those others whom I named were such as he had need of He misliked one for this point and another for that and their offer seemed vnto him nothing for he thought to obtaine all that he desired without them Againe after my departure the King made Monseur de Lude to commune with the same knight who was much discontented with the said de Ludes words and departed incontinent without entring into farther treaty bicause the said de Lude and he would neuer haue agreed in any point For whereas this knight was come out of Hainault to get somwhat at the Kings hands whereby to inrich
great harme afterward in the two countries aboue named for they spoiled and burned many goodly villages and faire farms more to the dammage of the inhabitants of Tournay than of any other for the reasons aboue alleaged To be short so long they spoiled that the Flemmings arose and tooke out of prison the Duke of Guelderland whom Duke Charles had held prisoner and made him their captaine and in this estate came before the towne of Tournay where they lay not long but fled in great disorder and lost many of their men and among the rest the Duke of Gueldres who had put himselfe behinde to maintaine the skirmish being euill followed was there slaine as afterward you shall heare more at large Wherefore this honor and good successe that happened to the King and the great losse his enimies receiued proceeded of the said Master Oliuers wisedome and iudgement so that peraduenture a wiser man and a greater personage than he might haue failed to atchieue the like enterprise I haue spoken ynough of the great charge this sage Prince committed to this meane person vnfit to manage so waightie a cause onely adding that it seemed that God had troubled the Kings wits in this behalfe For as I said before if he had not thought this enterprise far easier than indeede it was but had appeased his wrath and laid downe his greedy desire of reuenge vpon this house of Burgundy vndoubtedly he had held at this day all those Seniories vnder his subiection The Notes 1 The King claimed this Lady as his vvarde bicause diuers of hir dominions namely Flaunders Artois c. were held of the crowne of Fraunce besides that he was hir godfather which vvas the cause vvhy he commanded this Oliuer to mooue this request Of the ambassadors the Lady of Burgundy daughter to the late Duke Charles sent to the King and how by meanes of Monseur de Cordes the citie of Arras the townes of Hedin and Bollein and the towne of Arras itselfe were yeelded to the King Chap. 15. YOu haue heard how Master VVilliam Bische yeelded Peronne to the King The said Bische was a man of base parentage borne at Molins-Engibers in Niuernois but inriched and greatly aduanced by Duke Charles of Burgundy who made him captaine of Peronne bicause his house called Clery being a strong and goodly castell that the said Bische had purchased was neere vnto it But to proceede after the King had made his entry into the towne certaine ambassadors came to him from the Lady of Burgundy being all the greatest and noblest personages that were able to do hir any seruice which was vnaduisedly done to send so many togither but such was their desolation and feare that they wist not well what to say or do The aboue named ambassadors were these the Chauncellor of Burgundy called Master VVilliam Hugonet a notable wise man who had been in great credit with Duke Charles and was highly adaunced by him The Lord of Himbercourt so often before mentioned in this history was there also who was as wise a gentleman and as able to manage a waighty cause as euer I knew any togither with the Lord of la Vere a great Lord in Zeland and the Lord of Grutuse and diuers others as well noble men as church men and burgesses of good townes The King before he gaue them audience trauelled both generally with them all and apart with euery one of them to draw them to his seruice They all gaue him humble and lowly words as men in great feare Notwithstanding those that had their possessions far from his dominions in such countries as they thought to be out of his reach would not binde themselues to him in any respect vnlesse the mariage betweene his sonne the Daulphin and the said Lady their Mistres tooke effect But the Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt who had liued long in great authority wherein they still desired to continue and had their lands lying neere to the Kings dominions the one in the Duchy of Burgundy the other in Picardy neere to Amiens gaue eare to his offers and promised both to serue him in furthering this mariage and also wholy to become his the mariage being accomplished which course he liked not though it were simply the best but was displeased with them for that they would not then absolutely enter into his seruice Notwithstanding he shewed them no countenance of displeasure bicause he would vse their helpe as he might Moreouer the King hauing now good intelligence with Monseur de Cordes captaine and gouernor of Arras by his counsel and aduise required these ambassadors to cause the said de Cordes to receiue his men into the city of Arras 1 for at that time there were wals and trenches betweene the towne and the city but the towne was then fortified against the city 2 and now contrariwise the citie is fortified against the towne After diuers perswasions vsed to the said ambassadors that this should be the best and readiest way to obtaine peace in shewing such obedience to the King they agreed to his demaund especially the Chauncellor and Himbercourt and sent a letter of discharge to the said de Cordes wherein they aduertised him of their consent to the deliuerie of the citie of Arras Into the which so soone as the King was entred he raised bulworks of earth against the gates of the towne and in diuers other places neere to the towne Further bicause of this discharge Monseur de Cordes and the men of war that were with him departed out of the towne 3 and went whither them listed and serued where them best liked And as touching the said de Cordes he now accounting himselfe discharged of his Mistres seruice by the ambassadors letters aboue mentioned determined to do homage to the King and to enter into his seruice both bicause his house name and armes were on this side the riuer of Somme for he was called Master Philip of Creuecoeur second brother to the Lord of Creuecoeur and also bicause the territories so often aboue mentioned which the house of Burgundie had possessed vpon the said riuer of Somme during the liues of Duke Philip and Duke Charles returned now without all controuersie to the crowne For by the conditions of the treatie of Arras they were giuen to Duke Philip and his heires males onely Wherefore seeing Duke Charles left no issue but his daughter the said Master Philip of Creuecoeur became without all doubt the Kings subiect so that he could commit no fault by entering into the Kings seruice and restoring to him that which he held of him vnlesse he had done homage anew to the Lady of Burgundie Notwithstanding men haue reported and will report diuersly of him for this fact wherefore I leaue the matter to other mens iudgements True it is that he had beene brought vp enriched and aduaunced to great honor by Duke Charles and that his mother for a certaine space was gouernesse of the Lady
put from the crowne vnder colour of adulterie committed by hir mother But the matter ended not without great contention and war for the King of Portugale tooke part with his neece and diuers great Lords of Castile ioined with him yet notwithstanding the said Dom Henries sister wife to the son of Dom Iohn King of Arragon obtained the crowne and possesseth it yet at this day and thus this partage was made in heauen as diuers others are Further you haue seene of late daies the King of Scotland and his sonne being thirteene yeeres of age in battell the one against the other the sonne and his faction preuailed and the King was slaine vpon the place 13 This King murthered his owne brother and was charged with diuers other crimes namely the death of his sister and such like You see also the Duchy of Gueldres out of the right line and haue heard what impietie the Duke last deceased vsed against his father Diuers other examples I could rehearse which should manifestly appeere to be punishments and scourges of God which scourges are the principall cause of wars whereof insue mortality and famine all the which euils proceede of lacke of faith Wherefore I conclude considering the wickednes of men especially of great men who know not themselues neither beleeue that there is a God that it is necessarie for euery Prince and gouernor to haue an aduersary to keepe him in feare and humilitie otherwise no man should be able to liue vnder them or neere them The Notes 1 He meaneth that this towne of Gaunt is situate where it is for a plague to the whole countrey of Flaunders which otherwise bicause of the great abundance thereof would soone forget God 2 Fregosi and Fregosini in other histories 3 This diuision began anno 1309. betweene the Abbot of Einsidlen and the village of Suitz and the said Abbot demanded aide of Leopolde Duke of Austrich 4 As for example Leopolde Duke of Austrich brothers sonne to the former that began this diuision whom they slue at the battell of Sempache 9. Iulij ann 1386. 5 The reason heerof reade in Aristot Politic. lib. 1. cap. 2. Problem Anthonii Zimarae 12. 6 Shame commeth of knowledge so that if a man do a fault and for lacke of learning know not that it is a fault he can neuer be ashamed of it nor seeke to amend it 7 1800000. franks are 225000. pound starling after eight souse to the English shilling and the French liuer at two shillings sixe pence starling 8 4700000. franks are 587500. pound starling 9 That is 2500000. franks which amounteth to 312500. pound starling 10 For it was due by the conditions of the treatie 11 How King Henry the seuenth was next heire of the house of Lancaster the pedegree in the end of the worke will declare where also Philip de Commines error is controlled 12 Our Chronicles say but 3000. and some 5000. 13 This King that slue his father in battell was Iames the 4. who married Margaret sister to King Henry the 8. THE SIXT BOOKE How the Duchie of Burgundie was yeelded to the King Chap. 1. NOw to returne to the principal matter and to proceede in this historie written at your request my Lorde of Vienna while the King brought vnder his subiection the places and townes aboue named in the marches of Picardie his armie lay in Burgundie the generall wherof in apparance was the Prince of Orenge 1 that now is who was borne in the countie of Burgundie and a subiect thereof but lately reuolted the second time from Duke Charles wherefore the King vsed his helpe for he was a great Lord well friended and well beloued both in the said countie and also in the Duchie of Burgundie But the Lord of Cran was the Kings lieutenant and he it was in truth that had the charge of the whole armie and in whom the King reposed his principall trust and sure he was a wise man and faithfull to his Master but somwhat too greedie of his owne gaine The said Lord of Cran when he drew neere the countrie of Burgundie sent the Prince of Orenge before him with certaine others to Digeon to perswade with the citizens to become the Kings subiects which enterprise so well they atchieued by the said Princes meanes that the towne of Digeon and all the other places of the Duchie of Burgundie yeelded to the King Aussonne and certaine castels excepted which held yet for the Ladie of Burgundie The King had promised the Prince of Orenge many goodly estates and to restore him to all his grandfathers inheritance in the countie of Burgundie for the which he was in sute with the Lords of Chauuerguion his vncles 2 whom as he said Duke Charles had fauored to his preiudice For this cause had been often pleaded before him with great solemnitie and once the Duke being accompanied with a number of lawyers gaue iudgement against the Prince at the least thus he reported wherefore he forsooke the Dukes seruice and went to the King But Monseur de Cran after he was entred into all these townes aboue mentioned and had gotten into his hands all the best places that should descend to the said Prince by right of inheritance refused to yeeld them to him notwithstanding both the Kings promise and the said Princes request The King also wrote often to him about this matter without all collusion knowing that he much misused the Prince notwithstanding he feared to displease the said de Cran bicause he had the charge of the whole countrie neither thought he that the Prince either would or could haue caused the countrie of Burgundie to rebel as afterward he did at the lest the greatest part therof But I will heere leaue these Burgundies affaires till another conuenient place shall serue to speake further thereof The Notes 1 This Prince of Orenge was Iohn de Chaslons the Prince of Orenge that now is is of the house of Nassaw 2 The olde copie hath Chasteauguion Annal. Burgund Chaumergnon Annal. Franc. Chauuerguion and so vndoubtedly it is to be read for Chasteauguion was brother to this Prince of Orenge Gaguin How the King entertained the English men after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundie to the end they should not hinder his conquest of the said Dukes dominions Chap. 2. THose that heerafter shall reade this historie and happily vnderstand the affaires both of this realme and the countries bordering vpon it better than my selfe will maruell that since the death of Duke Charles I haue hitherto by the space almost of one whole yeere made no mention of the English men and will woonder that they suffered the King to take the townes bordering so neere vpon them namely Arras Bolloin Ardres and Hedin with diuers other castels and to lie so long with his campe before Saint Omer 1 But you shall vnderstand that the reason thereof was for that our King in wisedome and sense surmounted far Edward King of England then
raigning for notwithstanding that the said King Edward were a most valiant Prince and had woon in England eight or nine battels wherein he fought alwaies himselfe on foote greatly to his renowme yet were these troubles but by fits so that his head was not continually busied in matters of state for immediately after the victorie obtained he returned to his former sports and pleasures till another storme arose For you shall vnderstand that when war beginneth in England in ten daies or lesse the one or the other getteth the garland But our affaires in Fraunce passed not after that sort for besides the war it selfe the K. was forced to haue an eie continually vpon diuers places as well of his owne realme as of his neighbors but especially by all means possible to content the King of England and to entertain him by ambassadors presents and smooth words to the end he should not entermeddle with our affaires For the K. knew well the English men as well Nobles and Commons as the Cleargie to be naturally inclined to make war vpon this realme aswell vnder colour of the title they pretende thereunto as also in hope of gaine For they trust to haue euer such successe heere as their predecessors haue had whom God permitted to obtaine in this realme many great victories and large dominion both in Normandie and in Guienne the which they had possessed by the space of three hundred and fiftie yeeres 2 when King Charles the seuenth first recouered it During the which time they inriched the realme of England with great spoiles and much treasure that they got aswell of the Princes and noble men of Fraunce a great number of whom they tooke prisoners as also of the townes and places which they subdued Notwithstanding they should hardly haue had such successe in the King our Masters time for he would neuer haue indangered his estate in battell as King Charles the sixt did at Agincourt where all the nobility of Fraunce lighted on foote to fight with the English men but would haue proceeded more warily if the matter had come to execution as you may perceiue by the course he held in sending King Edvvard home Wherefore the King well perceiued that he must in any wise keepe the King of England and his principall seruants his friends whom he sawe altogither inclined to quietnes and very greedy of his money for the which cause he paid duly at London the pension of fiftie thousand crownes which they called tribute And further gaue yeerely sixteene thousand crownes to the said Kings principall seruants whose names were these the Lord Chauncellor the Master of the Rols who now is Chauncellor the Lord Hastings Lord great Chamberlaine a man of singular wisdome and vertue and in great authority with his Master and not without cause for he euer serued him faithfully Sir Thomas Montgomery the Lord Hovvard afterward Duke of Norfolke partaker with the wicked King Richard the Master of the Horse called Master Cheiny Master Challenger and the Marques Dorset the Queene of Englands sonne by hir first husband Further he gaue goodly presents to all the ambassadors that came to him were their messages neuer so sharpe and bitter and sent them home with such goodly words Princely rewards that they returned well contented And notwithstanding that some of them vnderstood that he did all this onely to win time the better to atchieue his enterprise in the conquest of the Duke of Burgundies dominions yet winked they at it bicause of the great riches they receiued at his hands To all these aboue named he gaue besides their pensions many goodly presents so largely that the Lord Hovvard ouer and aboue his pension receiued of him in lesse then two yeeres space in money and plate fower and twentie thousand crownes To the Lord Hastings also L. great Chamberlaine of England he gaue at one time a present of plate to the value of ten thousand marks The acquittances of all which great personages are yet to be seene in the chamber of accounts at Paris saue of the Lord Hastings Lord great Chamberlaine of England which is an high office for there is neuer but one alone in it This L. Chamberlaine was long labored before he would become the Kings pensioner my selfe being the onely man that perswaded him thereunto For I wan him first to Charles Duke of Burgundies friendship during the time I serued him who gaue him yeerly a pension of a thousand crownes whereof when I had aduertised the King he would in like maner that I should be a meanes to make him his friend and pensioner for in times past during Duke Charles his life and after his death also in fauor of the Lady of Burgundy he had alwaies beene the Kings extreme enimy and trauelled once to perswade the King of England to aide the said Lady against the King our Master I began this friendship by letters and the King gaue him a pension of two thousand crownes which was double the summe he receiued of the Duke Further the King sent to him one of the stewards of his house called Peter Cleret charging him to bring with him the said Lord Chamberlains acquittance to the end heereafter it might appeere that the great Chamberlaine Chauncellor Admirall and Master of the Horse of England besides diuers others had beene the French Kings pensioners The said Peter Cleret was a wise fellow and communed priuily alone with the Lord Chamberlaine at his lodging in London where after he had declared his message from the King he presented him his two thousand crownes in golde for the King neuer gaue but gold to strangers which money when the Lord Chamberlaine had receiued Peter Cleret humbly besought him for his discharge to giue him an acquittance wherein the said Lord Chamberlaine made difficultie Then Cleret desired him to giue him onely a letter of three lines to the King to testifie the receit of the money least the King being a suspitious Prince should thinke that he had conuerted it to his owne vse Which reasonable demand the Lord Chamberlaine hearing answered thus Sir you require but reason but this gift proceedeth of the King your Masters liberality not of my request if it please you that I shall receiue it put it heere into my sleeue and other letter or testimoniall get you none of me For I will not for my part that any man shall say that the Lord great Chamberlaine of England hath beene pensioner to the French King nor that my acquittances be found in his chamber of accounts Whereunto the said Cleret replied not but departed leauing the money behinde him and at his returne made report thereof to the King who was not a little displeased with him for that he brought no acquittance but as touching the said Chamberlaine he commended and esteemed him more than all the King of Englands other seruants and his pension was euer after paied without acquittance After this sort liued the King with
his conditions As touching suspicious all great Princes are suspicious especially those that be wise and haue had many enimies and haue offended many as the King our Master had Further he knew himselfe not to be beloued of the nobilitie of his realme nor of a great number of the commonalty Besides this he had more charged his people than euer had any of his predecessors notwithstanding he was desirous now in his latter daies as before I said to haue eased them but he should haue begun sooner King Charles the seuenth by the perswasion of diuers wise and valiant Knights that had serued him in the conquest of Normandie and Guyenne which the Englishmen held was the first that began to leuy subsidies at his pleasure without the consent of the States of his realme and to say the truth cause there was then so to do for the charges were maruellous great as well for the manning of the countries newly conquered as also for the defeating of the companies of robbers which went about spoiling the realme For the which cause the nobility of Fraunce consented to the King and had certaine pensions promised them in consideration of the summes of money that should be leuied vpon their lands If this King had alwaies liued and those of his councel that were about him he would sure greatly haue enlarged his realme But considering what hapned after his death is like further to happen he charged maruellously his soule and the soules of his successors by this fact for he gaue his realme a cruell wound which will bleed this many a yeere by entertaining in continuall pay a terrible band of men of armes after the maner of the Italian Princes The said King Charles leuied in his realme at the hower of his death but 1800000. franks all maner of waies and had in ordinary about seuenteene hundred men of armes the which he kept in good order and so placed in diuers prouinces for the defence of his realme that many yeeres before his death they rid not spoiling vp and downe the countrey to the great quietnes comfort of his people But the King our Master leuied at his death 4700000. franks he had in pay fower or fiue thousand men of armes and of footemen for the campe and in garrison aboue fiue and twenty thousand wherefore it is not to be maruelled if he had many phansies and imaginations in his head and thought himselfe not welbeloued But sure as these matters caused him greatly to feare some so had he a sure confidence in many of those whom he had brought vp and highly aduanced of the which I thinke there were a number whom death it selfe could neuer haue withdrawen from dooing their duty There came into Plessis du Parc which was the place where he lay very few besides his household seruants and the archers of his guarde being fower hundred of whom a great number all the day long kept watch and warde at the gate walking vp and downe the place No noble man or great personage lodged within the castell neither might be suffered to enter in saue onely the Lord of Beauieu Duke of Bourbon his sonne in law The said stell of Plessis he had made to be enuironed with a grate of great iron bars at the entrie into the ditches thereof had caused sharpe speares of iron euery one of them hauing many heads to be masoned into the wall He caused also fower strong watch houses of iron to be built and a place to be made in them where men might stande and shoote at ease which was a sumptuous thing to behold and cost aboue 20000. franks In the end he put into these houses fortie crossebowe men which were day and night in the ditches had commission to shoote at euery man that approched neere the castell after the shutting of the gates til they opened in the morning Further he had an imagination that his subiects would be very ready to take the gouernment into their owne hands when they should see conuenient time And sure some there were that consulted to enter into Plessis and dispatch the affaires at their pleasure bicause nothing was dispatched but they durst not attempt it wherein they did wisely for the K. had giuen good order for that matter He changed often both the groomes of his chamber and al his other seruants saying that nature delighteth in varietie and he had with him to beare him company one or two very meane men and of euill report who might well haue thought if they had been wise that immediately after his death they should at the least be put out of office and spoiled of all they had as also it hapned These informed him of no message that was sent him not of any matter that was written to him were it neuer so important vnlesse it touched the preseruation of the State or the defence of his realme for that was his onely care to be in truce and peace with all men He gaue to his Phisition ordinarily euery moneth ten thousand crownes and in fiue moneths he receiued of him 54000. He gaue also goodly lands to churches but this gift was made voide and not without cause for the clergie men had too much The Notes 1 It was fortie daies but bicause the old copie hath 15. daies and that himselfe also afterward in this very chapter saith thus This sicknes held him about fifteene daies I haue been bold to amend it 2 King Lewis was suspected to haue poisoned his father by Adam Fumée his fathers physition who was imprisoned by King Charles but soone after aduaunced to honor by King Lewis who so maruellously reioiced at the first newes of his fathers death being the selfe same day that his father died which was strange King Lewis being then at Genappe in Brabant that in the selfe same place he built a chappell to our Lady 3 It was 15000. but the olde copie had 1500000. and so vndoubtedly it is to be read for for 15000. franks will hardly maintaine 100. soldiers a yeere How the King caused the holy man of Calabria to come to Tours thinking that he could heale him and what strange things the said King did to maintaine his authoritie during his sicknes Chap. 8. AMong men famous for deuotion he sent into Calabria for one Frier Robert whom he called the holy man bicause of his holy life and in whose honor the King that now is caused a Church to be built at Plessis du Parc in place of the chappell neere to Plessis at the bridge foote This heremite being twelue yeeres of age entred into a rocke where he remained till he was fortie three yeeres old or there about to wit euen till this present that the King sent for him by one of the stewards of his house whom the Prince of Tarente the King of Naples sonne accompanied thither For the said heremite would not depart thence without permission both of the Pope and of his Prince which
England and how the King of England passed the sea and besieged Bolloin and of the peace betweene the King and him and of the surprising of Arras and Saint Omers by the King of Romains men Chap. 7. KIng Edvvard the fourth the same that met with King Levvis the eleuenth at Picquigny dying in the yeere 1483 left behinde him two sonnes being very yoong and diuers daughters the gouernment of the which sonnes togither with the realme was committed to the Duke of Glocester King Edvvaras brother but he most â—nnaturally murthered his two nephewes slewe those of the nobilitie that he thought would impugne his proceeding and vsurped the crowne In the end the Duke of Buckingham who had takerpart with the Duke of Glocester who intituled himselfe King Richard in all his actions fell at variance with him and sollicited Henry Earle of Richmond that had liued many yeeres in Britaine as a banished man to passe ouer into England promising him a great armie to ioine with him so soone as he should be landed The Earle communicated this matter with Peter Landois who wholie at that time gouerned the Duke of Britaine The said Landois hoping that the Earle if by his meanes he obtained the realme of England would giue him aide to reuenge him of his enimies perswaded the Duke of Britaine to succour him in his enterprise who furnished him of three great ships well manned with soldiers which tooke sea and sailed towards England but when they were readie to land the Earle was aduertised that the Duke of Buckingham was beheaded his army defeated and all his faction ouerthrowen and that King Richard lay with a great army vpon the sea coast attending his landing Vpon which news the Earle of Richmond returned thinking to recouer the coast of Britaine from whence he was departed but tempest draue him vpon the coast of Normandy where he was forced to take land The Ladie of Beauieu being aduertised thereof sent vnto him desiring him to come to speake with the King and so he did The King curteously receiued him and entertained him well Afterward he returned to Vannes in Britaine there to remaine as before attending some better opportunitie But Peter Laudois seeing himselfe disappointed of his purpose altered his minde and practised with King Richard to deliuer the Earle of Richmond into his hands who being aduertised thereof vnder colour of going a hauking one morning with ten or twelue horses fled into France to King Charles who not long after furnished the Earle of ships and a good number of soldiers to accompany him into England where by the helpe of the French and of diuers of his owne kinsmen who had called him into England and tooke part with him he slew King Richard in the field was himselfe crowned King in his place This good turne of King Charles togither with the desire the King of England had to liue quietly at home in his countrey and to gather wealth was the cause that King Henry during al the wars and troubles in Britain aboue mentioned had not passed his forces into Fraunce notwithstanding that he had been often earnestly sollicited thereunto both by the Duke of Britaine and the Earle of Dunois and others of that faction For ordinarily when any troubles arise in Fraunce our neighbors especially the Englishmen within a yeere are bidden to the banquet and so was King Henry inuited and had come long ago if the reasons aboue rehearsed togither with some other respects namely feare of domesticall troubles had not staied him at home But notwithstanding the K. of EnglaÌ„ds backwardnes heertofore to inuade France yet in the yeere 1490. partly by the earnest sollicitation of Maximilian who promised 1490. him great aide in his wars and yet performed nothing partly to content his owne people who began to account him as too much affectionate to the French in that he had suffered them to the great preiudice of the realme of England to vnite to the crowne of Fraunce the Duchie of Britaine he passed ouer his armie to Calice and from thence marched and laide his siege before Boloyne whither the Lord of Cordes and the bastard of Cardonne Captaine of Arras with a small army went to make resistance Further the King leuied his forces to succour the place but bicause his armie proceeded but slowlie forward the saide de Cordes and Cardonne tooke vpon them the defence of the tovne The siege was nothing whot for the which cause a heraultsent into the English came to treat of peace from the which King Henry seemed nothing strange as well for the affection that he bare to the King who had aided him to obtaine the realme of England as also for that he feared sedition at home durst not long be absent out of his râ—alme bicause Maximilian had broken promise with him and lastly bicause he hoped by this peace to receiue of the King a great summe of money which he loued as well as any Prince in his time De Cordes finding the King of Englands inclination to peace went and communed with him in his campe his demands were first a great summe of money that he said he had lent the late Duke of Britaine and secondarily that the King should desraie al the charges that he had been at in these wars All the which the King yeelded vnto and order was giuen that the King of England should yeerely receiue a certaine summe of money till all the summes by him demanded were cleerely paid and discharged and thus returned the King of England home In the meane time while de Cordes and Cardonne were at Bolloin treating with the K. of England the citizens of Arras knowing the garrison within the town to be but weake practised to yeeld it into Maximilians hands who sent certaine bands thither the which in great diligence approched neere to the towne When all things were in a readines and the gates being so negligently guarded that the traitors with their counterfaited keies had opened them they began a song whereby they willed the enimies to make haste who presently repaired to the gates and were receiued into the towne Paul Carqueleuant a Briton gouernor of the townein the absence of the bastard of Cardonne at the enimies first entrie retired himselfe with his soldiers into the castel but fearing least it should be taken by assault he soone abandoned it greatly to his reproch for if he had held it but till the next day diuers French bands had come thither to his reliefe The towne was spoiled and many slaine neither were the churches spared nor the traitors houses The author of this treason was a poore smith that dwelled vpon the towne wall and had beene the onely man that was suffered to remaine in the towne by Levvis the eleuenth when he transported the townes men as a colonie into Fraunce Carqueleuant the gouernor when the towne was surprised lay fast a sleepe drowned in drinke and good cheere as it is
the Duke of Milans hands and held by Master Baptist de Campefourgouse but at this present the Lord Lodouic had recouered it and gaue to certaine of the Kings chamber eight thousand ducats for the inuesture thereof who by receiuing the monie greatly preiudiced the King For before the graunt of the said inuesture they might haue seized Genua to the Kings owne vse if they had would 9 but seeing they meant to take monie for it they ought to haue demanded more for Duke Galeas paide at one time for it to King Lewis my Master fiftie thousand ducats whereof the King whose soule God pardon gaue me thirtie thousand crownes in reward Notwithstanding they said they receiued these eight thousand ducats with the Kings consent and Stephan de Vers Seneschall of Beaucaire was one of those that tooke the monie happily to entertaine the better the Lord Lodouic for this enterprise which he so much both fauored and furthered After audience giuen openly at Paris to the ambassadors aboue mentioned the Earle of Caiazze had secret communication with the King The said Earle was in great credit at Milan but his brother Master Galeas of Saint Seuerin in greater especially in martiall affaires His Master could now dispose of the estate of Milan as of his owne for the which cause he offered the King great seruices and aide as well of men as mony affirming the enterprise to be of no difficultie This done he and Master Galeas Viscount tooke their leaue and departed leauing behinde them the Earle Charles of Belleioyeuse to entertaine the sute who incontinent put himselfe into French apparell and trauelled so earnestly in this busines that many began to like of the enterprise The King sent into Italie to Pope Innocentius to the Venetians and to the Florentines one named Peron of Basche who had been brought vp in the house of Aniou vnder Duke Iohn of Calabria and was maruellously affectioned to this voiage These practises and runnings to and fro continued the space of seuen or eight moneths and those that vnderstood of this enterprise communed among themselues diuersly of it but none thought that the King would go in person into Italie The Notes 1 Antonel of Saint Seuerin Prince of Salerne and Bernardin Prince of Besignan were brethren Guicciar 2 He meaneth by Kings of Fraunce those Kings of the house of Fraunce that had held the realme of Naples to wit the Dukes of Aniou 3 Viscomte in both these places and diuers others is a proper name not a name of honor and signifieth as much as Biscomte that is tvvise Earle bicause the Viscomti were Lords of Angiera and Milan 4 This captaine meant no treason to the children as the others did but consented to this deede bicause he thought the children in more safetie vvith him than vvith their foolish mother 5 The sense in mine opinion were better to read it qu'il luy feroit then qu'il leur feroit that is that he vvould smite off the captaines head if the place vvere not yeelded for they vvithin vvere out of Lodouics povver 6 The French had it in this sense And another vvho said that he had been a messenger betvveene them but vndoubtedly the place is corrupted and to be read as I haue amended it 7 The Duke of Ferrara had married King Ferrandes daughter named Elenor. 8 Duke Galeas ought to haue come into Fraunce to haue done homage to the King in person but bicause Lodouic vvould not let him depart out of his custodie he found means that it should be done to one sent thither by the King as his deputie for that purpose 9 Genua vvas forfeited and vnder colour thereof the Lord Lodouic had recouered it but bicause it vvas held of the King for the Genuois had giuen themselues to Charles the sixt anno 1394. vvho sent thither for gouernor Iohn de Maingre and aftervvard to Charles the seuenth anno 1446. it could be forfeited to none but to the King but by giuing avvay this inuesture he gaue avvay his right How King Charles the eight made peace with the King of Romanes and the Archduke of Austrich restoring to them the Lady Margaret of Flaunders before he made his voiage to Naples Chap. 3. DVring this delaie aboue mentioned peace was treated of at Senlis betweene the King and the Archduke of Austriche heire of the house of Burgundie for notwithstanding that they were in truce yet a breach happened betweene them bicause the King refused the King of Romaines daughter sister to the said Archduke being verie yoong and married the daughter of Frauncis Duke of Britaine to enioie peaceablie thereby the Duchie of Britaine all the which at the time of this treatie he held saue the towne of Renes and the said daughter being within in it the which was gouerned by the Prince of Orenge hir vncle who had made a marriage betweene hir and the King of Romaines 1 and openly solemnised it in the church by a Practor All the which happened in the yeere 1492. To this treatie aboue mentioned came a great ambassage in fauoure of the Duke of Austriche from the Emperor Frederick who offered to be a mediator for the peace the King of Romains sent thither also 2 and so did the Palzgraue and the Swissers to pacifie this controuersie being all of opinion that it would kindle a great fire for the King of Romains seemed aboue all measure to be iniuried hauing at one time hir taken from him whom he accounted his wife and his daughter sent backe to him which many yeeres had beene Queene of Fraunce but in the end the matter was quietly shut vp and peace concluded For all parties were wearie of war especially Duke Philips subiects who had sustained so many troubles partly bicause of wars with this realme and partly through their owne priuate diuisions that they could no more The peace was concluded but for fower yeeres whereunto the King of Romaines agreed to the end he might repose his subiects and receiue againe his daughter whom some that were about the King and the said daughter made difficultie to restore At this treatie I was present my selfe with the rest of the Kings Commissioners being these Peter Duke of Bourbon the Prince of Orenge the Lord of Cordes and diuers other noble personages and promise was there made to restore to the said Duke Philip all that the King held in Artois for so was it agreed when this mariage was treated of in the yeere 1482. that if it were not accomplished all the landes that were giuen with this Ladie in maraige should returne againe with hir or be restored to Duke Philip. But the said Archdukes men had alreadie surprised Arras and Saint Omer so that onely Hedin Aire and Betune remained to be restored the possession and seniorie whereof were presently deliuered them and they put officers into them but the King held still the castels and might place garrisons in them till the fower yeeres were expired which ended at
and ran himselfe and that very well for he was a yoong and a gallant knight The King entertained him very honorably feasted him sumptuously and gaue him his order This done he returned into Italy But the Earle of Belleioyeuse remained still with the King to hasten the voiage At Genua they began to arme a great nauie whither the King sent the Lord of Vrfé Master of his horse with diuers others In the end he remooued to Vienna in Daulphine about the beginning of August in the same yeere whither the nobles of Genua resorted daily to him wherefore to Genua he sent Lewis Duke of Orleans now King of this realme a yoong gentleman of goodly personage but much giuen to his pleasures of whom in this history ample mention shal be made It was then thought that the said Duke of Orleans should haue led this armie by sea to land in the realme of Naples by the conduct and direction of the aboue named banished Princes of Salerne Bisignan The whole nauie was fowerteene ships of Genua besides a great number of gallies and galleons and the King was as well obeied there in this case as he should haue been at Paris for Genua was vnder the state of Milan where the Lord Lodouic gouerned all hauing none to gainsay him saue onely the Duchesse his nephewes wife daughter to King Alphonse for about this present his father King Ferrande died But the said Lady preuailed little or nothing both bicause men sawe the King in a readines either to passe into Italy himselfe or to send his forces and also bicause hir husband was a very simple man and disclosed all hir dooings to the Lord Lodouic his vncle who had already caused a messenger to be drowned sent by hir to hir father This nauie did no seruice notwithstanding that the charges thereof amounted to three hūdred thousand franks for all the treasure that the K. could leuy was imploied that way by means whereof he was vnfurnished as before I said both of good counsell of money and of al things necessary for such an enterprise yet God of his meere grace as manifestly he declared gaue it good successe I meane not that the King was not wise of his age but he was but two and twenty yeeres old newly crept out of the shell The two aboue named that gouerned him in all this voiage to wit Stephen de Vers Seneschall of Beaucaire and the generall Brissonnet now Cardinall of Saint Malo were men of meane estate and of no experience whereby so much the more appeered the woonderfull worke of God our enimies on the other side were accounted wise of great experience in the wars rich accompanied with wise men and good captaines and in possession of the realme I meane King Alphonse lately crowned by Pope Alexander a Spaniard borne in the realme of Arragon who had the Florentines ioined with him and great intelligence with the Turke He had also a son bearing armes called Dom Ferrande a courteous yoong gentleman of the age of two or three and twenty yeeres who was welbeloued in the realme and a brother also named Dom Frederic who succeeded the said Ferrande in this our age and was a very wise man and led their army vpon the sea He had been long trained vp on this side the mountaines and of him you had often assured me my Lord of Vienna by your knowledge in Astrologie that he should be King so that he once promised me fower thousand franks of yeerely reuenewes in the said realme when that came to passe which promise was made twenty yeeres before the prophesie tooke effect Now to proceede the King altered his minde 5 through the Duke of Milans earnest sollicitation made both by letters by the Earle Charles of Belleioyeuse his ambassador and by the two aboue named Notwithstanding the Generall in the end began to draw backe seeing all men of wisedome and vnderstanding to mislike this voiage for many respects and especially bicause the Kings forces lay abrode in camp in August vnfurnished of monie and all other things necessarie but the Seneschall alone carried the credit from them all so far foorth that the King shewed a countenance of displeasure to the Generall three or fower daies but he soone recouered his fauour againe At this present died one of the Seneschals seruants of the plague as men said for the which cause he durst not repaire to the Kings presence to his great griefe for no man sollicited the voiage but on the contrarie side the D. Duchesse of Bourbon were there laboring all that in them lay to ouerthrow it whereunto also the said Generall encouraged them by means whereof one day the voiage was dashed and another reuiued In the end the King resolued to go and I my selfe mounted on horsebacke with the foremost hoping to passe the mountains the more commodiously with small companie but I receiued a countermand whereby I was aduertised that all was altered againe The selfesame day were borrowed fiftie thousand ducats of a merchant of Milan but the Lord Lodouic deliuered the money vpon assurance made to the said merchant for the repaiment my selfe stood bound for six thousand and others for the rest but this monie was lent without interest The King had borrowed before of the banke of Soly at Genua a hundred thousand franks the interest wherof amounted in fower moneths to 14. thousand franks 6 But some said that the two aboue named had part both in the principall and also in the interest The Notes 1 This Turke was Baiazet the second 2 Scodra in Latin a towne in that part of Dalmatia now called Albania 3 This is rainewater he meaneth 4 VVhy they had no title appeereth by the Pedegree in the end of the worke 5 For he was not minded at the first to haue gone in person 6 That is after the rate of starling money 14. pound in the hundred for fower moneths How King Charles departed from Vienna in Daulphin to conquer the realme of Naples in person and what his nauie vpon the sea did vnder the leading of the Duke of Orleans Chap. 5. TO be short the King departed from Vienna the 23. of August in the yeere 1494. and marched straight towards Ast 1 At Suze Master Galeas of S. Seuerin came to him in poste from whence the King remooued to Thurin where he borrowed all the Duchesse of Sauoyes iewels who was daughter to the late Lorde VVilliam Marques of Montferrat and Duke Charles of Sauoyes widowe the which he engaged for twelue thousand ducats A few daies after he went to Casall to the Marques of Montferrats widow being a wise yoong Lady daughter to the King of Seruia The Turke had conquered hir countrie and the Emperor whose kinswoman she was hauing as I suppose taken hir into his protection had bestowed hir in this house of Montferrat She lent also hir iewels the which were in like maner engaged for twelue thousand ducats Heereby you may perceiue what
had deliuered to the King they determined to send word thereof to the Turke by one of their Secretaries And bicause they knew well that he should be highly rewarded that first brought this newes to the Turke they commanded that no ship should passe that night betweene the two castles which make the very entrie into the gulfe of Venice 16 where also they caused watch and ward to be kept bicause they feared the departure of some of the small boates as gripes and such like whereof there were a great number of the ports of Albany and of their Iles adioining to Greece But the selfe same night this poore Archbishop would needes depart to this enterprise of the Lord Constantine who taried his comming conueighing with him great store of swords bucklers and iauelins to furnish those with whom he had intelligence for they are not permitted to haue weapons in those countries but as he passed betweene the two castels aboue mentioned he was taken and put into one of them both he and his men notwithstanding the ship that caried him was suffred to passe Letters were found about him which discouered the enterprise the L. Constantine hath told me since that the Venetians aduertised thereof both the Turkes garrisons that lay in those parts the Turke himselfe also had it not been for the gripe that was permitted to passe the patron wherof was an Albanois who informed him of all that was hapned he had himselfe been taken but he escaped by sea and fled into Pouille The Notes 1 He meaneth Castelnouo for there are in Naples fower castels The castell of Capoana where the King lodged Castel nouo situate partly in the sea partly on the land with a citadelle by it Castel del ouo situate on a rock in the sea with a great tower called of the French Prince faulay and betweene the castels Nouo and Del ouo is a fort vpon a rocke in the sea with a strong tower The fourth is castel S. Ermo and aboue Naples is an abbey that looketh into the towne called S. Martin in maner of a castell 2 Guicciar saith he desired Calabria for his nephew without title of King 3 The King sent to Iscle but the Frenchmen finding the towne desolate through negligence neuer assaulted the castell 4 He meaneth bicause all Ferrandes partie was retired thither 5 The French Corrector supposeth that this should be en mantean Imperial bicause some write that he was crowned Emperor of Constantinople at Rome but I thinke rather he meaneth Mont de la Crote or the hill Vesuuius whither the King often walked for recreation and per aduenture bicause of the singularities which he sawe there named one of these hils Mont Imperial 6 He meaneth Castel nouo 7 The Almaines yeelded the castell vnder condition that they might haue King Ferrandes mooueables that were within it 8 This castell was so named bicause it was built in forme of an egge 9 For Island and Norway the vnskilfull corrector had chopped in Holland and Auuergne making the author report a meere vntruth 10 Oricum in Latine as some write as others Apollonia 11 Others write but 55. 12 Dyrrachium 13 But the Turke held them from him 14 Troy in times past the strongest towne in Epirus 15 His fathers name was Commenus 16 He meaneth two castels standing at the entrie into the calme sea which is within the naturall banke that defendeth the towne from the rage of the sea without the banke the said castels be hard by Venice A discourse somewhat out of the course of the historie wherein Philip de Commines author of this present worke treateth amply of the estate and gouernment of the Seniorie of Venice and of those things that he saw there and were done there during the time of his ambassage to the said Seniorie for the King Chap. 15. I Will now leaue the King in Naples hauing atchieued his enterprise and will speake somewhat of the Venetians and the cause of mine ambassage thither My departure from Ast to Venice was partly to thanke them for the good answers they had made to two of the Kings ambassadors sent thither and partly to keepe them still his friends if it were possible by any meanes for bicause of their great forces wisedome and good gouernment they might easily haue mated his enterprise in Italie but they being his friends none in the countrie were to be feared The Duke of Milan helped to dispatch me and wrote to his ambassador there resident for he hath one there continually to accompanie me and to giue me instructions to whom I should addresse my selfe His said ambassador receiued monethly of the Seniorie an hundred ducats and had his house well furnished and three barges at their charge to conuay him vp and downe the towne Their ambassador hath the like allowance at Milan saue that he hath no barge for at Milan men ride altogither on horsebacke but at Venice they are caried by bote In my iournie thitherward I passed through their cities namely Bresse Veronne Vincense and Padua with diuers others at euery one of the which I was very honorably entertained bicause of the personage I represented for alwaies either the potestate or the captaine came to receiue me accompanied with a goodly traine but they both issued neuer foorth of the towne for the captaine vsed to come no further than the gate After I was entred the towne they conuaied me to my lodging commanding the host that I should be plentifully serued and all my charges they defraied entertaining me with very honorable words But if a man consider what he must bestowe vpon drums and trumpets he saueth not much though he lie vpon free cost notwithstanding the entertainment is very honorable The same day I entred into Venice they sent as far as Chafousine 1 to receiue me which is a place fiue miles from the towne where men leaue the botes that conuay them downe the riuer from Padua 2 and enter into other little botes very proper and neate couered with tapestrie and furnished within with goodly hangings and veluet cushions to sit vpon Thus far the sea floweth and this is the neerest passage from the firme land to Venice but their sea is maruellous calme vnles a tempest happen to arise which is the cause that so great plenty of all kinde of fish is taken there I woondred to behold the seate of this citie so many steeples so many religious houses and so much building and all in the water but especially that the people had none other passage to fro in the town but by botes wherof I thinke there are to the number of 30000. but they be very small Further about the citie I meane within the compas round about of lesse than halfe a French league are 70. houses of religion as well of men as women all in Ilands sumptuously built richly furnished within and hauing goodly gardens belonging to them Those within the citie I
