flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâââ 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 fârsâks 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 tâeÌ 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 Dâchie 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 soâlemne 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 Conââââons 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 diâplace and to dispoâe 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 affâont Sârange confuâoâs betwixt the Emperoâr and the âope 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 Râuenna 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
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 autâoriây 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 dismeÌbred into diuers Principalities vnder diuers Potentates In the end after this minority of 22. âeares 899. 31. Charles the 4. called âhe Simple sonne to Lewis the Stuttering was crowned as lawfull King raigned 25. yeares But Raoul of Boârgongâe 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 Moâher had carried him to preserue him from the League was acknowledged King and raigned twenty and nine yeares 954. 34. Lothaire his sonne suâcâeded him who raigned thirtie and three yeares 986. 35. Lewis the 5. sonne to Lothaire raigned about two yearâs 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 Carlââingiens hauing raigned 230. yeareâ ended ãâã Lewis the 5. and gaue place to the third raâe 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 Parliâment 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 appareÌt 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 hâd 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 câuâes of this chaâge hauing resârued to himselfe the soueraigne authority ouer Kings to place and diââlace 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 watââeth 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 sâbiects being the sâpport 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 posteâity 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 lâsâon for Potentates thât bounty wisdom and valour Inâââuction for
and publicke Violence Charitable Liberall and Iudicious to giue with Discretion To conclude the Patterne of a great King by whome our Kings should take example to learne how to gouerne the Helme of an estate in the tempests and stormes of manie toyles and confusions and by the managing and successe of his raigne to gather this goodly Poâsie or rather to take this pasport for the confirmation and greatnesse of Kings That a vertuous King is in the ende happie howsoeuer hee bee compassed in with difficulties But before wee enter into a new raigne order requires that wee obserue the estate of the Church and Empire Fredericks humilitie to the Pope Estate of thâ Empire had somewhat calmed the violence of these factions and his voyage to the Holye Land to performe his full obedience seemed to bring a perfect peace to Christendome when as behold a newe cause of troubles Frederick going for Asia had with the consent of the Princes of the Empire The Pope opposeth agaiâââ the Emperour confirmed his eldest Sonne Henry Emperour but hee being dead and his Sonne Henrie to succede him Pope Innocent opposed an other Emperour which was this Otho of whome wee haue spoken The Emperour muâtheâred by ãâã who succedââ him and did excomunicate Henry in hatred of his Father Frederick Otho ambitious of commande caused Henry to bee murthered in his Chamber But it chanced that hauing committed this fact hee went to receiue that disgrace in France 1223. which was his death and Frederick the second succeeded him âoâas he liued when as our Augustus left the Crowne to his Sonne Lewis Of Italy In the meane time the Guelphes maintained the Popes factions withall vehemencie and the Gibelins that of the Emperour The Cittie 's swelled with these humors which distracted their mindes into sundrie factions whereof grew those cruell contentions euen in their owne bowels The heads of Guelphs and Gibelius the which haue continued long with irreconciliable hatred At Rome the Vrsins and Sabelles against the Colonnois Frangepans Cesarins and others At Florence the Medicis Ricci Bondelons Amidees Cerchis against the Strossi Saluiati Passi Albicci and Donati At Genoa the Flisques Grimaldi Fregoses against the Spinoles Adornes Dories and so at Bolonia Milan Ferrara Mantoua Luques and other Citties which by these dissentions haue lost their liberties and are fallen into the hands of diuerse Princes Venice was wise in thâse deuisions preseruing her libertie against both factions whilest the rest dismembred and ruined one another The Popes had still an eye vpon France to confirme their authoritie there as they had done in Sicilia and England The Popes soueraigne authoritie ouer Christendom not ceasing vppon euery light occasion to censure it or to threaâen it with their censures But our Kings by the wise Councell of their Parliament at Paris restrained them not suffring them to vsurpe any thing ouer their royall prerogatiue and the libertie of the French Church But howsoeuer the Imperiall State being made subiect to the Pope the way was easie to draw all the Kings and Princes of Christendome to obedience and to aduance their throne aboue the rest Their great reuenues and the shew of their stately and sumptuous traine kept the people in obedience but the deuoute respect of religion the strictest bond to tye soules was the fundamentall support of this soueraigne authoritie the which not being limited within the bounds of mortall life without doubt struck an vnauoidable terror into mens consciences ouer which it had power So as the Pope gaue lawe to all men and whosoeuer obeyed not what they commanded he was excommunicated by this spirituall authoritie of the Keyes which they say doe open and shut Paradice binde and loose sinnes This beleefe setled in the mindes of Christians bred a great deuotion and respect in them and did minister daily new meanes to encrease it At that time sprung