whence the name of Austrich is properly deriued being then of a greater command then at this day for it conteined Hongarie Valachia Bohemia Transiluania Denmarke and Poland Then was our Monarchie great but all these nations haue either returned to their first beginnings or were seized on by new Lords It was very needful to shew the estate that we might obserue the declyning thereof with the motiues and seasons of these diuerse changes Thus the French Monarchie grew great by the happie valour of Charlemagne and his children grew in age and knowledge by the wise care of their father who framed them to affaires meaning first to make them succeed him in his vertues and then after in his dominions But man purposeth and God disposeth France Italie Germanie Spaine Hongarie made the Romaine Empire in the West Charles being master of these goodly Prouinces was in effect Emperour therof There wanted nothing but the sollemne declaration of this dignitie to haue the title as he inioyed the thing and to be autentically inuested by a free and publike declaration of his possession The prouideÌ„ce of God who gaue him the thing procured him the title by this means Leo was the Pope of Rome against whome was raised a strange sedition by Siluester and Campull 798 men of great credit in the Court of Rome Vpon a sollemne day of procession they seize vpon Leâ— The occasion why Chaâ—â—emagne was proclaymed Emperour before Saint Laurence Church they strip him of his Pontificall roabes cast him to the ground tread him vnder their feete bruse his â—ace with their fistes and hauing drawne him ignominiously through the dirt they cast him into pryson but he stayed not there being freed by a grome of his Chamber called Albin and hauing recouered Saint Peters Church hee intreated Vingise Duke of Spolete to free him from this miserable Captiuity Vingise fayled him not hee came to Rome and carried him to Spolete Being arriued there hee presently went into France to Charlemagne whome he found full of troubles yet Charles neglected all other affaires to assist Leo in his necessity So as hee came to Rome with a goodly army to succor the Pope where hee did speedily pacifie the confusions where-with Rome was afflicted punishing Leoes enemies according to Lawe They demanded audience the which Charles graunted them assembling the Clergie and people to heare and decide this scandalous controuersie But when as hee demanded their opinions the Prelates told him plainely that the Church of Rome could not be iudged by any other then by it selfe and that the Pope ought not to vndergo the censure of any man lyuing and that he himselfe ought to be iudge in his owne cause Charlemagne willingly leaues the iudgement seate and then Pope Leo mounted vp his throane where after hee had protested by oath to be innocent of those crimes wherewith his enemies had charged him he absolues himselfe and condemnes his enemies according to his Cannon The Pope is Iudge of all men and all things and not to be iudgeâ— by any Charlemagne being drawne to Rome vpon this occasion finds all disposed to declare him Emperour of the West seeing that with the price of his bloud opposing himselfe against the furies and incursions of barbarous nations hee had valiantly gotten possession of the Empire The beginning of the Empire of Charlemagne Acknowledged and installed Emperour by a free consent of the Romaine people in the yeare of grace 800. 800 THE Pope by this possession acknowledging Charles for true Emperour Charlemagne Crowned Emperour crownes him Emperour of Rome with a full consent of all the Romaine people which assisted at his Coronation crying with one generall voice happines long life victory to Charles Augustus Crowned the great and peaceable Emperour of the Romains alwaies happie and victorious This was in the yeare 800. on Christmas day the thirtith yeare of the raigne of Charles Italy hauing suffred a horrible confusion during the space of 33. yeares without Emperour without Lawes and without order The seat of the Romane Empire since Constantine the great remayned at Constantinople a Cittie of Thrace situate in a conuenient place â—or the gard of the Easterne Prouinces all the West being full of new guests who hauing expelled the Romaines the name authoritie and force of the Empire remained in the East where the State was in a strange confusion the mother being banded against her sonne and the people within themselues Constantine sonne to Leo the fourth was Emperour being gouerned from his infancie with the Empire by his mother Irene being come to the age of twentie yeares hee tooke vpon him the gouernment There was then a great diuision in the East continued from father to sonne for 80. yeares touching Images The Bishops would needes bring them into the Christian Church 801. The Emperours with the greatest part of the people opposed themselues This contention had his beginning vnder Philip Bardanes as wee haue sayd continued vnder Leo Isaurus and from him to his sonne Constantin surnamed Copronimus and of Leo the 4. sonne to the sayd Consâ—antin This disquieted all the East with infinit scandals The same fire continued in the minority of Constantin gouerned by his mother a woman of a violent spirit who hauing vndertaken the protection of Images held a Councell of many Bishops for the defence thereof but the people growing into a mutiny expelled them Constantinople by force where their assembly was held But this woman resolute to proceed assemble the same Councell at Nicea a Citty of Bithinia honored to haue harbored the first generall Councell vnder Constantin the great the first of that name where it was decreed that the Images of Saints should be planted in Christian Churches for deuotion Charlemagne did not alowe of this decree and eyther himselfe or some other by his command did write a small treatise against this Councell the which wee see at this day with this title A treaty of Charlemagnes touching Images against the Greeke Synode This cunning woman had made choise of the Citty of Nicea that the name of this ancient first Councell might honour this newe introduction with the pretext of antiquity for there are some that confound the first Councell of Nicea with the second and Constantin the 4. with the first Constantin continued in the hereditary hatred of his father and grand-father against Images so as beeing of age and in absolute possession of the Estate hee disanulled all these new decrees and caused the Images to be beaten downe in all places yet he made all shewes of respect vnto his mother yeelding vnto her a good part of his authority and command This respect was the cause of a horrible Tragedy for this womâ—â— transported for two causes both by reason of her newe opinion and for despight that shee had not the whole gouernment in herselfe growes so vnkind as shee resolues to dispossesse her sonne of the Empire and to seize on it her selfe Thus
flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâ—â—â— his Nephew for the County of Flanders His meaning was to make a benefit of their common quarrell But it fell out otherwise by his prouidence who doth pull downe one raise vp an other alwaies iustly although the causes be vnknowne vnto vs. Robert defeates the King and his Nephews After this victory hee is receiued Earle of Flanders without any discontent of the King for the distressed pupills who relying no more on him fled for succor to Thierry Bishop of Liege who makes an accord That Robert the Frison should haue the Earledom of Flanders giue his Nephews some recompence After this peaceable possession of the Earledome of Flanders Philip fâ—rsâ—ks Baldwins Children at their neede In England Philip became a deere friend to Robert forgetting the good offices hee had receiued from his tutor measuring friendship by proffiâ— Such was tâ—eÌ„ the state of Flanders England had a greater change we haue sayd that Robert Duke of Normandy had instituted William his bastard sonne his heire and that hee had gotten possession of the Dâ—chie but behold a greater happinesse attends him Edward King of England hauing receiued much kindnesse from him and knowing him fit for the gouernment of the realme names him his heire by his testament by vertue whereof notwithstanding all the policy and force that Herould brother to the Queene could vse William is receiued King of England and crowned in a soâ—lemne assemble of the English homage is done vnto him as to their lawfull Lord this great dignity continued in his posterity Philip sees this new power impatiently Philip discontented at VVilliams aduancement to the crowne of England yet can he not preuent it but God hath prepared it as a rod to correct this realme by the three sonnes which William left to succeed in his Estates Robert William and Henry Ambition is the Leuaine of these warres it shewed it selfe soone after the birth of this new power growen to the Dukes of Normandy whose first breeding we haue seene in the second race by the increase of the realme of England Robert and Henry the sonnes of William come to the King at Constans vpon Oise As they play at Chesse with Lewis the sonne of King Philip there fell some contention among these yong Princes and from iniurious words they fell to blowes Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard Henry struck at him with the Chesse-board and had slaine him if Robert had not staied him This blow being giuen Robert and Henry made all hast to saue themselues in Normandy The Leuaine of distention betwixt France and England where they incensed both heauen and earth with their complaints From this light beginning grew all the troubles which disquieted these two Estates during 400. yeares vpon diuers occasions Robert Henry being escaped the fathers so imbrace the quarrell for their children as they fall to armes Philip goes to field and takes Vernon depending of Normandie Robert goes out of Normandie and doth seize vpon Beauuois King William parts from England and lands in France with a great and mighty power The English enter into Guienne and inuades Xaintonge and Poitoâ— Behold the first check of a dangerous game Philip moued with these losses enters into Normandie with a great and mighty armie but he cures not one wound in making of another William on the other side runnes and spoiles all the Country euen vnto the gates of Paris where hee entred not then but his posteritie did after him Hee dies soone after but the quarrell suruiued in his children who augmented this hereditarie hatred in many sorts While they began to weaue this web Italy was in no better estate being full of horrible combustions and the cause was so much the more lamentable for that the mischiefe came from them Conâ—â—â—â—ons in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes from whom all good was to be expected We haue formerly spoken of the deuisions growne betwixt the Emperours and the Popes of Rome for their preheminences In all ancient times the Popes were subiect to be summoned before the Emperour who had authority to create them to depose them that were vnworthy of their charges to call Synods and to confirme all things which concerned the outward gouernment of the Church The Pope on the other side maintaines that all this authority was his The Popes vsurpation as vniuersall Bishop hauing power to bind and loose to iudge of all men and all causes as the soueraigne Iudge of the Church not to bee iudged by any man and so to dispose absolutely of all matters as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill as Monarch in the Church not only armed with power of excommunication to damne rebels and authority to remit sinnes but hauing also the temporall sword with soueraigne authority ouer Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth to place and diâ—place and to dispoâ—e of their estates Hereafter we shall find in euery raigne some memorable example of this soueraigne authority This raigne giues a very notable one After the death of the Emperour Conrade called Salique Henry the 3. of that name hauing happily gouerned the Empire left it to his sonne Henry the 4 yet very yong so as the Popes during this weakenesse of the Empire had meanes to fortifie themselues and so imbracing this occasion Gregory the 7. called Hildebrand did prohibite the Emperour all authority ouer the Clergie and forbad vpon paine of excommunication to haue any recourse vnto him for the collation of benefices or for any thing else that depended on the Church Henry moued with so great an affâ—ont Sâ—range confuâ—oâ—s betwixt the Emperoâ—r and the â—ope lets Gregory vnderstand that this his decree was contrarie to the ancient orders the vse of the Catholike Church Vpon this refusall he lets him know that hee will maintaine the rights of the Empire and complaines to the Clergie of Rome in an open assembly Gregorie calls an other wherein hee doth excommunicate Henry and all his adherents and sends forth his Bull into all parts wherby hee declares him excommunicate and degraded of the Empire and in his place causeth Rodolph Duke of Sueuia to be chosen Emperour Thus there growes two factions in Italy and in Germanie one for the Emperour and the other for the Pope behold two armies leuied of these factions ready to shed Christians bloud nine battailes were giuen vpon the quarrell of these preheminences In the end Rodolphe the new Emperour is taken and slaine by Godefroy of Bouillon who followed the Emperour Henry the fourth who after this victorie assembled a great Councell at Bresse where as Gregorie the seuenth is excommunicated and Clement Bishop of Râ—uenna appointed to succeed him they conduct him to Rome with an armie take the Citty after a long siege whereas the new Pope is sollemnlie installed and Henry the 4. Emperour restored
when hee sees Frederecks conquests to increase hee straines his witt to find out remedies to stoppe so dangerous a deluge Hee rayseth some troupes which he calleth holy but they were to weake to withstand so great a force Hee therefore fliâ—s to Councells the firmest bulwarke of his authoritie hee makes a Bull of excommunication proclaymes him a capitall enemie to the Church and layes open the causes by a publike declaration Frederick continuing his 〈◊〉 answeres the Popes writing by an Aduocate of Capua called Iohn de Vignes and so giues words for words But Fredericks forces had preuailed without a better remedie Here-vpon Pope Gregory dies Celestin suceeds him who within fewe daies after his eâ—ection dies and leaues the Chaâ—er to Innocent the 4. with this quarrell not yet determined Innocent in the life of Gregory was a Gibelin and by his death beeing chosen Pope hee becomes a Guelphe as great an enemy to Frederick Gregory turnâ— enemy to Frederick being chosen Pope as hee had beene a fâ—iend a cunning and circumspect man who pollitikely wrought the meanes to vndoe Frederick After his election hee sends his Nontio into France to exhort our Lewis to succor him according to the ancient proofes of the most Christian Kings to the Holy Sea and to assure him the better hee giues him to vnderstand that hee is resolued to come into France as the most safe retreate of Christendome nowe afflicted He comes calls a Councell at Lions whether he cites Frederick but vpon so short a warâ—ing as hee could not appeere Frederick hauing sent his Ambassadoâ—s to the Councelâ— to require a lawfull time and to aduertise the Pope of his comming beginnes his iorney to performe his promise Being arriued at Thurin The Emperoâ— Frederick excommunicated and degraded he hath intelligence giuen him that the Pope had condemned him as contumax excommunicated him and degraded him of the Empire But this was not without the consent of the Princes electors of the Empire who after nature deliberation proceeded to a new election The thundering Bull of excommunication and deposition is no sooner published but the Princes Electors choose Henry Landgraue of Thuringe for Emperour vpon the recepit of these newes Frederick staies at Thurin and hauing sent to sound the Germaiâ—s mindes hee findes strange partialities the greatest part of the Nobility banded against him and resolued to reiect him The Germains choose an other Emperor Thus hee felt the force of the Popes powre The proofe of this resolution was at hand for as Henry of Thuringe the newe Elected-Emperour approched to Vlmes to force them to yeeld to his obedience and that the partisans of Frederick would not receiue him hauing beseeged the Citty hee was wounded with an arrowe whereof he died shortly after wherevpon the Princes Electors of the Empire did presently choose William Earle of Holland for Emperour at the same times the faction of the Guelphes of Pauia being banished found meanes to reenter the Citty where they made a horrible and bloudy massace of Giâ—â—lins with more then ordinary fury vsed in Ciuill mutinyes The Emperour Frederick in this various vncertenty of his affaires being in Italy with his army 1255. he flies to the neerest He beseegeth Pauia and for that he would not hazard his forces whereof he might stand in neede if Germany fayled him hee resolued to block it and builds a Fort which he calles Victoria but hee reckoned ill without him that giues victories measuring the issue too confidently by the proiect Thus God confoundes the enterprises of men when they attribute that to themselues which belongs to his power This done Frederick leauing his Bastard Encius to command the seege takes his way to Lions where the Councell was yet remayning with an intent to repayre his affayres but he is not farre gone when as newes comes vnto him that the Inhabitants had made a great sallye and forced and razed his Fort of Victoria with great losse of his men He returnes to Pauia takes it by force and did execute that which the outrage lately committed might moue a Choloricke man vnto being halfe desperate But this surprise repayred not his Estate for in all the cheefe citties of Italy the Guelphs faction was the stronger through the authority of the Councell of Lions which had wonderfully disgraced Frederick first by Excommunications and then by a ciuil Deposition The death of â—redeâ—ick Frederick seeing himselfe distressed of all sides as in great afflictions one mischief calling another the greatest is to be faint harted he suffered himselfe to be so oppressed with griefe as he falls into a burning feauer and dies burying in one graue his Life his Desseignes and his Imperiall dignity whereof at that time he was depriued Thus Frâ—derick dies Conrad his son poysoned by his Basterd brothâ—r Manfrâ—y leauing Italy and Germany in great combustion and Conrade his Sonne the Successor rather of his miseries then of his enheritance for seeking to effect that which his Father could not doe and to preserue the Realmes of Sicilia and Naples to his successors he lost his Life and both Realmes hauing trusted Manfroy his Fathers Bastard too much who poisoned him notwithstanding hee had appointed him Tutor to his Sonne Conradin not knowing by whose hand he died Manfroy seeing himselfe in possession by this Title giues it out that Conradin was dead and vnder this goodly title to be the neerest kinsman of the lawfull Lordes Manfroy vâ—urps Sâ—cilia Naples He tooke possession of these two Realmes The stronger alwayes preuailes in an Estate Manfroy was master of Naples and of Sicilia although Conradin had the right and to assure the possâ—ssion of what he had gotten he alies himselfe with Iames King of Arragon giuing his daughter Constance in marriage to Petâ—r his eldest sonne This was in the yeare 1255. a remarkable date for so long a quarrell Manfroy could not bee heire to Fredericks Estates but he must withall succeed in the hatred the Popes did beare him the subiect of discontent remayning in those Seigneuries which he enioyed vnder his name Pope Vrban the 4. who then did hold the Sea of Rome did excommunicate Manfroy as a disturber of the Church and of Italy but finding himselfe too weake for the execution of his decree he cast his eyes to the place from whence his predecessors had alwaies drawne assured timely succors Lewis our good King of a contrary humour to their turbulent passions Lewis refuseth Sicilia Naples offâ—red him by the Pope was a spectator of these disorders but so indifferent as athough the councell of Lions had beene held by his consent yet had hee done his best endeauor to quench this fire kindled betwixt the greatest persons of Christendom He could not be mooued by the authority or perswasions of Pope Vrban to take away an other mans estate being well content with his owne But Charles Earle of Prouence perswaded by his owne disposition thrust
FRANCE XXXXVI HE found his authoritie respected within the Realme 1286. as well for his age The dâ—spâ—sition of Philip. as hauing gouerned the State with dignitie vnder his Father Philip. A good Prince Iudicious and of a noble minde and the which was not the least point of happinesse in this life he was well married with Ioane Queene of Nauarre whereof he tooke the name of King before the decease of his father His issue enioying her as a sweete companion of his complexions He had three sonnes by her goodly Princes of body and excellent spirits Lewis Philip and Charles which shall bee Kings successiuely one after another but all so ill matched Philip vnhappie in the marriage of his sonnes as it was his greefe to see his childrens houses infected with three Strumpets and put away without all hope of issue hauing seuerely punished the corrupters of his Daughters in lawe and confinâ—d these inâ—atiat mastiues into Monasteries He had also one Daughter of the same bed named Isabel who was married to Edward King of England leauing vnto France a heauie and dangerous Leuaine of horrible confusion by the meanes of her sonne a fatall scourge for this realme Philip after the decease of Ioane His second wife maried Constance the Daughter of Charles King of Sicilia a faire and a young Princesse whom he left great with a sonne the which was borne eight dayes after his decease and suruiued him but few dayes His raigne He began to raigne in the yeare 1286. and dyed in the yeare 1315. hauing raigned twenty and nine yeares The entrance of this raigne was goodly but Flanders Guienne and the Pope gaue him vpon diuers occasions and at diuers times many great and painfull crosses He loued Iustice and Learning wherin he was well instructed for that age so as he did consecrate the first fruits of his raigne to honor both the one the other as also the Muses did honour him with a goodly Oration which is read in the Originall of this Historie 1287. for a commendable memorie to posteritie of the vertues of this great Prince The Parliament was not tyed to any place but changed according to the necessitie of Prouinces Sutes were most commonly iudged definitiuely by the Bayliffs and Seneshals and the greatest causes were decided Soueraignly in the Kings Councell who gaue free audience to their Subiects Philip hauing obserued by the experience of former raignes that it was very necessarie to haue â—urisdictions distinctly limited The Parliament of Paris erected left a Soueraigne power to his Parliament at Paris a part of his royall authoritie in ciuill and criminall causes and the better to gouerne it he appointed a sufficient number of Presidents and Councellors with his Aduocate and â—roctor which number hath beene since augmented according to occasion and for the greater countenance of this dignitie hee placed it in his chiefe Cittie of Paris and to that end he caused that great Pallace one of the most admirable buildings vnder the coape of Heauen to be built by the meanes of Enguerand of Marigny Earle of Longueuille The Palace built Superintendant of the Treasurie of France Hee first oâ—dained but two sittings of the Parliament in the yeare the which necessitie hath made ordinâ—rie vnder Lewis Hutin his Sonne who also erected an Exchequer at Roan Other Prouinces had their Parliaments at diuers times and vpon diuers occasions With like affection he fauoured his Vniuersities of Paris with all maner of priuiledges hauing his Wife Ioane a companion of the same humour whom he suffered to build in her name that goodly Colledge of Nauarre where at this day in this Iron age Colledge of Nauâ—râ—â— wee may bâ—hold with admiration the great bountie of â—ur Kings in commendable and vertuous actions These goodly beginnings in shew the first fruites of a sound peace were crossed with many difficulties both within and without the realme Flanders gaue the fiâ—st subiect This Countrie is one of the chiefe Seignâ—uries of this Monarchie and in the yeare 1225. this lawfull subiection was acknowledged at Meluâ— by the Earle of Flanders Cause of the wâ—râ—e in Flanders In the beginning of this raigne Guy Earle of Flanders came to do his homage to Philip who required to haue the Citties of Flanders to ratifie this peace of Melun the which was performed but vnwillingly by this riche people who still complained vnto Philip that his Parliament at Paris did infringe their Priuiledges for the which hee wisely prouided but the great securitie of these rich Citties musâ— â—eeds be the cause of their own afflictions as it chanceth ofteÌ„ that a rich people being too faâ—r The cause of quâ—rrell in Guyenne seâ—ke wilfuâ—ly their owne ruine Guyenne did likewise much trouble Philip and these two quarrels were intricate one with another like vnto diseases which come together according to the times and occasions when they chance The King of England was Duke of Guienne since the marriage of Elenor as wee haue seene but many difficulties haue fallen out the accord made by the King S. Lewis specified by vs had limittâ—d the Seignâ—uries of Guienne to the English the which hee should hold by homage of our Crowne but he could not limit his desire being watchfull vpon all occasions to free himselfe from the subiection of France Let vs follow by degrees the actions and the orâ—er of times in the combersome report of these new stormes falling out diuersly and in diuers places like as in a time inclined to raine a Cloud dischargeth it selfe by Planets in diuers parts â—he force and neighbourhood of England increased the quarâ—ell and caused a continuance by diuers accidents Edward the first of that name Sonne to Henry the third liued then in England and Count Guy in Flanders Edward came likewise into France and did homage to the new King for the Duchie of Guienne and other lands which he held of the Crowne Occâ—sioâ—â— to râ—nue the war with the â—â—glish as Guy had done for his It chanced that certaine English Ships scouring along the coast of Normandie made a great spoile of the subiects of France Philip vpon their complaints intreates Edward to cause restiâ—â—â—ion to be made of that which had beene vniustly taken by his subiects Edward neglects it so as Philip causeth him to be adiourned to yeeld a reason of this attempt as vasâ—all to the Crowne He appeares not and so by sentence he is declared guiltie of fellonie and of high Treason and to haue forfeited his interest in all his Seigneuries of France For the execution of this decree Arnoul of Neele Constable of France is sent into Guienne with an armie 1293. in the yeare 1293. a notable date to coate the fiâ—st letter in this Inuentarie of a very long processe although with some inteâ—mission yet so violent as it had a most ruined France The Constable doth his exploit Pâ—ilip sends an armiâ— into
to point beginning with rigour and ending with mildnesse they take a contrary course They feared sayd they in their iuâ—â—ification that his Holynesse holding the Wolfe by the eares pressed on the one side sometimes with promises sometimes with threats by the Emperour and on the â—ther side in a maneâ— despairing euer to finde grace or fauour with the King should in tâ—e end cast himselfe into the Emperours armes and runne the same fortune with him To drawe him therefore to the French party they offer the Pope in the Kings name To make him Iudge and Arbitrator of such controuersies and quarrels as hee had with the Genouois the which his Maiestie pretended were not conteined in his renunciation And the better to drawe him The Cardinals meanes to win the Pope they renued without any speciall commission the proposition first made by Pope Leo and after reuiued by Clement of the marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with Katherine Daughter to the Duke of Vrbin This did greatly please Clement who then began to hold vp his head and resolued to strâ—ke whilest the Yron was hotte This match was wonderfull honourable and beneficiall for his Holinesse and helpt much for the ratifying and support of his house the which he had in singular regard The Emperour did presently discouer that vpon the comming of these Cardinals the Popes affection to him was greatly altered And vpon the first discouerie of this tâ—eatie of marriage hee imployes the Lordes of Cannes and Granuelle to breake it in fauour of Francis Sforce with the sayd Duchesse of Vrbin and to perswade â—â—e Pope that his practices was artificially brought in by the King to entertaine him onely but not with any intent to conclude it considering the great disparitie of their degrees and qualities and seeing theâ—e two Cardinalls said he had no sufficient authoritie touching this allyance it was an euident proofe of the fraude But by meanes of this marriage the King thought to strengthen his house and to get new footing in Italie and the Pope did thereby free himselfe from the feare of a Councell wherewith he was threatned from France Germanie and England While the Cardinals attend a Commission from his Maiestie to conclude this marriage the Emperour continued his pursute for the assurance and declaration of his league comprehending the estate of Genes And the better to vnite it he required his confederates to make a taxe among them for the pay of such Souldiars as should be fitte to entertaine in Italie for the peace and quiet thereof that the first paiment should bee presently consigned into the hands of a Banker of Genes and that the Emperour should not be tied to any contribution in regard of his great charge to resist the Turkes inuasion and to preuent the attempts of such as would trouble the common quiet of Italy whereof there was now great likelihood By the force of his perswasions the matter was in a maner concluded But through the liuely reasons of the French Cardinals and the Lord of Velly Ambassador for the King shewing That the Emperour had no other desseine but to entertaine his armie vpon the frontiers of Italie at other mens charges being ready to assaile the King vpon all occasions without any charge to himselfe and that without doubt the King hauing reason to looke to his affaires would incounter him with another armie on the frontiers of Italy in the Marquisate of Salusse or in Daulphiné which would breed no quiet but troubles and combustions throughout all Italy for two armies being neere they willingly fall to blowes they concluded not to make any consignation but that euery one of the confederates should taxe himselfe for his portion any warre chancing in Italy and should giue a caution for his part the which did amount to a hundred or sixe score thousand Crownes a moneth So the Emperour sent three thousand men out of his Armie into Spaine as many likewise to Naples and the rest he dismissed Then came authority from the King to the Cardinals his Ambassador with an expresse clause for the confirmation of the marriage And the Emperour seeing himselfe frustrate of his intent to make the Pope declare himselfe openly against the King he imbarked the 8. of Aprill at Genes and sailed towards Spaine the Pope 〈◊〉 towards Rome The Emperor râ—tâ—râ—s into Spaine whether the aboue named Cardinals did accompanie him alwayeâ—â—â—sisting by the Kings importunitie that the troubles of England might be pacified before the fall of that great storme which threatned the Churches But the King of England wearied with the Popes dissembling and delayes â—hâ—m he then called but Bishop of Rome vpon the matter of his diuorce he caused it t◠〈◊〉 decided by the English Church The Arch-bishop of Canterburie Primate of England being president where by sentenceof the said Church his marriage was declared voide The first motiue of the separation of England from the Church of Rome and the dispensation voide as giuen in a case that was not dispensable and which is not in the Popes power not in the Churches According to this sentence he left his first marriage and tooke to wife Anne Bullen and in her name did publish an ample Treatie against the authoritie and preheminences of the Church of Rome resolute to sequester himselfe wholy if the Court of Rome did him not iustice These newes being published the Emperour growes in choller threatens to raise all the world against England takes his Aunts cause in hand summons the Pope to administer the like iustice to her that was put away as her cause required if hee doth it not he protests with an oath to be reuenged The Colledge of Cardinalls stoâ—â—â—â— they enuiron the Pope and all with one voyce demand iustice against the attemâ—t◠〈◊〉 the King of England and the Archbishops hauing taken knowledge of a cause the deciding whereof belonged to Iudges deputed by his Holinesse His Holynesse desired to temporise and to make a more quiet end He did 〈◊〉 that proceeding to condemnation and hauing no meanes to execute it really were a fruitlesse enterprise and would make his Apostolick authoritie contemptible 〈◊〉 no meanes to put it in execution without the Emperours assistance besides they â—ad a great let which was the strict alliance of the most Christian King with the 〈◊〉 who ioyning their mutuall forces offensiue and defensiue might ingage all Câ—â—istâ—ndome in more mortall warres then euer Notwithstanding in the end as well tâ— gratifie the Emperour as his Cardinalls The Pope censures the King of England he pronounced his censures against the King â—f England if within a certaine time he made not reparation of the sayd attempts Tâ—en he prepared for his enterview with the King notwithstanding all the crosses 〈◊〉 the Imperialls gaue him transforming themselues into as many shapes as Proteus 〈◊〉 draw him from this resolution all which are to be read in the Originals Nice had beene appointed for this effect
force vs to seeke for consolation My end and purpose in this labour I haue endeuored therefore my Countrymen to trace out some slender obseruations for you in this little worke such as I could I see it is not according to the dignitie and greatnesse of the subiect worthy in truth of a good writer rather fit for that obscure age when the most ancient Druides had a maxime not to write at all or of those which haue left vs these small Abridgements the which we now vse for want of better and without doubt if our History had incountred such spirits as the Greeke and Latin did it had been nothing iâ—feriour to any of them in Beauty and Profit This is the onely cause why our Countrimen haue not read our History hauing not enioyed the light of Excellent Writers to represent her in her liuely colours according to her deserts And although ouâ— France hath heretofore had cause to complaine in this respect yet now that fault is partly repaired by the industrie of some that striue to plant and beautifie it Amongst all that haue laboured in this subiect Du Haillan in my opinion exceeds all others with immortall commendations hauing so happily clensed these ouer-growne busnes and made so plaine a pathe in this thick and obscure forrest if zeale to doe my Countrie seruice and hopâ— by my example to awake the learned to doe better weâ—e not my iust excuse where should I hide me from the blotte of inconsiderate rashnesse especially being in this Citty of Paris nor onely the capitall Citty of France the fertile Mother of goods wittes but also the Rendez-vous of the greatest miracles in the world I will therefore speake freely that in presuming to beautifie this History I haue taken for the onely obiect of my aime To seeke the truth with the vse thereof and to giue you some cause of content Regard not my tongue I offer you the simple truth without painting the which I haue curiously searched for in many good Bookes which my necessary aboade here hath giuen me meanes to obtaine and the desire I haue to serue you occasion to imploy them for as I am wholie vowed to the publike so will I yeeld an accompt not onely of my idlenesse but also of my imployments I haue therefore resolued to vndertake a labour that should not bee vnprofitable in preparing you a way to learne your Historie in the originalls with lesse paine and more profit I do therefore call this my endeuour an INVENTORIE by the direction whereof you may see the body and euery part at your pleasure If I may perswade the Reader to conferre this my labour with the writings of others vpon this subiect both old and new I shall not then need to put in caution but be of an assured hope to obtaine a testimonie of my fidelitie And it may be in time of some diligence at the least I bring nothing that hath not beene well purified and applyed to the vse The fruite depends on the blessing of God by the iudgement of such as shall read mee I will protect onely for that which doth concerne my selfe I haue vsed the Rule Square Lead and Compasse to obserue proportion both in sâ—â—le and subiect that in my course I might direct you to the firme truth if it bee with that light and breuitie I pretended I shall haue cause to thanke God and to labour in some subiect of greater moment yet I haue done my best indeauour that the learned may supply my defect in doing better The course is open euery one may runne it I leaue the prize to them that shall doe best my intent was onely to profit the publique and therefore I bring not an Abridgement but an INVENTORY I haue searched the very Springs of such as went before me The first haue not hindred the second and why should the second take it ill to be followed by others one kinde of meate may be diuersly seasoned to good purpose A small Dyall markes the houres in like proportion to a great Clock It is one of my wishes that this goodlie subiect may be set to open view that the learned may striâ—e to exceed one another and leaue no excuse for our French-men to be any more strangers in France making the way easie and profitable If in this respâ—ct my zeale and integritie may bee approued of my Countrie why should I repent the imployment of some houres in so goodly and worthy a worke as a testimonie at the least that I desire to discharge my dutie To conclude my Countrymen The occasion of this Historie I must not conceale from you the chiefe cause that induced mee to compile this worke About sixe and twenty yeares since I was thrust forth vpon the Theater being very young to represent the Historie of our miseries the desire of forraine Nations begat this desseigne being curious to vnderstand a particuler relation of our Tragedies By reason whereof I presented this my first worke in Latin that Strangers might vnderstand it I held it for an Abortiue and esteemed the losse but lightly yet was the successe greater then my proiect for being imbraced by the publique beyond desert it hath so increased that of one Booke there is made fifteene and corrected with diuerse impressions And as the Child increased so the Father had meanes to do him good GOD suffering me to liue to be a witnesse of great accidents not onely as many of my Country-men that sees the danger from a safe Porte but imbarked in full Seas amidst these common tempests for being imployed in some and no small affayres both within and without the Realme I had the Honor to be admitted into Kings and Princes Cabinets to manage publique causes of Prouinces and to conferre with the heads of Parties to learne from their owne mouthes and from others that had authoritie and imployment vnder them the Truth of all that passed so as being able to giue a reason for many things which I had seene I may likewise giue an account of most that hath passed by the proceedings and instructions of both parties I will adde to this opportunitie the priuate deuotion which hath alwayes held my minde inclined to this care to gather together whatsoeuer was done when as necessity of affaires thrust mee into imployments and this my desire succeeded so happily that both great and small haue fauourablie imparted vnto mee whatsoeuer might benefit concerning this subiect So as I haue made a iust collection of all the substance that may serue for the building of a perfect Historie from the beginning of the troubles to this day The end of this painfull labour depends of him from whom proceeds the euents of all our prayers To him therefore I referre my selfe protesting onely of that which is in mee As therefore I aduow my selfe both Debtor of this worke and Author of these Bookes which wander among men so I protest the fault shall not be mine if all