footemen and money or in time to retire homeward before his enimies were all assembled leauing the principall places well manned I aduertised also the D. of Orleans who lay in Ast with his houshold seruants onely for his companie was with the King of all that was done willing him to put men into the towne and assuring him that they would incontinent assaile him I wrote also to the Duke of Bourbon whom the King had left regent in Fraunce to send men to Ast with all speede possible to defend the towne bicause that place being lost no aide could come to the King In like maner I aduertised the Marchionesse of Montferrat of all these proceedings who was a great friend to vs and deadly enimy to the Duke of Milan to the end she might aide the Duke of Orleans with men if neede so required for Ast being lost the Marquisats of Montferrat and Saluces were also lost Their league was concluded one night very late 25 The next morning the Seniorie sent for me earlier then they were accustomed And when I was come and set downe the Duke told me that in the honor of the holy Trinitie there was a league concluded betweene our holy father the Pope the Kings of Romaines and Castile them and the Duke of Milan for three purposes The first for the defence of the estate of Christendome against the Turke the second for the defence of Italy and the third for the preseruation of their own estates whereof he willed me to aduertise the King They were assembled to the number of a hundred or more and looked vp with cheerfull countenances and sate not as they did the day they aduertised me of the taking of the castle of Naples The Duke tolde me moreouer that they had written to their ambassadors that were with the King to take their leaue and to returne home their names were Master Dominic Loredan and Master Dominic Treuisan I was maruellously troubled with this newes for I stood in doubt both of the Kings person and of all his companie supposing their armie to haue been readier than in deed it was as did themselues also I feared further least the Almaines had been at hand and not without cause for if they had vndoubtedly the King had neuer departed out of Italy I was resolued not to speake much in this heate but they so prouoked me that I was forced to change my minde and then I said vnto them that both the night before and diuers other times I had aduertised the King of their league and that he also had sent me word that he had intelligence thereof both from Rome and from Milan They looked all maruellous strangely vpon me when I said that I had aduertised the King thereof the night before for there is no nation vnder the sunne so suspicious as they nor so secret in their affaires so that oftentimes they banish men vpon suspicion onely for the which cause I said thus much vnto them I told them moreouer that I had sent word thereof both to the Duke of Orleans and to the Duke of Bourbon to the end they might put men into Ast which words I vttered hoping to delay their going thither For if they had indeed been as ready as they vaunted and supposed themselues to haue been they must needs haue taken the towne for it was vnmanned both then and long after Then they told me that they meant not to attempt ought against the King but onely to defend themselues adding that they would not haue him thus to abuse the world with words in saying that he would nothing but the realme of Naples and afterward go against the Turk and yet do cleane contrary and seeke to destroy the Duke of Milan and the Florentines and hold also the places of the Church Wherunto I answered that the Kings of Fraunce had euer inlarged augmented the dition of the church and defended it and that the King my Master would rather do the like than the contrarie Wherfore these I said were not the reasons that mooued them to enter into this war but that they desired to trouble the estate of Italy thereby to make their owne profit as in the end I thought they would which words they tooke in euill part as afterward I was aduertised notwithstanding it appeereth by those townes in Pouile which they haue in gage of King Ferrand to aide him against vs that I said true At this instant I would haue risen to depart but they caused me to sit downe again and then the Duke asked me if I would make any ouerture of peace bicause the day before I had offered so to do but that was vnder condition that they should haue staid the conclusion of their league fifteene daies to the end I might aduertise the King thereof and receiue his answer thereunto Our communication being ended I returned to my lodging then they sent for the ambassadors of the league one after another and as I came foorth from them I met with the ambassador of Naples who ware a faire new gowne and shewed a cheerefull countenance so had he great cause to do for these were good newes for him After dinner all the ambassadors of the league accompanied with their seruants met togither at the charges of the Seniory vpon the water which is all the pastime of Venice I thinke they were in all fortie boates euery ambassador hauing his boate garnished with a flagge of his Masters armes I saw all this company passe vnderneath my window with goodly melodie And the ambassadors of Milan at the least one of them who had been woont verie often before to beare me companie made a countenance now as though he knew me no more By the space of three daies I neuer stirred out of my lodging neither any of my seruants notwithstanding that not one man in the towne gaue me or any of mine a foule word at any time The same night they made great pastime with squibs which were set on fire a high in the steeples and turrets of the towne and a number of torches were lighted in the top of these ambassadors houses and diuers peeces of artillery discharged I was in a couered barge vpon the water to behold all this triumph about ten of the clocke at night especially before these ambassadors lodgings where was banketting and great cheere notwithstanding this was not the greate festiuall day on the which their league was proclaimed for the Pope had giuen commandement that the proclamation thereof should be deferred till Palm-sunday and that euery one of the confederated Princes when it should be proclaimed and the ambassadors that should be present thereat should beare in their hands an oliue branch in token of peace and confederacie as he said He commanded further that vpon that day it should be proclaimed both in Spaine and in Almaine Moreouer at Venice they made a scaffold of wood which they raised a great height from the ground as they
to offend him but to defend themselues adding further that they aduertised me the day I departed from Padua by one of their prouisors who came with their army that they sent against vs that their force should not passe a certaine riuer in their dominions neere to Parma 4 called as I remember Olye vnlesse he inuaded the Duke of Milan The said Prouisor and I gaue secret tokens each to other by the which messengers might passe to and fro betweene vs if need should so require to treat of some good end for I would breake off no ouuerture of peace bicause I knew not what might happen to the King my Master At this our communication was present one Master Lewis Marcell who by the seniories appointment accompained me out of their dominions and gouerned for that yeere the Motz viere 5 which is a certaine treasure they haue in like maner certaine of the Marques of Mantuas men who caried money to their Master were also present at it but they heard not our talk From these or frō som others I brought the K. in writing the number of their horsemen footmen and Estradiots 6 and the names of their captaines but few of those that were neerest about him credited my words After the King had reposed himselfe two daies at Sene and well refreshed his horses and his company I earnestly pressed him to depart for his enimies were not yet assembled and I feared onely the Almaines arriuall of whom the King of Romaines mustered great force and leuied great summes of money for their paiement But notwithstanding all my solicitation the King put foorth two matters to his councell which were soone debated the one whether he should restore the Florentines places to them and accept the offers they made for the restitution of them being these to pay him the thirtie thousand ducats remaining yet vnpaide of the summe they gaue him 7 to lend him besides seauen tie thousand and to serue him as he passed out of Italie with three hundred men of armes and two thousand footemen vnder the leading of Master Frauncis Secco a valiant knight and in good credit with the King My selfe and diuers others were of opinion that he should accept these conditions retaining onely Ligorne in his hands till his returne to Ast And if he had so done he might haue paied his soldiers and reserued money ynough to haue withdrawen part of his enimies forces and then haue fought with them But this resolution tooke no place for Monseur de Ligny a yoong man cosin german to the King ouerthrew it not alleaging any reason to the contrarie but onely for pitie of the Pisans The other point debated was a matter that Monseur de Ligny himselfe caused to be propounded by Gaucher of Tinteuille by one of the factions of the Senois the which desired the said Monseur de Ligny for their captain For you shall vnderstand that these Senois are euer in diuision and gouerne their common wealth more fondly than anie other towne in Italie 8 I being first asked mine aduise said that I thought it best for the King to march forward not to busie himself with these foolish offers which could not stand him in steed one week to an end alleaging further that bicause this was an imperiall towne we should by this meanes prouoke the whole Empire against vs. All the rest were of the same opinion yet was the cleane contrarie done for the Senois receiued Monseur de Ligny for their Captaine and promised him yeerely a certaine summe of money whereof he neuer receiued peny This foolish matter staied the King there sixe or seauen daies during the which space he solaced himselfe with the Dames Further he left there three hundred of his men diminishing his force by so much and then remooued to Pisa passing by Poggibonzia a castle of the Florentines But they whom he left at Sene were chased thence within a moneth after I had forgotten to tell you how I being at Florence iourneying towards the King went with one of the stewards of his house named Iohn Francois a wise and discreet person to visite a Frier Iacobin called Frier Hieronime 9 a man of holie life as all men reported abiding in a reformed couent where he had remained fifteen yeeres The cause why I went to commune with him was for that he had euer preached very fauorablie on the Kings behalfe so far foorth that his words had staide the Florentines from reuolting from vs for neuer preacher caried so great credit in any citie he had euer assured them of the Kings comming whatsoeuer was said or written to the contrarie affirming that he was sent of God to chastice the tyrants of Italie and that no force should be able to withstand him He preached further that the King should come to Pisa and enter into the towne and that the selfe same daie the estate of Florence should be altered as also it happened for the same daie was Peter of Medicis banished the towne Diuers other things also foretold he long before they happened namely the death of Laurence of Medicis all the which he saide he vnderstood by reuelation He preached yet further that the estate of the church should be reformed by the sword This is not yet come to passe but was very neer and he auoweth still that it shall be Many found great fault with him bicause he saide that God reuealed these things to him but some beleeued him sure I for my part take him for a holie man I asked him whether the K. should passe out of Italie without danger of his person seeing the great preparatiō the Venetiās made against him whereof he discoursed perfectlier than my selfe that came from thence He answered me that the K. should haue som troble vpon the way but that the honor therof should be his though he were accompanied but with an hundred men and that God who had guided him at his comming would also protect him at his returne Adding notwithstanding that bicause he had not done his dutie in the reformation of the Church but had suffered his men to spoile and rob the people as well those that tooke his part voluntarily receiued him into their cities as his enimies God had pronounced sentence against him and would shortly scourge him Neuerthelesse he bad me tell him that if he would haue compassion one the poore people and endeuour himselfe to keepe his men from doing euill and punish the offenders as he was bound by his office to do that then God would reuoke his sentence at the least mittigate it adding thereunto that he ought not to thinke it a sufficient excuse that he in his owne person did no harme He said moreouer that himselfe would go and tel the King thus much and so indeed he did and perswaded with him to restore the Florentines places to them When he spake thus of Gods sentence the death of my Lord the Daulphin came suddenly to my minde for
in the towne spoiled it and burnt both victuals and all that was within it and aboue ten also of themselues being drunke neither could the Marshall Gie by any meanes make them to retire They besieged the castel also meaning to haue done the like to those that were within it being the said Master Iohn Iames of Treuoules seruants whom he had put into it when the garrison of the enimies yeelded it neither would the said Almaines depart thence till the King himselfe sent to them It was great pitie that the towne was thus destroied both bicause of the dishonor we receiued thereby and also bicause there was great plentie of victuals within it whereof we were already in great distresse 1 notwithstanding that the people were no where against vs saue onely the people of the countrie neere to Pontreme bicause of the harmes we did there Now to proceede if the King would haue followed the said Master Iohn Iames his aduise diuers places of the Duchie of Milan would haue yeelded and diuers gentlemen of the countrie haue reuolted to him for he gaue him counsell to reare vp in euery place the yoong Dukes armes whom the Lord Lodouic held in his hands being sonne to Iohn Galeas the Duke that last died at Pauia as before you haue heard But the King refused so to do for the fauor he bare to the Duke of Orleans who pretended and doth yet pretend title to the said Duchie Thus marched the King beyond Pontreme and lodged in a little valley neere to a village that had not ten houses in it the name whereof I know not There he abode fiue daies vpon no occasion his armie being almost famished and his battell lying thirty miles behinde his vaward in the middest of huge and sharpe mountaines ouer the which such great cannons and culuerins passed then as neuer had passed before For Duke Galeas in his time conueied ouer but fower faulcons waying not past fiue hundred pound a peece which was a great woonder in those daies I must now returne to the Duke of Orleans who after he had taken the castell of Nouarre staid there a few daies to no purpose and then went to Vigesue neere to the which were two little townes that sent vnto him offering to receiue him but by wise aduise he refused their offer They of Pauia sent also twise to him to the same end and them he should not haue refused Moreouer he marched in order of battell before the said towne of Vigesne where the Duke of Milans whole force lay being led by the two brethren of Saint Seuerin so often aboue named The town is hardly so good as Saint Martin-de-Candé which is not woorth sixe pence I my selfe arriued there not long after at which time the Duke of Milan being there with certaine of his captaines shewed me the place where both the armies had stood in order of battell hard by the towne and within the towne And if the Duke of Orleans had marched but an hundred paces further they had retired beyond the riuer of Thesin for they stood hard by the riuer side and had built a great bridge of boates ouer it Moreouer I saw them at my being there beat downe a great bulwark of earth which they had made on the other side of the riuer to defend the passage whereby it appeered that they were fully minded if the Duke had marched forward to abandon both the towne and castle which had been much to their disaduantage This is the place where the Duke of Milan vseth most to be resident and sure it is scituate in the pleasantest countrey for all kinde of pastimes especially hauking and hunting that euer I sawe But peraduenture the Duke of Orleans thought the place strong where his enimies lodged and himselfe to haue passed far ynough wherefore he retired to Trecas the Lord whereof who had charge vnder the Duke of Milan and my selfe communed togither of these affaires a fewe daies after To the said towne of Trecas certaine of the principal of Milan sent to the Duke of Orleans promising to receiue him into the towne and offering for performance thereof to deliuer their children in hostage Which their enterprise they might easily haue executed as diuers of great authority being then within the towne and acquainted with all their practises haue aduertised me saying that the Duke of Milan could not haue found men ynow to haue defended the castell of Milan for him bicause both nobles people desired the destruction of this house of Sforce The Duke of Orleans also and his men haue enformed me of these practises aboue mentioned but they had no great affiance in those that negotiated with them and they lacked a man that vnderstood these affaires better than themselues whereunto I also adde that the said Dukes captaines were not all of one opinion as touching this enterprise With the Duke of Milans forces ioined two thousand Almains whom the King of Romanes sent thither and a thousand Dutch horsemen vnder the leading of master Frederic Capelare borne in the countie of Ferrette Their arriuall so much encouraged Master Galeas and his companie that they went before Trecas to present the battell to the Duke of Orleans who refused it notwithstanding that his force were greater then theirs bicause his captaines as I suppose would not hazard the battell fearing least the losse therof should be the Kings destruction of whom they could heare no newes bicause the passages were all stopped wherefore they retired to Nouarre giuing no order for their prouision of victuals no not for the preseruation of the store they had within the towne already much lesse for any new supplie whereof notwithstanding they might plentifully haue been furnished at that time in the countrey about without money whereas afterward they were greatly distressed through their owne follie To conclude their enimies came and lodged within halfe a league of them The Notes 1 The cause of their lacke vvas the barrennes of the countrey How the Kings great artillerie passed the mounts Appenines by the Almains helpe of the danger the Marshall of Gie was in with his vaward and how the King arriued at Fornoue Chap. 5. YOu haue heard how the King vpon no occasion laie in a valley on this side Pontreme fiue daies togither in great distresse of victuals Our Almains did there one great peece of seruice for those that committed this foule fault at Pontreme fearing that they had thereby procured themselues the Kings indignation for euer came and offered to passe the artillerie ouer these monstrous waies in the mountaines for so may I well terme them bicause they were so high and steepe that there lay no beaten way ouer them I haue seene all the highest mountaines both of Italy and Spaine which vndoubtedly are not comparable to these The Almains made this offer vpon condition that the K would pardon their fault which he promised to do We had fowerteene great and massy peeces of artillery
enimies many came to the hauen of Bougen 4 neere to Plambin whence it departed not the space of two moneths so that our men might without all danger haue succoured the said castels for the nature of this hauen of Bougen is such that a ship cannot come foorth of it but with one winde which bloweth seldome in winter The said Arban was a valiant soldier and a very good sea man 5 While the King lay at Thurin diuers treaties were entertained between him and the Duke of Milan in one of the which the Duches of Sauoy was a dealer she was daughter to the Marques of Montferratte and a widow and mother to the yoong Duke of Sauoy then liuing Others negotiated also as well as she and among the rest my selfe laboured for conclusion of the peace as before I haue made mention and the confederats that is to say the captaines that were in the enimies campe before Nouarre desired to deale with me and sent me a safe conduct But enuie euer raigneth in Princes courts for the Cardinall so often aboue named ouerthrew all that I did and would that the Duches of Sauois negotiation should go forward which was committed to the said Cardinals hoste who was Treasurer of Sauoy a wise man and a faithfull seruant to his Mistres This treatie endured so long without effect that in the end all hope of peace ceasing the Bailife of Digeon was sent ambassador into Swisserland to leuy there fiue thousand men I haue made mention already how the Kings Nauie that departed from Nice in prouence to succour the castels of Naples could not succour them for the reasons there rehearsed Wherefore the Lord of Montpensier and the other gentlemen that were with him in the castels vnderstanding of this misfortune espied a conuenient time when the army that the King left behinde him in diuers parts of the realme lay neere to the said castles and by helpe therof salied foorth leauing within force sufficient for their defence according to the proportion of their victuals which was very smal and departed themselues with two thousand and fiue hundred soldiers appointing Ognas and two other gentlemen captaines of the castles The said L. of Montpensier the Prince of Salerne the Seneschall of Beaucaire and the rest that were with them departed to Salerne for the which cause King Ferrand said that he might lawfully put to death the hostages deliuered to him a few daies before whose names were these the Lord of Alegre one called de la Marche-d ' Ardaine the Lord de la Chapelle d'Aniou one named Roquebertin Catelin and one Genly for you shall vnderstand that not past three moneths before the said King Ferrand was entred into Naples by intelligence or rather through the negligence of our men who vnderstood of all their practises in the towne and yet neuer sought to countermine them But heereof I will write no farther bicause I speake but vpon report for notwithstanding that I had mine intelligence from the principall of those that were there yet do I not willingly discourse long of any matter that I haue not been present at my selfe The said K. Ferrand being in Naples was aduertised that the King was slaine at the battell of Fornoue as were our men also within the castle by the Duke of Milans letters to the which credit was giuen notwithstanding that they reported no thing but lies And thereupon the Coulonnois whose maner is alwaies to turne with the strongest reuolted incontinent from vs though sundry waies bound to the King as before you haue heard Wherefore our men partlie through these vntrue reports but especially bicause a great number of them were retired into the castell being vtterly vnfurnished of victuals and partly also bicause they had lost their horses and all their goods within the towne made a composition the sixt day of October in the yeere 1495. after they had been besieged three moneths fowerteen daies promising if they were not succoured within a certaine space to depart into Prouence and yeeld the castels without making further war either by sea or land vpon the realme of Naples for the performance of which conditions they deliuered these hostages aboue named and yet within twentie daies after the composition departed as you haue heard for the which cause King Ferrand said that they had broken the composition in that they departed without leaue and notwithstanding that our men maintained the contrary yet were the hostages in great danger and not without cause For although I will not denie but that our men did wisely to depart notwithstanding the composition yet had they done much better if the day of their departure they had yeelded the castles for their hostages safetie and receiued again the said hostages For the castels held but twenty daies after they were departed partly for lacke of victuals and partly bicause they despaired of succours To conclude the losse of the castell of Naples was the losse of the whole realme The Notes 1 This Peron vvas sent to Nice being a hauen tovvne in Prouence to prepare this nauie 2 I suppose this to be some hauen tovvne not far from Naples or rather thinke it should be read the I le of Prusse vvhereof mention is made cap. 14. vvhich Guicciar calleth the I le of Poreze 3 To the I le of Elbe Guicciar 4 The place is corrupted for this hauen is aftervvard called Bengon vvherefore the French Corrector readeth it as Blondus and the description of Italy lead him Porto Barato pres Piombino 5 Guicciar saith Arban vvas vnskilfull on the sea and I doubt this place be corrupted heere Of the great famine and miserie the Duke of Orleans and his men were in at Nouarre of the Marchiones of Montferrats death and likewise of Monseur de Vendosmes and how after long deliberation the King enclined to peace to saue those that were besieged Chap. 9. THe King being at Thurin as you haue heard and at Quiers whither he went sometime to solace himselfe attended daily for newes of the Almains whom he had sent for and trauelled to recouer the Duke of Milan whose freindship he much desired neither cared he greatly for the Duke of Orleans successe who began now to be sore distressed for victuals and wrote daily for succours bicause the enimies were approched neerer the towne Besides that their force was increased with a thousand Almain horsemen and eleuen thousand footemen called launce Knights leuied in the King of Romaines dominions the horsemen being led by Master Frederic Capelare of the countie of Ferrette a valiant knight who long had been trained vp both in Fraunce and Italy and the footemen by a couragious knight of Austriche called Master George d'Abecfin 1 the selfe same that tooke Saint Omer for the King of Romaines The King therefore seeing his enimies forces daily to increase and that no honorable end could be made was aduised to remooue to Verceil there to deuise some way to saue the Duke of
had of the Duke of Orleans person But they made vs first sweare that we would proceed in the treatie of peace vprightly and sincerely without dissimulation onely to deliuer the said Duke The Notes 1 All the Italians name him Georgio di Pietrapiana The author himselfe also afterward nameth him Petreplane which variance ariseth bicause the one is his surname the other the name of his seniorie 2 This riuer is called Seruo Guicciar nameth it Stesie 3 His eldest sonnes name was Alfonse Guicciar 4 He vsed this colour openly bicause the Venetians would not seeme first to seeke peace 5 This Venetians name was Bernarde Contaren Guicciar 6 Seeing it was forfeited it ought of right to haue been forfeited into the Kings hands of whom it was held but not to the Duke of Milan 7 The Marquesse of Mantua put himselfe in hostage bicause the Duke of Orleans was to passe through the Italians campe Guicciar How the Duke of Orleans and his company were deliuered by composition out of their great miserie in Nouarre where they were besieged and of the Swissers arriuall that came to succour the King and the said Duke of Orleans Chap. 10. THe Marshall of Gie accompanied with certaine of the Duke of Milans seruants went to Nouarre and caused the Duke of Orleans with a small traine to come foorth of the towne whereof he was right glad They within the towne were so miserably persecuted with famine and sicknes that the said Marshall was forced to leaue his nephew called Monseur de Romefort in hostage with them promising that within three daies they should all come foorth You haue heard already how the Bailife of Digeon was sent into Swisserland to leauy fiue thousand men among their Cantons the which were not yet arriued when the D. of Orleans came forth of Nouarre for if they had vndoubtedly in mine opinion we had fought But notwithstanding that we were certainly aduertised that there came a much greater number than we sent for yet could we not tarie their comming bicause of our mens great distresse in Nouarre where there died at the least two thousand of famine and sicknes the rest also being so poore and miserable that they seemed rather dead carcasses than liuing creatures And I thinke verily setting the siege of Hierusalem aside that neuer men sustained such hunger as they did But if at their first entrie into the towne they had made good prouision of Corne whereof the might haue recouered plentie in the villages there about they should neuer haue beene brought to such extremitie but on the other side their enimies haue been forced to depart with great dishonor Three or fower daies after the Duke of Orleans departure out of Nouarre it was agreed by both the parties that all the souldiers should likewise be permitted to come foorth and the Marques of Mantua and Master Galeas of Saint Seuerin Captaines the one of the Venetians the other of the Duke of Milans forces were appointed to conueigh them in safetie and so they did Further as touching the towne of Nouarre it was put into the citizens hands who were sworne to receiue into it neither French nor Italian before the treatie of peace were fully concluded Moreouer thirtie of our men remained still in the castell whom the Duke of Milan permitted to haue victuals for their money from day to day Vndoubtedly a man would neuer beleeue the great miserie they were in that came foorth of the towne vnlesse he had seene them Horses they brought foorth but fewe for they were in maner all eaten and there were hardly sixe hundred men among them able to do seruice notwithstanding that there came foorth 5500. A great number lay by the waies whom the enimies themselues releeued I for my part for the value of a crowne saued fiftie of them as they lay succourlesse in a garden neere to a little castle that the enimies held called Camarian where I caused porrige to be giuen them which so well refreshed them that in the said garden there died but one and afterward vpon the way about fower for it was ten miles from Nouarre to Verceil whither when they arriued the King bestowed his charity vpon them and commanded eight hundred francks to be deuided among them and paide them also their wages as well the dead as the liuing and the Swissers in like maner of whom about fower hundred died in Nouarre but notwithstanding all this their good cheerishing three hundred of them died at Verceil after their returne some by feeding too greedily after their long famine and some by sicknes so that a great number lay dead vpon the dunghils of the towne About this present after all our men were come foorth of the towne except thirty that remained in the castle some of the which also daily sallied foorth arriued the Swissers eight or ten thousand of the which came and lodged with vs in our campe where were already two thousand that had beene with the King in this voiage of Naples the rest of their company being to the number of ten thousand encamped neere to Verceil The King was aduised not to suffer these two bands to ioine togither in the which were to the number of twentie and two thousand men so that I thinke so many soldiers of their countrey were neuer togither before For the opinion of all those that knew their countrey was that they left but few able men behinde them sure the greatest part of these came whether we would or not in such sort that their wiues and children would haue come with them had not the straights at the entrie into Piemont been defended to stop them A man may doubt whether this their comming proceeded of good affection or no bicause the late King Lewis had bestowed great benefits vpon them and was the cause of the great honor and renowne they haue won in the world True it is that there were some old men among them that had borne great good will to King Lewis for there came a number of Captaines aboue seauentie two yeeres of age the which had serued against Duke Charles of Burgundy but the chiefe cause of their comming was couuetousnes and pouertie To say the truth all the able men that they could leuie came and such a number of tall fellowes they were and so goodly a bande that me thought it impossible to discomfite them otherwise than by famine or cold or some such distresse Let vs now returne to the principall matter to wit the treatie The Duke of Orleans after he had well refreshed himselfe eight or ten daies being accompanied with men of all sorts supposing his honor to be stained bicause such a number of men as were with him in Nouarre had suffered themselues through meere folly to be brought to so great extremitie began to wish that we might fight and talked verie stoutly of the battell and one or two more of his followers Further Monseur de Ligny and the Archbishop
vnlike and also bicause the Dukes liberalitie was inferior to the Kings his attempts so impouerishing him that he had not to be liberall of as the King had Whereunto I adde that he made no such account of his seruants as the King did but attributed all his good successe to his owne braine whereby their seruice was the lesse esteemed and the woorse rewarded or rather not at all esteemed nor rewarded for he neuer vsed any mans counsell but his owne so that wise men lost but their time with him Yea Meyer himselfe reporteth him to be Durum asperum ingratum à quo milites maligne admodum stipendia accipiebant raro blande liberaliter appellarentur quanquam multis in locis extremis periculis se obiectarent plurimumque algoris inediae aestus sustinerent If then the Duke were of this disposition towards his soldiers and so euill rewarded them whose helpe he daily and howerly vsed what reward could any wise man looke for at his hands whose aduice he seldome asked and neuer followed Further the Duke was of nature very cholericke and ready to offer his seruants iniurie as for example to the Earle of Campobasso he gaue a blowe which in the end cost him his life and whether any such outrage offered to our Author caused or furthered his departure we knowe not but that aduauncement which was to be looked for at the Kings hands and not to be hoped for at the Dukes was one cause is already as I suppose sufficiently prooued The second cause of Commines departure from the Duke in mine opinion was safetie for the Duke as Commines himselfe reporteth forced not to venture his seruants into any danger were it neuer so great which all men especially despairing of reward of their seruice will seeke to auoide for as our Author himselfe saith in one place of his historie most men by seruice seeke to aduaunce themselues but all men will haue an eie to saue themselues Further Commines being a very wise man foresawe the Dukes attempts to be such as would in the end ouerthrowe both himselfe his subiects and his dominions wherefore he thought it best to dislodge in time and to saue one These in mine opinion were the principall causes of his departure from the Duke which being honest and reasonable and his departure likewise voide of al treason and trecherous practises against the Duke I see no reason why for his departure he should not rather be commended than condemned The last point that we haue to consider is whether he being the Dukes subiect might leaue his Master and depart to the King were the causes of his departure neuer so reasonable and honest Whereunto I answer that Commines was not absolutely the Dukes subiect for Flaunders was held in soueraigntie of the crowne of Fraunce and both the Earle and all the people sworne to beare no armes against the King of Fraunce and diuers examples too long to rehearse are to be read in the histories of diuers Earles of Flaunders that haue been arrested imprisoned and togither with their people fined for breach of this oth Wherefore seeing our author was a Flemming borne and Flaunders held in Soueraigntie of the King of Fraunce and the Duke of Burgundie in-hostilitie with the King of Fraunce contrarie to the oth he either tooke or ought to haue taken and further violating diuers naie I may say all those points whereunto by his allegeance he was bound to the French King I see no reason why Commines might not or rather ought not to leaue an inferior rebellious Lord and cleaue to his soueraign Prince and King to whom he ought a soueraign dutie both by allegeance and oth And if after his reuolt he gaue any aduice to the furtherance of the Kings affaires he did therein in mine opinion the dutie of a faithfull seruant and true subiect Thus much I haue beene forced to speake in defence both of Commines life and historie whereof as the former appeereth to haue beene both honest and vertuous as well by the reasons aboue alleaged as also by the notable discourses wherewith he farceth his historie which breath nothing but vertue and sinceritie so is the latter confirmed by the consent of diuers good histories and approoued by the iudgement of the noblest Princes that Europe bred these many hundred yeers as I trust is sufficiently declared Wherefore our authors credit standeth vpright as well for good conuersation of life as sincere report in historie both the which Meyer no lesse falsely slandereth than he doth in other places of his Annales the noble races of the Kings of England and Fraunce which ignorantly or maliciouslie he reporteth to be more vile and base than any honest eare can endure to heare Thus hauing I trust sufficiently defended the credit of this woorthie writer I will heere abruptly for auoiding of tediousnes staie my pen. A Table declaring the contents of all the Chapters contained in this historie The preface of the Author to the Archbishop of Vienna in Fraunce page 1 Chap. 1 The occasion of the wars between Lewis the eleuenth and the Earle of Charolois Duke of Burgundy page 2 Chap. 2 How the Earle of Charolois and diuers noble men of Fraunce leuied an army against King Lewis vnder colour of the weale publike page 6 Chap. 4 How the Earle of Charolois encamped neere to Montl'hery and of the battell fought there betweene the King of Fraunce and him page 10 Chap. 4 Of the danger the Earle of Charolois was in and how he was rescued page 15 Chap. 5 How the Duke of Berry the Kings brother and the Duke of Britaine ioined with the Earle of Charolois against the King page 19 Chap. 6 How the Earle of Charolois and his confederates with their whole army passed the riuer of Seine vpon a bridge of botes how Iohn Duke of Calabria ioined with them and how they all encamped before Paris page 22 Chap. 7 A discourse vpon ambitious hunting after offices and estates by the example of the English men page 25 Chap. 8 How King Lewis entred into Paris while the Princes of Fraunce practised with the citizens page 27 Chap. 9 How the Earle of Charolois artillery and the Kings artillery shot the one against the other neere to Charenton and how the Earle of Charolois caused another bridge to be built vpon botes ouer the riuer of Seine page 29 Chap. 10 A discourse vpon certaine vices and vertues of King Lewis the 11. page 32 Chap. 11 How the Burgundians lying neere to Paris and looking for the battell supposed great thistles to haue been launces held vpright page 34 Chap. 12 How the King and the Earle of Charolois met togither to treat of peace page 36 Chap. 13 How the towne of Roane by practise was put into the Duke of Bourbons hands for the Duke of Berry and how the treatie of Conflans was fully concluded page 38 Chap. 14 How the treatie of peace was concluded betweene the King
4 Of the war the king made in Britaine and of the Earle of Dunois ambassage to the king for peace page 252 Chap. 5 Of the battell of Saint Albin wherein the Duke of Orleans was taken prisoner of the treatie of peace betweene the king and the Duke of Britaine and of the said Duke of Britaines death page 255 Chap. 6 Of the kings marriage with the Lady Anne of Britaine whereby Britaine was vnited to the crowne of Fraunce page 258 Chap. 7 Of the troubles in England and how the king of England passed the sea and besieged Bolloin and of the peace betweene the king and him and of the surprising of Arras and Saint Omers by the king of Romaines men page 259 Chap. 8 Of the restitution of the countries of Roussillon and Parpignan to the king of Spaine of the Emperor Fredericks death of the peace betweene the king of Romaines and the king and of the Duke of Orleans deliuery out of prison page 262 The seuenth Booke The Progloue of the Author containing that which he mindeth to treate of in this historie following page 265 Howe Rene D. of Lorraine came into Fraunce to demaund the Duchie of Bar the Earledome of Prouence which king Charles held and how he failed to enter into the realme of Naples whereunto he pretented title as the king did and what right both of them had thereunto page 266 Chap. 2 How the Prince of Salerne in the realm of Naples came into Fraunce and how Lodouic Sforce surnamed the Moore and he sought to perswade the king to make war vpon the king of Naples and for what cause page 268 Chap. 3 How king Charles the 8 made peace with the king of Romaines and the Archduke of Austriche restoring to them the Lady Margaret of Flaunders before he made his voiage to Naples page 274 Chap. 4 How the king sent to the Venetians to practise with them before he enterpised his voiage to Naples and of the preparation that was made for the said voiage page 275 Chap. 5 How king Charles departed from Vienna in Daulphin to conquer the realme of Naples in person and what his nauie vpon the sea did vnder the leading of the D. of Orleans page 278 Chap. 6 How the king remaining yet in Ast resolued to passe foorth towards Naples at the earnest sute of Lodouic Sforce How Philip de Commines was sent ambassador to Venice of the D. of Milans death after whose decease the said Lodouic seized vpon the Duchy to the preiudice of a sonne the said D. left behinde him page 281 Chap. 7 How Peter of Medicis yeelded fower of the Florentines strongest places to the king and how the king restored Pisa being one of them to their ancient libertie page 284 Chap. 8 How the king departed from Pisa to Florence of the flight ruin of Peter de Medices page 287 Chap. 9 How the king entred into Florence and through what other townes he passed till he came to Rome page 289 Chap. 10 How the king sent the Cardinall Petriad Vincula to Ostie what the Pope did at Rome in the meane time and how the king entred into Rome maugre all his enimies page 291 Chap. 11 How king Alfonse caused his sonne Ferrand to be crowned king and then fled himselfe into Sicilie with a discourse of the euill life that his father the old Ferrand and he had lead page 295 Chap. 12 How the yoong Ferrand after he was crowned king of Naples went and encamped at Saint Germain to resist the kings cōming of the treaty that K. Charles made with the Pope at Rome page 297 Chap. 13 How the King departed from Rome towards Naples what happened in the meane time in diuers partes of the said realme and through what places he passed till he came to Naples page 299 Chap. 14 How King Charles was crowned King of Naples of the faults he committed in the defence of the realme and how an enterprise attempted on his behalfe against the Turke was discouered by the Venetians page 301 Chap. 15 A discourse somwhat out of the course of the history wherin Philip de Commines Author of this present woorke treateth amply of the estate and gouernment of the Seniorie of Venice and of those things that he saw there and were done there during the time of his ambassage to the said Seniorie for the King page 304 The eight Booke Chap. 1 Of the order and prouision the King left in the realme of Naples at his returne into Fraunce page 314 Chap. 2 How the king departed from Naples and passed againe through Rome whereupon the Pope fled to Oruiette of the communication the king had with Monseur d'Argenton at his returne from Venice how he tooke aduise whether he should restore the Florentines places to them or not and of the sermons woorthie of memorie of frier Ierom of Florence page 316 Chap. 3 How the King retained in his hands the town of Pisa and certaine other of the Florentines places and how in the meane time the Duke of Orleans entred on the other side into Nouarre a towne of the Duchie of Milan page 319 Chap. 4 How King Charles passed diuers dangerous straights in the mountaines betweene Pisa and Seriaue how the towne of Pontreme was burned by his Almaines and how the Duke of Orleans behaued himselfe in the meane time at Nouarre page 321 Chap. 5 How the kings great artillery passed the mounts Appenines by the Almaines helpe of the danger the Marshall of Gie was in with his vaward and how the King arriued at Fornoue page 324 Chap. 6 Of the battell of Fornoue wherein the enimies of Fraunce were put to flight and how the Earle of Petillane who the same day brake the Kings prison relied them togither againe page 329 Chap. 7 How the Lord of Argenton went himselfe alone to parle with the enimies when he saw that those that were appointed to go with him would not go and how the King returned safe and sound with his army to the towne of Ast page 336 Chap. 8 How the king sent ships to the sea to succour the castles of Naples why the said castles could not be succoured page 341 Chap. 9 Of the great famine and miserie the D. of Orleans his men were in at Nouarre of the Marchionesse of Montferrats death likewise of Monseur de Vendosmes and how after long deliberation the king inclined to peace to saue those that were besieged page 343 Chap. 10 How the D. of Orleans and his company were deliuered by composition out of their great miserie in Nouarre where they were besieged and of the Swissers arriuall that came to succour the king and the said D. of Orleans page 349 Chap. 11 How the peace was concluded betweene the king and the D. of Orleans on the one side and the enimies on the other and of the conditions and articles thereof page 351 Chap. 12 How the king sent the Lord of Argenton
to his heires males till they were redeemed for fower hundred thousand crownes 11 How these matters passed I know not perfectly but true it is that in the D. old age he was so gouerned by the Lords of Croy and Chimay being brethren and others of their house that he agreed to take againe his money restore the said territories to the King greatly to the Earle his sons discontentation for besides that they were the frontier townes of their dominions they lost in them a number of able men for the wars The Earle of Charolois charged the house of Croy with this fact so far foorth that after extreeme age was growne vpon his father whereunto he euen then approched he banished all the said house out of his dominions and confiscated all their lands estates and offices The Notes 1 Commines vvhen he came to the Earle of Charolois seruice vvas 19. yeers of age 2 Charles Earle of Eu Peter of Moruillier and Iohn de Harcour bishop of Narbonne vvere the ambassadors heere mentioned they arriued at Liste the 5. of Nouember Annales Burgundiae 3 VVhether the king ment to haue taken the Earle of Charolois prisoner by this Rubempre reade Annal. Burgund lib. 3. pag. 880. and Meyer lib. 16. fol. 334. vvho flatly charge him vvith it 4 Sir Oliuer de la Marche heere named vvrote a Cronicle of these times 5 The cause vvhy the King sent Rubempre into Holland vvas not as he said to take the Earle of Charolois but the Vicechauncellor of Britaine named in Meyer Iohannes Rociuilla and by our author in the 3. Chapter of this first booke Rouuille vvhom the Duke of Britaine had sent into England to make a league betvveene the realme of England and him and bicause the King supposed this Vicechauncellor vvould visit the Earle of Charolois in his returne he sent this Rubempre into Holland to take him and bring him into Fraunce Annal. Burgund Meyer 6 For the better vnderstanding of the Dukes ansvvere I am forced to passe the bounds of a note VVherefore it is to be vnderstood that in the declination of the Romaine Empire the Burgundians anno 408. being chased out of Almaine vvhere they inhabited the countries novv subiect to the Palsgraue of the Rhyne inuaded Fraunce and conquered the countries novv knovvne by the names of the Countie and Duchie of Burgundy togither vvith Sauoy Daulphine Prouince and the greatest part of Svvitzerland and anno 414. chose them a king named Gondiachus vvith vvhom after diuers battels fought vvith changeable fortune Aetius the Emperour Honorius his lieutenant in Fraunce at the length made peace And Gondiachus remained King of Burgundy and ayded the Romaines against Attila Soone after failed the male line of Gondiachus and by the mariage of Clotilde daughter to Chilperic Gondiachus his sonne vvith Clodoneus King of Fraunce Burgundie fell to Clotarius sonne to the saide Clotilde and Clodoneus and so continued in the house of Fraunce till the yeere 843. vvhen the sonnes of the Emperor Lodouicus Pius vvarring togither Burgundy vvas deuided into Burgundiam Transiuranam and Cisiuranam Transiurana containing Sauoy Daulphine Prouince and Lyonnois remained to Lotharius the Emperor vvith the title of King of Burgundie Cisiurana conteining the Countie and Duchie of Burgundie vvas also dismembred for that part novv knovvne by the name of the Countie of Burgundie fell also to Lotharius share but that part novv knovvne by the name of the Dutchie of Burgundie vvas togither vvith the Realme of Fraunce yeelded to Carolus Caluus But after the death of the Emperor Lotharius his tvvo sonnes Lodouicus and Lotharius made another partition of their part of Burgundie for the realme of Austrasia vvith the Countie of Burgundie fell to Lotharius after vvhose death his vncle Carolus Caluus King of Fraunce ambitiously through violence conquered also that part of Burgundie and ioined it to the crovvne of Fraunce so that the said Carolus Caluus possessed all Burgundie Cisiurana that is both the Countie and Dutchie of Burgundie Loduicus the other sonne of the Emperor Lotharius possessed vvith the Empire all Burgundie Transiurana togither vvith the title of King of Burgundie and left behinde him one onely daughter named Hermingarde maried to Boson brother to Richilde Carolus Caluus his vvife in respect of vvhich mariage the said Caluus gaue to Boson all Burgundie Cisiurana vvhich he the said Caluus then held And thus had Boson all the realme of Burgundie viz. Transiurana in the right of his wife and Cisiurana by his brother in lawes gift Farther the said Caluus being both Emperor and King of France created the aboue named Boson King of Burgundie anno 879. to whom succeeded Lodouicus his sonne from whom Ralph King of Fraunce sonne to Richard that first intituled himselfe Duke of Burgundie wan the greatest part of Burgundy Cisiurana To this Lewis succeeded his sonne Ralph King of Burgundie who not being able to defend his realme gaue it to the Emperor Conradus 2. who notwithstanding obteined the least part thereof for as touching Transiurana Beralde Duke of Saxe had before this gift woon from King Ralph Sauoy and a great peece of Switzerland Daulphine Lyonnois Poruince Guigue le gras the first Daulphine had likewise conquered And as touching Cisiurana by treatie made betweene the Emperour Conradus 2. and Henry King of Fraunce onely the County remained to the Empire and the Dutchie to the crowne of Fraunce This I haue written bicause some hold opinion that the County of Burgundy ought also to be held of the crowne of Fraunce whereas in deede rather the Dutchy with all Transiurana the greatest part whereof the French King at this day possesseth ought to be held of the Empire from whom the said French Kings haue pulled so many prouinces that now as one properly speaketh the Eagle hath lost so many feathers that hardly he can flie 7 Lahaie in our author and in Annal. Burgund where Rubempre should haue taken the Earle of Charolois is named in Meyer Gorkem 8 The pension the Earle of Charalois had of the King with the gouernment of Normandy was 36000. franks Annal. Burgund La Marche Meyer 9 A franke is two shillings and six pence sterling after eight souse to an English shilling so that the carles pension after that rate amounted to fower thousand fiue hundred pound sterling 10 The townes and territories vpon the riuer of Somme engaged to Duke Philip by the treatie of Arras which was in the yeere 1435. are named in the articles of the said treatie rehearsed in Annal. Burgund pag. 760. and 761. and in the first booke of La Marche and in the 16. booke of Meyer and others 11 They were engaged as our author and Annal. Burgund write for 400000. crowns but Meyer saith 450000. but they were redeemed for 400000. anno 1463. La Marche Meyer Annal. Burgund How the Earle of Charolois and diuers noble men of Fraunce leuied an army against king Lewis vnder colour of the weale publique Chap. 2. SOone
after the abouenamed Ambassadors departure Iohn Duke of Bourbon that last died arriued at the town of Lisle pretending that he came to visit his vncle Duke Philip of Burgundie who aboue all houses loued especially this house of Bourbon and no maruell for this Duke of Bourbons mother was Duke Philips sister She had liued a widow many yeeres and soiourned there at that time with hir brother both hir selfe and diuers of hir children to wit three daughters and one sonne notwithstanding this was not indeed the cause of the Duke of Bourbons arriuall but his comming was to perswade the Duke of Burgundie to suffer an armie to be leuied in his dominions assuring him that all the Princes of Fraunce would do the like meaning thereby to giue the King to vnderstand how euill and vniust gouernment he vsed in his realme purposing to make themselues so strong that they might constraine him by force to redresse this inconuenience if praiers could not preuaile This war was afterward called THE WEALE PVBLIQVE bicause the authors thereof vsed the common wealth for colour of their enterprise The said good Duke Philip for so is he surnamed since his death agreed that an armie should be leuied in his dominions but the bottom of the enterprise was neuer discouered to him for he thought not that the matter shoulde haue come to hand strokes as after it did Immediately began the musters through all the Dukes dominions and the Earle of Saint Paule afterward Constable of Fraunce accompanied with the Marshall of Burgundie being of the house of Neuf-chastell repaired to Cambray where D. Philip then lay to the Earle of Charolois who immediatly after their arriuall assembled his fathers Councill and a great number of his subiects in the Bishops palace at Cambray where he proclaimed all the house of Croy traitors to his father and him And notwithstanding that the Earle of S. Paule alleaged that by this proclamation he should be greatly indamaged bicause long before this he had giuen his daughter in mariage 1 to the L. of Croies sonne yet was the said house of Croy al that notwithstanding forced to abandon the Dukes dominions 2 where they lost great riches With the which dooing Duke Philip was much discontented especially bicause his chiefe chamberlaine afterward Lord of Chimay a yoong man well disposed and nephew to the Lord of Croy was forced for feare of his life to depart without leaue taken of his master being aduertised that if he did otherwise he should either be slaine or apprehended but the Dukes old age caused him to beare this matter more patiently than otherwise he would All this trouble hapned in his house bicause of the restitution of the territories aboue mentioned situate vpon the riuer of Somme which the Duke had restored to King Lewis for the sum of 400000. crownes by the perswasion of this house of Croy as the Earle of Charolois laide to their charge The said Earle after he had pacified his father and reconciled himselfe to him the best that mought be put his whole force incontinent into the field being accompanied with the Earle of S. Paule the principall gouernor of his affaires and he that had the greatest charge in his armie for he had vnder him by the Earle of Charolois commandement 300. men of armes and 4000. archers besides a number of valiant knights and esquires of Artois Haynalt and Flaunders Like bands and as great were also vnder the leading of the L. of Rauastin the D. of Cleues brother and the L. Anthony bastard of Burgundie other captaines for breuitie I passe ouer but aboue all the rest two knights there were especially in great credit with the Earle of Charolois the one named the L. of Hault-bordin an ancient knight bastard brother to the Earle of S. Paule the other the L. of Contay They had both been trained vp in the long wars betweene Fraunce and England at the same time that Henry the 5. of that name King of England raigned in Fraunce being confederate with this Duke Philip of Burgundie They were two valiant and wise knights and had the principall charge of the whole armie of yoong gentlemen there were a number but one especially very famous called master Philip of Lalain issued of a race that hath euer been so valiant and couragious that they haue in maner all died in the wars in their princes seruice The Earles force was great for his men of armes were to the number of 1400. but euill armed and vntrained bicause of the long peace these Princes of Burgundie had liued in For since the treatie of Arras by the space of 36. yeeres and more they neuer had war that indured nor almost taste of war saue a few broyles against the citie of Gaunt which were soone pacified Notwithstanding his men of armes were well mounted and well accompanied for few or none should you haue seene without fiue or sixe great horses of his retinue 3 The archers 4 were eight or nine thousand and when they mustred they were more vnwilling to depart then to giue their names but the ablest were chosen and the rest dismissed 5 The subiects of this house of Burgundie liued then in great prosperitie partly bicause of their long peace and partly bicause of their Princes goodnes who leuied but few subsidies vpon them so that these Seniors seemed comparable to the land of promise in those daies for they flowed in wealth and had continued in great quietnes the space of 23. yeeres to wit till the beginning of these wars now mentioned which till this day endure vnended their expenses in apparell both of men and women were great and superfluous 6 their feasts and banquets more sumptuous and prodigall than in any countrey that euer I sawe their bathes and other pastimes with women wanton and dissolute yea somwhat too shameles I meame of women of low estate To be short the subiects of this house thought at that time no Prince able to withstand them at the least none too mightie for them but at this present I know no countrey in the world in so great miserie and desolation as theirs and I doubt me the sins they committed in their prosperitie cause them now to suffer this aduersitie bicause they acknowledged not all these gifts and benefits to proceede from God who disposeth and bestoweth them as to his heauenly wisdome seemeth best The Earles armie thus furnished euen in a moment of all things necessarie marched forward 7 the whole force being on horseback saue those that conueied the artillerie which was mighty and strong for that time and the straglers appointed for the cariage the which was so great that the Earles owne cariage inclosed the greatest part of his campe he marched first towards Noyon and besieged a little castell called Nesle which was soone taken notwithstanding the resistance made by the garrison that was within it The Marshall Ioachin one of the fower Marshals of Fraunce issuing out of Peronne