vp many orders of religious Friars and Monkes and out of S. Bernards Schoole very famous in those times from this streame grew two branches One was called The poore in Lions the other the humble of Italy which liued of Almes and conuersed with other men expounding the Scriptures and reprouing the abuses of the Church with the like zeale and libertie as we see at this day in the writings of S. Bernard This free and plaine reprehension displeased the Pope who suppressed these two orders with his censures and confining the desciples of S. Bernard to Cisteaux he confirmed 4. new orders of religions The Franciscans instituted by Francis an Italian the Iacobins by Dominick a Spaniard Orders of religious men Carmelites by Albert Patriarke of Ierusalem the Augustins by Innocent the third The Vniuersities of France Germanie and Italy were carefully entertained by meanes of the great reuenues of the Church to settle and augment the Popes authoritie the which was mightily encreased by the diligence and dexteritie of such as instructed the youth easie to receiue such impressions as were giuen them especially their teachers hauing great power ouer their soules Such was the estate both of the Empire and of the Church when as Lewis the 8. entred the royall throne after the decease of his father Philip Augustus Lewis the eight Father to Saint Lewis the 43. King of France LEWES .8 KING OF FRANCE XXXXIII LEWIS was thirty yeares old when he beganne to raigne 1223. in the yeare .1223 was crowned with his wife Blanch beeing then the mother of many children His raigne âeâth Hee died in the yeare 1226. hauing raigned but three yeares neither noted for his vices nor coÌmended for his vertues only famous in that He was Sonne to an excellent father father to an excellent Sonne bearing his name not beeing famous inough of himselfe His father imployed him confidently but with small successe The manners of Lâwââ the eight He desquieted England but reaped no benifit That which is most remarkable in his raigne Languedoc one of the goodliest and ritchest Prouinces of the French monarchy began to returne to the Crowne froÌ the which it was dismembred by Hugh Capet and left as ân inheritaÌce to the Earles the means was by the ruine of CouÌt Raimond chiefe of the Albigeois The Albigeois take their name of a diocese in Languedoc Languedock returnes to the Crowne whereof the head is Alby the 22. Bishoprike of this large Prouince but this name was common to the whole party for that a priuate impression deuided from the common beleefe of Christians which hath caused them to be held for heretikes tooke its beginning with this people of high Languedock and so was dispersed into other Prouinces In this difference of religion we may obserue diuers humors iudgements and censures Diuers opinions touching the Albigâois In so great an vncertânty I will report plainly what is written by the most approoued Authors not giuing any Iudgement the which belongs to the reader neither wil I
Lord God a paire of spurres of gold All these Princes were wonderfully incensed against the Venetians by reason of the vsurpations made by them in their estates A League against the Venetians They make a League for their common defence and to offend the Venetians meaning to pull from them what they had vsurped And for that the promises which Maximilian had vainely giuen to Lodowike Sforce were the cause to hasten his ruine he was a meanes the King should set him at libertie and giue him some good pension to liue withall in France But this was a short comfort for Lodowike whose turbulent spirit would haue practised some alteration This capitulation being so profitable to all these Princes the Pope being comprehended therin 1509. it was likely it should hold But there must be stronger bands to tie it that is a reciprocall loue without the which all treaties are fruitles The end of this yeare is famous by the death of Frederike Frederike of Naples dies sometimes King of Naples the which depriued him of all his vaine hopes to recouer his Realme of Naples by the accord of theâe two Kings and by that of Isabel Queene of Castile a vertuous Princesse noble wise and beloâed of her subiects The yeare following disposed the two Kings and the Potentates of Italie to lay aside armes Ferdinand of Arragon hauing new desseins and foreseeing that by the death of his wife Philippe his sonne in law would challenge the Crowne of Castille as hauing married the inheritrix of the said Realme desired only to preserue the realme of Naples by meanes of the capitulation lately made Our Lewis was not altogither freed from doubt for that Maximilian delayed according to his vsuall tediousnesse to ratifie the peace The Pope desired innouation but his forces were too weake without the support of some mightie Prince The last League had put the Venetians in alarum hauing thereby three mightie enemies against them To pacifie the neerest they offer vnto the Pope to restore all they had vsurped except Faense Rimini and their appurtenances The Venetiâanâ reconciled to the popâ And the Pope knowing that the Emperors warre agaiâst the Elector Palatin would hinder his passage into Italie ioyntly with the King for that yeare accepted the obedience the Venetians offered him in regard of the said places without making them any shew of a more mild and tractable disposition The King for the accomplishment of that which had beene treated of sent the Cardinall of Amboise to Haguenau a Towne of Alsatia newly taken from the Countie Palatin where the Emperour did sollemnly sweare and proclaime the articles agreed vpon according to the which the Cardinall payed halfe the money promised for the inuesting of Milan Nâw troubles in Iâalie During this ratification there growes new seeds of dissention in Italiâ The Cardinall Ascanius brother to Lodowike Sforce treated with the Ambassador of Venice at Rome and had also according to the common opinion some secret intelligence with Gonsaluâ It was in shew to inuade the Dâchie of Milan the which they knew to be vnfurnished of French souldiars the