kills her son She therefore giues him a morsell mixte with a languishing poyson which caused him to consume of a bloudy flixe that as he had sâ—ilt the bloud of others so hee might die in bloud and that the same wretched counsell which had bin the sepulchre of his brother should likewise be his owne for a memorable example to posterity that God suffreth nothing vnpunished and doth often punish the wicked by themselues and by their owne practises Such was the tragicke ende of the troublesome life of Thierri But what shall become of Brunehault The Iustice of God goes slowly but he recompenceth the slownes with the grieuousnesse of the punishement Let vs then heare the continuance of our history Brunehault carries a good countenance after the death of Thierri She makes him a stately funerall like a â—ourney and of foure bastard sonnes which Thierri had left she chooseth him that pleaseth her best to install him King in his fathers place and in the meane time she continewes the gouernment of the reaâ—me and calles herselfe Regent To conclude she doth promise vnto herselfe in all her courses farre better successe then Fredegonde presuming that she exceeded her in iudgement and experience no man remayning to controule her actions but her discourses were vaine imaginations and her foolish hopes the snares of her owne ruine The Nobility of Bourgongne infinitely grieued with the horrible wickednes of this womaÌ„ resolute not to endure the new tiranny which she practâ—sed had recourse vnto Clotaire as to their true and lawful Lord. Brunehault playes the resolute she prepares to war sendes diuerse Ambassadors into Germanie the chiefe was Varnare Mayre of the Pallace of Austrasia a man of great authority both at home and with strangers Hauing sent him for succors to some Princes of Germany shee growes iealous of him without cause and sends a trustie seruant of hers named Albon to finde meanes to kill him Albon hauing read those deadly letters teares them but vnawares he lets fall the peeces of this letter the which are gathered vp and caried to Varnare who vpon this new accident takes a new aduise He resolues to crosse the practises of this murtheresse so well knowne and hatefull to all men who likewise would make away her best seruants who had beene too faithfull vnto her in the execution of her wicked desseines Varnare doth treate so politikely in Germany as hee with-drawes their hearts and forces from Brunehault and winnes them vnto Clotaire This Counterbattery thus made hee returnes into Bourgongne His returne bred an vnexpected change for she who had alwaies deceiued was deceiued in the end fell into the pittefall Varnare did not seeme to knowe what she had desseined whereby hee had meanes to countermine all Brunehaults policies with so wise a dissimulation by his great authority as he gaines all the chiefe men for Clotaire deliuers into his hands the children aforesaide pretended to be heires and by this means giues him an easie victory ouer Brunehaults troupes who yeelding vnto Clotaire deliuer vp this wicked woman the cause of all their miseryes So at length the Wolfe is taken vnawares Clotaire a victor was receiued by common consent of the Austrasiâ—ns and Bourguignons and by that meanes beeing absolute maister of that great inheritance of Clouis his grand-father beganne his reigne by a worthy act of memorable Iustice. Hauing in his power the chiefe motiue of all these mischiefes hee caused Brunehaults processe to be made by the greatest personages he could choose in all his dominions that in so notable an assembly the sentence might be irreprochable By their censures Brunehault was found culpable of infinite and horrible crimes and was condemned to die by a terrible and extraordinary punishement for she was tied to the tayle of a wild maâ—e and drawne through a stony and rough Country Brunehault put to a horrible death so as being torne into diuerse peeces she died at diuerse times most iustly as shee had cruelly caused many others to die A notable example to shewe that the greatest cannot auoid the soueraigne Iustice of God who punisheth in this world when it pleaseth him when he spareth them it is a signe that hee reserues the punishment to his last Iudgement 610 Thus died Brunehault onely commended in histories to haue built many temples giuen great reuenues for the mainteynance therof whilest that she wallowed in her pleasures Saint Gregorie hath set downe certaine letters of his to Brunehault wherein hee commends her highly for her piety and singular wisdome Clotaire seeing himselfe King of so great a monarchy after a long and horrible confusion of intestine warres imployed all his eare to pacifie the realme leauing notable examples to princes to cure the wounds of an Estate after ciuill warres by mildenes Hee doth publiquely proclaime pardon of all iniuries both generall and particular to abolish the memory to come making his example a lawe of perpetuall forgetfullnesse This moderation Mildnes a 〈◊〉 remedie to cuâ—e a decayed estate more victorious then any great and seuere chasticement wonne him the loue and obedience of his subiects and confirmed a true and no counterfiet concorde amongest the subiects themselues He gouerned them after their owne humours vsing his authority with mildenes And for that they had liued in the Court of Kings from whome they receiued aduancements and honours the which they could not do by their annuall offices as then the gouernments were hee erected perpetuall magistrates with such authority as it might well bee termed the true patterne of a royaltie The greatnes of the seruant is a blemish to the Master He then augmented the great authority of the Maires of the Palace who controlled Kings and in the end vsurped the royaltie whereas before they were but controllers of the Kings house and not of the realme A notable president for Princes in the settling of an estate not so to communicate their authority to their seruants whome they desire to gratifie as they may haue meanes to become maisters Clotaire layed the first stone in the chaunge which shall happen to his posterity He had one onely sonne whose name was Dagobert It was his greatest care to haue him well instructed committing him to Arnoul Bishop of Metz a learned man and of a good life and likewise to Sadragesille his gouernour But Dagobert discouered euen then his bad disposition intreating his gouernor Sadragesille vnworthily Wherewith Clotaire the King was wonderfully mooued against his sonne who shewed afterwards that this was but a preparatiue to that he would attempt against his owne father forceing him in his life time to giue him the realme of Austrasia for his portion This kinde of rebellion was the fruite of Clotaires too great lenity as also priuate quarells which bred great disorders in the Court. Thus wee see there is nothing absolutely perfect in this world Clotaire dies in the yeare of Chrst 631. hauing gouerned 44. yeares from
called the Bald King anâ— Emperour who raigned 33 yeares and to Charles the 2. succeeded 879. 27. Lewis the 2. his sonne called the Stuttering King and Emperour who raigned but a yeare and six moneths   At his death he left his wife with child who being borne was acknowledged for lawfull King and called Charles the Simple his minoritie lasted 22. yeares Many Tutors many confusions These Regents are crowned Kings and acknowledged by that name doe hold the ranke among Kings and so we must diuide these 22. yeares to euery Regent according to his raigne 881. 28. Lewis the 3. and Caroloman bastard of Lewis the stuttering raigne as Regents fiue yeares 889. 29 Charles the 3. a Prince of the bloud called the grosse as Regent he raigned 7. yeares being both King and Emperour he was put from them both 896. 30. Eudes or Odon sonne to Rob. Duke of Aniou as Regent he raigned 10. y. In the confusion of these last Maisters the royall autâ—oriâ—y being greatly weakned many Countries freed themselues from the obedience of the French Monarchie So fell out   THE ECLIPSE OF THE EMPIRE   Both in Germanie Italy The body of the Empire remained in Germanie being afterwards gouerned by an Emperour chosen by the Princes Electors And Italy was dismeÌ„bred into diuers Principalities vnder diuers Potentates In the end after this minority of 22. â—eares 899. 31. Charles the 4. called â—he Simple sonne to Lewis the Stuttering was crowned as lawfull King raigned 25. yeares But Raoul of Boâ—rgongâ—e 923. 32. A Prince of the bloud was called by the League to put downe King Charles called the Simple being imprisoned by them and forced to renounce the Crowne Charles dying with griefe Raoul raigned 13. yeares but in the end was expelled from this vniust vsurpation 936. 33. Lewis the 4 called d'Outremer or beyond the sea sonne to Charles the Simple being called out of England whether his Moâ—her had carried him to preserue him from the League was acknowledged King and raigned twenty and nine yeares 954. 34. Lothaire his sonne suâ—câ—eded him who raigned thirtie and three yeares 986. 35. Lewis the 5. sonne to Lothaire raigned about two yearâ—s and dying without issue interred with him the race of Charles Martel as his Ancestors had of long time obscured his vertues and that of the valiant Charlemagne vnfortunate in their successors Thus the second race called Carlâ—â—ingiens hauing raigned 230. yeareâ— ended 〈◊〉 Lewis the 5. and gaue place to the third raâ—e which raignes at this day 750. PEPIN the short the 23. King of France and first of the second race PIPIN KING OF FRANCE XXIII THE French thus freed by the Popes dispensation from their oth of obedience assemble their generall Estates and to auoyde confusion in the Realme apparently growen by the negligence of their Kings they conclude to reiect Childeric and to choose Pepin the one vnworthie to raigne by reason of his vices and the other most worthie to be King for his royall vertues And to the end the fundamentall Law of state should not bee directly infringed in this new election they bring Pepin from the race of great Clouis of whome they sayd hee should be acknowledged for the next heire Pepin chosen King by the Parliâ—ment and Childeric reiected seing that vertue his race being duely weighed he approched nerest to him in vertue Pepin himselfe would not assist at this assemblie that the offer of this dignitie being made without his appareÌ„t seeking it might be the more honorable Being called to heare the general conclusion of the Parliament and the common desire of all the French hee presents himselfe being pleasing to all men in more then an ordinary sort little of bodie but shewing in his countenance the greatnes of his spirit amiable by his mild and modest behauiour and admirable for his graue pleasing Maiestie The Assembly lets him vnderstand by Boniface Archbishop of Mayence or Mentz that the French in regard of his vertues and their future hope hâ—d by a free and generall consent chosen him King of France And for execution of the said decree hee was instantly in the presence of them all installed King the royall Crowne was set vpon his head by the said Archbishop and then he was raysed vpon a target and carried about the assembly after the ancient ceremonie of the French And by vertue of the same decree Childeric was chalenged as vnworthy of the Crowne degraded shauen and confined into a Monastery thereto passe the remainder of his daies This notable change happened in the yeare 750. in the Citty of Soissons but with so resolute a consent of all the French nationâ— as there appeared not any one that made shew to dislike thereof A most assured testimony that Goâ— had so determined Soueraigne câ—uâ—es of this chaâ—ge hauing resâ—rued to himselfe the soueraigne authority ouer Kings to place and diâ—â—lace gird vngird raise and cast downe according to his good pleasure alwaies iust alwaies wise To him we must ascribe the principall and soueraigne cause of all changes For God is the gouernour as hee is the Creator It being a necessary consequence that he gouernes that which he hath created and by his prouidence watâ—â—eth especially ouer mankinde for whom he hath made the world If we shall otherwise seeke the neerest causes of this alteration we may iustly say that vice dispossessed Childeric vertue set Pepin in possession of the Crowne loue the reuerence of sâ—biects being the sâ—pport of publike authority hate and contempt the ruine thereof To the end that Princes by so worthy an example may learne to banish vice which making them hatefull contemptible thrusts them from their Thrones and to plant vertue which causing them to be respected and honored makes them to raigne ouer nations Now we begin a new gouernment vnder new Kings and in a new race In the beginning we shall see two great Princes The estate of this second race vnder whom good order shall make an alteration of affaires with an abundance of all blessings both spirituall temporall Iustice wisdom pollicie armes valour large limits of territories abundance of peace the excellent knowledge of learning to raise this estate to the greatest happines that euer it enioyed scarse any other kingdom whatsoeuer let forraine nations say what they please But the happines of these two Kings shall not be hereditary in their posteâ—ity who beginning soone to degenerate shall decline by degrees vntil that vice depriuing them of the Crowne vertue shall giue it to another who shall shew himselfe a more lawfull successor and righter heire to Charlemagne hauing a better part in his vertues This second race shall enioy the kingdom 237. yeares beginning to raigne in the yeare 750. ending in the yeare 987. hauing begun by vertue and ended by vice A goodly lâ—sâ—on for Potentates thâ—t bounty wisdom and valour Inâ—â—â—uction for
France lawfull sonnes of Kings Charles was sonne to Lewis the 4. brother to Lothaire Vncle to Lewis the 5. the last King But it chanced otherwise for Hugh Capet sonne to Hugues the great Maior of the Pallais Earle of Paris and also Prince of the French carried it from Charles being aduanced to the Crowne by the free election of the French assembled in Parliament according to the ancient and inuiolable customes of France By whose decree Hugh Capet was elected King and Charles Duke of Lorraine reiected from the Crowne This election being confirmed by the blessing of God who hath mainteyned the possession thus made lawfull by the consent of the French nation in the successiue posterity of Capet who happily preserued the French Monarchie vnto this day The date of this change vnto the third Race against the sundry violences of strangers This change happened in the yeare 987. in the moneth of Iuly But as this action was one of the worthiest that euer chanced in this realme beeing an estate vnder which our Ancestors haue liued and we do liue at this day which gouernment hath continued 619. yeares Yet all this is handled by our ordinary writers with such obscure breuity as if Hugh Capet had fallen out of the clouds or beene sodenly bred in one night like vnto a mushrome 987. The wise reader which seekes the truth must giue me leaue to dilate my stile to shewe him by degrees the breeding continuance and establishing of this newe royaltie in the house of France transplanted into the house of Capet as I could collect it by the curious search of the Originalls and as the traces of truth could direct me in so crooked a Laborinth vnknowne to the greatest part of our French nation What I haue heere described is faithfully drawne out off diuers authors which liued in those times I haue onely fitted my report to be the more intelligible and will simplie represent what passed in this change not giuing my iudgement but leauing it free to the vnpassionate reader We haue sayd in the second race that Lewis the 5. sonne to Lothaire dying without heires males had buried the royalty with him for Charles Duke of Lorraine whome the Lawe of state preferred to this dignity had by his actions made himselfe vnworthy of this great honour He had recourse to the Emperour Otho and had taken the oth of fealty The reason why Charles was reiected to be inuested in the Duchie of Lorraine So by this homage he had renounced all the interest he could pretend to the Crowne of France Moreouer hee had aggrauated this error by an irreconciliable hatred for being Duke of Lorraine he had shewed himselfe a passionate enemy to the French in maynteining the Germaine saction against them who had not long before with-drawne themselues from the obedience of our Monarchie It is also likely that many priuate men were mooued with the interest of this generall quarrell by reason of the situation of Lorraine the ordinary passage from France into Germany Prouinces of comerce togither These priuate iniuries bred in the end a generall discontent the which was increased by such as had a priuate interest in the wrongs they pretended to haue receiued The feeling of these bad practises acted so lately by Charles against France both in generall and particular did incense the French against him But the example and cries of them of Lorraine added to their experience confirmed their resolution to stoppe his entrance to the Crowne for Charles beeing a rash and a wicked man bearing a Kings minde vnder a Dukes title did infinitly oppresse his subiects of Lorraine for the supplying of his prodigall expences hauing as little iudgement and temperance to intreate them of Lorraine mildely as hee had reason to gouerne himselfe The president of these newe subiects whome he enâ—â—â—ed but sufferance preuailed much with the French in this newe accident 〈◊〉 â—â—at could they with reason conclude of his vsage against them who should be his natuâ—all and necessary subiects being yet terrefied with the memory of that which 〈…〉 â—â—â—red vnder Lothaire his brother This waâ— the preparatiue of Charles his 〈…〉 wrought by himselfe to depriue him of that authority wherevnto God had 〈…〉 These were the causes which made the French resolue to withstand Charles 〈…〉 with all their force in his pretension to the Crowne of France But howe then Charles beeing reâ—â—cted the realme had neede of a King vnable to subsist without one no more then a body can without a head Thus the end of the one is the beginning of the other and necessity gaue the people this first adâ—â—ce to change tâ—rust forward with the only consideration of their quiet and proâ—lit But the Nobility growne great by the disorders of troubles past had yet more interest in this change for the preseruation of their goods and honours They could not liue all equall 〈…〉 command the 〈◊〉 of an â—state This equall commande is a plague to the French they had deuoured 〈◊〉 an other without a great commaunder respected of them all for so many Prouinces so many petty Kings which had neuer yeelded one to an other without a Controuler In this estate they could haue no recourse but to Hugh Capet being accompanied with all the commendable qualities that might make a man worthy of a great commaund Hugh Capet 〈…〉 wot 〈…〉 Crowne with authority power vnderstanding courage wisdome equitie mildnesse dexterity valout and credit both within and without the realme We haue before spoken of his father Hugues the great the sonne of Robert Duke of Anger 's who was the head of the League against Charles the Simple shewing that he not onely maintained himselfe after the death of his father Robert but also built his desseignes vpon the same foundation vnder the raignes of Lewis the 4. and Lothaire Princes hard to bee circumuented They feared him more then they loued him yet hee vsed their authorities to his owne good and did so wisely preuent the practises of these two malitious and reuengefull Princes as hee mainteined his authority firmely by the meanes of his great commands Being Duke of the French The wise proceeding of Hugues the great his father he had the command of armes As Mayor of the Pallace hee held the helme of the affaires of State and being Earle of Paris hee had the chiefe credit with the people who had their greatest trade in the Capitall Cittie of the realme This was the fruite which the respect of these offices brought him being well gouerned by his wise dexterity And although these Kings loued him not yet the alliance hee had with them as brother in lawe but especially vertue countenanced by so great credit were the cause they not onely made shew to loue him as their allie but also to respect him as one of the chiefest pillers of the State But to these offices and dignities hee added the friendship of the chiefe Noblemen
hee preuailed more then all the armes of his Predecessors in preseruing a great Monarchie vnto this day supported with these goodly lawes and ordinances wherein without flattering the truth we may see by the effects that which the most learned Academicke doth represent but in discourse touching the true and perfect patterne of a well gouerned State vnder the fatherly authoritie of a King reuerenced by the hereditarie Law of his race with the free consent of the people confirmed by the Estates counterballanced by the authoritie royall 993. determined by the libertie of those which owe him voluntarie obedience The continuance of ciuill warres had bred such disorders in all parts of the realme as it was not without cause if men which liued in these miseries said that God had sent Hugh to restore the French Monarchie and they auouch predictions and prophesies of this raigne The fruits of Hughs raigne VVilliam Nangius as Oracles Doubtlesse this masse of building was too huge to continue long against so great a storme God made vse of it for a time as he had wisely decreed that is to say to deliuer the west from the blasphemies and furies of Mahomet and there to preserue his Church But it was necessarie this power should bee limited within his bounds to the end it might be well gouerned and in the end giue some rest vnto Christendome This happened in his raigne as if the building had then taken a firme and sure foundation War had raigned too long and ruined the poore subiects to inrich men of warre who being seized of the strongest places had without doubt deuoured one an other an ruined the Realme if a greater authoritie had not shewed it selfe to maintaine euery one in peace vnder the reuerence of the Lawes in the bosome of one common Countrie This confused warlike season had more need of a wise man to saue what was gotten then of a valiant man and stirring to make new Conquests Such was Hugh Capet a wise Prince aduised experienced resolute neither dull nor a coward as he made proofe in the beginning of his raigne against the rebells And whereas he parted with the Crowne-lands so easily to such as were seized thereon seeming therby to haue blemished the greatnes of his State it was like vnto one which had much land lying wast and had let it to farmers at an easie rent yet remaining alwaies master therof and to seize on it againe at his pleasure else all had bin lost for want of good husbandrie in so great and confused an abundance for Hugh Capet leauing to the possessors that which he could not take from them assured the Crowne landes by certaine homages and preserued the royall authoritie throughout the Realme And that which was profitable and necessarie for the State proued the most easie for the gouernours of the prouinces and strong places hoping to hold that which they had in hand desired rather to obey a King with any title auaileable to them and theirs then to play the pettie Kings at their pleasures and commaund absolutely alone for a while ouer few and beâ—n danger to lose all as vsurpers A notable proofe of the Frenchmens humors The French caâ—ot â—ubsist but â—nder a Reâ—â—lâ—e borne to obey a King and not able to subsist but vnder a royaltie The French had no lesse poweâ— then the Germains to make an electiue common weale as they had done but their humor sorted with an hereditary royaltie without the which they could not stand Thus Hugh Capet had setled his raigne with â—o great wisedome and authoritie and was so fortunate in the successe as we may iustly say he restored the Realme of France when it was almost ruined Hee raigned nine yeares foure alone and fiâ—e with his sonne Robert in great peace beloued and honoured of al men France as after a long and tedious winter puts on the new face of a pleasant spring All men honoured him Paris the chief â—lace 〈…〉 as the meanes of their assured rest His most vsuall retreat was to Paris the which was greatly augmented and beautified in his raigne whereas other Kings before him remained in diuerse places at Aix la Chapelle Compiegne Laon Soissons and else where according to occurrents and their humors Wee haue sayd that Arnulphe bastard to Lothaire was the onely man which had fauoured Charles of Lorraine against Hugh Capet The historie notes this man to be peruerse and disloyall hauing deceiued both Charles of Lorraine and Hugh Capet who had giuen him the Archbishopâ—â—ke of Roâ—an in recompence of the seruice he promised him against Charles to whom notwithstanâ—ing contrary to his faith hee gaue meanes to seize vppon the Citties of Rheimâ— LaoÌ„ SoissoÌ„s Hugh taking this presuÌ„ption for a preiudice to come learning by what had passed Hughes proceeding against Arnulpâ—e bastard to Loâ—â—aire who is deâ—osed from his Bishoprik how much the name of a bastard of France might import for a colour to disquiet the State and what danger there was of trouble in the beginning of his new raigne not yet well setled he therefore resolues to suppresse Arnulphe but respecting his qualitie hee assembled a nationall Councell of the French Church in the Cittie of Rheims This assemblie deposeth Arnulphe as guilty of treacherie and a troubler of the publick quiet and they substitute Gilibert in his place 995 who had beene Schoolemaster vnto Robert Afterwards Hugh coÌ„fines him to Orleans with Charles there to end his daies in rest Pope Iohn the 12. very ill satisfied with Hugh for that hee had not appealed to him for his confirmation in this new royalty disanulls this decree of the Counceâ—laâ— Rheims excomunicates the Bishoppes which had assisted restores Arnulphe and depriues Gilibert of the Archebishoprike of Rouan and to temper this sharpe and â—ough proceeding with some sweetnes he doth inuest Gilibert with the Archebishoprick of Rauenna But wee shall presently see that this was a meanes to raise him to the dignâ—â—y of Pope Hugh doth not for all this contend with Pope Iohn but hauing restored Arnulphe hee tooke from him all meanes of troubling the state to his preiudice It is that Pope Iohn The mâ—nners of Pope Ioâ—n the 12. of whome Platina writes so plainly as the wise reader may finde in the originall it selfe where hee shall reade with admiration not only the depraued manâ—ers of that man raised to so great a dignity whome hee disgraceth as a monster terming him most lewd most wicked and most pernitious These are his very words but also the confusions which raigned in those times for wee reade of nothing but partialities and factions one to expell an other and all to ouerthrowe the authority of the Emperour of Rome All these practises were not made without sharpe and long contentions as the history shal note the occurrentts this my inuentory shal be but a simple direction to the Originalls where as the pure truth speaking more freely the
no other respect but for the reuerence of Religion and the zeale of publick peace This famous acte happened at Venice in the yeare 1171. in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kings and Princes of the greatest States of Europe that were Mediators of this Accord From Venice Frederick went into the East with a goodly Armie according to his promise And the dissention was well pacified by his humilitie but not altogether suppressed in Italy for it reuiued afterwards as wee shall see in the continuance of this Historie Thus the Christians liued whilest their enemies preuailed dayly in Asia to the great and shamefull losse of all Christendome Such was the estate of the Church and Empire vnder the raigne of Lewis the 7. 1179. Lewis caused his sonne Philip to bee sollemnly Crowned at Rheims at the age of foureteene yeares in the yeare of Grace 1179. Hee betrothed him to Isabel the Daughter of Baldwin Earle of Hainault and hauing thus disposed of his affaires hee dyed the yeare following 1180. An vnwise Prince and vnhappy with all his pollicies Lewis dyes leauing a Leuin of great miseries to his posteritie Doubtlesse the greatest pollicie is to bee an honest man This assured peace caused the Vniuersitie of Paris to flourish as farre as those obscure times would permit Gratian Peter Lombard and Comesior Complaints against the abuses of the Church learned men liued in that age The inexcusable confusion which raigned in the Church was a iust subiect of complaint to the good as appeares by the writings of Peter of Blois Ihon de Saraburck Bishop of Chartres and Bernard Abbot of Cisteaâ—x great and worthy men Their Bookes liue after their deaths wherein the wise Reader may see an ample and free Commentary of this Text the which the Historiâ— suffers me not to dilate of PHILIP the 2. called Augustus or Gods Gift the 42. King of France PHILIPPE .2 KING OF FRANCE XXXXII. THe title of Augustus giuen to Philip is worthy of his person and raigne who not onely preserued the French Monarchie An excellent King and an excellent raigne amidst so many sorts of enemies and difficulties but enlarged it with many Prouinces diuided to diuers proprietaries by Hugh Capet and vnited them to the Crowne for this cause hee was also called Conquerour His dispositioÌ„ The beginning of his raigne was a presage of happinesse for there appeared in his face a great shew of a good disposition inclined to pietie iustice and modestie being strong quick vigilant valiant and actiue Hee did consecrate the first fruites of his raigne to purge the corruptions which raigned among the people Blasphemies Playes Dicing houses publicke dissolutions in infamous places Tauernes and Tippling houses Hee made goodly lawes which our age reads and scornes doing the contrary with all impuniâ—ie but whilest he raigned they were duly obserued The Iewes were mightily dispersed throughout the Realme who besides their obstinate supeâ—stition vsed excessiue Vsurie and were supported for some great benefit by the Pope and oâ—her Princes and States where as they haue liberty at this day to liue after their owne manner Philip expelled them The Iewes banished out of France although they obtained a returne for money yet in the end they were banished out of all the territories of the French obedience and so continue vnto this day This was a small apprentiship and an entrance of much more happy paine the which hee should vndergoe both within and without the Realme in great and troublesome affaires as a famous subiect worthy of his valour England Flanders and Asia prouided varietie and change of worke to imploy his raigne the which continued fortie foure yeares but the change of his intricate marriages troubled him more then all his affaires 1190. as the progresse of our discourse will shew In the beginning there was emulation who should be neerest to gouerne him Philip Earle of Flanders and the Duke of Guienne were competitors The one as Vnckle to the young Queene Isabell his wife Competitors for the gouerment of the state and named by his Father Lewis The other as his neerest Kinsman and both the one and the other had great meanes to preuaile but Richard was the stronger as well by the Kings fauour as by the forces of England of whence he was an Inâ—ant and well beloued of Henry his brother who then raigned Behold the King is imbarked against the Earle of Flanders by the aduise of his Councell The subiect of their quarrell was for Vermandois which the Earle enioyed the King demanded it being no longer his by the decease of Alix dead without children and therefore must returne to the Crowne From wordes they go to armes Their troupes being in field and ready to fight a peace was made with this condition That Count Philip should enioy Vermandois Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois during his life and after his decease it should returne to the Crowne But this peace continued not long among these Princes The King could not loue his Wife Isabel It seemes this was the cheefe cause of the dislike the King had against the Earle of Flanders her Vncle. In the end hee put her away in the yeare 1188. from which time Philip loued Richard Duke of Guienne But this good agreement continued not long by reason of another coÌ„trouersie betwixt him and the English Marguâ—rite the Daughter of Lewis the 7. sister to Philip marryed to Henry of England as wee haue said dyed then without Children Philip doth presently redemand his Sisterâ— dowâ—ie Henâ—y sonne to Hâ—nâ—y the 1. King of England dyes before the father which was the Countrie of Vexin The King of England is loth to leaue the possession so as they fall to Armes and the mischiefe increased by this occasion Henry first sonne to old Henry dyed Richard Duke of Guienne his brother who might haue compounded this quarrell being called to the Crowne embraceth the action with all eagernesse And to crosse Philip by an important diuersion like to olde Henry auoides the blowe in Normandie and enters Languedoc by Guienne into the Countie of Tholâ—usa renuing the old quarrel he had against Count Raimond Philip being assailed in two places is nothing amased Hauing leuied an Armie with all celeritie Warre with England hee enters the English pale Where he sodenly takes Chasteaucaux Busaâ—cais Argenton Leuroux Montrichard Montsorâ—au Vandosme with other Townes and passing on hee batters and takes Mans and hauing waded through the Riuer of Loire he presents himselfe before Tours which yeelds at the terror of his forces Philip of Frâ—nce and Ricâ—ard of England make â— peace Old Henry amazed at the sodaine valour of this yong Prince faints and oppressed with grieâ—e dyes at Chinon in the yeare 1190. leauing his Realme to his Sonne Richard but noâ— his Malâ—ce For presently after his Coronation hee concludes a peace wiâ—h â—hilip vpon a cause very honourable to them both The
his returne but it cost him deere for Saladin whom he had kept in awe sence the taking of Acon Richard makâ— a truce with Saladin vpon vnreasonable conditions well informed of his necessity resolution makes him to buy a truce for fiue yeares at a deere rate yeelding him vp all that had beene taken sence the comming of the two kings into Asia and so the Bloud Time and Cost spent in this conquest were lost in an hower by the ill gouernment of our Kings Richard hauing left the absolute comande of the affaires of Asia to Henry Earle of Campegne takes his way for England but as he came to Vienna in Austria he was knowne and staied Richard King oâ— England staiâ—d by the Emperour mâ—de to pay a raâ—â—ome first by Leopold Duke of Austria and then by Henry the Emperor for some discontent he had against him Thus Richard was retained 22. monethes and not deliuered but for a ransome of an houndred thousand pounds sterling which was then a great and notable summe This was the successe of that long and dangerous Easterne voiage crossed with so many toyles takings and yeeldings vp and with such troublesome consequences for both Kings and both Realmes for the quarrell ended not vpon King Richards release out of prison as we shall see Richard being returned into England Strange marriages of Pâ—ilip he sought all meanes of reuenge for the Wrongs he supposed to haue receyued vnworthely of Philip in his absence and calamitie But let vs returne to Philip he had put a way Isabel taken Alix the daughter of the King of Hungary who liued not long with him She being dead he tooke Gelberge sister to the King of Denmarke whom likewise he put away and in her place married Marie the daughter of the Duke of Morauia After a long and bitter controuersie vpon the repudiation of Gelberge the king remaning obstinate in his resolution yet in end he receiued her againe beyond al hope and ended his daies with her sending backe Marie with honorable meanes to liue in this kind of sollitary life in manner of a widow But our Inuentary may not excuse it selfe vpon the breuitie of the stile without reporting the manner which Philip held in receyuing Gelberge after so long and obstinat a sute The King of Denmarke pursued vehemently in the Court of Rome for the honor and quiet of his sister reiected Philip not able to auoyd the decision of the cause And yet resolute not to receiue Gelberge prepares his Aduocates to shew the reasons which had moued him to put her away The cause was to bee pleaded before the Popes Legate in the great Hall of the Bishops Pallace at Paris thether they runne of all sides In this great and sollemne assembly Philipps Aduocates pleaded wonderfullie well for him against his wife but no man appeared for her As the Cryer had demanded three times if there were any one to speake for Gelberge and that silence should be held for a consent behould a yong man vnknowne steppes forth of the presse and demands audience An Aduocate vnknowne pleads against the King for his wife Gelberge It was granted him with great attention King Philip assisting euery mans ears were open to heare this Aduocate but especially Philipps who was toucht and rauished with the free and plaine discourse of truth which he heard from the mouth of this newe Aduocate so as they might perceiue him to change his countenance After this young man had ended his discourse hee returnes into the presse againe and was neuer seene more neither could they learne what he was who had sent him nor whence he came The Iudges were amazed and the cause was remitted to the Councell Pâ—ilip relents â—nd takes Gelberge againe Philip without any stay in Court goes to Horse and rides presently to Bois de Vincennes whether he had confined Gelberge hauing imbraced her hee receiues her into fauour and passed the rest of his dayes with her in nuptiall loue 1193 By Isabel he had Lewis the 8 of that name whome during his life he imployed in affaires and left him the Crowne But the peace of his house was blemished by these crooked changes whereby we may obserue by the disquieted mind of this worthy Prince that there is nothing absolutly perfect in humain affaires He which could surmount the insolencies of his enimies could not vanquish his owne passions He that could get else where could not preserue that which was most pretious that is the peace of his howse and of his bed and which is more of his soule who could not liue quietly a midest these contynual debates bred and norished in his bosome This was the banket which was prepared for him at his returne after so many broâ—les passed in the voiage of the â—ast Flanders and England ministred him matter of troubles all his life time 〈◊〉 had â—oudry wâ—rres 〈…〉 King of England and 〈◊〉 Earle of Fâ—andâ—rs and he requited his enemies with the like ouer whome he had victorious aduantages Balâ—wine Sonne to Baldwin Earle of Hainault and Namur called the fourth and of Marguerit of Alsatia the Heire of Flaunders by the decease of her brother Philip dead of late in the East was then seased of these goodly Seigneuries wherevnto he had added Vermandois the which he pretended to belong vnto him by a certaine agreement but in effect it was by the right of conueniencie the which he had seazed on in Philips absence who at his returne recouered it from him by force with the countrey of Artois the which he gaue to his Sonne Lewis being now growne great who tooke possession and receyued homage from them of the Country Moreouer Philip caused Bauldwin to doe homage as his vassal for Flanders and other Lands of the Low countries noted by that name at Paris according to the sollemnities required from thence he marcheth into Normandie takes Gisors and the Country of Vexin giuing it for a dourie to his sister Alix being put away by Richard whome he had married againe to the Earle of Ponthieu But sodenly there are complaints from England That Phlilip did breake his promise He replies That seing his sister was nothing to Richard there was noâ— reason he should enioye her doury But this quarrell must proceed farther Richard receiues his brother Iohn into fauour and pardons what is past so as he will serue him faithfully against Philip and be no more seduced by his practises It chanced moreouer that Otho of Saxony the Son of Richards sister was choseÌ„ Emperour in his absence being then in England froÌ„ whence he presently departs assisted with his Vncles meanes the which hereafter shall import him much Richard seing how much Tholouse did import him for his countries of Guienne enters into a strict League of friendship with Raymond Earle of Tholouse theÌ„ a widower by the death of Constance Aunte to Philip giuing him Ioane his sister in marriage the widowe of