himselfe secketh pray not seruice wherefore this reiecting of so many was done according to the rules of the art of war 6 Of the excesse of this house of Burgundie Annal. Burgund write thus lib. 3. pa. 917. and 918. All fashions of apparell were growne in vse among the subiects of this house of Burgundie and those so indecent and dissolute that none could be more The Ladies and gentle women ware vpon their head a strange kinde of attire fashioned in pyramidal form the top thereof halfe an ell good from the crowne of their head and thereupon a carchef of lawne or some other fine linnen hanging downe to the very ground a fond attire and vvoorthy to be derided The men disguised themselues no lesse than the vvomen some vvare their clothes so short that they hardly couered those parts that nature hir selfe shameth to discouer their haire vvas curled and of such length that it hindred their sight vpon their heads they ware felt-hats copletanked a quarter of an ell high or more they stuffed their dublets about the shouldens and brest maruellous full of bombast to the end they might seeme square and broad brested a thing greatly displeasing God their clokes were not so short but their gownes were as long for they trained after them vpon the ground To be short the whole world could not deuise stranger kinds of disguising than they had and that was woorst of all is this that euery rascall and euery woman in beggers estate would be apparelled princelike and imitate the fashion of Court without regarde either of cost or calling Compare this with the excesse of England at these daies and we shall see in a glasse our owne vanities and haue iust cause to looke for the same miseries that fell vpon this house of Burgundy after this excesse 7 The 15. of May saith Meyer but the 25. Annal. Burgund the Earle departed from his father 8 The Earle of Charolois as he passed named himselfe the Duke of Berries lieutenant for the which cause the townes heere mentioned the willinglyer receiued him Annales Burgund 9 The Earles armie shewed it selfe before Paris about the 12. or 13. of Iuly at which time all the princes should haue met him there Meyer 10 The Earle of S. Paule tooke a great bote vpon the riuer of Seine in the which he passed the riuer and tooke Pont S. Clou. Annal. Burgund 11 Reade a letter written by the King to the Duke of Bourbon and his answere therunto Annal. Burgund pag. 889. 12 This Cardinall of Bourbon was Archbishop of Lyons and brother to the Duke of Bourbon Annal. Burgund for the which cause I thinke it best in the French to reade freres for frere bicause the Earle of Beauieu and this Cardinall were both brethren to the Duke of Bourbon How the Earle of Charolois encamped neere to Montl'hery and of the battell fought there betweene the King of Fraunce and him Chap. 3. THe Earle of Charolois supposing that the King being departed out of Burbonnois as before you haue heard came downe purposely to fight with him resolued likewise to set forward against the King and then read openly the contents of the letter sent him by the Lady aboue mentioned not vttering hir name and required his soldiers to play the men saying that he was fullie resolued to hazard the battell wherefore he marched and encamped at a village neere to Paris called Longiumeau and the Earle of S. Paule with the vawarde lodged at Montl'hery two leagues beyond Longiumeau from whence he sent foreriders and scoutes abroad to vnderstand of the Kings comming and what way he tooke farther in the presence of the Earle of S. Paule the Lord of Hault-bourdin and the Lord of Contay Longiumeau was assigned for the place of the battell and thither it was agreed that the Earle of S. Paule should retire with the vawarde if the King hapned to come Now you shall vnderstand that the Earle of Maine with seuen or eight hundred men of armes lay continually in face of the Dukes of Berry and Britaine who were accompanied with a number of wise and valiant knights that King Lewis had put out of pension at his first comming to the state notwithstanding the great seruices that they had done his father in the recouering and pacifying of the realme wherof afterward full often he repented him Among these knights was the Earle of Dunois a man of great experience in al matters 1 the marshall of Loheac the Earle of Dampmartin the Lord of Bueil and diuers others accompanied with the number of fiue hundred men of armes who lately had forsaken the Kings paie and retired themselues to the Duke of Britaine of whose onely subiects this whole force consisted The Earle of Maine who lay continually in face of the two Dukes campe as you haue heard finding himselfe too weake to encounter with them dislodged continually before them approching neerer and neerer to the King in like maner the Dukes of Berrie and Britaine endeuored to ioine with the Burgundians Some haue helde opinion that the Earle of Maine had secret intelligence with the Princes but I could neuer vnderstand any such thing neither do I beleeue it 2 The Earle of Charolois lying in campe at Longiumeau as you haue heard and his vawarde at Montl'hery was aduertised by a prisoner that the Earle of Maine with his whole force all the men of armes of the Kings ordinary retinue being to the number of two an twenty hundreth and the arriereban 3 of Daulphine togither with fortie or fiftie gentlemen of Sauoy excellent good soldiers were al ioined with the King The King in the meane time consulted with the Earle of Maine the high Seneschall of Normandie called De Brezey the Admiral of Fraunce who was of the house of Montauban and others what was to be don in the end whatsoeuer was said or aduised to the contrary resolued not to fight neither approch neere to the Burgundians campe but onely to enter into Paris 4 which in mine opinion was the best safest course He stood in great doubt of his high Seneschall of Normandy and therfore desired him to tell him truely whether he had giuen his faith in writing to the Princes that came against him whereunto the Seneschall answered after his merrie ieasting maner that he had that the writing should remaine with him but the bodie should serue him which his answere the King tooke in good part gaue him the leading of his vaward and put also vnder his charge the guides whose help he vsed bicause he ment to shun the battle as you haue heard But the Seneschall being wedded to his owne will saide priuily to certaine of his familiar friends that he would that day ioine the two armies so nere togither that he had need to be a good man of war that should seuer them without battel which his promise he performed though to his owne cost for the first man that was slaine was himselfe
battle should rest twise vpon the way to the end the foote men mought breath them bicause the vaward and it were far asunder and the corne high and thicke which troubled their going yet notwithstanding the cleane contrarie was done as though men would purposely haue lost all Wherfore heerby God manifestly declared that he is the Lord of hostes and disposeth of the victorie as seemeth best to him and sure for my part I cannot be perswaded that the wisdome of one man is sufficient to gouerne such a number of men nor that an enterprise can be executed in the field as it is deuised in the chamber and farther I verily beleeue that who so ableth himselfe by his own wit and capacitie to giue order in so waightie a matter misbehaueth himselfe towards God Notwithstanding euery man ought to do his endeuour therein acknowledging the wars to be one of the accomplishments of Gods iudgements which oftentimes he beginneth vpon small occasions to the end that by giuing victorie now to one and now to another some great realmes and seniories may fall to ruine and desolation and other some increase and florish with large empire and dominion for farther proofe whereof marke this that foloweth The Earle of Charolois marched without any breathing giuen to his shot and footemen vpon the way The Kings men of armes passed through the hedge aboue mentioned at two seuerall places and when they approched so neere their enimies that they began to charge their staues the Burgundian men of armes brake their owne shot and passed through it not giuing them leaue to let one arrow flie notwithstanding that the shot were the principall force and onely hope of their armie for of the men of armes being to the number of twelue hundred I thinke hardly fifty knew how to charge a launce there were not foure hundred of them armed with quiracies and of their retinue not one armed all the which inconueniences grew partly bicause they had rested so long in peace and partly bicause this house of Burgundie for ease of their subiects entertained no soldiers in ordinarie But since that day these Seniors of Burgundie haue continued in troubles which euen at this present rather increase than diminish Thus the Burgundian men of armes as you haue heard brake themselues the chiefe force and onely hope of their armie yet notwithstanding so it pleased God to dispose of this matter that on the right side of the castle where the Earle himselfe stoode no resistance was found All this day I my selfe neuer departed from the Earle being lesse afraide than in any other battell that euer I was at since for I was yoong and knew not what perill ment but wondred how any man durst resist the Prince I serued supposing none to be comparable to him Such are the cogitations of men lacking experience which causeth them oftentimes to maintaine fond arguments grounded vpon small reason Wherefore it is good to follow his aduise that saith A man seldome repenteth him of too little speech but often of too much On the lefthand stood the Lord of Rauastin and master Iames of S. Paul with diuers others who well perceiued their force too weake to encounter with the enimie that came to charge them but they were now so neere ioined togither that it was too late to deuise any new order To be short these were vtterly ouerthrowne and persued euen hard to our carriage where certaine of the footemen relied themselues but the greatest part tooke the forrest being but halfe a league thence The principall that folowed the chase were the gentlemen of Daulphine and Sauoy with certeine companies of men of armes who supposed the victorie to haue been theirs and not without cause for sure the Burgundians flight was great on that side yea and of great personages The most part fled toward Pont S. Maxence 12 supposing it had held yet for the Earle In the forrest also a great number staied among whom was the Earle of S. Paul well accompanied for he stood neere to the forrest side and declared afterward that he held not the battell as lost The Notes 1 This Iohn Earle of Dunois was bastard to Lewis Duke of Orleans Meyer 2 Yet La Marche saith that the Earle of Maine was of the Princes confederacie 3 The Arriereban is an edict neuer proclaimed but in cases of great extremitie for all as well nobles as others are thereupon bound to repaire to the King diuers of the which before the proclamation therof are not bound by their tenure to mooue The Arriereban of Daulphine heere named were all those of the countrie of Daulphine that held by this tenure Reade the edict made by King Francis anno 1543. and Girarde of the state of Fraunce lib. 2. fol. 113. 4 The King by the perswasion of the Earle of Maine and the Seneschall Brezey resolued at the last to fight Annal. Burgund 5 Brezey had changed armor with the King which caused his death for those that slue him supposed it had been the King Annal. Aquitan but Meyer saith he was reported to be slaine by the Kings procurement vvhich I knovve not vvhere he findeth 6 Of the day of the battell Annal. Franc. agree vvith our author but Annal. Burg. Annal. Aquit say 17. Meyer hath 17. Cal. Augusti that is the 16. day of Iuly vvith him agreeth Gaguin La Marche vvho vvas present at the battell and knighted in it 7 The Duke vvas ioined vvith the English men but 15. or 16. yeeres as saith also Introduction de la Marche for the league began anno 1419. and ended anno 1435. 8 The Burgundians dismounted so suddenly that laying dovvne their complete armor they had not leasure to buckle their lighter armor about them vvhich vvas the cause of Lalains death Annal. Burgund 9 Contay vsed another reason to persvvade the Earle to assaile his enimies heere not expressed to vvit to preuent the Parisians vvho if they issued foorth should inclose him betvveene them and the King Annal. Burgund 10 This Lalain seemeth to be the father of him that vvas slaine 11 Betvveene Longiumeau vvhere the Earles battell lay and Montl'hery vvhere his vavvard ledged are fovver English miles 12 Pont S. Clou and Pont S. Maxence vvere yeelded by the Burgundians bicause the rumor was that the Earle of Charolois was slaine in the battell Meyer Of the danger the Earle of Charolois was in and how he was rescued Chap. 4. THe Earle of Charolois pursued his enimies on that side himselfe stood halfe a league beyond Montl'hery and found no resistance notwithstanding that he were but slenderly accompanied and met with maine enimies wherefore he held the victorie for his but suddenly an old gentleman of Luxembourg called Anthony le Breton came to him and aduertised him that the French were relied vpon the field so that if he followed the chase any further he should cast away himselfe But the Earle regarded not his speech notwithstanding that he repeated it twise
with him few footmen but was well accompanied with horsemen and those in so good order that for their number I neuer sawe a goodlier company nor a more warlike for he had with him six score men of armes barded all Italians or trained vp in the Italian wars among whom were Iames Galiot the Earle of Campobache the L. of Baudricourt now gouernor of Burgundie and diuers others his men of armes were very expert soldiers and to say the truth the flower of our armie I meane number for number With him were also fower hundred crossebow men that the Palsgraue had lent him all very well mounted and very good soldiers Besides whom he had also in pay fiue hundred Switzers footemen which were the first that euer came into this realme and these so valiantly behaued themselues in all places where they came that they purchased great renowme to their whole nation which their countreymen that haue serned heere since haue well maintained This companie the next morning approached neer to vs and passed that day ouer our bridge which a man may boldly say conuaied ouer all the power of Fraunce saue onely the Kings armie And I assure you the force was so great of valiant men well appointed and in very good order that I wish all the friends and welwillers of the realme had seen it and likewise the enimies for by that meanes the former would haue esteemed of the realme as it deserueth and the later euer after the more haue feared it The Burgundians that accompanied the Duke of Calabria were led by the L. of Neuf-chastell Marshall of Burgundie who had with him his brother the L. of Montagu the Marquesse of Rotelin and a great number of knights and esquiers some of the which had been in Bourbonnois as I haue made mention in the beginning of this historie 3 but they all ioined for their more safetie with the Duke of Calabria who shewed himselfe to be as noble a Prince and as good a soldier as any in the companie whereupon great loue and amitie grew betweene him and the Earle of Charolois After this whole force being as I suppose to the number of an hundred thousand horse good bad was passed the riuer the Princes determined to shew themselues before Paris wherfore they put all their vawards togither The Burgundians vaward was led by the Earle of S. Paule and the vaward of the Dukes of Berry and Britaine by Oudet of Rie 4 afterward Earle of Comminges and the Marshall Loheac as I remember and in this order marched they but all the Princes remained in the battell The Earle of Charolois and the Duke of Calabria were very diligent in commanding and giuing good order in the armie and rode very well armed and shewed that they meant to do their dutie but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine were mounted vpon small ambling nags and armed with slight brigandines light and thin yea and some said they were not plated but studded onely with a few gilt nailes vpon the sattin for the lesse waight but I will not affirme it for a truth Thus marched this armie to Pont de Charenton two little leagues from Paris which was taken incontinent notwithstanding the resistance of certaine franke archers 5 that were within it ouer the said bridge of Charenton passed the whole force The Earle of Charolois lodged in his owne house called Conflans situate vpon the riuer not far from thence and inclosed a great peece of ground with his cariage and artillerie and lodged his campe within it and with him lay the Duke of Calabria but the Dukes of Berry and Britaine with part of their forces lodged at S. Mor-des-fosses and the rest they sent to S. Denis being also two leagues from Paris in the which places this whole companie lay eleuen weekes during the which space these things happened that now I will rehearse The next day in the morning began the skirmishes hard at Paris gates within the towne was the Lord of Nantoillet L. great Master of Fraunce who did the King good seruice there as before I haue said and the Marshal Ioachin The poore people of the towne were in great feare but of the better sort some wished the Burgundians and the other Princes within the towne bicause this enterprise seemed vnto them good and profitable for the realme others there were borne in the said Princes dominions wherefore they furthered their affaires hoping by their meanes to obtaine some good offices in the towne which are more hunted after there than in any other place and no maruell for those that are in office make of their offices what they can not what they ought which is the cause that some offices in the towne of no fee at all are sold for eight hundred crownes and other some of very small fee for more than the fee will amount to in fifteene yeeres Seldome is any man put out of office for the Court of parlament alloweth these sales of offices as lawfull the reason whereof is bicause it is a generall case Among the Councillors are alwaies a number both of vertuous and woorthy personages and also of lewd and euill conditioned persons as are also in all other estates The Notes 1 It is requisite that I should here set downe the particular quarrell that euery one of these princes had to the King some are mentioned by our author and others in other authors The D. of Berries quarell was for a larger partage The Earle of Charaloys demanded the restitution of the territories vpon the riuer of Somme The D. of Britaine had cause to be offended and afearde because the King had picked a quarell to him by demanding of him three things neuer before demanded of any D. of Britaine The first that he should no more write in his stile Dei gratia Britanniae Dux The second that he should pay to the King a yeerly tribute The third that all the spirituall liuings in Britaine should be left to the Kings disposing For these causes the D. of Britaine ioyned with the princes the D. of Calabria had cause of offence because being entred into Italy to recouer the Realme of Naples and the King hauing promised him aide after the said D. of Calabria was ouerthrowne at Troia in Apulia the King refused to send him the aide promised so that he was forced vtterly to abandon his enterprise The D. of Bourbon had maried the Kings sister and could not get hir mariage monie the Duke of Nemours Earles of Dunois Dalebret and the rest of the noble men and gentlemen were against the King some bicause they were put out of pension and office many bicause the King sought to depriue them of the roialties they had in their seniories touching Hunting and Hawking and sought to draw all to himselfe but all in generall were offended because he contemned his nobility and entertained none but men of base estate about him Thus much I have set downe bicause it might otherwise seeme
strange that all these Princes should thus conspire against the King for zeale of the common wealth if other particular greifes had not more mooued them than the misgouernment of the estate 2 To the ende the reader finde it not strange that Rene is here called King of Sicily sith the house of Arragon possessed the same Realme at that time it is to be vnderstood that the race of the Normans who about the yeere 1060. subdued Sicily Calabria and Apulia and about the yeere 1102. tooke vpon them the title of Kings of Sicily being extinct in Roger the last King of Sicily of that race about the yeere 1195. the said Realme fell to the issue of the Emperor Fridericus Barbarossa by the marriage of Constantia daughter to Roger the first King of Sicill and aunt to Roger the last King of Sicill of this race with Henry the said Barbarossas sonne in which race it continuedtily Manfridus bastard sonne to Fridericus the Emperor sonne to the aboue named Henry obteined the crowne of Sicill Naples by dispossessing Conradinus his nephew the true heir therof Against this Manfridus Pope Vrbanus the 4. called into Italie Charles of Amon brother to S. Lewis King of Fraunce who slew Manfridus in battell and afterward executed also Conradinus the true heire of the crowne being taken in battell comming with an armie to conquer the said realmes of Naples and Sicily as his true inheritance and thus obteined this Charles of Aniou the crowne both of Naples and Sicily till not long after by the comming of Peter king of Arragon who had married Constantia daughter and heire to Manfridus the Sicilians arose suddenly against the French slew them all in one euening and yeelded the Realme of Sicily to the saide Peter whose posteritie euer sithens euen till this day haue continued in possession thereof Notwithstanding the posteritie of Charles of Aniou held still the Realme of Naples with the title of the Realme of Sicily till the time that the later Iane Queene of Naples to fortifie hir selfe against Pope Vrbanus Sextus adopted Alfonse of Arragon sonne to Ferrande King of Arragon which Ferrandes mother named Elenor was daughter to King Peter but after the saide Iane for displeasure conceiued against the saide Alfonse adopted secondarilie Lewis D. of Aniou brother to Charles the 5. King of Fraunce descended of the race of the first Charles King of Sicily against whom and his sonne Lewis Alfonse long warred and in the end after Queene Ianes death chased them both out of Italy and left the Realmes of Arragon and Sicily to Iohn his brother but the Realme of Naples to Ferrande his base sonne with whom Rene heere mentioned brother to Lewis the 2. of that name D. of Aniou and king of Sicily and by him with Ianes consent adopted long vvarred but preuailed not so that Rene had onely the title of Sicily and Naples by the adoption aforesaid but no possession thereof for Sicily the kings of Arragon held euer since the conquest of Peter and the realme of Naples Ferrande the bastard held of his fathers gift from vvhose posterity hovv in the end after many alterations it fell to the house of Arragon that novv possesseth it shall be set dovvne at large in the vvars of Naples made by King Charles the 8. vvho had the house of Anious title vvhereof our author treateth in the 7. and 8. booke of this historie 3 This force led by the Marshall of Burgundie vvas of 4000. men Meyer 4 This Oudet is he that acquainted the Duke of Berry vvith this confederacie and conueighed him into Britaine Meyer La Marche 5 Franck archers were these King Charles the 7. in the yeere 1449. being destitute of footemen appointed that euery threescore houses in his realme should arme a man vvho in time of vvar receiued paie of the King and vvere exempt from all subsidies and payments for the which cause they vvere all called franck that is free but King Lewis the 11. anno 1480. abolished these franck archers and waged Switzers in their place A discourse vpon ambitious hunting after offices and estates by the example of the English men Chap. 7. I Speake of these offices and estates bicause in changes they are so greedily desired and are also cause thereof as appeereth by that which hath happened not onely in this our age but also in the time of King Charles the sixt vnder whom the wars began that endured till the treatie of Arras during the which wars the English men entred into the realme and conquered so far that at the time of the saide treatie which continued 1 the space of two moneths the Duke of Bedford brother to Henry the fift King of England being maried to Duke Philip of Burgundies sister was regent in Fraunce for the English men whose monethly allowance in that office amounted to 20000. crownes at the least At the said treatie were present for the King of Fraunce fower or fiue Dukes or Earles fiue or sixe Prelates and ten or twelue Councellers of the Parliament For Duke Philip likewise diuers Noble men 2 in much greater number for the Pope 2. Cardinals as mediators and for the English men diuers noble personages Duke Philip greatly desired to acquite himselfe honorably towards the English men before he would abandon them bicause of the ancient league that had been betweene them wherefore the Duchies of Normandie and Guien were offered to the King of England with condition that he should do homage for them to the crowne of Fraunce as his predecessors had done and restore all the places he held in the Realme out of the said Duchies which condition the English men bicause of the homage refused but to their great losse for being abandoned of this house of Burgundie their good successe altered and all their intelligences within the realme failed whereby their power daily so diminished that in short space they lost Paris and by little and little all that they held in this realme After their returne into England none of them would diminish his estate but the offices within the realme sufficed not for maintenance of them all wherupon long ciuil wars arose among them in the which King Henry the sixt who had been crowned King of England Fraunce at Paris was proclaimed traitor and imprisoned in the tower of London where he remained the greatest part of his life and in the end was there murthered The Duke of Yorke father to King Edward that last died intituled himselfe right heire to the crowne soone after was slaine in the battell and had his head smitten off as had also the Earle of Warwick 3 that last died whose credit was so great in England and all the rest that were slaine in those wars The said Earle of Warwick led the Earle of Marche afterward named Edward the fourth by sea to Calais with a small companie escaped out of battell 4 for the Earle of Warwick tooke part with the house of Yorke
but lent him during his fathers life Wherfore minding now to preuent him he said thus Chide me not I acknowledge my great follie but I was hard by the bulwarke before I wist But this notwithstanding the marshal said more to his face then he had spoken behinde his backe and sure he was a faithfull and a trustie knight The Earle answered nothing but held downe his hed and entred into this campe where they were all glad of his returne and commended the Kings faith and sure it is to be thought that both the King and the Earle had great regard of their honor considering that each of them putting himselfe into others hands Yet neither of them receiued harme notwithstanding the Earle neuer after returned vnder the Kings power The Notes 1 That is 118750. pounds sterling How the treatie of peace was concluded betweene the the King and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates Chap. 14. IN the end all matters were fully concluded and the next day as the E. of Charolois was making his musters to know what number he had lost suddenly the King accompanied with thirty or forty horse came thither without warning giuen and rid about to view all the bandes one after another saue the marshals of Burgundy who loued him not bicause not long before the King hauing once giuen him Pinal in Loraine tooke it afterward again from him to bestow vpon Iohn Duke of Calabria greatlie to the said marshals damage The King acknowledging his error by little and little reconciled him selfe to the wise and valiant knights that serued the King his father whom he at his first comming to the crowne displaced wherefore they were with the Princes in armes against him Farther it was agreed that the next day the King should come to the Castell of Vincennes and likewise al the Princes that were to do him homage for whose safety the said Castell should be put into the Earle of Charolois hands according to which agreement the next morning thither came the King and likewise all the princes none being absent the porche and the gate being manned with Burgundians well armed there the treatie of peace was concluded 1 The Lord Charles did the King homage for the Duchie of Normandie and the Earle of Charolois for the townes in Picardie aboue mentioned as did also all the rest that had homage to do and the Earle of Saint Paul tooke his othe for the office of Constable but according to the common prouerbe neuer was so plentifull a marriage feast but some departed vndined for heere some had what them lusted and others nothing The King receiued into his seruice certaine gentlemen that were with his brother and also certaine meane persons but the greatest part remained still with his said brother the new Duke of Normandie the D. of Britain who went to Roan to take possession At their departure from the castell of Vincennes they tooke their leaue each of other and returned to their lodgings farther all letters pardons and other writings seruing for the confirmation of the peace were made On one day departed all these three Princes the Duke of Normandy and Britaine first into Normandy and the Duke of Britaine from thence into his owne countrie and the Earle of Charolois into Flaunders But when the Earle was ready to take horse the King meaning effectually to shew how greatly he desired his friendship came to him and accompanied him to Villiers-le-bell a village fower leagues from Paris where both these Princes lodged that night The Kings traine was very small but he commanded two hundred men of armes to follow him to conuey him backe whereof the Earle of Charolois being aduertised as he went to bed fell into great suspicion therof and commanded a great number of his seruants to be in armes Thus you see how impossible it is for two great Princes to agree bicause of the suspicious tales and reports that are daily and howerly beaten into their heads Wherefore two Princes that desire to continue in friendship ought neuer to come togither but to imploy vertuous and wise men betweene them who will encrease their amitie and repaire all such breaches as shall happen The next morning the two Princes tooke their leaue each of other with much courteous and wise talke and the King returned to Paris accompanied with the men of armes aboue mentioned called thither for that purpose whereby he remooued all suspicion the Earle had conceiued of their comming The said Earle rode towards Compiengne and Noyon being receiued by the Kings commandement into all the townes he passed by From thence he marched to Amiens where they did him homage as did also all the other townes vpon the riuer of Somme the territories in Picardy restored to him by this treaty which the King not past nine moneths before had redeemed for the summe of fower hundred thousand crownes as before you haue heard This done he marched incontinent into the countrie of Liege bicause they had by the space of fiue or sixe moneths made war vpon his father in his absence in the countries of Namur Brabant where also they had slain certaine of his subiects 2 but bicause the winter approched he could do no great exploit notwithstanding a number of villages were burnt and diuers small ouerthrowes giuen to the said Liegeois whereupon they made a treatie with the Duke of Burgundie and for performance thereof stood bound to him in a great summe of mony This done the Earle of Charolois returned into Brabant The Notes 1 The treatie was sworne the fift of October the conditions whereof reade in Meyer fol. 337. where he saith that by this treatie Flaunders was exempt from the Kings soueraigntie which saith Degrassalius cap. 1. pag. 6. the King could not grant Quia vltimus resortus alienari aut remitti non potest which also may well appeere to be lawe bicause we reade lib. 5. cap. 17. of our author that notwithstanding this treatie the Chauncellor of Burgundie and Himbercourt being imprisoned and condemned by the citizens of Gaunt appealed to the Parlament of Paris vvhich appeale notvvithstanding vvhether it vvere lavvfull or vnlavvfull or vvhether they appealed to delay the time for safetie of their liues hoping their friends vvould deliuer them or the King happily thereby to recouer his former soueraigntie I leaue heere to discusse Notvvithstanding if any such condition vvere in the treatie of Conflans as Meyer reporteth in my simple iudgement these tvvo vvise men vvould not haue appealed contrary to it and thereby haue made the cause of their death iust though before vniust by violating this priuilege and so infringing the liberties of the state of Flaunders obtained by this treatie of the King 2 The King persvvaded the Liegeois to rebell in Iune 1465. vvhich vvas the same sommer the Earle of Charolois vvas in Fraunce thereby to vvithdravv the Earle of Charolois out of Fraunce home vvhereupon the Liegeois about mid August defied the Duke of
fol. 314. and others 3 Yet the citizens of Gaunt anno 1338. constrained Lodouicus Niuernensis Earle of Flanders to flie for the safety of his life into a castell in Gaunt called Petra Comitis where they also besieged him Againe anno 1346. they constrained Lodouicus Maleanus perforce to go with them to Bergen and against his will to giue his faith to Isabell daughter to King Edward the third they set a gard also about his person but he escaped and fled into Fraunce Meyer How the King seeing what had happened to the Liegeois made war in Britaine vpon the Duke of Burgundies confederates and how they two met and communed togither at Peronne Chap. 5. THese troubles being thus ended the Duke went to Gaunt where he was receiued with great pompe and triumph for he entred in armes and the citizens made a posterne into the fields by the which he putmen in and out at his pleasure manie messengers ran betweene him and the King and likewise betweene the Duke of Britaine and him and thus passed this winter The King traueilled continually with the Duke of Burgundie to suffer him to inuade Britaine at his pleasure making him diuers offers in consideration thereof whereunto the Duke would not condescend for the which cause partly and partly for the ouerthrow giuen to the Liegeois his confederates the Kings displeasure was so kindled that longer he could not forbeare but in the very beginning of sommer entred into Britaine at the least his forces for him and tooke two small castels the one called Chantosse the other Anseny whereof the Duke of Burgundy was incontinent aduertised and earnestly pressed by the Dukes of Normandy and Britaine with all speede to leuie his armie for their aide whereupon he wrote to the King humbly beseeching him to relinquish his enterprise seeing these two Dukes were comprehended in the truce as his confederates but receiuing such answer as liked him not he encamped with great force neere to Peronne The Kings army was still in Britaine but the Court lay at Compiegne from whence the King sent Cardinall Balue to the Duke within three daies after his arriuall at Peronne who staied not long with him but made certaine ouertures of peace aduertising him also that they in Britaine could make their composition welll ynough without him for the Kings drift was to seuer them The Cardinall was honorably receiued well feasted and soone dispatched and returned with this answere that the Duke was not come forth into the field to endammage the King in any respect but onely to succour his confederates so the messages that passed betweene them were very courteous on both sides Immediately after the Cardinals departure a heralt called Bretaigne arriued at the Duke of Burgundies campe with letters from the Dukes of Normandie and Britain wherin they aduertised him that they had made peace with the King and renounced all leagues and confederacies and namely their league with him and farther that the Duke of Normandie had surrendred Normandie lately giuen him for his partage to the King and should receiue in recompence thereof and of all other partages the yeerely reuenues of three score thousand franks which conditions though neuer so vnreasonable necessitie forced the Lord Charles of Fraunce to accept The Duke of Burgundie was woonderfully abashed at these newes for he had put himselfe into the field onely to aide the said Dukes And sure the heralt was in great danger for bicause he passed by the Court the Duke suspected that the King had forged these letters notwithstanding he receiued immediately after the like aduertisement from other places The King thought now his enterprise halfe woon and that he should easily perswade the Duke of Burgundie to forsake these two Dukes as they had him whereupon secret messengers ran betweene them and the King gaue the Duke sixe score thousand crownes whereof he paid the one halfe presently the better to content the said Duke who had consumed great summes in leuying this armie Farther the Duke sent to the King a groome of his chamber very neere about him named Iohn Vobrisset whereupon the King conceiued great hope of his enterprise and seemed desirous to commune with the Duke in person trusting to obtaine of him all that he required both bicause of the two foresaid Dukes ingratitude towards him and also bicause of the great summe of monie he had giuen him Wherefore he aduertised the Duke of certaine matters by the said Vobrisset and sent backe with him Cardinall Balue and Master Tanneguy du Chastell gouernor of Roussillon who gaue the Duke to vnderstand by their words that the King desired greatly that they two might commune togither in person They found the Duke at Peronne who seemed to haue no great deuotion to this meeting bicause the Liegeois made shew as though they would rebell anew being sollicited thereunto by two ambassadors sent thither by the King for that purpose before the truce was made which he and the Duke concluded for certaine daies betweene them and their confederates But Cardinall Balue and the other ambassadors put this doubt out of his head alleaging that the Liegeois durst attempt no such thing considering he had vanquished them rased but their wals the yeer before and farther if they had any such desire yet when they should see this amitie betweene him and the King they would soone alter their mindes Thus in the end it was concluded that the King should come to Peronne seeing it pleased him so to do and the Duke sent him a letter written with his owne hand containing sufficient suretie to come and go at his pleasure And thus departed the ambassadors and returned to the King being then at Noyon But the Duke minding to make all sure in the countrie of Liege sent thither their Bishop for whose quarrell all the wars aboue mentioned first began and in his company the Lord of Hymbercourt the Dukes lieutenant in those parts with certaine bands of men You haue heard how it was concluded that the King should come to Peronne according to the which determination thither he came without his garde for his pleasure was wholy to put himselfe vnder the garde and suretie of the Duke and that Monseur de Cordes who then serued the Duke should conuay him thither with the said Dukes archers which was done accordingly The Kings traine was very small notwithstanding he came accompanied with diuers noble personages namely the Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce who had not busied himselfe about this meeting but much misliked it For he was now waxed proud and high minded and behaued not himselfe to the Duke of Burgundie with such lowlines and humilitie as he was accustomed wherefore there was no good will betweene them twaine Thither came also Cardinall Balue the gouernor of Roussillon and diuers others And when the King drew neere to Peronne the Duke with a goodly traine issued foorth
acquainting vs with ages past and the other by teaching vs more in a booke in three monthes than twenty men liuing successiuely can learne by experience so if a man lack wit to put that which he readeth in practise his reading serueth to no purpose Wherfore to end this discourse me think the greatest plague that God can lay vpon a realme is to giue them an vnwise Prince the roote and fountaine of all mischiefe for first diuision and ciuill wars arise thereof among his subiects bicause he giueth his authority to others which especially aboue all things he ought to reserue to himselfe After diuision ensueth famine and mortality and all other euils that accompany the wars wherefore heereby we may consider how much a Princes subiects ought to lament when they see his children wantonly brought vp and gouerned by euill conditioned persons The Notes 1 Of treasons in treaty we haue numbers of examples First of Iugurtha taken by his father in law Boccus and deliuered to the Romaines Sertorius slaine at a banquet by Perpenna In England we haue the treason of Hengist to Vortiger In Scotland we reade of William Earle of Douglasse slaine by Iames King of Scots in treaty In Germanie Albert Earle of Franconia betraied in treaty by Ottho Bishop of Mentz Iohn of Angieu slaine by Albertus Bauarus Earle of Henault and Flanders notwithstanding his safe conduct In Fraunce Iohn Duke of Burgundie slaine by Charles the 7. William Duke of Normandie by Arnulph Earle of Flanders Lewis King of Fraunce taken prisoner by the Normans and Danes at Roan Iohn Duke of Britaine taken at a banquet and imprisoned by Margaret Countisse of Pontibera Guido Earle of Flanders twice taken prisoner vnder safeconduct by Philip le Bell King of Fraunce Charles the simple slaine by the Earle of Vermandoys VVhat should I speake of the tresons of Ferrande and Alfonse Kings of Naples or of Christiern King of Denmarke with numbers of others recorded in histories as our author heere very truly reporteth 2 Others be of a contrarie opinion that our life is as long as in Dauids time appeereth by the 90. Psalme where he sheweth the vsuall age of man in his time to haue beene 70. and sometime 80. yeers which men reche to at this day also and if mans life be as long now as then it is a good consequent that his body is as strong as is to be prooued by manie reasons too long to reherse Now that our faith is as good as theirs appeereth also by the ancient histories for if this be a true saying Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis And the Princes in times past were so euill as none could be worse as who so list to reade without partiality shal be forced to confesse I see no reason that the world should be worse now then in times past although it seeme so to many bicause we see the worst of our owne age yea and feele too many times but commonly the histories deliuer to vs but the best of times past and burie the worst and though they did yet the euill seene with our eie is more liuely imprinted in minde then the euill we conceiue by our eare which is the cause men euer thinke better of the times past then the present estate 3 Imaruell if King Lewis were learned he would haue his sonne to learne onely this lesson Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castell of Peronne by the Duke of Burgundies commandement Chap. 7. YOu haue heard how the King and this army of Burgundie arriued at Peronne both in one istant for the Duke could not countermand them in time bicause they were well forward vpon the way when the Kings comming was first communed of Their arriuall troubled the feast bicause of diuers doubts that sprang thereof Notwithstanding these two Princes appointed certeine of their seruants to negotiate togither about their affaires in most louing and freindly sort But after three or foure daies communication these strange newes came from Liege which I will now reherse The K. comming to Peronne had cleane forgotten the two ambassadors sent to Liege to sollicite them to rebell against the Duke who so diligently executed their charge that before the Kings arriuall at Peronne the Liegeois had leuied great force and were gone to surprise the towne of Tongres where the Bishop of Liege and the Lord of Hymbercourt lodged accompanied with two thousand men and better and the said Bishop and Hymbercourt they tooke with certein other of the Bishops familiar friends but few they slew neither was the number of the prisoners great the rest fled as men discomfited leauing bag and bagage behinde them This done the Liegeois returned towards their citie not far distant from Tongres and vpon the way thitherward the Lord of Hymbercourt compounded for his ransome with a knight called Master VVilliam de Ville named by the French Le Sauuage who fearing lest this furious people should kill him suffered him to depart vpon his word which notwithstanding he neuer chalenged for soon after himselfe was slaine the people reioiced much for the taking of their Bishop Farther you shall vnderstand that they hated extremely certaine chanons of the Church taken prisoners that day of whom for the first repast they slew fiue or sixe one of the which was named Master Robert the Bishops speciall friend whom I my selfe haue often seene armed at all peeces waiting vpon his Master for such is the maner of the Alemaigne Prelates 1 The said Master Robert they slew in the Bishops presence and hewed him into a number of small gobbets which they threw one at another in dirision To be short before their returne to Liege which was but eight leagues from Tongres they slew sixteen chanons and others all in maner the Bishops seruants This done they receiued aduertisement that the treatie betweene the King and the Duke was alreadie begun wherefore they dismissed certaine Burgundians supposing to excuse their fault by seeming to haue attempted nothing against the Duke but only against their Bishop whom they led prisoner into the citie Those that escaped put all the countrie in an vprore as they went by means whereof this newes came soone to the Duke some said all were slaine others the contrarie for such aduertisements are neuer reported after one sort At the length certaine arriued that saw these chanons slaine who supposing the Bishop and Hymbercourt to be of the number auowed constantly that all were murthered and farther that they saw the Kings ambassadors in the companie whom also they named All this was told the Duke who foorthwith beleeued it and fell into an extreme furie saying that the King was come thither to abuse him and gaue commandement to shut the gates of the castell and the towne spreading a fond rumor that he did it bicause of a budget with iewels and monie that was lost The King
countrey of Lambourg 4 being neighbors to the Liegeois and almost of the same maners and language were appointed to fire it but to saue the churches First the great bridge built ouer the riuer of Maze was beaten downe then a great number were chosen out to defend the chanons houses about the cathedrall church to the end they might haue lodging that should say deuine seruice In like maner also diuers were appointed for defence of the other Churches This done the Duke departed into the countrey of Frachemont and immediately after he was out of the towne we saw a great number of houses on this side the riuer on fire he marched forwarde and lodged fower leagues off yet heard we the noise as easilie as if we had beene there present I wot not whether it were bicause the winde sat that way or bicause we lodged vpon the riuer The next day the Duke departed thence and those that were left behind in the towne continued still the fire as they were commanded but the Churches were all saued afew excepted and aboue three hundred houses to lodge the Church men which caused the towne so soone to be replenished againe for much people returned to dwell with these Priests Bicause of extreme frost and cold the greatest part of the Dukes army was forced to go on foote into the countrey of Franchemont which had neuer a walled towne in it but all villages The Duke lodged fiue or sixe daies in a litle valley called Polleneg his armie was deuided into two bands the sooner to destroy the countrie All the houses he commanded to be burned al the iron mils broken which is their onely trade of liuing Farther our men hunted the poore people out of great woods and forests where they lay hidden with their goods and manie they slew and tooke prisoners and there the soldiers got good booties The cold was more extreme then is almost credible for I saw a gentleman that with cold lost the vse of his foote and neuer recouered it and a Page that had two of his fingers rotted from his hand and in like maner a woman dead for cold and her childe with her whereof shee was newely deliuered Farther by the space of three daies all the wine that was drunke in the Dukes lodging was cut with hatchets for it was so frozen in the vessels that we were forced to breake them and cut the wine being a masse of yse into small peeces which men bare away in hats and baskets as best liked them I could reherse diuers other strange accidents of the cold too long to write To conclude at eight daies end hunger drew vs thence in haste and the Duke departed to Namur and so into Brabant where he was honorably receiued The Notes 1 This was the treaty of Conflans at the conclusion vvhereof these three heere named as our auhor himselfe before reherseth vvere the Dukes enimies and tooke part vvith the King vvherefore no reason it vvas that the Duke should seeke to haue them comprehended in the treatie as his freinds seeing at the conclusion thereof they vvere his enimies 2 This des Murz the old copie nameth De Meriens La Marche d'Emeries Annal. Burgund d'Aymeries The tovvnes name is Aymeries in Henault vpon the riuer of Sambre Guicci in the description of Henault yet the same author in his description generall nameth the man d'Emery Annal. Burgund in another place nameth him d'Esmeriez Meyer Aymericius and Emericius so that I suppose it best to reade it as I haue translated it but that des Murz is very corrupt I am out of doubt 3 This city vvas diuided into three quarters as appeereth by Guic. description for the vvhich cause it vvas fired at three seuerall times 4 The old copie hath Lambourg as I haue translated it the nevv Luxembourg as haue also Annal. Burgund but not vvell in mine opinion For Lambourg is hard by Liege but Luxembourg farther off How the King by subtill meanes perswaded the Lord Charles his brother to take the Duchie of Guienne for Brie and Champaigne to the Duke of Burgundies discontentment Chap. 15. THe King after his departure from the Duke returned with great ioy into his realme attempting nothing against the Duke for his euill vsage at Peronne and Liege but seeming to take all in good part Notwithstanding sharpe warre arose afterward between them but not soon neither was this the cheif cause thereof though happily it might in part further it for if this treatie had beene concluded at Paris it had passed in effect as it did at Peronne But the Duke by his officers aduise sought to aduaunce the bonds of his dominions besides that diuers subtill practises were vsed to set these two Princes againe at variance as you shall heare when occasion serueth The Lord Charles of Fraunce the Kings onely brother and late Duke of Normandie being aduertised of this treatie made at Peronne and the partage assigned to him thereby sent foorthwith to the King desiring him to accomplish the treatie and performe his promise The King sent in like maner to him about that matter and manie messengers ran to and fro betweene them The Duke of Burgundie sent also his ambassadors to the saide Lord Charles desiring him to accept no other partage then Champaigne and Brie which by his meanes was granted him shewing him withall how great good will he bare him sith notwithstanding he had abandoned him yet would not he do the like as the sequell well declared but had also comprehended the Duke of Britain in the treatie as his confederate Farther he sent him word that Champaigne and Brie lay very commodiously for them both bicause if the King should at any time attempt ought against him he might within two daies warning haue succours out of Burgundie the two countries bordering on vpon another Lastely he aduertised him that his partage was very good and that he might leuie in his countries aides customes and subsidies neither could the King claime any thing there but homage resort and soueraignity This Lord Charles was a man doing little or nothing of himselfe but wholy lead and gouerned by others notwithstanding that he were aboue fiue and twenty yeeres of age Thus passed the winter which was well spent before the Kings departure from vs messengers ran continually to and fro about this partage for the King ment nothing lesse then to giue his brother that he had promised bicause he would not haue him and the Duke of Burgundie so neere neighbours But he treated with his brother to take Guienne which is in maner all Aquitaine for Brie and Champaigne The Lord Charles feared to displease the Duke of Bourgundy and doubted if he yeelded to the Kings request and he should not keepe touch with him that then he should loose both freend and partage and so be left bare boord But the King being the subtilest prince then liuing and the cunningest dealer in such treaties perceiuing that he