people inclining again to thename of Sforce and that which made them the more bold the Kâng being surprised with so dangerous a sicknesse as the Pihifitians dispayâing of his âealth the Queene prepared to send all her iewels into Brittanie if the Marshall of Gié had not placed men vppon the way to stay theÌ for the which the king afterwards was as wel placed as the Queene by her dislike sought to bring him in disgrace Doubtles the people should oft times suffer much if their counsels were not stayed by the prouidence of God The King recouers his health Appeased by the deâth of Cardinall Ascanius and the Cardinal Ascanius dies sodenly of the plague at Rome interring with him the desseins of Milan The King is freed of one danger And as God by means vnknowne of men change the great âtormes into calme sun-shines our Lewis who till then had the greatnesse of the Arch-Duke Phillippe in iealousie fearing to mâke him his enemie hee finds now that the death of Isabelle of Castile doth free him of his feare for that the Arch-Duke contemning the testament of his mother in Law deuised to take the gouernment of the Realme of Castill from Ferdinand his father in lawe the which could not be done but by their common quarels and the weakning of their forces the King remaining betwixt both free from troubles should thereby fortifie him selfe with men money and munition for the aduancing of his desseins And the Aragonois on the other side âorced to seeke a support against his sonne in lawe desiring a peace with the King hee obtaines it by the marriage of him and Germaine sister to Gaston of Foix daughter to his Maiesties sister vppon condition That the King should giue her in dowrie that part of the Realme of Naples which belonged vnto him A peace betwixt the king and Ferdinand the King of Spaine binding himselfe to pay him within tenne yeares 7. hundred thousand ducats for the charges past and to indow his new spouse with 300000. ducats Which dowrie Germaine dying in marâiage without children should returne to Ferdinand but if he died first it shold returne to the crowne of France 1505. A happy coÌclusion both of a peace and of the yeare if it could haue intertained loue betwixt these two Princes ãâã with the ãâ¦ã to ãâã But it shal be soone broken and alwayes our peace with the Spaniards hath beene full of discord Let vs now open the springs of new warres The Pope had without the Kings priuity giâen all the benefices that were fallen voyde in the Duchie of Milan by the death of Cardinal Ascanius and other Clergie men Moreouer in the âreation of many Cardiâalls Motââes of nâw troublââ he had refused to admit into the society the Bishop of Auchx Nephew to the Cardinall of Amboise and the Bishop of Baieux Nephew to the Lord of Tâemouille And moreouer hee had armed some galleys to be in a readinesse âs some gaue out to free Genes froÌ the rule of the French in case the King died as âome feared and other did hope All these considerations together with the Kings disâontent seemed to breed some diuision with the Pope yet his friendshiâ was profiâable for the King in the warre he pretended against the Venetians against whom he knew the Pope to bee ill affected for the desire he had to recouer the Townes of Romagnâ Hee therefore sent the Bishop of Cisteron his Nuntio into France to propound vnto him many offers and desseines for the execution of this common enterprise Moreouer the Pope seeing himselfe as it were forced at the Kings instance to prolong the Cardinall of Amboise his legation in France and for iealousie he had that this Cardinall aspired by al means to the popedome he could not resolue to ioyne in all points with the King
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 Stradioâs 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 Ducaâs 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 cenâured 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 houâes 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
to point beginning with rigour and ending with mildnesse they take a contrary course They feared sayd they in their iuââification 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 âther side in a maneâ despairing euer to finde grace or fauour with the King should in tâe 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 strâke 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 tâeatie 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 ââe 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 theâe 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 ãâã towards Rome The Emperor râtârâs into Spaine whether the aboue named Cardinals did accompanie him alwayeâââsisting 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 âhâm he then called but Bishop of Rome vpon the matter of his diuorce he caused it tâ ãâã 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 stoââââ they enuiron the Pope and all with one voyce demand iustice against the attemâtâ ãâã 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 ãâã that proceeding to condemnation and hauing no meanes to execute it really were a fruitlesse enterprise and would make his Apostolick authoritie contemptible ãâã no meanes to put it in execution without the Emperours assistance besides they âad a great let which was the strict alliance of the most Christian King with the ãâã who ioyning their mutuall forces offensiue and defensiue might ingage all Cââistândome 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 âf England if within a certaine time he made not reparation of the sayd attempts Tâen he prepared for his enterview with the King notwithstanding all the crosses ãâã the Imperialls gaue him transforming themselues into as many shapes as Proteus ãâã draw him from this resolution all which are to be read in the Originals Nice had beene appointed for this effect