hands 1303. as a pawne vntill the end of the paiment and he might beat downe what he had built in the Castels of Lisle Douay deliuering them to the Earle as to their lawful Lord. The Flemings tyed to sâ—â—ict conditions That the Flemings should raze the walls and Forts of fiue principal Citties Gaunt Bruges Ypre Lisle and Douay and neuer to build them againe That the King should make choise of 3000. men at his pleasure in Bruges and thereabouts that were coulpable of the seditions and murthers committed a thousand of them to bee imployed beyond the seas and two thousand on this side and that the Flemings should furnish 600. men at armes to serue the King one whole yeare where hee pleased And for the performance hereof the Citties should bee bound Six thousand pounds and should forfaire threscore thousand Liuers for non-payment for the effecting whereof Deputies should bee appointed During this treatie the Earle Guy and his daughter Philip Guy Earle of Flanders and his daughter dye the subiect of this troublesome reuolt died to the great great greefe of Philip who sees himselfe frustrate of al meanes to shew his clemencie and bountie But when these Articles were brought vnto the Citties the people did mutine with great impatiencie so as the Deputies perswaded Philip to moderate those which were most greeuous The demantling of the Townes except Bruges where the reuolt began and the banishment of the men conuerting it into a pecuniary fine and a great summe to an annuall pension prefixt to easie paiments Thus the accord was made Robert William and Guy brethren The conditions moderated the sonnes of the Earle Guy of Flanders were deliuered with all the prisoners but we shal see that in the execution thereof there was much trouble During these hard rough proceedings Edward King of England hauing receiued a check in Guienne was quiet fearing Philips resolution in greatest dangers whereof hee could wisely free himselfe in the end an accord is made by the marriage of Isabel the daughter of Philip Isabel the daughter of Philip married to Edward King of England with Edward the 2. who in regard of this marriage recouered all he had lost in Guienne in the taking of Isabell he left to his posteritie a heauy pawne to pretend a title to the whole Realme Philip had his reuenge of this Emperour Adolphe who had so boldly braued him in the beginning of this quarrell vnder coulour of demanding the lands of the Empire lying in the Countries of Bourgongne Daulphiné and Prouence being in old time the realme of Arles but then in the power of diuers Lords as we haue sayd vnder the Kings authoritie The King of England and Earles of Flanders had great cause to complaine of him hauing receiued two hundred thousand Crownes to make war against Philip the which he imployed in the pourchase of Thuringe taking possession of that goodly Land so vniustly gotten being solde by an vnnaturall Father who would disinherit his Children This filthie traffick agrauated by the complaints of the King of England and Earle of Flanders Adolphe the Emperour deposed made Adolphe of Nassau very odious and contemptible being issued from a noble and worthie race but this Act against the poore Children made him vnworthy of the Empire from which he was deposed by a decree of the Electors Albert of Austria seated in his place who poursuing him with war slâ—e him as they write with his owne hand in an incounter neere vnto Spire But Pope Boniface the 8. Philips greatest enemie remained yet vnpacified who stil continued his chollor against him in a season when as he thought him to be drawne drie both of men and money for they write that this warre of Flanders had wasted aboue three hundred thousand Frenchmen in eleuen yeares during the which it coÌ„tinued We haue seene how he vsed him by his Nuncios this last Act will not onely shew the continuance of his spleene but shal also represent a bad Catastrophé in this Tragedie the which shall light vpon the head of Boniface sought for by himselfe Albert of Austria was no sooner chosen and installed Emperour by the Electors but Boniface applyed his wit to winne him against Philip supposing to preuaile against Philip Pope Boniface his practise against Philip. as Gregorie the ninth had done against Frederic the second Hee proclames him Emperour inuests him King of the realme of France giuing him both the title and armes and taking occasion to sowe deuision in the heart of the Realme by meanes of the Clergie who by reason of their reuenues had great power in the State and for the interest thereof great will to preserue them Hee did also write his letters to Philip in this manner Boniface Bishop seruant of the seruants of God to Philip King of Frenchmen Feare God He write arâ—ogantly to Philip. and obserue his commandements wee wil thee to vnderstand that thou art subiect to vs both in spirituall and temporall things and that it belongs not to theâ— to giue any prebend or benifice If thou hast the keeping of any of them being vacant thou must reserue the profits of them to the successors If thou hast giuen any wee iudge thy gift to be void and do reuoke all that hath beene done and whosoeuer beleeueth otherwise wee iudge them heretikes giuen at Latran the fourth of the Nones of December the 6. yeare of our Popedome The King answeres him thus Philips answere to the Pope Philip by the grace of God King of France to Boniface calling himselfe the soueraigne Bishop little or no health Let thy great follie and rashnes be aduertised that in tempâ—ral things we acknowledge none but God for superiour and that the gift of prebends being void belongs to vs by our royall prerogatiue and the fruits that grow thereby the which wee will defend by the sword against all them that shall seeke to hinder our possession esteeming them fooles and without iudgement that shall thinke otherwise These are the very words drawne out of the originall But Philip to preuent the plots of Pope Boniface asseÌ„bled the Prelaâ—s of his realm at Paris with al speed hauing represeÌ„ted vnto theÌ„ the wrong which Pope Boniface had done him by his decree from the which he had appealed as erronious he makes them to renew their oath of fidelitie Hee thankes the King of England in that he yeelded not to the perswasions of Boniface who would haue incensed him against him and in the end he seekes to stay the violent course of his furious practises There was a Gentleman following the Court whose name was Felix of Nogaret borne in Seuennes a mountaine Countrie of Languedoc of the familie of the Albigeois as in that Countrie there were many reserued from father to sonne since the grant made them by Saint Lewis whome Philip held fit for the execution of this charge there was likewise a guide
parties being hard the widow of Charles of Blois being called King Charles reconciles the pâ—eâ—endants for Britâ—aine and the matter debated he reconciles them vpon these conditions That for the interest which Ioane pretended for her and hers to the Duchie of Brittaine she should haue the Earldome of â—onthieure the Seigneuries of Auaugour Guello Gincamp Rochedorie Lauuton Chaâ—â—eaulin in Cornwaille Dualt Vhelgost and Rospreden to the value of twentie thousand Eures or franks of rent 2000 pound starling and if Iohn of Montfort died without lawfull heires the Duchie of Brittaine it should returne to Ioane and her issue male or female This accord drew Iohn of Montfort to Paris where hauing done his fealtie and homage as well for the Duchiâ— Brittain as the Earldome of Montfort and other Lands hee had in France the widow of Charles of Blois ratified it by vertue of the decree Oliuer of Clisson at the same treatie was restored to the possession of all his Lands forfaited when his father was beheaded as we haue saied He shal be Constable and shall giue vs good cause to speake of his life This accord was made in the Towne of Guerande in the yeare .1365 but it continued not long for Lewis of Aniou the Kings brother sonne in lawe to the Duchesse of Brittain was not pleased with this agreement whereby he saied he was greatly wronged Iohn of Montfort distrusting King Charles had his recourse to the King of England to whome he went in person to require ayde against the forces which he pretended would come against him The warre reuiued in Brittanie leauing Robert Knowles an Englishman in Brittaine who not attendâ—ng Iohns returne began to make warre vpon the French with all violence Charles being pressed both by the Duches Ioane and by Lewis of Aniou his brother declares Iohn guiltie of high Treason for that he had broken the accord would noâ— appeare vpon sundry summons dayly made vnto him So the warre began againe the successe whereof we wil note heere after Thus there passed six or seauen yeares with varietie of accidents in Brittaine In Fâ—anders Whilest that Brittaine was thus shaken with sundrie stormes Flanders was not without trouble by the accustomed practises of the English Lewis Earle of Flanders sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at the Battaile of Crecy had one only daughter named Marguerite who remayning heire of this great and rich estate was the Lâ—uaine of the antient iealousie betwixt the two Kings Charles and Edward striuing who should haue her The Citties of Flanders of greatest power in this purâ—ute held stoutly for the Engliâ—â— Conâ—e Lewis father to the maide was in suspence feaâ—ing both the English and the Freâ—ch for diuers respects and yet hee loued the first and feared the last But in the end by the meanes of Marguerite of Arthois mother to the Earle a marriage was concluded in fauour of Philip the hardy brother to Charles King of France to Edwards great griefe both father and son who in disdaine of this refusal sought al meanes to breed new troubles in France The treatie of Bretigny ministred a newe subiect and apparent cause of discontent to the King of England who complayned that hee had beene deceiued by Charles vnder a shewe of faithfulnesse hauing restored vnto him all his hostages receyuing onely the sommes promised for the ransome leauying vpon his simple word the reuenues of those Seigneuries granted him by the treatie The cause of new warre 〈…〉 and â—nâ—â—and Charles had retyred all his hostages in good time paying readie money and making knowne vnto Edward the sundrie charges he had giuen to the Countries and places comprehended in the treatie to yeeld them selues whollie into his power he likewise signified vnto him his subiects answers who in the beginning excused themselues ciuilly by honest delayes but in the ende the generall Estats giue Charles to vnderstand That the question being for the generall interest of the States they were not to bee forced to yeeld to an vnlawfull action directly contrarie to the fundamentall lawe of the realme which suffers not the King to preiudice the Crowne nor to alienate the reuenues thereof which were not to be alienated That tâ—is accord made in prison for the Kings redemption was forced and so by consequence vneiuill and not to be allowed by the Lawe of nations The effects followed this resolution with such an obstinacie of the Countries Citties Noble men which were charged by this treatie to yeeld as they protest freely to Châ—rles that they wil willingly spend goods liues rather then fal into the king of Englands hands coÌ„trariwise wold imploy al their meanes to liue vnder the subiectioÌ„ of the king of Fraâ—ce This faithâ—ull constancie of the interessed subiects must needs be pleasing vnto Charles 1366. but to that he himselfe had made this treatie his honouâ— was greatly ingaged the which he must 〈◊〉 by good and auaylable reasons and make it â—nowne vnto all Europe who haâ— tâ—eir eyes fixed vpon these two Princes playing their parts vpon so famous a Theater 〈◊〉 complaines by a sollemne Ambassage to the Emperour Charles the fourth 〈…〉 the paines to come into France The Emperor seâ—kes to reconcile theiâ— two Kings with an intent to imploy his authoritie and 〈◊〉 to reconcile these two Princes but it was in vaine The cause of this fruitlesse 〈◊〉 pâ—oceeded from Edward being resolute to haue his part tryed by armes being 〈…〉 by his victorious successe in the former raignes Châ—rles â—ad alwayes protested to obserue the treatie of â—retigny inuiolable But hauing 〈◊〉 the geneâ—all resolution of the States and of the countries and Noblemen 〈◊〉 bâ— the said treatie he resolues to protect them and hauing excused himselfe both to the Emperour and forraine Princes by a publike declaration he sends a Gentleâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Bâ—â—ussâ— called Chapponeau to the Prince of Wales being at Bourdeaux summoning 〈◊〉 to appeare before him at Paris Câ—arlâ—s proclaimes waâ—â—e against the Kinâ— of Eâ—â—â—lâ—nd at the instance of the Nobilitie and commons of 〈◊〉 complaining of him He also sent a Herald to the King of England to proclaime wâ—rrâ— against him The Earle of Armagnac the Lord of Albret who had newly maried 〈…〉 Boâ—rbon and by this alliance was become French the Earles of Perigort Cominâ—â— and Carmaâ— the Lords of Barde Condon Pincornet Pardaillan and Agenois began 〈…〉 against the King of England followed by all those Prouinces protesting 〈◊〉 the crowne of France At 〈◊〉 example all the Townes of the Countie of Ponthieure yeelded to Guy Earle of 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 of Chastillon Maister of the Crosbowes Then the Kings armies marche 〈◊〉 parts vnder the commands of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry the Constable 〈◊〉 to whose wisedome especially to the Chancellor Dourmans The successe oâ— the Frâ—nâ—â— armie in Gâ—â—â—nne they attribâ—â—e the obedience of the people of Guienne discreetly practised by them Limoges and
declared capable to gouerne the estate alone be freed from Tutors But oh the weakenes of mans wisedom he did not foresee that his son should be ill gouerned by his Tutors in his minority that the age of 14. should not free him from Tutors and that euen his sonne coming to mans estate should giue more scope to the ambition of his owne vncles more worthily to be called murtherers then tutors then his weakest youth had done He had a Fistula in one arme by the which those ill humors were drawne away which grewe by poison and gaue him great ease when it did run It chanced this Fistula stopt and then his maladie encreased much Charles resoluing by this sharpe alarum to go the common way of all flesh calls for his three Bretheren Lewis Iohn and Philip and hauing recommended his children and subiects vnto them he giues them particular aduise for the gouernment of the Realme leaâ—ing the custody of his sonne and the Regency of the Realme vnto them He died the 16. of September .1380 in the Castle of Beauty seated vpon the Riuer of Marne He commaunded that Oliuer of Clisson should be Constable hauing commended his fidelity and sufficiency and that they should carefully preserue the amity of Germany Thus died Charles the wise wonderfully beloued and lamented of his subiects leauing his Realme in good estate Charles dies after so horrible a desolation And although the confusions passed had wonderfully impouerished the subiects and wasted the Kings Treasor neyther was his raigne free from warre yet did he leaue the Prouinces of his Realme very wealthy and an infinite tresor in his cofers although he had built the Louure S. Germaine in Laye Montargis Creill the Celestures and some other Churches Of such power is good husbandry in this realme as in riches it yeelds not to the treasors of Peru not in â—eâ—tility to any country vnder heauen to subsist amidst so many storms and to be presently restored by good husbandry An example for Princes to imitate and not to despaire in like confusions but to hope for all that may be wished for in the restoring of an estate by paâ—ience and dexteâ—ity vertues proper to our wise Charles A Prince so much the more praise worthy hauing preserued this Estate when it seemed lost His dispositioÌ„ religious wise modest patient stirring and stayed when need required able to entertaine euery man according to his humor hauing by these vertues wonne a great reputation both within and without the Realme and honourable to his posterity as he to haue saued France from shipwracke He loued leaâ—ning and learned men Nicholas Oresme was his schoolemaister whom hee honoured with great preferments He caused the bible to be translated into French imitating S. Lewis I have seene the originall in the Kings lodging at the Louure signed by King Charles and his Brother the Duke of Berry A goodly obseruation of the auntient simplicity of those royall characters I haue likewise seene a Manuscript of the translation made by the commaundement of S. Lewis He delighted in the reading of the holy Scâ—iptuâ—e Phâ—losophy hauing likewise caused the Eâ—hicâ—s and Politicks of Aristotle with many bookes of Tully to be translated into French The fauâ—ut he shewed to learned men stirred vp many good witts who began to draw the Muses from their graues both in France and Italy The History doth paâ—ticulaâ—ly note that he did often vâ—sit his Coâ—rt of Parliament and his chamber of accompts gaue audience vnto sutors read their petâ—tions and heard theâ—r complaints and reasons imploying some dayes of the weeke euen in his greatest affaires to do those fatherly and royall workes of Iustice. He tooke greaâ— delight to aduance his houshold seruants giuing them meanes secretly and without the pâ—iuity of any to instâ—uct their sonnes and to marâ—ie their daughters A testimonâ—e of a good conscience and of a wise man This bond of loyaltie could haue no better foundation then in transpoâ—ting it from the Father to the sonne nor almes be better imploied then from the maister to the seruant Royall vertues and worthy of eternall memory But alas what shal be the successe of this bounty and wisedome The raigne oâ— his sonne Charles shâ—lbe most miserable 〈◊〉 hath done the part of a good Brother of a good master a good Father and a good 〈◊〉 but God the Soueraigne of Kings had limited the euents of his cares To â—each vs 〈◊〉 a notable example That vnlesse the Lord build the house the worke men lâ—bour but â—n vaine if the Lord keepe not the citty the watchman watcâ—eth but in vaine for an eternal maxime of â—â—uernement and state ConsideratioÌ„s worthy to be obserued by Princes Whosoeuer glories let him glory in the Lord. But vertues are noâ— herâ—dâ—â—ie Iohn not very wise begat Charles a wise and happy Prince and he begets a frantâ—ke man vnhappy both in youth and age We may on the other side oppose other considerations very disputable Profit aduised him to marry the heire of Flanders not onely to pacifie that country but also to inlarge his owne dominions adding therevnto that great and rich estate of Flanders from whence so many mischiefes haue sprong to France but his delight made him preferre the fayre before the rich Moreouer the rules of State did not permit him so to aduance his brother making him in a manner equal to himselfe in power the which must needes be the cause of many inconueniences as it after happened The cause of his brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne is ordered by the same rule for who can with reason mislike that Charles giues a portion to his brother by his fathers will and that in the rich marryage of a Prince his vassall and of a neere estate whereby his realme was dayly annoyed he preferres his brother before his capitall enemy But God had reserued the honour to himselfe Bourgongne since Robert the Grandchild of Hugh Capet had beene successiuely in the power of Princes who had alwayes done faithfull seruice to the crowne and now it shal be a scouâ—ge vnto it yet in the ende it shal be vnited vnto the crowne againe and taken from such as had abused it Experience doth teach that in matters of State the ende is not alwayes answerable to the beginning nor the successe to the desseine to the ende that Princes may depend of him who is greater then themselues who hath made them and can marre them without whom they cannot do any thing Behold the life death race raigne and manners of Charles the 5. called the wise But before we enter into the troublesome raigne of Charles the 6. The Estate of the empire Let vs obserue the estate of the Empire and of the Church We haue saide that Charles the sonne of Iohn King of Bohemia had beene chosen Emperour and called Charles the 4. Hee held the Empire 32. yeares beginning in the yeare 1350. So the raignes of Iohn and Charles
people and shuttes himselfe into his Castell They enter Bruges The Gantois following and killing them that fled enter pel mel and seized vpon the gates Arteuille hauing speedily prouided for the guard thereof the Gantois being victorers disperse themselues through out the Cittie crying against the vanquished The Cittie is wonne and proclaimed for the good Cittizens Libertie killing all such as they found to fauour the Earle searching all houses for his seruants and commanding to spare the good Cittizens The Earle foreseeing by this brute that the enemy would presently pursue him he sodenly leaues his riche attire and takes the simplest of one of his gromes and so forsakes the Castell to seeke some corner to hide his head in He was scarse gone out but his Castell was beset and easily taken and spoiled whilest that he saues himselfe in a poore womans house The Earle hides himselfe where in her sillie cottage she had onely one roome beneath and aboue a gatret to the which they mounted by a ladder The Earle creepes into this cabbin and the woman hides him in the bed-strawe where her children did lie and comming downe tooke away the ladder The Gantois hauing made search in euery corner for the Earle they came to the house where the Earle was and searching it they went vp to the place where hee laye hidden The Earle of Flandâ—rs in great peâ—plexâ—â—e He that could haue read the secrets of this poore Princes heart in this amazement should haue seene a remorse of conscience for that he had not intreated his subiects with more mildnesse Being thus freed hee creepes out of this cottage and gettes forth of the Towne being alone and on foote running from bush to bush and from ditche to ditche fearing euery one that passed when as behold lying hidden in a Ditch he discouers a houshold seruant of his owne named Robert Marshall who takes him vp on horse-backe behind him and in this order he recouers Lisle This vnexpected successe bred new desseignes in the frantick braine of this Tribune and of this furious multitude who should haue beene satisfied to haue auoyded shipwracke The error of the Gantois and returning to their houses should haue fallen to their vsuall trades and haue vsed this profitable successe to good purpose and made their peace with their lawfull Lord being sufficiently chastised But vanitie thrusts them on and the certaintie of Gods threats shewed it selfe in the following punishment to teach vs That man hath but the miseriâ— which he seekes by his owne folly A generall lesson for great and small both for men families and States Arteuille with his Gantois hauing glutted themselues with the sacke and blood of such as were any way affected to the Earle hauing spoyled his Castle and left it desolate beaten downe the gates of Bruges and filled vp the ditches From thence they goe to conquer the other citties of Flanders where he conceiued a newe Empire Presently all obey him Ypre Dam Bergues Bourlbourg Furnes Scluse Pourprigné Courtray and the lesser townes Andenard resists It is presently besieged At the brute of this sucesse all Flanders flies thither so as in few daies there were aboue a hundred thousand men assembled before the towne All Flanders reuolts and ioynes with the Gantois The Earle amazed with so violent a reuolt of all his subiects hath recourse to his son-in-law Philip Duke of Bourgongne that by his meanes hee might bee relieued from the King although he were more affected to the English then French hauing beene too much respected by our Kings A proud Prince he was in prosperity and too much deâ—ected in aduersity The Regent and the Councell refused to venture the King with this man in so dangerous a cause but two reasons moued the King thereunto and made him ouerrule both the Duke of Aniou his Vncle and his whole councell by the perswasions of the Duke of Bourgongne King Charles succoâ—s the Earâ—e oâ— Flanâ—â—â—â— contrarie to he aduice of the Regent and Councel The one was Arteuille himselfe who during the siege of Andenard not content to haue ruined the Noblemens houses of the Country had made some roades vpon the frontiers of France The other was King Charles dreamed that he was mounted vppon a flying hart which carried him gently through the ayre and a Heron vnder him which did beat downe all other birds came then flying to his fist and the Hart brought him to the place from whence he carryed him to his great content Arteuille to auoide this storme fortâ—fies the passages into Flanders especially Pont du Lis neere to Comines The french surprise this passage cunningly hauing patiently attended all night in the miery fenne vp to the ancles expecting the commoditie of the passage there As the King conceiued a delight to report this dreame 1382. as presage of some good successe so the Duke of Bourgongne labored to drawe him into Flanders The King vpon these motiues doth presently leuie an armie and goes to field Arteuille to auoide this storme fortefies the passages of Flanders especially Pont du Lis neere vnto Comines The French surprise this passage politikly hauing attended all night in the dirty maâ—â—sh vp to the ancles expecting the comoditie of the passage Their patience was the more comendable for that it was in the depth of a sharpe winter in December Comines and Veâ—rain being taken sackt and burnt the Towne of Ypre killes their gouernor who wold not suffer them to obey the King and yeeld themselues paying fortie thousand fraâ—ks for a composition By their example Cassel Bergues Bourlbourg Grauelin Furnes Dunkerke Fourprigné Tourront Vaillant Messine other neighbour Townes resolue to seaze vpon their Gouernors being Gantois and to send them bound hands and feete vnto the King as testimonie that they had yeelded vpon force Charles receiues the Townes to mercie and cuts off the heads of these vnlawful Gouernors Arteuille fearing the reuolt of other Citties The Townes of Flandâ—rs seaze vpon their Gouernors and send them to the King and that his forces which were great would fall from him resolues to preuent Charles and to force him to fight promising himselfe the like successe as he had against the Earle before Bruges With this resolution he chargeth the French army betwixt Courtray and Rosebecque vpon the Mount of gold but hee â—ound an alteration The Gantois charge ouâ— foreward like furious beasts which at the first shocke did somewhat amaze them they recoyling a little but without any disorder yet supported by the Battaile and rereward they breath and all togither charge this multitude with so great a furie as all are put to flight are cut in peeces or taken with a strange disorder They number aboue threescore thousand men slaine and an infinite number of prisoners taken after the Nobilitie had glutted their choller vpon this seditious rable The Flemings ouercome by Charles and threescore thousand slaine who had made rebellion a
but yeeld vnto him as his vassall but as coÌ„stable of France and deerely beloued of his Maister the greatest monarch in Europe and Soueâ—aigne to the Duke of Brittaine herein the Duke must needes respect him his place giuing him auâ—hority in many notable actions ouer the greatest personages within the Realme This was the ground of their hate which not onely embarked King Charles lord vnto them both but carâ—ied him so farre into the maine as he could not auoide a notable shipwracke by their meanes By the former accord Iohn of Montfort was to yeeld vnto Clisson all his patrimonye whereon he had seized vnder colour of a confiscation reuoked by Charles â—he which he had not yet performed And alâ—hough he had promised the King and giuen him a newe assurance Complaines against the Duke of Briâ—taine yet did hee not â—â—ust â—he King but continued hâ—s intelligences with the English fortified his places and coyned boâ—h gold and siluer against the Lawes of State He refused likewise to acknowledge Clâ—ment â—he 7 for lawfull Pope whom France approoued noâ— to suffer the Eaâ—le of Ponthiâ—ure aforesaid to beate the name and armes of Brittaine These were the chiefe causes of their complaâ—nts and differences The King and his most secret councell Mercier Montagu and la Riuiâ—re held for the Constable The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne and the Chancellour Orgemont for the Duke of Brittaine a cunning dissembling Prince and high minded He spake proudly by reason of his intelligence with England which could not fâ—ile him and mildly when as he found meanes to do his businesse vnder-hand not to breake with the King 1391. He comes to Tours vnto Charles where afâ—er many discourses their quarrells are ended by marâ—iages He is reconciled to the king Constable the Kings daughter beeing yet yong is promised to the Dukes sonne and the sonne of Iohn Earle of Ponthieure borne of the Constables daughter to the Dukes daughter who promiseth likewise to restore Clisson his lands in shew friends but in their hearts irreconciliable enimies Hereuppon Clisson goes into Brittaine to receiue his lands The Duke held a Parliament at Vannes whether he called his nobility The Constable comes fearing no enemie the Duke had built a Castle called the Hermine where he feasts the Sâ—ates The Constable is called and welcommed with the first this countenance did not shew what was prepared for the end of the banket against the Constable After dinner â—he Duke taking him by the hand vnder colour to shew him his building and to haue his aduise as of a great Captaine and well seene in Architecture he leads him from place to place through halls chambers and closets vntill hee had brought him to a great Towre hauing an iron doâ—e wherein were armed men The Duke enters first the Constable followes him as viewing the proportion of this worke and the thicknesse of the walles by the windowes But behold the Duke slips out of the Towre where he leaues the Constable and shuttes the doore after him This signe giuen â—he armed men seaze vppon the Constables sword and keepe him prisoner putting irons on his legges The Duke of Briâ—â—aâ—â— â—eâ—zeth treacherously on the Constable The Constable was not so much amazed at this strange vsage as the Duke reioyced at this sweet content of reuenge thinking to attaine the full of his desires to be reuenged of a capitall and cruell enemy and in the heat of his fury he commands a faithfull seruant of his called Iohn Baualan to dispatch the Constable presently Baualan accepts this charge but he doth not execute it He goes to the Towre and assures himselfe of the Constables person retaining the souldiours whom the Duke commanded to â—bey him and so he passeth the night with the constable But the night gaue him Councell The Duke transported with ioy in the heat of his choler goes to his rest but care awaked him and reason of more force then his passion lets him know the fault he had committed and repentance followed this first act A wise seruant in not obeying his masters passion The Duke lying restlesse a great paâ—t of the night riseth â—arely in the morning calleth Baualan and demands what is become of the Constable The Duke of Briâ—tain repents him of what he had done his passion bewrayes his minde before he spake witnessing the shame he had of his choler and his griefe for this furious charge Baualan comforts him and assures him that the Constable is well The Duke wonderfully glad of this newes which freed him from so cruell a torment commands he should be well intreated and with respect attending newes from the King from whom there comes post vpon post with complaints and commandements to the Duke The Duke without any great delay excuseth himselfe of his imprisonment and sends the Consâ—able to the King It had beene more auaileable for him to haue suppâ—essed his choler in committing this errour But he did verifie That he which offends doth neuer forgiue The Constable goes to the King to Blois he thanks him for his care of his deliuery the Duke doth likewise send vnto him to craue a safe conduct to come himselfe to make his iust excuses and to shewe what reason had moued him to put the Constable in prison The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne holding openly for the Britton obtaine leaue for him to come vppon the Kings word He comes well accompanied and not onely iustifies the taking of Clisson being his subiect and in his owne Country but also hee would haue the King beholding vnto him for the respect he bare vnto his officer whoÌ„ oâ—herwise he might iustly haue put to death It is an easie matter for great men to manage their aâ—fairâ—s at their seruants cost The Constable digested quietly this new affront being glad to haue recouered his liberty but the Duke of Brittaines malice shal be the cause of great miserie both to the King and realme seeking new deuises to satisfie his choler a furious beast which can neuer bee tamed by flattery It burst forth vppon a light and ridiculous subiect which bred a horrible Chaos of sundry confusions Peter Craon a Nobleman of the Countrie of Aniou 1393. had great credit with the King and with Leâ—is Duke of Aniou his Brother who loued him so deerely as he trusted him with his greaâ—est secreats euen with his amorous passions wherevnto his loose disposition his age â—asâ— and Court made him too proane to the great discontent of Valentine his wife who exceeding iealous of her husband and an Italian seeking by all meanes to learne how he was affected feeling him so colde to her she finds no better expedient then to gaine Craon whome shee handled so cunningly as she drewe the worme from his nose Hauing speciall aduertisment of her husbands loues she threatens the Ladie that was beloued and complaynes to her husband naming the reporter The Duke of Orleâ—ns finding himselfe wâ—onged by this
in this sodaine accident An order for the gouerment of the Realme the King being aliue of years And they concluded That during the Kings infâ—rmitie and without any preiudice to his authoritie the soueraigne gouernment of the Crowne of Frâ—nce should be giuen to the Princes of his bloud But this point being decided there was an other of no lesse difficultie To what Prince The order of the fundamentall Lawe called Lewis of Orleans the Kings Brother as first Prince of the bloud but neyther his age nor the present necessity could allowe therof The States yeelding vnto reason Contention for the gouerment decree That being apparantly necessary to prouide for the State by reason of the kings weaknesse being verie sâ—cke it were not conuenient to lay so heauie a burthen vppon so weaâ—e shoulders as the Kings brother a young Prince but that the Dukes of Berry and Bourgoâ—gne his vncles next to his brother should haue the gouernment of the realme vntill the Kings recouery Iohn Duke of Berry was elder then Philip but hauing pourchased an iâ—l fame in Languedoc The disposition oâ— Pâ—ilip Duke of Bourgongâ—e to be couetous and violent hee was nothing pleasing so as the French were better affected to Philip the hardy Duke of Bourgongnâ— a cunning cold temperat mild patient and popular Prince but ambitious factious reuengefull and malitious Being therefore pleasing to the States the chiefe charge was imposed on him the title was common to both brethren but the effect of the authoritie was proper to him aloane The Estates adde to their decree especially in his fauour that the Duchesse of Bourgongne should haue the first place next to Queene Isabell our sicke Kings wife and by consequence they giue her accesse to her chamber and the goâ—ernment of the Children at all euents This was Marguerite the heire of Flanders a woman of a manly courage Women rule in the State raised for her great possessions and wholly bred to ambition This newe presidence displeased Valentine the Duchesse of Orleans who yeelded nothing vnto her in greatnesse of courage We stand now vpon good termes that must be gouerned by three women a Germain an Italian and a Flemings all which had absolute authority ouer their husbands whose distaffes did cut like swordes wherof they will giue vs presently a sufficient proofe Philip Duke of Bourgongne Aduanced to the gouernment of the Realme by a decree of the States BEhold the Kings Vncles now at the helme to the great discontent of the Duke of Orleans and of Iames of Bourbon his Vnclâ— by the mother side The winde changeth and the sailes turne Two facâ—â—onâ— in Court the Court is transformed There are two factions but that of Berry and Bourgongne is the stronger The Dukes of Orleans Bourbon make the other but there is no equality The authority of the whole gouernment and of the treasor is in their hands to whome the States had decreed it Such force hath this sollemne consent of the â—rench in matters of State Such as had bin of Charles his most secret Councell were out of fauour An alteraâ—ioâ— in Court and the fauoâ—â—rs diâ—graâ—ced the Constable Begue de Villaines Montagu la Riuiere and Mercier they are all in bad estate for their ouerthrow is plotted by what meanes soeuer The Dukes authority must begin with them yet there was no loue betwiâ—xt the two brethren for who can bâ—leeue that ambition and couetousnesse are fit to winne friendships bâ—t onely to ruine their common enemies and to suppresse their authority Such as were in their rowle had their turâ—es but diuersly The Duke of Bourgongne standing vpon his gard restrayned his imperious wife who at his first aduancement to this great commande would haue turned all topsie tuâ—uy but he seekes all meanes to prâ—uâ—nt his enemies being resolued to begin with the Constable as with the strongest The mignona of King 〈◊〉 aâ—e ill intreâ—ted and this he concluded with hâ—s brother of Berry Montagu cunningly smels out this practisâ— and withall the best hee could carry away saues himselfe at Auignon attending some better oportunity but he shall returne too soone to loose his head on a scaffold The Constable Clâ—sson at his fiâ—st speech with the Duke of Bourgongne is so checkt and thretned by him as â—wallowing this pil quieâ—ly he steales out of Paris retiers to his house at Montlhery from whence with extreame danger he saues himselfe in Brittain The Consâ—â—ble Clisson flâ—â—s from Paâ—is hauing the Duke for hâ—s capitall enemie But hee had his son in Lawe there the Duke of Aniou the Earle of Ponthiâ—ure and so many friends within the Country as in the ende the equity of his cause shall draw the Duke of Brittain to reason being his most dangerous enemy After notice that the Constable was fled Begue de Villaines a gentleman of Beausse who had married the Contesse of Rebelde in Castille la Riuiere and Meâ—cier were coopt vp but all escaped by sundry meanes only Montâ—gu in the end shall loose the mould of his doubleâ— although he seemed to haue better prouided for his safety â—hen all the rest That we may hold for an vndoublted Maxime in all the resolutions which mans reason can set downe in greatest dangers That what God keeps is well kept Yet not rashâ—ly to omit the lawful meanes of our preseruation neyther to rely ouer much vpon our owne wisdomes no more then to a rotten planke in passing of a great riuer The Duke of Bourgongne had nothing lesse in his heaâ—t nor more in his mouth then the sacred name of Iustice. Hauing the Court of Parliament of Paris at his deuotion he bâ—gins to plant his artillery against the Constable by this authority The Kings Aduocate hauing framed a complaint against him Comissions are sent into Brittain to summon him who not finding him The Coâ—stable condemned being absent they proceede against him by exceptions al formalities being obserued they condemne him by a decree of the Court of Parliament in the presence of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne as guiltie of high treason hauing attempted against the Kings person by poyson and against the state by theâ—te and treason That as guilty of these crimes he was degraded of the office of Constable condemned in a hundred marks of siluer to the King and banished the Realme A â—trange alteration â—he which the Hâ—story represents in these versâ—s Inconstant Fortune neuer staies her motions turning are alwaies The highest mounted on the wheele is strangely cast behinde the heele But truth coâ—rects the vanity of this popular opinion God is Iudge he raiseth one and casts downe another Aduancement comes not from the eâ—st nor from the west but Goddoth raise vp and pull downe by his wise prouidence for God that hath made the world should not he gouerne the woâ—ld the eye sees not the Sunne through a thick cloude and yet it is in heauen notwithstanding the weakenes of our
sight That which he ignorant call foâ—tune in dâ—uers â—uents of woâ—ldly things is a secâ—et operaâ—ion of the wisdâ—me of God alwayes iust euen when it is most vnknowen vnto vs the which is no more pollutâ—d with humaine passions then â—he Sunne beames with â—he most infected carâ—on whereon it works by his heat Necessâ—â—ie obseruâ—tions for all men O man distinguish the rod from the hand that rules it do thou thy dutie and leaue the euents to God feare God and thou shalt haue to need to feaâ—e â—ortune An assured pasport not only to a void the strange alterations of Coâ—â—â— but al other accidents of mans life which hath nothing constâ—nt in it but incâ—â—stance it selfe But euery man â—â—eads on him that falls saith the same hiâ—tory Eueâ—y man speaks iâ—famously of the dâ—sgraced Constable they crie out against him as hauing bewâ—â—ched â—he King Thus â—he affâ—icted is alwayes held culpable according to the censâ—â—e of â—his wiâ—e world which â—udgeth onely by outwaâ—d circumstances But who would beleeue that Clisson and his companions who had so great an intâ—rest in the Kings healâ—h wold make him sick The â—sâ—ue wil shew â—he contrarie verifing That as Slander is the touchsâ—oâ—e of vertue so there is noâ—hing more couragious then a good cause nor more victorious thâ—u â—he trâ—â—h Clisson stirres not all this bâ—ute he stands vpon hâ—s gâ—â—d â—ourchaseâ—h â—riends and attends the time which in the ende brought him to a saâ—e poâ—t as we shall sâ—e hereaâ—â—er Aâ—ter his condemnation the Dukes of Bâ—rry â—ourgongne hasâ—ened noâ—hing so much â— to aduance one to this goodly charge wheâ—eby they might tye some greaâ— peâ—son â—nto them Philiâ—pâ— of 〈◊〉 Made CoÌ„ntable They offer it to the Lord of Coussy who reâ—useâ—h it wherevpon Philippe oâ— Eu Eaâ—le of Archois is aduanced and â—or a confirmation of this newe league he giues 〈◊〉 sonne to the Duke of Berryes daughter Tâ—us passed the beginning of this newe authoritie when as Charles by rest a good aâ—â—r the coolenes of the winter good vsage began dâ—â—â—e to recouer his health comming first to the knowledge of such as were ordinaâ—ily about him of his wâ—â—e châ—â—dren and Broâ—her who parted not from his bed whilest his vâ—cles made this goodly worke at Paris 〈◊〉 reâ—oâ—ers hiâ— hâ—alâ—h Hauing recâ—uered his health â—ames Harsely dismissed with an honorable reward all France was reuâ—â—â—d with incredible ioy to see their King as it were raised ouâ— oâ— the graue and giuen deuouâ—ly to his praiers But he hath a gâ—eaâ—er relapâ—e into this miserable dâ—â—ease by a newe accident and this was the occasion Charles returned to Paris to his subiects great comfort who souâ—ht to delight him with alkinds of spoâ—ts Euery man imployed his witts there to â—o as there was a new inuention of a maâ—â— of wild men attired in finâ— linnen cloth all coueâ—ed with very fine flaxe from the foote to the head beeing glued tothe clothe so artificially as if it had growne to the skyn â—hat they which â—â—d weare iâ— had beene naked They were sixe and the King would make the seuenth to lead the daâ—nce for the auoiding of al danger of fiâ—e which might â—asely take the flaxe Commandement was giuâ—n to put out al torches but it chanced that the Duke oâ— Orleans vnacquainted with this maske came into the Hall followed by his pages who carried torches according to the vsuall manner euen as these Sauage men tyed one to an other like prisoners present themselues vnto the Companie the King who marched first goes presently to the Duchesse of Berry she holds him and â—efuseâ—h â—o let him go without knowledge what hee was And euen then the Duke of Orleans with a quicke resolutenesse answerable to hâ—s age and naturall wantonnes takes a Torch and comes neere to these Sauage men to know them by the lifting vp of their maskes when as fire takes hold of this flaxe so sodainely as al wâ—re on a flame not able to free themselues being all tied to onâ— line The violence of the fire kindled with the rozen caused a most horrible crie but generally all men crie out Saue the King whoÌ„ they knew to be one of the Sauage meÌ„ The Duchessâ— of Berry wraps him in her gowne beeing long large after the manner of those times and so drawing him out of the Hall they led him into the next chamber without any hurt to his person But the amazement was such by the horrible cries of these poore men which burnt in the flames The King â—alls into a relapse by a straÌ„ge accideÌ„â— not able to be helped well in so sodaine an outâ—ry as the King could not be stayed in this amazemeÌ„t They lay him on his bed but his spirits could take no rest Thus the night passeth away this poore Prince being much distempered in minde and all his seruants distressed with griefe There fell out another vnhappy accident In the morning it was bruâ—ed through the citty that the King was dead so as the people dâ—d run in flockes to his vncles lodgings exclaiming against them for the ill gard they had kept of his person whom they desire to see eyther dead or aliue so as the Dukes of Bâ—rry and Bourgongne yelding to this violence were forced euen when as the King began to take some rest to raise him out of his bed and to leade him through the Citty to our Ladies Church to pacifie the peoples fury A this returne his spiâ—iâ—s faile him â—he fallâ—s into his former phrensie and neuer after were they setled notwithstanding all the heâ—ps men could apply He languished twenty and two yeares in this pittifull estate and in the tediousnesse of so long an infirmity the Realme was not without languishing Sometimes he was in good temper as phrensies haue their respits The Parisâ—eâ—s mad to see thâ— King and do not alwayes distemper the faculâ—es of the minde but still he fell and euen when as he thought to do best he erred most when as he sought to retaine the authority to himselâ—e and that nothing should be done but by his commaund Hence sprong the horrible confusions in this raigne â—or â—hat dâ—uers pasâ—ionate men ruled his weake braine diuersely one vndoing what another had done couering their passions with the Kings name and authority And al the liberty to do ill grewe from this spring But let vs returne to the end of our painefull web The Duke of Orleans wonderfully perplexed to haue bin cause of this scandale excuseth himselfe presently in the hall and to the king his Brother The Duke of Bourgoâ—gne seeks to makâ— the Duke of Orleans odious Iâ—lousie betwixt â—â—e Dukes of Oâ—leanâ— Bourgongne but all this did not satisfie The Duke of Bourgongne repâ—ocheth him and exceedes the censure of an vncle for he laies hold on this occasion to make him odious to the people as if it had bin done of purpose to kill the King This Maske of burning