should do no good vnlesse he wan those that were in credit with his brother fell in communication of this matter with Oudet of Rie Lord of Lescut afterwards Earle of Comminges who was borne and maried in the countrey of Guienne desiring him to perswade his master to accept this partage being much better than that he demanded that they mought be friends and liue togither like brethren adding also that this partage should be much more beneficiall both for his brother and his seruants especially for the saide Oudet than the other and farther assuring him that without faile he would deliuer his brother quiet possession of the said countrey By this means was the Lord Charles won to accept this partage of Guienne to the Duke of Burgundies great discontentation and his ambassadors there present And the cause why cardinall Balue bishop of Angiers 1 and the bishop of Verdun were imprisoned was for that the said Cardinal writ to the Lord Charles aduising him to accept none other partage than that the Duke of Burgundy had procured him by the treaty of Peronne which also the King had sworne and promised laying his hand within the said Cardinals to deliuer him alledging withall such reasons to perswade him thereunto as he thought necessary wherein he did cleane contrary to the Kings purpose Thus the Lord Charles was made Duke of Guienne the yeere 1469. and the possession of the countrey togither with the gouernment of Rochell deliuered him and than the King and he sawe one another and were togither a long time The Notes 1 The Cardinals imprisonment was bicause he perswaded the King to go to Peronne and aduised the Duke of Guienne to beware of poison and not to take the partage of Guienne Meyer and for disclosing the Kings secrets by letters to the Duke of Burgundie Gaguin But if the Duke of Guienne had been wise he would of himselfe without perswasion haue refused this partage For when a mans enimie offereth him that that hath an apparance of good let him euer refuse it nam latet anguis in herba as the sequele of this matter well declared for the accepting of this partage which the King alleaged and that truly to be better than the other the Duke demanded cost the Duke of Guienne his life as heer after shall appeere THE THIRD BOOKE How the King tooke occasion to make war anew vpon the Duke of Burgundy and how he sent a purseuant of the parlament of Gaunt to sommon him to appeere at Paris Chap. 1. THe yeere 1470. the King determined to be reuenged of the Duke of Burgundie supposing he had now found a time conuenient so to do for he priuily sollicited and caused also others to sollicite the towns situate vpon the riuer of Somme namely Amiens Saint Quintine and Abbeuille to rebell against the Duke and to send for succours into France and to receiue them into their towns 1 For all great Princes if they be wise will seeke euer some collour for their doings And to the ende you may perceiue what cunnig is vsed in Fraunce I will shew you how this matter was managed for the King and the Duke were both abused whereof arose whot and sharpe war which endured thirteen or foureteen yeeres The King desired greatly to mooue these townes aboue named to rebellion pretending to the end he might haue the better means to practise with them that the Duke aduanced his limits farther then the treatie would beare whereupon ambassadors ran to and fro who vnder colour of their ambassage practised continually as they passed through these townes to the end aboue mentioned In the said townes were no garrisons but all was quiet both in the realme in Burgundie and in Britaine And the Duke of Guien liued to all mens iudgments in great amitie with the King his brother Notwithstanding when the King first mooued this war his meaning was not to take one or two of these towns onely but sought to stir all the Duke of Burgundies subiects to rebellion trusting to atchieue his enterprise by this means Diuers to obtaine his fauor entertained these practises and reported their intelligence to be far greater then it was for one promised to take this towne an other that and yet indeed all was nothing Wherefore notwithstanding that the King had iust cause to be displeased for his euill vsage at Peronne yet if he had thought this enterprise would haue fallen none otherwise out then it did he would not haue broken the treatie nor mooued war for he had made the peace to be proclaimed at Paris three months after his returne into his realme and began this war with some feare but the great hope he had conceiued of it pricked him forward and marke I pray you what cunning was vsed to further it The Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce a very wise man and certaine of the Duke of Guien his seruants with diuers others desired rather war then peace betweene these two great Princes for two respects The one they feared least their great offices and pensions should be diminished if peace continued For you shal vnderstand that the Constable had vnder his charge 4. hundred men of armes or launces paied by his owne hands euery muster without controuler farther besides the fee and profits of his office he had a yeerely pension of thirty thousand frankes and better and receiued also the reuenews of many goodly places that he kept The other respect was this they sought to perswade the King and talked also to the like purpose among themselues that his disposition was such that his head could neuer be idle wherefore vnlesse he were busied with great Princes abroad he would be in hand with his seruants and officers at home For these two reasons therefore they sought to intangle him with wars whereunto the better to perswade him the Constable promised to take Saint Quintine at all times when him listed bicause his lands lay round about it vaunting further that he had great intelligence in Flanders and Brabant so far foorth that he would make a number of townes to reuolt from the Duke The Duke of Guienne also being there present and all their principall seruants offered very earnestly and promised very faithfully to serue the King in this quarrell and to leade with them fower or fiue hundred men of armes that the said Duke held in ordinary pay but their drift was other than the King supposed as heerafter you shall heare The King bicause he would seeme to proceede with due aduise and deepe consideration called a Parlament of the three estates of his realme at Tours in the moneths of March and Aprill in the yeere 1470. which was the first and last Parlament that euer he assembled But to this Parlament came onely such as were purposely named and such as the King knew would not gainsay him in any point There he caused diuers enterprises to be discouered that the Duke of Burgundie had attempted against the crowne
and made the Earle of Eu openly to complaine of him saying that the Duke detained from him contrarie to all lawe and equity Saint Valery and certaine otherlands that he the said Earle held of the Duke as parcels of the Seignorie of Abbeuille and the county of Ponthieu the onely cause whereof was for that a little ship of war of Eu had taken a Flemmish hoy laden with marchandise the losse whereof the Earle offered to repay further adding that the Duke would constraine him to do him homage and giue him his faith against all men none excepted which he would neuer do bicause it should be preiudiciall to the Kings estate At this assemblie were diuers lawyers as well of the Parlament of Paris as other places who concluded according to the Kings pleasure that the Duke should be summoned to appeere in the Parlament at Paris The King knew well that he would answere disdainfully or do somwhat preiudiciall to the authoritie of the court wherby he should haue the iuster pretence of war against him Thus the Duke being in Gaunt was sommoned as he went to masse by a purseuant of the Parlament to appeere at Paris wherewith he was much abashed and discontented and caused the purseuant foorthwith to be apprehended and committed to warde where he remained certaine daies but in the end was dismissed and sent home Thus you see what preparation was made to inuade the Duke of Burgundie who being aduertised thereof leuied a great band of men paid with home wages as they termed them which was a trifle they receiued to be in a readines in their owne houses Notwithstanding they mustered monethly in the townes where they dwelt and receiued their pay But at three or fower moneths end the Duke waxed wearie of the charge and dismissed these men banishing all feare bicause the King sent often to him and so departed into Holland He entertained no soldiers in ordinarie pay for the safetie of his countrie neither held any garrisons in the frontire townes whereof ensued great inconuenience for there was daily practising in Amiens Abbeuile and Saint Quintine to yeeld them againe to the King The Duke being in Holland was aduertised by Iohn late Duke of Bourbon that shortly war should be made vpon him as well in Burgundie as in Picardie and that the King had great intelligence not onely in his dominions but also in his house with the which message he was maruelously abashed for he was vtterly vnfurnished of men of war bicause he had discharged the band aboue mentioned Wherefore in great haste he passed the sea 2 and went into Artois and thence straight to Hedin where he entred into ielousie both of some of his seruants and also of those practises that were entertained in the townes aboue mentioned but his preparation for the wars went but slowly forward For he beleeued not all that was told him Notwithstanding he commanded two of the chiefest citizens of Amiens whom he suspected for these treaties to repaire vnto him who so cunningly excused themselues that he dismissed them without further inquire Immediately after certaine of his seruants fled out of his house namely the bastard Baldwine 3 and others which caused him to feare a greater traine to be behinde Wherefore incontinent he made proclamation that all men should be in a readines but bicause winter was begun and he but newly returned out of Holland few stirred The Notes 1 The Kings colour was this he would not seeme to make war vpon the Duke but onely to haue sent men to these towns at their request who bicause of the Dukes cruell exactions had praied in aide of him as of their soueraigne 2 This sea was one of the streames of the riuer of Rhene that enuiron Holland 3 This Baldwine was the Dukes base brother the cause of his departure was for that he had attempted with others corrupted by the King to poison the Duke notwithstanding afterward he recouered his fauor and was taken prisoner at the battell of Nancy Meyer How the townes of Saint Quintin and Amiens were yeelded to the King and for what causes the Constable nourished the war between the King and the Duke of Burgundy Chap. 2. TWo daies after his seruants departure which was in the moneth of December the yeere 1470. the Constable entred into Saint Quintine and sware them to the King Then the Duke perceiued his affaires to be in bad estate for he had no force with him but had sent all his seruants abroad to muster men in his dominions Notwithstanding with those fewe he could leuie being foure or fiue hundred horse he went to Dourlans minding to keepe Amiens from reuolting There he abode fiue or sixe daies all the which space they in Amiens continually practised The Kings army lying not farre off shewed it selfe before the towne and was once refused for part of the citizens held for the Duke wherefore the Duke sent thither to make his lodging and if he had beene so strong that the might haue aduentured to enter in person the towne had neuer beene lost but he was afraid to go thither weakely accompanied notwithstanding that diuers of the towne required him so to do But when they of the contrary faction sawe his feare that he durst not enter the towne they executed their enterprise and reioiced the Kings forces They of Abbeuille thought to do the like but the Lord of Cordes entred in thither for the Duke and preuented their purpose Dourlans is distant from Amiens but fiue small leagues wherefore the Duke was forced to depart thence so soone as he vnderstood of Amiens reuolt from thence therfore he went to Arras in great haste and feare doubting the execution of diuers other such enterprises for that he saw himselfe enuironed with the Constables kinsfolkes freinds farther bicause the bastard Baudouin was fled he entred into suspicion of his other brother the great bastard of Burgundie notwithstanding his forces repaired to him by litle and litle The King thought now that all had been his owne supposing the aduertisements to be true that the Constable and the rest had giuen him of their intelligences whereupon if he had not hoped he would haue wished this enterprise vnbegun It is meete I should heare declare what mooued the Constable and the Duke of Guienne considering the great fauor courtesies and benefits the Duke of Guienne had receaued at the Duke of Burgundies hands to kindle the fire betweene these two Princes that lay at rest in their dominions and which way this war could turne to their profit Somwhat I spake heerof before saying that they did it to be in the more assurance of their estates and offices For they feared if the King liued in peace he would keepe some stir among them Notwithstanding this was not the onely cause that mooued them But you shall vnderstand that the Duke of Guienne and they had been earnest suters to conclude a mariage betweene the said Duke of Guienne
league should remaine firme and vnuiolable between vs and the King and the realme of England saue that for Edward we named Henry This appointment pleased well the Duke of Burgundy for the Earle of Warwick was sending fower thousand English men to Calice to make sharp war vpon his dominions neither could the D. pacifie him by any meanes Notwithstanding the rich merchants of London diuers of the which were then at Calice in the end perswaded him to peace bicause their staple of wools is there which is a far goodlier thing than a man would beleeue for it is almost incredible of how great value the wooll is that is transported thither twise a yeere and lieth there till merchants come to buy it The chiefe vent whereof is into Flaunders and Holland which was the principall cause that mooued these merchants to labour so earnestly for peace and for stay of the soldiers the Earle was sending ouer which sure was a happy chance for the Duke of Burgundie for it was euen at the very same instant that the King tooke Amiens and Saint Quintine and if both the realmes had made war vpon him at once vndoubtedly he had been vndone He trauelled to appease the Earle of Warwick by all meanes possible alleging that he would attempt nothing against King Henry seeing he was himselfe of the house of Lancaster and vsing such words as might best serue for his purpose Now to returne to King Edward he came to Saint Paule to the Duke of Burgundy and pressed him earnestly for aide to return home assuring him that he had great intelligence in England and desiring him for Gods loue not to abandon him considering he had maried his sister and that they were brethren of one order The Dukes of Somerset and Excester labored him to the contrary to wit to take part with King Henry The Duke could not tell whom to please and either party he feared to displease But in the end bicause sharpe war was already begun vpon him euen at his very nose 3 he inclined to the Duke of Somerset and others aboue named accepting their promises against the Earle of Warwick their ancient enimy Wherwith King Edvvard there present was woonderfully disquieted But the Dukes seruants alleaged the best reasons they could in excuse herof saying that the Duke vsed this dissimulatiō to auoid war with both the realms at once adding therto that if he should be ouerthrowne he could not after aide him at his ease Notwithstanding the Duke seeing that he could no longer stay the King there but that needs he would returne into England and fearing for diuers considerations altogither to discontent him pretended openly that he would not aide him and made proclamation that no man should go to his seruice but couertly he deliuered him 50000. gildons of the Saint Andrewes crosse and caused three or fower great ships to be armed for him at La Vere in Zeland 4 which is a hauen where all nations are receiued Besides all this he entertained for him secretly fowerteen ships of the Easterlings well appointed who promised to serue him till he were landed in England and fifteen daies after which was great aide considering the time The Notes 1 He meaneth whether he should aide the King or no. 2 Our author reporteth this ragged staffe to be blacke but bicause the Earles of VVarwicke neuer gaue it blacke but the Earles of Kent I haue translated it white no whit doubting but that either the printer hath faulted heere or our authors memory failed him 3 To wit by the Englishmen sent ouer by the Earle of VVarwick 4 La Vere otherwise called Camphere is in the I le of VValkeren in Zeland not in Holland and is the Scottish staple wherefore I haue beene bold to amend the booke How King Edward returned into England where he slew in battell first the Earle of Warwick and then the Prince of Wales Chap. 7. KIng Edward departed out of Flanders the yeere 1471. at the selfe Heere our English affaires begin the yeere 1471. same instant that the D. of Burgundie went to Amiens against the King The said Duke thought now howsoeuer the world went in England he could not speede amisse bicause he had friends on both sides King Edward immediatly after his landing marched straight towards London bicause three or fower hundred Knights and Esquires of his faction togither with others of the meaner sort to the number of two thousand and better had retired themselues into the Sanctuaries of the citie which was a happy chance for him for if he landed with small force The Earle of Warwick being in the north parts with a great armie hearing these newes made haste to be at London before him rather for other respects than for that he greatly feared the reuolt of the towne notwithstanding the contrarie happened For King Edward was receiued into the citie with great ioy and triumph the tuesday before Easter contrarie to the expectation of most men for all the world accounted him as vtterly vndone And vndoubtedly if they had shut the gates against him he had been past all recouerie for the Earle of Warwicke was but a daies iourney behinde him There were three things especially as I haue heard that caused the towne to reuolt First the gentlemen that were in the sanctuaries and the yoong Prince lately borne The second the great debts that the King owed in the towne in respect whereof the merchants to whom he was indebted thought it their best way to take part with him The third a great many women of honor and rich merchants wiues with whom in times past he had been familiar perswaded their husbands and friends to incline to him He staied not past two or three daies in the towne for vpon Easter euen he departed with all the force he could leuy and marched against the Earle of Warwicke whom he met the next morning being Easter day and as they stood in order of battell the one in face of the other suddenly the D. of Clarence the Kings brother who was reconciled to the King as before you haue heard reuolted to the King with twelue thousand men and better 1 which no lesse astonied the Earle than encouraged the King whose force was not great But all this notwithstanding the battell was cruell and blooddy They were all footemen on both sides of the Kings vaward a great number were slaine then his battell and the Earles met and ioined so fiercely togither that the King himselfe fought in person more valiantly than any man of either army The Earle of Warwick vsed neuer to fight on foote but his maner was when he had led his men to the charge to take horse and if the victory fell on his side to fight among his soldiers otherwise to depart in time But at this battel he was constrained by his brother the Marques of Mountacute a valiant knight to light on foote and send away his horse To conclude in this battell died
of the Duke of Guiennes death and that the K. had alreadie recouered a great part of his countrie The like aduertisements receiued he also incontinent from others but reporting diuersly of the said Dukes death Soone after returned Simon of Quinchy from the King with a cold answer for he refused to sweare the treatie which the Duke tooke very disdainfully as a matter tending to his contempt and dishonor His men also in time of war as well for this as other causes spake very villanous and opprobrious words of the King and I warrant you the French requited them with the like The Duke of Burgundie being almost out of his wits bicause of these newes by the perswasion of certaine no lesse sorie for this accident than himselfe writ letters to diuers townes of the realme charging the King with his brothers death but little it auailed for no man stirred 1 Notwithstanding if the Duke of Guienne had liued vndoubtedly the King should haue had ynough to do for the Britons were in a readines to inuade him hauing greater intelligences in the realme than euer before all the which failed by the Dukes death The Duke of Burgundy in this fury put himselfe into the field and marched towards Nesle in Vermandois making foule and cruell war contrary to his accustomed maner for he spoiled and burned all the countrey as he passed His vaward marched before him and besieged the said towne of Nesle being of no force but the Duke himselfe lodged three leagues from it Within the towne were certaine franke archers that slew a herald of the Dukes comming to summon them Further their captaine came foorth to parle vnder surety thinking to bring the matter to composition but could not and as he returned into the towne the truce yet continuing bicause of his saly they within the towne notwithstanding that themselues stood open vpon the wall no man seeking to hurt them slew yet two other of the Dukes men wherfore the truce was disauowed word sent to the Lady of Nesle being within the towne to come foorth with all hir household stuffe which she did accordingly and immediately after the place was assaulted and taken and the greatest part of them that were within it slaine all that were taken aliue were hanged saue a few whom the soldiers for very pity let go a number also had their hands cut off It lotheth me to make mention of this cruelty but bicause I was present somewhat I am forced to write therof And sure either the Duke was maruellously passioned in that he committed so cruell an act or some great caused mooued him thereunto He alleaged two the one the Duke of Guiennes death wherof he spake very strangely vpon other mens report the other the griefe he had conceiued for the losse of Amiens and Saint Quintin aboue rehearsed Some that shall read this that foloweth will thinke happily that there was small faith in these two Princes or that I misreport them I would be loth to misreport either of them And to the King our Master how much I am bound all the world knoweth But to continue my history right reuerend father in God in such sort as you haue required I am forced to vtter that I know howsoeuer it passed And I doubt not but these two being compared with other Princes shall seeme noble woorthy and honorable and the King our Master wise aboue all the rest who left his realme enlarged and in peace with all his enimies Wherefore let vs now consider whether of these two Princes sought to deceiue the other to the end that if heereafter this history happen to fall into the hands of some yoong Prince that hath to negotiate in such like affaires he may by reading thereof be the better instructed how to looke to himselfe For notwithstanding that neither Princes nor enimies be alwaies alike nor deale alike in like affaires yet is it good to know the histories of times past To speake therefore vprightly I thinke both these Princes were fully bent each to deceiue other and tended both to one end as you shall heare Both of them had their armies abroad in a readines The King had already taken diuers places and during the treaty made sharpe war vpon his brother whom the Lords of Courton Patris Foucart and diuers others had already relinquished were receiued into the Kings seruice Further his army lay about Rochell hauing great intelligence in the towne for the citizens practised continually as well bicause of the rumor of this treaty as also bicause of the Dukes sicknes And I thinke the Kings resolution was if he could atchieue his enterprise there or his brother hapned to die not to sweare the treaty but if he found great resistance to sweare it and performe his promise thereby to auoid all danger And sure he lost no time but vsed great diligence delaying also very cunningly Simon of Quingy the space of eight daies during the which delay his brother died further he knew well the Duke of Burgundy so greatly to desire the restitution of these two townes aboue named that he durst not flatly fall out with him Wherefore he meant to delay him and feed him foorth with faire words fifteen or twenty daies as he did accordingly to see in the meane time what would happen Now that I haue spoken of the King and shewed how he was purposed to deale with the Duke it is fit I should also declare how the Duke was minded towards him and thought to delude him had not the Duke of Guiennes death happened Simon of Quinchy by the Kings request had a commission from the Duke his Master commanding him immediately after the treatie sworne and writings deliuered for the confirmation thereof to go into Britaine to informe the Duke of Britaine of the conditions of the peace and in like maner the Duke of Guiennes ambassadors resident in Britaine to the end they might aduertise their Master thereof at Bordeaux whereby the King meant to put the Britons into the greater feare when they should see themselues abandoned of him that was their chiefe anchor hold Now you shall vnderstand that Simon of Quinchy had in his company a rider of the Dukes Escuirie called Henry a Parisian borne a wise fellow and of good experience who had a letter of credit to the said Simon written with the Dukes owne hand but his commission was not to deliuer it till the said Simons departure from the King and his arriuall to the Duke of Britaine at Nantes where his charge was to deliuer him the letter and this message withall That he should will the Duke of Britaine not to thinke that his Master would abandon the Duke of Guienne and him for he would succour them both with body and goods and that he had concluded this treatie to none other end but to auoid war and recouer the townes of Saint Quintine and Amiens which the King in time of peace contrary to his promise
had taken from him And further to aduertise the said Duke that the Duke his Master would send an honorable ambassage to the King so soone as he should be seized of that he demanded humbly to beseech him to end this war and relinquish his enterprise against the said two Dukes and not to giue credite to the oth he had sworne which he was no more determined to obserue than the King had obserued the treaty â—ade before Paris called the treatie of Conflans and the treatie which he had sworne at Peronne and long after confirmed also Further desiring him to call to remembrance that he tooke these townes against his faith and promise in time of peace wherefore he must hold himselfe contented if he recouered them after the same sort And as touching the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce and the Earle of Neuers whom the King had permitted him to vse at his pleasure he would protest that notwithstanding he hated them as he had iust cause to do yet would he forgiue all their offences and let them liue in quiet desiring the King to grant these two Dukes the like and that it would please him to suffer all men to liue in peace and safetie in such maner and forme as he had sworne at Conflans when they were all there assembled togither which if he refused to do he would then succour his confederates And it was determined that the Duke should be in campe when this ambassage should be sent to the King But God disposed otherwise of these purposes for death which departeth all things and changeth all determinations set them otherwise a worke as partly you haue vnderstood already and shall heerafter perceiue more at large for the King restored not these two townes and yet had the Duchie of Guienne by his brothers death as reason was The Notes 1 The Duke of Guienne died the 12. of May but Meyer saith the 24. Annal. Aquit the 11. Of his death reade Annal. Burgund lib. 3. fol. 946. Meyer lib. 17. fol. 353. writeth thus of it Rex fratri venenum miscet per Iordanum Abbatem Diui Ioannis beenedictini nominis where reade also what Thomas Basinus Bishop of Lisieux writeth of the Dukes death who compareth King Lewis to Cain Atreus Thiestes Polinices and Eteocles Hollandiae scriptor saith thus Rex ille inquit idem fecit quod Cain qui vnicum fratrem suum Abel interfecit Dedit enim Rex mortiferuÌ„ Carolo fratri venenum quo noÌ„ statim extinctus est sed mensibus aliquot miserabiliter afflictus Gaguin a French historiographer saith thus The King was aduertised of his brother D. Charles his death who died at Bordeaux poisoned by a certaine Abbot but not without the Kings consent as the report went Annal. Aquit written by a French man seeme to make King Lewis accessorie to his brothers death The Duke was poisoned as he sat at the table with the Lady of Mount soreau whom he entertained and who was also poisoned with him The King commanded the Abbots processe to cease and the rest which were suspected whereby he plainly bewraied his owne guiltie conscience How the Duke of Burgundy seeing that he could not take Beauuais before the which he had laid his siege went to Roan Chap. 10. NOw to returne to the war you haue heard how certaine poore franke archers were handled at the taking of Nesle thence the D. departed and went before Roye within the which were 1500. franke archers and certaine men of armes of the Arriereban The Dukes force was neuer so great as at that present The next day after his arriuall these franke archers fearing their liues leapt downe the wals and yeelded themselues to him and the third day they that yet remained within rendered themselues and the towne by composition leauing behinde them both horse and harnesse saue that euery man of armes brought foorth a trauelling nag The Duke left men in the towne and went to Mondidier which he began to raze meaning vtterly to destroy it lay it desolate but bicause of the good wil he perceiued the people of those parts 1 to beare him he caused it to be repaired and left a garrison in it From thence he departed meaning to march straight into Normandie but as he passed hard by Beauuais the L. of Cordes who led his vaward rode to the towne and at his first arriuall the suburbs before the Bishops palace were taken by a couetous Burgundian named Master Iames of Montmartin who had vnder his charge one hundred launces and three hundred archers of the Dukes ordinarie retinue The Lord of Cordes scaled the towne on the other side but he lacked ladders and those few he had were too short He had two canons which shot twise at the towne gate and brake downe a peece thereof and if he had been furnished to haue continued the shot vndoubtedly he had entred the towne but he was vnprouided bicause he came not for any such exploite At his first arriuall none were in the towne but the citizens themselues and the captaine of the towne called Loyset of Bailligny with certaine soldiers of the Arriereban but not ynow to defend the place Notwithstanding it pleased God miraculously to preserue it as he manifestly declared For the Burgundians that were with the Lord of Cordes fought hand to hand with the French at the breach made in the gate whereupon the said Lord of Cordes sent word diuers times to the Duke of Burgundie to make haste thither assuring him that the towne was his owne But in the meane time while the Duke was vpon the way one within deuised to throwe flaming fagots in their faces that were about to breake downe the gate whereof they threw so great plentie that the gate and the porch tooke fire in such sort that the Burgundians were forced to retire till the fire ceased Soone after arriued the Duke himselfe who in like maner held the towne as taken the fire being once quenched which was very great for all the porch was on fire And vndoubtedly if he had lodged part of his army on the other side of the towne towards Paris no man could haue entred to releeue it But it pleased God he should make doubt where none was for bicause of a little brooke that was to passe he made difficultie so to do then and yet afterward when a great number of men were entred the towne he would haue done it and was hardly disswaded from it notwithstanding that thereby he should then haue endangered his whole army All this happened the eight twentith of Iune in the yeere 1472. The fire aboue mentioned continued all day and in the euening ten launces onely of the Kings ordinarie retinue entred the towne as I was afterward informed for I serued yet the Duke of Burgundie but we saw them not enter both bicause euery man was busied in making his lodging and also bicause we had no force on that side the towne By
breake of day the Dukes battterie was bent against the wals but soone after we saw two hundred men of armes enter the towne and had it not beene for their comming I thinke the citizens would haue treated of a composition which notwithstanding the Duke in this fury would neuer haue granted for he desired to take the towne by assault and if he had so done vndoubtedly he would haue burnt it which had been great pitie sure it was preserued by very miracle After these men of armes were entred the Dukes artillerie shot continually the space of fifteen daies and the place was as well beaten as euer was any in such sort that the breach was saultable but the ditch of the one side of the burned gate stood full of water so that we were forced to build a bridge ouer it but on the other side we might come hard to the wals without any danger saue of one flanker which was so low that our artillerie could not beat it It is great danger and folly to assault a towne so well defended as this was for within it was the Constable 2 as I remember or lay by it I wot not wel whether the Marshall Ioachin the Marshall of Loheac the Lord of Crussoll VVilliam of Valleu Mery of Croy Sallezarde Theuenot of Vignoles being all ancient captaines accompanied with an hundred men of armes of the Kings ordinary retinue besides a great number of footemen and others that were come thither with them Yet the Duke contrary to the opinion of his whole army determined to giue the assault And the night before as he lay on his field bed in his clothes according to his accustomed maner he asked certaine there present whether they thought the town would abide the assault who answered that they thought yea seeing they were force sufficient to defend it at the which answer he scoffed saying that they should not finde a man there the next day In the morning by breake of day the assault was giuen very couragiously and the breach no lesse valiantly defended A great number went thronging on our new made bridge in such sort that an ancient knight of Burgundy called Despiris was smothered there who was the best man that died before the towne On the other side of the gate certaine of our men got vp to the top of the wall but some of them neuer returned They fought hand to hand a great while and the assault continued so long that fresh bands were appointed to succeede the first being wearied but bicause the Duke saw his men to labor in vaine he caused them to retire yet notwithstanding they within salied not for they saw company ynough ready to receiue them At this assault were slaine twelue hundred soldiers 3 and the best man that died there was the aboue named Despiris It was thought at the first that many more had been lost for aboue a thousand were hurt The next night they within salied foorth but bicause their number was small and the most of them on horsebacke and therby encombred with the cords of our tents they did no great exploit but lost two or three gentlemen of their company and hurt one of ours named Master Iames d'Orson a very honest gentleman and master of the Dukes Ordinance who a few daies after died of the said hurt Seauen or eight daies after this assault the Duke would haue diuided his army into two bands and lodged part thereof at the gate towards Paris contrary to all mens aduise and to all reason considering the great number of soldiers within the town This should haue been done at the beginning but now it was too late Wherfore seeing no remedy he raised his campe in very good order 4 hoping that they within would issue forth to the skirmish which notwithstanding they did not From thence he marched into Normandy bicause he had promised the Duke of Britaine to come as far as Roan where the said Duke of Britaine had promised in like maner to meete him But bicause of the Duke of Guiennes death he altered his minde and stirred not out of his country The Duke of Burgundy came before Eu which was yeelded vnto him as was also Saint Valery and he burnt all this quarter euen hard to Diepe He tooke likewise Neuf-chastell and burnt both it and all the country of Caux or the greatest part euen hard to Roan gates further he presented himselfe in person before the said towne of Roan he lost many of his foragers whereby his army was in great distresse of victuals In the end bicause winter approched he departed homeward and his backe was no sooner turned but the French recouered Eu and Saint Valery and tooke prisoners by composition seauen or eight Burgundians that were within them The Notes 1 The French hath Chastellenies which were places where certaine courts of the inferior iurisdiction vvere held to the which the countrey there about was bound to repaire 2 Annal. Franc. report that the Constable lay hard by the tovvne but mooued not to defend it for the vvhich cause it vvas thought he had intelligence vvith the Duke 3 Gaguin saith that there vvere slaine at the assault of Beauuais 1500. men 4 The Duke lay before Beauuais sixe and tvventy daies and leuied his siege the 22. of Iuly Meyer How the King made peace with the Duke of Britaine and truce with the Duke of Burgundy and how the Earle of Saint Paul escaped for that time a conspiracy that these two Princes made against him Chap. 11. ABout this time I came to the Kings seruice in the yeere 1472. who receiued also the selfesame yeere the greatest part of his brother the Duke of Guienne his seruants He lay then at Pont de See making war vpon the Duke of Britaine whither certaine ambassadors came to him out of Britaine and from whence also he sent his ambassadors thither Among the rest that came to him to the said towne of Pont de See were Philip of Essars seruant to the Duke and VVilliam of Sousplenuille seruant to the Lord of Lescute the which Lord of Lescute seeing his Master the Duke of Guienne at the point of death tooke sea at Bordeaux and departed into Britaine fearing to fall into the Kings hands he embarked in time and carried away with him the Duke of Guiennes Confessor 1 and a rider of his stable who were charged with the Dukes death and remained prisoners in Britaine many yeeres after When these runnings to and fro had indured a while the King in the end determined to haue peace with the Duke of Britaine and to deale so liberally with the Lord of Lescute that he would thereby asswage the euil wil he bare him and win him to his seruice For as he knew the Duke of Britaines forces being gouerned by so woorthy a man greatly to be feared so was he assured if he could win the Lord of Lescute to his seruice that the Britons would labor for peace bicause he
was their onely man of wisdome and experience in the countrey besides that generally the Britaines desire nothing more than peace with Fraunce bicause continually a great number of them haue good entertainment and be in good estimation in this realme not vnwoorthily for sure in times past they haue done great seruice heere Wherefore me thinke the King did very wisely in concluding this treaty notwithstanding that some not considering so deepely thereof as himselfe did thought otherwise of it He had a very good opinion of the Lord of Lescute knew there was no danger in putting those offices and places of charge that he did into his hands bicause he was a man of honor would neuer during these diuisions haue any intelligence with the English men nor consent that the townes in Normandie 2 should be yeelded to them but had beene the onely stay thereof which was the cause of all his preferment When the King had well debated this matter he commanded Sousplenuille to put in writing all that his Master required as well for the Duke as himselfe which done the King granted him all his demands being these A pension of 80000. franks for the Duke for his master the Lord of Lescute a pension of 6000. franks the gouernment of Guienne the two Seneschalships of Launes and Bordelois the captainship of one of the castels of Bordeaux the captainship of Blaye and of the two castels of Bayonne of Dax and of Saint Seuer 24000. crownes in ready mony the Kings order and the Earldome of Comminges All the which the King granted and agreed vnto saue that the Dukes pension was diminished by the one halfe and continued but two yeeres Further the King gaue the said Sousplenuille 6000. crownes which with the other 24. thousand giuen to his Master were to be paid in fower yeeres a pension of 1200. franks the Mayraltie of Bayonne the Bailywick of Montargis and certaine other small offices in Guienne All the which aboue rehearsed estates his Master and he enioied till the Kings death Philip d'Essars likewise was made Bailife of Meaux and lieutenant of the waters and forrests throughout the realme of Fraunce and had also a pension granted him of 1200. franks and 4000. crownes in ready money all the which offices and estates from that day till the King our Master his death they quietly enioied and the Lord of Comminges continued during his life his trustie and faithfull seruant The King hauing pacified all matters in Britaine marched straight toward Picardie for he and the Duke of Burgundie vsed alwaies when winter approched to make truce for sixe moneths or a yeere and some time more After the which their woonted maner they made truce at this present which the Chancellor of Burgundie with certaine others came to the King to conclude There the Kings Commissioners read the finall peace made with the Duke of Britaine whereby the said Duke renounced the league he was entred into with the English men and the D. of Burgundie wherfore the King required the Duke of Burgundies ambassadors not to comprehend the Duke of Britaine in the truce as their confederate whereunto they would not condiscend but agreed that the Duke of Britaine should be at his choise to declare himselfe within the time accustomed either the Kings confederate or theirs alleaging that heertofore also the said Duke had abandoned them by writing yet had not departed from their friendship Further adding that though he were a Prince wholy led and gouerned by others and doing little of himselfe yet in the end he euer yeelded to that which was best and most necessary for his estate All this was done in the yeere 1473. During this treatie they murmured on both sides against the Earle of Saint Paule Constable of Fraunce for the King and those that were neerest about him had conceiued maruellous hatred against him And the Duke of Burgundy hated him woorse than they as he had iust cause to do for I know the reasons that mooued them both to beare him ill will The Duke had not yet forgotten that he was the onely occasion of the losse of Amiens and Saint Quintin and perceiued well that he nourished this war betweene the King and him For in time of truce he spake him as faire as was possible but so soone as the war opened he shewed himselfe his mortall foe Further the Earle had sought to constraine him by force to marrie his daughter to the Duke of Guienne as before 〈◊〉 â—â—ue heard Besides all this there was yet another grudge for while the Duke lay before Amiens the Constable made a road into Henault and among other cruell exploits burned the castell of Seure belonging to a Knight named Master Baudouin of Launay before the which time they vsed on neither side to fire any place But in reuenge thereof the Duke this last sommer burned the countrie all the way his armie passed as before you haue heard Thus they began to practise the Constables destruction for the accomplishment whereof diuers of the Kings men conferred with such of the Dukes seruants as they knew to be his mortall enimies for the French had him in as great iealousie as the Duke of Burgundie had and accused him as the onely occasion of the war wherefore all his treaties and practises with both parties were ripped vp and discouered and they both sought his death Some man may peraduenture aske heerafter if the King alone were not of power sufficient to put him to death whereunto I answer that he was not For his lands lay iust in the middest betweene the King and the Duke further he held Saint Quintin a great and strong towne in Vermandois and of his owne Han Bohain and other very strong places neere to the said Saint Quintin the which he might man at all times with any nation at his owne pleasure He had charge vnder the King of fower hundred men of armes well paied of the which companie himselfe was controller and tooke the muster which was no small profit to him for his companies were not complete Besides all this he had a yeerely pension of 45000. franks and of euerie tunne of wine that passed through his countrie into Flaunders or Henault he receiued a crowne for impost He had also goodly seigniories and possessions of his owne inheritance and great intelligence as well in Fraunce as in the Dukes dominions where he had many kinsfolks and allies The truce betweene the King and the Duke continued a whole yeere all the which space this practise endured and the Kings men addressed themselues wholie to the Lord of Hymbercourt so often before named who of long time had beene the Constables enimy besides that their hatred was lately increased For in an assembly held at Roye where the Constable and others were commissioners for the King and the Chancellor of Burgundy and the Lord of Hymbercourt with diuers others for the Duke as they conferred togither of their affaires the
vertous Lady and sister to the Queene of Fraunce so that for hir sake he had found great friendship and fauor in our court The practise begun against him still continued which as you haue heard was almost concluded at the assembly held thereabout at Bouuines after the which the Constable neuer thought himselfe in assurance but mistrusted both the Princes especially the King who seemed to repent the reuoking of his letters there sealed Further the Earle of Dampmartin others whom the Constable feared as his enimies lay with their men of armes neere to Saint Quintins wherefore he held himselfe within the towne and put into it three hundred footemen of his owne tenants hauing but small affiance in his men of armes He liued in great trouble for the King had often sent to him to sollicite him to come foorth to do him seruice in the marches of Henault and to besiege Auennes at the same time that the Admirall with his band went to burne the countrey of Artois as you haue heard which commandement he obeied but with great feare for after he had lien a certaine space before the said towne of Auennes with a continual garde about his person he retired into his owne places and sent the King word by one of his seruants who did his message to me by the Kings commandement that he had raised his siege bicause he was certainly enformed that there were two in the army purposely hired by the King to kill him whereof also he told so many apparant tokens that he seemed indeed to haue some notice thereof so far foorth that one of them was suspected to haue disclosed somwhat to him that he ought to haue kept secret but I will name no man neither speake further heerof The Constable sent often to the Duke of Burgundies campe I suppose to perswade him to relinquish his foolish enterprise aduertising the King also vsually at his mens returne of some such newes as he thought would like him well and withall what was the cause of his sending thither hoping by this means to entertaine him with faire words Somtime also he gaue him to vnderstand that the Dukes affaires had good proceeding thereby to put him in feare Further doubting greatly that the King would inuade him he desired the Duke to send vnto him his brother Master Iames of Saint Paul being at Nuz before he was taken prisoner and the Lord of Fiennes with certaine others of his kinsmen promising to put them and their bands into Saint Quintins but without the Saint Andrews crosse 2 and to keepe the towne for the Duke and restore it him shortly after for performance also wherof he offered to giue him his faith in writing The Duke did as he required and when the said Master Iames the Lord of Fiennes and the rest of the Constables kinsmen were twise come within a league or two of the towne ready to enter the Constable thinking the storme past altered his minde and sent a countermaunde This did he thrise so desirous was he still to liue in dissimulation and swim as it were between two streams fearing maruellously both these Princes Of this matter I haue been enformed by diuers but especially by Master Iames of Saint Paul himselfe who thus reported the circumstance thereof to the King when he was brought prisoner before him where no man was present but my selfe alone The said Master Iames answered frankly and without dissimulation to all the Kings demands whereby he wan greatly his fauor First the King asked him how many men he had with him to enter the towne whereunto he answered that the last time he had three thousand Then the King inquired further if he had entred and had been Master of the towne whether he would haue held it for the King or the Constable Whereunto he likewise answered that the two first times he came but to comfort his brother but the last seeing his dissimulation to his Master and him if he had entred and had been Master of the towne he would haue held it for his Master not offring his brother any outrage nor doing any thing to his preiudice saue onely that he would not haue departed the town at his commandement Soone after the King deliuered the said Iames of Saint Paul out of prison and gaue him charge of a goodly company of men of armes and vsed his seruice till his death of which his preferment his wise answers were the onely cause The Notes 1 This ouerthrow the Duke of Bourbon gaue the Burgundians neere to a place called Grey or Gy not far from Chausteauguion and in the battell was slain the Lord of Conches others say but taken and there were taken prisoners the Earle of Roussy being gouernor of Burgundy the Marshall of Burgundie the Earle of Ioigny the Earle of Saint Martins sonne Monseur de L'Isle Monseur de Longey or Longny the bailife of Ampois and the bailife of Auxerre This battell was fought on tuesday the 20. of Iune 1475. and in it two hundred men of armes Lombards were slaine Meyer About this time also the Prince of Orenge was taken prisoner and by meanes thereof reuolted from the Duke to the King Annal. Burgund 2 The Saint Andrewes crosse is the Burgundians cognisance and if they had entred with this crosse vpon their cotes the Constable could haue no longer temporised with the King of Fraunce but should foorthwith haue been proclaimed traitor How the Duke of Burgundy leuied his siege before Nuz by composition and how the King of England his confederate sent to defie King Lewis Chap. 5. I Haue discoursed of diuers affaires since I began with the siege of Nuz bicause they all hapned in that time for the siege indured a whole yeere There were two causes especially that mooued the Duke to leuy his siege one the war the King made in Picardy where he had burned two proper townes and destoied a goodly champaine countrey in Artois and Ponthieu The other the mighty army the King of England leuied at his sute and sollicitation whom till now he could neuer perswade to passe into Fraunce notwithstanding that he had labored him thereunto al the daies of his life The said King of England and all his nobles were maruellously discontented with the Dukes delaies and besides intreaties vsed threatnings and not without cause considering the great charges they had sustained and all to no purpose the sommer being now almost spent The Duke gloried much that this Dutch army being so great that the like hath not been seene in our age nor many yeeres before and in the which were so many Princes Prelates and free cities ioined togither was not able to raise his siege 1 But this glory cost him full deere for he that hath the profit of the war reapeth also the honor thereof Notwithstanding the Legate aboue mentioned who rode continually betweene the two camps made peace in the end betweene the Emperor and the Duke 2 and the towne of Nuz
him how I had wrought with this good fellow naming diuers others who in mine opinion seemed fitter for this purpose than he but the King would none but him Wherfore he came and talked with him himselfe and confirmed him more with one word than I had with an hundred None entred into the chamber with the King saue onely the Lord of Villiers then Master of the horse and now bailife of Caen. When the King perceiued this good fellow to be well perswaded to go he sent the said Master of the horse to fetch a trumpet banner thereof to make this counterfet herault a cote armor for the King bicause he was not pompous as other Princes are had neither herault nor trumpeter with him Thus the Master of the horse and one of my men made his cote armor as well as they could which being finished the said Master of the horse fetched a scutchin of a little herault of the Lord Admirals called Pleinchemin which was fastened to our counterfet herault his bootes also and his cloke were brought priuily to him and likewise his horse whereupon he mounted no man vnderstanding any thing of his iourney Further a goodly budget was tied to his saddle bowe into the which he put his cote armor Thus being well instructed what to say he rode straight to the English campe where when he arriued with his cote armor on his backe he was staied incontinent and brought to the King of Englands pauilion Where being demanded the cause of his comming he said that he came from the King to speake with the King of England and had commandement to addresse himselfe to the Lord Hovvard and the Lord Stanley whereupon they led him into a tent to diner and made him good cheere After the King of England was risen from the table for he was at diner when the herault arriued the said herault was brought before him and the King gaue him audience His message was chiefely grounded vpon the great desire the King had of long time to be in perfect amitie with the King of England to the ende both the realmes might liue togither in peace and quietnes adding further that since the time he was first crowned King of Fraunce he neuer had attempted any thing against the King of England or his realme 1 secondarily he excused himselfe for receiuing in times past the Earle of Warwicke into his dominions saying that he did it onely against the Duke of Burgundie and not against him Further he declared vnto him that the said Duke of Burgundie had for none other cause called him into Fraunce but that by the occasion of his comming he might conclude a better peace for himselfe with the King And if happily any others were furtherers thereof it was onely to amend the broken state of their owne affaires and for their owne priuate commoditie but as touching the King of Englands good successe they were altogither carelesse thereof he put him also in minde of the time of the yeere alleaging that winter approched and likewise of the great charges he sustained lastly he said that notwithstanding a great number in England as well gentlemen as merchants desired war with France yet if the King of England would incline to peace the King for his part would condiscend to such conditions as he doubted not but he and his realme would allow of lastly to the ende he might the better be informed of all these matters he said that if the King of England would grant a safe conduct for an hundred horse the King his Master would send ambassadors to him well informed of their Masters pleasure or if the said King of England should like better to assigne the place of treatie in some village betweene both the armies and to send Commissioners thither on both sides the King his Master would willingly agree thereunto and send the like safe conduct for his part The King of England and part of his nobles liked these ouuertures very well and granted our herault as large a safe conduct as he demanded gaue him fower nobles of gold 2 in reward Further an English herault was sent backe with him to the King to bring the like safe conduct from him as the King of England had granted And the next morning in a village neere to Amiens the Commissioners of both Princes met being these for the King the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of Fraunce the Lord of Saint Pierre and the Bishop of Eureux called Heberge and for the King of England the Lord Howard one called Chalanger 3 and a Doctor named Morton at this present Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury Some may thinke peraduenture that the King humbled himselfe too much but those that be wise will easily perceiue by that I haue aboue rehearsed in how great danger the realme stood had not God put to his helping hand as well in causing the King to take this wise course as also by troubling the D. of Burgundies wits who committed so many errors as you haue heard in this action lost now through his owne follie that which so long he had wished for and desired Many secret practises lay hidded at that time among our selues as well in Britaine as elsewhere which would soone haue broken foorth into great inconueniences had not this peace beene speedily concluded Wherefore I assure my selfe by that I haue seene in my time that God had then and yet hath a speciall regard of this realme The Notes 1 King Lewis had forgotten that before this time he had attempted to restore Queene Margaret daughter to King Rene. Annal. Burgund 2 Hall reporteth that the French herault had giuen him a gilt cup and an hundred angels 3 This Chalanger our chronicles name Sentleger How truce for nine yeeres was treated of betweene the Kings of Fraunce and England notwithstanding all the lets and impediments that the Constable and the Duke of Burgundy made Chap. 8. THe Commissioners of both the Princes met as you haue heard the next day after our heraults returne for we lay within fower leagues or lesse togither The said herault was well cheered and had his office in the I le of Ré where he was borne and the sum of mony that was promised him Many conditions of peace were treated of betweene our Commissioners The English men after their woonted maner first demanded the crowne at the least Normandie and Guienne but they were no more earnestly demanded than strongly denied Notwithstanding euen at this first meeting the treatie was brought to a reasonable point for both the parties desired peace whereupon our ambassadors returned to the King and the others to their campe The King heard the English mens demands and last resolutions which were these That he should pay to the King of England presently before his departure out of Fraunce 72000. crownes 1 That the King that now is then Daulphine should marrie King Edwards eldest daughter at this day Queene of England and that she should