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 Gâeat personages looke awrye one on another so do the people one beares the name of Huguenot impatâenâly an other cannot indure that of papist in truth turbulent and factions names From hence sprong diuerse mutinâes ãâã Beauuais Amiens Ponâoise and elsewhere where the weaker was forced to yeeâd to the stronger These new broyles caused an Edict to be made at Fontainebleau where the Cââurt remayned attending the renewing of the estates intermitted prohibiting these maââa 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 âeims 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 ââs 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 âând 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 asâemblies of Protestants forbidden and they condemned to seeke their abode elâewhere 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 Poisây And at the same instant the sentence of the Prince of Condés innocencie was pronounced in Paâliament 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 MoÌâpensâer 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 Admiraâl 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 Guisâe Chastillen and Tournon Conference of Poisây 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 âeate pâiuatly 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 assureâly 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 ãâ¦ã 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
King without consideration of the priuate interest he hath in this ãâã 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 pâblike declaration the causes which mooued the League to take armes the vanity oâ ãâã pretexts the fâârts which all France may expect by the treaty of Nemours and theâ with the Prince of Condé his Cousin the Marshall d' Anuille hereafter Dâke of Montmoââncy 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 fândamentall lawes of families and the Estate and libertie of the King and the Queene his mother Sixtus thâ ãâã excoâmunââcates the king oâ Nuaâre aâd Prince oâ Condé Was it not sufficient for these Princes to haue the King and League against them but they must bee charged âith a âewe assâult from beyond the mountaines Sixtus the ãâã a more violent man then his Predecessor castes or this ligâtning against theâe two Henryes King of Nauarre and ãâ¦ã Condé he excomunicates them degradeâ them and their successors from all ãâã namely their pretensions to the Crowne of France exposeth their Countries and persons in prey to the first that should ãâã on them The Popes Bull declared voide and of no force The Court of Parliament findes this act to bee rashe insolent ãâã and farre from the modestie of former Popes and saies ânto the King That ãâ¦ã finde nothing like to the Apostles successor The Reâisters of the ãâ¦ã did not teach theÌ That the Princes of France were ãâã to seeke ãâã at Rome or ãâã subiects did euer take knowledge of then Princes religion Seeing theâ ãâã âew Pope in steed of instruction studies nothing but destruction and that he changeââ ãâ¦ã into a fearefull fire-brand to ruine those vtterly whome he should ãâã vnâo 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 likeâise prâtest against the said Bull and appeale from it as abusiue and scandalous ânto the next free and lawfull Councell where they will prooue said they that Sixtus the ãâã calling himselfe Pope terming them heretikes hath falsely and wiâkedly ââed This opposition was set vp in Rome the sixt of Nouember Open warâe 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 dâth seize and giues commissions to sell all the fâuites rents reuenâes mouables debtes and all other profits whatsoeuer of the Inhabitanâes 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 ãâã 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 Tremoââlle the mother and daughter were beseeged The Vicont of Turrenne ouerruns Liââsiâ 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 âontenay 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 Roâhemorte 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
sonnes Theodebert and Thierri Tragicall practises of âwo women The first had for his portion the realme of Austrasia the second had Bourgongne Brunehault his mother suruiued him and kept at Metz with the eldest she presentenly styrred vp these two Princes ouer whome shee had great authority as their grandmother to pursue Clotaire for the shame and death of their father Behold sodenly an army of Austrasians and Bourguignons marcheth into France led by these two yong Princes Clotaire accustomed to these sports opposeth himselfe in person and gettes the victory with such successe as they say the course of the riuer of Aurance where the battaill was fought was stayed by the dead bodies of the conquered Fredegonde leapt for ioye of this second triumph Fredegonde dies with ãâã victory by reason of Brunehault who was her chiefe obiect but her ioye was presently conuerted into her owne funerall for shee died soone after to teach reuenging spirits that their hatreds which they would haue perpetuall are mortall and at the least wise ende with their deathes Thus Fredegonde died in her bed and was interred neare to Chilperic whom she had caused to be slaine so as in this peaceable death we may consider the patience of God which doth often attend those it reserues to his last iudgement But Brunehault who thought her selfe a conqueresse by the death of Fredegonde her capital enemy incenfeth Theodebert Thierri her grand-children anew against Clotaire They raise another army vnder the coÌduct of Beroald not willing any more to hazard their persons being taught by the successe of two great defeats Beroald is slaine in this battaile and yet the victory remaines to his men with great losse to the French so as it seemed the warre would grow more violent betwixt these Princes who nowe beganne to see a part of their reuenge against their Cousine Clotaire But the malice of Brunehault who had banded the Cousins must nowe diuide the brethren This old bitch euen in the fury of war fouÌd stil meanes to follow her beastly lechery then had she got a yong courtier called Protade for a stallion whom she entertained in vew and knowlege of the whole Court 599. and aduanced him beyond dutie or deâert