Lewis of Anion King of Naples Sicile and Lewis of Orleâ—ns were with thâ— Queâ—nâ— at Melun The Dukes of Berry and Bourbon and the King of Nauarre are at Paris wâ—â—h the Kâ—ng and all the faction of Bourgongne The King of Sicile comes to Paris hee leâ—â— the Dukes of Berry and Bourbon vnderstand how necessâ—ry it was to quench this â—ire in â—â—â—e All these Princes are willing to mediate an accord but the indiscretion oâ— the Dâ—ke of Orleans had almost spoyled all Aâ— the first he grew amazed but seeing no man to stâ—rre and hauing some feeling of his authority he began to speake bigge writing to Paris and to the best Citties of the Reâ—â—me against such as had made this petition And contrarie to the aduise which tâ—e Pâ—â—nces his cousins gaue him not to part from Melun he resolues to come to Paris and to oâ—pose himselfe against the Duke of Bourgongne The Duke of Oâ—lâ—aâ—s discontents thâ— Pariâ—ienâ— The Citty and Vniuersity of Paris send an honorable deputation vnto him excusing themselues beseeching him to he 〈◊〉 to a gâ—od reformation but he so checkt the deputies as they returned ill satisfied â—o a peâ—ple big with a seditious humour He shewed himselfe indiscreet in two sorts Excusiâ—g himselfe when no man accused him which was properly to accuse himselfe and in waâ—ing of a sleeping dog incensing this mutinous people who were then kepâ— in awe by hâ—s onely authority not daring to mutter against him but in secret The Bourguignon desired nothing more then to haue some apparent cause to drawe tâ—â—s people into mutinie The Paâ—iâ—â—â—nâ— aâ—med againsâ— tâ—e Duke oâ— Oâ—lâ—anâ— giuing it out openly that the Duke of Orleans came in aâ—mes to â—poyle the citty of Paris Behold the Parisiens are in armes prepared both withâ—n aâ—n without to witâ—stand the Duke of Orleans comming they beat downe pentises witâ—in the Câ—ttie to make the streeâ—es more free for to cast stones The people troupe with the Duke of Bourgongneâ— men and issue forth armed aboue Montfaucon in view of the Orâ—eanois lying in great numbers vpon the plaine The Chancellor of France accompanied with the Presidents and Councellors of the Court of Parliament go to the Princes aduertising the Duke of Orleance of the danger of a great confusion if â—e did nâ—t foresee it Herevpon Lewis commands his troupes to retire and stâ—yes at the Castell of Beautie vpon Marne to haue the better meane A peace betwixt the Duâ—e of Orlâ—ans aâ—d Bâ—uâ—gongne to heaâ—e from his Vncles who by the authoritie of reason and alliance after many voyages reconciled Lewis of Orleans and Iohn of Bourgongne hauing seene and embraced one another like kinde Kinsemen with all outward signes of perfect cordiall loue This was but a coloured peace the which in the end was so heauie a burthen to them both as it weâ—ghed them downe and by their owne wilfull follies as if they willingly sought their owne ruines verifying this assured maxime That man hath no harme bâ—t â—hat he seekes himselfe confirmed by the truth of these Oracles They haue no hâ—rme but by their owne iniquitie and My people haue not obeyed my voyce and Israel would none of me ratified likewise by the experience of all men all estates and all age The Duke of Orleans sought his owne death in prouoking his enemie wâ—thout reason and the Dâ—ke of Bourgongne in murthering him erected a scaffold to sâ—â—ed his owne bloud This agreement made Iohn of Bourgongne informes the King and his Councell how much it dâ—d import to take the Towne of Calais from the English where the commoditie of landing and the neerenesse of the Kings estâ—tes gaue the common enemie great meanes to molest the prouinces of Fâ—anders and Picardie requiring aide and succours from the King to besiege â—t the which he grants Wherevpon he with all his Citties make great preparations to fortifie the French armie the which enters into Picardâ—e aâ—tendâ—ng a coÌ„mandement to beleager Calais The artillerie and munition was â—eady to go to field through the great diligence of the Duke of Bourgongne stirred vp with hope to pull this thoâ—â—e out of his foote and to free the trafficke betwixt his subiects and France when as sodenly the King Letters Pattents come to the heads of the armâ—e commandiâ—g all men of warre of what condition so euer not to passe any farther vpon paine of their Lues This vnexpected countermaund accused the Duke of Orâ—eans as the author thereof A new cause of dâ—sconâ—ent bâ—tâ—â—xâ—â—he Duke oâ— Orâ—â—â—â— and Bourgongne and gaue occasion to all men that desired the good of Fraâ—ce to deâ—est him as seruing his owne passions to the preiudice of the common-weale but aboue all it gaue too important a cause of discontent to the Duke of Bourgongne who infinitly grieued with so inexcusable an affront and such inhumane circumstances of a cruell indignitie for whereto serues it to discouer in particular the grieâ—es of so apparant an iniurie he resolues to haue his reuenge once for all Thus farre the Duke of â—ourgongne had reason to complaine of the Duke of Orleans but he exceeds from reason he fâ—ies to passion the which is a dangerous councellour which presented vnto him a pernitious remedy being then pleasing to his troubled minde leauing him nothing but a late repentance and his body taken in the trappe which he himselfe had made The Duke of Boâ—râ—oâ—gne râ—solues to kill his cousin of Orleans Thus Iohn resolues to free himselfe of his Cousin the Duke of Orleans who he supposed would be a perpetuall and irreconciliable enemie The motiues of this cruell resolution are visible by the forepassed actions But they added iealousie herevnto an intestine fire which consumes him that lodgeth â—t in his bosome The originall of the historie speakes nothing hereof for this shamefull iniurie which the wise conceale was not spoken of by those that were chiefely interessed But the learned obserue that the Duke of Orleans had vsed his cousin of Bourgongnes wife too familiarly when as heâ— husband was in the voyage of Hongarie A young Flemish Princesse browne of whom they had made a song the which the Duke of Orleans caused to be put into musick and to be sung before the iealous husband at a banquet which he had made him hauing the Princesse picture in his Cabinet and vaunting that it was the triumph of his loue These are stabbes which pierce the hearts of generous men with an incurable wound Thâ—s they set downe for one of â—he motiues of the Bourguignons hatred against his cousin of Orleans This vanity cost Lewis of Orleans decre 1407. beeing giuen exceedingly vnto women and as it was one of the causes of his death by the iust iudgement of God so is it considerabâ—e for beeing slaine by his enimie amongst his other vices he shall reproch him of luxury to iustifie the murther But let vs obserue the sequele of this Tragedâ—e Lewis Duke of Orleans is slaine
the Constables good seruices After this shamefull disgrace hee seekes to couer his fault He exclaimes against the King exclayming first against the King as if hee had beene the cause of this infamous disorder happened at Saint Iames hauing too freely discouered his grieâ—es vnto the King he presumed to take Iohn of Malesâ—roit Chancellor of Brittain prisoner as beeing particularly charged to solicit the payement of such money as was appointed for this Britton army Charles was much offended with this presumption and in despight of the Constable caused Malestroit to bee presently released and sent into Sauoy The Constable was greatly discoÌ„tented with this proceeding the which he tooke as an affront done to his person and resolues to be reuenged So great were the confusions of that age as the seruant durst prescribe a Lawe to his maister and his counsell bandâ—e against him to controll his will Yea the Princes of the bloud so great was the corruption of that wretched age were the chiefe controllers of the Kings actions Then was there nothing more miserable then France who discontented with her King A dangerous waywardnesse to make the King odious or contemptible nourished the ambition of many Kings This iealous ambition did nothing cure the infirmities of our Estate Charles found it lost he could not raise it alone To debase his authority was no meanes to cuâ—e the confusions of the realme And as there is nothing more troublesome then affliction the French nation beeing then extreemely afflicted did nothing amend their condition in casting vpon the King the reproches of their calamities This deptiue themselues of their head wherein consists the whole life of the bodie An vnreasonable discontent The whole body of the State was sicke and this distasted people would haue their head sound A notable circumstance for it is strange that after so many miseries this domesticall confusion had not beene the vâ—ter ruine of the State But let vs returne to our discourse The Constable had great credit with the counsell whome in the beginning the King had greatly countenanced but the priuate practises and the generall discontent of great persons had made him halfe a King to crosse the Mignons whome al men hated Great men hated them as possessing the King the people detested them as managing all things at their pleasure to the preiudice of the common weale There were two Mignons that did greatly vexe them Gyac and Camus of Beaulieu They resolue by a generall consent to dispatch them The Princes with the Lords of Albret and Tremouille who had a great interest in the Sate were of the partie But the Constable must do the execution The matter concluded betwixt them was thus executed Gyac was taken in bed with his wife carried to Dun le â—oy condemned and executed that is he was put into a sacke and cast into the riuer The Kings Mignons slaine by the Councell The Constable performed this office without any other forme of lawe then his bare commande Afterwards Camus borne in Auuergne as hee walked in the Kings lodging was venturously slaine by a soldiar belonging to the Marshall of Boussac Charles vnderstood it and in a manner toucht the bloud of his two domesticall seruants beeing wonderfully discontented but the time which did authorise these confusions caused him to swallowe this pill quietly Tremouille married Gyacs widowe the heire of Lisle Bouchart and entred newly in credit with the King giuing him to vnderstand that all was for his seruice so as there was no more speeche thereof euery man shut both eyes and eares But Tremouille shall haue his turne hee shall leaue some of his haire and hardly saue the moulde of his doubled Thus the affaâ—â—es of Court ebbed and flowed the which raiseth vp one and cast downe an other In this deceytfull manner of life there is nothing certaine but incertentie fauours beeing â—â—uen not by desert but most commonly by a blind appetite which hath no other iudgement but the apprehension of weake heads diuiding the happinesse of a 〈◊〉 life into quarters this day to one and to morrowe to an other A goodly lesson for such as are fauored in Court not to bee transported with vaine hope toyes to deceiue the indiscreete The surest gards of prosperity are Integritie wisdome modesty and patience to remember aduersity in prosperitie according to the precepts of the wise This was the good gouernment of the Constable of Richmont a bolde practiseâ— of these domesticall confusions whilest the Bourguignon plied his businesse Wee haue made mention of the sute of Iaqueline Contesse of Hainault and Holland for Humfry Duke of Glocester her pretended husband against Iohn Duke of Braâ—â—nt her lawfull husband for so had Pope Martin pronounced it in fauour of the Bâ—â—bantin but from lawe they go to armes The Bourguignon supported the 〈◊〉 These Princes hauing prepared their forces begin by writing The 〈◊〉 accuseth the Bourguignon of couetousnesse and trecherie The Bourguignon giues him the lie But from reproches they fall to armes The Bourguignon offers the Glocâ—â—â—â—an to ende the question by combate and by that triall to auoide the effusion of theâ—â— sold aâ—s bloud The Glocestrian accepts it all is prepared for the combate but the Duke of Bâ—â—â—ord interpeseth his authoritie To this ende hee calls the cheefe men of all estats to Paris to quench this fire and by common aduice decrees That that day 〈◊〉 disanulled â—eyther should it bee preiudiciall to eyther partie That is to say 〈◊〉 being well vewed and considered there was no iust cause for eyther to call the other to this wilfull combate from the which they could not depaâ—t althouâ—â— it were accepted without great preiudice to both their honours In the meane time neither the Popes authority nor the Regents decree by the generall aduice of the States could preuaile but all bursts forth into open warre The Bourguignon proued the stronger so as the Glocestrian leauing Iaqueline at Mons posted into England for newe forces but all was in vaine the Bourguignon making his profit of this Princes absence did easily effect his desire hauing no oposite but a woman dishonored for her infamous adulteries Hee failes not to enter Hainault with a stronge army and vseth all force to reduce this people to reason The Country seeing it selfe pressed by the Bourguignons forces neyther hoping for noâ— desiring any succors from England The Duke o◠〈◊〉 leaseth on Iaqueline Countesse of Haâ—â—â—auâ—â— and perswaded that Iaqueline supported a bad cause resolue to obey the stronger Hauing to that effect protested vnto their Lady what they thought fitting for their dutie they seize on her person and deliuer her into the hands of the Duke of Bourgongne Philip receiues her honorably and promiseth her all offices of friendship to comfort her From Mons hee causeth her to bee conducted with a goodly traine to Gand by Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange a braue Noble man The Gantois imploy their
were with tempest driuen vpon the coast of Brittaine and there forced to take land where they were seized on and led with sure guards to Vannes A verie happie chance for the Duke for while hee holds this goodly gage hee was assured to commaund the forces of England but very vnhappy for the Earle for if hee might haue landed in France Lewis without doubt to crosse Edward would haue laboured to restore him This truce did wonderfully displease some of Edwards househould seruants Lewis of Brettailles among the rest a gentleman of Gascony Edwards seruants discontented with the truce was greatly discontented giuing out that the King his maister hauing in person wonne nine battails had gotten more dishonour by the voluntary losse of this tenth which was in a manner gotten then he had purchased honour in the former nine That the French might with reason laugh at Edwards credulous facilitie Lewis aduertised by the Lord of Argenton of this Gascons free discourse resolues to stoppe his mouth to the end he should not hereafter spend his tongue to the preiudice of this Estate He sends for him Lewis a free buier of meÌ„s seruices and makes him dine with him offers him great aduancements so as hee will serue him Vpon his refusall hee giues him a thousand crownes presently and promiseth to doe good for his brethren that remayned in France binding him to maintaine as much as in him did lie the friendship growing betwixt these two Crownes Bretailles did not iudge amisse Our Lewis had sometimes a more liberal tongue then was conuenient and feared much least some words had passed him whereby the English might discouer that he mocked him and so it chaunced yet behold how hee couered it The day after this enteruewe being in his Cabinet he fell to iest of the wines other presents he had sent to the English But hee discouered not a Gascoyne marchant dwellâ—ing in England who by chance was crept in to obtaine a lycense of the King for the transporting of certaine pipes of wine freed froÌ„ impost This marchant might talke he must therefore be woon and staied in France vnder some apparent pretext The King sent the Lord of Argenton to talke with him aduaunceth him to a good office in the towne where he was borne hee giues him a thousand frankes presently to transport his familie the transport of wines he required and a man to condâ—ct him to Bourdeaux but all vppon condition that not he but his brother should make the voyage into England Thus the King made amends for his rashe speech Edward is now vnder saile he was a newe Conqueror Causes that mooued Edward to passe and to returne home into England his presence was therefore more needful in England he did neuer much affect the voyage Two principal reasons dâ—ewe him into the action The one was all his subiects gaping after the possession of this Crowne did sollicit him and the Bourguignon prest him An other was he might reserue a good part of the mony that should bee raysed for this voyage for the Kings of England leuie no thing aboue their reuenues but for the warres of Fraunce But see the policie of Edward he had of purpose brought with him ten or twelue of the chiefe bourgesses of the Cittie whose credit was great with the Commons and who had with all care procured this taxe These men were soone weary with this military toile Presuming that at the first arriuall a profitable battaile should decide the quarrell And to make them tast more fealinglie the sweetenesse of peace from the sharpenesse of warre Edward doth sometimes trouble their heads with doubts sometimes with feares to keepe them from murmuring at his returne into England On the other side he loued his pleasures was of a complexion not able to endure the trauells requisite for the conquest of this Realme and although the King was ouercharged with enemies yet had he prouided well for his defence But see the most vrgent reason of Edwards retreate The performance he desired of the marriage betwixt the Daulphin and his daughter A marriage which made him dissemble many things whereof Lewis will make his profit To conclude as they which haue beene deceiued in their friendship hate without dissembling Edward seâ—â—â—s the Constables letters vnto Lewis Edward before hee parted from Calais sent the King those two letters of credit which the Constable had written vnto him with all other verball assurances which he had giuen him Sufficient testimonies to accuse and conuince him of those crimes wherewith he shal be hereafter charged Let vs nowe reconcile the Duke of Bourgongne and Brittain with the King Contay was now returned from the Duke of Bourgongne the day of the enterviewe and had found his maister in a good humour when as the English were returned Hugonnet Chancellor of Bourgongne other Ambassadors for the duke meete at a bridge midde way betwixt Auennes and Veruins in Hainault so well accompanied with Archers and other men of warre that one of the English hostages whome the King had led with him tooke occasion to say that if the Duke of Bourgongne had beene followed with many such men when he came to salute King Edward peraduenture they had not made a peace Discontent betwixt the English and Bougguâ—gnons The Viconte of Narbonne answered That the Duke wanted no such men and that hee had sent them to refresh themselues but six hundered pipes of of wine and a pension which the King gaue them made them hast home to their Country The English mooued herewith It is as euery mansaied replies he that you wold deceiue vs. Do you call the money the King giues vs a pension It is a tribute and by Saint George you may talke so much as we will returne againe This quarrell stayed their proceeding neyther did they preuaile any more the second time when as the King appointed Tanneguy of Chastel and the Chanceller Oriole to heare the sayd Ambassadors at Veruins but the third assembly which was in the Kings Chamber made a full conclusion and in truth Brezey had reason to say one day to the King that his horse was well laden when he was on him A truce betwixt Lewis and the Bourguignons for that hee carried all his Counsell with him for in deed he did effect more in his presence then al his Ambassadors togither where there was a truce accorded for nine yeares according to the other but by reason of the oath which Charles of Bourgongne had sworne to Edward in his choller it might not be published vntill the 17. of October following Edward discontented that the Duke of Bourgongne would treate a part sends Montgomery a Knight very inward with him to the King to Veruins Edward offers to ayde Lewis against the Bourguignon hee requires two things the one that hee would take no other truce with the Duke then that which hee had made the other that hee
some forty of their companions were slaine there in a tumult A â—oole reuenge by the Sâ—â—sses For this cause they fall furiously vpon them kill all the men sacke the towne and burne it and all that was within it the Marshall not being able to preuent this disorder The bloud being inflamed it transports vs beyond the bonds of reason but as it growes cold it returnes to his right place These Suisses doubted some punishment or at the least that the King should growe in dislike of them for this outrage committed both against the lawes of armes and nations But what an vnbridled desire of reuenge a military fury hath transported them they are ready though not to make satâ—â—faction yet to repaire it by some notable seruice And see an oportunity is offered The army staide on this side the vallie of Pontreme in extreame want of victuals and the artillerie could not passe these troublesome straights without great toyle and losse of time And this gaue the enimy leasure to make one vnited body of all his fâ—tces The Suisses come and doe voluntarily offer to passe it by force Repaired by a nâ—table peace of seruice so as the King will pardon them The which he doth Leauing the vally they must mount vp a very steepe hall where theyr moyles did creepe vp with great difficulty These men performe the woâ—ke of horse of burthen they couple themselues by two and two and so vndertake the worke a hundred or two hundred at once as the burthen required and one being weary in other supplyed his place The foreward was lodged at Fornoue a small but a good village seated at the foote of the mountaine entring into Lombardy where he had the enimie in front without doubt they were in great danger if they had then chaâ—ged them But their desire to 〈◊〉 allow vp this armie in the middest of the plaine giuing the King meanes who laye fifteene French leagues off to ioyne his troupes layed the way open to shame and confusion imagining that to charge our French on this side the mountaines were to cut 〈◊〉 retreat of Pisa other places of the Florentines And on the other side to fight without at ending their men were to doe them wrong seeing that their soote were not excellent If they miscarried they should purchase reproach with the Seigneurie of Venice Some lâ—ght Skirmishes made the Marshall retire into the higher part of the mountaine Hereupon the King ioynes with his foreward on sunday the 15. of Iuly and all the enemies forces arriued The armie of the league being fiue and thirty thousand men in paie two thousand six hundred men at armes barded making foure men of combate to euery lance fiue thousand light horse amongst the which were two thousand Albanois and of the neighbour prouinces of Greece who retayning the name of the country are commonly called Stradiots as who would say men of the campe good souldiers and well practised in armes The rest were foote well appoynted with artillery Ouer the Venetian troupes Francis Gonzaga Marques of Mantoua commaunded as Generall a yong man but of great courage and desirous of glory and with him Luke Pisan and Meâ—â—â—aor or Irâ—â— saâ— were commissaries of the armie being of the chiefe Senators of Venice for Lodowik Sforce who opposed some part of his forces against the Duke of Orleans being niâ—e hundred men at armes twelue hundred light horse and fiue thousand â—core The Earle of Caiazzo a more politike then hardy Captaine commaunded and Francis Bernardin Viseâ—it chiefe of the Gibelin faction at Milan was Comissary by consequence enimy to Triuulce Their army camped at the Abbay Guiaruole about a league from Fornoue vpon a little hill on the right hand of the Kings army The King had no other forces but what he brought from Naples whereof we haue made mention at his departure Hee must passe neere the enemie being but halâ—e a League off and a little shallow brooke called Taro betwixt both There was no likelehood that this great multitude should part without the hazard of a battaile To trie their resolâ—tions the King who desired onely to passe quietly into France causeth the Lord of Argenton lately Ambassador at Venice to write vnto the aboue named Commissaries that he desired to confer with them They promise to meet the next day in a conuenient place betwixt both armies The night was terrible in raine lightning and thunder a fearefull prediction of the day following Monday morning the King armes himselfe complete and mounted vpon his Sauoy a horse which Charles Duke of Sauoie had giuen him faire and good mannaging with all agilitie blacke of colour and answerable in proportion to to him that was mounted thereon hee shewes himselfe to his troupes with a cheerefull countenance well coloured and a speech contrarie to his custome strong resolute and wise an assured presage of the honour hee should winne that day Putting his armie into battaile hee placed in the foreward 350. French Launces and Iohn Iaques of Triuulte with his company of a hundred Launces and three thousand Suisses The order of the Kings armie the chief hope of the armie commanded by Engilbert brother to the Duke of Cleues who did fight on foote with the Bailife of Dijon that had leuied them and to second them three hundred Archers some cros-bowmen on horse-backe of his gards whom he comandded to leaue their horses the most part of his foote conceiuing that the foreward should be charged with the chief of his enemies forces His Maiestie was in the Battaile hauing about him seuen or eight yong Noblemen armed like him selfe for the confederates had sent to discouer him by a Herald vnder colour of some demand and for counsell he had the Lord of Tremouille The Earle of â—oix commaunded the reereward the bagage by the counsell of Triuulce was left without gard exposed to pillage to keepe the enemie occupied with that baite The battaile of Forâ—oue Thus the armie marched when as Luke and Melchior the Venetian Comissaries were readie to parle But the troupes were now in alarum the Captaines incouraged their men to fight The nearnes of both armies calls them from words to blowes they beginne by skirmishes the Canon thunders but with more noise then effect The Marquis of Mantoue his vnckle Ralphe of Gonzague the Earle of Bernardin of Montone with a squadron of six hundred choise men at armes a great troupe of Stradiots and other light horse with fiue thousand foote passe the Taro vpon the back of the French reerward to charge them behind leauing on the other banke Anthonie of Monfeltre a bastard of the Duke of Vrbin with a great squadron to passe at the first call ordayning moreouer that at the fiâ—st shocke a part of the light horse should charge in flanke and the rest of the Stradiots shâ—uld follow to set vpon the baggage The Earle of Caiazzo with foure hundred men at armes and a great number
aboue named ordinances by an Edict The Rector fearing a check keepes all the Schollers within their lodgings and reuokes the commandement he had giuen Iohn Standon a Doctor of Diuinitie a Brabanson and one of the chiefe authors of this counsell was banished the realme Thomas Warnet of Cambraie who preaching had barkt out some thing against the kings authority preuented this decree and â—anished himself Lewis his title to the Duchie of Milan Bâ—ing thus content in minde quiet within his realme his thoughts â—oâ—red beyond the Alpes and now he takes vpon him the title of Duke of Milan He was 〈◊〉 vpon the right of succession Valentine besides her dowry which was the 〈◊〉 and Country of Ast with a great summe of money had obtaymed this clause 〈◊〉 in her contract of marriage That for want of heires male of Galeas Valentine 〈…〉 the Duchie or she being dead her next descendants 〈◊〉 â—â—uention was of no force but the Imperiall seat was then vacant and the 〈…〉 it The Popes pretending the Empire being without an Emperour that the administration belongs to them And seing that by the death of Philip Maria Visconte the masculine line of Iohn Galeas failed who then should succeed in this goodly estate many contended for it the Emperour Frederick mayntained that it should be vnited to the Empire considering the line specified in the Institution made to Iohn Galeas by Wenceslaus King of the Romains was extinct Alphonso King of Arragon Naples armed himselfe with the testament of Philip by the which hee was made his heâ—re But in worldly affaires the strongest most often carries it Francis Sforce one of Philips Captaines sonne to Sforce Attendule an Aduenturer a braue and actiue spiâ—â— had married Blanche bastard daughter to the sayd Philip and hauing no man at 〈◊〉 â—â—stant that might resist his violence hee did so cunningly winne all the greatest 〈◊〉 of Milan as by their support suffrance he soone seized on the state the which 〈◊〉 easily effect hauing all the forces at his command no competitor For 〈◊〉 Lewis Duke of Orleans nor his Children had any meane to recouer this Duâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Francis by reason of the great warres which followed in France by the 〈◊〉 of the sayd Lewis and of the Duke of Bourgongne slaine likewise at Monterea◠〈◊〉 â—â—wis the 6. and 7. Charles sonne to the sayd Lewis taken at the bâ—ttâ—â—lâ— of Azâ—â—â—â— â—â—guishing twentie fiue yeares a prisoner in England and deliuered by Philip 〈◊〉 â—ourgundy could neuer obtaine any aide from Lewis the eleuenth beeing 〈◊〉 by homebred warres from the beginning of his raigne Moreouer Lewis did alwaies make accompt to settle his authority by the suppression of his neerest bloud And for this cause our Lewis his sonne in lawe sonne to the sayd Charles had no whit the more credit with his father in lawe for the recouery of his inheritance And the â—word which hee did vnsheath against Charles the eight his brother in lawe of whome hee pretended the Regencie and after in the warres of Brittaine tooke from him all meanes to attempt this enterprise vntill such time that the King hauing left him in Ast to crosse the attempts of Lodowike Sforce the seized vpon Nouarre but with a â—â—â—â—lesse euent Nowe is he seated vpon the royall throne of his Ancestors peaceable within himself and peaceable with his neighbors Triuulce doth not cease to lay open vnto him 〈◊〉 to expell Lodowike To make the way easie Pope Alexanders friendship 〈…〉 Florentins and other Potentats of Italy was very requisite Hee seeke 〈◊〉 Ambassadors and findes that the death of Charles the eight had bred an alâ—â—â— in their dispositions The Pope conceyuing that the peace of Italy was the 〈◊〉 of his priuate estate did easily alowe of newe troubles The Venetians beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 by the Kings decease from the feare they had of him for the iâ—â—â—gnities 〈◊〉 had receyued did not beleeue that a newe King would so vehemently imbrace 〈…〉 of his Predecessor and foreseeing that also that if S force were once quiet he would oppose him selfe against them for the affaires of Pisa whereof he did â—olâ—â—â— but coldly the restitution vnto the Florentins by the Popes meanes The Florentins had not yet so much estranged their affection from the French but there was good meanes to recouer it Being thus affected they all send their Ambassadors to the King The Popes affection The Pope who 〈◊〉 to nothing more then the temporall aduancement of Caesar Borgia his sonne 〈◊〉 then Cardinall did willingly imbrace this occasion to plant him in the Kings 〈◊〉 sauour and by some especiall bond to purchase his masters loue He knew well 〈◊〉 Lewis would willingly put away Ioane his wife to marrie with Anne the widowe of Charles and euen then hee resolued to exchange spirituall graces for temporall commodities He then agrees with the King for thirty thousand Ducats and drawes a promise from him 1499. He Capitulates with the king to aide him presently after the conquest of Milan to reduce to the obedience of the Apostolike sea the Townes possessed by the Gouernours of Romagna And for his sonne Caesar a company of a hundred Lances twenty thousand Frankes pension a wife in France to his liking and Valence in Daulphine with the title of a Duchie Then he committed the matter of diuorce to Ferdinand Bishop of Sept his Nuncio in France to Philip Cardinall of Luxembourg and to Lewis Bishop of Albi some name George of Amboise Arch-bishop of Rouan who vpon report of the protestation made by Lewis to a Notarie the day of his marriage That his meaning was not to contract any marriage and that the sollemnitie which he did celebrate was onely to please the King whom hee knew to be cruell against those by whom he thought himselfe to bee wronged And moreouer If by chance Lewis eyther by the expresse commandement of his father in law or after of his brother in law did lye with his wife hee did interpose secret witnesses that should depose of his abstinencie And besides the Physitians and Philosophers hauing iudged her incapable of issue they declared the sayd marriage voyde and gaue him liberty to marry with Anne who marrying elsewhere should haue diuided the Duchie of Brittanie from the Crowne of France The Venetians sent to congratulate his comming to the Crowne The Venetians and by way of excuse gaue him to vnderstand that the controuersies they had with King Charles proceeded onely of distrust and iealousie wherof he had giuen them cause seeing that not content with the realme of Naples he had cast his desseâ—gnes vpon all Italie The Florentiâ—es The Florentins did not forget their ancient customes in like cases to the Crowne of France but especially to put him in minde of their deseruings to the deceased King solliciâ—â—d therevnto by Lodowick Sforce to the end that when the two commonweales of Venice and Florence should come to treate of the affaires
in the capitulation expired without any effects of warre the King commands the Lord of Chaumont to begin He thereupon passeth the riuer of Adde the 15. of Aprill and campes before Treui batters forceth it to yeeld at discretion taking prisoners Iustinian Morosin Comissary of the Venetian Stradioâ—s or light horse Vitelli de Cita de Castello Vincent de Nalde other Senators 1509. and with them a hundred light horse and a thousand foote then he repasseth Adde to attend the Kings comming at Milan The Emperour was gone into Flanders to require a leuying of money from the subiects of Charles his grandchild a testimonie that he could not begin the warres within fortie dayes after the King as his promise was The Venetians prepared and seeing a great part of Christendome armed against them they seeke to dissolue this vnioÌ„ by reasonable offers But the Pope could no more accept that which he had before desired The Catholike King had not credit enough to diuert the rest The Emperour full of disdaine would not so much as see Iohn deâ— Estoille their Secretarie As for our Lewis they hoped for nothing from him but by the sword The Venetian armie They therefore entertaine two thousand men at armes barded foure fighting men for euery Lance three thousand light horse and Stradiots fifteene thousand foote of the flower of Italie and fifteene thousand others chosen out of their territories they arme many vessels to garde the bankes of Romagnia the Townes of Apulia the approches of the Lake of Garde Po and other neighbour places fearing to be molested by the Duke of Ferrare Fatall prognostications for the Venetians and the Marquis of Mantoua their enemies But behold bad signes and prodigious fote-runners of losses wherevnto besides the threats of men the Venetians shall be shortly subiect A Barke carrying ten thousand Ducaâ—s to Rauenna was drowned The Castle of Bresse was fiered with lightning the place where the Charters of the Common-weale did lye was sodenly ruined And that which did most terrifie them their great counsell being assembled fire tooke their Arcenall whereas the Salt-peter did lye and burnt twelue gallies with a great quantitie of munition Moreouer hauing entertained Iulius and Rance Vrsins and Troile Sauelle with fiue hundred men at armes and three thousand foote the Pope commanded them vpon greeuous censures as defendants of the Church not to depart out of Rome And presently did publish in forme of a monitorie a horrible Bull conteining The vsurpations the Venetians had made in the sea of Rome the authoritie they did arrogate to the preiudice of the Ecclesiasticall libertie and the Popes iurisdiction To giue Bishoprickes and other spirituall liuings being vacant To decide spirituall causes in secular Courts and other things belonging to the censure of the Church specifying moreouer all their disobediences past The Venetians cenâ—ured by the Pope and admonishing them To yeeld vp within 24. dayes next ensuing the townes of the Church which they possessed with the fruites receiued since they enioyed them vpon paine to incurre not onely the censures and cursse of the Cittie of Venice but also of all the territories vnder their obedience and of all others that should receiue any Venetian declaring them guiltie of high Treason and detested as perpetuall enemies to all Christians to whom he gaue power to take their goods in all places to make their persons slaues Against this Bull they cast forth a writing about Rome conteining after a long protestation against the Pope and our Lewis An appellation from the monitorie to the next Councel and for want of humane Iustice to the feete of Iesus Christ a most iust iudge and the Soueraigne Prince of all The Venetian armie being assembled made their beginning famous by the recouerie of Treui after the retreate of Chaumont But it was famous to the Conquerour for during the heate of the spoile the King who came to releeue it passed the riuer of Adde with his whole armie without any let the 9. of May. And Triuulce seeing the armie past This day sayd he O most Christian King haue we wonne the victorie The King lodged within halfe a league of the Venetian Campe and holding it more glorie if of himselfe without the assistance of any other he ended this warre he drew the enemie by all meanes to the combate The enemies desseigne was to keepe themselues close in places of strength to flye the necessitie of fighting and to keepe the French from attempting any matter of importance So both armies continued a whole day one in view of an other The next day the King stood foure houâ—es before the enemies lodging with his troupes in battaile and tooke Riuolte in their view without making any other shew then to want courage to come to the fight Necessitie must then force them to it hunger driues the Woolfe out off the wood The king to cut off the vittells that came to them fro Cremona Creme raiseth his campe to lodge at Vaile or Pandin and the Venetians to ingage their enimies in the like difficulties resolue to follow them at the heeles and alwayes to lodge in places of aduantage There were two wayes to the said places The one was longer and lower which going bias against the riuer of Adde was in forme like a bow the other shorter and higher but straight as a line The King takes the lower the enimy the higer Chaumont led the foreward of the French Aluiane the Venetian They approch neere vnto Agnadel when as Aluiane being forced of necessity to fight plants six peeces of artillery vpon the caussie of a brooke which was then almost dry which parted the two armies and his foote in the vinyardes adioyning to it The battell of Agnadel and comes resolutely to charge our foreward The combate was long and doubtfull for that by reason of the stocks and branches the French horse could not fight commodiously And now the Suisses begin to wauer when as the King sending Charles of Bourbon to incourage them and aduancing himselfe with his battaile into a more large and open place hee redoubled the shock fauoured by his artillery the which the enemy could not discouer by meanes of certaine small trees and bushes So as after a resolute fight of eyther side about three houres the Kings presence not suffering any one of faint and the Suisses returning to their first heat the Venetians wonderfully spoyled by the horse and Cannon and hindred by the raine and haile which beat in their faces began to yeeld both in courage and force and finally resoluing to sell this victory to the French very deare fayling rather in force then courage they desired rather to loose their liues then their honours by turning of their backs The Earle of Petiliano with whom was the greatest part of their forces incountred with a squadron of their owne men flying greeued that Aluiane had contrary to his aduice presumed to fight and thinking that