writings that were deliuered him on the King of Englands behalfe whereunto the King answered as before Then was the missall brought foorth and opened vpon the which each of the Kings laide one of their hands and the other vpon the true holie crosse and sware both of them to keepe and obserue the articles concluded betweene them namely the truce for nine yeeres wherein the confederats of both parties were comprehended and the marriage of their children to be accomplished in maner and forme as was comprehended in the treatie After they had both sworne the King who had his words at commandement began to enter into pleasant talke with the K. of England saying that he should come to Paris to solace himselfe there with the Ladies and that he would giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his confessor who would easilie assoile him of that sinne if any were committed The King of England tooke great pleasure in this talke and answered with a merry countenanee for he knew the Cardinall to be a good fellow After some such like speeches passed betweene them the King to shew that he had authority among his men commanded those that were with him to withdraw themselues saying that he would commune with the King of England in secret which they that accompanied the King of England seeing retired without commandement After the two Kings had communed awhile togither the King called me to him and asked the King of England if he knew me who answered that he knew me well and named the places where he had seene me adding that in times past I had taken paines to do him seruice in Calais during the time I was with the Duke of Burgundy Then the King inquired of him if the Duke of Burgundy would not be comprehended in the truce as it was to be presumed bicause of his froward answer that he would not what it would please him that he should do The King of England said that he would offer it him yet once more and if he refused to accept it that then they two should do as they thought good Afterward the King fell in talke of the Duke of Britaine which was the onely end why he mooued this question asked him in like maner of him The King of England desired him earnestly to attempt nothing against the D. of Britain saying that in his necessity he neuer found so faithfull a friend whereupon the King ended this communication and then calling the company togither againe with the most curteous and gratious language that might be tooke his leaue of the King of England giuing very good words in like maner to euery one of his seruants And so the two Princes in a maner both at one instant departed from the grate and tooke horse The King returned to Amiens and the King of England to his campe whither we sent from the court all kinde of prouision necessary for him so far foorth that torches and lights were not forgotten At this enteruiewe the Duke of Glocester King Edwards brother and certaine others were not present bicause they misliked the peace Notwithstanding afterward they were well ynough perswaded to allow of it so far foorth that the said Duke of Glocester came to Amiens to the King who gaue him many goodly presents of siluer plate and horses with all kinde of furniture After the King was returned from this meeting vpon the way he debated two points with me the one he found the King of England so willing to come to Paris that it liked him neuer a whit For he is quoth he a goodly Prince and much giuen to loue he may peraduenture meete with some dainty dame at Paris that will entertaine him with so many sugred words that she may happily make him desirous to returne thither againe But his predecessors haue soiourned too long both at Paris and in Normandy I like not his company on this side the sea but so long as he keepeth home I wish to haue him my good friend and louing brother The other point was this he was sory that he found the King of England somwhat hard when he made mention of the D. of Britaine for the King was so desirous to perswade him to suffer war to be made in Britaine that afterward he sollicited this matter anew by the Lords of Bouchage and Saint Pierre But the King of England seeing himselfe thus earnestly pressed answered in fewe words that who so should make war vpon the Duke of Britaine he would passe the seas yet once againe in his defence which answer being heard the matter was no further mentioned After the K. was returned to Amiens euen as he was going to supper arriued three or fower noble men of England such as had furthered the peace and the Lord Hovvard who was one of them began to talke with the King in his eare saying that if it pleased him he would finde meanes to bring his Master to Amiens and peraduenture to Paris to make merry with him which offer though the King liked neuer a whit yet made he shew of great good liking thereof and began to wash not answering much to that point but tolde me softly in mine eare that the thing he most feared was hapned meaning this offer After supper they fell againe in communication of the selfesame matter but with wise words the enterprise was broken off for the King said that with all speede he must depart to go against the Duke of Burgundy Although these affaires were of great importance and sagely ordered on both sides yet you see merry toies hapned also among them which are not to be forgotten But as touching the K. who will maruell considering the great harmes the English men haue done in Fraunce but of late yeeres if he trauelled his body and spent his money to rid them friendly out of the realme to the intent heereafter he might keepe them his friends at the least not haue them his foes The next day after this meeting a great number of English men repaired to Amiens some of them affirming that the holy Ghost had made this peace for they grounded all on prophesies The reason that mooued them so to say was for that a white pigeon sate vpon the King of Englands pauilion the day of the enteruiew and would not remooue thence notwithstanding any noise made in the camp The cause whereof as some men iudged was for that it had rained a little and afterward the sunne shining very hot the pigeon lighted vpon this pauilion being higher than the rest to drie hir selfe which reason was giuen by a gentleman of Gascoine seruant to the King of England named Lewis of Bretailles who was not a little offended with the peace And bicause he and I were of old acquaintance he talked familiarly with me saying that we would deride the King of England for this treatie I asked him how many battel 's the said King had woon he told me nine in the which himselfe had beene in
person Then I demanded of him againe how many he had lost and he answered neuer but one which was this we now bereaued him of adding that he receiued greater dishonor by returning home after this sort than he had obtained honor in winning the other nine Of this communication I aduertised the King who said he was a dangerous knaue and that some meanes must be found to stop his mouth whereupon he sent for him and made him dine at his owne table offering him verie large offers and goodly offices if he would tarry in Fraunce But seeing he would by no meanes be woon thereunto he gaue him a thousand crownes in money promising also a good turne to his brethren that were on this side the sea and I gaue him a watchword in his eare to employ his credit to continue the friendship and amity begun betweene the two Princes The King feared especially aboue all things least some word should escape him at vnawares whereby the English men might gather that he derided them And by chaunce the next morning after this meeting as he was in his closet and not past three or fower of vs with him he spake a merrie word touching the wines and presents sent to the English campe and as he turned about espied a merchant of Gascoine that dwelt in England who was come to mooue a sute to him for a licence to ship certaine Gascoine wines into England without impost which was a sute that might much benefit the said merchant if he could obtaine it The King woondered when he saw him how he was gotten in thither and asked him of what towne he was in Guienne and whether he were a merchant and married in England The merchant answered yea but that his wealth was not great Incontinent before his departure thence the K. appointed one to accompanie him to Bordeaux and I communed with him by his commandement Further a good office in the towne where he was borne was giuen him the licence for the wines which he demanded was granted him and besides this 1000. franks were deliuered him for his wiues charges vpon the way and he sent a brother of his into England for hir but went not himselfe Thus the King condemned himselfe in this penaltie for his ouer large speech The Notes 1 The old copie saith the 19. day Meyer the 31. day Gaguin the 28. of October 2 The like reparteth Iouius of the French How the Constable after the truce made with the English men sought to excuse himselfe to the King and how truce was also concluded for nine yeeres betweene the King and the Duke of Burgundie Chap. 11. THe selfesame day aboue mentioned being the next day after the enteruiew the Constable sent letters to the King by a seruant of his named Rapine who was a trustie seruant to his Master and whom also the King preferred afterwarde Monseur de Lude and my selfe were commanded to heare his message Now you shall vnderstand that Monseur de Contay was already returned from the Duke of Burgundie to the Court about the practise aboue mentioned deuised against the Constable so that the said Constable knew not to what Saint he should vow himself but remained in vtter despaire Rapines message was very humble tending to excuse his Master of the sundry euill reports that he knew had been made of him to the King for that the end sufficiently declared that he neuer meant to do otherwise than dutie required And to the intent he might the better assure the King of his true dealing he promised so to practise with the Duke of Burgundy that he would perswade him to helpe to destroy the King of England and his whole army if it so pleased the King And it seemed by his speech that his Master was in vtter despaire We told him that we were in perfect amity with the English men and would no war But Monseur de Lude who was with me aduentured to aske him if he knew where his Masters treasure lay I maruelled to heare such a word passe him for seeing this Rapine was a very trustie seruant to his Master this speech was sufficient to haue caused the Constable to flie and to vnderstand in what estate he was and what was a brewing for him especially seeing the danger he had been in not past a yeere before But I neuer knew man in my life neither heere nor elsewhere that could dislodge in time and shun the danger hanging ouer his head some bicause they thinke they shall not be receiued nor be in safetie in strange countries and other some bicause they are too much affectionate to their goods wiues and children which two reasons haue been the cause of many a good mans vndooing After we had made report to the King of Rapines message he called for one of his Secretaries none being with him but the Lord Hovvard the King of Englands seruant who vnderstood nothing of this practise against the Constable the Lord of Contay who was returned from the Duke of Burgundy and we two that had talked with the said Rapine Then he indited a letter to the Constable wherein he aduertised him of all that was done the day before namely the treaty of peace Further he senâ—â—â—â— word that he was busied with diuers affaires of great importance and had neede of such a head as his which word was no sooner vttered but he turned to the Englishmen and the Lord of Contay saying softly to them I meane not that we should haue the body but the head without the body This letter was deliuered to Rapine who liked it maruellous well especially those words that the King had need of such a head as his Masters but he vnderstood not the mystery thereof The King of England also sent the King the two letters of credit that the Constable had written to him and disclosed all the messages that he had sent him whereby you may perceiue how the Constable had behaued himselfe towards these three great Princes and in what estate he was euery one of the three desiring his death The King of England vpon the receit of his money departed and marched in great haste towards Callice fearing the D. of Burgundies malice his subiects and not without cause for whensoeuer his men scattered singled themselues some of them came short home At his departure he left for hostages with the King till his returne into England according to his promise the Lord Hovvard and the Master of his horse called Sir Iohn Cheiny You haue heard before at the entrance into these English affaires that K. Edward had no great deuotion to this voyage into Fraunce for being come to Douer before he embarked he began to practise with vs. But there were two causes that mooued him to passe the seas one the desire his whole realme had according to their natural humor to make war in Fraunce and the rather at this present bicause the Duke of Burgundy pressed the war so
the reasons aboue alleaged and diuers others heere vnrehearsed that God had vtterly forsaken him and giuen him ouer And if it were lawfull for man to iudge as I know it is not especially for me I would say that in mine opinion all this misery fell vpon him bicause he trauelled continually to the vttermost of his power to nourish the war betweene the King and the Duke of Burgundy knowing his great authority and estate to depend therupon although to say the truth the matter needed no great labor for there was a naturall antipathy between them Who is so rude or ignorant to thinke that Fortune or any other like chance was able to cast so wise a man into the disgrace of both these Princes at once who in their liues neuer agreed in any thing saue onely this especially into the King of Englands disgrace who had maried his neece and loued entirely all his wiues kinsmen especially those of this house of Saint Paul It is like therefore yea it is most certaine that God had withdrawne his grace from him in that he had purchased himselfe such hatred of all these three Princes and had not one friend in the world that durst giue him a nights lodging Neither was it fained Fortune that strake this stroke but God alone The like whereof hath hapned and shall happen to diuers others who after great and long prosperity fall into great aduersity and trouble After the Constable was arrested in Hainault by the Duke of Burgundies commandement the King sent word to the Duke either to deliuer him into his hands or execute him according to the tenure of the writings aboue mentioned The Duke answered that he would so do and commanded the Constable to be led to Peronne and there straightly kept Further you shall vnderstand that the Duke had already taken diuers places in Lorraine and Barrois and at this present helde the siege before Nancy which was valiantly defended The King had great force of men of armes in Champaigne which held the Duke in feare for the King was not bound by the truce to suffer him to destroy the Duke of Lorraine who was retired into Fraunce The Lord of Bouchage and diuers other ambassadors sent by the King pressed the Duke earnestly to performe his promise oth and he answered euer that he would so do but yet delaid it more than a moneth ouer and aboue the eight daies wherin he should either haue deliuered the Constable or put him to death Notwithstanding in the end seeing the matter so earnestly pressed and fearing that the King would hinder his enterprise in Lorraine which he so much desired to atchieue to the end he might haue the passage open from Luxembourg into Burgundy and ioine all these Seniories togither for this little Duchy of Lorraine being his he might come vpon his owne dominions from Holland almost as far as Lions 2 For these considerations I say he wrote to his Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt so often already mentioned which two had absolute authority in his absence and were both of them the Constables enimies and euill willers to go to Peronne and deliuer the Constable at a day by him prefixed to those that the King should there appoint to receiue him sending word withall to the Lord Desmeriez to deliuer him to the said Chancellor and Himbercourt The Duke of Burgundy in the meane time beat continually the towne of Nancy but there were good soldiers within it which valiantly defended it Further one of the Dukes owne Captaines called the Earle of Campobache a Neapolitane born but banished thence for the house of Anious faction was lately entred into intelligence with the Duke of Lorraine heire apparant of the house of Aniou after the death of King Rene his mothers father This Earle of Campobache promised to prolong the siege and finde meanes that such things should be lacking as were necessary for the taking of the towne 3 Which his promise he was very well able to performe being then the greatest man in the Dukes army but a false traitor to his Master as heerafter you shall heare more at large This was a preparatiue as it were of all those euils and miseries that fell afterward vpon the Duke of Burgundy The said Duke meant as I suppose if he had taken the towne before the day appointed for the Constables deliuery not to deliuer him at all And on the otherside I thinke if the King had had him he would haue done more in the Duke of Lorraines fauor than he did for he was aduertised of the Earle of Campobaches traiterous practises but medled not with them yet was he not bound to let the Duke of Burgundy do what him listed in Lorraine notwithstanding for diuers respects he thought it best so to do besides this he had great forces vpon the frontiers of the said countrey of Lorraine The Duke could not take Nancy before the day appointed for the Constables deliuery 4 which being come the two aboue mentioned executed willingly their Masters commandement 5 and deliuered him at the gate of Peronne to the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of Fraunce and to Monseur de Saint Pierre who led him to Paris Diuers haue told me that within three howers after his departure messengers came in poste from the Duke with a countermaund to wit that he should not be deliuered before Nancy were taken but it was too late At Paris the Constables proces was made and the Duke deliuered all his letters that were in his hands and all such euidence as serued for the proces The King pressed the Court earnestly and Iustices were appointed for the hearing of his cause who seeing the euidence that both the King of England and the Duke gaue against him condemned him to die 6 and confiscated all his goods The Notes 1 Vnderstand this as wel of the moouables he had in the Kings dominions as vnder the Duke 2 The Duke desired Lorraine not onely for the cause heere alleaged by our author but also to proclaime himselfe vnder that colour King of Sicile and Hierusalem 3 This Campobache as some report wrought this treason for that the Duke had once in his rage giuen him a blow Meyer 4 He tooke Nancy about the 19. of Nouember but la Marche saith in the ende of Nouember Meyer 28. Nouemb. 1475. and the Constable was deliuered the 30. of Nouember 5 The Chancellor and Hymbercourt deliuered him with such speede through euill will whereas they ought to haue staide till the second message had come from the Duke for as saith Meyer Ferebat consuetudo exiure militari ciuilique desumpta vt in talibus grauibus rebus secundam semper praetores ministrique expectarent iussionem at hoc isti duo odio grauissimo deflagrantes in comitem stabuli gratúmque volentes facere regi mirum in modum sanguinem illius sitienti non obseruauerunt Si obseruassent vt debeant fortassis virum ipsum ducem Dominum
suum seque ipsos planè seruassent Siquidem statim post Caroli interitum ambo apud Gandauum accepêre talionem 6 The Constable died the 19. of December 1475. Annal. Franc. Gaguin Meyer in whom read the causes of his death fol. 368. A discourse of the fault the Duke of Burgundie committed in deliuering the Constable to the King contrarie to his safe conduct and what ensued thereof Chap. 13. THis deliuerie of the Constable was maruellous strange notwithstanding I speake it not to excuse his faults neither to accuse the Duke for sure he had iust cause to seeke his death But me thinke that he being so great a Prince and of so noble and honorable an house should not haue giuen him a safe conduct and then arrest him And vndoubtedly it was great crueltie to deliuer him where he was sure to die especially for couetousnes But soone after he had thus dishonored himselfe by this deede he receiued great losses and began to fall to ruine So that if we well consider the workes that God hath done in these our daies and daily doth we shal easily perceiue that he will leaue no fault vnpunished and that these strange punishments are inflicted onely by him bicause they surmount far the works of nature For his punishments are sudden especially vpon those that vse violence and cruelty who can not be meane persons but mighty men either in seniories or authority This house of Burgundy had long florished for by the space of a hundred yeeres or thereabout during the which time raigned fower of this house it was more esteemed than any other house in Christendome For all those that were mightier then it had suffered great afflictions and aduersities but it liued continually in perpetual felicity honor The first great Prince of this house was Philip surnamed the Hardy brother to Charles the fift King of Fraunce who maried the daughter and heire of the Earle of Flaunders being Countesse not onely of that countrey but also of Artois Burgundy 1 Neuers and Rethell The second was Iohn the third was the good Duke Philip who ioined to his house the Duchies of Brabant Luxembourg Lambourg and the Counties of Holland Zeland Hainault and Namur The fourth was this Duke Charles who after his fathers death was one of the richest and most redoubted Princes of Christendome and had in moueables namely iewels plate tapestry bookes and naprie more than three of the greatest Princes in Christendome Of treasure in coine I haue seene greater abundance in other Princes Courts for Duke Philip by the space of many yeeres leuied neither subsidies nor taskes yet notwithstanding at his death he left his sonne aboue three hundred thousand crowns in ready money and in peace with all his neighbors which long indured not notwithstanding I will not impute the whole occasion of the wars to him for others were as busie as he His subiects immediately after his fathers death vpon a small request graunted him very willingly a subsidie euerie countrey apart for the terme of ten yeeres amounting yeerly to the summe of 350000. crownes Burgundy not being comprehended therein Yea and at the time he deliuered the Constable he leuied yeerely ouer and aboue the former summe more then 300000. crownes and had aboue 300000. crownes in coine and all the Constables goods that came to his hands amounted hardly to the value of 80000. crownes for he had but 76000. in coine So that the Duke committed this foule fault for small gaine yet was the punishment thereof great for God raised vp an enimie against him of small force of yoong yeeres and of little experience in all things and caused his seruant whom he then most trusted to become false and traiterous He made also the Duke himselfe to mistrust his owne subiects faithfull seruants Are not these such manifest tokens and preparatiues as God vsed in the old Testament against those whose good fortune and prosperitie he meant to chang into misery and aduersitie Yet he neuer humbled himselfe before God but euen till the hower of death attributed all his good successe to his owne wisedome and prowesse before his death he was mightier than any of his predecessors and more esteemed through the whole world Before the Constables deliuerie he was fallen into a maruellous mistrust or great disdaine of his owne subiects for he had sent into Italie for a thousand men of armes Italians Before Nuz also he had great forces of Italians in his campe for the Earle of Campobache had vnder his charge fower hundred men of armes and better This Earle had no possessions for his maintenance for bicause of the wars the house of Aniou had made in the realme of Naples which house he serued he was banished his countrey and lost all his landes and serued euer since his departure out of Italie in Prouence or Lorraine vnder King Rene of Sicile or Duke Nicholas sonne to Duke Iohn of Calabria After whose death the Duke of Burgundie gaue entertainment to most of his seruants especially all his Italians namely this Earle of Campobache Iames Galeot a valiant honorable and faithfull gentleman and diuers others The said Earle of Campobache when he went into Italie to leuie his men receiued of the Duke of Burgundie 40000. duckets in prest for his companie But as he passed through Lions he fell in acquaintance with a Phisition named Master Simon of Pauy by whom he aduertised the King that if he would grant him certaine demands he would promise him at his returne to deliuer the Duke of Burgundy into his hands the like offer made he also to Monseur de Saint Pray then ambassador in Premont for the King Againe at his returne hauing his men of armes lying in the County of Marle he offered the King that so soone as he should be in campe with his Master he would not faile either to kill him or take him prisoner shewing withall the maner how he would do it which was this The Duke rode often about his campe to viewe it mounted vpon a little nagge and very slenderly accompanied at some such time this Earle said he would assault him and execute his enterprise He made yet also another offer to the King namely if the King and the Duke met togither in battell to turne with his men of armes on the Kings side vnder condition that the King would grant him certaine demands The King detested much the treason of this man and of a noble courage aduertised the Duke of his practises by the Lord of Contay aboue mentioned Notwithstanding the Duke would not credit the message supposing that the King sent him this aduertisement to some other end but loued the Earle all the better Wherefore you may see how God had troubled his wits in that he would giue no credit to those manifest demonstrations the King shewed him Well this Earle of Campobache was not so false and traiterous but Iames Galeot was as true and trusty who liued many
few daies he arriued at the Almaines campe with small force three or fower howers before the battell began which voiage as before I haue said turned to his great honor and profit for if his successe had beene bad I thinke he should haue found but cold entertainment in any place At the very instant that he arriued the battel 's marched on both sides For the confederates had lien in campe three daies or more in a strong place hard by the Duke of Burgundie who was at the very first discomfited and put to flight 4 neither had he so good lucke heere as in the former battell wherein he lost but seuen men of armes which happened bicause the Swissers had then no horsemen but at this battell neere to Morat whereof I now speake they had fower thousand horsemen well mounted the which pursued fiercely the Burgundians that fled Further their battell of footemen ioined also with the Dukes battell which was mightie and strong for besides great force of his own subiects and certaine English men that serued him diuers bands were newly come to him out of Piemont and the Duchie of Milan So that the Prince of Tarente at his being heere with the King told me that he neuer saw in his life so goodly an armie for he himselfe and diuers others by his commandement numbring the force as it passed ouer a bridge had told to the number of 23000. soldiers taking pay besides those that followed the armie and were appointed to serue at the artillerie which force me thinke was great notwithstanding that many talke of millions and report they wot not what making armies fiue times greater than they are The Lord of Contay who came to the King immediately after the battell confessed in my hearing that the Duke his Master lost there 8000. soldiers taking pay besides the straglers so that the wholenūber of the dead for ought I could euer learne to the contrarie amounted to 18000. 5 which is not incredible cōsidering both the great force of horsemen that diuers Princes of Almaine had there and also the great number of men that were slaine in the Dukes campe lying still at the siege before Morat 6 The Duke fled into Burgundie vtterly discomforted and not without cause and held himselfe close in a towne called La Riuiere where he assembled all the forces he could The Swissers followed the chase but that night and then retired without further pursute of their enimies The Notes 1 The Duke after the battell of Granson retired first to Ioingne from thence to Noseret and then to Losanna La Marche 2 This prooueth both Vitia animi scatere ad corpus animam sequi temperaturam corporis which proceedeth of the great sympathie between the minde and bodie Liuie lib. 1. decad 1. writeth thus Longinquus morbus Tulli mores prorsus immutauit 3 The Duke laid his siege before Morat called in Dutch Murten the 9. of Iune 1476. with 40000. men Annal. Burgund and so had the Swissers also Idem Meyer saith the Duke had but 24000. and the Swissers 30000. 4 This battell was fought 22. day of Iune 1476. Annal. Burgund Meyer 5 Others write 17000. others 22700. others 26000. and of the Swissers but 50. Meyer saith the Duke lost 14000. 6 For better vnderstanding of this place we must know that after the Dukes vaward was ouerthrowen they within Morat issued foorth and ioined with the Duke of Lorraine and entred perforce the Duke of Burgundies campe lying before the said towne of Morat where they made a great slaughter as our author heere maketh mention How after the battell of Morat the Duke of Burgundie tooke the Duchesse of Sauoy and how she was deliuered and sent home into hir countrie by the Kings meanes Chap. 4. THis misfortune draue the Duke into vtter despaire for he well perceiued by the sequele of the first battell at Granson between the which and this second there was but three weekes space 1 that all his friends would abandon him Wherefore by the aduise of those that were about him he made the Duchesse of Sauoy and one of hir children now Duke of Sauoy to be led by force into Burgundie but hir eldest sonne was conueied away by certaine of hir seruants for those that committed this outrage did it in great feare and vpon a sudden The cause that mooued the Duke heerunto was partly feare least the Duchesse should retire to the King hir brother and partly bicause all these misfortunes were happened to him as he said for succouring this house of Sauoy Thus was the Duchesse led to the castell of Rouure neere to Dyion where a small garde was appointed ouer hir Notwithstanding euery body that would went to visite hir and among others the Lord of Chasteauguion and the Marquesse of Rotelin that now are betweene the which two and two of the Duchesses daughters the Duke of Burgundie endeuored to make two marriages which afterward were accomplished Hir eldest sonne called Philibert then Duke of Sauoy was led by those that stole him away to Chambery where the Bishop of Geneua lay who was also of the house of Sauoy This Bishop was altogither giuen to sloth and wantonnes and gouerned wholy by a Knight of the Rhodes 2 but the King so practised with him and the Knight his gouernor that they put into his hands the said Duke of Sauoy and a little brother of his called Le Prothonostaire togither with the castels of Chambery and Montmelian and held also to the Kings vse another castell where all the Duchesses iewels lay When the Duchesse was come to Rouure accompanied with all hir women and a great number of hir seruants she perceiuing the Duke of Burgundie to be busied in leuying men and those that garded hir not to stand in such feare of their Master as they were accustomed determined to send to the King hir brother to reconcile hir selfe to him and to desire him to deliuer hir out of this thraldome For notwithstanding that she feared much to fall into his hands bicause of the great and long hatred that had been betweene them yet the miserie wherein she was forced hir in the end thereunto Wherefore she sent to him a gentleman of Piemont called Riuerol being steward of hir house who was directed to me When I had heard his message and aduertised the King thereof he commanded him to come to his presence and after he had giuen him audience answered that he would not forsake his sister in this extremitie notwithstanding their former variance and that if she would enter into league with him he would send for hir by the gouernor of Champaigne called Master Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont The said Riuerol tooke his leaue of the King and returned with speede to his Mistres who reioiced much at this newes Notwithstanding she sent yet againe to the King vpon the returne of the first message to desire a safe conduct and assurance therein that she should depart out of
command his army that lay in Champaigne and Barrois to enter incontinent into Burgundie during this great feare and astonishment of the people and hauing seazed all the countrie into his hands he meant to aduertise the Duke that he did it onely to saue it for him and defend it from the Almaines For bicause the said Duchie was held of the crowne he would for no good that it should be a pray for them but whatsoeuer he had taken he would faithfully restore as vndoubtedly he would though many happily will not credite it And no maruell for they know not the reasons that would haue mooued him thereunto but he altered this determination when he vnderstood of the Dukes death Immediately after the King being at Tours had receiued the letters aboue mentioned which reported nothing of the Dukes death he sent into the towne for all his captaines and diuers noble men to whom he read these letters whereat they seemed in apparance greatly to reioice but those that looked narrowlier into their behauiour perceiued that a great many of them forced their mirth and wished with all their harts notwithstanding their outward shew that the world had gone otherwise with the Duke The reason wherof peraduenture was bicause the K. heretofore had liued in great feare but now they doubted seeing him deliuered of so many enimies that he would alter many things especially offices and pensions For there were a great number in the companie that had borne armes against him both in the war called THE WEALE PVELIKE whereof you haue heard in the beginning of this historie and in diuers other broiles betweene him and the Duke of Guienne his brother After he had communed a while with these noble men and captaines he went to masse which being ended he caused the table to be couered in his chamber and made them all dine with him the Lord Chauncellor and certaine others of his counsell being also present All dinner-while he talked of these affaires but I and diuers others marked with what appetite those that sate at the table dined And vndoubtedly there was not one of them I wot not whether for ioy or sorrow that ate halfe a meales meate yet were they not ashamed to eate in the Kings presence for euery one of them had often before dined at his table When the King was risen from dinner he withdrew himselfe and gaue to diuers certaine of the Duke of Burgundies lands if he were dead and soone after dispatched the Admirall of Fraunce called the bastard of Bourbon and my selfe giuing vs commission to receiue into his allegeance as many as would become his subiects and further commanding vs to depart incontinent and to open all courriers packets that we should meet with to the end we might be certainly informed whether the Duke were dead or aliue We departed in great haste though in the extreamest colde weather that euer I felt and when we had ridden about halfe a daies iourney we met with a Poste whom we commanded to deliuer vs his letters the contents whereof were that the Duke was found among the dead bodies 1 and knowne by an Italian Page that serued him and by his Phisition called Master Louppe a Portugale borne who sent word to Monseur de Cran of the Duke his Masters death who incontinent aduertised the King thereof The Notes 1 By what markes the Dukes body was knuwne read Annal. Burgund How the King after the Duke of Burgundies death seazed into his hands the towne of Abbeuille and of the answer they of Arras gaue him Chap. 11. WHen we vnderstood these newes we rid foorthwith to the subburbs of Abbeuille and were the first that brought word of the Dukes death into those parts At our arriual we foūd the towns men in treaty with Monseur de Torcy whom they had loued of long time But the soldiers and those that had been the Dukes officers treated with vs about the deliuery of the towne by a messenger whom we sent thither before vs so far foorth that vpon our promises they caused fower hundred launces to depart the towne which the townes men seeing immediately opened the gates to Monseur de Torcy greatly to the hinderance of the captaines and the other officers of the towne to seauen or eight of the which we had promised both money and pensions for we had commission from the Kïng so to do wherof nothing was performed bicause the towne was not yeelded by their meanes This towne of Abbeuille was parcell of those lands that King Charles the seauenth engaged to Duke Philip of Burgundy at the treaty of Arras vnder this condition that for default of heire male they should returne to the crowne Wherefore it is not to be maruelled if so lightly they opened to vs their gates From Abbeuille we rid to Dourlans and sent to sommon Arras the chiefe towne of Artois the ancient inheritance of the Earles of Flaunders which hath alwaies descended as wel to the heires females as males Monseur de Rauastain and Monseur de Cordes who were within the towne condescended to come treat with vs at an abbey neere the towne called Mont Saint Eloy bringing with them certaine of the towne To the which treaty we agreed that I should go and certain with me for bicause we supposed they would not yeeld to our requests it was thought good that the Admirall should not go Immediately after my arriuall at the place assigned the Lords of Rauastaine and Cordes being accompanied with diuers gentlemen and certaine also of the towne repaired thither Among those that came to negotiate with vs for the towne was their Recorder called Master Iohn de la Vaquerie since that time chiefe president in the court Parlament at Paris We required them at this meeting to open vs the gates and to receiue vs into the towne for the King saying that he claimed both towne and countrey as his by way of confiscation adding that if they refused so to do they were like to be forced thereunto seeing both their Prince was slaine and their countrey vtterly vnfurnished of men of war bicause of these three battels they had lost The Lords aboue named made vs answer by the said Master Iohn de la Vaquerie that this countie of Artois appertained of right to the Lady of Burgundie daughter and heire to Duke Charles and descended to hir by inheritance from the Lady Margaret somtime Countesse of Flaunders Artois Burgundie Neuers and Retell the which married with Philip the first Duke of Burgundie sonne to King Iohn of Fraunce 1 and yoongest brother to King Charles the fift wherefore they humbly besought the King to keepe the truce concluded betweene him and the late Duke Charles Our communication was but short for we supposed before our meeting that this should be our answer But the chiefe cause of my going into those parts was to commune with certaine of mine acquaintance there and to draw them to the Kings seruice with
himselfe the said de Lude at the first meeting asked him what the townes would giue him to commend their cause to the King I thinke verily that this refusall the King made to these knights proceeded also of God for since that time he would haue made good account of them if he could haue drawne them to his seruice But peraduenture God would not accomplish his desire in all points either bicause of the reasons aboue alleaged or for that he would not suffer him to vsurpe this countrey of Hainault which is held of the Empire both bicause he had no title thereunto and also bicause of the ancient league betweene the Emperors and the Kings of Fraunce whereof the King himselfe also seemed afterward to take notice For he held Cambray le Quesnoy and Boissi 1 in Hainault whereof Boissi he yeelded againe and restored Cambray being an Imperiall towne to neutralitie as it was before Athough I my selfe were not present at these actions yet was I informed how they passed for I had good meanes to vnderstand of them bicause I was acquainted and had been brought vp in both these Princes dominions and haue since also communed with diuers that were the principall managers of these affaires on both sides The Notes 1 This Boissi libr. 6. cap. 3. he calleth Bouchain and so out of doubt it should be read heere How Master Oliuer the Kings barber failing to execute his enterprise at Gaunt found meanes to put the Kings forces into Tournay Chap. 14. MAster Oliuer as you haue heard was gone to Gaunt and carried letters of credit to the Ladie of Burgundie Duke Charles his daughter hauing also commission to perswade with hir apart to put hir selfe into the Kings gouernment 1 But this was not his principall charge for he doubted that he should not obtaine leaue to commune with hir apart and though he did yet supposed he that he should not frame hir to his request But his hope was to raise some great tumult in this towne of Gaunt which hath euer been inclined to rebellion and was the easier to be mooued thereunto at this present bicause vnder Duke Philip and Duke Charles they had liued in great awe and lost diuers priuileges by the treatie made with the said Duke Philip after their wars with him ended Duke Charles also had taken one priuilege from them concerning the election of their Senate for an offence made the first day he entred into the towne as Duke whereof bicause I haue made mention before I will heere write no further All these reasons encouraged Master Oliuer the Kings barber to proceede in his enterprise so far foorth that he discouered his purpose to some such of the citizens as he thought would giue eare vnto him offering besides diuers other promises to cause the King to restore them their priuileges that they had lost But notwithstanding that he were not in their Towne-house to speake publikely to their Senate bicause he meant first to assay if he could do any good with this yoong Princesse yet was his enterprise smelt out wherefore after he had soiourned a few daies in Gaunt he was sent for to declare his message whereupon he repaired to the Princes presence being apparrelled much more sumptuously than became one of his calling and deliuered his letters The said Lady sate in hir chaire of estate hauing about hir the Duke of Cleues and the bishop of Liege with diuers other noble men and a great number of hir subiects When she had read hir letter she commanded him to declare his message But he answered that he had nothing to say but to hir selfe alone Whereupon it was told him that this was not the maner of their countrie especially to commune in secret with this yoong Lady being vnmarried But he still continued his former answer that he had nothing to say but to hir selfe apart Whereupon they threatened to make him say somwhat else which words put him in feare And I thinke verily that when he came to deliuer his letter he had not bethought him what to say for this was not his principal charge as you haue heard Thus Master Oliuer departed for this time without further speech Some of the Councell began to scorne him as well bicause of his base estate as of his foolish speech and behauiour but especially they of Gaunt in a little village neere whereunto he was borne scoffed and derided him so far foorth that suddenly he fled thence being aduertised if he staide there any longer that he should be throwen into the riuer which I thinke would haue prooued true The said Master Oliuer named himselfe Earle of Melun a little towne neere to Paris whereof he was captaine From Gaunt he fled to Tournay a towne in that countrie subiect to neither Prince but maruellously affectioned to the King for it is his after a sort and paieth him yeerely sixe thousand franks but in all other respects liueth in libertie and receiueth all sorts of men it is a goodly towne and a strong as all the inhabitants thereabout can testifie The churchmen and citizens haue al their possessions and reuenues in Henault and Flaunders in both the which countries it is situate Wherefore they vsed alwaies during the long wars betweene King Charles the seuenth and Philip Duke of Burgundie to pay yeerely vnto the said Duke ten thousand franks the which summe I haue seene them pay also to Duke Charles but at the time that Master Oliuer came thither they were quit of all paiments and liued in great wealth and quietnes Although Master Oliuers charge aboue mentioned were too waightie for him to deale in yet was not he so much to be blamed as they that committed it to him for notwithstanding that his enterprise had such successe as it was euer like to haue yet shewed he himselfe wise in that he afterward did For perceiuing the said towne of Tournay to be situate vpon the frontiers of both the countries aboue named and very commodious to endammage them both if he could put the Kings forces that lay in those parts into it and knowing further that the townes men would neuer consent thereunto bicause they neuer tooke part with either Prince but shewed themselues friends indifferently to both he sent word secretly to Monseur de Mouy whose sonne was bailife of the town but not resident there that he should bring his companie which he had within S. Quintins and certaine other bands that lay in those quarters to the towne of Tournay who at the hower appointed came to the gate where he found Master Oliuer accompanied with thirtie or fortie persons who partly by fauor and partly by force caused the gate to be opened and receiued the Kings men wherewith the people of the towne were well ynough contented but not the gouernors of whom Master Oliuer sent seuen or eight to Paris whence they departed not during the Kings life After these men of armes entred also diuers other soldiers who did
this house of Burgundy where he receiued a yeerely pension of sixe thousand guildons wherefore besides that he was their kinsman he resorted thither ofttimes as a pensioner to do his dutie The Bishop of Liege and diuers noble men were there also partly to wait vpon this yoong Lady and partly for their owne particular affaires For the said Bishop entertained a sute there to discharge his countrey of a paiment of thirtie thousand guildons or thereabout which they gaue yeerly to Duke Charles by the treatie they made with him when the wars aboue mentioned ended All the which wars began for the said Bishops quarrell so that there was no cause why he should mooue this sute but rather seeke to keepe them still in pouertie for he receiued no benefit there more than of his spirituall iurisdiction and of his demaines which also were but small 2 in respect of the wealth of his countrey and the greatnes of his dioces The said Bishop brother to the Dukes of Bourbon Iohn and Peter now liuing being a man wholie giuen to pleasures and good cheere and little knowing what was profitable or vnprofitable for himselfe receiued into his seruice Master VVilliam de la Marche 3 a goodly valiant knight but cruell and of naughtie conditions who had been enimy of long time both to the said Bishop and also to the house of Burgundie for the Liegeois cause To this de la Marche the Ladie of Burgundie gaue fifteene thousand guildons partly in fauor of the Bishop and partly to haue him hir friend but he soone after reuolted both from hir and from the said Bishop his Master and attempted by force through the Kings fauor to make his owne sonne Bishop Afterward also he discomfited the said Bishop in battell slewe him with his owne hands and threw him into the riuer where his dead corps floted vp and down three daies But the Duke of Cleues was come thither in hope to make a mariage betweene his eldest sonne and the said Lady which seemed to him a verie fit match for diuers respects and sure I thinke it had taken effect if his sonnes conditions had liked the yoong Ladie and his seruants for he was descended of this house of Burgundie and held his Duchie of it and had been brought vp in it but peraduenture it did him harme that his behauior was so well knowen there The Notes 1 This Duke of Cleues vvas called Iohn vvhose father Adolph had married Marie sister to Duke Philip of Burgundie Meyer lib. 17. pag. 257. but Annal. Burgund saie that Adolph was sonne to one of Duke Philips sisters but corruptly as the pedegree in the end of this vvorke vvill declare 2 The Bishop of Liegeois reuenevves are nine thousand pound starling Guicchiar 3 This de la Marche vvas named Aremberg hovv he died after this murther reade Berlandus fol. 77. How they of Gaunt after their ambassadors returne put to death the Chauncellor Hugonet and the Lord of Himbercourt against their Princesses will and how they and other Flemmings were discomfited before Tournay and their generall the Duke of Gueldres slaine Chap. 17. NOw to proceede in the historie After these ambassadors were returned to Gaunt the councel was assembled and the Princesse sate in hir chaire of estate accompanied with all hir noble men to giue them audience Then the ambassadors made rehearsall of the commission she gaue them touching principally that point that serued for their purpose and saying that when they aduertised the King that she was determined to followe in all points the aduise and counsell of the three estates of hir countrey he foorthwith answered that he was sure of the contrarie and bicause they auowed their saying offered to shew the said Ladies letters in that behalfe The Princesse being therewith mooued suddenly answered in the presence of them all that it was not so assuring hirselfe that the King had not shewed hir letter Then he that spake being Recorder of Gaunt or Brucels drew the letter out of his bosome before the whole assemblie and deliuered it hir Wherein he shewed himselfe a lewde fellow and an vnciuill in dishonoring openly after such a sort this yoong Ladie who ought not so rudely to haue been delt with for though she had committed an error yet was it not publikely to be reformed It is no maruell if she were greatly ashamed thereof for she had protested the contrarie to the whole worlde The Dowager of Burgundie the Lord of Rauastain the Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt were all fower there present also The Duke of Cleues and diuers others who had beene put in hope of this yoong Ladies marriage stormed maruellously at this letter then began their factions to breake foorth The said Duke was euer perswaded heeretofore that Hymbercourt would further his sute for his sonne but now perceiuing by this letter his hope to be frustrate he became his mortall foe 1 The Bishop of Liege and his minion Master VVilliam de la Marche who was there with him loued him not for the things done at Liege whereof the said Hymbercourt had beene the chiefe instrument The Earle of Saint Paule sonne to the Constable of Fraunce hated both him and the Chancellor bicause they two deliuered his father at Peronne to the Kings seruants as before you haue heard at large They of Gaunt also hated them both not for any offence made but bicause of the great authoritie they had borne whereof vndoubtedly they were as woorthie as any man that liued in their time either heere or there for they were euer true and faithfull seruants to their Master To be short the same day at night that this letter was shewed the aboue named Chancellor and Hymbercourt through the furtherance as I am perswaded of their enimies aboue named were apprehended by the citizens of Gaunt which danger notwithstanding that they were forewarned of by their friends yet had they not power to auoid as it hath often happened to diuers others With them was also apprehended M. VVilliam of Clugny then Bishop of Therouenne since of Poictiers and all three imprisoned in one place They of Gaunt proceeded against them by colour of processe contrarie to their accustomed maner in their reuenge and appointed certaine of their Senate to heare their cause with whom they ioined in commission one of this house of La Marche deadly enimie to the said Himbercourt First they demaunded of them why they caused Monseur de Cordes to deliuer the citie of Arras to the King but thereupon they stood not long notwithstanding that they had nothing else iustly to charge them with But this was not it that grieued them for neither cared they to see their Prince affeebled by the losse of such a towne neither had they the wit to consider what great damage might ensue thereof to themselues in tract of time Wherefore they rested chiefly vpon two points 2 the first they charged them that they had receiued bribes of the