The dislike of this vnchast conuersation offensiue to the whole world doth in the end force Theodebert to find a meanes to withdrawe his mother from the view of the multitude who were eye witnesses of the filthinesse of this shamelesse old woman and of the ignominie of his house He supposed to send her away with pollicie perswading her she should doe best to retyre her selfe into some goodly monasterie there to lead a godly life and to seeke for rest be fitting her age This admonition caused her partly to leaue the Court and State of Theodebert but not to change her mind She retyres then from Metz Brunehault incenseth ãâã brother against the other and comes into Bourgongue to her other sonne full of choller and finding Thierri ill affected against his brother shee presently kindles the vnfortunate fire of dissention betwixt them which consumed them both and finally her selfe That posterities may note in this tragedie the examples of Gods iust iudgement who punisheth one sinne by another and the sinner by his owne sinne This lewd woman perswades Thierri that Theodebert was a bastard the sonne of a Gardiner and that he had lawfull cause to make warre against him as an vsurper of that which belonged vnto him by right Thierri being exceeding couetous embraceth this occasion prepares an armie against Theodebert and imployes this Protade in the principall charge who was a kindler of warre in the spirit of this yong Prince The cheefe Noblemen of Bourgongne infinitely grieued with these disorders not daring directly to charge Brunehault they set vpon her Minion kill him By this meanes they drawe Thierri to an accord with his brother Theodebert and so either of them sends backe his troupes Thus this fire seemed to be wholy quencht the which kindled soone after in an other place by the practises of the same woâk woman Thierri had remayned long vnmarried entertayning change of women by the counsell of this bitche who daily prouided him store of this stuffe but solicited by the continuall perswasions prayers of his Councel The husband against the ãâã he takes to wife Membergue the daughter of Dataric King of Spaine louing her with that honest affectioÌ that a man ought to loue his wife Brunehault iealous of this lawfull loue fearing to be dispossessed of her authoritie and credit if a lawfull wife possessed her husbands hart she workes by her charmes reducing Thierri to that extremitie that hee was not able to accompany with his wife and for a bait to his adulterie she furnisheth other women whome he might freely vse as shee loathed him of this poore Princesse causing him to send her home to her father Dataric as vnable to beare children who infinitly greeued with this disgrace done him in the person of his daughter resolues to reuenge Hee complaynes of this iniurie both to Clotaire and Theodebert whome he knew to be enemies to Thierri and all togither resolue to make warre against him Brunehault seeing this great storme ready to fall vpon Thierri she perswades him to compound with his brother Theodebert at what price soeuer whose humour she knew wel This accord was sold by Theodebert to Thierri at a deere rate for he had the CouÌtries of Champaigne Touraine Artois and many other places but it cost himselfe much dearer for by this composition all the armie was dispersed and euery one retyred home Thierri who by the aduise of his mother stood vpon his guard surpriseth his brother Theodebert with such aduantage that not onely he recouers all that he had giuen him but by the Councell of this Proserpina he embrewes his hands in his blood murthering him most barbarously The brother kills the brother Theodebert had but one onely daughter whome Thierri would take to wife to haue some honest pretext to seize vppon all his Estates But Brunehault who desired greatly to see him maister but not to haue a companion in this absolute authoritie disswades him from this marriage inferring to couer her hidden intent that it was not lawfull to marrie his neece Thierri blinded with passion who by a iust iudgement of God sought to die by poyson of this viper by whose meanes hee had done so much mischiefe replies that the daughter of Theodebert was none of his neece seeing that Theodebert was not his brother being begotten by another father reproching BruÌâhault that he knew no more then she had taught him And that vpon this occasion shee had encouraged him to kill him And as they grew hot in wordes hee threatened to kill her Brunehault seeing her selfe taken by the âose 601 and measured by the same measure she had measured to others resolues to preuent Thierri and to murther him She herselâe
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 sâilt 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 âourney 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 reaâme 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 practâsed 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 Austrasiâns 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 maâe 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 ãâã remedie to cuâe 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
good meaning he desires him to be pleased with his repaire to Rome there to confer with him in priuate The Pope who neuer flies to the French but in necessity was easily perswaded by Didier who came to Rome confers with the Pope and makes great protestation of his obedience But this good shew continued not long There was a gouernor at Rome for the Emperour called Paul Ephialte Didier corrupted this Grecian and as the execution of Iustice was in his hands hee makes vse of him so cunningly as in the preseÌce of Pope Stephen he causeth him to seize vpon two of his chiefe Secretaries Christopher Sergius accused by him of supposed crimes and to hang them infamously Their greatest offence was to haue fauored the French This presumption proceeded farther The Lombards presumption hanging the Popes Secretarâes for he caused all the principall Cittizens to bee banished whome he noaâed to bee of the French faction that hauing taken