house of Austria the Suisses in the French armie and those in his which refused plainly to fight one against an other vniting their forces should deliuer him to the enemie for that Iames Stafflet Colonell of his Suisses had with much arrogancie demanded their pay he secretly departs from his armie in the night Maximilian retires with two hundred horse so as he was twentie miles off before they were priuie to his departure His armie wanting both a commander and money tooke the same course The Earle of S. Paul with the Lords Montmorencie and Lescu pursuing them defeated a great number whereof three thousand part Germaines and part Spaniards yeelded to the French and Venetians being in Campe and our Suisses notwithstanding they had beene paied for three moneths went home to their houses except some three hundred which remained with Peter During these garboiles the Pope smothering his conceits laboured to be as pleasing as he could to either party yet was he grieued the Emperour had brought so great forces for he could not remaine a victor but he must afterwards seeke to oppresse all Italy or put Leo from the Papall seat to hold it himselfe according to the common report On the other side as we iudge of causes by the effects the King had many reasons to suspect the Pope He had consented to the Emperours descent Colonne the Popes pensioner did accompany Maximilian He refused to send fiue hundred men at armes for the defence of Milan and to pay three thousand Suisses as he was bound by the treatie of Bologne So as the King to let Leo know that the brightnesse of his Miter did not so dazell his eyes but he discouered his practises he made him Brewiste of the same bread· declaring that seeing the league they had made was fruitlesse in time of warre he would contract a new one which should not tye him but in time of peace The Emperours armie being dissolued the Duke of Bourbon returnes into France and of his owne motion resignes his gouernment into the Kings hands by whose command the Lord of Lautrec Bresse yeelded taking the charge of the armie to free the King from that bond ioyning with the Venetians returned to Bresse which pressed with two batteries one by the French the other by the Venetians yeelded to the King their liues goods saued and Lautrec deliuered it to the Venetians Verona had a harder issue for beâ—ng battred by the French towards Mantoua Verrona yeelded and by the Venetians towards Vincence giuing two assaults afflicted with want of victuals and munition and troubled by the hurting of Marc Anthonie Colonne gouernour of the Citty yet being assured of eight thousand men led by Cont Roquendolfe that came to their succour they held out vntill Christmas at what time famine forced the Spaniards to yeeld the Towne the which was in like sort deliuered to the Venetians The Pope to make profit of the Kings victory and forces solicits Lautrec to aide him to dispossesse Francis Maria of Rouere of the Duchy of Vrbin The motiues of this warre which Leo pretended against him were for that Francis had denied the Pope those men for the which hee had receiued pay of the Church and had treated secretlie with the enemie That hee had slaine the Cardinall of Pauia and committed many other murthers That in the hottest of the warre against Pope Iulius his Vncle hee had sent Balthasar of Chastillion to the King to receiue his pay and at the same instant he denyed passage to some companies that went to ioyne with the army of the Church and pursued in the estate Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and. Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchie which he held as a feudatarie of the Church the soldiars which saued themselues at the defeate of Rauenna Lautreâ— desyring to please Leo sent Lescun his brother the Lord of Chifle the Knight of Ambrun the Lords of Aussun and S. Blimond and many other Captaines with good numbers of horse and French foote Who in fewe daies reduced the sayd Duchie to the Popes obedience who did inuest Laurence of Medicis his Nephew in the sayd Duchie Moreouer the Kiâ—gs friendship was very necessary for the Catholike King Charles the Archduke tooke vpon him that title after the death of Ferdinand his grand-father by the mothers side to make his passage more easie from Flanders into Spaine and to assure himselfe of the obedience of those realmes Fitting therefore his resolutions according to the time and necessitie by the aduice of the Lord of Chieures his gouernour hee sent Philip of Cleues Lord of Rauasâ—ein to the King to make choise of a place where their deputies might meete to decide all controuersies betwixt them Noyon was named and for the King there came Arthur of Goufiers Lord of Boissy Lord high Steward of France for the King of Spaine Anthonie of Croye Lord of Chieures both gouernors of their masters nonage and both assisted with notable personages Who concluded That within sâ—e moneths the Catholike King should yeeld the realme of Nauarre to Henry of Albret A peace concluded betâ—wixt the King and the Archdukâ— Charles sonne to Iohn of Albret and Catherine of Foix deceased the same yeare or els should recompence the sayd Henry within the sayd terme to his content els it should be lawâ—ull for the King to aide him to recouer it That the King should giue his daughter Lowise who was but a yeare olde in marriage to the Catholike King and for her dowrie the rights he pretended to the realme of Naples according to the diuision made by their Predecessors vpon condition that vntill shee came to yeares of marriage Charles should pay vnto the King a hundred and fiftie thousand Ducats yearelâ— towards the maintanance of his daughter That shee dying if the king had any other daughter hee should giue her to the Catholike king vpon the same condiâ—ions If hee had none then Charles should marrye with Renee Daughter to the deceased king To propound and conclude marriages so disproportionable of age is it not properly to mocke one an other Seeing that onely two yeares time bring forth occasions which make Princes to alter their courses whose wills are often inconstant This treaty was respectiuely sworne by both Kings who appointed an enteruiew at Cambray attending the which they sent their orders of knighthood one to an other And sence the Emperour ratified these conuentions but wee shall see small fruits theâ—eof France reaped an other benefit of this peace The Suisses seeing a surceasse of armes betwixt the Emperour and the King compounded as the former had doone That the Kâ—ng should paie vnto their Cantons within three moneths three hundred and fiftie thousand ducats and after that a perpetuall and annuall pension That the Suisses should furnish him whensouer hee demanded a ceraâ—ue number of men at his charge But diuersely for the eight Cantons bound themselues to furnish against all men indifferently and
on the one side of the riuer and the battaile on the other the Flemings and Bourguignons aduertised of these diuided lodgings come and charge them both by night at one instant fall vpon the gards of the light horse-men of the battaile and repulse them to the men at armes whereof part being then on horse-backe they sustaine the shocke and if they had not busied themselues with the spoile before a finall victorie it would haue caused a great disorder in the army The Marshall had fortified his gards Tiguerette a man at armes of his company commaunded them who at the first alarum giuen by his skouts 1523 being aduanced to discouer he was compassed in and taken prisoner Our historie owes the report of his name to the faithfull affection he bare vnto his Country sot fearing least the Campe should be surprised he respected not his life in regard of the aduertisement he might giue in crying to armes So the enemie seeing himselfe discouered made the victualing of Terouenne easie by his retreat This exploit increased the Kings desire to repasse the Alpes With this intent he sent the Marshall of Montmorency to make a leauy of twelue thousand Suisses appointing the Rendez-uous for his army at Lion In the beginning of August he dispatched the Admirall of Bonniuet with six thousand French led by Lorges to get the passage of Suze vntill he might follow with the rest of his forces The Venetians hauing tried in former times that the neighbourhood of the King of France and the Emperours of Germany had caused them to attempt against their common weale desiring that the Duchy of Milan might remaine in the possession of Francis Sforce whose power they nothing feared and â—or that the Emperour not able to proceed further inclined to the restoring of Sforce they imbraced his friendship and concluded a peace and perpetuall league with him with Ferdinand Duke of Ausâ—ria and with Francis Sforce Duke of Milan whereby they bound themselues To arme for the common defence of Italy sixe hundred men at armes A league betwixt the Venetians thâ— Emperour sixe hundred light horse and six thousand foote And the Emperour with the like numbers of men should defend all that the Venetians possest in Italy Moreouer Pope Adrian desiâ—ing in shew the generall peace of all Christendome had soone after the comming to the Pontificall seat made some shewe to interpose his authority â—or the reconciliation of our warriers But he had beene of long time at the Emperours deuotion so as he did willingly giue eare to such as perswaded him not to suffer the King of France to repossesse the Duchy of Milan And certaine letters of the Cardinall of Volterres intercepted by the meanes of the Duke of Sesse Ambassador â—or the Emperour at Rome thrusts him on to make his declaration against the King This Cardinall aduised the King by the Bishop of Xaintes his Nephew to assaile the Hand of Sicile with an army by sea to constraine the Emperour to turne his forces to the deâ—ence thereof and to make the way more easie to recouer the estate of Milan And according to this Councell a practise was discouered in Sicile in the Kings fauour which was the death of the Earle of Camâ—rate the maister of the Ports and of the high treasorer of the Iland who was quartered These reasons and the landing of the French which was bruted throughout all Italy did easily drawe the Pope to ioyne with the Emperour the King of England the Archduke Ferdinand brother to the Emperour the Duke of Milan the Florentines Genouois Sienois Luquois who agreed to leauie an army to oppose it against any one that should inuade any of the conâ—ederates in Italy Neither the Emperors league with the Venetians who had played the turne-coats nor the vnion of so manye Princes and Estates conspired together could daunt the resolution of our Francis and now the rumor of his comâ—ing bred new tumults in Italy Lionel brother to Albert Pie surpriseth the Towne of Carpi which the Emperour had taken from him proclayming him a rebell to the Empire Francis Sforce riding one day from Monce to Milan and his troupe remayning behind least they should annoy the Duke with the dust which their horses did raise Boniface Vicomte a yong Gentleman grieued that a kinsman of his had beene put to death within Milan by the consent said he of the said Duke watching his oportunity The Duke of Milan hâ—râ— hee prickes foreward with a dagger in his hand to strike Sforce in the throat but beeing mounted vppon a little Moyle and Boniface vpon a tall swift Turkish horse Sforce had meanes to slip aside so as he hurt him in the shoulder and then the murtherer began to strike him with his sword but his traine comming to his rescue they forced him to leaue him and so by the swiftnesse of his Horse hee saued himselfe in Piedmont Galeas of Birague followed by the banished men of Milan and â—ome French soldiars which were in Piedmont seized vpon Valence but hauing no time to fortifie it Anthonie of Leue beseeged it battered it and the second day of the seege tooke it by force with the slaughter of foure hundred men and many prysoners taken of which number was Galeas chiefe of the tumult The French army passed the Alpes in small troupes and the King prepared to followe them But it is a matter of dangerous consequence for a King to thrust a great Prince into despaire who hath meanes of reuenge if without respect of his degree or quality The Duke of Bourbon reuolts they seeke wholy to oppresse him Notwithstanding Princes should forbeare to cause any innouations if they did but dulie examine the causes and reasons whereby men colour their bearing armes against their Country The Kings iourney is stayed by the like occurrent We haue noted before that the leading of the foreward giuen by the King to the Duke of Alanson and to the Marshall of Chastillon was the first motiue which estranged Charles Duke of Bourbon Constable of France from the Kings seruice and this other did wholly withdrawe him Of the marriage of Peter Duke of Bourbon and Anne sister to King Charles the 8. Susanne was borne their onely heire the which being made sure to Charles of Valois Duke of Alanson Charles of Bourbon Earle of Montpensier and afterwards Constable waged in lawe after the decease of the sayd Peter that all the lands of his succession belonged vnto him as the heire masâ—e issued from a yonger brother of Bourbon To ende this controuersie a marriage was made betwixt the sayd Earle of Montpesier and Susanne and he called him selfe Duke of Bourbon Susanne dying soone after the first discontent of Charles Duke of Bourbon the Kings mother being Regent by the Counsell as they say of Anthony Prat then Chancellor pretended that such lands as came by the succession of Peter of Bourbon and were held by gift belonged to
their lodging and finds nothing done Some exclayming first would haue made their cause good Others storme their pay being nowe out and protest that if it bee not satisfied they will wrappe vp their enseignes A fruitlesse attempt vpon Ast. and sound a retreate They had reason it is an ordinary course when as the chiefe foâ—â—â— of an army consists in a mercenarie nation Humieres searcheth all the purses in the campe makes for euerie Companie fiue hundred Crownes and with this boane did somewhat satisfie their greedinesse But in the meane time the beseeged giuing the alarume to the Campe they bring in seauen companies of foote 1534. and three hundred horse to their succors Thus the small likelyhood to force the Towne and lesse to famish it seeing that for want of pay the strangers were no men of resolution Humieres leaues the Towne of Ast to surprise that of Alba. About eight hundred Spaniards were parted from Alexandria to enter into it Iohn Paul de Cere meetes them Alâ—a and Quers taken chargeth and defeats them so as at the arriuall of the French the Câ—ttâ—zens of Alba vnfurnished of soldiars yeelding to the yoake of obedience gaue occasion to them of Quiers to follow their example This absence of the army made Caesar of Naples gouernour of Vulpian a man actiue and Vigilant A dangerous attempt against Turin but vnfortunate in his enterprises to attempt Turin Turin had in it but two companies of foote vnder de Wartis and d' Angart weake forces for a place of such importance yet the Inhabitants were well affected to this Crowne Caesar â—ubornes a Corporal a GascoÌ„ to deliuer him the next day of his gard a bulwarke of the Towne right against our Ladies Church Such base people should neuer knowe the day nor houre of their watch The night being come he brings ten enseignes of foote and some three hundred horse the soldiar giues him notice by a signe of the most conuenient place to plant his ladders he settes them vp before the alarume was in the Towne he putts fiue enseignes into the bulwarke two or three base soldiars whom the traytor had of purpose drawne in with him saued themselues by flight Boutieres gouernour of Turin hearing the alarume goes into the streete followed onely with the Suisses of his gard and some gentlemen hee finds the Townsmen armed and resolute to do their duties he marcheth directly into the bastion with no armes but a halberd shutts the gate by which they came from the sayd bastion into the Towne the darknesse of night had hindred the enemie from seeing it open the which preserued the Towne for whilest that Caesar made fit his ladders to enter into the Towne the alarume grew hot Wartin arriues with two hundred shot and forceth the enemie to abandon the bulwarke The Imperialls râ—pulse at Tuâ—in hauing lost seauen or eightscore men at whose departure the soldiar payed for his offence with his life This attempt the bad inclynation of the forren forces the quarrels betwixt Caesar Fregâ—se who led the foreward and Iohn Paul de Cere Colonnell of the Italian foote the controuerses of Brissac with Anniball of Gonsague Earle Laniuolare six thousand Spaniards and twelue hundred horse being entred into Montcallier and thâ—eatning Turin but weakly furnished with men made Humieres to leaue Iulio Vrsin in Alba with a thousand foote vnder his charge and a thousand more vnder Artigue-Dieu and Peter Strossy in Quieras Caesar Fregose with the like number of men such as he would chose with the rest of the army turnes head towards the enemy to surprise him at Montcallier The Marquis of Guast aduertised of this desseine puts the rest of his troupes into the sayd place This enterprise prouing fruitlesse and Humieres not able any longer to hold his strangers without pay he sent Francis Earle of Pontreme with sufficient forces to make good Pignerol against the Marquis who threatned to surprise it to take froÌ„ tâ—e French all meanes of retreat succours in keeping the passage of Suze Then hee supplied Turin with two thousand French foote commanded by Allegre and Laâ—â—gny Quiers with a thousand men of the bands of Aramont besids eight hundred which the Knight Assall gouernour of the place had Sauillan with a thousand Italians vnder the command of Iohn of Turin leading the Lansquenets and the rest of the troupes into the Marquisate of Salusses to attend newes and money from the King for their pay for want whereof this army serued to small vse The Marquis of Guast seeing Humieres retired into Pignerol whether the violence of the Lansquenets had driuen him there to attend their pay he sent thirteene enseigns of foote to Siria a small Towne vpon the mountaine to keepe the valley of Suze in subiection and by the taking of the Castells of Riuole and Villane to take from them of Turin all meanes to heare newes out of France So the way by the valley of Suze being cut off and that of Pignerol by the meanes of Montcallier Carignan and Carmagnole which the enemy enioyed Humieres being ill obeyed by the Lansquenets whome they forced to pay vpon their olde rowle although their number of ten thousand were halfe decreased and those of Turin prest with want of victuals and money 1537. which they could not endure after Saint Andrews day Piedmont in danger to be lost for want of money the King was in danger to loose all Piedmont The Marquis hauing taken the Towne of Quiers by assault with Albe and Quieras by composition was become master of the field and held Pigneroll a great and vast Towne so straightly begirt as no victuals might enter when as the King by a supplie of fiue and twentie thousand Crownes which he sent to Boutieres made an entrie for the Countrimen to bring victuals to Turin which before was shut vp for want of payment for their wares then he caused the the bands of the Earle of Furstemberg and of Nicholas de Rusticis to march to Lions vnder the commaund of the Daulphin his son and of the Lord Steward with ten thousand French foot commaunded by Montiean followed by fourteene hundred men at armes and light horse attending a leuie of fourteene or fifteene thousand Suisses which the Earle of Tende made for his Maiesties seruice resolute to march after himselfe in person And not to leaue his realme vnfurnished he left the gouernment of Paris and the I le of France Picardie Normandie and other Countries about to the Duke of Orleans his yonger sonne hee sent backe the Duke of Guise into Bourgogne and Champagne Henry King of Nauarre his brother in law into Guienne and Languedoc and the Lord of Chasteaubriant into Brittanie The Daulphin accompanied with Anthonie Duke of Vendosme parts from Lions about the tenth of October The Daulphins voiage into Piedmont gathers togither in Daulphiné some three thousand Legionaries and the remainders of Humieres armie which were
be called Lieutenant generall to his Maiestie in all his countries and territories But this was but a gouernment in paper these strong partialities of two parties shall brieflie one assaile another making great wounds within this realme from whence wee haue seene the bloud runne euen to these latter dayes This treatie did preiudice them of Guise and in the end peace must needs send them from Court to liue at home like priuate men They had in their conceits the argument of a new Tragedie the which we shall shortly see plaied vpon this Theater The Protestants multiplied and the King of Nauarre supported them openly The Prince of Condé who pursued the sentence of his iustification in the Parliament and the Admirall had preaching in their chambers This string is strained too high They publish generally that these preachings will be the ouerthrow of the ancient religion within this realme and particularly among the Duke of Guises partisans That vnder colour of rendring accounts and of extraordinary gifts they would displace them hauing managed the most important affaires of the realme for the space of fortie yeares The Constable holding for a maxime That the change of religion brings an alteration in the state begins to applaude them the Duke of Montpensier and the Prince of Roche-sur-yon Princes of the bloud of Bourbon vpon this nice point of new religion ioyne willingly with them The people conforme themselues commonly after the patterne of great men Gâ—eat personages looke awrye one on another so do the people one beares the name of Huguenot impatâ—enâ—ly an other cannot indure that of papist in truth turbulent and factions names From hence sprong diuerse mutinâ—es 〈◊〉 Beauuais Amiens Ponâ—oise and elsewhere where the weaker was forced to yeeâ—d to the stronger These new broyles caused an Edict to be made at Fontainebleau where the Câ—â—urt remayned attending the renewing of the estates intermitted prohibiting these maâ—â—a reproches of Papist and Huguenot to serch no man in his house nor to retaine any one in prison for his religon From thence the King made his voiage to â—eims and was sollemnly crowned by the Cardinall of Lorraine The Kings coronation The Parliament at Faris not able to digest this last Edict shewes vnto the King That diuersitie of religion was incompatible in an estate reiects this pretended libertie of conscience and beseeched â—â—s Maiestie to force his subiects to make open profession of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish religion vppon such paines as should bee aduised on in Councell Now blowes a contrarie wind the which assembles in the Parliament at Paris all the Princes Noblemen and others of the priuie Councell with all the Chambers to the end they might freely Edicts of Iuly and withall puritie of conscience deliberate aduise and conclude vpon a matter so much importing the good and quiet of the Realme This assemblie brought forth the Edict which they called of Iuly an edict confirming the decrees of former Kings commaunding his subiects vpon paine of death to liue hereafter in peace without iniuries without reproches for any respect of religion â—â—nd beleefe But see the firebrand of ciuill warres which now we handle All religion faith or doctrine other then that of the Church of Rome was banished the realme asâ—emblies of Protestants forbidden and they condemned to seeke their abode elâ—ewhere Somewhat to temper this bitternes they lymit their exile by the determination of a generall Councell or next assembly of the Prelats of the Realme at Poisâ—y And at the same instant the sentence of the Prince of Condés innocencie was pronounced in Paâ—liament by the President Baillet in their scarlet gownes the dores open and all the chambers assembled the King of Nauarre being present with the Duke of MoÌ„â—pensâ—er the Prince of Roche-sur-yon the Dukes of Guise Neuers and Montmorency the Cardinals of Bourbon Lorraine Guise Chastillon and other noblemen his remedie reserued against whome it should appertaine as the reputation and qualitie of his person and dignitie should require The King calling the Princes and Noblemeâ— to S. Germain in Laye hee caused the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Guise to embrace each other promising to continue good friends The Parliament remitted to Pontoise hauing produced no other effect but a new approbation of the Regencie for the Queene mother in whose fauour the Admiraâ—l laboured to the Estates relying vpon the great assurances she had giuen him to procure much good for them of his partie And the King of Nauarre by reasonâ— of the refusals which the Deputies made to passe this article declared vnto them by mouth that he had renounced his right and some meanes to open the cofers of the Clergie for the payment of the Kings debts they began to proceed to the conference of Poissy For the Catholiks came the Cardinals of Bourbon Lorraine Armagnac Guisâ—e Chastillen and Tournon Conference of Poisâ—y assisted by a great number of Prelats and Doctors of Diuinitie and Canon Law The Pope doubting least they should make some conclusions preiudiciall to his authoritie sent the Cardinall of Ferrara his Legat into France to oppose himselfe against any alteration in religion and to haue the cause referred to the Councell of Trente the which he had published Theodore Beze Peter Martir a Florentin Augustin Marlorat Francis of Saint Paul Raimond Iohn Virel and other to the number of twelue ministers and two and twentie Deputies of the Protestant Churches offer a petition vnto the King at his first entrie beseeching him that the Prelats might examine the confession of their faith whereof they had had conference since the moneth of Iune to impugne it if they thought good at their first assembly and vppon their obiections to heare the defences of the said Churches A PetitioÌ„ presented by the Protestants by the mouthes of their Deputies That the King should be president in this conference with his Councell and that the Clergie for that they are parties should not take vppon them the authoritie of Iudges That all controuersies 1561. might be determined by the word oâ— God That two Secretaries chosen on either side might examine the disputations that were daylie written and that they should not bee receiued but signed by either partie Before they entred into open conference the Cardinall of Lorraine would â—eate pâ—iuatly with Beza before the Queene Mother and hauing heard him especially vpon the Lords supper I am greatly contented sayd he with that I vnderstand and hope assureâ—ly that the issue of this Conference will bee happy proceeding with mildnesse and reason It began the 9. of September The King did breefely touch the causes of this assemblie causing his Chancellor to deliuer them more at large The Cardinall of Tournon in the behalfe of the Prelats demands the Chancellors proposition in Writing A 〈…〉 the Pr testants and leysure to consider thereof the which is refused Theodore with his companions brought in by the Duke of Guise appointed to that
the Duke of Guise and the Admirall This apparent meanes to confirme a publike concord did please the Admirall beleeuing this marriage should be the ground of a most happie peace and the Queene of Nauarre feares least delay should alter the Kings good meaning But the accomplishment of the marriage was hindred by some leâ—â—s The Pope made some dâ—fficulty to dispence therewith as well by-reason of the consanguinity of the parties the one being petie Nephewe the other grand-childe of Francis the 1. King of France as also for the difference of their religions The Qâ—eene of Nauarre likewise made some scruple of this disparity of religion of the ceremonies and of the place of the sollemnitie She would not haue the marriage celebrated after the manner of the Catholike Church and feared the Citty of Paris as most affected to their religion and of long time an enemie to the house of Nauarre Contrariewise the King would haue Paris to be the Theater Pretexts for the lowe Countrie warres where this notable act should be sollemnly celebrated in the vewe of the Capitall Cittie of his Realme without changing any thing in forme of royall mariages In the end the respect of ciuill reason preuayled As â—or the motiues of this warre pretended in the Lowe Country they were goodly in shâ—w for besids this hereditarie hatred of the French against the Spaniard beeing reuiued by the outrages and warres made in France by Charles and Phâ—â—ip his sonne the remembrance whereof was yet fresh they renued the ancient quarrells of many possessions in the Lowe Countries depending of this Crowne Moreouer they pretended newe causes which seemed lawfull to breake the allyance betwixt the two Kings That his Maiestie had most certaine intelligence of poyson giuen by Philip to his wife the Sister of our Charles vpon some discontents and filthie iealousies These reasons had a shewe of truth and the Admirall to the end the French who cannot liue long togither in mutuall concord and that by a long vse of warre breathed nothing but warre should not seeke some newe seeds of ciuill diuision held it good to diuert this vehement heate against some stranger and nation a faâ—â—e off Many necessarie considerations fortified this ciuill Councell The forces of the Prince of Orange and his bretheren who spoiled by the Spaniard of many rich possessions both in the Lowe Countries and in the Countrie of Bourgongne had long time sought to recouer it by armes The credit and fauour of the Lowe Countrie men in Germany by reasoÌ„ of the exceeding crueltie of the Duke of Alba Lodâ—wike of Nassau brother to the sayd Prince a man of great courage and resolution prest it forward and his presence was a spurre to the Admirall Moreouer to the end it should seeme this warre was managed with the Kings consent his Maiestie did suffer the Prince of Auranges fleete to ride about Rochelle annoying the Spaniards and Portugalls which sailed vpon that coast the trafficke of the Lowe Countries and for the Comte Lodowike to sell the bootie hee had taken from the enemie freely and publikely at Rochell So the Admirall a wydower by reason of Charlotte of Laual deceased in the second troubles after he had espoused the Contesse of Antremont in Sauoye at Rochelle The Admiral comes to Court and giuen his daughter Louyse to the Lord of Teligny to wife he comes to Court relying vpon the Kings assurances so often confirmed by messengers and especially by the Marshall of Cossé whome the King had sent to accompanie him presuming the Admirall would giue more credit to the Marshalls words by reason of their familiarity The King receiued him with all demonstrations of loue those of Guise leaue him the place not to yeeld any thing vnto him but to returne soone after with greater authoritie and to take from him all iealousies distrusts which were giuen him froÌ„ al parts the King at the first doth recoÌ„pence the losses which the Admiral had sustained during the former warres by the gift of a hundred thousand frankes and grauâ—ts him for one whole yeare the reuenues which his brother the Cardinall of Chasâ—â—â—ha enioyed being lately deceased in England He giues him a place in the priuy Councel doth ofte times conferre with him touching the warres of Flanders and mâ—kes shâ—we to be gouerned therein by his aduice and Councell he honours him with that plaâ—sible name of father and treats with him so familiarly as the Countries tooke this familiarity for a seale of his Masters affection to the Admirall and the people begâ—n nowe to murmure that Charles not onely fauoâ—ed the Huguenots but would shortly himselfe become a Huguenot A Cunning bayte to free the Admirall from suâ—pition by the aduertisments wich had beene giuen him to the Contrary Hee could nowe tast no admonitions his spirit was so transported with the Kings Countenance and words Doubtlesse the wisdome of man failes euen in the wisest when it pleaseth him that giues it to weaken the strongest spirits and by a iudgement incomprehensible to man to cast a vayle before his eyes and to make him vnable to conceiue the iustice and horror of the iudgement which hee meanes to display For the better aduancing the enterprise of the Lowe Countries the Admirall thought it fit the King should make a peace with Elizabeth Queene of England They might treate it with a very honest colour to the preiudice of the Spaniards Elizabeth was not married and Henry Duke of Aniou had no wife the dignitie of so high an alliance was honorable for the Duke and the qualitie of a Kings Brother was not to bee contemned by the Queene hauing also in his yong age purchased great glorie and reputation Peace â—â—th the English This charge is giuen to the Marshall of Montmorency Bâ—t the issue did shewe that besids this negotiation of peace their meaning was to abuse both the Admirall and all others whome it was expedient to â—buse for the execution of the Councell of Saint Cloud and by the same practise to send the Marshall farâ—e from Court least by his ordinary conueâ—sing with the King hauing a good iudgement and smelling out the complots of this pitifull Tragedie hee should discouer them to the Admirall his Cousin and by meanes of this newe peace the English in the midest oâ— this indignity should bee restrayned from attempting of any thing in fauour of the Protestants as it chanced During this time the Admirall retires to Chastillon and in the meane season they prepare a fleete at Bourdeaux and Brouage vnder the Commande of Strossy Landereau and the Bâ—ron of la Garde The pretext was the warre of Flanders yet had they expresse Commission to attempt vpon Rochell and by open or secret practises to get it in their owne powre The Admirall hauing sounded the fourd vpon his assurance to the Queene of Nâ—uarre of the Kings singular affection to her and to all her house The Queene of Nauarre comâ—s to Court in
Pistoll and when as these three wounds were not able to ouerthrow him Besmes wounds him on the legge euery one of the rest giues his blow and thus they cast that body miserably to â—he ground whom liuing and in health they durst not looke in the face The Duke of Guise hearing the noyse of their armes in the base Court enquires if it bee done and commands them to cast him out at the window who yet breathing layes hold on the pillar but these butcherly murtherers hurle him downe headlong where the Duke wiping his face with a handkerchefe I know him sayeth hee it is the very same and so spurnes him with his foote then going into the streete Courage companions we haue begun happily let vs proceed to the rest the King commands it An Italian of the houshold of the Duke of Neuers cutts off his head and carryes it to the King and Qâ—eene Mother which causing it to bee imbaulmed sent it to the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for an assurance of the death of his most capitall enemie The Palace clocke strikes and the people flie to the Admiralls lodging like madde men one cutts off his hands another his priuie members The Protestants masâ—acred and for the space of three dayes they dragge this poore carcasse with all indignity through the streetes and then they carry and hang it by the feete at Montfaucon His lodging is spoyled his household seruants murthered Those which attended on the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé are driuen out of their chambers they were in the Louure where the King had lodged them to the end sayd he that those of Guise hauing the people at their deuotion they should not in like maner feele the effects of their violence and murthered in the base court the Noblemen and Gentlemen lodged in the Admiralls quarter vndergo the like fortune The like furie oppresseth the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Suburbes of all ages conditions and sexes men women and children riche and poore There is nothing to be heard in Paris but a horrible noyse of armes horses and Harguebuses a lamentable crye of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy and the pittilesse showts of murtherers The streetes are strewed with carcases the pauements market places and riuer dyed with bloud One day alone by the murtherers saying hath ended the quarrell which neyther Pen Paper decrees of Iustice nor open warre could see determined in twelue yeares About ten thousand â—oules makes this Sunday famous for euer polluted with the spoyling of goods and the effusion of their bloud that were asleepe disarmed and at such a season as they thought themselues most safe And doubtlesse the horrible catastrophes happened since to our Charles to his brother and successors and to the bretheren of the house of Guise in the last acts of their liues and generally to all this realme euen vnto our dayes forceth vs to confesse That mans bloud violently spilt when as the manner of it may not lawfully be qualified with the name of Iustice cannot please his sight who hath created them to his owne image and liknesse and sels them deerely to the authors of this effusion The fame of this massacre had already passed from the Citty to the Suburbes when as the Earle of Montgomery Iohn of Fâ—rrieres Vidame of Chartres Beauâ—aâ—◠〈◊〉 Nocle Fontenay and many Gentlemen lodged in the suburbes of Saint Germâ—ine perceiuing a number of men to crosse the riuer to make them equall with their companions they abandon their baggage go sodenly to hoâ—se and saue themselues â—ith speed being pursued halfe a dayes iourney by the Duke of Guise But he that shouâ—d haue brought the Keyes of S. Germains gate hauing mistaken them gaue them sâ—me leisure to get the aduantage The King sends for the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condé and giues theâ— to vnderstand The King aduowes the murther That hauing been crost many yeares with a continuance of warre he had in the end found an assured meanes to cut off all motiues of confusions to come that by his commandement they had slaine the Admirall the pernicious author of passed troubles that now they did the like to others in the Citty that were infected witâ— the poyson of heresie and the ministers of his wickednesse That he remembred well the discommodities hee had receiued by their two meanes making themselues the heads of a troupe of desperate men That now the cause and opoâ—tunity giues him meanes to be reuengâ—d of such outrages but notwithstanding hee doth pardon their offence by reason of consanguinitie and their young age beleeuing that all had beene committed not by their fault and councell but by the Admirall and other wickeâ— sâ—biects who now haue suffered and doe suffer a iust punishment due to thâ—iâ— deserts so as hereafter they repaire their faults pasts by fidelity and obedience and renouncing the doctrine of their prophane superstition they cleaue to the Catholike relâ—gion and returne into the communion of the Church That hereafter he will haue but one religion within his realme euen that which hee hath receiued from his Ancestors That they should aduise whether they would obey him in this point if not let them resolue to yeeld their heads to the like punishments of their companions The King of Nauarre beseecheth his Maiestie to remember his promise aâ—d the alliance lately contracted and not to force him in the religion which hee hath leaâ—ned from his infancie The Prince of Condé answers That the King hath giuen his faith to all them of the religion and that he cannot perswade himselfe hee will breâ—â—e â—o sollemne an othe As for the obedience saith he you require of me I haue fâ—itâ—fuâ—â—y performed it vnto this day neyther will I hereafter straye in any thing from my duty But as for my religion A noble resoluâ—ion of a yong Prince my Liege I am resolued to continue constant and with the hazard of my life mainteine it to bee true you haue granted me the exercise tâ—ereof and God hath giuen me the knowledge to whom I must yeeld an account leâ—uâ—â—g my body and goods to the disposition of your will This resolute answer puts Charâ—es into choller who full of threats giues the Prince but three dayes libeâ—ty to aduiâ—e whether he would soone loose his head vpon a scaffold In the end both abâ—ure the doctrine they had followed and by the intercession of the Cardinall of Bourbon their Vncle they obteyned pardon of the Pope and were receiued into the bosome of the Church After the massacre those of Guise according to the conclusion of the Councell should retyre themselues into some one of theyr houses out of Paris and Charles should expreslye charge and command the Gouernours of Prouinces and Townes to obserue the Edict of peace and to punish the breache thereof seuerely to the end the people of France and their neighbours should impute all