Whereunto she answered that she could do no otherwise bicause hir promise was past which she would not breake Which words the Duke hearing and knowing diuers about hir to be of the same opinion determined soone after to returne home into his owne countrey and relinquish his sute Thus was this marriage concluded for the accomplishment whereof Duke Maximilian came to Colen where certaine of the Ladies seruants met him and brought him money whereof I thinke they found him bare inough for his father was the hardest man either Prince or priuate man that liued in his time The said Emperors son being accompanied with seuen or eight hundred horse was conueied to Gaunt where the marriage was accomplished which at the first was more vnprofitable than profitable to the Ladies subiects for the Almains in steed of bringing money with them had money giuen them Their number was not sufficient to withstand the Kings forces and their conditions agreed not with hir subiects maners for they had liued vnder rich Princes which gaue goodly offices kept honorable and pompous houses both in furniture and fare and had sumptuous apparell both for themselues and their seruants but the Almains are of a cleane contrary disposition for they are rude fellowes and liue grossely I doubt not but that by sage and wise aduise and by the speciall grace of God the law Salicke was ordained in Fraunce which barreth women from the crowne to the end the realme fall not into the hands of a strange Prince nation For neither the French men nor any other people can easily digest the gouernment of a stranger And to saie the truth there is no great seniorie but in the end the dominion thereof remaineth to the naturall countrey men as appeereth by the realme of Fraunce a great part whereof the English men possessed the space of fower hundred yeeres and yet now hold nothing therein but Calice and two little castels the defence whereof costeth them yeerely a great summe of monie the rest they lost much sooner than they wan for they lost more in a day than they got in a yeere The selfe-same appeereth also by the realme of Naples the yle of Sicilie and the other prouinces possessed by the French men many yeeres where now is no memoriall of their being there saue onely their ancestors graues For notwithstanding that men may away with a strange Prince being wise accompanied with a small traine well disposed yet can they hardly digest a great number of strangers for if the Prince bring with him a great multitude or send for great forces vpon occasion of wars quarrels will arise betweene them and the subiects of the countrie bicause of the diuersitie of their maners and conditions and bicause they will not forbeare to offer the subiects wrong and are not beloued as the naturall countrie men be which inconuenience then happeneth especially when strangers seeke to haue the highest offices and estates and the gouernment of the affaires in the commonwelth Wherfore a Prince that goeth into a strange countrie had neede to be wise and carefull in setting all things in good order for if he lacke this vertue of prudence which proceedeth especially of the grace of God whatsoeuer other good parts be in him all is but lost and if he liue a mans age both he and those that liue vnder him shall taste of great troubles especially in his old age when his subiects and seruants despaire of amendment After this marriage aboue rehearsed was accomplished their affaires amended not for the Princes were both very yoong and Duke Maximilian for his part simple and of small vnderstanding aswell bicause of his yoong yeeres 2 as also for that he was in a strange countrey and vtterly vnacquainted in his education with any matter of state Lastly he wanted force sufficient for any great exploit so that for these causes these countries fell into great miseries wherein they yet remaine and are like to remaine Sure it is a greeuous plague when a Prouince is forced to seeke a strange Prince to gouerne it Wherefore God hath shewed great grace to the realme of Fraunce by the lawe aboue mentioned which barreth women from the crowne for by such marriages with strangers a priuate house I confesse may be inriched but to a great realme such as this many inconueniences should therof insue Soone after this marriage accomplished or while they were treating thereof the King wan the countrey of Artois It sufficeth me to rehearse the substance of these affaires and if I faile otherwise in the exact computation of the time a moneth or two I trust the Readers will hold me excused The Kings good successe daily increased for no man withstood him by meanes whereof he wan euery day some place or other vnlesse truce or some ouuerture of peace were made which notwithstanding could neuer be brought to conclusion bicause both the parties were vnreasonable Wherefore the war continued still Duke Maximilian and the Lady of Burgundy had issue the first yeere Archduke Philip now liuing 3 The second yeere they had a daughter called Margaret now our Queene 4 The third yeere they had a sonne named Francis of Francis Duke of Britaine 5 who christned him The fourth yeere she died 6 with a fall from hir horse 7 or of an ague but true it is that she fell some said she was with childe Hir death was a great losse to hir subiects for she was a vertuous and liberall Lady welbeloued of hir people more reuerenced and feared of them than hir husband and no maruell for she was Lady of the land She loued hir husband entirely well and was well reported of all men She died in the yeere 1482. The King held in Hainault the townes of Quesnoi-le Counte and Bouchain the which he restored againe wherat diuers woondered considering that he seamed not desirous of peace but rather to take all and leaue this house of Burgundy nothing And sure I thinke if he could easily haue dispersed and giuen away all the Seniories therof he would vtterly haue destroied it indeed But two causes there were as he afterwards told me that mooued him to render these places the one he said that a King ought to make more account of places of force and defence within his owne realme where he is annointed and sacred than of those that are out of his realme as these two were The other was bicause of the solemne oth and league that is between the Kings of Fraunce and the Emperors that they shall not incroche the one vpon the other and these places aboue mentioned were situate in the Empire and were restored the yeere 1477. The same cause mooued him to leaue Cambray also and to restore it to neutrality and to say the truth they receiued him into the towne vnder that condition The Notes 1 This was Charles Duke of Angoulesme father to King Frauncis the first 2 Maximilian was borne the 22. of March 1459. and
this mariage was accomplished in August 1477. Introduct de la Marche so that he was eighteen yeeres old and sixe moneths when he was married 3 This is Philip father to the Emperors Charles the fift and Ferdinande he was borne the 23. of Iune 1478. and died the 25. of September 1506. 4 This Margaret is she whom they of Gaunt against hir fathers will betrothed to King Charles the 8. as Commines writeth in this booke cap. 9. The said King Charles neuer accomplished the mariage with hir but being growen to mans estate sent hir home to hir father as Commines writeth lib. 7. cap. 3. Afterward she married the Prince of Castile as is mentioned lib. 8. cap. 17. and lastly Philibert Duke of Sauoy She was borne anno 1480. de la Marche 5 This Frauncis was borne anno 1481. Introduct de la Marche he died a childe and another sonne also as other historiographers report named George 6 Or rather the fift for she was married anno 1477. and died 1482. as our author in the 7. chapter of this booke reporteth She was borne anno 1457. and King Lewis christened hir Meyer Annal. Burgund 7 She died 2. of March an 1482. by reason that through womanly bashfulnes she would not suffer hir thigh vvhich vvas broken vvith the fall from hir horse to be cured but chose rather to die How King Lewis by the conduct of Charles of Amboise his lieutenant recouered diuers townes in Burgundie which the Prince of Orenge had caused to reuolt from him Chap. 4. THe war endured still in Burgundy where the King could not atchieue his enterprise bicause the Prince of Orenge being reuolted from him was made lieutenant of the Burgundians and had some aide of the Almaines for his money but not in fauor of Duke Maximilian for as touching him there neuer came man into the countrey for his seruice at the least during the time I now write of But these Almains were certaine bands of Swissers that serued the Prince of Orenge as aduenturers but not as Maximilians waged soldiers for the Swissers are not friends nor well willers of the house of Austrich other aide this countrey of Burgundy had little notwithstanding inough it might haue had if their paiment had been good And as touching aide no man might better haue giuen it than Duke Sigismunde of Austriche Duke Maximilians vncle 1 whose dominions bordered vpon these countries of Burgundy especially the County of Ferrette which a fewe yeeres before 2 he sould for 100000. gildons to Charles Duke of Burgundy and tooke it afterwards againe without paying backe the money 3 by the which title he yet possesseth it He was a man of small wisdome and little regarding his honor and in such friends men finde small helpe Further he was one of those Princes aboue mentioned that vnderstand nothing of their owne affaires further then it pleaseth their seruants to acquaint them with who are euer plagued for their beastlines in their age as this Duke Sigismunde was For his seruants during these wars made him take part with whom them listed so that for the most part he ioined with the King our Master against his nephew and would haue giuen his inheritance being very large from his owne kindred to a strange house for he neuer had childe notwithstanding that he were twise married But now within these three moneths by the perswasion of another faction of his seruants he hath conueied a present estate of his whole patrimony to the said Maximiliam his nephew King of Romaines reseruing to himself a pension onely amounting to the third part of his reuenues without any further power or authority in the countrey But as I haue heard he hath often repented him thereof and if I haue heard a lie yet it is like inough to be true Such is the end of all Princes that liue like beasts against whom I inueigh thus vehemently bicause of the great office and charge that God hath giuen them in this world Notwithstanding those that are bereft of their wits ought to be free from all reproch but sure those that haue good wits and healthfull bodies and yet employ their time in nothing but folly and idlenes are not to be moaned when any misfortune falleth vpon them as on the other side those that spend their time according to their age somtime in wisdome and councell and somtime in honest ' recreation are greatly to be commended and happie be the subiects that liue vnder such a Prince This war in Burgundie endured long bicause of the Swissers small aide aboue mentioned notwithstanding the Kings force was much too strong for them besides that the Burgundians lacked monie for the which cause the garrisons that were in the strong places turned by intelligence Monseur de Cran the Kings lieutenant there laide the siege before Dolle the chiefe citie of the countie of Burgundie the force within it being so small that he despised it which turned to his losse for they salied foorth and assaulted him on a sudden and tooke part of his artillerie and slue certaine of his men which was a great dishonor to him and put him also into the Kings disgrace who being troubled with this accident determined to send a new gouernor into Burgundie partly bicause of this misfortune and partly bicause of the great pillings and pollings the said de Cran had vsed in the countrie which were in deede too excessiue Notwithstanding before his departure he ouerthrew a band of Almains and Burgundians and tooke prisoner Monseur de Chasteauguion 4 the greatest Lord in Burgundie Other exploit none was done that I haue heard of notwithstanding the report went that the said de Cran behaued himselfe there very valiantly as touching his owne person The King as before I said determined for the reasons aboue alleaged to place a new gouernor in Burgundie not diminishing any whit of the said de Crans profits offices or estates saue onely that he tooke from him all his men of armes except halfe a dosen or a dosen archers left to accompanie him home This Monseur de Cran was a very grosse man and willingly departed to his owne house where he liued at ease The King placed in his roome Master Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont a valiant wise and diligent gentleman Moreouer he practised to win all the Almaines that made war against him in Burgundie to his seruice not so much to vse their helpe as thereby to conquer the easilier the rest of the countrie The King sent also to the Swissers whom he called the Lords of these Almaine leagues making them many goodly offers for he promised a yeerely pension of 20000. franks 5 to their townes which be fower Berne Lucerne Zurich and I think Fribourg was the fourth Their Cantons also as I suppose receiued part of this pension which be three villages situate in the mountains namely Swisse whereof the whole countrie is named Soleurre and Ondreual other 20000. franks he
before and appointed me also to be his bedfellow notwithstanding that I were vnwoorthy of that honor and that diuers others were fitter for that place than my selfe but he was so wise that no man could faile to please him if he executed his commandements without adding ought thereto of his owne braine The Notes 1 This Archbishops name was Francis Saluiat and this vprore was the 27. of Aprill anno 1478. Of Monseur d'Argentons returne out of Italie into Fraunce and of the battell of Guinegate Chap. 6. AT my returne the King our Master looked somwhat aged and his body was disposed to sicknes but his disease brake not foorth as yet His affaires he gouerned with great wisedome and the war endured still in Picardie wherewith he was not a little discontented as were his enimies also in the said countrie but they could not remedie it The Duke of Austriche now King of Romans hauing the Flemmings this yeere at his deuotion laid the siege before Therouenne but Monseur de Cordes the Kings lieutenant in Picardie leuied all the forces the King had in that countrie and the frontiers thereabout to the number of eight thousand franke archers and went to succour the place Whom when the Duke of Austriche perceiued to approch he leuied his siege and marched against him the two armies met at a place called Guinegate The Duke had of Flemmings to the number of twenty thousand or better and certaine Almaines togither with three hundred English men led by an English Knight that had serued Charles Duke of Burgundie called sir Thomas Abrigan The Kings horsemen being much stronger than their enimies brake the Dukes horsemen and pursued them and Master Philip of Rauastain their captaine as far as Ayre whereupon the Duke ioined himselfe with his footemen The King had in this armie at the least 1100. men of armes of his ordinarie retinue 1 all the which followed not the chase but Monseur de Cordes who was generall did and Monseur de Torcy with him which was a valiant deede but against the law of armes for the captaines of the vaward and rereward ought not to follow the chase Some of the Dukes horsemen retired vnder colour of defending the strong places but others fled in good earnest The Dukes footmen fled not yet were they vpon the point so to do but they had with them on foote two hundred valiant gentlemen their leaders among whom were the Lord of Romont of the house of Sauoye the Earle of Nassaw and diuers others yet liuing The courage of these gentlemen staied the footemen which was a woonder considering they saw their horsemen broken The Kings franke archers fell to spoile the Dukes carriage and the straglers that followed it as victuallers and such like but certaine of the Dukes footmen set vpon them discomfited them and slue some of them The Dukes losse was greater than ours for more of his men were taken and more slaine 2 but the honor of the field was his And I thinke verily if he had returned to Therouenne he had not found a man neither in it nor in Arras and it was greatly to his losse that he durst not attempt so to do But in such cases men are not alwaies informed of the best and to say the truth great cause he had to feare that enterprise I speake of this battell but by hearsay for I was not present at it notwithstanding to continue the order of my historie somwhat I was forced to write thereof I was with the King when these newes were brought him which vndoubtedly nipped him at the verie hart for he was not accustomed to lose but had such successe in all his attempts that fortune seemed to be at his commandement which vndoubtedly his wisedome greatly furthered For he would hazard nothing neither feared any thing more than a battel and as touching this now mentioned it was fought without his knowledge His armies he made so strong that few Princes were able to encounter them he was better furnished of artillerie than any King that euer raigned in Fraunce he attempted alwaies to take places vpon a sudden especially such as he perceiued to be euill fortified which after he had once gotten he furnished so well both of men and artillerie that it was impossible for his enimies to recouer them Further if the captain of any strong place or any other within it would practise to yeeld it for monie he was sure of a copes mate neither would he shrinke were the summe neuer so great that was demanded but liberally giue it He was afeard at the first when newes was brought him of this battell supposing the truth had not been told him but that his whole force had beene ouerthrowen knowing if it were so all to be lost that he had conquered ouer this house of Burgundie in those parts and the rest in great danger but when he vnderstood the truth he tooke the matter patiently and was well ynough contented with Monseur de Cordes Notwithstanding he purposed to giue order that no more such enterprises should be attempted without his knowledge From this day forward he resolued to treate of peace with the Duke of Austriche so that it might be wholy to his owne aduantage and that he might thereby so bridle the said Duke by meanes of his owne proper subiects whom he knew to be inclined to practise against their Prince that he should neuer be able to do him harme Moreouer he was very desirous to redresse all disorders in his realme especially the long delaies of processes and sutes in law which thing the better to compas he minded to bridle the Court of parlament not by diminishing their number or authoritie but many things were done there against his minde for the which he hated it He was also desirous to reduce his whole realme to one custome and one kinde of waight and measure and further that all the lawes and customs should be written in the French toong in a faire booke to auoid the pillings and pollings of the Counsellors in law which are more excessiue in this realme than in any other as the nobilitie hath good cause to knowe And vndoubtedly if God had spared him life and health fiue or sixe yeeres longer he would haue done much good in the realme as great cause he had to do for he had more oppressed it than euer had any of his predecessors but neither authoritie nor perswasions could haue woon him to vnburden his people till it had come of himselfe as in his latter daies sure it would if God had preserued him from sicknes Wherefore it is requisite to do good while a man hath leisure health and vnderstanding The treatie the King desired to make with the Duke and Duchesse of Austrich and their dominions was this he meant by meanes of the citizens of Gaunt to treate of a marriage betweene the Daulphin his sonne now our King and the daughter of the said Duke and Duchesse vnder
these conditions that if the marriage were accomplished they should permit him quietly to enioy the counties of Burgundie Auxerrois Masconnois and Charolois and he for his part would restore vnto them Artois reseruing onely to himselfe the citie of Arras in such sort as he had fortified it for the towne was now nothing woorth considering the fortification of the citie For before the King tooke Arras the towne was fortified with ditch and rampire against the citie but now the citie was fortified against the towne and held for the King by the Bishop wherein the King did contrarie to the Princes of this house of Burgundie For they alwaies at the least by the space of these hundred yeeres made Bishop whom they listed and placed a captaine in the towne besides but the King to increase his authoritie did cleane contrarie and caused also the towne wals to be beaten downe and the citie to be fortified so that now the citie shutteth vpon the towne a great ditch being betweene both Wherefore the King indeed offered nothing for whoso hath the citie hath the towne at commandement Of the Duchie of Burgundie the countie of Bolloin the townes situate vpon the riuer of Somme the territories of Peronne Roye Montdidier no mention was made After these ouuertures were once set on foot they of Gaunt furthered them to the vttermost of their power and vsed very rudely the Duke and Duchesse his wife as did also diuers other great townes of Flaunders and Brabant which were fully bent to follow the proceedings of them of Gaunt especially Brucelles which was growen so wealthie bicause of the continuall residence that Duke Philip and Duke Charles of Burgundie had made there as did also at this present the Duke and Duchesse of Austriche that the wealth â—nd quietnes wherein they had liued vnder these two Dukes aboue named made them forget God and their dutie to their Prince so that they procured themselues that misfortune which afterward as you haue seene fell vpon them The Notes 1 The old copie saith but 500. men of armes 2 There were slaine at the battell of Guinegate 11000. Burgundians and 5000. French men Gaguin How King Lewis being visited with sicknes lost his wits and lay speechlesse somtime recouering and eftsoones falling into his disease againe and how he behaued himselfe in his castell of Plessis les Tours Chap. 7. ABout this time in the yeere 1479. in the moneth of March truce was made betweene these two Princes The King was verie desirous of peace especially in those parts so that it might be altogither for his aduentage For he began now to waxe old and sickely so far foorth that once being at dinner at Forges neere to Chinon he was suddenly taken in all parts of his bodie and lost his speech he was taken vp from the table and held to the fire and the windowes shut to the which notwithstanding that he desired to go yet some of his freiends held him and would not suffer him so to do meaning all for the best This disease tooke him in the yeere of our Lord 1480. in the moneth of March he laie altogither speechlesse he knew no man and his memorie was wholly taken away At the which instant you my Lord of Vienna came thither and serued him at that time in steed of a Phisition for you gaue him a glister and caused the windowes to be opened and the aire to be let in whereupon immediately he recouered his speech and his memorie after a sort and tooke horse and returned to Forges for this disease tooke him in a village a quarter of a league thence whither he went to heare masse He was diligently tended made signes what he would haue done among other things he desired that the officiall of Tours might be called to shriue him and made signes also that I should be sent for for I was gone to Argenton being ten leagues thence when I came I found him at the table with Master Adam Fumee who sometime had beene King Charles the seauenths Phisition and was at that present Master of the requests and another Phisition called Master Claude he vnderstood little what any man saide notwithstanding griefe he felt none he spake plainely almost neuer a word but made signes that I should be in his chamber I waited vpon him the space of 15. daies 1 at his table about his person as one of the groomes of his chamber which I accounted great honor to me and thought my self in dutie bound so to do After two daies he recouered his speech his memorie after a sort and bicause he thought that no man vnderstood him so well as my selfe his pleasure was that I should alwaies be by him and he confessed himselfe to the officiall in my presence otherwise they would neuer haue vnderstood one an other He had not much to say for he was shriuen not long before bicause the Kings of Fraunce vse alwaies to confesse themselues when they touch those that be sicke of the Kings euill which he neuer failed to do once a weeke If other Princes do not the like they are to blame for continually a great number are troubled with that disease After he was somewhat recouered he began to enquire who they were that held him by force from going to the windowes whose names when he heard foorthwith he banished them the Court so that they neuer came afterward to his presence some of them also he put out of office From others namely the Lord of Segre and Gilbert de Grasse Lord of Champeroux he tooke nothing but commanded them to depart Many woondered at this toie blaming him for so vsing them considering that all that they did was for the best and they said truth but Princes imaginations are strange and a number are bold to prattle of them that vnderstand them not The King feared nothing so much as the diminishing of his authoritie being maruellous great for the which cause he would not be disobeied in any point Further he remembred that when King Charles his father fell into the disease whereof he died he entred into suspition that his seruants sought to poison him at his sonnes request 2 which phansie sanke so deepely into his head that he refused his meate Wherefore it was concluded by the aduise of his Phisitions and of his chiefest and trustiest seruants that he should be forced to eate the which was executed verie orderly and aduisedly by those that serued him for cooliz was powred into his mouth but soone after this force he died The King our Master who had euer misliked this ordering of his father stomacked maruellously that he had been held thus perforce but yet made shew of much greater displeasure than indeed he had conceiued therof The chiefe cause that mooued him so to do was feare least they should Master him in all other things especially in the expedition of his waightie affaires vnder colour of the imperfection of his wits After
he had dealt thus roughly with these aboue named he inquired what his Councell had done during the time of his sicknes and what dispatches they had made whereof the Bishop of Alby his brother the gouernor of Burgundy the Marshall of Gié and the Lord of Lude had the whole charge for these were present when his sicknes tooke him and lodged all in two little chambers vnderneath him Further he would needs see the letters and packets that had been brought and came howerly The principall whereof were shewed him and I read them before him he made a countenance as though he vnderstood them and tooke them into his hands faining that he read them notwithstanding that indeed he vnderstood neuer a word Somtime also he spake a word or two or made signes what should be the answer to these letters but little or no thing was dispatched for we expected an end of his disease bicause he was a Master with whom it stood vs vpon to deale circumspectly This sicknes held him about fifteene daies and then his wits and speech he recouered perfectly but his body was maruellous weake for the which cause we feared greatly a relapse the rather bicause naturally he was inclined to giue but smal credit to Phisitions Immediately after he was well recouered he restored Cardinall Ballue whom he had held in prison fowerteene yeeres to liberty Whereunto notwithstanding that he had been required oftentimes before both by the Sea Apostolike and others and all in vaine yet now he purchased the absolution of that fault himselfe by a bull sent from our holy father the Pope by his owne procurement When his disease first tooke him they that at that present were about him held him for dead and sent foorth diuers commandements for the reuoking of an excessiue and cruell subsidie lately laid vpon his subiects by the aduise of the Lord of Cordes his lieutenant in Picardy wherewith were waged ten thousand footemen to be alwaies in a readines 2500. pioners the which were called the Soldiers of the campe Moreouer he appointed fifteene hundred of his ordinary men of armes to accompany them and to fight on foote when need so required He caused also a great number of cartes to be made to inclose them and tents and pauilions imitating therein the D. of Burgundies campe The charge of this army amounted yeerly to 1500000. franks 3 When these soldiers were in a readines and furnished of all things necessarie he went to see them muster in a valley neere to Pont de l'Arche in Normandy where the band of the sixe thousand Swissers aboue mentioned mustered also the which neuer sawe the King but at this time onely After all was ended the King remooued to Tours where he fell againe into his former disease and lost his speech as before and was by the space of two houres in such case that all men held him for dead He lay in a gallery vpon a mattresse of straw diuers standing about him Monseur de Bouchage and I vowed him to Saint Claude and all the rest that were present vowed him also Immediately whereupon he recouered his speech and soone after arose and walked vp and downe the house but his body was maruellous feeble The second fit of sicknes tooke him in the yeere 1481. notwithstanding he rode vp and downe the countrie as before and went to Argenton to my house where he lay a moneth maruellous sicke From thence he went to Tours where notwithstanding that he still remained sicke he tooke vpon him his voiage to Saint Claude to whom as you haue heard he was vowed and at his departure thence commanded me to go into Sauoye against the Lords of Chambre Miolant and Bresse bicause they had taken prisoner the Lord of Lins in Daulphine whom he had appointed gouernor of Duke Philibert his nephew Yet notwithstanding couertly he aided these Lords against whom I went He sent also a great band of soldiers after me whom I led to Mascon against the Lord of Bresse but he and I agreed well ynough secretly Further the Lord of Chambre made a composition with the Duke of Sauoye at Thurin in Piedmont where he lay whereof he aduertised me and immediately thereupon I caused my forces to retire He led the said Duke to Grenoble whither the Marshall of Burgundie the Marquesse of Rothelin and my selfe went to receiue him The King commanded me to returne home and to meete him at Beauieu in Beauiolois where when I arriued I woondered to see him so leane and bare much more to ride vp and downe the countrie but his noble hart carried him At Beauieu he receiued letters that the Duchesse of Austriche was dead of a fall from hir horse for she rid a fierce hobby that threw hir vpon a blocke notwithstanding some say she died not of the fall but of an ague but howsoeuer it were she died soone after the fall to the great dammage of hir subiects friends who since hir death neuer had quietnes nor good successe For this people of Gaunt and the other towns bare much more reuerence to hir than to hir husband bicause she was Lady of the country She died in the yeer 1482. The K. told me these newes in great ioy adding that the two childrē remained in the citizens of Gaunts custodie whom he knew to be inclined to sedition rebellion against this house of Burgundie Further he thought the time now come when he might do some great exploit seeing the D. of Austriche was but yoong his father yet liuing his countries troubled on euerie side with wars and himselfe a stranger and weakly accompanied For the Emperor his father was too extremely couetous for the which cause his sonne found the lesse fauour The King immediately after the Duchesse death began to practise with the gouernors of Gaunt by meanes of Monseur de Cordes and to treate of a marriage betweene the Daulphin his sonne and the said Dukes daughter called Margaret at this present our Queene The said de Cordes addressed himselfe wholy to two men the one a pensioner of the towne called VVilliam Riue a subtill craftie fellow the other the clarke of their Senate named Coupe Nole who was a hosier but in great credit with the people for such men of occupation when they are most vnruly are there best esteemed The King returned to Tours and kept himselfe very close so that few saw him for he waxed iealous of all men searing that they would take the gouernment from him or diminish his authoritie for the which cause he remooued all those from him that he had most fauoured and had been neerest about him not diminishing their estates in any respect but he sent them away some to their offices and charges and some to their houses but this endured not long for soone after he died He did diuers strange things which caused as many as saw them to thinke him out of his wits but they were not throughly acquainted with
perswaded that for one pleasant there should be found twenty displeasant He liued about threescore and one yeeres notwithstanding that he had conceiued an imagination that he should neuer passe threescore saying that no King of Fraunce of long time passed that age some saie none since Charles the great Notwithstanding the King our Master when he died was well forward in the threescore and one yeere Duke Charles of Burgundie what rest or quietnes had he more than the King our Master True it is that in his youth he was not much troubled for he attempted nothing til the two twenty yeere of his age but liued till that time in helth and at his ease But then he began to busie himselfe with his fathers officers whom his father maintained against him for the which cause he absented himselfe and went into Holland where he was well receiued and had intelligence with them of Gaunt and sometime also went thither himselfe He had not one peny of his father but this countrey of Holland was maruellous rich and gaue him goodly presents as did also diuers great townes of his other Seniories hoping thereby to winne his fauour in time to come For it is a common thing especially among the vulgare sort to loue better and seeke rather to him whose power is growing than to him who is already so great that he can be no greater 5 For the which cause Duke Philip when men told him that they of Gaunt loued his sonne maruellous wel that he could skill of their humor was woont to answer that their Prince in expectation they euer loued deerly but their Prince in possession they hated euer extremely which saying prooued true For after D. Charles began to reigne ouer them they neuer loued him and that they well declared as before I haue rehearsed he also for his part bare them as little good will notwithstanding they did his posteritie more harme than they could do him But proceed after the time that Duke Charles mooued war for the townes in Picardie which the King our Master had redeemed of Duke Philip his father and ioined himselfe with the Princes of this realme in the war called THE WEALE PVBLIKE he neuer was quiet but in continuall trauell both of bodie and minde For his hart was so inflamed with desire of glorie that he attempted to conquer all that lay about him All sommer he kept the field with great danger of his person and tooke vpon himselfe the charge and care of the whole armie all which trouble seemed yet not sufficient to him He was the first vp and the last downe as if he had beene the poorest soldier in his campe If he rested from wars at any time in winter yet was he busied all day long from sixe of the clocke in the morning either in leuying of money or receiuing ambassadors or giuing them audience In this trauell and miserie ended he his daies and was slaine of the Swissers before Nancy as you haue heard so that a man may iustly say that he neuer had good day from the time that ambition first entred into his minde till the hower of his death And what got he by all this trauell what needed he thus to haue toiled himselfe being so rich a Prince and hauing so many goodly townes and seniories vnder his subiection where he might haue liued in great ioy and prosperitie if it had so pleased him I must now speake of Edward K. of England who was so great mighty a Prince In his youth he sawe the Duke of Yorke his father discomfited and slaine in battell with him the Earle of Warwicks father 6 the which Earle of Warwicke gouerned King Edward in his youth and all his affaires yea to say the truth made him King and was the onely man that defeated his enimie King Henry who had raigned many yeeres in England and was lawfull King both in mine opinion and in the iudgement of the whole world But as touching great realmes and seniories God holdeth them in his hand and disposeth of them at his pleasure for all proceedeth of him The cause that mooued the Earle of Warwick to serue the house of Yorke against King Henry who was of the house of Lancaster was this The Earle of Warwicke and the Duke of Sommerset fell at variance in King Henries court who was a very simple man the Queene his wife being of the house of Aniou daughter to Rene King of Sicilie tooke part with the Duke of Sommerset against the Earle But considering that they had all acknowledged both King Henry and his father and grandfather for their lawfull Princes the said Lady should haue done much better to haue taken vpon hir the office of Iudge or mediator betweene them than to take part with either of them as the sequele well declared For heereupon arose war which continued nine and twenty yeeres during the which space many bloodie battels were fought and in the end all in maner both of the one partie and the other slaine Now to speake a word or two of factions surely they are maruellous dangerous especially among great men who are naturally inclined to nourish and maintaine them But you will say peraduenture that by this meanes the Prince shall haue intelligence of all things that passe and thereby hold both the parties in the greater feare In truth I can well agree that a yoong Prince vse this order among Ladies for by this meanes he shall haue pleasure and sport ynough and vnderstand of all their newes but to nourish factions among men yea among Princes and men of vertue and courage nothing can be more dangerous bicause by that meanes he shall kindle an vnquenchable fire in his house for foorthwith one of the parties will suppose the King to be against them and then to fortifie themselues take intelligence with his enimies The factions of Orleans and Burgundie prooue this point sufficiently for the wars that sprang therof continued threescore and twelue yeeres the English men being parties in them who thought to haue conquered the whole realme But to returne to King Edward he was very yoong when his father was slaine and the beautifullest Prince in the world but after he had vanquished all his enimies he gaue himselfe wholy to pleasures as to dames feasting banketting and hunting in the which delicacies he continued about sixteene yeeres 7 to wit till the Earle of Warwicke and he fell at variance in the which wars notwithstanding that the King were chased out of his realme yet continued he not long in that estate for he soone returned and hauing obtained the victorie more abandoned himselfe to all pleasures than before He feared no man but fed himselfe maruellous fat by meanes whereof in the flower of his age diseases grew vpon him so that he died in a maner suddenly of an Apoplexie and his heires males lost the crowne as before you haue heard In this our age raigned also two valiant and wise
Testament which I my selfe haue seene wherin he made conscience of a subsidie lately leuied vpon his subiects if the said Testament be true Let Christian Princes then weigh well what they ought to do considering that they haue no authoritie in right and reason to leuy any thing vpon their subiects without their permission and consent The conclusion of the Author YOw see heere a great number of great personages dead in short space who trauelled so mightily and indured so many anguishes and sorrowes to purchase honor and renoume whereby they abridged their liues yea and peraduenture charged their soules I speake not this of the Turke for I make account he is lodged with his predecessors but our King and the rest I trust God hath taken to his mercy Now to speake of this point as a man vnlearned but hauing some experience had it not been better both for these great Princes themselues and all their subiects that liued vnder them and shall liue vnder their successors to haue held a meane in all things that is to say to haue attempted fewer enterprises to haue feared more to offend God and persecute their subiects and neighbors so many sundry waies aboue rehearsed and to haue vsed honest pleasures and recreation Yes sure For by that meanes their liues should haue been prolonged diseases should not so soone haue assailed them their death should haue been more lamented and lesse desired yea and they should haue had lesse cause to feare death What goodlier examples can we finde to teach vs that man is but a shadowe that our life is miserable and short and that we are nothing neither great nor small For immediately after our death all men abhorre and loath our bodies and so soone as the soule is seuered from the body it goeth to receiue iudgement yea vndoubtedly at the very instant that the soule and body part the iudgement of God is giuen according to our merits and deserts which is the particular iudgement of God The Notes 1 For ought I can reade in any historie this Frederike should be Henry and so appeereth by our author himselfe lib. 5. cap. 7. cap. 18. 2 Asin Britaine Sauoye and Prouence vnder King Rene. 3 Others write that he was but 14. yeeres olde when he married hir which was in the yeere 1437. and she died ann 1445. 4 This Ladies name was Margaret she was sister to Iames the second King of Scotland she was of a lothsome complexion and had an vnsauorie breth wherefore the King loued hir not 5 This is agreeable with Pompeies saying to Sylla that the Romanes did Orientem potius quà m occidentem solem venerari 6 The Earle of VVarwicks father was Richard Neuill Earle of Salisburie who was not slaine at the battell of VVakefield with Richard Duke of Yorke but taken and within a day or two after beheaded and his head sent to Yorke as the said Dukes had beene 7 Commines saith heere that King Edward had liued sixteene yeeres in delicacies when the Earle of VVarwicke chased him out of his realme yet before lib. 3. he saith twelue or thirteene yeeres somwhat neerer to the truth for indeede he was chased the 10. yeere of his raigne 8 This white knight is named Iohannes Huniades Coruinus his fathers name was Buth of the countrie of Valachie corruptly printed in the French Vallagine 9 To wit 20. and fought in one day against Amurathes and his Bashaes sixe great battels and obtained victorie in them all 10 Sclauonie is the countrie of Illyria 11 Some write that this Launcelot called in Latin stories Ladislaus came to full yeeres before Huniades death and gaue him in recompence of his seruice the Earledome of Bristrich and yet afterward sought to kill him by the perswasion of Vlrich Earle of Cilie the said Ladislaus vncle but Huniades valiantly defended himselfe and soone after died But indeede the truth is that Ladislaus was borne the 21. of February 1440. and Huniades died the 10. of September 1456. so that at Huniades death Ladislaus was almost 17. yeeres of age and by the perswasion of this Earle Vlrich had taken the gouernment vpon himselfe 12 The elder brothers name was Ladislaus The cause of his death was for that in defence of himselfe he had slaine the Earle Vlrich who assaulted him as before he had done his father and continually sought both his blood and his brothers VVherefore the King caused both the brethren deceitfully to be taken and beheaded the elder being fiue or sixe and twenty yeeres of age It is written that the hangman gaue him three strokes with the sword before he could pearse his skin 13 King Ladislaus died of poison the 21. of Nouember 1457. 14 Other histories varie much in this point from Commines for they make no mention of Mathias deliuerie by his mothers meanes but say that King Ladislaus being hated in Hungarie for Huniades elder sonnes death departedinto Bohemia leading Mathias with him as prisoner where soone after this Ladislaus died of poison as heere befoâ—â—â—ention is made After his death George Boiebrac vsurped the realme of Bohemia this Mathias being still prisoner at Prague but the nobles of Hungarie bicause of his fathers great seruices chose him their King and sent to the said Boiebrac requiring his deliuerie who not onely accomplished their request on that behalfe but also gaue the said Mathias his daughter in mariage and sent him into Hungarie nobly accompanied 15 This place is maruellously corrupted for King Mathias was borne the 24. of Februarie 1443. and died the fift of Aprill at Vienna of an Apoplexie the yeere 1490. or as our author saith 1491. so that by this computation he liued about 48. yeeres and so vndoubtedly this 28. must be read 48. 16 This Turke is Mahomet the second 17 Others write that Amurathes the third Emperor of Turkie wan Adrianople and it may be that the name deceiued our author for this Turks fathers name was also Amurathes but this was Amurathes the second and he that wan Adrianople Amurathes the first 18 Constantinople vvas taken ann 1453. the 29. of May. 19 This Emperor vvas named Constantinus Paleologus but as others vvrite he vvas not slaine at the breach but thronged to death in the gate as he would haue fled 20 Hovv he conquered Trapezonde Syria Armenia appeereth after in the figure 25 21 It is corruptly in the French Bressanne This realme of Bosne he conquered ouer Stephen King of that countrie ann 1463. but Mathias King of Hungarie soone after recouered it againe 22 Morea vvas in times past Peloponnesus 23 This Archipell is Mare Aegeum in the vvhich the yles called Cyclades lie 24 Nigrepont in times past vvas Euboea 25 The French bookes haue some of them the Carnian some the Carmanian and some bicause they vvill be sure not to erre nothing But vndoubtedly it is to be read as I haue heere translated it For further declaration vvhereof vve must vnderstand that about the yeere 1250. fovver
commodious for the maintenance of the Kings wars and the which notwithstanding that he held it for the King he had manned with his owne tenants and seruants yeelded the place to the Duke of Britaine and sware the townes men to be true to him And further before the fame of his reuolt was spred abrode he went with a great companie to Chasteaubrian which was also held for the King and being receiued into the towne as a friend he placed a garrison of his owne soldiers in it and banished all that refused to returne to the obedience of the Duke From thence he went and laid the siege before Vennes the 25. day of Februarie which was held by If you begin the yeere at Newe-yeeres day heere beginneth 1488. the French vnder the gouernment of Gilbert of Grassay and Philip of Moulins valiant captaines who yeelded the place by composition the third day of March following On the other side the Kings army slept not for Ancenix they tooke by assault and rased the wals towers and houses by the Kings commandement so that one stone was not left vpon another which the King did in spite of the Marshall of Rieux whose the towne was and who was newly reuolted from him as you haue heard Chasteaubrian was also recouered by the Kings forces and the castell rased From thence the Kings army marched to Frougiers being a frontier towne stronge and of good resistance and laid the siege before the place whereupon the Duke of Britaine being stroken with a new feare determined to send the Earle of Dunois in ambassage to the King whereof heereafter you shall heare About this time being the beginning of the yeere 1488. the Lord of Albret who long had been resident in the Court of Spaine came by sea and landed in base Britaine with fower thousand men of war his men went to Rennes but himselfe to Nantes to the Duke of Britaine where at his first comming he demanded to haue the marriage between him and the Lady Anne the Dukes eldest daughter accomplished But the said Lady would not consent thereunto greatly to hir fathers discontentation who knew nothing that she had cast hir phansie vpon the Duke of Orleans by the practise and perswasion of the Earle of Dunois For the which cause the said Earle of Dunois to saue his honor endeuored to withdraw his seale giuen for the accomplishment of the said marriage being in the hands of the Lady Lauall sister to the said Alebert among the seales of all the other Britaine Lords which also in the end very cunningly he brought to passe For he gaue the said Lady to vnderstand that this marriage could neuer be accomplished without the Duke of Britaines seale could be obtained wherunto he as he said had mooued the Duke whose answer was that he would willingly giue his seale prouided that the instrument that he should seale were written word for word by that which the Earle of Dunois had alreadie sealed wherefore if she would cause his writing to be deliuered to him he would make his secretarie to write that which should be presented to the Duke word for word by his and so get the Dukes seale to it The Lady of Lauall supposing that he had ment good faith deliuered him the writing which afterward he neuer restored for presently after as you shall now heare he was sent with certaine lawyers in ambassage to Angiers to the King to vnderstand what the King demanded in the Duchy of Britaine and why he destroied the castels and townes thereof The Duke of Britaine as aboue is mentioned being in great feare when he sawe the Kings army before Fougieres sent the Earle of Dunois with the consent of his nobles in ambassage to Angiers to the K. The said Earle in his iourney thitherward so preached in all places the great commodities that concord and peace bring with them that all mens eies were fixed vpon him When he came to the K. being then eighteene yeeres of age he very eloquently pleaded the cause of the Duke of Britaine and of the other French noble men that were retired to him alleaging that the Duke being worne with yeeres consumed with diseases hauing buried his wife being destitute of issue male his eldest daughter being hardly twelue yeeres of age and his yoonger lesse and lastly being forsaken of his nobilitie for the hatred they bare to Peter Landois and not for any euill desert of his owne began to languish in sorow and griefe for the which cause the noble men of Fraunce that were of kin alied to him being mooued with very naturall affection were retired to him to comfort him in this distresse Among whom none were neerer to him his owne children excepted than the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orenge the one being his vncles sonne the other his sisters and that these and others his neere kinsemen were yet with him onely to this end adding that the Duke was not to be accused bicause he forbad them not his countries when they came to comfort him in his miseries or they for comming to relieue him in his distresse But quoth he it will be obiected that there are besides these diuers others with him of the nobilitie of Fraunce that haue leuied war against the King but what war Forsooth as the Britaine 's marched with force to leuy the siege of Ploermel being aduertised that they could not so do without a battell with the French the reuerence they bare to the Kings Maiestie was such that willingly they gaue place and forbare to fight and rather suffered their townes to be taken and spoiled than they would encounter with the Kings troupes Further so soone as the D. vnderstood the K. desire to be that the banished Nobles of Britain should return home he foorthwith receiued them into his fauor and restored them to their former estate What offence then said he hath the Duke made What cause of war against him Truly none But on the contrary side many causes of commiseration and many causes why the King should grant the Duke of Britaine peace This was the effect of the speech he was commanded as he said to deliuer to the K. which charge he would not haue taken vpon him but that he knew the D. of Britaine to carie a minde singularly well affected to the Kings Maiestie and the French nobles that were in Britaine to be the Kings deuout seruants subiects and ready to shed their blood for the defence of him and his estate This the Earles speech mooued the King to incline to peace whereof the treatie was already begun when the sudden report of a batel wherof you shal now heare as suddenly brak it off Of the battell of S. Albin wherein the Duke of Orleance was taken prisoner of the treatie of peace betweene the King and the Duke of Britaine and of the said Duke of Britaines death Chap. 5. YOu haue heard of the siege of Fougieres which endured still
said The towne was spoiled by the soldiers bicause Maximilian was behinde with them for certaine moneths paie Saint Omers was also taken at the same time though some refer it to an other time but whensoeuer it was taken this is most certaine that the negligence of the watch was the losse thereof For the enimies being led by George Deberfin made shew at their first comming before the towne as though they would haue scaled it at which time the French soldiers were ready to withstand them vpon the wals being strong and very defensible both by nature and by Arte whereupon the enimies vnder pretence of feare retired into their campe yea and further when the French issued foorth to skirmish with them they euer retired faining the like feare which dissimulation they vsed by the space of eight daies and by this their pollicie caused the French to remit much of their accustomed industry and diligence which when the Burgundians and Almaines perceiued they with great expedition reared ladders against the wals and bulwarks of the town which they easily entered the watch being fast a sleepe and in some place no watch at all Then brake they open the gates slew the French soldiers and the citizens and so became Masters of the towne At the same time was Amiens also attempted by the Burgundians in the night and like to haue been surprised by the like negligence of the watch but Katherine de Liques a woman of a manlike courage awaked the watch out of their dead sleepe by meanes whereof the alarme was sounded and all the towne arose in armes and part went to defend the wals and the rest issued foorth and skirmished and put to flight Maximilians bands who plainly confessed that the diligence and industrie of one woman had wrong the victory out of their hands Of the restitution of the Counties of Roussillon Parpignan to the King of Spaine of the Emperor Fridericks death of the peace between the King of Romaines and the King and of the Duke of Orleans deliuery out of prison Chap. 8. FErdinand King of Arragon desired nothing more than to recouer 1492 out of the Kings hands the counties of Roussillon and Parpignan engaged by him as he said to King Lewis the eleuenth for fiftie thousand crownes But the nobles of Fraunce would not condescend to this restitution bicause the two Counties were a rampier for the realme on that side towards Spaine adding that they were not engaged to King Lewis but absoulutely solde And notwithstanding that the King of Spaine alleaged that King Lewis by his last will and Testament had commanded the said Counties to be restored knowing that they were wrongfully withheld yet his perswasions and allegations little auailed Wherefore he perceiuing that this way no good would be done fell to practise with men of religion hoping by their preaching of conscience to King Charles to win that of him that otherwise he saw no meanes to obtaine Wherefore he corrupted with a great summe of mony Oliuer Maillard or as others write Iohn de Mauleon a frier Franciscane confessor to the Lady of Beauieu the Kings sister who vnder his coule of religion cloking his hypocrisie and couetousnes perswaded hir that except restitution were made of these territories to the King of Spaine the King hir brothers gouerment could not prosper nor please God She being mooued in conscience by this friers perswasions brake this matter to Lewis of Amboise bishop of Alby the Kings schoolmaster who togither with hir so terrified the Kings conscience that he did not onely make restitution of the said territories by the hands of the said bishop whom he sent thither to deliuer them but also freely released to the King of Arragon all the money that King Levvis his father had paid for them with these conditions that the said King of Arragon and his successors should euer after loue and honor the realme of Fraunce that he should make no war against it nor aide with money victuals or councell any of the enimies thereof nor permit them to haue passage through his dominions And thus were these countries restored greatly to the French mens griefe and dammage but in truth the King the rather inclined to restore them bicause hee began already by the perswasion of those that were about him to phansie a voiage into Italie for the recouerie of the realme of Naples which afterward tooke effect though the King both now long after this kept his purpose secret to himselfe and one or two more which voiage I thinke was the principall cause that induced him to restore the foresaid countries thereby to tie the King of Spaine to him that he should not trouble him in his enterprise but he misreckoned himselfe for he was no sooner past the mountaines but the King of Spaine forgot all his kindnes and fell to practise a league with his enimies While these matters passed thus in Fraunce Friderick the Emperor died to The Emperor Frederick died 19. of August 1493. whom his sonne Maximilian succeeded who notwithstanding was neuer crowned neither greatly desired so to be although with a small request he might haue obtaied it The Emperor Maximilian purposing to quiet the state of the Empire troubled by his fathers death seemed more enclined to peace with the King than heertofore he had beene which happened verie fortunately for the Kings affaires for without Maximilian were pacified his voiage into Italie must of force haue staide but both the parties by this meanes inclining to concord the peace was soone concluded the Emperors daughter was restored vnto him and the countie of Artois togither with all the townes he quarrelled And thus the King being in peace with all his neighbours namely with the Emperor and the Kings of England and Spaine and possessing the Duchie of Britaine quietly by his mariage and by that meanes hauing no body to feare began wholie to dispose himselfe to his voiage into Italie whereupon his minde was altogither fixed Further about this verie time the King at the earnest sute and continuall teares of his sister Iane a Ladie of singular pietie and chastitie restored not onely to liberty but also to his fauor and familiaritie Lewis Duke of Orleans husband to the saide Ladie taken prisoner at the battell of Saint Albin in Britaine as before you haue heard whereby as the King deserued great commendations for his clemencie in preseruing his enimie taken in battell and restoring him to his former dignitie and honor so did he also thereby prouide that no discontented subiect at home should trouble his estate in his absence in his voiage to Naples whereunto the historie of Commines now calleth vs which from the death of King Lewis the eleuenth till this present I haue supplied out of other good authors bicause the said Commines being imprisoned or in disgrace almost euer sithence King Lewis his death till the saide voiage of Naples whereat he was present was silent and left nothing