away all leâs he might be master of Rome in despight of the Pope Stephen discouering the Lombards practise to his preiudice flies to Charlemagne beseeching him to prepare an armie against his force that did ruine him by his apparent mildnes Charlemagne was fully resolued but Didier had prouided a remedy in France by the meanes of Caroloman to stop Charles his passage into Italie making worke for him in Guienne where there grew a perilous warre vpon this occasion Wee haue sayd before that although the Countrie of Guienne depended of the Crowne of France yet were there many tumults through the practises of some Noblemen of the Countrie Rebellion in Guienne by Hunauât who stirred vp the people being mutinous of themselues to rebellion The cause of these reuolts was the abuse of the Kings bountie who suffered such people as they had conquered to inioy their priuileges and liberties intreating them with all fauour Eudon began first vnder Martel Ieffroy and Hunault his children and h eires of his discontent had continued it vnder Pepin Ieffroy being dead Hunault succeeds him with the like hatred the which Caroloman entertayned to imploy him against his brother Charles And as iealousie and ambition thrust him on to attempt against him so did he make his profit of the couetous ambition of Hunault feeding him with the hope of the reuenues of Guienne seing his humour was to bee a Duke supposing to haue credit inough with the people if hee were fauoured by one of the Kings of France against the other Guienne was a part of Charles his portion Hunault layes the foundation of his desseine to withdrawe himselfe wholy from the Crowne of France and to make open warre against Charlemagne in practising the people of Guienne to bee declared Duke by their consent according to the âight which he pretended The countenance of Caroloman could do much but the wisdome and courage of Charlemagne preuailed more for being aduerâised of Hunaâlts practises and of his brothers secret desseignes hee armed with such speede as hee surprised the townes of Poitiers Xaintes and Angoulesme 774 and by that meanes all the Country adioyning Hunault who made his accouÌ without Charles finding himself preueÌâed fled to a Nobleman of the Country named Loup whome hee not onely held to bee very firme to his faction but also his trustie and affectionate friend Charlemagne sends preâently to Loup hee summons him to deliuer Hunault into his hands as guilty of high treason and in the meane time hee builds a fort in the midest of the Country whereas the riâers of Dordone and Lisle do ioyne the which he called âronsac as it were the front of the Sarrazns whom he had caused to feare if these desseins had succeeded Thus getting Hunault with all his family he doth punish him as a rebell he pardoned Loup and all that had obeyed him and so ends a dangerous warre without blowes but he graunts life and libeâty to Hunault and the enioying of all his goods Instruction how Priâces should carry themsââues in ciuill warre leauing a memorable example to Princes howe they ought to carry themselues in ciuill warres preuenting a mischiefe by wisdome and dilligence and not to thrust their vanquished subiects into diâpaire by rigour Caroloman seeing his practises against his brother to succeede ill vndertakes a voiage to Rome with an intent to cause some alteration there yet with a shew of deuotion His Mother Berthe who likewise went this voiage was honorably receiued in her iourney by Didier king of the Lombards treating a marriage betwixt her sonne Charlemagne and Theodora Sister or Daughter to this Didier one of the greatest enemies of her sonnes good fortune Yet Charlemagne to please his Mother receiued this wife but soone after hee put her away as vnfit for his humours and affaires and so that which seemed a cause of loue bred greater hate betwixt these two Princes Caroloman hauing effected nothing at Rome but only made shew of his foolish and malitious iealousie too apparent in this his fayned deuotion returnes into France and there dies soone after in the yeare 77. Now is Charlemagne alone by his Bothers decease Caroloman dies and leaues Charlemagne King alone who quietly takes possession of his Estates and reteineth such of his seruants as he knew to haue beene most trustie to his brother during their common iealousies expecting the like faithfullnes hauing entertayned them when there was least hope The deeds of Charlemagne King of France alone vntill he was Emperour CHarlemagne hauing put away his wife Theodâre for susâect of incontinency âee married with Hildegrade or Ildegrade Daughter to the Duke of Sueue his vassall by whom he had Charles Pepin Lewis and three daughters âotrude Berthe Gille the nurcery of his Noble family Carolomans iealousie died not with him but suruiâed in Berthe his wife who impatient of her conditionâ thrust head-long with ãâã oâ reuenge against her brother in lawe Charles retires with her two sonnes to Diââer King of Lombardy as to the most bitter and irreconciliable enemy of Charlemagne Didier entertaynes her kindly with her children hoping to effect his desseine but this was the Leuaine of his owne ruine His practise togither with the widdowes was to procure the Pope Stephen being dead and Adrian a Romaine gentleman succeeding him to confirme and Crowne the sonnes of Caroloman for Kings of France The Lombard had two strings to his bowe meaning both to put the Pope in disgrace with Charlemagne the easier to suppresse him beeing destitute of French succors whereon hee chiefely relied and likewise to set France on fire by the establishment of newe Lords Didier besâecheth the Pope to graunt this confirmation to the children of Caroloman ãâã his sake But Adrian well acquanted with the Lombards humour was so resolute ãâã denying his request as they fell to open hatred Didier discontented with this repulse ãâã and enters the six gouernments with all his forces being a Seigneury vnder the Popes iurisdiction spoiles the Country and