commentâ—ries in steede of pacifying all things past as he might easily haue done and haue giuen vs peace they cause him to resolue vnto warre making him beleeue that entring into Daulphiné all would yeeld vnto him where as the least dog-hoole made head against him the best of his conquests could neyther recompence the bloud of his men nor the treasure he should spend in this warre The Queene mother the Dukes of Guise and Neuers the Marshall of Retz the Chancellor Birague and some other newe bread Frenchmen disposed of the affaires at their pleasure in the secret Councells of the Cabinet Bad Councelâ—loâ—â— The King did willingly giue them authority and what might bee expected of men who gladlie would people France with newe Colonies of Italians Lorrains and Piedmontoâ—s carying onely to Court Ladies from the which he had beene sequestred almost a yeare with this nation which is lesse lasciuious then ours These pernitious Councellors cause him to protest by sundrie proclamations of his loue to the good of his subiects and to abolish what was past Ill Councell so as they lay aside arâ—es deliuer him all his Townes and liue quietly in their houses without any search constraint or molestation for matter of conscience A policy practised by them to entertaine the fire of ciuill diuisions to rule in this confusion and to fortifie a third partie which in the end we shall see will oppresse the King and bring the Realme to a very miserable estate The Protestants stood then the more vpon their gards they are full of iealousie distrust doubt and feare All those pattents made no mention of libertie for their religion neither of a Parliament for the politike gouernment nor of a nationall Councell for matteâ—s of conscience And what was it to graunt vnto the Rochelâ—oâ—s libertie of conscience and to forbid the exercise of their religion for a certaine season but to keepe their partie at a gase whilest by their great preparations which were made in all parts they should bee able to put a mightie armie to field to râ—ine them without hope of rysing So they arme on all sides espeally in Poictou The Baron of Frontenay afterwards Lord of Rohan in Brittanye beeing followed by threescore gentlemen and sixe hundred good soldiars puts himselfe into Lusignan which the Duke Montpenâ—â—er threatned and according to the leysure hee gaue him hee prouided for the fortifications and all things necesâ—arie to maintayne a memorable seege which might by the meanes of some succours consume an armâ—e before the Castell Seege of Lusignan About the beginning of October the Duke incampes before it and with a batterie of about two thousand three hundred Cannon shot thinkes to drawe the beseeged to a composâ—tion Their importuneâ— them but they answer they will attend a generall peace for all them of their religion He salutes them with twelue hundred and fiftie Cannon shot more makes a breach giues an assault vpon them and is repulsed and beaten back with great losse Fiue daies after the beseeged sallie forth and to reuenge the bloud of seauen yong gentlemen sixeteene soldiars and twentie that were hurt at this first assault they cloye fiue Cannons fire their powder kill nine Captaines and many soldiars bring away many Enseigns and returne laden with spoiles armes and prisoners This disgrace dispersed a part of his campe and made him to spend all the moneth of Nouember without any attempt against the beseeged In December the Duke fortified with twelue hundred Reistres and sixe hundred French foote presseth Lusignan againe and the more to hinder them he batters downe a mill which did furnish them with meale So their hand-mills not able to suffice they began to want bread To ease them of some superfluous mouthes they craue a pasport for some gentlewomen and other persons vnfit for the warre to returne to their houses or some other places of safetie But the hatred this Prince did beare to the Protestants had more force in him than the ordinary curtesie which FrenchmeÌ„ beare vnto Ladies He supposed the wiues Children should be an vrgent sting to draw their husbands and Fathers to yeeld speedely Nowe their horses serued them for foode the soldiars almost starued tooke away the bread violently as they carried it from the Ouen they brake into many houses in the night to seeke for victualls they had no wood but mouables and the ruines of houses ill clothed ill shod ill lodged no cleane linnen toyled with continual trauell to defend themselues both aboue and vnder ground to frustrate the mines which the Duke caused to bee made two of the which in their ruines buried many of the assaylants and gaue the beseeged courage to continue firme in their resolution The 23. of the moneth they begin to thunder with eighteene Cannons and foure Culuerins and the next day they continue the same furie with fiue and twentie peeces After diner they come to the assault the showers of musket shot comming from sundrie flankes makes the enemie retire and to leaue the breach full of dead bodies The greatest force was against the rauelin of la Vacherie which being woone by the assaylants makes them retire to the Castell that had it in gard At the first port of the Castell euery man did shewe his resolution all fight in the midest of the thunder fire and smoake and fiue houres togither dispute it with a doubtfull and bloudie fight In the end both the one and the other being tired with so furious an assault take breath the beseeged remayning masters both of the Towne and Castell being reduced to foure score cuirasses and foure hundred and fiftie harguebuziers resolute to liue and die both in the defence of the place and of their quarrell hoping that la Noue would finde meanes to send them some releefe Lasignan yeelded Not courage but force fayled them So as Frontenay the 25. of Ianuary accepted the articles of composition which the Duke offred vnto him by the Collonel Sarrieu Himselfe and his gentlemen to depart with their armes horses and baggage the Captaines and other Commanders euery one with a curtall if they had any their armes and baggage the soldiars with their harguebuzes their matches out and their Enseignes wrapt vp the gentlewemen and all others that would depart safely to be conducted to their houses or else to Rochelle Thus it was concluded This seege caused aboue twelue hundred men to be slaine a great number to bee maimed and ruined a mighty armie They endured ten thousand Cannon shot with many assaults and lost 25. gentlemen and about two hundred soldiars And the Duke for a memory of his losses caused the Castel of Lusignan to be razed being in former times one of the goodliest fortresses in Europe Such conquests were of more difficultie in Daulphiné the Protestants had mo places and mo Captaines at their deuotion Pousin Liuron Priuas and others did greatly hinder thetrafficke of Marseilles and Lions and
King without consideration of the priuate interest he hath in this 〈◊〉 reuolt hath made a peace with his enemies and hath armed them with his owne forces and authority against his estate his bloud and himselfe He laies open by a pâ—blike declaration the causes which mooued the League to take armes the vanity o◠〈◊〉 pretexts the fâ—â—rts which all France may expect by the treaty of Nemours and theâ— with the Prince of Condé his Cousin the Marshall d' Anuille hereafter Dâ—ke of Montmoâ—â—ncy by the death of his eldest brother and in the following raigne Constable of France and other Noblemen gentlemen Prouinces Townes and Commonalties of both religions hee protestes by a lawfull and necessarie defence to maintaine the fâ—ndamentall lawes of families and the Estate and libertie of the King and the Queene his mother Sixtus th◠〈◊〉 excoâ—munâ—â—cates the king oâ— Nuaâ—re aâ—d Prince oâ— Condé Was it not sufficient for these Princes to haue the King and League against them but they must bee charged â—ith a â—ewe assâ—ult from beyond the mountaines Sixtus the 〈◊〉 a more violent man then his Predecessor castes or this ligâ—tning against theâ—e two Henryes King of Nauarre and 〈…〉 Condé he excomunicates them degradeâ— them and their successors from all 〈◊〉 namely their pretensions to the Crowne of France exposeth their Countries and persons in prey to the first that should 〈◊〉 on them The Popes Bull declared voide and of no force The Court of Parliament findes this act to bee rashe insolent 〈◊〉 and farre from the modestie of former Popes and saies â—nto the King That 〈…〉 finde nothing like to the Apostles successor The Reâ—isters of the 〈…〉 did not teach theÌ„ That the Princes of France were 〈◊〉 to seeke 〈◊〉 at Rome or 〈◊〉 subiects did euer take knowledge of then Princes religion Seeing the◠〈◊〉 â—ew Pope in steed of instruction studies nothing but destruction and that he changeâ—◠〈…〉 into a fearefull fire-brand to ruine those vtterly whome he should 〈◊〉 vnâ—o the Church the Court could not admit this Bull so pernicious for alâ— Christendome and derogating from the souerainty of the Crowne of France The Princes likeâ—ise prâ—test against the said Bull and appeale from it as abusiue and scandalous â—nto the next free and lawfull Councell where they will prooue said they that Sixtus the 〈◊〉 calling himselfe Pope terming them heretikes hath falsely and wiâ—kedly â—â—ed This opposition was set vp in Rome the sixt of Nouember Open warâ—e Thus the Parliament grewe resolute against this Bull but it yeelded easily in other matters which did but impaire the affaires For the fifteenth of October they allowed of the Kings declaration which imposed confiscation of bodie and goods against such as without the warrant of the Catholike Princes had opposed their forces against the League and reuoked the tenne of sixe monethes graunted by the Edict of Iuly to fifteene daies after the saied declaration To crosse this Edict the King of Nauarre by a declaration of the last of Nouember dâ—th seize and giues commissions to sell all the fâ—uites rents reuenâ—es mouables debtes and all other profits whatsoeuer of the Inhabitanâ—es of Townes where the Edict of Iuly touching the sixe monethes and of October touching the abbreuiation to fifteene daies had beene receiued published and executed and likewise of gentlemen and others carrying armes with the Leaguers and their adherents as also of the Clergie resident in the saied Townes or 〈◊〉 for their partie and to leat out their Landes to them that would giue most His wordes and deedes were all one for presently his people lay their handes to worke Saint Mesmes keepes the Marshall Matignon in breath Laual chargeth him in Xaintonge and raiseth the seege of Taillebourg where the Ladies of Tremoâ—â—lle the mother and daughter were beseeged The Vicont of Turrenne ouerruns Liâ—â—siâ— and for a gage of his inroades takes the Bishoprick of Thules The Duke of Mercoeur on the other side thinkes with two thousand men to doe wonders in Poictou but there must bee a proportion betwixt him that forceth and him that hee meanes to force Else hee that furiously or rashly thinketh to daunt another and insult ouer his possessions may soone loose both his courage and what he possessed The Prince of Condé makes head against him and not onely driues him from â—ontenay but also makes him for his better safetie retire farre into Brittanie with losse and disgrace Being freed from this incombrance hee beseegeth Brouage and had alreadie brought it to that necessitie as the most resolute were readie to yeeld when as newes came vnto him that three Captaines du-Halot seruant to the King le Fresne enemie to the Earle of Brissaâ— Gouernour of Anger 's and Roâ—hemorte The voyage of Anger 's a partisan to the King of Nauarre had seized on the Castell of Anger 's one of the strongest places of the Realme garded by a Captaine and twelue souldiars The enterprise was well made well executed but not so well poursued for du Hallot came too soone into the Towne protesting that hee had taken the Castle for the Kings seruice They detayne him prisoner and belegat the Castle whether the whole Countrie comes At night they demaund to parle with Fresné Hee as ill aduised as the first comes forth vppon a little bridge A hargubusier makes an offer to shoot at him whereuppon hee offers to returne but Rochemorte with his companie fearing to bee forced by the multitude that came running drawes vp the bridge Le Fresné hanges by the chaines to pull it downe but the Townsmen cut off his hands and hee falls into the ditch where hee was slaine by a stagge they kept there du Halot was presently executed within the Towne These two being dead they demaund of Rochemorte for whome hee holds For the King of Nauarre sayd hee Hereuppon they cast up a trench against the Castell attending the Duke of Ioyeuse the Kings brother in law During these broyles and troubles Rochemorte slumbring one day in one of the windowes of the Castle was there slaine with a harguebuse shott The Prince aduertised of the surprise of the Castell and of Rochemorts answere but not of that which happened since leaues Brouage and to oppose sufficient forces against the League hee marcheth with about eight hundred masters and twelue hundred harguebusiers on horsebacke passeth Loire at Roisiers betwixt Saumur and Anger 's chargeth home to the suburbes forceth some barricadoes and spends a whole day in skirmishes but hee heares no newes from the Castle neither for the alarume in the Towne nor the noyse of his troupes No man appeares no answeare no signe is made the Actors were buried in their enterprise and sixteene souldiars remayning had alreadie capitulated The Castel of Anger 's yelded Doubtlesse too much courage and too little consideration a dangerous ouersight in any great commaunder in the warre where too much headstrongnesse is no lesse perillous then faint-heartednesse had ingaged
the Dâ—ke kept the Castell the Citadell was at his deuotion might by either of them drawe innecessary succors to vngage him The Seigneur of Tagens the Dukes Cousin aduanced with succors Bordes Captaine of the Citadell beeing prisoner among the conspirators loued the liberty of his place more then his owne life Mere Messeliere Macquerole and Bouchaux summoning the beseeged found nothing in them but a constant resolution to die rather then to yeeld and the people were willing to capitulate when as Tagens by his arriuall pacified the sedition armes were laied aside and the prisoners of both parts deliuered The Duke of Guise hauing made his peace with the King and disapointed his most faithfull Councellors yet one thorne troubled his foote The Huguenoâ—s Estate Hee therefore ceaseth not vntill hee sees them assayled in Poitoâ— and Daulphiné and whilest the Duke of Neuers prepared his armie for Poictou hee sends the regiment of Saint Paul to the Dâ—ke of Mercoeur to annoye the Protestants and not to suffer them to reape any commoditie in the Countâ—ie The Duke of Mercoeur goes into base Poictou beseegeth Montagu repaired by Colombâ—ers whome they of Nantes had hourely at their gates But at the first bruit that the King of Nauarre was come out of Rochelle to succour Montague hee retires straight to Nantes and left the regiment of Gersey to make the retreat Gersey defeated the which â—as ouertaken beaten and defeated two leagues from the suburbs of Nantes On the other side the Duke of Mayenne marched towards Daulphiné but hee planted the limits of his voiage in Lions Now are two mightie armies in field the one vnder the Kings authoritie the other all of Leaguers But this is not enough The King by a solemne oth in the Cathedrall Church at Rouan had sworne the execution of the Edâ—ct of vnion he hath sent it vnto the Bishops and commaunds them to presse the Huguenots in their diocesses to make profession of their faith and to abiure their errors in open Parliaments royall iurisdictions and comonalties This Edict then must bee confirmed as a fundamentall law of State and the King prest to assemble the three Estates of the Realme as hee had promised by tâ—e articles of the peace Henry grants a conuocation the first day of September at Blois Conuocation of the Estates there in the presence of the notablest persons of euery Prouince Seneshalâ—y and Baylewike to propound freely the complaints and greefes of euery man but not medling with any practises or fauouring the priuate passions of any But amidest these Commissions from the King the League wanted no policie to send secretly to them that were most affectionate to the aduancement of their desseins and to the most passionate Leaguers of the Realme articles and remembrances which they should put into their instructions and labour to bee chosen of the Parliament So as in a manner all the Deputies carried the badge of the League and their instructions were conformable to those which had beene sent vnto them The King comes first to Blois hee giues order for the place and for the Deputies lodgings The Duke of Guise followes but it was a great indiscretion for the Duke to goe to Blois seing the King would not come to Paris The Deputies come one after another but the King finding not the number sufficient to begin so sollemne an act he defers it vntill October In the meane time the King studies by the credit which his authoritie giues him oâ—er the three estates of his Realme to bring the Duke of Guise into open vewe and to receiue punishment for all his offences past And the Duke assâ—â—es himselfe that the most part of the Deputies would countenance his cause and would serue him as instruments to controll the Kings power So euery one labours to aduance his desseine and to deceiue one another but hee which shall bee deceiued will verifie that there is danger in delayes The sixteenth of October all the Deputies were readie for the Clergie a hundred thirtie and foure Deputies amongst others foure Arche-Bishops one and twentie Bishops and two Generalls of Orders for the Nobilitie a hundred and fourescore gentlemen for the third estate a hundred fourescore and eleuen Deputies all lawyers or marchants The seuenteenth day being the fiâ—st sitting of the best wits of all France rauished euery man with hope to heare rare propositions The Kinâ—â— speech and resolutions of great affaires for the reformation of the State The Kings oration being full of liuely affection true magnanimitie and pertinent reasons deliuered with an admirable eloquence and grace without any stay will testifie for euer that he exceeded all the Princes of his age in speaking well and that hee could grauely pertineâ—â—â—y and very sodenly make answere to the most important occasions that were offered Montelon keeper of the seale continued his proposition commended the zeale and integritie of his maiesties intentions promised the Estates Mantelon keâ—per of the seale that vnder his happie coÌ„maund they should reape in this conuocation the same effects which had bin tried in diuers raigâ—es hee exhorteth the Clergie to restore the beautie and dignitie of the Church The Nobilitie to frame themselues after the mould of pietie bountie Iustice and other vertues of the French nation so much honoured in all histories The people to reuerence Iustice and to obserue good orders to flie wrangling sutes sweariâ—â— blâ—â—phemies play lust vsurie vniust getting corrupt trading and other vices which be 〈◊〉 seeds of troubles and seditions and the ruine of flourishing Estates He layes open the Kings great debts his charge and care to roote out heresies his religion pietie and deuotion ending his speech with a commendation vnder the Kings obedience of the vnion and concord necessarie for the maintenance of religion The Clergie Renauld of Beaulne Arche-Bishop of Bourges Patriarke and Primat of Aquitania thanked the King for his loue to his subiects and God to haue installed on the throne of this Crowne a King endued from his youth with the spirit of wisedome to gouerne his people who had cast the lightning of the high God euen vpon the face of the enemies of his diuine Maiestâ—e hauing by diuers and dangerous voyages through diuers nations gotten the knowledge of affaires who by his onely wisedome and vertue had lately dispersed a great and mightie armie of strangers and giuen vs hope that vnder so good and great a King wee shall see heresie suppressed peace confirmed the seruice of God established Churches and Temples restored Iustice and peace embraced charitie abound among men by vnitie of religion begin here on earth to raigne with Christ the Idea and patterne of that heauenly kingdome whereunto wee aspire The Baron of Senesei testified the Nobilities affection to the Kings seruice confessing that to him alone belongs to worke those good effects The Nobilitie for the establishment of the honour of God the Catholike religion things profitable for
the priuileges of the Towne In the same moneth the inhabitants of Troyes expelled the Prince of Ioinuille and recalled the Lord of Inteuille their ancient gouernour for the King In Champagne In Poâ—ctou Gasconiâ— The Townes and Prouinces contend who shall haue the honour to returne first to their due obedience from the which these popular furies had withdrawen them Sens Poitiers Agen Villeneufue Marmande and other Townes of Gasconie and in a manner all that had followed the dance of Orleans and Paris do now frame themselues to their tune And all this is done in few weekes The mâ—st factious of the partie did still feed the fire of rebellion in some Townes of Picardie Amiens and Beauuois wauered the Spaniard possessed Laon and La Fere places of importance in that Prouince and the Conâ— Chaâ—les of Mansfield had euen now besieged and taken Capelle a small Towne but strong in the Duchie of Thierasche The King being aduertised thereof went home to their Trenches to drawe them forth to fight but making no show to come forth to get that by force which he could not obtaine by reason hee besiegeth Laon defeates the succors at sundry times that come to the besieged kills aboue fifteene hundred of their men in sundry encounters and taking the Towne by composition in the end of August he ends by this act the furies of ciuill warres without hope of reuiuing and then returnes triumphing to Paris Chasteau Thierry before the siege and after the siege of Laon Amiens Beauuois and all the Townes in Picardie except Soissons and La Fere which the Duke of Mayenne and the Spaniard held did shake off the Strangers yoake and tooke the oth of fealtie to the King Cambray did likewise acknowledge him and gaue his Mâ—iâ—stie such aduantage as his enemies remained without meanes to maintaine the warre and without hope to obtaine their peace The Duke of Mayenne in the meane time entertained all his friends and intelligences at Bruxelles but the supplyes of men and money which hee drew â—rom thence were not able to stay the course of the Kings prosperities Hee therefore retyred himselfe into Bourgongne to assure such places as were yet at his deuotion Contrarywise his neerest kinsmen retyring themselues left him almost alone to treat with the Spaniard The Duke of Nemours made his accord at the Castle of Pierre-aâ—cise but being escaped the 26. of Iuly as we haue sayd death depriued â—im of the vse of his libertie as wee shall see hereafter The Duke of Guise did first testifie The Duke of Guise reconciled to the King that hee desired nothing more then the Kings seruice and drawing in the moneth of Nouember to his Maiesties seruice his bretheren with himselfe many Noblemen the Cittie of Reims and many other places it did greatly shake this monstrous building which was now ready to fall to ruine The sect of Iesuits had as chiefe pillars of the League mightily supported it vnto this day and by all meanes laboured to aduance the Spaniard in France Processe against the Iesuits renued they had spred throughout the whole realme the furious effects of the fire which they had kindled and continued in priuate confessions as lately in their Sermons to disgrace the memorie of the deceased King and the Maiestie of the King now raigning and to encrease it the principall of their Colledge and some others had lately approued countenanced and perswaded that execrable attempt of Peter Barriere The Vniuersitie of Paris grounding the renuing of theiâ— ancient Processe against the Iesuites vpon these considerations and motiues demand the rooting out of them Some great men and of the chiefe men of Iustice sue for them the Cardinall of Bourbon supports them The Duke of Neuers makes their cause his owne The respect of their learning and care and diligence to instruct and teach youth did moue them and a very vrgent cause must drawe the Court of Parliament whose authoritie notwithstanding they did contemne and reiect to pronounce and declare this great decree the which an accursed and detestable attempt by one of their owne disciples did in the end extort 1554. They procured that the cause might bee pleaded secretly for 〈◊〉 said their Aduocate to defend my Clyents I shall bee forced to speake some things offensiue to many which haue lately turned to the Kings seruice But their pleaâ—ings are to be read in Arnault against them and Versoris for them both graue and learned aduocates By the reduction of so many Prouinces Townes Comonalties and priuate Noblemen the League shall bee now confined into some corners of Bourgongne Picardie and Brittanie where the Spaniards to haue alwaies footing within the Realme entertayned the hopes of the Duke of Mayenne and Mercoeur The first began to fall from them but the other grounded vpon some vaine pretentions of the Duchie where he gouerned by reason of his wife hoped to preuaile if not of all yet at the least of a good part The Queene Dowager his Sister laboured to make his peace but hee delayed the time knowing that in his greatest extremity he should finde grace with the King The Spaniard being brought into Blauet by his meanes a fort which the situation of the country had made almost impregnable if as they had built a fort neere vnto Croisae to shut vp the entrie of the port at Brest they had also made an other right agaiâ—st it on the other banke hoped that being chased out of the other Prouinces he should yet hold this as a pawne for the money he had disbursed His Maiestie sent the Marshall D'Aumont Warre in Brittanie and Generall Norrice an English man to encounter him who fortified with a Fleete vnder the command of Captaine Frobisher they became maisters of Quimpercorentin and Morlay and then they forced the new fort at Croisae and slue but with the losse of men and of the sayd Frobisher foure hundred Souldiars to whom the gard was committed France grew quiet yet must they imploy the Souldiars and carry the warre into the Spaniards country It seemed this would free the realme but sildome doth it bring forth the effects that are expected In Luxembouâ—g Yet for a triall the King agrees with the Estates of Holland and their confederates to inuade the Duchie of Luxembourg with their common forces The Duke of Bouillon now Marshall of France and the Cont Nassau seeke to enter in October but they finde the passages stopt and the Cont Charles Mansfield before them who by the defeat of the Hollanders troupes made this attempt fruitlesse On the other side the King seekes to keepe the frontiers of Picardie safe from the Spanish forces and threatned Arthois and Henault That if they fauoured the forces of Spaine which molested Cambray and the Countries there about he would make violent watre against them The Estates of those Prouinces make no answer to these threates framing their excuse that they could draw no direct answer
great desseins vpon the towne of Grenoble by meanes of a fort which he had built to couer his Country on the side of Montmelian and Chambery The fort was vpon the fronter of Daulphiné about a quarter a League within the Kings Country towards Grenoble vpon the side of a hill aboue the village of Barraux kept by Bellegarde a gentleman of Sauoie with seauen companies of foote and furnished with all munition necessary but made rather by ostentation hauing as a great wonder sent the plot thereof almost to all the Potentates of Christendome then by any necessity the place lying neere to Montmelian the chiefe fortresse of Sauoie from whence he might commodiously make his desseins vpon Grenoble Grenoble did wonderfully apprehend this eye-sore and Les-Diguieres hauing dispersed the Kings army for to winter framed many desseins and enterprises at Grenoble vpon this fort the which for that it was made defensible the eue before Saint Bartlemewes day the Duke called it by that name and had attempted it by seege Fort of Sainâ— Bartlemewe if hee had not beene pressed with the want of the chiefe sinewes of warre In the ende vrged by his duty and mooued by the misery of his Maiesties subiects and pressed with the iust intreaties of the chiefe officers both of Iustice and of policy within the Country of Daulphiné hee learnes of many souldiars that came forth the estate of the place with the forces that kept it and sends often to vewe it in the night Hee is informed that it may bee taken by scaladoe in two places at a corner on the right hand going from Grenoble and on that side which lookes towards Isere the earth being not yet aboue two fadome and a halfe high He causeth the troupes neerest to Grenoble to approch makes them to passe ouer the bridge into the towne and faiâ—es that all the rest shall make the same passage to go to into Maurienne where the arâ—y of Sauoie was But the 14. of March on Palme-sonday eue hee secretly putts some petaâ—ds into a boate and thirty Ladders necessary for the execution and at the same instant hee causeth â—is troupes to repasse in the night in boates prepared to that ende to take from them of the fort all knowledge that they were on their side wheâ—eby they might haue occasion to call for supplies from Montmelian or Chamberie Taken by Les Diguieres Things thus disposed hee parts from Grenoble the 25. of the sayd moneth in the morniâ—g ioynes at a village called Lombin with such as he had appointed for this execution making about three hundred horse and a thousand or 12. hundred foote diuidâ—d into foure troupes commanded by the Seigneurs of Morges of Hercules Lieuteâ—â—â—t to Les Diguieres company of men at armes of Auriac and of Maruieu enseigne to S. Iulian he calls these commanders a part acquaints them with this desseine to set vpon the fort the night following and arriues there about eleuen of the clocke at night The Captaines appointed to plant the Petards and the Ladders performe theiâ— chaâ—â—e with an incredible resolution notwithstanding the alarum which those of the Foâ—te had taken by reason of the fires indiscreetly kindled by their boyes The Petards woâ—â— their effect happily one at the false gate which lookes towards Grenoble and the other at the principall port towards Montmelian the alarum growes hotte on all side so as they within the Forte knew not which side to garde They mount to the scaladoe some ladders are ouerthrowne and with their shot they seeke to repulâ—e the assailants who get vp and come to handy blowes the weakest must yeeld to the stronger The enemies sought to make a new head but after some little resistance they slâ—e a hundred of them and the rest leaped ouer the rampar where the alarum was least violent Bellegarde and some others remained prisoners of seuen Enseignes fiâ—e were sent vnto the King the two others were lost in the heat of the assault They found there six peeces of battery and three for the field with great store of powder leade match and corne which had beene so many scourges against the vniust vsurpations of the Sauoisien if the reduction of the Duke of Mercoeur and that which remained to conquer in Brittanie had not layed their armes aside and aduanced the treaties which were made for the tranquillity of their estates The Kings authority had for nine yeares beene banished out off such places as the Duke of Mercoeur held in Brittanie This Prouince was a prey for such as enriched themselues with the miserable spoiles thereof the people hauing nothing left them but their voice wished to see themselues freed from the tyrany of many vicious men and without mercy and to taste with many others the effects of the Kings clemencie and bounty and his Maiesty greeued infinitely to see them afflicted and not able to releeue them for the vrgent necessity of his affaires But after a storme comes a sunne shine The Duke of Mercoeur had often giuen hope of his submission and obedience but the places of his command and the qualitie of his person in his opinion deserued a voyage thether Our Henry is not slouthfull in that which concernes the good of his realme and the great loue he bare to the ease and health of his subiects who with a generall voyce giue him that fauourable title of Father of his people made them willingly to exceed the bounds of modesty At the onely brute of his comming the Lords of Heurtault and La Houssâ—ye S. Offange commanding at Rochefort vpon Loire knowing that the Duke of Mercoeur was ready to free himselfe from the Spaniard and to be reconciled to his Maiestâ—e they cast themselues at the Kings feete beseeching him to receiue and accept of them as his most humble serâ—ants and subiects and that it would please him in that qâ—aâ—itie to continue them in the command of the sayd place to appoint what garrison he pleased for the good of his seruice Reduction of Britanie to grant them a pardon for their taking of armes and all other things which had followed vnder tâ—e authoritie of the Dâ—kes of Mayenne and Mercoeur whom they had acknowledged for the heads of the vnion and wâ—th that capitulation they bring to the Kings obedience the places of Saint Symphorian and Rochefort Plessis of Cosne at the same instant yeelded the Towne and Castle of Craon to his Maiesties seruice But the surprise of Dinan by then of S Malo one of the strongest places of Brittanie in the which the sayd Duke put his greatest hope forced him to flâ—e to his Maiestâ—es mercie Duâ—e Mercours There is no cause so bad but may bee shadowed with some apparent reasons The Duke of Mercoeur giues his Maiestie to vnderstand as well for himselfe as for those that shall submit themselues vnder his Maiesties obedience that the zeale of the Catholick religion the respect of the good of the realme
in the Archdukes Court The Duke of Sauoy who enioyed the same benefit of the Peace M r de 〈…〉 King â—f the Duke oâ— â—irâ—â— practâ—â—es was bound to the obseruation thereof by the like forme The King sent to M r dela Guiche Gouernour of Lion that hee would willingly haue giuen him that charge but that he feared his absence might somewhat preiudice the good of his affaires and his indisposition not suffer him to performe the voyage Hee therefore commanded Guadagnes Seneshall of Lion and Knight of both orders to vndertake this charge The oth was taken in the Friars Church of Chambery on Sunday the second of August The Dâ—ke of Sâ—â—oy sweares thâ— pâ—ace where the Duke was assisted with all his Knâ—ghts of the Auanciado and to witnesse the content which hee had of this peace and reconciliation with his Maiesty he sayd vnto Guadagnes that hee held this day the happiest of all the daies of his life and that all which remayned should bee to maintayne and honour the memory thereof That it were not onely an indiscretion but a blindnesse and a madnes for him to change the felicities of Peace for the miseries of Warre The Duke gaue vnto Guadagnes to the chiefe gentlemen of his trayne Iewells Horses Chaines of gold and to all so many good words as there was not any one but did wishe him more profit by this Peace then he reaped He refused not any thing that was demanded of him in the execution of the treaty for the deliuery and ransome of prisoners but onely the liberty of the Admirall Chastillons wife Hee made answere to the Instance which Guadagnes made in the Kings name Iaâ—â—â—line Countâ—sse of Antiemâ—nt wife to the Admirall was Prisoner at 〈◊〉 and there dâ—d That the respect hee bare vnto his Maiesties comandement was so great as to please him hee would restore her goods and giue her some more liberty whilest that hee might giue his Maiesty to vnderstand the iust causes of her restraint That whatsoeuer had beene decreed at Rome for her absolution was rather in sauour of his Maiesty then for any reason for that hee was seized vpon bookes and writings that were execrable and damnable The afflictions of this Lady did mooue the harts of the chiefe Officers of this Crown of many great Noblemen of the realme her kinsmen and allies The King had commiseration of her for her misfortunes her imprisonment losses and disgraces deserued pitty The Constable the â—â—rdinall of 〈◊〉 the Duke of Ioyenze and M. Danâ—â—â—lot intreated the Legâ—t to do hâ—r â—ustice She was so transported with the good successe of the Kings affaires that although shee were among her enemies yet the fire of her desires could neyther be smothered vnder the ashes of affliction nor vnder the fume of dissimulation If she could haue done that whereof they accused her she would haue made as soden alterations on the earth as Henry King of Sueden did in the aire and as admirable as her will was absolute to desire that the King might ouercome his enemies and haue satisfaction for Nice and Salusses Vpon the hope that this Peace should giue her some content and that the Kings commendation by his Ambassador should giue some truce to her miseries shee writ a letter of the pittifull course of her misfortunes wherby appeared the excellâ—y of her spirit in these words Although saith shee the comparison bee as different as an Elephant and a Gnat yet are they both vegeratiue and sensitiue creatures My fortune and that of my house hath alwaies followed that of France and the Kings for as since his marriage I haue alwaies seene my Estate declyning euen vnto the period of a totall ruine The Councelle of Antâ—emonts letter to Peter Mathieâ—â— by the ill successe of his affaires so now when as God hath powred his blessings vpon him that hee hath reueÌ„ged him of his enemies euen by his enemies that against the conspiracies of the wicked the iudgement of the good hee doth enioy his Inheritance I will hope there shal be some change in my condition I desire it may be good but if it proue otherwise I will not alter my resolution to receiue both good and euill as from the hand of God I haue this aduantage ouer fortune that hereafter her iniuries how violent and soden soeuer shall not be strange vnto me Custome makes afflictions easie I am inured to my afflictions as a Galley-slaue to his oare Necessity â—eacheth me to suffer constantly and custome makes my suffrance eaâ—â—â— The King also gaue Guadagnes charge to let the Duke vnderstand that hee had receiued three seuerall complaints from the Citty of Geneua how that his troupes which he entertayned thereabouts vsed insupportable hostâ—lities tooke prisoners chopt and changed them that his Maiesty desired the Towne might reape the fruite and safeâ—y which the common good of the peace did promise them Comâ—laiâ—ts from the Towne of Geneua and that the Dukes troupes might be retired to the end all Iealousie and distrust might ceasse The Duke would not answer herevnto by writing least saith he he should preiudice the pretensions which he had to that Towne for aboue foure hundred yeares saying only that hee did not thinke it had beene comprised in the treaty of peace for that all other Townes and Prouinces had beene particularly named and not that of Geneua That hee could not free his neighbors from feare and distrust The Dukes pretensions but in retyring his troupes that were about the towne to refresh them in Lombardie hee should take away the cause hauing no intention to prefer War before the happines of Peace He therefore commanded Don Iuan de Mendoza a Spaniard to draw his Regiment which consisted of twelue hundred men out of the territories of Geneua to passe to Milan The King of Spaine fiâ—ding himselfe decrease daily both in strength and health desiring to fâ—â—ish that which he had resolued for the mariage of his eldest Daughter Madam Isabelle with Albert the Archduke his Nephew although he were aduanced to great Ecclesiasticall dignities Donation of the Lowe Countries to the Infanta of Spaine especially to the rich Archbishoprick of Toledo he called before him in the Citty of Madril the 6. of May Prince Philip his onely sonne being about 20. yeares old whom he had also promised in mariage to Madam Mary daughter to the Ferdinand Archduke of Austria but she died soone after accompanied with Don Gomes d'Auila Marquis de Vellada Gouernour and Lord Steward of Prince Philips house DoÌ„ Christopher de Mora Earle of Castel Roderigo great CoÌ„mander of the Alcantara Don Iuan d' Idiaques great CoÌ„mander of Leon all 3. being Councellors of State M. Nicholas Damant Knight CouÌ„cellor President Chancellor of Brabant with Lâ—lâ—o Secretary for the affaires of the Low Countries no more whereas the King made a Grant of the Lowe Countries to his Daughter the which