Court to high authoritie and estimation the said Duke of Lorraine to haue him for their support and aide for he was a hardie gentleman more than a courtier not doubting but easily to rid their hands of him at their pleasure as also they did when they found themselues strong ynough and the force of the Duke of Orleans 9 and others whom I neede not name so weakned that it was no more to be feared But after the fower yeeres expired they could no longer hold the Duke of Lorraine vnlesse they would put him in possession of the countie of Prouence or assure him of it by writing at a daie and continue still his pension of sixe and thirtie thousand franks wherunto bicause they would not condescend he departed the Court greatly discontented Fower or fiue moneths before his departure a good ouerture was made vnto him if he would haue embraced it for the whole realme of Naples rebelled against King Ferrande bicause of his great tyrannie and his childrens so far foorth that all the nobles and the third part of the realme yeelded themselues to the Church Notwithstanding King Ferrande being aided by the Florentines pressed them sore for the which cause the Pope and the saide Nobles of the realme that had rebelled sent for the Duke of Lorraine purposing to crowne him King and so forward the enterprise was that the Gallies and the Cardinall Saint Peter ad Vincula who should haue conueighed him thither staied for him a long time at Genua during the which space he was busied with these broiles in Court and delaied his departure notwithstanding that he had messengers with him from all the Nobles of the said realme earnestly pressing him to come with speede To be short the King and his Councell shewed themselues willing by all meanes they could to aide and succour him and gaue him sixtie thousand franks whereof he receiued twentie thousand but lost the rest and agreed also that he should leade with him the hundred launces that were vnder his charge promising further to send ambassadors round about in his fauoure Notwithstanding the King was now nineteen yeeres of age or more and gouerned by those aboue named who daily beat into his head that the realme of Naples of right appertained to himselfe which I write bicause diuers of meane estate raised great contention about this matter as I vnderstood both by certaine of the ambassadors sent to Rome Florence Genua and other places in the Duke of Lorraines fauor and also by the Duke himselfe when he passed through Moulins where I then lay with Iohn Duke of Bourbon bicause of the troubles in court But his enterprise was now halfe lost through his long delaie I went foorthwith to recieue him notwithstanding that he had deserued no such curtesie at my hands for he was one of those that chased me from the Court 10 with rough and discourteous words yet now he made the most of me that might be lamenting much the gouernment of the estate He abode at Moulins two daies with Iohn Duke of Bourbon and then tooke his iourney towards Lyons To conclude his friends were so wearied and weakned bicause of his long delay that the Pope made peace and the nobles of the realme also who vnder suretie thereof went to Naples where they were all taken prisoners notwithstanding that both the Pope the Venetians the King of Spaine and the Florentines had vndertaken to see the treatie kept and obserued and had sworne and promised the Nobles safetie The Prince of Salerne escaped and came into Fraunce refusing to be comprehended in the treatie as one well acquainted with King Ferrands humor but the Duke of Lorraine returned into his countrey with dishonor and lost his credit with the King lost his men of armes and lost also the pension of sixe and thirtie thousand franks which he receiued for Prouence and euen at this present being the yeere 1497. he liueth yet in this estate The Notes 1 King Charles was crowned ann 1484. in Iune 2 This cosin german must be referred to King Lewis 3 For King Rene made Charles his brothers sonne his heire omitting this Duke of Lorraine his daughters sonne 4 The pedegree in the end of the worke will make this title plaine 5 The author vnder the name of Sicilie comprehendeth the realme of Naples also bicause both the realmes bare the name of Sicilie the one beyond the other on this side the far 6 By nephew he meaneth brothers sonne 7 Vnderstand this of the realme of Sicilie and Naples 8 This de Grauille was after Admirall of Fraunce 9 Madam de Beauieu Duchesse of Bourbon was appointed by King Lewis and the three estates gouernor of King Charles hir brother but the Duke of Orleans called after Lewis the 12. withstood the decree and was in armes with diuers noble men demanding the gouenrment as the first Prince of blood as in my Supply is mentioned at large against these they heere named called the Duke of Lorraine 10 For Philip de Commines was a follower of the Duke of Orleans as himselfe writeth in the last chapter of the last booke How the Prince of Salerne in the realme of Naples came into Fraunce and how Lodouic Sforce surnamed the Moore and he sought to perswade the King to make war vpon the King of Naples and for what cause Chap. 2. THe Prince of Salerne fled to Venice where he was well friended accompanied with three of his nephewes sonnes to the Prince of Bisignan 1 There they asked counsell of the Seniorie as the Prince himselfe told me whether it would please them that they should retire to the Duke of Lorraine the King of Fraunce or the King of Spaine They answered that the Duke of Lorraine was a dead man vnable to do them good and that the King of Spaine should be too strong if to the yle of Sicilie and the other places which he held in the Venetian gulfe he should ioine the realme of Naples adding that he was alreadie mightie vpon the sea wherefore they aduised him to go into Fraunce saying that with the Kings of Fraunce 2 that had held the said realme they had euer liued in perfect amitie and friendship and found them alwaies good neighbors But I supose they thought not the enterprise would haue fallen out as afterward it did Thus these noble men aboue named came into Fraunce where they were curteously receiued but their entertainment was small They followed their sute earnestly the space of two yeeres addressing themselues wholy to Stephan de Vers then Seneschall of Beaucaire and of the Kings priuie chamber One day they liued in hope another in despaire but their friends vsed great diligence in Italie specially at Milan whereof Iohn Galeas was Duke not the great Iohn Galeas that lieth buried in the Charterhouse of Pauia but he that was sonne to Duke Galeas and the Duchesse Bonne daughter to the Duke of Sauoy a man of no great sense The said Duchesse
who practised continually after the manner of Italy They being in Rome the Pope in the night receiued Dom Ferrand with his whole forces into the towne whereupon our ambassadors and some fewe of their seruants were staied but the selfe same day the Pope dismissed them Notwithstanding he held still in prison the Cardinall Ascaigne his vicechauncellor and brother to the Duke of Milan and Prospere Coulonne some said by their owne accord Of all these accidents I was aduertised incontinent by the Kings letters but the Seniorie more amplie by their ambassadors All this hapned before the King entred into Viterbe for neither party staied aboue two daies in a place But as touching our affaires they prospered better than we could wish and no maruell for the Lord of Lords gaue them successe as all men might manifestly perceiue This army that lay in Ostie could do no seruice bicause of the foule weather further you shall vnderstand that the force which the Lord of Aubigny led was returned to the King and himselfe also neither had he further charge thereof The Italians were also dismissed that had been with him in Romaine vnder the leading of the Lord Rodolph of Mantua the Lord Galeot of Mirandula and of Fracasse brother to the L. Galeas of Saint Seuerin the which with their said company being to the number of fiue hundred men of armes were well paied by the King for they serued him as before you haue heard The King after his departure from Viterbe remooued to Naples 5 which the Cardinall Ascaigne held Further it is most certaine that while our men lay in Ostie aboue twenty fathomes of Rome wals fell to the ground on the same side they should haue entred The Pope seeing this yoong King come thus suddenly with such successe agreed that he should enter the citie for to saie the truth he could not otherwise choose and desired a safe conduct 6 which the King willingly granted for Dom Ferrand Duke of Calabria and onely son of K. Alphonse who in the night retired to Naples the Cardinall Ascaigne conueying him to the gate 7 Then the King entred the citie in armes as a Prince hauing power to dispose of all things at his pleasure and diuers Cardinals with the gouernors and Senators of the towne came foorth to receiue him He lodged in Saint Markes pallace which is the Culonnois quarter who were his friends and seruants at that time But the Pope retired into the castle of Saint Ange. The Notes 1 This Cardinall was afterwards Pope Iulius the second and prooued a deadly enimie to the French Further this towne of Ostie distressed Rome by meanes that being the very entrie into the riuer of Tyber it kept all victuals from comming to Rome by vvater for the vvhich cause the olde Romanes called the towne Ostia bicause it vvas the very doore or mouth as it vvere of the riuer 2 The factions of Houc and Caballan began in Holland 1444. Berlandus Reade Meyer lib. 16. fol. 300. pag. 2. 3 The King gaue to Fabrice Colonne the countrie of Albe and Taillecousse vvhich vvere before Virginio Vrsins and to Prosper the Duchie of Tracette and the citie of Fondi 4 This Corsique being corrupted in the French vve haue restored according to Panlus Iouius Guicciar hath Corse 5 This is not the citie of Naples but a little tovvne called in the Annales of Fraunce Neple in Latin Nepesum of the Italians Nepi 6 Ferdinande Duke of Calabria refused the pasport Guicciar 7 Ferdinande vvas sonne to Hypolitie sister to Duke Galeas of Milan to the Lorde Lodouic and to this Cardinall How King Alphonse caused his sonne Ferrande to be crowned King and then fled himselfe into Sicilie with a discourse of the euill life that his father the olde Ferrande and he had led Chap. 11. WHo would haue thought that this proude King Alphonse hauing beene trained vp all the daies of his life in martiall affaires that his son and al these Vrsins whose faction was so great in Rome would thus haue abandoned the citie through cowardise especially seeing they knew and vnderstood perfectly that the Duke of Milan began to wauer and the Venetians to stir and to treate of a league which had then been concluded as I was certainly informed if they had made any resistance at Viterbe or Rome to stay the King but a few daies but God meant to shew that all these proceedings passed far the reach and compasse of mans braine And heere note by the way that as the citie wall fell downe so did fifteene fathoms also of the vaumure of the castell of Saint Ange as I haue beene aduertised by diuers especially by two Cardinals there present Now I must returne to speake a word or two of King Alphonse So soone as the Duke of Calabria called the yoong Ferrande was returned to Naples his father King Alphonse iudged himselfe vnwoorthie longer to raigne bicause of the euils he had committed and the manifold cruelties he had vsed against diuers barons and Princes of his realme For you shall vnderstand that whereas his father King Ferrande and he had taken notwithstanding their safe conduct to the number of 24. of them and had held them in prison from the time of their rebellion against the said Ferrande 1 till the hower of his death this Alphonse immediately after his fathers decease for a surplusage of all crueltie caused them miserably to be murthered and with them two other whom his father had also taken vnder safe conduct the one Duke of Sesse 2 a man of great authoritie and the other Prince of Rosane who had married the said Ferrandes sister and had issue by hir a sonne a very goodly gentleman True it is that the said Prince had wrought great treason against him for the which he had well deserued death if he had not been taken vnder safe conduct but King Ferrande to rid himselfe of all feare tooke him that notwithstanding being come to him by his commandement and laide him in a maruellous stinking prison and afterward his said sonne also being betweene fifteene and sixteene yeeres of age Thus had the Prince of Rosane liued a prisoner when King Alphonse came to the state about fower and thirty yeeres But the said Alphonse immediately after his coronation commanded these prisoners to be led into an Iland neere to Naples called Iscle 3 whereof heereafter more mention shall be made and there villanously to be slaine all saue one or two whom he held still in the castell of Naples namely the said Prince of Rosans sonne and the noble Earle of Popoli I haue diligently inquired after what sort he caused them thus cruelly to be murthered for many supposed they had been yet liuing when the King entred into the good towne and citie of Naples and diuers of their principall seruants haue informed me that he caused them villanously and horribly to be slaine by a Moore of Afrike not sparing these ancient Princes some of the which
vpon a sudden as the Romaines did for their bodies cannot endure such labor and trauell as theirs could bicause they are vnaccustomed therunto by reason that none of them go into their wars vpon the firme land 16 as the Romaines did saue their prouisors and paimasters which accompanied their generall 17 assist him with their counsell and prouide all things necessary for their armie True it is that their armies vpon the sea are led 18 by their gentlemen who are captaines of their gallies and ships and consist wholy of their owne subiects Moreouer another good order haue they as touching these prouisors whom they send in person with their armies vpon the land whichis that they imploie in that seruice no man of such courage and vertue as may seeme woorthy to be their Prince as the Romaines did whereby they auoid all factions in the citie which sure is a great point of wisedome And vndoubtedly against ciuill contention they haue maruellously well prouided diuers and sundry other waies for they haue no Tribunes of the people as they had in Rome which partly were cause of their ruine But the people at Venice beare no swaie neither are called to counsell in any matter 19 for all their officers 20 be gentlemen saue their secretaries 21 And the greatest part of their people be strangers Moreouer they vnderstand by T. Liuius what imperfections were in the state of Rome for they haue his historie and his body lieth buried in their palace at Padua For these reasons and diuers others which I could alleage I say yet once againe that they are in the way to be great Lords in time to come I must now declare the cause of mine ambassage to them which was to thanke them for the good answers they had made to two ambassadors sent thither by the King and for the good comfort they had giuen him in willing him vpon their word to proceede with his enterprise All the which was done before he departed out of Ast At my arriuall I discoursed vnto them of the ancient league that had beene betweene the Kings of Fraunce and them And further I offered them Brandis and the towne of Orante vnder this condition that when we deliuered them better townes in Greece they should be bound to restore these They vsed very honorable termes both of the King and his affaires supposing that he could not enter far into Italie And as touching the offer I made they answered that they were his friends and seruants and would not sell him their friendship and in deede as yet we had not the places offered Further they said that they had force sufficient in a readines to moue war against him if they were so disposed but they would not so do notwithstanding that the ambassador of Naples daily sollicited them thereunto and offered them in consideration thereof whatsoeuer they would demaund Moreouer King Alphonse who then raigned confessed that he had many waies misbehaued himselfe towards them and declared vnto them the great danger themselues should be in if the King obtained his purpose The Turke on the other side sent an ambassador to them with all speede whom I my selfe saw diuers times the which at the Popes request threatened them vnlesse they declared themselues the Kings enimies They gaue euery one of these good answers notwithstanding at the first they stood in no feare of vs but laughed at our voiage and the rather bicause the Duke of Milan sent them word by his ambassador that they should not trouble themselues about this enterprise for he would finde meanes to send the King home with emptie hands The like message sent he also to Peter of Medicis as himselfe told me But when both they and the Duke of Milan sawe all the Florentines places especially Pisa in the Kings hands they began to feare to consult how to stop him from passing further but their matters were long in debating and in the meane time while ambassadors passed to and fro betweene them the King marched forward The King of Spaine in like maner began to feare bicause of the yles of Sicilie and Sardinia And the King of Romaines enuied our Kings good successe for diuers there were that put him in doubt of the crowne imperiall saying that the King would take it and had required the Pope to giue him leaue so to do but this was most vntrue Notwithstanding for these doubts these two Kings sent honorable ambassages to Venice I being there as you haue heard The King of Romaines bicause he was their neighbor sent first the principall of his ambassage was the Bishop of Trente accompanied with two knights and a doctor of the law they were very honorably and solemnly receiued and their lodgings made and furnished as mine Moreouer they had ten ducats a day allowed them for their diet and their horses which they had left behinde them at Treuis were kept vpon the Seniories charge Soone after arriued also a worshipfull knight of Spaine 22 well accompanied and well apparelled who was in like maner honorably receiued and his charges defraied The Duke of Milan besides his ambassador there resident sent thither the bishop of Come and Master Francis Bernardin Viscount all the which began at the first to negotiate togither couertly and in the night by their Secretaries for they durst not as yet openly discouer themselues against the King especially the Duke of Milan and the Venetians bicause they doubted what successe the league which was in communication should haue These ambassadors of Milan came to visite me and brought me letters from their Master pretending that they were come bicause the Venetians had sent two ambassadors to Milan whereas they were woont to haue but one resident there no more had they in the end and this was but a colour of their lying deceit and false dealing for they were all assembled togither to conclude a league against the good King but so many strings could not be tuned on a sudden They desired me afterward if I could to informe them what the cause was of the King of Spaines and the King of Romanes ambassadors arriuall to the end they might aduertise their Master thereof But I had intelligence already from diuers places both by the said ambassadors seruants and others that the ambassador of Spaine had passed through Milan disguised that the Almaines gouerned their affaires wholy by the Duke of Milans counsell and aduice and that the ambassador of Naples deliuered howerly packets of letters from his Master For you must vnderstand that the treatie of their league was begun before the King departed from Florence and I spent monie largely to haue intelligence of all their doings and wrought by good instruments so that I knew already all their articles which were propounded but not agreed vpon for the Venetians are very long in their resolutions For these causes I seeing the league in such forwardnes would no longer pretend ignorance therein but answered these ambassadors
their towne reared vp againe the armes of Arragon and Dom Frederick being at Brandis sent a garrison thither To be short fortune began now to frowne vpon vs which but two moneths before so highly had fauored vs in such sort that through the whole realme they began to reuolt as well bicause of the league as also of the Kings departure and the small forces he left behinde him which was nothing in respect of the number of soldiers though diuers of the captaines were of great valor He appointed for his lieutenant generall in the said realme the Lord of Montpensier of the house of Bourbon a valiant and a hardy knight but of no great sense and so careles that he kept his bed euery day til noone In Calabria he left the Lord of Aubigny a Scottish man borne a vertuous wise honorable a valiant knight him he created high Constable of the realme and gaue him as before you haue heard the Earldome of Acri and the Marquisat of Squillazzo He had made Lord great Chamberlaine of the realme at his first comming thither the Seneschall of Beaucaire called Stephan de Vers who was also captaine of Caietta Duke of Nola and Lord of diuers other seniories Further all the treasure of the realme passed through his hands so that his charge was much too waightie for him but sure he was well affected to the defence of the realme He created the Lord Don Iulian Lorrain a Duke and left him in the towne of Saint Angelo where he behaued himselfe passing well He left in Manfredonia Master Gabriell of Montfaulcon a man of whom he made great account and to all these he gaue goodly possessions but this Gabriell behaued himselfe very childishly for at fower daies end he yeelded the towne for lacke of victuals notwithstanding that at his entrie into it he found it very well furnished besides that it was seated in a countrie abounding with all kinde of graine Diuers sold all the prouision they found in the castels and the report went that this Gabriell fled himselfe and left VVilliam of Vilneufue for defence of the towne whom his owne seruants sold to Dom Frederick who put him into the gallies where he remained a long time At Tarente the King left George of Suilly who carried himselfe there very gallantly and died of the plague and this citie held for the King till famine forced it to yeeld In Aquila he left the bailife of Vitry where he did great seruice and in Abruzzo master Gracian des guerres who likewise made good proofe of his valor there They were all left vnfurnished of monie for order was giuen that they should receiue their pay there of the reuenues of the crowne but all was too little Notwithstanding the K. left the Princes of Salerne and Bisignan very well appointed who did him good seruice as long as they were able He delt also very bountifully with the Coulonnois for he granted them al their demaunds put aboue thirty places into their hands their friends which if they would haue defended for him as both by dutie oth they were bound they had don him great seruice and purchased to themselues both honor and profit For I thinke they were not so highly aduanced these hundred yeeres as by the King at that time yet notwithstanding before his departure they began to practise with his enimies True it is that they serued him in fauour onely of the Duke of Milan bicause they haue euer been of the faction Gibilin but they ought not in respect thereof to haue dealt faithlesly with him who so highly had aduanced and pleasured them not only this way but diuers others For in their fauor he had prisoners with him vnder garde the Lord Virgill Vrsin and the Earle of Petillane 3 with diuers others of the Vrsines their enimies yea and that against all right and reason for notwithstanding that they were taken prisoners yet knew the King right well that they had a safe conduct the benefit also whereof he meant they should enioy as himselfe well declared for he was determined to leade them no further than Ast and there to release them All this did he at the Coulonnois request and yet before his returne to Ast they shrunke from him yea they were the very first that reuolted though they could alleage no cause that mooued them thereunto The Notes 1 Guicciar saith the King left behinde him halfe his Swissers part of his French footmen 800. French launces and 500. Italian men of armes 2 These are certaine ships hauing both saile and ore the which are very much vsed in the meridionall seas 3 Virginio Vrsin and the Earle of Petillane followed the King onely vpon their word not to depart without leaue How the King departed from Naples and passed againe through Rome whereupon the Pope fled to Oruiette of the communication the King had with Monseur D'Argenton at his returne from Venice how he tooke aduise whether he should restore the Florentines places to them or not and of the Sermons woorthie of memorie of Frier Ierom of Florence Chap. 2. THe King hauing giuen order for his affaires as he thought good put himselfe vpon the way homeward with the rest of his forces 1 being as I suppose nine hundred men of armes at the least comprehending therein the ordinarie retinue of his house two thousand and fiue hundred Swissers so that I thinke the whole armie contained seuen thousand men taking paie besides the traine of the Court being to the number of fifteen hundred able to do seruice 2 The Earle of Petillane who tooke the iust muster of them told me after the battell whereof you shall heare that the whole force was nine thousand men The King marched straight to Rome where the Pope would not tarie his comming but was first determined to haue gone to Padua into the Venetians dominions so far foorth that his lodging was made there But afterward he altered his minde for both the Venetians and the Duke of Milan sent him certaine bands of men to Rome where though they arriued in time yet durst he not abide notwithstanding that the King meant him no harme but would haue done him all honor and seruice and had also sent an ambassador thither purposely to desire him to staie But he retired to Oruiette and thence to Perouse leauing the Cardinals at Rome to receiue the King who staide not there 3 neither harmed any man The K. wrote vnto me that I should meet him at Sene whither I repaired accordingly he receiued me of his goodnes verie graciously and asked me somewhat merily whether the Venetians would send to stop him vpon the waie for his army consisted altogither of yoong men who thought none in the world comparable to them I answered that the seniorie told me at my departure in the presence of one of his secretaries named Lourdin that they and the Duke of Milan would put forty thousand men into the field not
I saw no other thing that could greatly trouble the King Thus much I haue written to the end it may yet more manifestly appeere that this voiage was in deed a meere miracle of God The Notes 1 He departed from Naples the 20. of May. Annal. Franc. Guicciar 2 The King departed Naples with 800. French launces two hundred gentlemen of his garde a hundred launces vnder Triuulce three thousand footmen Swissers a thousand French and a thousand Gascoines Guicciar 3 He arriued at Rome the first of Iune and a bode there two daies Annal. Franc. 4 For Parma it is better to reade Creme or Bergame for the Venetians dominions lay not neere to Parma besides that the riuer Olio is not neere Parma for the Pau runneth betweene Parma and it so that the Venetians must haue passed the Pau after they had passed Olie before they could haue come to Parma 5 The French Corrector readeth it Montvieil called in Italian Monte Vechio which is a certaine treasure the Venetians haue to pay the interests due vnto the ancientest creditors of their commonwealth as appeereth in the booke of Donato Giannotti 6 VVhat these Estradiottes were looke after Cap. 5. 7 They had giuen the King 120000. ducats as mention is made Cap. 9. lib. 7. 8 The people of Sene were diuided against the order of Montenoue which held a gard of soldiers in the palace The citizens promised de Ligny 20000. ducats a yeere to protect them against the said Montenoue but foorthwith after the Kings departure the faction of Montenoue chased Ligny and his men out of the towne Guicciar 9 This Friers surname was Sauanarola who hath written many goodly homilies and sermons he was borne at Ferrara How the King retained in his hands the towne of Pisa and certaine other of the Florentines places and how in the meane time the Duke of Orleans entred on the other side into Nouarre a towne of the Duchie of Milan Chap. 3. AFter the King was entred into Pisa as you haue heard all the Pisans both men and women besought their guests for Gods loue to make intercession to the King that they might no more returne vnder the Florentines tyrannie who in truth handled them extremely but diuers cities in Italy that be in subiection to others are as euill intreated as they besides that the Pisans and Florentines had been in wars togither the space of three hundred yeeres before the Florentines subdued them These lamentable words before mentioned ioined with teares mooued our men to pitie and caused them so far foorth to forget the Kings promise and oth made vpon the aultar of Saint Iohn at Florence that all sorts of men busied themselues in this matter euen the poore archers and the Swissers who also threatned those that they thought perswaded the King to performe his promise namely the Cardinall Saint Malo so often before named generall of Languedoc whom I my selfe heard an archer threaten There were in like maner that gaue very rough language to the Marshall of Gié The president Gannay by the space of three daies and more durst not lie in his lodging But the Earle of Ligny aboue all the rest fauored the Pisans cause who came in troupes weeping and lamenting to the King in such sort that we all pitied them and would willingly haue releeued them if it had lien in vs so to do One day after dinner fortie or fiftic gentlemen of the Kings house assembled themselues togither and went with their partisans into the Kings chamber where he was playing at tables with Monseur de Pienncs accompanied onely with two groomes of his chamber One of these gentlemen sonne to Sallezard the elder spake as mouth of the rest to the King desiring him to be gratious Lord to the Pisans and accusing certaine of those lately named as traitors to him But the King with so stout language commanded them to depart that after the like neuer hapned The King spent sixe or seuen daies needlesly in the towne of Pisa and then changed the garrison and made captaine of the Citadelle one Entragues a man of lewd conditions seruant to the D. of Orleans whom he thus preferred by Monseur de Lignis sute and left with him in the said Citadelle certaine footemen of the Duchie of Berrie Further the said Entragues procured such friendship I suppose by his money that he was also made captaine of Petrosancte and of another place neere to it called Mortron 1 and in like maner of Librefacto which is neere to Lugues The castle of Serzane being very strong was put at the request of the said Earle of Ligny into the hands of a bastard of Roussi and an other place called Serzanelle into the hands of another being both his owne seruants In these places the King left a great part of his forces notwithstanding that he shall neuer haue such need of men as he had at that time Moreouer he refused the Florentines aid and offers aboue mentioned and draue them into vtter despaire Yet was he aduertised before his departure from Sene that the Duke of Orleans whom he had left behind him in Ast 2 had taken the city of Nauarre in the Duchie of Milan and therefore was well assured that the Venetians would declare themselues his enimies for they sent him word that if he inuaded the Duke of Milan they would aide the Duke with their whole force according to their league lately made and their force was great and in a readines Now you shall vnderstand that presently vpon the conclusion of their league the Duke of Milan thought to haue surprised Ast supposing to finde it vtterly vnmanned but my letters had hastened the forces that the Duke of Bourbon sent thither and the first that arriued were about fortie launces of the Marshall of Gies companie which had tarried behinde in Fraunce and came thither in good time Soone after them arriued also fiue hundred footmen sent thither by the Marques of Saluce The comming of the which staied the Duke of Milans forces led by Master Galeas of Saint Seuerin who hearing these newes retired to Nom a castle of the Duchie of Milan two miles from Ast In the necke of these arriued also three hundred and fiftie men of armes and certaine gentlemen of Daulphine and two thousand Swissers with certain franke archers of the said countrey of Daulphine so that their whole number was 7500. men taking paie But they lingred so long vpon the way that they serued not to the purpose they were sent for For the K. sent for them to come succor him but instead of aiding him he was forced to aid them The K. had also giuen commandement to the D. of Orleans his captaines not to attempte any thing against the Duke of Milan but onely to defend the towne of Ast to meete him at the riuer of Thesin to helpe to conuey him ouer it for that was the onely riuer to trouble him But notwithstanding all
somtime had led certaine bands and ought of right to haue led the vaward 2 as all men said I answered the King that I would do his commandement but that I neuer saw two so great forces so neere togither depart without battell Our whole armie marched foorth vpon the plaine in good order the one battell neere to the other as the day before but as touching the force it seemed but a handfull to that I had seene with Duke Charles of Burgundie and King Lewis this Kings father Vpon the said plaine the Cardinall and I withdrew our selues aside and endited a letter to the two Prouisors aboue named the which was written by one Master Robertet a Secretarie of the Kings and in good credit The contents of our letter were that it appertained to the estate and office of the Cardinall to procure peace and vnto me also hauing so lately been ambassador at Venice for the which cause I might as yet take vpon me the office of mediator betweene the King and them We signified further to them on the Kings behalfe that he would but passe foorth his way without doing harme to any man wherefore if they minded to parlament according to the order taken the day before we for our parts were willing thereunto and would imploy our selues to do all the good we could The skirmishes were already begun round about vs and after our armie had marched awhile softly passing along before them the riuer running betweene them and vs as you haue heard we approched so neer to them that we came within a quarter of a league of their camp within the which they stood all in martiall aray for their maner is to make their campe so large that they may all stand in order of battell within it They sent foorth incontinent part of their Estradiots and crossebowe men on horsebacke and certaine men of armes the which came along vpon the way almost vnder couert towards the village of Fornoue out of the which we were departed meaning there to passe this little riuer and to assaile our carriage which was so great that I thinke it laded aboue 6000. mules horses and asses They had set their battels in such order many daies before they fought that better they could not be ordered for they were so placed that their great number halfe assured them of the victory bicause they assailed the K. his army on euery side in such sort that not one of vs could haue escaped if we had been broken considering the straight we were in Those aboue mentioned came and assailed our carriage and on the left hand came the Marquesse of Mantua the Lord Rodolph his vncle and the Earle Bernardin of Dalmouton with all the flower of their armie being to the number of sixe hundred men of armes as they themselues afterward confessed all the which entred into the plaine directly behinde vs. Their men of armes were all barded and furnished with braue plumes and goodly bourdonasses 3 and well accompanied with crossebowe men on horsebacke Estradiots and footemen Against the Marshall of Gie and our vaward marched the Earle of Caiazze with fower hundred men of armes accompanied as the others aboue mentioned and with a great band of footemen with him also was another companie of two hundred men of armes led by Master Iohn de Bentiuoille of Bolonia his sonne a yoong man who before had neuer seen the wars for they were as slenderly prouided of good captaines as we This yoong Bentiuoille was placed there to giue a new charge vpon our vaward immediately after the Earle of Caiazze With the Marquesse of Mantua was also a like companie of men of armes for the same purpose vnder the leading of Master Anthony of Vrbin bastard to the late Duke of Vrbin Besides these there remained yet in their campe two great troupes of men of armes as I vnderstood the next day by themselues when they and I communed togither and I saw them also with mine eies And this they did bicause the Venâ—tians would not hazard all at once nor vnfurnish their campe Notwithwanding in mine opinion it had beene better for them to haue aduentured their whole force seeing they meant to fight I will now tell you what became of the letter the Cardinall and I sent to their campe by a trumpeter The Prouisors receiued it and immediately after they had read it brast foorth the first peece of our artillerie then shot theirs which was not so good as ours The said Prouisors incontinent sent backe our trumpeter accompanied with a trumpeter of the Marquesses who brought word that they were content to parlament if we would cause our artillerie to cease saying that they on their side would do the like I was then a great way from the King who rid about heere and there and sent backe these two trumpeters with answere that he would make the artillerie to cease and gaue commandement to the Master of the ordinance to stay the shot and so all ceased awhile on both sides But soone after vpon a sudden they discharged one of their peeces and then shot ours againe freshlier than before and we approched three of our peeces neerer to them After the two trumpeters were arriued at their campe they tooke ours and sent him to the Marquesses pauilion resoluing to fight For the Earle of Caiazze as those that were present haue informed me said that it was now no time to parlament seeing that we were halfe vanquished already and one of their Prouisors was of his opinion and agreed to fight as I haue heard himselfe report but the other would not consent thereunto The Marquesse in like maner desired the battell but his vncle who was a vertuous and a wise gentleman and loued vs well and bare armes against vs with an euill will withstood it to the vttermost of his power but in the end they agreed all to fight Now you shal vnderstand that the King had put his whole force into his vaward in the which were three hundred and fiftie men of armes and three thousand Swissers the onely hope of our army with whom he commanded three hundred archers of his garde to ioine themselues on foote and likewise certaine crossebowe men on horsebacke of the two hundreth that were also of his garde which was a great diminishing of the safety of his person In our army were but few footemen besides these for all that we had were placed in the vaward On foote with our Almaines were the Lord Engelbert brother to the Duke of Cleues Lornay and the bailife of Digeon the said Almains captain and before them marched our artillerie Heere they whom we left in the Florentines places and those that were sent to Genua would haue don good seruice contrary to the opinion of all men Our vaward had now marched almost as far as their campe so that all men thought they should haue begun the battell but our two other battels were not so neere it
of Rouen who gouerned the said Dukes affaires and two or three other meane personages suborned certaine Swissers to come and offer themselues to fight But no reason could be alleaged why we should so do for the Duke of Orleans had no men in the towne more than the thirty remaining in the castle so that there was no cause why we should aduenture the battell for the King had no quarrell neither meant to fight but onely for sauing the said Dukes person and his seruants Besides this our enimies were mightie and it was impossible to assaile them in their campe as well bicause they were entrenched round about and their trenches full of water as also bicause of the strong seat thereof Moreouer they had no enimies to inuade them but vs onely for they stood now in no more feare of the towne They were aboue 2800. men of armes barded and fiue thousand light horsemen and 11500. Almaines led by good captaines to wit Master George of Pietreplane Master Frederick Capelare and Master Haunce besides great force of footemen of their owne countries so that they seemed to speake but vpon a brauery that said we might take them in their campe or that they would flie Besides all this another thing there was greatly to be feared to wit least these Swissers if they ioined all togither should take the King and the noble men of the armie being but a handfull in respect of them and leade them prisoners into their countrie for some apparance there was that they meant so to do as you shall heare at the conclusion of the peace How the peace was concluded betweene the King and the Duke of Orleans on the one side and the enimies on the other and of the conditions and articles thereof Chap. 11. WHile these matters were thus debated to and fro among vs in such heate that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orenge fell at variance about them so far foorth that the Duke gaue him the lie the Marshall of Gie the Lord of Piennes the President Gannay the Lord Moruillier the Vidasme of Chartres and my selfe returned to the enimies campe and concluded peace 1 which notwithstanding that we perceiued by manifest tokens to be vnlike long to endure yet necessitie forced vs to conclude it both bicause of diuers reasons aboue alleaged bicause the winter constrained vs thereunto bicause we lacked monie and also to the end we might depart with an honorable peace the which should be sent abrode into the world in writing as the King had concluded with his Councell the Duke of Orleans being there present The articles of the peace were these That the Duke of Milan should beare the King his faith for Genua against all men and that in respect thereof he should arme two ships to the sea at his owne proper costs and charges to succour the castels of Naples which held yet for the King And further that the next yeere he should furnish the King of three ships and serue him in person in the conquest of the said realme if the King himselfe happened to returne to conquer it againe That he should giue passage to the Kings forces And if the Venetians would not accept the peace within two moneths but continue to defend the house of Arragon that then he should take part with the King against them and imploy his person and subiects for the Kings seruice vnder this condition that all that should be conquered of their dominions should be his That he should release to the King fowerscore thousand ducats of the hundred and fower and twenty thousand that he had lent him in this voiage That for performance of these conditions he should deliuer to the King two hostages of Genua That the castell of Genua should be put into the Duke of Ferraraes hands as neuter for two yeeres and that the Duke of Milan should pay the one halfe of the garrison within it and the King the other and further if the said Duke of Milan should refuse to do such seruices to the King for Genua as he was bound to do by this treatie that then it should be lawfull for the Duke of Ferrara to put the said castell into the Kings hands Last of all that the said Duke of Milan should deliuer to the King two other hostages of Milan These he deliuered and so would he also the others of Genua if the King had not departed so suddenly but so soone as he sawe him gone he made delaies After we were returned from the enimies campe and had aduertised the King that the Duke of Milan had sworne the treatie and the Venetians taken two moneths respit to accept or refuse it for more they would not condescend vnto the King sware it also and the second day after determined to depart being very desirous both he and all the companie to returne into Fraunce but the selfesame night the Swissers that were in our campe assembled togither each Canton apart and strake vp their drums standing in order of battell by their ensignes as their maner is in their consultations All the which I write vpon the report of Lornay who was then and long time before had been one of their captaines and vnderstandeth well their language and lodged that night in their campe and came and aduertised the King of all these their actions Some of these Swissers gaue aduise to take the King and all his companie that is to say the principall of the armie others would not agree thereunto but gaue counsell to demaund paiment for three moneths saying that the King his father had promised them this paiment as often as they should depart out of their countrie with ensigne displaied others were of opinion to take the principall of the armie not touching the Kings person This last opinion tooke place so far foorth that they began to dispose themselues to execute it a great number of their men being already within the towne but before they had fully concluded the King departed and went to Trin a towne in the Marquisat of Montferrat Sure they did vs great wrong to demaund three months paiment wheras K. Lewis had promised them but one especially hauing done no seruice To be short in the end we made an agreement with them but they that had been with vs at Naples had first taken the Bailife of Digeon Lornay who had euer been their captaines demaunding paiment of 15. daies for their departure But the others had three moneths pay amounting to fiue hundred thousand franks for the which summe they were contented to take pledges and hostages All this disorder happened by practise of certaine of our owne men who mooued them thus to do bicause they misliked the peace as one of their captaines came and told the Prince of Orenge who aduertised the King therof When the King arriued at Trin he sent the Marshall of Gie the President Gannay and me to the Duke of Milan to desire him to come and speake
able to succour the castle without these two ships for the enimies lay before it with a great Nauie as well of their owne as of the Venetians and the King of Spaines Three daies I abode with the Duke and one day he sate in counsell with me seeming to be discōtented that I misliked his answer touching the said ships and alleaged that by the treatie of Verceil he had promised to serue the King with two ships but not that they should be manned with French men Whereunto I answered that this seemed to me a verie slender excuse for if he should lend me a good mule to passe the mountaines withall and afterward make me lead hir in my hand and not to ride vpon hir but looke vpon hir onely what pleasure did he me After much debating he and I withdrew our selues into a gallery where I declared vnto him what great paines both I and others had taken to conclude this treatie of Verceil and into how great danger he brought vs by contrariyng thus his promise and causing the King by that meanes to lose these castles and consequently the whole realme whereby he should also ingender perpetuall hatred between the King and him Further I offered him the Princedome of Tarente and the Duchie of Bary the which Duchie he held already Lastly I shewed him the danger he put both himselfe and the whole estate of Italy into by suffering the Venetians to hold these places in Pouille 2 And he confessed I said true especially touching the Venetians but his last resolution was that he could finde no faith nor assurance with the King After this communication I tooke my leaue of him he accompaning me vpon the way about a league But euen at our very departure he deuised yet a cunningerly than all the rest if a man may vse such termes of a Prince for bicause I seemed to depart sad and Melancholick he said vnto me as a man suddenly altered that he would do me a friendly turne to the end the King might haue good cause to welcom me for the next day he would send Master Galeas to Genua more I could not wish when he named him to me to cause the two ships to depart and ioine with our armie by meanes whereof he would saue the King the castle of Naples and consequently the whole realme as he should indeed if he had done as he promised He said further that immediately after their departure he would aduertise me thereof with his owne hand to the end I might be the first man that should bring newes to the King of this great seruice that I had done him adding also that the Courrier should ouertake me with his letters before my arriuall at Lyons In this good hope departed I and tooke my iourney to passe the mountaines thinking euerie Poste that came after me to be the same that should haue brought me these letters Notwithstanding I doubted somewhat thereof knowing the nature of the man so well as I did But to proceed in my voiage I came to Chambery where I found the Duke of Sauoy who honorably entreated me and staied me with him a day Afterward I arriued at Lyons without my Courrier to make report to the King of all that I had done whom I found banketting and iusting and wholy giuen to sport and pastime Those that had misliked this treatie of Verceil were glad that the Duke of Milan had thus deluded vs for their credit increased thereby but me they potted at as in such cases is vsuall in Princes courts greatly to my griefe and discontentment I made report to the King by mouth and shewed him also in writing the Venetians offers aboue rehearsed whereof he made small account and the Cardinall who gouerned all much lesse But that notwithstanding I mooued it to him afterward againe for me thought it better to accept this offer then to lose all Besides that the King had no men about him able to deale in so waightie an enterprise 3 for those that were able and of experience they that had all the credit neuer or very seldome called to counsell in any matter The King would gladly they should oftner haue beene called but he feared to displease those that were of authority about him especially those that gouerned his treasure namely the said Cardinall and his brethren and kinsmen Wherefore let all other Princes learne by the example of this how fit and conuenient it is for themselues to take paines in the gouerning of their owne affaires at the least sometimes how requisite it is to call more than one or two to counsell according to the varietie of the matters that are debated and how necessarie it is to hold their counsellors almost in equall authority for if one of them be so great that the rest feare him as one was both then and euer since about King Charles he is King and Lord in effect and the Prince himselfe is euill serued as this King was by his gouernors who sought onely their owne profit and little regarded his whereby himselfe was the lesse esteemed and the worse thought of The Notes 1 The Venetians hauing sent aide to King Ferrand had won Monopoly and Pulignane Guicciar 2 For King Ferrand since King Charles his departure had in ingaged to the Venetians 6. townes in Pouille vnder certaine conditions which are rehearsed heerafter cap. 14. 3 He meaneth the enterprise of succouring the castle of Naples How the King after his returne into Fraunce forgot those that he left behinde him in the realme of Naples and how the Daulphin died whose death the King and Queen much lamented Chap. 13. I Returned to Lyons the yeere 1495. the twelfe of December where the King was already arriued with his army a yeere and two moneths after his departure out of his realme The castles of Naples held yet for him as before you haue heard and Monseur de Montpensier his lieutenant there was yet at Salerne in the realme of Naples with the Prince of Salerne likewise Monseur de Aubigny was yet in Calabria where he had done great seruice notwithstanding that he had been sicke almost euer since the Kings departure Master Gracien des Guerres was yet also in l' Abruzzo Dom Iulian at Montsaint-Ange and George of Suly at Tarente but they were all so distressed as a man would not beleeue Besides that they could hardly receiue any newes or letters out of Fraunce and those few they did receiue were but lies and faire promises without effect For the K. as you haue heard they dispatched nothing himselfe and if it had beene furnished in time but of the sixte part of the money that was spent afterward they had neuer lost the realme But in the end when all was yeelded they receiued forty thousand ducats onely for part of a yeeres pay already passed and yet if this small summe had come but a moneth sooner the miseries and diuisions they afterward fell into and the dishonor they receiued
had neuer chanced All the which inconueniences hapned bicause the King dispatched nothing himselfe neither would giue the messengers audience that came from them And as touching his seruants to whom he committed the gouernment of his affaires they were men of small experience idle and negligent and some of them I thinke had intelligence with the Pope whereby it manifestly appeered that God had now altogither withdrawen his grace from the King which at his going to Naples he had poured down so plentifully vpon him After the King had soiourned at Lyons about two monethes word was brought him that the Daulphin his sonne lay at the point of death and within three daies after that he was dead which newes he tooke heauily as nature would notwithstanding his sorrow soone ended But the Queene of Fraunce and Duchesse of Britaine called Anne lamented the death of hir sonne and that a long time as much as was possible for a woman to do And I thinke verily that besides the naturall griefe that women vse to conceiue in such cases hir minde gaue hir that some greater euill hung ouer hir head The King hir husband as I haue said mourned not long but sought to comfort hir by causing certaine yoong gentlemen to daunce before hir of the which the Duke of Orleans was one being of the age of fower and thirty yeeres who seemed to reioice at the Daulphins death bicause he was heire apparant to the crowne next after the King for the which cause the K. and he saw not one another in a long time after The Daulphin was about three yeeres olde a goodly childe bold in speech and no whit fearing those things that commonly children vse to feare Wherefore to be plaine with you his fathers sorrow soone ended for he began already to doubt if this childe grew to yeeres and continued in his noble conditions that happily he might diminish his estimation and authoritie for the King himselfe was a man of very small stature and no great sense but of so good a nature that it was impossible to finde a gentler creature Heerby you may perceiue in how miserable estate Kings and Princes liue who stand in feare of their owne children King Lewis the eleuenth who was so wise and vertuous a Prince stood in feare of this King Charles his sonne but he prouided well for it and afterward died leauing his said sonne King being but fowerteene yeeres of age The said King Lewis also had put King Charles the seuen his father in feare of him for being but thirteene yeeres of age he mooued war against him with certaine noble men and gentlemen of the realme that misliked those that bare the sway in Court gouerned the estate as K. Lewis himselfe hath eftsoones told me but this broile soone ended Afterward also being come to mans estate he fell at great variance with his father and retired himselfe into Daulphine and from thence into Flaunders leauing the countrie of Daulphin to the said King his father as I haue made mention about the beginning of this historie written of King Lewis the 11. Wherefore it is manifest that no creature is exempt from trouble but that all men eate their bread in trauell and sorrow as God promised vs that we should soone after he had created man the which promise he hath truly performed to all sorts of men But great diuersitie there is of troubles and sorrowes for those of the bodie are the lesse and those of the minde the greater the sorrowes of wise men are of one sort and the sorrowes of fooles of another but much greater griefe and passion endureth the foole than the wise man and lesse comfort receiueth he in his sorrowes though many suppose otherwise The poore man that trauelleth and toileth his body to get foode to sustaine himselfe and his children and paieth customs and subsidies to his Prince should liue in too great descomfort and despaire if Princes and great men had nothing but pleasure in this world and he nothing on the contrarie side but trauell and miserie But God hath otherwise disposed thereof for if I should take vpon me to rehearse the sundrie griefes sorrowes and passions that I haue seene diuers great personages sustaine as well men as women within these thirty yeeres onely a great volume would hardly containe them I meane not such great persosonages as Bocace writeth of in his booke 1 but such as we see abound with wealth liue in health and prosperitie yea such as those that haue not beene conuersant with them as I haue been would account in all respects happie bâ—â— I haue often sâ—â—ne their sorrowes and griefes arise of so small occasions that they that were vnacquainted with them would hardly beleeue it the most part being grounded vpon ielousies and reports which is a disease that lurketh secretly in great Princes Courts and traineth with it infinite mischiefs both to their owne persons their seruants and all their subiects and so much shorteneth their liues that hardly any King of Fraunce since Charles the great hath passed the age of sixtie yeeres For the which cause when King Lewis the eleuenth approched neere to that age being sicke of this disease he accounted himselfe a dead man His father King Charles the seuenth who had done so many noble acts in Fraunce conceiued an imagination in his sicknes that his seruants went about to poison him and therefore refused to receiue sustenance Likewise his father King Charles the sixt was troubled with so many suspicions that he lost his wits and all by reports And sure this is a fault greatly to be blamed in Princes that in these cases they cause not such matters as concerne themselues be they of neuer so small importance to be ripped vp which if they did they should not so often be troubled with false tales For if they would examine the parties the one before the other I meane the accuser and him that is accused no man durst report any thing to them that were vntrue But some Princes there are of so doltish disposition that they will promise and sweare to the accusers neuer to disclose their reports whereby they are often troubled with these anguishes before mentioned and hate and iniurie their trustiest and faithfullest seruants and subiects at the pleasure and vpon the complaint many times of lewd and naughtie persons The Notes 1 Of vnfortunate noble men How the King was aduertised of the losse of the castle of Naples and how the Florentines places were sold to diuers men of the treatie of Atelle in Pouille to the great dammage of the French and of the death of King Ferrande of Naples Chap. 14. THe Daulphin the Kings onely sonne died about the beginning of the yeere 1496. which was the greatest misfortune that euer happened or could happen to the King for he neuer had childe after that liued But this mischeife came not without company for at the very same time receiued he newes that the