the end yeelds by composition and Didier who had hated Charles without cause and attempted warre vpon an houre âalâs into his hands who shewes himselfe wise and modest both to vndertake a warre and to vse the victory Thus Charlemagne hauing wisely vndertaken a iust warre and ended it happily hee ruined the Kingdome of the Lombards carrying Didier prisoner to Lion or to Leege The Kingdome of the Lombards ruined for writers speake diuersely of the place of his imprisonment This was in the yeare 776. A notable date to represent the tragicall end of so great a Kingdome the which continued in Italy onely two hundred and âoure yeares vnder Princes of diuers humors But iniustice tyranie and pride prouoked the wrath of God against them so as thinking to take from an other they lost their owne to vsurpe the liberties of others they fell into an ignominious slauery and their subtilty was the cause of their owne misery A mirror for Princes and great States neuer to attempt an vniust and vnnecessary warre to vsurpe an other mans right neuer to thinke to preuaile ouer a good cause by craft and policy Charlemagne vsed his victory with great moderation towards the conquered nation to the great content of all the Italians who held it a great gaine to haue lost their old master and to be rightly free being subiect to so wise a Lord for he left them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were vassals to Didier their Seigneuâies to Aragise sonne in lawe to Didier hee left the Marquisate of ãâã He placed French Gouernors in conquered Lombardy meaning to haue theÌââtreated with the like mildnesse as the ancient patrimony receiued from his Predecessors During the seege of Pauia a Councell was held at Rome by Pope Adrian in fauour of Charlemagne 778. to giue him honours answerable to his deseruing of the Church and namely the right to giue all benefices throughout all Christendome was said to belong vnto him Charlemagne being returned into France Aldegise the sonne of Didier sought to disquiet Italie aided by the Emperour Constantine and the practises of Rogand to whome Charlemagne had giuen Friul who reuolted from his obedience but all these rebellious were âoone suppressed by the faithfull care of the French Gouernours whome Charlemagne had left in the Countrie newly conquered and Rogand being seized of it suffered the paines of his treacherous rashnes being beheaded by the Kings commaundement Thus Italie remayning quiet to him and his as conquered by a iust warre it shal be hereafter incorporate to the French Monarchie in this second race being giuen in partage to the chidren of France whilest that the good gouernmeÌt of our kings maintaines the dignitie of the Crowne A memorable warre in Germanie But the end of this war was the beginning of an other in Germanie wherof the Saxons were the chief darwing vnto them according to the diuersitie of occasions other people of Germanie their neighbours This war continued 33. yeares not all successiuely but at diuers brunts seasons the Saxons hauing for a perpetual subiect to crosse Charlemagne in his desseins especially being busied in many other matters of great consequence I will breefly relate this war of Saxony reporting with one breath what hath beene seuerally dispersed in the whole history without confusion of times or mater following a stile fit for this history In those times Germanie was subiect to the Crowne of France although it had particular Estates vassals to our Kings whatsoeuer the Germaines say who confesse but a part thereof The Saxons were subiect to our Crowne as appeares by that aboue written and namely vnder Martel and Pepin his sonne The motiues of this warre were diuers the impatiencie of a people desiring their ancient libertie not able to beare an others command as the Germains say the hatred and iealousie of a mighty neighbour thâeatning them with seruitude the controuersie for the limits of their lands but the greatest and most important cause of these wars The causes of this wââre was the diuersitie of religion for that the Saxons would obstinatly hold the Pagan superstition which they had receiued from their Ancestors and Charlemagne vrged them to forsake their Paganisme and to make open profession of the Christian faith moued with zeale to the generall aduancement of the truth and the priuat dutie of a Prince to his subiects to prouide for their soules health A thing very worthie obseruation Belial did then fight against Christ The differeâce betwixt the warres which Câarles ãâã and ãâã this day Pagan superstition against Christian veritie But alas by whome and wherefore are these vnciuill warres at this day Christian fights against Christian the most sacred signe of Christianitie appeares on either side in Christian and French armies Christians bloud is spilt by Christians through a blind furie want of vnderstanding in the fundamentall accord of the sauing trueth These are not onely different but coÌtraâie wars to those of Charlemagne and our inâaged tumults are begun nourished without reason both against the good of the Estate and Church Vpon this controuersie of religion the Saxons made war eight times against Chaâlemagne especially when they found him busied elswhere watching their oportunitie either to crosse him in his desâeine or to frustrate his attempts At such time as hee was in Italie they played the wild colts not onely in reiecting the French coÌmand but also making open war against those Cities in Germanie which obeyed Charlemagne they had taken Eresbourg from the Crowne of France euen vpoÌ his returne beseeged Sigisbourg robbing spoyling al the Country about Charlemagne assembling a Parliament at Wormes Hee subdues the ãâã and perswades ãâã to be a Christian leuies a great armie to charge the Saxons in diuerse places This Councell succeeded happily for hauing vanquished the Saxons twise in one moneth in a pitched field he reduced them to their ancient obedience vsing his victorie with much modestie and wisedome desiring rather to shew them the power of his authoritie then the rigour of his force The chief among them was Widichind as religion was the chief motiue of these ordinary rebellioÌ so Charlemagne seeking the establishmeÌt of Christian religion in Saxony with great zeale happily eâââcted it Hauing vanquished this Widichind by reason and humanitie and brought him to the knowledge of the truth by his graue wise conuersatioÌ whom he perswaded without any violence to leaue the Pagan superstition 784. which force of armes could not effect in him nor in the Saxons for Mens soules are not gained by force of armes but by reason By the meanes of this Widichind the greatest part of the Saxons were drawne to the knowledge of the true God and the obedience of the French monarchie the most obstinate were forced eyther to obey or to abandon the country as in deed great numbers of the Saxons retyred themselues into diuers strange