as they yeelded it presently whereâ—s hee lodged and fortified Orsoy speedily passing three regiments of Spaniards there with that of Count Bouquoy with twelue companies of Horse the which camped right against the Towne whilest that the Admirall caused a strong fort to bee buâ—lâ— at Walsom vpon the other banke of the Rhine to haue the passage free In the meane time the Spaniards spoile many other Townes in the Duke of Cleues Country and iâ— Westphalia Prince Maâ—rice his exploits This soden comming of the Admirall into the territories of the Empire awakened Prince Maurice who parting speedily froÌ„ the Haghe appointed the rendezuous for his troupes about Arnhem in Guelderland where he arriued the 13. of September resoluing to make head against the Spaniard The 25. of September the Estates of the Duke of Iuilliers assembled where it was concluded That the Duke should write aswell to the Emperour as to the Princes Electors to demande succors against the Admiralls attempts That commandement should bee giuen to the Earle of Lippe Captaine generall of the nether Circle of Westphalia to assemble the fiue lower Circles in the Towne of Dormont that they might seeke to preuent the miseries that were falling on them and also to stay the leuies as well of men as of money appointed for the Turkish Warre That Ambassadors should bee sent to Albertus the Arch-duke who was yet at Niuelle to complaine of the taking of Orsoy and other the Admiralls attempts Touching the Ambassadors that were sent vnto the Arch-duke hee made this answere The Arch-dukes answer to the Ambassadoâ—s That hee neuer had any intent to preiudice the Landes belonging vnto the Empire nor to giue any cause of complaint but seeing hee was forced to make Warre against his Maiesties rebells he did aduertise theÌ„ that what was done was by a resolution of the whole Councell That he intreated his Cousin the Duke of Iuilliers not to take it otherwiâ—e then in good part And if hee do not presently leaue Orsoy and ruine the fort of Walsom he will do it vpon the first occasion That for the present hee doth only hold them to haue a passage vpon the Rhine for the effecting of desseins against the Rebells That the Kings men of Warre both in their passage and lodging should keepe such good order as none should haue cause to complaine But contraâ—y to these promises the Spaniards tooke Burich Diuslack in Holt and Rees in the same Country of Cleues and all other places and forts there aboutes chasing and killing the garrisons that were in them The Earle of Brouk writ also the 20. of the same moneth vnto the Admirall intreating him to send him a safegard for his Castell of Brouk his family and Subiects wherevnto the Admirall answered that if the sayd Earle carryed himselfe according to his dutie he should bee receiued into his protection with all loue The Earle of 〈◊〉 besâ—â—ged and taken in his Casâ—ell by the Spaniaâ—dâ— then slâ—â—ne by them and burnt and honored according to his merits the which should bee a moâ—e assured safe-gard vnto him then paper Yet the Earle hauing certaine intelligence that the Spaniards intended to force his Castell of Brouk the 6. of October late at night he sent away his Wife Daughters and Gentlewomen resoluing the next day to carry away his richest stuffe The which he could not do for the next daie his Câ—stell was beset on all sides by the breake of day some Cannons planted and it battred the same day The 8. of that moneth the Earle parleed with the Spaniards and concluded that the souldiars that were within the Castell should depart with him and hee conducted to a place of safety Herevpon the Castell was yeelded and hee went forth with his men Cruelty of the Spaniards which were all choise Souldiars But he was presently set vpon by the Spaniards and taken prisoner the Souldiars to the number of forty were led into a nere Champian field and there disarmed and all slaine There remained yet six of the Duke of Iuilliers people who beeing loth to trust vnto the Spaniards curtesie had retired themselues out of the way vntill the greatest furie were past In the meane time they stript the Earle whom they had also slaine if a Captaine had not withdrawne him into a Chamber And by this meanes the six Souldiars had also their liues saued yet they stript two of them naked whom in derision they placed on either side the Earle but at his instant request they suffered them all sixe to depart In the meane time the Earle had a garde of Halbards in his Chamber so as none of his people might come neere him but the Lord of Hardemberg his Cousin and one Page The 10. of the moneth the Captaine appointed for the garde of the Castell came and told the Earle that he might go walke if he pleased wherevnto he answered That he would willingly if it might be without danger After dinner hee had a desire to walke with the Captaine in whose company he feared nothing As he walked he saw much bloud shed along the way and said to his Page behold the bloud of our seruants If they haue an intent to do as much to me The Spaniards treason against the Earle I had rather it were to day then to morrow Going on towards the Riuer of Roer hee was beaten downe with the Staffe of a Pertuisan or Halberd and slaine vpon the ground saying onely with his hands lift vp to heauen My God and had presently two or three thrusts through the body They left him a while dead vpon the place and afterwards burnt him Those of Wezel the chiefe towne of Cleues thinking to free themselues by presents sent vnto the Admirall hee returned them an answer VVezel forced to fuâ—nish Money and Corne. that they should haue peace with him so as they would restore the Catholike religion and expell the Protestant Ministers The which they did but it would not worke their peace for he forced them to giue a hundred thousand Kings Dallers a thousand quarters of Corne to pay and feed his Armie Afterwards the Admirall tooke Berke vpon the Rhine which was held by the States Emeric Isseâ—berg Deuteâ—om held also by the States and Schuylembourg but want of victuals his armie being driuen to great extremities was the cause why he entred no farther into the States Country desiring nothing more by reason of the Winter then a good lodging to winter his Armie in so as the 16. of Nouember he marched vp the Riuer and lodged them all winter in the Countries of Cleues Munster Berghes and Mark. The Deputies of the neather Circles of Westphalia whereof the Earle of Lippe was Captaine generall being assembled at Dormont hearing the complaints that were made from diuers parts of the Admirals inuasion vpon the territoâ—ies of the Empire and the Spaniards outrages they resolued to write vnto the Emperour and to the foure Princes Electors vpon
Church had power to Iudge thereof Yet she is committed to 〈◊〉 They haue recourse vnto the King who commands that the Parliament be obeyed So as by a Decree of the great Chamber and the Tournelle the Lieutenant of the shorâ— Roabe was inioyned to conduct Martha with her Sisters Iames Brossier her 〈◊〉 Romorantin forbidding her to depart out of the Towne without leaue from the Iâ—dge of the place And so the Diuell was condemned by a sentence An other Diuell possest the soule of a miserable wretch 〈…〉 King â—iscouered who made an execrable attempt against the Kings person A Capuchin of Milan called father Honorio gaue intelligence thereof and the party that was described in his letter was found apprehended at Paris The King did thanke this good religious man by expresse Letters and did witnesse by his Ambassador resident at Rome that he would preserue the remeÌ„brance of so good a turne to make it knowne vnto all his Order that he had bound him vnto him The Kings desire to settle his affaires God would not call a Prince so necessary for the Earth so soone into Heauen before he had setled his people in that rest which their long paines calamities had deserued It was the Kings onely care to settle euery thing in his order with the aduise of the Princes of his house and the Lords of his Councell They sound that the subiects could not fully enioy the benefit of the Peace nor be eased of their charges so long as the Crowne was indebted Râ—nts fees of Officers Pensions gâ—rrisons and men at armes cost the King yeerly almost sixe millions of Gold and that that which should serue to maintaine his Royall Estate was not sufficient to pay the Rents Pensions which amounted to two Millions of Gold the fees of Officers came to 18000. Crownes many other charges which were not discharged for lesse This extreame necessitie made them to seeke out mary Rights and Duties belonging vnto the Crowne the which had beene morgaged and aliened during the last troubles which suffered all that could not be amended This was most apparent in Languedos whether the King sent De Maisse one of his Councell of State and Refuge a Councellor of the Court of Parliament at Paris And although it be a hard thing to draw a multitude compounded of Mutinies Factions vnto reason yet through their perswasions the Countrie did grant vnto the King the sum of two hundred thousand Crownes to be paied in foure yeares with an increase of the Gabelle or Custome vpoÌ„ Salt vnto two Crownes which came to fifty thousand Crownes a yeare at the least more then the King receiued So as the assured succours from that part encreased the Kings treasure 150. thousand Crownes yearely But it increased much more by the continuance of the imposition of a Soulz vpon the Liure the onely remedy to supply the Kings affaires A Liure is 2. shillings the ground whereof is necessity which makes that seeme iust which is profitable to the Common-weale The Commissioners appointed to establish this Leuie of a Solz vpon the pound French Disabilitie â—auseth complaints against impositions were not receiued without opposition nor executed without murmuring vsuall in such inouations There was no towne which fouÌ„d not it selfe ouer-burthened to shew that they were not able to beare any more This body was growne so weake with this long disease as euery little thing how light soeuer did seeme to oppresse it But they complained not alone of this Imposition other Subsidies were the cause of more ordinary greeuances grouÌ„ded vpon more reason Traffick is one of the Elements of a Realme when that ceaseth the subiect feeles it presently nothing hath so much hurâ— it as the augmentation of Customes and Imposts nothing hath made it so contemptible as the couetousnesse of such as had the charge to gather it The Marchants of Lionâ— complainâ— of a new custome and no man hath more felt the discomoditie of it then the Marchants of Lions who complained chiefely for that they had erected a new Custome house in the Towne of Vienne which staied all marchandise that came out of the Leuant These complaints were so common and so often reiterated to the Gouernor of Lions as he thought it good to send some one when as the 12. Townes in Daulphiné should assemble theâ—e Estates to intreat them to take away this Custome which made the Marchants to keepe from Lions least they should come neere vnto these 〈◊〉 The â—eputy made an excellent speech vnto the States of the Prouince assembled at Grenoble as you may read at large in the Original This discourse full of reason truth had not the power to make them of Daulphiné redresse the complaints of Lions but only to beseech his Maiestie to moderate the cause His affaires would not suffer him to giue that ease which Iustice and his Maiesties clemencie desired Whilest that the Comissioners trauell throughout the Prouinces about the executioÌ„ of the Kings Edicts as well for the good of the Peace as to supply the necessity of his Exchequer Complaint of the King of Spaine he passeth the greatest heat of SuÌ„mer at Blois There the Ki. of Spaine gaue him to vnderstand by his Ambassador that hee had great reason to complaine of the French especially of the Lord La Noue who against the conditions of the Treatie of Veruins were gone to serue Count Maurice the States of the Low Countries if the publick â—aith did not maintaine these reciprocall bonds the Peace would be more iniurious then war being impossible to auoide the deceits of hostility of him who shewâ— himselfe a friend is an enemy in effect The King hauing protested that his intention was to haue the contents of the treaty truly obserued he coÌ„manded La Noue all his subiects to returne home within six weekes vpon paine of losse of life forbidding all others to go thether vpon the like penaltie The Archdukes â—end to the King The Archdukes sent the Prince of Orange to visit the King and to giue him intelligence of their arriuall into the Lowe Countries and Andrew the Cardinall hauing resigned vp his charge takes his way through France to see the King About this time the yeare granted for the Arbitrement of the Marquisate of Salusses was expired with the prolongation of three moneths yet would not the King attempt any thing but commanded his seruants onely to stand vpon their gardes whilest that he approched neerer to the Duke of Sauoy to know what he would say The brute notwithstanding of an armie which the King of Spaine had caused to imbarke in Portugall staied his voyage vntill he might see what way it would take An armie defeated at Dunkerâ—e But this great Armie which had no reputation but a farre off and was not knowne by reason of the distance proued in the end but fiue Vessels the which were
what reason were there to take for payment an auaylable satisfaction the indiscretion of the Defendresse and the excuse of Ignorance an ordinary companion to Slander and to pardon so notable a fault vnder pretext of an afflicted Mothers greefe for the death of her sonne and hereafter when any Murther is committed shall it bee lawfull for a â—ather a Brother or a neere Kinsman with all Impunitie vnder a pretext of Iustice to aâ—cuse whome he pleaseth and to bring him in question of his life or of some cruel torments and in the end to be quitt excusing himselfe vpon his Greefe or Ignorance The rules of Iustice and Law doe not allow it Titus Liuius sayd excellently that the Law was Inexorable Deafe without Pittie and without Passion The Lawe inâ—xorable Why doth that worthie Author say that the Law is deafe but for that it doth neuer giue eare vnto the vaine discourse of Pittie and Commiseration The propertie of Iustice is to bee strict and seuere The Surgion that is pittifull and doth not laâ—ch deepe makes the wound incurable An Indulgent ouer-milde Father makes the Child incorigible So a mercifull Iudge doth norish and increase vice and betrayes the Lawes and Maiestie of Iustice. This cause doth therefore import the Publike for examples sake for although the Plaintiâ—e hath no other quality but of a simple Bourges and handy-crafts man yet to obtaine reason in Iustice and to hope for reparation of the wrong which hath beene done him he thinkes himselfe great inough seeing he hath the happinesse to liue vnder the peacefull gouernment of the best King in the world who hauing heaped all happinesse vpon France mainteynes equally in his protection and vnder the safegard of his Maiesty the life and health of all his subiects Poore and Rich Great and Small The Ancients held that Themis which is the Goddesse of Iustice was the daughter of the Sunne and as the Sunne may be seene in a Glasse by them which cannot behold his beames So the Maiesty of our great King the true and comfortable Sun of this monarchy the eye and heart of France would giue authority to this famous Parlament as the true seate of his greatnesse to the ende that therein as in a Looking-glasse we might admire the Beauty Light and Beames of his Iustice. An Historian sayth that the Emperour Augustus had firy eyes Igâ—eos oculos inferring thereby that he had such glistering eyes and such a piercing sight as it was impossible or very hard to looke stedfastly on him And we in like sort must content our selues that it is lawfull for vs to admire the beauty of this soueraigne Court and to beleeue that our weake sight is not strong inough to inioy fully the presence of our great Prince sitting in his seat of Iustice nor to indure the glistering beames of the Maiesty of our great French Augustus whom God hauing led through so many dangers as it were by the hand to the height of all greatnesse and hauing endued him with the Valour of Caesar the Fortune of Alexander the Bounty of Traian we can wish no more vnto him but the happines the many yeares and the continuall prosperity of Augustus to the end that all we his subiects may liue happy and content vnder the raigne of so great a King and the assured Iustice of this famous Parlament So the Plaintife hauing recourse to this soueraigne Iustice as to the last Port of health beseecheth the Court to allow of his Request and that he may be absolued of the slanderous accusation layde against him that the inrolement of his imprisonment may bee razed and hee discharged of all condemnations which heretofore haue beene giuen and moreouer that the Defendresse may be condemned to a pecuniary reparation such as it shall please the Court to decree and to all Charges Domages and Interest 1600. ANTHONIE Arnaud for the Defendres sayd MAY IT PLEASE YEE Afflictions speake of themselues YOV shal vnderstand in this cause how true it is That ordynarie afflictions speake with iudgement and that extreme calamities do quench or confound the spirit The Pâ—â—â—â—tife hath represented his greefes vnto you in an elloquent discourse full of Arte tâ—e force of eloquence And contrariwise of our part you shall heare nothing but the Sobbs and Sightes of a Mother transported with greefe and reduced to all sorts of dispaire I would to God the torments whereof you speake and all the cruelties that may be imagined had beene executed vpon me poore Mother who haue one foote already in the graue And that the death of my Sonne and the Kinde of death more miserable then the death it selfe had not ministred the mournfull subiect of this miserable cause so as on what side soeuer you turne there is nothing to be seene but Teares Desolalation But there is this great difference that the greefe of the aduerse party if there yet remaines any may be mollefied in time by a thousand remedies which excellent wits haue inuented during many ages to ease the discomodities of the body But contrarywise the extreame affliction which findes no words of force to represent it for the losse of a Sonne of an onely Sonne the onely support and comfort of the trembling age of an olde Mother hath neuer found consolation in all the most excellent discourses in the world beeing the onely phisicke of the minde The Greefe is so violent as it exceeds all Remedy and bleeds a fresh euery day The older it growes the more greuous it is It doth hourely master the resistance which it found in the beginning and doth contin ually vanquish the forces of the Body wih them of the Minde It is a strange thing that my poore Sonne hauing beene thus cruelly massacred you who see him returne no more into your house insteed of aduertising me thereof went into his Chamber to take his money you transported it out of your owne house and hid it in your Brother in Lawes And which is worse being examined by the Iustice you denied it constantly and often vntill that your Sonne to young to conceale the truth discouered the place where you had layed it All this is iustified by the Processe the which remaines in the hands of the Kings Councell So as it was not in you that these Murtherers were not vnpunished but the peercing eye of Diuine Iustice which neuer sleepes for a robbery committed two months after hath brought them to the execution It appeeres by the informations that the very day of the Murther these two Murtherers went into your lodging and brake open my Sonnes coâ—er if you had fled vnto Iustice they might haue beene instantly apprehended Aâ—as peraduenture my poore Childe was not then fully dead Howe many are left for dead which are not so Howe many haue beene taken out of the Cofin yea out of the Graue which haue suruiued their Funeralls fiftie yeares At the least you cannot denie but you were the cause
it neyther can any Aduocate or Orator how excellent soeuer vnlesse he be possessed with a diuine spirit represent the passions of a Mother witnesse the Prophet when he deliuers what God had sayd Can the Mother forget her childe but she must haue pitty of the fruit of her wombe and if she should forget it I will not forsake him saith the Lord. It is God our common father God who is charity it selfe for so he is called by one of his Apostles God of whom the Greeke Poet Aratus honoured by the allegation of S. Paul sayd That we are his ofspring God of whome the same Apostle doth teach vs That he is father of Heauen and Earth It is hee by whom all Mothers haue their affection to their children It is he by whom the Defendresse a miserable Mother was incouraged to seeke pursue reuenge for the bloud of her child Behold persons of diuers qualities in our cause who pretende their innocencies by different reasons The Baker and his wife demand reparation being ignorant of the Murther of Prost and the Mother of Prost murthered seekes to bee freed from the imputation of slander But there is yet an incounter in this controuersie which regards the authority of things iudged wherein the publike hath an interest To deliuer what is fit v pon euery one of these qualities it seemes expedient to obserue what hath past in the accusation and proceeding the first iudgement in the decree the execution and what followed since That which appeares by the Processe iudged is that the deceassed Iohn Prost sonne to the Accuser hauing beene lodged for a time in the Bakers house About the beginning of February 1599 Katherine Cordier the Wife of the Baker sent for a Lock-smith by her husbands Sonne and caused him to open the Chamber of Prost being absent the which she hath confessed after much disguising of the boies name whom since she knew to be her sonne in lawe After this ouerture there was another made in the view of two vnknowne men who brought the Keys which the sayd Prost had giuen them the which is a second charge for these two men entred into the Chamber in the presence of the Hostesse and tooke what they pleased of that which Prost had left and yet afterwards there was a third opening made by the Locksmith which was brought by the Sonne of the Baker by his wiues commandement this beeing thus adâ—owed and iustified by the sonne The Chamber being opened the fourth time by a Commissary of the Chastelet there was some money found belonging to Prost but not all for that the Baker and his Wife had taken and promised some to their Maide if she said nothing Moreouer Prosts apparell being in his Cofer and among the rest a Dublet the Hostesse being examâ—ned sayd that Prost had none other In the end the Processe hauing bin made perfect by intergatories confrontations One of the cheefe allegations made by the Husband and the Wife for their iustification was that the Accuser although a Mother did not loue Prost her Sonne whereof he had often comcomplayned By a sentence giuen by the Prouost of Paris it was decreed that the Baker his Wife and Seruant should be put to the Rack They appeale There followed a second decree in regard of the Baker as for his Wife and seruant it was ordained they should haue the Rack presented vnto them the which was done And after the deniall of the Baker his Wife and Mayde there followed an other sentence allowing the receptioÌ„ of the ordinary Processe and yet restrayned that in case no greater proofs being found on the ordinary Rack The accused should preuaile yet the should haue no Charges Domage nor Interest adiudged vnto them In Iune following Gâ—d hauing suffered that 2 theeues wherof the one called Iohn Bazana had murthered this Prost were apprehended by the Iustice and by the testimony of Bazana the act was confessed So as the Baker his Wife pretend theÌ„selues freed by this testimony demand an honourable reparation with some recompence from the Motherof him that was murthered saying that the accusation being false she ought to be iudged a slaÌ„derer wherein it seemes that Innocency presents it selfe at the feete of Iustice and cries out for them as Dauid in the 7. Psalme intituled Siggaion that is to say The ignorance of Dauid the which is his defence against the slanders of Semei where he exclaymed in denying and forswering the Impostures of his aduersary and in saying that he knewe not what it was he spake these words If I haue committed such a fact if there be iniquity in my hands that I may fall before mine enemies Prouerb 30. Excellent words and deliuered in the kind of an oth In like case a poore Host plaintife complaines and may say with Agur the Sonne of â—ake Truly I am more brutish then any man whatsoeuer I haue no vnderstanding neither haue I learned any wisdome nor ateyned to the knowledge of holy things The wit of man will maintaine the infirmity thereof but who will support a greeued minde The Accuser at the first seemed iust in her cause but the Accused come to purge themselues and haue found out the truth The Words of slanderers saieth the wise King are ambushes of bloud but the mouth of Truth shall deliuer them You see an Host and Hostesse accused of Inhospitality of Infidelity and of the Murther of their Guest a crime so far from the manners and hearts of the French as if Euripides saied among the Grecians That it was not for the Achaeans to murther their guests We may say with the Plaintifs with as much or more reason That it is not vsuall among the French to murther their guests for among Ciuill people our Caeltike nation hath beene most renouned for Hospitality a vertue proper to the French and celebrated by many Stangers yea by Parthenius a Greâ—ke Author in his booke of the Affections of Loue where he saieth in the History of Eurippus that at what time the Gaules made roads into Ionia the Celtes receiued their guests willingly and intreated them courteously The which is confirmed by Saluianus a Preest of Marseilles in his booke of the prouidence of God where among the vertues of our Nation hee termes them Francos hospitales It was therfore a great crime vnfit for the Plaintifs A crime for Barbarians Pagans and Infidells worthy of extraordinary punishment and so much the more punishable for that it had beene committed in Paris the chiefe Citty of the Realme the seat of our Kings the Place of soueraigne Iustice whereas the most Holy and Reuerent Senate of the world is resident The Court of Peeres and the great Parliament of our great King The Husband accused in this Parliament and not onely accused but iudged and tormented in Body and Minde comes this day in Iudgement as a man reuiued againe by his innocency he brings his wife with him and saieth against the
more constant then the loue of the Father to his child especially of Fathers that haue the instinct of Nature But mothers haue their affectioÌ„s more violent If any thing happen vnto their â—hiâ—dren it breedâ—s a great aâ—teâ—atâ—oâ— in them Witnesse the iudgement of Salomon seeking betwixt two Women to know the right Mother So yâ—u may see the passion of Dauid when he caâ—led his Sonne My Sonne Absoâ—oâ— my sonne he was much troubled But Mothers are muâ—h more feeling the same paine they suffered at their birth And that which afflicts the Defenâ—resse much more is that they CoÌ„plaâ—â—ants obiect against her that she loued not her Child That without doubt is insupportable to a Mother The latter times are miserable foretold by the Prophets Thaâ— Inhumanity Inciuility Astorgie that â—â—to say want of loâ—e in the Parents vnto their Châ—ldren and of Children vnto their Parentâ— should enter into the hearts of men What say I of Men who are no Men sâ—eing they proue Inhumane Cruell Bâ—uâ—ish and Vnnatuâ—all But can it be that two such contrary passions should iumpe in our Defendresse Could she hate her Son and not seeing him any more complaine that he was dead Could she accuse his Host Hostesse if she loued him not Iosephus in his first booke of the Iewish War reporting the accusation of Herode against his Children sayth that Saturninus would not condemne the accused sayâ—ng That it was not lawfull for him who had children to giue sentence of death against an other mans children A speech worthy of a graue Romaine but had beene better spoken by one borne in Iuâ—â—a â—or in former times the Iudges giuen by God vnto the People were chosen ouâ— of the fathers of Families who had or had had Children and who by this meanes knew best thâ—â—ust affections of Fathers loue The History addes that an old Man at armes of Herods called â—yron was so transported seeing a cruell Father as hee became almost madde going â—â—om place to place exclayming that Iustice was troden vnder foote Trueth was pâ—rishâ—d Nature confounded and all was full of iniquity with such like speeches as passion made him to vtter So strange this good old Man held this Mallice not beleeuing that such neere Kinsmen should conspire against their owne bloud And therefore it is not to be presumed that our Defenâ—resse beeing a Mother was otherwise then well affected to her Sonne and what greater proofe of her loue can bee giuen tâ—en her accusation against the Complaynants And who can represent the tender affection of Fathers and Mothers which seale the resemblance of bodies and mindes in the little admirable seale of the Infant the Mothers beeing much more affectionate to that which proceedes from them then the Fathers What then may bee sayd of the obiection made vnto the Defendresse Doubtlesse false allegations must concurre with naturall as Paulus the Lawyer sayth of Confessions and it is not lawfull for Iudges L. confessionibus D. de Iâ—â—errog act especially for such as are Fathers to beleeue that a Motheâ— would hate her Sonne to the deaâ—h especially this poore Woman who makâ—ng her complaint of the Murther did note one notable circumstance saying that her Sonne had complayned vnto her that the Demanders were froward Hosts The which shewes a wit in her complaint and the Loue which she bare to 〈…〉 Sonne remembring the first yeares of his infancy being young and the 〈◊〉 of his Mother A Sonne whom she being his Mother seeing no mâ—re 〈◊〉 out with the Mother of Lâ—muel What my Sonne what the Sonne of my 〈…〉 the Sonne of my vowes Prou. 31. This poore Motheâ— was perplexed she sought her Sonne and 〈…〉 Sonne which was but simple and might easâ—ly be wronged for he went 〈…〉 Money he 〈◊〉 it in his Chamber which was a bayte for Theeues 〈…〉 steâ—le say 〈◊〉 hand on it the suffered men to enter into his Chamberâ— me◠〈…〉 knew not What might the Mother thinke of this Had she not reasoâ—â—o 〈…〉 slayne him 〈◊〉 as iâ— was said in the booke of Wisdome That the Iustice 〈…〉 〈◊〉 deliuer them It is also written That the disloyall shal be taken for their 〈◊〉 and the wicked shall be the ransome of the iust and the disloyall for the righteous 〈…〉 then this poore Woman thinke with reason that you are not to haue any 〈…〉 the Demaunders Prou. 2â— v 21 vnder colour of their base condition seeing that for a 〈…〉 they would haue committed the deede hauing taken their Ghosts money 〈…〉 fied them These bee the reasons by the which the poore Mother may 〈…〉 her selfe that shee hath not attempted any accusation for the which 〈…〉 be charged with slander Let vs nowe come vnto the Iudges They need no excuse nor any defence 〈…〉 Decree then the authority of soueraigne Iudgements yet we may say for the 〈◊〉 which they had of the proofes if not full and cleare as the Noone day yet thâ—y 〈◊〉 such as the presumptions were vehement If the accused suffred it came 〈…〉 for they obserued not the precept which teacheth man Aboue all to 〈…〉 heart pure from whence life proceeds Prou. 4. ve 23 They haue applied their hearts to desire 〈◊〉 mans goods resembling those that erre Either through want of instruction 〈…〉 great indiscretion or hauing their hearts peerced with the Dart of couetousnesse Ibid 5. ver 23 And therfore it is no wonder if they haue not appeared in iudgement with a constant countenance Ibid. 10. v. 6. For blessings are vpon the head of the iust but extorsions sloppe the mouth of the guilty Do you not see that God was not with the accused they were confounded in that owne speeches Life and death are in the power of the tongue hee that loues it shall eate the fâ—uites thereof 〈…〉 21. They haue said too much charging the Mother which accused them oâ— hatred to her Sonne And who will not beleeue but the Iudges seeing the Proâ—esie made them pâ—ayers vnto God to open their vnderstandings The doubt which they had of the â—ircumstances of the charge hath beene fortified by examples the whiâ—â— are the 〈◊〉 â—ncounteâ—s that come vnto the minde In this Citty a Woman 〈◊〉 neere to 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 with a Hammer which two theeues had taken in a Smiths shop 〈◊〉 the Smith being condemned he was put to the Racke Afterwards the theeues weâ—e apprehended for other crimes and freede the Smith who was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 executed Iudges in coniecturall causes erre sometimes against their wâ—â—les beâ—ng bound to follow thâ— probable for that which may happen or hath happened Sometimeâ— there are bad Hosts Treacherous and murtherers It is dangerous said Phâ—dâ—us to bâ—leeue but it is more dangerous not to beleeue There is no reason then to heare the complaints of the Accused against the Iudges Witâ—esse that which that wise King hath written whose words are like vnto deepe springs which cannot be dried and fâ—om whence we drawe proâ—â—it for
all afâ—ayâ—es and especially for iudgements To condemne the iust is not good nor to strike Princes that haue carried themselues iustly 〈◊〉 17 v. 26. An excellent sentence and agreeing with our cause Hee called Iudges Princes and in another place they aâ—e termed Gods That if Gâ—d making his Iustice to sâ—â—â—ne hath since discouered the Murther yet hath not the Baker nor his Wife any cause to complaine of the Court The eye of God infuseth his knowledge into the spirits of men in such measure as he pleaseth giuing vnto some a neeâ—er light and as Synecius Bishop of Cyrene sayd more approching vnto things which he doth reueale to others farther off We take moysture from the Water heat from the Fire firmenes of the body from the Earth spirit from the Aire but Iustice comes from God who is the onely fountaine of all good Wee haue not this Iustice in vs be it for the good of our selues or for the perpetuall and constant dutie which wee owe vnto our neighbours to doe euery man right God onely knoweth all things and all is hidden from vs but what hee pleaseth There is none but hee which knoweth hidden things It is he whose admirable name is aboue all other names It is he whom Daniell calleth a CERTAINE by the word Palmoni of whom the admirable name of IESVS the Sauiour of the world was not reuealed before that hee was made man Dan. 8. That Sonne of Iustice whose glorie is incomprehensible It is hee who by his light doth open the Iudges eyes when it pleaseth him Iob. 22.20 To the end they should take care of the innocent and looke vnto his estate It is written in the booke of the wise King Pro. 27.19 That euen as in the water one face is opposite to an other so doth the heart of man vnto man so as oftent times the Iudge discouereth the truth of a câ—yme by the face and countenance as well as by the mouth of the Accused And to that purpose the same King sayth That Councell in the heart of man is like vnto a deepe water the which a wise man shall draw forth But this doth not often happen but vnto the King of whome the wiâ—e man saith thus There is no prophecying but in the Kings lippes and his mouth shall not stray from Iustice. Ibid. c. 16.10 God giues this priuiledge to a iust King God which is the onely searcher of hearts Ibid. 19. v. 2. There are many thoughts in the heart of man but the onely Councell of our Lord God is firme And therefore Saint Augustin in hiâ— booke of the Cittie of God in the Chapter which he hath expresly made touching the errors of humaine Iudgements makes a complaint of the perplexities whereunto Iudges are reduced when to saue an Innocent they are forced to condemne the accused vnto the racke and for an vncertaine fact they cause him to suffer a certaine paine The which hee excusing saith That a wise Iudge doing not things with a will to hurt but by necessitie to iudge that which hee knoweth not must cry vnto God A gust lib. 19. c. 〈◊〉 Ciuit dei Psal 25 v. 17. Deliuer mee from my extremities and cares The which hee speakes not to blame the racke for hee knowes it to be necessarie But if it bee not as we cannot rightly say done by malice yet is it a great miserie And doubtlesse if it bee a mischeefe yet is it well ordained and by good Lawes which are practised in al Countries whereas Iustice is well administred whereof of there are so many Statuts not onely in this Realme but in the Estates of Italie and in the neighbour Countries as in Piedmont in Saâ—oie and other parts of Christendome as there is no reason to doubt thereof Neither is it lawful to argue the Iudges of rigor in this cause for besides the presuÌ„ptions which might moue them who knowes whether the Accused had committed some other cryme whereof God would suffer this accusation whereof the now complayne should be the punishment There are some generations which thinke to be free pro. 30. v. 12. and yet they are not clensed from their filthines And what is hee that can say I haue purged my heart I am clensed from my Sinne. If thou sayest we did not know it Ibid. 24. v. 12. he that weighes the heart shall not he vnderstand it and reward euery man according to his workes In an other place the wise man saith that Hee which walketh innocently shall bee saued but the peruerse walking by two wayes shall fall Aristotle speaking of the Iudges of Greece sayd that they were accustomed before sentence to sweare that they should iudge by the best aduice they could conceiue The which Demosthenes in his Oration against Aristocrates hath sayd by the most iust aduice In which case although the Areopagites did sometimes iudge as one would say against the Law yet could they not bee reprehended to haue gone against the oath taken by them to iudge well whether it were in the Senate or in the Assembly which they call Heliaes no man being able to answere but for his owne conscience And for this reason by the Lawes of Charlemagne of Lewis the Debonair our most ChristiaÌ„ Kings It was not lawful to blaspheme that is to say to accuse of false iudgemeÌ„t to blame the Earles which was the title of Iudges in France if it did not appeare that they did iudge either by enuie 1599. or by some bad occasion To conclude the Iudges which those great Princes called Fideles were held for good and without blemish when they were oneâ—y guided by the zeale of true Iustice. So the Demanders doe not complaine of the Iudges but of the Accuser against whome if shee had framed her accusation maliciously and vpon spleene shee were then subiect to that which was decreed by the Capitâ—lâ—rie which saith Capiâ—ulaâ—ium Carolâ— magni lib 6 cap. penult That they which haue accused Innocents either before the Prince or before the Iudge if they were spirituall men they are to bee degraded if they be lay men they must bee condemned to the like punishment which they should haue suffered that were accused But this is to be vnderstood of accusations wherein there is malice in which case the falâ—e and malicious Accusers deserue that which the Accused suffred for the SlaÌ„derer resembles vnto the wicked which are represented by the wise man watching secretly for the innocent Prou. 1. v. 11. and persecuting him without cause In which case such as slander to vexe and to get money by the Constitutions of the Romaine Emperoâ—s were punished with the same punishments It is therefore no reason that the Complaynants should trouble the defendresse for the accusation which shee hath made seeing it was not with any intent of slâ—nder but they must take their trouble as an accident sent of God as a mischance which the Grecians called a
all the Creatures both of Land and Sea We acknowledge you for our Prince and soueraigne Lord vnder the King your Father and the Queene your Mother and wee doe now offer vnto your Heighnes our Liues our Persons and our Fortunes for homage of our most humble faithful subiection These Goodly words were accompanied with a Ritch present It was a Cupberd of Plate richly wrought and beautefied with sondry figures of Daulphins A Present giuen vnto the Daulphin being valued at twelue thousand Crownes All that attended vpon the Prince had Presents of some value or else Medailles made for that purpose The Sonnes present serued for the Mother The King was the better pleased with this Deputation for that it was in the first yeare of his Sonnes Infancie and it is certaine that of al the proofs of Duty AffectioÌ„ which the Subiects can yeeld vnto their Soueraigne those are most commendable which are done without desseine As Daulphiné doth acknowledge this Prince for their Soueraigne Lord vnder the King The Gâ—uernment of Bouâ—gongne giuen to the Daulphin soe Bourgongne and the Countries of Bresse Baugey Valromey and Gez which are annexed vnto it had him for their Gouernour But during his Infancie and vntill hee were capable to vndergoe the functions of that Charge the power of Lieutenancie was giuen to Roger of Bellegarde first Gentleman of the Chamber and Maister of the Kings Horse who tooke his oath in the Kings hands His Pattent was read in the Parliament of Dijon the Cittie receiued him with all sorts of honours and went to fetch him at the Carthusians where he made his abode attending the preparation for his reception The Kings desires being seconded with so many prosperities it pleased him of his owne bountie to take pittie of the Ruines and Calamities of his Subiects in reuoaking the Imposition of the Sublz vpon the Lyure or two shillings which they called the Pancarte Reuocation of the Pancarte Hee would not that this great releefe should surprize his peoples hearts declaring his pleasure some monethes before it was put in practise to the end that things being first expected before they were enioyed might be the more acceptable The King raised his coynes of Gold and Siluer the Crowne to sixe shillings and sixe pence the quarter of the Crowne to sixeteene Soulz and the Franck to one and twentie and foure Deniers that the coynes of siluer might bee valued after the rate of threescore and foure Soulz to the Crowne And as that which is held good and profitable at one time is not so at an other the counting by Crownes found in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seuentie and seuen profitable and now verie preiudiciall was forbidden and that of the Lyure brought into practise in Contracts Obligations and Acts of Iustice as it was before since King Philip the faire Francis the first and Henric his Sonne There sprong vp a new ioy for all France The Heauens which in former times did raine gold at Rhodes for the birth of Minerua doth now power forth a great shower of Ioye for the birth of the Kings first lawefull daughter The Queene was happely brought in bedde on the two and twentye day of Nouember in the morning and thankes were giuen vnto God according to the vsuall Custome The rest of this discourse is reserued for accidents which are neuer found so perfect nor so happie but they haue still some contrariety miseries are like vnto bad plants which grow of themselues the good must haue much paine labour to make them growe There is great occasion to complaine in all places The famine is so great in Liâ—onia and Borussia as heretofore in Bâ—hemia and Polonia they did runne vnto the places of execution to take them downe that were executed and to bury them in their lyuing bowells although they were Censured as vnworthy to bee buried among the dead The Riuer of Saonne was ouerflowed in that sort as the Townes that were seated vpon the bankes were in great danger of this Inundation The Bridge at Lions was so shaken as if it had not beene fortefied by the waight that was layd vpon it the two Townes had beene diuided by the riuer There was no worthy act in Hungary Alâ—a Regâ—lis yeelded to the Tuâ—ke but the remembrance thereof was fatall and shamefull for the Christians They had the yeare before taken Alba Regalis by the valour and vertue of the Duke of Mercure they are nowe shamefully expelled As the French had the first glory at the taking of it so nowe by dispaire and furie going to serue the â—urke they had the pointe of the assault All that were with in it were put to the sword They with in the Castell sayd that the cowardise and small resistance of them within the Towne was the cause of the losse of it desiring to haue the like declaration from the Generall of the Turkes to saue the Honour of their Capitulation The Generall sent them word that seeing they had beene resolued not to yeeld the place vnlesse the Souldiars had forced them therevnto It was reason they should remaine so as hee caused the Souldiars to depart presently and kept the Captaines prisoners They found all the Artillery there which they had left and twelue newe Cannons A great booty â—t â—akâ—ng of Alâ—a Râ—gâ—lis foure hundred thousand weight of Powder a great number of Bullets two hundred Tunne of Meale foure score of Biscuit fiue hundred of Salt and tenne thousand Florins in ready Money to pay the Souldiars The Great Turke was so troubled for the losse of this Towne and so much transported for the recouery thereof as hee promised the Great Visier his Aunt in Marriage if hee could take it After the which he sought to take Pesâ—a but in vaine The Imperiall Army about the ende of September attempted Buda and carryed it in recompence of the losse of Alba Regalis It was thought at Rome that the taking of the Towne would cause the Castle â—o yeeld and that there was no other place of strength but Belgrade not onely in all Hungary but euen vnto Constantinople For this good newes which was but halfe true the Pope went in Procession with all his Colledge of Cardinalls from the Church of Minerua vnto that of de l' Anima The seege of Buda not succeeding according to his desire the Christians hauing beene repulsed at a great Assault which they gaue about the ende of October and the Dâ—ke of Neuers sore hurt with shot in the Shoulder hee fell lame of the Gout and other accidents for a whole moneth the which kept the Court of Rome in great suspence The season of the yeare forced our men to leaue Buda and to retire to Strigonia They left a good garrison in Pesâ—a a Towne which is seperated from Buda by the Riuer of Danowe They are so neere Neighbours as it is impossible they should continue long enemies The extreame cold in the