castle of Naples was yeelded by those that the Lord of Montpensier left within it who were forced thereunto partly by famine and partly to recouer the hostages deliuered by the said Montpensier to King Ferrande whose names were Monseur d'Alegre one of the house de la Marche-d'Ardaine one called de la Capelle de Loudonnois 1 one named Iohn Roquebertin Catelan They that were within the castle returned by sea into Fraunce Another great dishonor and losse receiued the King also at the same time which was this Entragues who held the Citadelle of Pisa being the fort that keepeth the towne in subiection deliuered the said Citadelle to the Pisans contrarie to the Kings oth 2 who had twice sworne to the Florentines to restore vnto them the said Citadelle and their other places namely Serzane Serzanelle Pietresancte Librefacto and Mortron which they had lent him in his great necessitie at his first comming into Italy at which time they gaue him also sixescore thousand ducats whereof there remained vnpaid to vs but thirty thousand at our returne home as before you haue heard To be short all these the Florentines places aboue named were solde the Genuois bought Serzane and Serzanelle of a bastard of Saint Paul 3 Pietresancte Entragues solde to the Luquois 4 and Librefacto to the Venetians 5 to the great dishonor both of the King and all his subiects and to the vtter losse of the realme of Naples The first othe the King sware for the restitution of these places as before you haue heard was at Florence vpon the high aultar of the cathedrall Church of Saint Iohn the second in Ast at his returne at which time the Florentines lent him thirty thousand ducats in his great neede vnder condition that if Pisa were restored to them he should repaie no part nor parcell of this summe but they would make restitution of the iewels engaged to them for it and lend him 60000. ducats more which they promised to cause to be paid then presently in the realme of Naples to the Kings forces there They offered further to entertaine continually in the saide realme at their proper costs and charges three hundred men of armes to do the King seruice till the said conquest were fully atchieued of the which conditions none were performed bicause of this euill dealing aboue mentioned Besides that we were forced to restore the thirty thousand ducats that they lent vs all the which inconueniences happened through disobedience and priuy whispering in the Kings eare for some of those that were neerest about him encouraged Entragues to sell these places At the selfe same time within two moneths ouer or vnder in the beginning of this yeere 1496. the Lord of Montpensier the Lord Virgill Vrsin 6 M. Camille Vitelly and the rest of the French captaines seeing all thus lost put themselues into the field and tooke certaine small places But King Ferrande sonne of King Alphonse who was entred into religion as before you haue heard accompanied with the Marquesse of Mantua brother to the said Montpensiers wife and Generall of the Venetians marched against them They found the saide Montpensier lodged in a towne called Atelle a place very commodious for their prouision of victuals and seated on a hill vpon the which our enimies fortified their campe as men fearing the battell bicause the said King Ferrand and his forces had been discomfited in all places as was also the Marques of Mantua at Fornoua where we fought with him The said Marques the Venetians had lent to K. Ferrand with a certaine summe of money but of small value in respect of the places they had in gage for it which were these sixe townes in Pouille of great importance Brandis Trani Galipoli Crana Otrante and Monopoly the last of the which since the Kings departure they had woon from vs. Moreouer in the said summe of money they comprehended the wages of their soldiers that serued the said Ferrand so that they hold these places for two hundred thousand ducats yea and now they require the charges they haue been at in the fortification and defence of them so that I am fully perswaded they minde neuer to restore them for they vse not so to do when towns lie commodiously for them as these do being scituate vpon the Adriatike gulfe so that by meanes of them they are Lords of the said gulfe which is one of the things they chiefely desire and no maruell for it is from Otrante which is the verie point of the said gulfe to Venice at the least nine hundred miles And notwithstanding that the Pope held certaine places also vpon the said gulfe intermingled among these Venetian townes yet were all passengers forced to paie custome to Venice wherefore the possession of these places is more beneficiall to them than the world weeneth for they receiue yeerely from thence great plenty of corne and oile which are two necessarie things for their prouision At the said place of Atelle aboue mentioned our men fell at variance as well for their victuals which began now to diminish as also for their paie the soldiers were vnpaid for eighteene moneths and more by meanes wherof they had liued in great miserie To the Almains also much was due but not so much for all the money that Monseur de Montpensier could leuy in the realme was paied to them yet notwithstanding they were vnpaid for a yeere and more but they had spoiled diuers small townes whereby they were maruellously enriched If the fortie thousand ducats promised them had been sent in time or if they had knowne they should haue receiued them at Florence this variance had neuer hapned but now they remained altogither in despaire diuers of our captaines haue enformed me that if our men would haue agreed to fight they were like enough to haue obteined the victory and if they had been discomfited yet should not their losse haue been so great as by the shamefull composition they made Montpensier and Virgile Vrsin who were the best men of war among them would haue fought and euill hap it was to them that they did not for King Ferrand brake the composition and put them both in prison where they miserablie ended their liues They laid the blame that they fought not vpon Monseur de Persi a yoong gentleman of Auuergne whom they accused as a mutinous knight and disobedient to his captaine You shall vnderstand that in this armie were two sorts of Almaines the first were Swissers to the number of fifteene hundred whom the King left there at his departure from Naples the which serued faithfully euen til the hower of death so that it was impossible for men to serue more valiantly than they did The other sort were those whom we call commonly Launce knights that is to say seruants of the countrie the which hate naturally the Swissers They are of all parts of Germanie as for example of the countries lying vpon the Rhine and of Swobland some
there were also of the countrie of Vaulx in Senonie 7 and some of Gelderland These were to the number of eight hundred newly sent thither with two moneths pay the which being spent before they came thither and at their arriuall there no new pay being found they seeing themselues in this distresse declared that they bare vs no such good will as the Swissers do for they practised with our enimies and turned to King Ferrande for the which cause partly and partly for the diuision that was among our captaines our men made a shamefull appointment with their enimies the which King Ferrande sware to keepe and obserue being forced so to do by the Marquesse of Mantua who thought thereby to assure the person of his brother in lawe Monseur de Montpensier yet notwithstanding the said Ferrande brake the treatie as afterward mention shall be made more at large By the said composition they yeelded both themselues and all the Kings artillerie to their enimies promising further to cause to be rendred all the places that the King held in the realme as well in Calabria where Monseur d'Aubigny was as in L'Abruzzo where Master Gracian des Guerres was togither with the townes of Caietta and Tarente vnder this condition that King Ferrande should send them by sea into Prouence with bag and baggage which was not much woorth but notwithstanding the composition King Ferrande commanded them all to be led to Naples being to the number of fiue or sixe thousand persons or more So shamefull a composition hath not beene made in our time neither do I remember that euer I read of the like saue that which the two consuls of Rome made as rehearseth Titus Liuius 8 with the Samnites whom I suppose to be those of Beneuent at a place called then Furculae Caudinae which is a certaine straight in the mountaines notwithstanding the Romanes would not agree to the composition but sent the two Consuls prisoners to their enimies If our force had fought and beene discomfited yet should not their losse haue been so great as by this composition for two parts of them died either of famine or of the plague in their ships in the yle of Prusse 9 whither they were sent from Naples by King Ferrande and namely there died Monseur de Montpensier himselfe some say of poyson others of an ague which I rather beleeue And I thinke verily that of all this companie neuer returned fifteene hundred for of the Swissers which were thirteene hundred returned but three hundred and fifty all extreme sicke Their faith and loyaltie was greatly to be commended for they all chose rather to die than to serue King Ferrande and so a number of them died in the said yle of Prusse some of heate some of sicknes and some of famine for they were held there a long time in their ships in such penurie and lacke of victuals as is almost incredible I saw them all that returned especially the Swissers who brought backe with theâ— all their ensignes and sure it well appeered that they had endured great miserie for they were all so extreme sicke that when they came foorth of their ships to take the aire they were faine to be staied vp from falling It was also agreed by the said composition that the Lord Virgill Vrsin should returne home to his countrie in safetie and his son all the Italians that serued the King yet notwithstanding the enimies detained him still and his said legitimate sonne also for he had but one and as touching his base sonne called the Lord Charles who was a very valiant gentleman certaine Italians of their companie spoiled him as he repaired homeward If this miserie had fallen but vpon them onely that made this composition they had notbeen greatly to be moned Immediately after King Ferrande had receiued this honor aboue mentioned and married King Ferrande his grandfathers daughter being a yoong maide of thirteene or fowerteene yeeres of age begotten of the King of Castiles sister that now raigneth so that his wife was sister to his owne father King Alfonse he fell into a continuall ague whereof soone after he died and the crowne of the realme descended to King Frederick the said King Ferrandes vncle now presently raigning It abhorreth me to write of such a marriage as this notwithstanding diuers such haue beene contracted in this house of Arragon within these thirtie yeeres King Ferrande died immediately after the composition aboue mentioned made in the towne of Ateâ—â—e the yeere of our Lord 1496. The said Ferrande during his life and Dom Frederick also after he came to the crowne excused the breach of this composition bicause Monseur de Montpensier had not performed the conditions thereof nor rendred the places promised which he could not to say the truth Caietta and diuers others being out of his power For notwithstanding that he were the Kings lieutenant yet were not they that held these places for the King bound to yeeld them at his commandement Although all things well considered the King should haue sustained no great losse if they had then beene yeelded for he spent afterward great treasure in defending and victualling them and yet lost them in the end I my selfe was present three or fower times at the dispatch of those that were sent to victuall and succour first the castels of Naples and thrise after the towne of Caietta And I thinke I should not lie if I said that these fower voiages cost the King aboue three hundred thousand franks and yet all to no purpose The Notes 1 Before cap. 8. he named him de la Chappelle d'Aniou but if Loudonnois be in Aniou the places be reconciled 2 The Venetians paid the monie for the Pisans were not able to redeeme it but after the Citadelle deliuered the Pisans put themselues into the Venetians protection who razed the Citadelle Guicciar 3 This bastards name was de Bienne Guicciar 4 Mutron was also sold to the Luquois Guicciar 5 Librefacto was sold to the Pisans but the Venetians paid the monie Guicciar 6 This Virgill Vrsin is he aboue mentioned who after the Coulonnois reuolt from King Charles turned to him and of his foe became his friend and seruant 7 The French corrector readeth it Sionnie meaning the countrie called in Latin Valesia Sedusiorum whereof Sedunum called in French Sion is the chiefe towne or else he supposeth it should be Vaulx in Sauoy whereof our author maketh mention lib. 5. cap. 1. 8 Decad. 1. lib. 9. 9 Procida it is named by Colleuntius other Italians name it Ponze I suppose it to be that which Plinie lib. 3. cap. 6. calleth Proclita or Prochita saying that it lieth in Sinu Puteolano not far from Naples nor from the yle of Ischia Boccace also Decame 2 nouell 6. reporteth both Procida and Ponze to be neere to Naples Guicciar hath Pozzuole How certaine practises entertained by diuers noble men of Italy on the Kings behalfe as well for the conquest
of Naples as of the Duchie of Milan failed for lacke of sending thither and how another enterprise against Genua sped euill also Chap. 15. THe King after his returne from Naples abode at Lyons a long time as before you haue heard holding iusts turneies It greeued him to lose the places in Italy aboue mentioned which he yet held neither cared he what treasure he spent in defence of them but he would take no paines himselfe in gouerning his owne affaires Moreouer he was aduertised daily of diuers practises entertained on his behalfe in Italy which notwithstanding that they were both dangerous and chargeable yet was he of power sufficient to haue atchieued them bicause his realme is populous plentifull of graine in Prouence and Languedoc and hath also a number of other wealthie countries where money might haue been leuied But if any other Prince besides the King of Fraunce should attend to these Italian practises and aduenture to entermebdle in their enterprises he should but vndoe himselfe spend his treasure and bring nothing to effect For the Italians neither do nor can serue but for money except it be a Duke of Milan or one of the greatest Seniories but a poore captaine be he neuer so well affectioned to the seruice of a King of Fraunce pretending title to the realme of Naples or the Duchie of Milan be he neuer so faithfull and trustie yet shal he not be able to do him seruice any long time after his paiment faileth bicause his men will forsake him and the poore captaine shall be vtterly vndone for the greatest part of them liue onely vpon the credit they win by the seruice of their soldiors who are paied by their captaine and he of him whom he serueth which is the cause why they desire in Italy nothing but factions and ciuile wars But as touching the practises aboue mentioned you shall vnderstand that they began before the towne of Caietta was lost to wit immediately after the King perceiued that the Duke of Milan would not performe the conditions of the treatie of Verceil and continued after the losse of the said towne the whole space of two yeeres after the Kings returne home As touching the said Duke of Milan he brake not his promise altogither vpon malice and trecherie but partly for feare for he doubted that the King would destroy him if he obteined the realme of Naples besides that he accounted the King to be a Prince in whom was no constancie nor assurance But to proceede one of these enterprises aboue mentioned was to inuade the Duchie of Milan after this sort Order was giuen that the Duke of Orleans should go to Ast to enter with a good band of men on that side whom I sawe once so neere his departure that his train was already gone We were sure of the Duke of Ferrareas friendship for he had promised to aide vs notwithstanding that he were the Duke of Milans father in lawe with fiue hundred men of armes and two thousand footemen which his promise vndoubtedly he would haue performed to the end he might haue rid himselfe of the danger he was in lying iust in the midst betweene the Venetians and the said Duke for not long before as I haue already made mention the Venetians had taken from him the Polesan and sought wholy his destruction wherefore he would haue preferred his owne safetie and his childrens before his sonne in lawes friendship yea and peraduenture he thought that the Duke of Milan seeing himselfe in this extremitie would make some appointment with the King 1 Moreouer by the said D. of Ferraraes meanes the Marques of Mantua was become our friend who lately had been and yet was generall of the Venetians but in great ielousie with them and he likewise being discontented with them soiourned with three hundred men of armes with his father in law the Duke of Ferrare for you shall vnderstand that he then had and yet hath to wife the Duches of Milans sister daughter to the said Duke of Ferrara Master Iohn Bentiuoille who gouerneth Bolonia and is as it were Lord thereof promised to aide vs with a hundred and fiftie men of armes and a good band of footemen and to send to the Kings seruice two of his sonâ—â—s who were captaines of certaine companies of horsemen and such was the seat 〈◊〉 countrey that he might haue done great seruice against the Duke of Milan The â—â—orentines who sawe themselues vtterly vndone vnlesse by large expences they recouered their losses fearing to be disseased of Pisa and the other places aboue mentioned 2 would haue furnished eight hundred men of armes and fiue thousand footemen vpon their owne proper costes and charges and had already prouided their paiments for sixe moneths The Vrsins and the Prefect of Rome brother to the Cardinall Saint Peter ad Vincula so often before named being in paie with the King would haue furnished a thousand men of armes but you shall vnderstand that their men of armes are not accompanied with archers as ours be but their wages and ours are much a like for a yeeres pay of one of their men of armes amounteth to a hundreth ducats and the wages of one of ours is double as much bicause of his archers These mercenary soldiers the King should haue paid but as touching the Florentines they should haue paid their forces themselues The Duke of Ferrara also the Marques of Mantua and Bentiuoille offered this aide vpon their owne charge for they hoped to conquer in the Duchie of Milan as much as should counteruaile their coste And if the Duke of Milan had been suddenly inuaded by the Duke of Orleans and all these aboue rehearsed at one instant his confederates namely the Venetians could not haue succoured him though they would haue spent all their treasure in his defence before he must haue been forced to reuolt to the K who would haue kept these Italians in the field a long time And the Duchy of Milan being once woon the realme of Naples would haue yeelded of it selfe The stay of this goodly enterprise proceeded of the Duke of Orleans who suddenly altered his minde the night before he should haue departed for he had already sent before him all things necessarie for his person and none remained to depart but himselfe onely for the army was in a readines their wages paid them they all gone before to Ast being to the number of eight hundred men of armes French and sixe thousand footemen among the which were fower hundred Swissers But the said Duke of Orleans being thus suddenly altered besought the King twice to propound this matter againe to his counsell and so he did I my selfe was present at the debating of it both the times and the whole Counsell concluded that he should go not one man speaking to the contrarie notwithstanding that there were present at each time ten or twelue Counsellors at the least And sure so had it beene most conuenient considering
ended so that none sought to endammage other but each partie to defend their own They sent to King Charles a gentleman accompanied with certaine Monks of Montferrat for all their affaires they gouerned by such men either to saue charges thereby or to dissemble by such instruments with the lesse suspition as for example they did by Iohn de Mauleon the Frier Franciscan aboue named who perswaded the King to restore vnto them the countrey of Roussillon These ambassadors at their first audience besought the King to forget the great wrong the King and the Queene had done him I name alwaies the Queene bicause the crowne of Castile mooued by hir and bicause hir authority was greater there than hir husbands and vndoubtedly this was a very honorable mariage betweene the King hir husband and hir Then these ambassadors began to treat of truce desiring to haue all their league comprehended therein The ouuertures they made were these that the King should keepe the possession of Caietta and the other places he yet held in the realme of Naples and that during the truce he might victuall them at his pleasure Further that there should be a place assigned whither all the Princes of the league should send their ambassadors at the least as many as would to treat of peace the which being concluded the said King and Queene meant to continue their conquest or enterprise against the Moores and to passe the sea out of Granado into Africk there to inuade the King of Fessa who was their next neighbour on that side Notwithstanding some were of opinion that they meant rather to hold themselues contented with that they had already conquered I meane the realme of Granado which vndoubtedly was the greatest and honorablest conquest that hath been obteined in our time 8 yea such as their predecessors were neuer able to atchieue And I wish with all my hart for the honor I beare them that they had neuer mooued other war than this but had faithfully performed their promise to the King The King sent the Lord of Clerieux in Daulphine backe into Castile with their ambassadors and sought to conclude a peace or truce wherein their confederates should not be comprehended notwithstanding if he had accepted their offer made by these their ambassadors he had saued Caietta which had been sufficient for the recouerie of the whole realme of Naples considering the great fauour he had there The said de Clerieux at his returne brought a new ouuerture for Caietta was lost before he entred into Castile which was that the King and they should renew their former ancient league and attempt betweene them at equall charges the conquest of all Italie wherat the two Kings should be togither in person but they said they would first conclude a generall truce wherein all their league should be comprehended and then assigne a diet at some place in Piemont whither euery of their confederates should send their ambassadors to the end they might honorably depart from their said league All this ouuerture as we suspected then and vnderstood perfectly afterward was but meere dissimulation to win time to the end King Ferrand while he liued and afterward Dom Frederic newly crowned King might repose themselues notwithstanding I thinke they wished with all their harts the said realme of Naples to be their owne and sure they had better title to it than they that possessed it9. But vndoubtedly the house of Anious right which the King had was the best although to say the truth considering both the seate of the countrey and the disposition of the people that inhabite it me thinke he hath best right to it that can get it for they desire nothing but alteration The King afterward sent the aboue named de Clericux back againe into Castile one Michaell of Grammont with him with certaine other ouertures This de Clerieux bare some affection to these Princes of Arragon and hoped to obtaine of them the Marquisat of Cotron in Calabria which the King of Spaine conquered in the last voiage that his men made thither The said de Clerieux pretended title to it and he is a good plaine dealing man and one that will easily giue credit especially to such personages as these were At his second returne he brought with him an ambassador from the King and Queene and made his report to the King which was that they would hold themselues contented with that part of the realme of Naples that lies next to Sicilie to wit Calabria for the right that they pretended to the said realme and that the King should hold the rest and farther that the said King of Castile would be in person at this conquest and beare equall charges in all things with the King and indeed he held then and yet holdeth fower or fiue strong places in Calabria whereof Cotron is one which is a good and a well fortified citie I was present at this report which seemed vnto most of vs but meere abuse and dissimulation Wherefore it was determined that some wise man should be sent to them to sound the bottom of this ouuerture and thereupon the Lord of Bouchage was ioined in commission with the former ambassadors he was a man of deepe iudgement and one that had been in great credit with King Levvis and so is he also at this present with King Charles his sonne The Spanish ambassador that came with de Clerieux would neuer auow his report but answered that he thought the said de Clerieux would not make the report if the King his Master and the Queene had not willed him so to do which answer caused vs so much the more to suspect their dissimulation besides that no man would beleeue that the King of Castile would go in person into Italy or that he either would or could beare equall charges with the King After the said Lords of Bouchage Clerieux and Michaell of Grammont with the rest of their collegues were come to the K. and Queene of Castiles court they lodged them in a place where no man could com to commune with them for the which purpose also certaine were appointed to watch their lodgings But they themselues spake thrise with them when the said du Bouchage aduertised them of the report aboue mentioned made to the King by de Clerieux and Michaell of Grammont they answered that they would willingly endeuor themselues to conclude a peace for the Kings honor and profit And as touching the said report they confessed that indeed such speech had passed them by way of communication but not otherwise with the which answer de Clerieux being discontented and not without cause aduowed his report to be true before them both in the presence of the said Lord of Bouchage who with the rest of his companions concluded a truce the King hauing two moneths respit to accept it or refuse it wherin their confederates were not comprehended but their sonnes in lawe and the fathers of their sonnes in lawe namely the
Kings of Romanes and England 10 for the Prince of Wales was at that time very yoong were comprehended therein they had fower daughters the eldest of the which was a widow and had been married to the King of Portugales sonne that last died who brake his necke before hir as he passed a carrier vpon a ginnet within three moneths after their marriage The second and the third were married the one in Flaunders and the other in England and the fourth is yet to marrie After the Lord of Bouchage was returned and had made his report the King perceiued that de Clerieux had beene too credulous and that he had done wisely in sending du Bouchage thither bicause he was now assured of that which before he stood in doubt of The said de Bouchage aduertised him further that he could effect nothing but the conclusion of the truce the which he had libertie either to accept or refuse at his pleasure The King accepted it and sure it serued him to good purpose for it was the breach of their league which so much had troubled his affaires and which hitherto he could by no means dissolue notwithstanding that he had attempted all waies possible Thirdly the said de Bouchage informed the King that the King and Queene of Castile had promised him at his departure to send ambassadors immediately after him cause of their attainture was for that they had attempted to make him King of Portugale that now raigneth These Lords therefore and gentlemen were by meanes of this marriage recompensed in Castile by the King and Queene and their lands which they had forfaited in Portugale by attainture assigned to the Queene of Portugale now mentioned daughter to the said K. and Queene of Castile But notwithstanding all these considerations the said K. Queene repented them of this marriage for you shall vnderstand that there is no nation in the world that the Spaniards hate more than the Portugales so far foorth that they disdaine scorne them wherfore the said King Queene lamented much that they had bestowed their daughter vpon a man that should not be beloued in the realm of Castile their other dominions if the marriage had been then vnmade they would neuer haue made it which vndoubtedly was a great corrosiue to them yet nothing so great as this that she should depart from them Notwithstanding after all their sorrowes ended they led their said daughter and sonne in law through all the chiefe cities of their realme and made the said King of Portugale to be receiued for Prince and their daughter for Princesse and proclaimed them their successors after their death Some comfort they receiued after all these sorrowes for they were aduertised that the said Lady Princesse of Castile and Queene of Portugale was great with childe but this ioy prooued in the end double greefe so that I thinke they wished themselues out of the world for this Lady whom they so tenderly loued and so much esteemed died in trauell of the said childe not past a moneth agone and we are now in October in the yeere 1498. but the childe liueth 4 and is called Emanuell after his fathers name All these greatmisfortunes hapned to them in the space of three moneths Now to returne to the estate of Fraunce You shall vnderstand that about fower or fiue moneths before the said Ladies death a great misfortune happened also in this realme I meane the death of King Charles the eight whereof heereafter you shall heare at large It seemed therefore that God beheld both these houses with an angrie countenance and would not that the one realme should scorne the other For although the death of a Prince seeme but a trifle to many yet is it sure far otherwise for change of the Prince neuer happeneth in any realme but it traineth with it great sorrowes and troubles and notwithstanding that some gaine by it yet an hundred fold more lose bicause at an alteration men are forced to change their maner and forme of liuing for that that pleaseth one Prince displeaseth another Wherefore as before I haue said if a man well consider the sharpe and sudden punishments that God hath laide vpon great Princes within these thirty yeeres in Fraunce Castile Portugale England Naples Flaunders and Britaine he shall finde that they haue beene heauier and greeuouser than happened in two hundred yeeres before and whosoeuer would take in hand to discourse vpon all the particular misfortunes that I my selfe haue seene and in a maner knowen all the persons as well men as women to whom they happened should make thereof a huge volume and that of great admiration yea though it contained onely such as haue chanced within these ten yeeres By these punishments the power of God ought to be the better knowen for the plagues he powreth downe vpon great personages are sharper grieuouser and endure longer than those he sendeth to the poorer sort To conclude therefore me thinke all things well waied that Princes are in no better estate in this world than other men if they consider by the miseries they see happen to their neighbours what may happen to themselues For as touching them they chastice their subiects at their pleasures and God disposeth of them at his pleasure bicause other than him they haue none ouer them but happie is the realme that is gouerned by a Prince that is wise and feareth God and his commandements I haue briefly rehearsed the misfortunes that happened in three moneths space to these two great and mightie realmes which not long before were so inflamed the one against the other so busied in enlarging their dominions and so little contented with that they already possessed And notwithstanding that alwaies some as before I said reioice at changes and gaine by them yet at the first euen to them the death especially the sudden death of their Prince is very dreadfull and dangerous The Notes 1 This he seemeth to adde bicause the empire was greater but it was not the Emperors inheritance 2 Vnderstand the two first murthers of his wiues father and brother for his sonne was dead before he slue his owne brother 3 Vnderstand hir dowrie for hir first marriage 4 But the childe died also afterward and the crowne of Spaine descended to Iane the second daughter wife to Philip Duke of Austrich and mother to the Emperor Charles the fift Further you shall vnderstand that our authors memorie failed him heere for this Princes name was not Emanuel as Commines heere writeth but Michael according to all good authors and pedegrees both of Spaine and Portugale Of the sumptuous building King Charles began a little before his death of the great desire he had to reforme the Church and himselfe to diminish his reuenues and to redresse the processes of the law and how he died suddenly in this good minde in his castel of Amboise Chap. 18. I Will heere cease further to discourse of the affaires of Italie and Castile
chamber to die in notwithstanding that he had so many goodly houses and built one so sumptuous at that present These two examples aboue rehearsed declare the greatnes of Gods power and the shortnes and miserie of mans life which traineth with it great cares for the purchasing of worldly goods and honors and shew withall that death is common to all men the which a Prince can no more auoid than a poore plowman The Notes 1. Vnderstand to the end he might deliuer it to the Florentines 2 They withhold from the house of Austrich a part of Istria and Furly and from the empire Padoa and Veronne How the holy man Frier Hierom was burned at Florence by the procurement of the Pope and of diuers Florentines and Venetians his enimies Chap. 19. I Haue told you before in this discourse of our voiage to Naples that there was at Florence a Frier Iacobin called Hierome who had been resident there the space of fifteen yeeres being a man famous for his holy life and whom my selfe saw and communed with in the yeere of our Lord 1495. The said Frier as aboue is mentioned foretolde diuers things and affirmed alwaies that the King should passe ouer the mountaines into Italie and preached so openly saying that he vnderstood both this and all the other things whereof he spake by reuelation He said further that the King was chosen of God to reforme the estate of the Church with the sword and to chastice Tyrants But bicause he affirmed that he vnderstood these things by reuelation many murmured against him and he procured himselfe the displeasure of the Pope and of diuers others in the towne of Florence He led the holiest life that any man could leade as appeered both by his conuersation and also by his sermons wherein he preached against all kinde of vice so that he reformed the loose liues of many in the said citie But in this yeere 1498. about the selfe same time that King Charles ended his life died also this Frier Hierom within fower or fiue daies the one of the other The cause why I write this vnto you is for that he preached alwaies openly that the K. should return again into Italy to execute the commission that God had giuen him which was to reforme the Church by the sword and to chase tyrants out of the countrie and that in case he did it not God would punish him cruelly and all his former sermons and all that he made at this present he put foorth in print and are to be sold This threatning that he vsed against the King saying that God would punish him cruelly vnlesse he returned the said Frier writ also diuers times to him before his death and the like told he me with his owne mouth when I spake with him at our returne out of Italie saying that God had pronounced sentence against the King in heauen vnlesse he executed that which he had commanded him and restrained his men from spoile Now you shall vnderstand that about the time of the Kings death the Florentines were at great variance within the citie some desired the Kings returne and waited daily for it bicause of the great hope Frier Hierom gaue them thereof but in the meane time they consumed themselues and waxed maruellous poore by reason of the great charges they sustained in hope to recouer Pisa and the other places that they had put into the K. hands whereof the Venetians held Pisa But other some gaue aduice to take part with the league and vtterly to abandon the King saying that they were abused that it was folly to looke for his returne and that Frier Hierom was an heretike and a whoormaster and that it were almes to put him into a sacke and throwe him into the riuer but he was so friended in the towne that they durst not attempt it The Pope also and the Duke of Milan writ often against this Frier offering the Florentines to cause Pisa and their other places to be restored them if they would depart from their league with the King and take Frier Hierom and punish him And by chance at that present a new Seniorie was chosen in Florence whereof many were enimies to this Frier For you shall vnderstand that the said Seniorie changeth at euery two moneths end Wherefore the said Hieroms enimies suborned a Frier Franciscan to picke a quarrell to him and call him heretike affirming that he abused the people in saying he vnderstood any thing by reuelation for proofe whereof he offered himselfe to the fire and these words he spake before the Seniorie Frier Hierom would not present himselfe to the fire but a companion of his said that he would enter into the fire for him and then another companion of the Frier Franciscans presented himselfe on the other side whereupon a day was assigned when they should enter into the fire Vpon the which they both came accordingly accompanied each of them with his couent but the Iacobine brought the sacrament in his hand which the Frier Franciscans and the Seniorie also commanded him to lay downe which he refused to do wherfore they returned againe to their couents Then the people mooued by the said Frier Hieroms enimies went with the Seniories commission and tooke him with two others of his companions in his conuent and at the very first racked him cruelly they slue also the chiefest citizen in the towne called Francis Vallorie bicause he was the said Friers great friend Moreouer the Pope sent his commission whereby he authorized them to make their processe and in the end they burned them all three They charged him with these two points onely first that he raised discord in the towne and secondarily that he vnderstood by his friends of the councell all that he vaunted to know by reuelation For my part I will neither accuse them nor excuse them for this deed neither know I whether they did well or euill in putting him to death but sure he told many things that prooued true which he could not receiue from the councel of Florence And as touching the King and the euils he said should happen to him they came to passe as he prophesied for first he tolde him of the Doulphin his sonnes death and after of his owne as my selfe can witnesse for I haue seene the letters he writ thereof to the King Of the obsequies and funerals of King Charles the eight and of the coronation of King Lewis the 12. his successor with the genealogies of the Kings of Fraunce continuing to the said Lewis Chap. 20. THe Kings disease was a Catarre or an Apoplexie his Phisitions hoped it would haue fallen down into one of his armes the losse whereof they somwhat doubted but feared no whit any danger of death notwithstanding the contrarie to their expectation hapned He had fower Phisitions but gaue credit onely to the woorst of them and that so great that the others durst not vtter their minds for they would gladly haue
to diuorce himselfe from the Ladie Iane the Kings sister as forced vpon him against his will by King Levvis the 11. and to marrie with Anne the Duke of Britains eldest daughter and heire the hope wherof was the cause of this his voiage into Britaine but the selfesame hope entertained also Monseur d' Alebret and drew him to the Duke of Britains part the rather bicause he had receiued assurance of the marriage in writing vnder the hands of all the noble men that were about the said D. of Britaine saue of the D. of Orleans alone Of the war the King made in Britaine and of the Earle of Dunois ambassage to the King for peace Chap. 4. THe onely care of the banished nobles of Britaine was to returne and remaine in safetie in their countrie and the Kings onely desire was to be reuenged of the Duke of Britaine for receiuing the Duke of Orleans Wherefore the King as before is said entred into league with these nobles and in their fauour leuied an armie and began war vpon the Duke of Britaine in the yeere 1486. This armie inuaded Britaine three seuerall waies for the 1486 Lord of Saint André with fower hundred launces and fiue or sixe thousand footemen entred on one side the Earle of Montpensier with a great band vpon another side and Lewis of Trimouille Vicount of Touars who had married Gabriell of Bourbon the said Earle of Montpensiers sister vpon the third in such sort that the countrie of Britaine was couered with French soldiers with whom also the barons of Britaine aboue mentioned were ioined who caused diuers castels in Britaine to be yeelded to the Kings armie by those that were of their faction whereat the Duke of Britaine was greatly astonied But the Duke of Orleans the Earle of Dunois and the Earle of Comminges being with him comforted him and vnder colour of a marriage to be made betweene the Lady Anne the Duke of Britaines eldest daughter and the Lord of Alebret who had a hundred launces vnder his charge and was able to leuie great forces of footemen in Gascoine and Guienne where he was mightie and of goodly reuenues the Earle of Dunois wan the said Lord of Alebret to ioine with them who presently forsooke the Kings seruice and tooke part with them accordingly yet that notwithstanding the Duke of Britaine leauing Nantes in the hands of his cosin the Prince of Orenge retired himselfe to the castell of Malestroit being a strong place where he leuied an armie of sixe hundred launces and 16000. footemen to succour Ploermel distant three or fower leagues from Malestroit which the Kings armie then besieged But as this Britaine armie marched thitherward one of the company brake foorth into these speeches and asked what this war meant and what was the end thereof alleaging that their Duke was wholy gouerned by the French and that the French made the Britaines at their pleasure to reuenge French quarrels vpon the French wherefore he perswaded them to returne home to their wiues and children and not to spend their liues for other mens quarrels Whereupon all the armie disparkled and returned home by meanes whereof Ploermel seeing no hope of succours yeelded by composition and yet notwithstanding was spoiled and the rich men taken prisoners and put to raunsome The Dukes of Britaine and Orleans and the other Lords that were with them at Malestroit being aduertised of the departure of their armie and of the taking of Ploermel went to Vennes vpon Whitson euen being the yeere 1487. whither the Kings armie so speedily followed them that hardly they escaped by sea and went to Croisick and from thence by the riuer of Loire to Nantes being constrained to leaue part of their carriage 1487 in the said towne of Vennes which presently after their departure yeelded without any resistance Further not long after the taking of this towne the French in a skirmish at a place called Ioue betweene Chasteaubrian and Nantes defeated a great band of Britaines led by Amaulry of la Mossay towards Nantes at the which time the King in person lay at Ancenix After the taking of Vennes the Kings armie marched to Nantes and laid the siege before the towne the 19. day of Iune in the said yeere 1487. Within the towne were the Duke of Britaine and his two daughters Anne and Isabell the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Orenge the Lady of Lauall and of Chasteaubrian the Bishop of Nantes called du Chaffault a man of holy life the Earle of Comminges and diuers other Lords all the which dislodged out of the castell and lodged in the towne And bicause the companie had some ielousie of the said bishop of Nantes and the Lady of Lauall that they were not thoroughly to be trusted they were put in garde into certaine of the townes mens hands At this siege were ten thousand French men and great store of artillerie wherewith the wals towers and vaumures of the castell and towne were throughly battered but they without were as well plied by them within both with shot and with salies of valiant men where many a goodly feate of armes was done both on the one side and the other Further you shall vnderstand that the Earle of Dunois being in base Britaine there to embarke towards England to haue aide from thence and perceiuing that the winde would not suffer him so to do brought with him to succour the towne of Nantes aboue fiftie thousand of the commons of Britaine which the French suffered to passe supposing them not to be men of seruice But the King seeing the extreme heate of the weather and perceiuing that he could do no good before the towne leuied his siege the sixt day of August and departed Then marched the Kings armie before the towne of Dolle which they tooke without resistance and spoiled and all the Britaines and soldiers that were within it were taken prisoners Further the Kings armie spoiled all the countrie slue the people and draue away their cattell But the Marshall of Rieux and the greatest part of the banished nobles of Britaine that were in the Kings seruice lamenting the miserable estate of their country waxed wearie of the wars and alleaged that their league with the King was onely to this end that they might recouer their countrie and the French that liued in Britaine be constrained to returne home into theirs Wherfore seeing the French nobles being in Britaine protested that they would willingly returne home if the King would pardon their departure to the Duke and that the Duke on the other side with the consent of all his subiects had offered these banished nobles of Britaine pardon and restitution to all their goods and lands they sawe no cause why the wars should endure but that each partie should returne home in peace but the French and diuers also of the Britaines themselues were little mooued with these allegations Wherefore the said Marshal being Lord of Ancenix a towne very
of Milan that sith they vsed such strange termes to me I thought good to say thus much vnto them that the King would not lose the D. of Milans friendship if by any meanes it might be kept and that I as his seruant would do my dutie to my Master and excuse him of the euil reports which peraduenture had been made of him to the Duke their Master who I thought was misinformed saying further that he ought well to bethinke himselfe before he lost the recompence of the great seruice he had done the King for the Kings of Fraunce were neuer ingrate adding also that the speaking of a foolish word ought not to dissolue their friendship the continuance whereof was so necessarie for them both Wherefore I desired them to open vnto me their griefes that I might aduertise the King thereof before they proceeded further they sware all vnto me and protested that there was no such matter as I imagined but they lied for they were come thither to treat of the said league The next day I went to the Seniorie to commune with them about their league and to tell them my opinion thereof Among other things I alleaged that by the league concluded betweene the King and them and the late King Lewis his father and them they might not maintaine the one the others enimies wherefore they could not conclude the league now treated of without breach of their promise Then they caused me to withdraw my selfe a little and at my returne the Duke saide vnto me that I must not beleeue all that I heard in the towne for all men liued there in libertie and might speake what them listed and that as touching them they neuer meant to enter into league against the King neither heard euer of any such matter but on the contrarie side they sought to conclude a league betweene the King and these two other Kings and all Italy against the Turke at the common charges of them all and that if any in Italy refused to pay that he should be rated at the King and they would constraine him thereunto by force Moreouer they said that they trauelled to conclude a good peace for the King to wit that he should receiue of Dom Ferrand presently a summe of money which they offered to lend so that they might haue engaged for it those places in Pouille which now they possesse and that the realme should be held of the King by the Popes consent 23 and pay him yeerely a certaine tribute And further that he should hold in it three places and I would to God the King would then haue giuen eare to this offer but I answered them that I durst not deale therein bicause I had no commission nor authoritie so to do Moreouer I desired them not to be hastie in concluding this league bicause I would aduertise the King of these their ouertures I required them also as I had done the others to open vnto me their griefes and not to dissemble them as they of Milan had done Then they told me plainly that they were greeued bicause the King held certaine of the Popes townes but much more bicause of the Florentines places especially Pisa saying that the King himselfe had written both vnto them and diuers others that he would take nothing in Italy but the realme of Naples onely and afterward go against the Turke but now it plainly appeered that he would conquere all that he could in Italy and leaue the Turke in peace They said further that the Duke of Orleans whom the King had left behinde him in Ast put the D. of Milan in great doubt and feare and that his seruants vsed maruellous threatning words against him Notwithstanding they promised to conclude nothing before they receiued answer from the King at the least not before a conuenient time to receiue answer were expired and they dealt more honorably with me than they of Milan had done 24 Of all these matters I aduertised the King and receiued a cold answer from him from that daie forward they began daily to assemble togither bicause they knew their enterprise to be discouered The King was yet at Florence and if he had found any resistance at Viterbe as they thought he should they would haue sent men to defend Rome yea or if King Ferrand had not abandoned Rome as they thought vndoubtedly he would neuer haue done but when they heard of his departure thence they began to feare Notwithstanding the ambassadors of these two Kings pressed them earnestly to conclude saying that otherwise they would depart for they had been there fower moneths daily negotiating with the Seniorie In the meane time I labored all that might be to ouerthrow their league But when the Venetians saw all these places yeelded and were also aduertised that the King was entred into Naples they sent for me and told me these newes seeming greatly to reioice thereat notwithstanding they said that the castell was very wel furnished and I perceiued by them that they hoped assuredly it would haue held good Moreouer they licensed the ambassador of Naples to leuie men at Venice to send to Brandis and they were euen vpon the point to haue concluded their league when suddenly they receiued letters from their ambassadors that the castell was yeelded also to the King Then they sent for me againe in a morning and I found fiftie or sixtie of them assembled togither in the Dukes chamber who lay sick of the collicke He told me these newes with a cheerfull countenance but none of the rest could dissemble so cunningly as himselfe for some of them sate vpon a lowe bench leaning vpon their elbowes other some after one sort and others after another their outward countenances bewraying their inward griefe And I thinke verily when word came to Rome of the battell lost at Cannas against Hannibal that the Senators which remained in the citie were not more astonished nor troubled than these for none of them once looked vpon me none of them gaue me one word but the Duke alone so that I woondred to behold them The Duke asked me if the King would performe that which he had alwaies promised both by his letters and by me I assured him that he would and opened certaine ouertures of peace and offered my selfe to trauell therein trusting to put them out of all doubt and so departed Their league was as yet neither fully concluded nor fully broken off for the which cause the Almaines would needes haue departed in great heate The Duke of Milan would not yet condescend I wot not to which of their articles notwithstanding in the end he sent word to his ambassadors to seale with speede to all and thus at the length was their league concluded During the space that these practises were thus entertained among them I had from time to time aduertised the King of them all pressing him earnestly to resolue either to tarrie in the realme and to make prouision of greater forces of