sorts of Cipres both curld and smoth and of all other sorts which were not made before but in Italie is now established in the Castell of Mantes Gilt hangings Hangings of gilt lether oâ— all sorts and coullours that may be wisht fairer then Imbrodorie better cheape and of greater continuance for the easinesse and inuention to make them cleane and to amend they are in great shops in Saint Honores and Saint Iames suburbs to set poore people on worke Cutting mâ—lls There were cutting mills inuented and set vpon the riuer of Estampes where they cut iron into many peeces and into what forme they will the which was not done before but by the Smithes The turning of iron wherof France abounds into fine steele Turning oâ— iron into fine steele the which they were forced to seeke in Piedmont in Germaine and in other strange Countries for fiue or sixe soulz the pound hauing neuer found any thing in France but iron the which for the excellencie they call course steele of Brie or of Saint Desier the which is sold for two or three soulz the pound at the most The fournaises are to bee seene in Saint Victors suburbs vpon the mouth of the riuer of Bieuâ—e the which deserues to be admired for the excellencie thereof The making of white Leade White Leade the which is a kind of drogue or quintessence drawne out of Leade very necessarie and common for Painters Farriars and many other vses the which they were forced to seeke and buy deerely out of France is new made there better and better cheape The like inuention there is of pipes of Leade as long and as big as you will Pipes of Lead without solder beaten and as light as iron for Cuirasses stronger and more lasting then the ordinarie pipes of Leade and better cheape and which make the waters that passe through them more holsome for the bodie of man by reason of the ingredients of the soldring which corrupts the water that passâ—th by them Besides the solder doth still leaue some little tongs or drops perced the which stayes the slime of the water and makes the pipe to bend with many other secrets and commodities that depend thereon inuented by Ferrier dwelling in the suburbs of Saint Germane Some parts of France as well as of Sicilia were this yeare much afflicted for want of Corne. Scarcitie of Corne. The Dukes of Guise and Vantadour besought the King that hee would be pleased to suffer Prouince and Languedoe to bee supplyed by the other Prouinces of his Realme where there was abundance The King hauing giuen libertie there passed great store by the Cittie of Lions who fearing to fall into the like want besought the King to reuoake his grant of the passage The Kings answere seemed to proceed from the heart not of a Prince onely but of a Father who desires to prouide equally for all the necessities of his familie and hath a care that nothing be wanting The principall reasons were Communication neceâ—sarie among Prouinâ—es that there is nothing more necessarie for the well ordering of an estate then to entertaine communication betwixt Prouinces to succour one another and to haue the trafficke as free and as easie as may bee Nature hauing so framed them as they haue need one of another for if the one restraynes of the one side the other may doe the like on the other side so as if one Prouince anoies an other it may also receiue the like anoyance from them as if they stoppe the passage of Corne at Lions they of Lâ—nguedoâ— and Prouince No Region Prouince or Câ—tâ—â—â— can pâ—sse without theiâ— nâ—ighbours may keepe from them Oyles and Spice and many other necessarie commodities That the Cittie of Lions hath no interest in this passage being lawfull for them to make what prouisions of Corne they please in Bourgongne and other places That hee must also haue care of other Prouinces which haue need of releefe whome they might easily perswade that this libertie of passage depended vpon the fauour and good wil of them of Lions and not vpon his commandement Dâ—scâ—â—modiâ—ieâ— by the 〈◊〉 of the commerce There wanted nothing in France but permission to trafficke in the King of Spains the Archdukes dominions The sea Townes endured great discommodities and in the end if this prohibition had continued they would haue sayd of the greatest as was sayd of Megalopolis a great Cittie in circuit of walls and little in number of Inhabitants Mâ—gna Ciuitas magna solitudo A great Cittie a great wildernes The Spaniards found this Inhibition much more greeuous insupportable there was nothing to be heard among them but publike complaints for that all things grew extreamely deare and the Artisans desperate This greeuance depending vpon the execution of the Treatie to Veruins the Pope commanded his Nuncio to deale in it The King would not yeeld to any thing before that the Spaniards who had troubled the water did make it cleere againe in reuoking the Imposition of thirtie on the hundred Therein hee forced his nature for being so good God neuer tyred wiâ—h doing good as hee desired onely the good of his people and feeles in his soule that content wherewith God himselfe cannot bee satisfied hee could not heare speake of this Commerce if the King of Spaine did not discharge that Impost of thirtie for the hundred which made the libertie of trafficke an extreame seruitude and the profit an assured losse This was most seuere and rigorous There is not any but is bitter to the Marchants Couetousnes hauing changed the first cause as well as the quantitie of Impositions and Customes In former times they were not payed but for the safetie and libertie of the passage from one place to another and for that Princes haue publike wayes in their protection which for that reason are called The Kings high wayes they haue acknowledged this right of protection with some consideration In like sort when the Nauigation was vndertaken to the Indies Nauigation to the 〈◊〉 into Arabia and Ethiopia the Emperour for the purging of the Sea of Pirats and Rouers imposed the Gabell or Custome of the red Sea for the entertayning of shippes of warre against the attempts of Pirats with the money that should be raysed thereby Such Impositions for so necessarie occasions cannot bee but iust Others are not so and yet they must beare them being no more lawfull for the subiect to murmure against the Customes and Imposts wherewith his Prince doth charge him tâ—en against the Hayle Rayne Stormes and Tempests of Heauen Obedient Children kisse the â—odd wherewith they haue beene whipt Reuenge is reserued vnto God who forbids the Soueraigne Magistrates to oppresse the people with such charges Hee let Pharao knowe so much when as Moses turned his rodd into a Serpent to let him vnderstand that his Scepter and his raigne was changed into Tiranie and extreame Crueltie Some sayd that Spaine which
Christians affaires in Asia declined still The Pope perswaded the Kings of France and England with many reasons The Christians â—stâ—â—â— in Asiâ— very miserable and the zeale of the common interest of Christendome made them resolue They became good friends with an intent to make a voyage together to the Holy Land to the incredible content of all their subâ—ects But whilest they prepare for this voyage let vs passe into Asia to visit the afflicted Christians After the fruitlesse returne of the Emperor Conrad and of Lewis King of France things went from bad to worse hauing caused the Christian forces to loose their reputation with the Turkes being growne proud with this vaine shew of Armes Baldwin dyes after the fruitlesse attempts of these great Princes Amaulry his Brother succeeds him who toyled himselfe in Egipt against Sultan Sarracon and Saladin his successor Hee was releeued by the comming of Fredericke Barbarousse who failed not to performe what he had promised to Pope Alexander But the Christians found small comfort in his comming The forces of the Empire which were great being dispersed by the death of the Emperour Amaulry likewise dyes who leaues one Sonne named Baldwin both yong and a Lepar so as hauing voluntarily resigned the charge finding himselfe vnfit he did inuest his Nephew Baldwin the sonne of William Long-sword Marquis of Monâ—errat and of Sibell his Sister and considering the weaknesse of his age he appoints Raimond Earle of Tripoli for his Tutor 1121. Hence sprung a horrible dissention among the Christians for Sibille by whom the right came to Baldwin her sonne after the death of Marquis William was married to Guy of Lusignan who was seized of the yong Infant Hee is now his Tutor by force the child dyes and Guy of a Tutor becomes a King The Christians in Asia at Ciuill warres not without great suspition of treacherie against the Infant and in the end they fall to warre Euery one doth strengthen himselfe for this goodly realme and they are incensed with greater fury then when they ioyntly made warre against the Infidels Guy seekes for succour of Saladin Sultan of Egipt who embraceth this occasion and runnes with a great Armie to besiege Tiberiades The Christians assemble and are defeated in a set battaile The Crosse is taken by Saladin and carried in triumph Then was Tripoly deliuered into his hands The Infidels make their profit by their dissentions and the Earle Raymond found dead in his bedd when as hee should haue raigned to teach all men how to trust Infidels Saladin passeth on he beeseegeth takes and sacks Ierusalem and in this amazement Ptolomais Azot Baruth and Ascalon yeeld vnto him These victorious conquests of Saladin were accompanied with great mildnesse to the people whome he had subdued that by this wise course the Miscreant might incounter the Christians disorders by a notable example of vertue Moreouer there happened another tragicall confusion Alexis a young man of fifteene yeares The Emperor of Greecâ— murthered by his Tutor sonne to Emanuell the Emperour issued from that Alexis of whom wee haue spoken in the beginning of this Easterne warre was cruelly slaine by his Tutor Andronicus and he himselfe afterward by Isaac and the people of Constantinople who had called him to the Empire Such was the sick estate of the East when as our Kings were solicited to go and visit it in the yeare 1190. Philip calles a Parliament at Paris to settle his estate they disswade him from the voyage but zeale transported him and made him fight with impossibilities So great efficacie this resolution had to go to this warre which seemed to be the gaine of their soules health as the Historie saith King Philip Ricâ—aâ—d King of England made a voâ—age to the East great charges were imposed vpon such as went not the voyage to pay the tenth of all their reuenues both spirituall and temporall called for this occasion the Saladins Tenths Richard King of England came with manie Dukes Marquises Earles Barons great Lords and an infinite number of young Gentlemen The Kings sweare a brotherly and inuiolable League The great 〈…〉 among Kings breeds contempt and hatred but the continuall and priuate entercourse by the way bred a familiaritie and this familiarity engendred a contempt and contempt hatred as the course of the History will shew A notable lesson for Kings and Princes to teach them how farre they should conuerse familiarlie Hauing crossed the Seas with some difficulties in the end they come into Syria The losse of the Crosse made them to besiege Acon the which they take very valiantlie after great losse of their men but the Crosse would not bee found As the Originall saieth The plague fell among their troupes euery one talkes of returning Philip speakes 〈…〉 indisposition Richard made some difficultie least that Philip in his â—bâ—ence should attempt some thing in his territories of France Philip hauing assured him by othe returnes and passing by Rome comes safe into France Hauing left the greatest part of his forces in the East vnder the command of Odo Duke of Bourgongne Richard remaining alone was better obeyed of the Armie and atchiued great and memorable exploits against Saladin being already amazed by the taking of Acon Richard King of Englandhis exploits in Asia 〈…〉 Gaza and Iaffa hauing repeopled them with Christian Colonies and vainquished Saladin in battaâ—le From thence he resolued to besiege Ierusalem but as hee was kept from this enterprise by reason of the Winter so was hee forced to leaue Asia vppon this occasion and returne into England During his voyage and Philips there had passed some vnkinde speeches by reason of Alix Sister to Philip and the wife of Richard who in great disdaine said That he had neuer toucht her that she should neuer come neere him blaming her as if shee had beene prodigall of her honour by a monstrous Incest with his Father Notwithstanding all shewes at their parting yet this did sticke in Philippes stomake 1061. who at his returne found his Sister Alix at Saint Germaine in Laie whether she was retired expecting his returne who failed not to seeke all means of reuenge Richard had left his brother Iohn in England to gouerne the State in his absence Philippe solicitts him and promiseth him all his meanes with his Sister Alix being vnworthely reiected for a gage of his loue Philippe stâ—rs vp Iohn against his brother Richard King of â—ngland But Elenor the mother of these Princes kept Iohn in awe from ioyning openly with Philip against his absent brother yet could she not restraine Iohn from giuing his word to Phillip who failes not to seaze couertly seing his faith plighted and the reuerence of the cause which held Richard from his house would not suffer him to worke openly So he takes Gisors by intelligence and all the other Townes of Vexin which were in controuersie These newes gaue Richard iust cause to resolue vpon
all gouernment Thus Lodowicke commands Milan absolutely and Robert serues the Venetians yet Galeas and the Earle of Caiazze children to Robert shall returne and doe Lodowicke good seruice in the State of Milan Then began Lodowicke to increase in authority grauing the Dukes picture on the one side of their coyne and his owne on the other not without the muttering of many namely of Isabell the wife of Alphonso Duke of Calabria sonne to Ferdinand King of Arragon as proud and haughtie a woman as her husband was weake of iudgement and without courage This repyning made Lodowik to hasten his resolution And thus he proceeded when the Duke went forth of the Castell his brother remained within and Lodowicke conducting him home the captaine did vsually come forth vpon the bridge to receiue him Lodowicke vsurpes Milan and suprizeth the Castell One day among the rest Lodowike staies him purposely a little without the bridge to drawe forth the Captaine whome Galeas and the Earle Caiazze seize vpon and on such as followed him They within drawe the bridge Lodowicke lights a candle sweares to cut off their heads that were in his power if they yeeld not the place before the light be burnt The which they do He enters and placeth men at his pleasure he putts the Captaine in prison arraines him vpon colour that he meant to deliuer vp the Castell to the Emperour He staies some Germaines and makes them beleeue that they treated in fauour of the house of Austria which of old time pretended some right to the Duchie yet afterwards both he they were set at liberty Lodowike is now maister of the fort He must seeke means to maintaine this vsurpation yet least he should growe too odious he makes all dispatches in that name of Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan his Nephew a Duke in name only but he in effect In the meane time Isabell sollicits her father and Grandfather to reuenge the iniustice and tyrannie of Lodowike Lodowike vnderstood well that this acte would offend many Princes that his insolent and not accustomed exaction of money made his name odious to all the people of the Duchy and that Ferdinand King of Arragon with his sonne Alphonso would not faile to imbrace the quarrell and right of Iohn Galeas and of their Isabell. To crosse them he cunningly to the preiudice of the ancient confederacie of the Estats of Italy makes a league betwixt the Pope the Venetians and Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan his Nephew arming himselfe alwaies with that name for their common defence and namely of Lodowikes gouerment vpon condition that the Venetians and the said Duke should either of them send presently two hundred men at armes to Rome and greater forces if need were for the recouery of such places as were deteined from the Church by Virgilius Vrsinus in fauour of Peter of Medicis his kinsmaÌ„ associat with Ferdinand Alphonso And more to crosse their estates Lodowick who could not subsist in the midst of their vinted forces sends an honorable Ambassage to the King wherof the Earle of Caiazzo was the chiefe assisted by Charles of Balbiano Earle of Belzoioso Galeas of S. Seuerin who had married a bastard of Lodowicks who greatly vrge the title he had to this goodly and pleasant countrie of Naples They easely drew the king to tast a vaine glorie of Italie perswading him by great offers of seruice succors of men money and munition But before we passe the Alpes let vs examine the estate of Italie the right which our Charles pretended Since the declining of the Romaine Empire Italie neuer enioyed a more happy prosperity then about the yeare 1490. A long peace had made the most barren places fruitfull it abouÌ„ded in people riches great men of state and good witts in learning industrie and military fame such as that age could produce beautified with the state of many Princes not subiect to any other coÌ„mand but of themselues Laurence of Medicis a Cittizen of Florence The Estate of Italie 1490. was a great meanes to hold things in this prosperous estate a man of a quiet spirit experienced in affaires iudicious of great authority aboue all his fellow Cittizens for that he gouerned Pope Innocent the 8. his kinsman absolutely renoumed throughout all Italie He knew that the greatnesse of other Potentates would mightely shake the Common weale of Florence and therefore he sought by all meanes to hold them equall by a generall obseruation of peace Ferdinand of Arragon King of Naples a wise Prince and of great reputation did much affect this publicke quiet but he had worke at home Alphonso Duke of Calabria his eldest son being much discontented seeing that Iohn Galeas Sforce Dâ—ke of Milan his sonne in Lawe should carry but the naked and simple title of Dâ—ke vnder the oppression of Lodowike his Vncle. But Ferdinand hauing yet a fresh impression of the late reuolt of his subiects of Naples not ignorant that at the first motion they would open their armes to the house of France considering the affection which most of his subiects bare vnto it of old he feared least the diuisions in Italy should drawe the French to inuade the Realme of Naples preferring a present benefit before the indignation of his sonne desiring rather to vnite himselfe with the other Estats especiallie that of Milan and Florence to countermine the Venetiens greatnesse being then fearefull to all Italie puft vp with the late ouerthrowe of the Duke of Ferrara father in lawe to Lodowike after a long and dangerous hazard of their estate Lodowike was in the same predicament with the rest and moreouer peace was farre more necessarie then warre for the preseruation of an authority lately vsurped Herevnto that commendable inclynation to peace which he found in Laurence of Medicis did mooue him And considering that in regard of the inueterate hatred betwixt the house of Arragon and the Venetians they should hardly make any firme League betwixt them he therefore concluded that Ferdinand and his sonne should not bee at neede assisted by any other to crosse him in his desseins and hauing them alone opposite he should easily withstand them So Ferdinand Lodowike and Laurence continued the alliance cherefully which they had renued in the yeare 1480. for 25. yeares all the meaner Potentats in a manner leauing vnto them to whom the Venetians greatnesse was wonderfully suspected managing their affaires apart not imparting their couÌ„sells to the body of the coÌ„mon league watching onely oportunity to growe great by the publike discords Tâ—oubles by the death of Lâ—â—â—ence of Mâ—dicis Being all thus vnited they were too strong for the Venetians yet were they full of enuie and mutuall iealousie one prying still into an others estate and continually crauing desseines so as they could not long liue in true and faithfull friendship The death of Laurence of Medicis was a great cause of the breach of this generall peace An vnseasonable death for him
hauing not yet liued 44. yeares complet for his Country the which by his wisdome and iudgement flourished most happily in all the benefits which a long peace doth vsually bring forth and for Italy as well by reason of the affaires which he did wisely manage to the generall good of the whole Country as also for that he was a notable instrument to temper the diuers humors and iealousies which sprong vp dayly betwixt Ferdinand and Lodowike and to quench the flames which might easily cause a generall disorder This peace beeing well shaken by his death was presently quite broken not so much by the death of Innocent who by his sloth was growne vnprofitable as â—ell for himselfe his friends and the publicke after hee had retyred his armes the which hee had displayed at the instance of the Barons of Naples as by the succession of Roderike Borgia who was then called Alexander the sixt a Spaniard chosen vnder the factious discords of Ascanius Sforce brother vnto Lodowike Pope Alexanders disposition Iulian of S. Pierre buying the suffrages of many other Cardinalls partly with ready money and partly by promises of Offices and benefices He was subtill and quicke wiâ—teâ— excellent in counsell vehement to perswade and a great man of state But sayth the Originall his vertues were surpassed by his vices dishonest in manners no sincerity 〈◊〉 shame no truth no faith no religion in him but an insatiable couetousnes an immoderate ambitien The peace of Italy ruined by Peter of Medicis a cruelty more then barbarous and a violent desire to aduance by what meanes soeuer his children which were many in number Peter the eldest sonne of Laurence of Medicis was successor to his goodly honors but not to his fathers good humors Peter differed as much from Laurence as that Hector drawne dead at a chariots taile from Hector returning victorious honored with the spoiles of Achilles At his entrance to the gouernment following an aduice directly contrary to his father without any other counsell then of Virgilius Vrsâ—nus of whose humour Peter depended both their Mothers being of the family of Vrsins he made so strict a League with Ferdinand and Alphonso as Lodowike a vigilant and subtill man conceyued presently that the Florentin forces might easily bee drawne to preiudice him in fauour of the Arragonois This iealousie was layed open by this accident The confederatâ— according to their custome must send to congratulate and acknowledge the newe Pope Lodowike had wisely aduised that all the Ambassadors should enter Rome togither in company and likewise into the consistory before the Pope and that one should speake for them all for sayd he by this manner of proceeding we shall make knowne to Italy that there is not onely a singular loue and League betwixt vs but also so fâ—rme a coniunction as wee shall seeme to be but one body and one Principality Ferdinand approued this aduice Peter did not publickly gainsay it but in priuate hee could not digest it being one of the Ambassadors chosen for the common weale of Florence hauing resolued to beautifie his ambassage with a proud and staâ—ely traine He considered that entring into Rome and presenting himselfe to the Pope in troupe his traine would appeere far lesse stâ—tely in so great a company And therefore he caused the King of Naples to frustrate this desseine as not to be done without confusion But Ferdinand loath to displease one to please an other doth aduertise Lodowike that he did not recall his first consent but at the instant request of Peter of Medicis There was yet an other reason which made Lodowike to suspect some secret intellâ—gence betwixt Peter and the Arragonois Francisquin Cibo bastard sonne to Innocent after his fathers death had retired himselfe to Florence to Peter of Medicis brother to Magdalene his wife Being planted there Virgilius Vrsinus bought of him by Peters meanes Larguillare Ceruetre and some other places neere to Rome for fortie thousand duckets The money was in a manner all lent him by Ferdinand of purpose to the ende that Virgilius being his kinsman and entertayned soldiar growing great about Rome he might reape the more profit Ferdinand found no better foundation for his safety then to tye all or the greatest part of the Noblemen within the territories to suppresâ—e that Hidrâ—es head if it shold rise too high This he labored more carefully doubting that Lodowikes authority would proue great hereafter with the Pope by the meanes of Cardinall Ascanius his Brother The vanity of mans conceites must needes discouer the weakenesse of his iudgement Of two mischiefs Ferdinand did choose the greatest grounding vpon a light profit he did not foresee that he layed the way open to his owne ruine For the â—â—pe discouering the Arragonois intentioÌ„ pretending that by the alie nation of these 〈◊〉 places lying in his Iurisdiction done without his priuity they were by right forfaiâ—ed to the Apostolike sea He exclaimes and complaines against Ferdinand Peter Virgilius protesting to omit no meanes that may serue for the defence of his dignity and the rights of the Romaine sea Lodowike embraceth this occasion and seeing the Pope to study of some great reuenge against Ferdinand he feeds his passions by the loane of forty thousand ducats three hundred men at armes leuied vpon the coÌ„mon treasor Yet apprehending new troubles he aduiseth Ferdinand to perswade Virgilius to coÌ„tent the Pope by some honest composition to preueÌ„t the incoÌ„ueniences scandales this diuorce might breed and councelleth Peter to follow the domesticall example of his father and to be a mediator as he had beene betwixt Ferdinand and him rather then a fiâ—e brand to kindle diuision but he talked to a deaff man â—erdinand promiseth to do it but he ruined with one hand what hee raised with the other he secretly sollicits Virgilius to taâ—e possession of those Townes and not to yeeld the Pope any tâ—ing but some certaine summe of money by meanes whereof he should remaine peaceable Lord oâ— the sayd places promising to waâ—rant him from all troubles Lodowike findes hereby that it behoues him to fortifie himselfe with newe supports and newe alliances He hath a good oportunity the disdaine of Alexander against the King of Naples and the affection the Senat of Venice seemed to haue to the Dis-union of this League whereby their proiects had so long beene made frustrate But the Pope loued his children deerely and contrary to the custome of others who called them Nephewes as a more modest name he impudently called them Sonnes He hoped to obtaine one of the bastard Daughters of Alphonso for one of his bastards sonnes Grafte crabbe vpon crabbe and you shall neuer reape good fâ—uite and whilest this vaine hope possessed him he opened his eares rather then his heart to Lodowikes motion Ferdinand gaue his consent but Alphonso hated the ambition pride of Alexander The Pope being thus frustrate turnes all his thoughts to Lodowike mooued
a dangerous and as the Originall saith a detestable example he left it in prey to Tauannes and retyred to Mascon Tauannes goes thither with all speed and presents himselfe at the gates The first seege of Masâ—on hoping by kind offers to perswade the people to receiue him but he finds no admittance So he gathers togither all his forces and the third of Iune beseegeth the Towne His armie consisted for the most part of Bourguignons of the CouÌ„tie carrying openly red scarfs The beseeged countenance themâ—elues with this pretext and make their profit thereof to auoid this present storme that threatned them They giue the King to vnderstand That it was not reasonable they being his naturall subiects and desiring to liue in peace vnder the obedience of his lawes should bee forced to open their gates to Tauannes armed with strangers enemies to the Crowne who is suspected of them for many other great reasons This admonition preuailed somewhat for Tauannes straightwaies retired by the Kings commaundement but it was to prepare for a second seege Those of Lions send Entragues to defend the seege Tauannes makes his trenches wins the suburbs of Saint Laurence and the fourth of Iuly beats downe the defences The seege makes a breach and â—ews it but to their cost whom hee sent So as if some important businesse had called him into Bourgoogne hee rayseth his Campe and making his account that the beseeged would follow him hee layes a strong ambush but Entragues had no men to loose Mascon freed from this second seege behold Belleuille is assailed Saint Poinct with other gentlemen of Daulphiné came from the spoyling of some boates laden with the value of forty thousand Frankes in relikes of gold and â—iâ—uer 1563. which two Sheriffes of Mascon had sent of their owne authority to Lions to bee conuerted to their priuate vses So the robbers are often robbed This bâ—otie puts them in hope of an other The 28. of Iuly he comes with two hundred horse sixe or seuen hundred Souldiars and the common people thereabouts to belegar this littâ—e Towne but the night before two companies parting from Mascon were entred into it by whom the assailants being repulsed with losse turned their reuenge vpon theâ—r neighbours Cattell The retreat of Saint Poinct made Eutragues seeke to exteâ—d the limits of his territory Hee beseegeth the Castell of Pierrecloux forceth Monâ—osat and fiue and twenty Souldiars which hee commanded there to yeeld at discretion and causeth them to bee lead prisoners to Mascon but this was to feed the Fox who in the end shall eate the pullaine During these broyles Poncenat comes to Mascon with Suisses and French drawes forth the chiefe forces beseegeth Tournus and becomes maister thereof But what can the furie of inciuill armes forbeare Clugny forced with the same rage sees that exquisite and famous Library defaced a most precious treasure which made that Abbey to be greatly esteemed amongst others of France The third siege and taking of Mascon Tauannes aduertised that Mascon was vnfurnished and that Entrangues to please Poncenat followed his enseignes parts from Chalons with foure Cornets of horse and eight hundred foote being assured of a practise which he had within the Towne whilest that his enemies transported with their priuate affections imployed their forces elsewhere The 17. of August many waines drawne with Oxen enter by his meanes that â—ept the keyes of one gate being of the intelligence they passe the first and the second gate at the third the fiâ—st Carter ouerthrowes his waine willingly and by this policie staies the rest Twenty men coucht vpon their bellies behind a wall in a garden neere adioyning to the gate runne thether they kill some bring in their men ouerthrow a corps degarde and become maisters of the Towne the Souldiars of Pierrecloix are freed from prison and cut off heads armes and legges of the Protestants they cast many into the riuer spoile their houses and ransome the wealthiest Thus Bourgongne returnes to the Catholikes deuotion and S. Poinct had the gouernment of Mascon a violent and bloudy man who often times glutted his eyes after his meate with the mourâ—full spectacle of such as he caused to be cast into the riuer These confusions did pittifully afflict all the prouinces of this realme when on the other side the heads of 〈◊〉 parties being prisoners did solicit the conclusion of a peace The Admirall by a 〈◊〉 letters to the Queene purged himselfe of the accusation laid against him touchiâ—g the death of the Duke of Guise whereof Poltrot himselfe in the midest of his most seâ—siâ—le torments at his execution freed him And the Queene mother leauing this thorâ—e in the Admirals foote that she might raigne among these combustions of the houses of Guise and Chastillon did cunningly giue two stroakes with one stone for she made the Prince of Condé beleeue That the restraints propounded vpon the Edict of Ianuary tended only to content the Catholikes in some sort and to open the way for the Protâ—stants to haue greater liberty She pleased the young Duke of Guise with the execution of Poltrot and his aduancement to his fathers offices the Constable by the moderatioÌ„ of the edâ—ct for he had protested neuer to yeeld to the edict of Ianuary So the iudicious reader may see by the course of the history which party did first break it But that which did most import Katherine in disarming her enimes she entertained a discord betwixt two mighty families whereby she maintained her authority 1563. In the end a peace concluded the 13. of March gaue liberty of religion to Noblemen The cheefe Articles of the peace hauing al manner of Iustice for them their families subiects To other Gentlemen that had inferiour iurisdiction for them and their families with permission of the Lords of whom they held In al Bailiwikes iurisdictions depending on the ParliameÌ„t a place appointed for their assemblies at the election of the prouince besides al other places where the exercise had bin since the 7. of March The Vicounty of Paris onely excepted Euery one restored to his former possession of goods honors and offices A generall abolition of all things past for matter of armes All offences except robbing pardoned and a forbidding to iniurie one another either for war or religion This treatie did please and displease many It reioyced such as made an account that this sweet and pleaâ—ant name of peace should make an end of all their calamities and restore euery man to his former estate It greeued such as of three mightie enemies seeing two preuented by death and the third a prisoner esteemed that the gouernment of the state was lawfully fallen to the Prince of Condé who by consequence did derogate from his authoritie subscribing to so weake and easie conditions of peace foreseeing also that the secret oppositions of the Parliaments and the violences os the most mutinous who being armed slue daily some of their
men with all impunity would in few yeeres giue cause of new confusions So by this peace the Germaine was sent home Elizabeth Queene of England held Newhauen whereof the Prince had put her in possession as a pawne and securitie for the money wherewith she had assisted his partie To make a breach betwixt her and the Protestants the English must be chased away by them that had called them in Newhauen recouered The King goes thither in person they likewise vrge the Prince to go with most of his partie and cause them to make the point The place is strong both by nature and art but the fresh water being cut off and the plague hauing wasted about three thousand men the Earle of Warwike entred into Capitulation the 28. of Iuly and the next day yeelded the place to the King One of the cheefe motiues that induced the Prince to yeeld so easily to these conditions of peace was the Lieutenant Generall which he expected by the King of Nauarres death and the Queene mothers goodly promises But to confirme her Regencie she puts the Prince from all his hopes She causeth the King to be declared of full age being yet but fourteene yeares old carries his Maiestie to the Parliament at Rouan makes him protest That he will not hereafter endure the disobedience that hath beene vsed against him since the beginning of these troubles that his pleasure was to haue the Edict of pacification duly obserued threatning such as should oppose or make any Leagues And afterwards by an admonition made in writing by the Parliament of Paris touching the Edict of his maioritie confirming that of pacification the Queene mother causeth her sonne to name her ouerseer and President of his affaires and for an answere to the Court according to the instâ—uctions of his mother I do not meane said hee you should deale in any other thing but with the administration of good and speedie Iustice to my subiects Vnderstand hereafter that you are not confirmed in your offices by me to be my tutors nor Protectors of my realme nor Gouernours of my Cittie of Paris as hitherto you haue perswaded your selues The King being returned to Paris the Duke of Guises widow his children and kinsfolk came solemnly and demanded iustice of the murther committed on the person of the deceased taxing the Admirall as the cheefe author thereof But it was not yet time to suffer these two houses to incouâ—ter That of Guise might receiue as much or more losse then the other and Catherine pretended to make her profit of the first To auoyd this brunt she causeth the King to command them to surcease this quarrel appoints theÌ„ another time to aduise thereon In the meane time she honours them with the cheefe charges and giues them all accesse and countenance neere his person The rest of the yeare was spent in the confirmation of many Edicts touching the Eccâ—esiasticall and ciuill causes and then was the Iurisdiction of Iudges and Consuls among the marchants erected and the notaries of consignations established As these things passed in France the Prelats assembled at the Councell of Trent prouided for the support and maintenance of the Catholike religion 1564. namely in this estate The Cardinall of Lorraine a man greatly practised in the affaires of the realme A generall Councel at Trent â—â—th all he can to root out the Protestants To that end they find this expedient That the Kings of France and Spaine should make a strict League and hee of Spaine sâ—â—uld giue the French such forces as were requisite for the execution thereof The holy League and in tâ—e meane time they should seeke all meanes to abolish the Edict which alowed the exerciâ—e of the pretended reformed religion that this treatie made for the preseruation of the Catholike 1564. Apostolike and Romish religion should bee called The holy League The Cardinall promiseth to imploy all his indeuours and meaâ—es to this â—â—fect and assures the assemblie of the willingnesse and good affection of the Queene mother and the Lords of the Councell The cheefe of this League were the Pope the Kings of France and Spaine the Princes of Italie the Common weale of Veâ—ice and the Duke of Sauoy Of the Emperour and the house of Austria they speakâ— diuersly So from the beginning of February they labour to produce some effects Theâ—r Ambassadors come to Fontainbleau demanded the obseruation of the decâ—â—es of the Councel throughout al France wherof the reading should be the fiue 〈◊〉 of March at Nancy in the presence of the Ambassadors of all Cathâ—liâ—e Princeâ— asâ—eÌ„bled to make a general League against those estates that were falâ—e from the obedience of the Romish Church They require also that in fauour of the Clergie the King should cause the alienation of Ecclesiasticall goods to cease as against the law of Gâ—d and preiudiciall to his Maiestie and the Realme That the Edict of pacification should be disanulled and heretikes rooted out namely such as had beene partakers of the Duke of Guises murther Behold new firebrands to cast this monarchie into the flames of a second ciuill warre But the fires of the first did yet smoake And things not being so soone prepared to enter into new homebred combustions the King answeres That he hath graunted the Edict to free the Realme from strangers and that hee hopes henceforth to maintaine his subiects in peace according to the institution of the Church In the meane time such as were worst affected to the publike peace attempted many things contrarie to the Edict The Comissioners sent for the obseruation tâ—ereof The Edict of peace ill obserued had small credit in many places The Estates of some prouinces sayd plainely that they could no more endure two religions then two Sunnes the execution thereof had small or no effect in places where it was proclaymed the Magistrates delayed to appoint the Protestants places for their exercises and by their â—lacknes caused many to seeke their dwelling elsewhere to liue in quiet and safetie The complaints and discontents which â—ounded in the Kings eares from all parts gaue Catherine vnder colour to lead the King in progresse through the Prouinces of his Realme and by his presence to end many controuersies which euen then seemed to threaten him with some eminent confusion a goodly pretext of conference with the King of Spaine Charles begins his voyage by Champagne and through Bourgongne comes at Lions The voiage of Baâ—oâ—ne forbidding the Protestants the exercise of their religion following the Court yea euen in the Townes that were assigned them for their assemblies whilst his Maiestie should bee resident there The Protestants were here in great numbers and might well fortifie themselues againe at need To take from them all meanes they build a Câ—ttadell and the King stiâ—s not before it be in defence By the example hereof many other Townes receiued the like restraint whilest on the other side they diâ—manteled