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 prouideÌce 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 Chaââemagne 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 âace 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 âor 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 Consâantin 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 womââ 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
was greatly troubled with diuers factions among the which the Kings part was reckoned the greater but experience shewed it was the weakest for Eudes kept them in awe The King who had the greatest interest thought least thereon being ill aduised by them who sought to abuse his simple and tractable disposition and to aduance themselues by his ruine Hee solicits Eudes in such sort as in the end he strips himselfe of all authoritie and resignes it into the Kings hands who knowes neither how to manage it nor how to auoyd his owne misfortune the which Eudes preuented whilest he liued It was not long before his death that he resigned al his authoritie of Regent vnto Charles as to the lawfull heire the which hee could not long keepe when hee was in possession thereof according to his soueraigne desire CHARLES the 3. called the simple 31. King CHARLES .3 KING OF FRANCE XXXI HEE was Crowned in the yeare 902. Eudes gouerning with him eight yeares from his coronation 902. Charles remayning alone after the death of his Regent in the yeare 902. raigned 27. yeares His raigne was miserable both in the beginning midest and ending He ratified the accord made with the Normans by Charles the Grosse and sealed it with the marriage of his sister Gilette with Rhou or Raoul hee is also called Rhoulon their chiefe Commander who hauing left the Pagan superstition and imbraced Christian religion purchased a great reputation in that Country whereof he was first called Duke But the Normans sute ceasing a more violent fire is kindled by confusion All breaks forth A league made against the King discouers it selfe and takes armes without shame or respect A memorable league of Robert against King Charles the 3. but being the breeding of the change of this second race We must obserue it very distinctly and seeke out the motiues thereof The League of Robert brother to Eudes 906 against king Charles the simple the first steppe to the change of this second Race The which laie smothered 53. yeares before it was fully discouered vnder Hugh Capet from the yeare 923. to 976. ROBERT Duke of Aniou that is to say gouernour by the death of his brother Eudes becomes the head of this League accompanied with many great men of France The motiue of this league The euent shewes that their intent was to reiect Charles the simple as vnworthy to raigne and to choose a newe King I doubt not but Robert affected the Crowne for himselfe but that is very likely that hee couered this his desseine with some goodly pretext The writers of that obscure age haue concealed the motiues but as by the effects we knowe the cause so by the euent of this League when it was strongest we may iudge of the intent They aduanced a Prince of the bloud for king causing Charles to quit the Crowne Charles ãâã from the Crowne disgracing him with the name of simple or foolish and delaring him incapable of so great a charge Who seeth not then the reason that during the minority of Charles the simple the diuersity of masters had bred infinit confusions in the state and that since his coronation things were nothing repaired although Eudes had resigned him the Regency They pretend it was necessary to furnish the realme with a more worthy Prince to giue an end to these miseries But that which cheefely mooued the vndertakers was their priuate interest the which they cloaked with the common-weale The humors of this insufficient King offended many too milde to some too seuere to others and ingratefull to such as had best serued him The commentary which hath beene added to the text of the Originall is not likely that Robert as brother to Eudes pretended the Crowne as heire vnto his brother beeing lawfully chosen by the States But wherevnto tends all this Eudes had leât no suspition to pretend any interest vnto the Crowne hauing beene Regent after others and enioying it but by suffrance resigning it willingly or by constraint vnto the lawefull heire Truely the French mens carefull keeping of their Queenes wombe their acknowledging the childe borne after the fathers death for King their choosing of Regents their placing and displacing of one and the same Regent do plainely shewe both the efficacy of the Lawe and the resolute possession of the French the which they yeelded not easily to a man with so weake a title What then I should rather thinke that the peoples complaint tired with so long calamities Robert the head of the league and in ââmes was their colour to furnish the realme with a more wise and profitable guide and that they sought a Prince as in the ende they tooke Raoul King of Bourgongne the first Prince of the bloud of which League Robert was the ringleader as the first in dignity and most valiant in courage or the most rash in so dangerous an enterprise The memory of his brothers wise and peaceable gouernment and his owne valour opposite to the foolish and base disposition of Charles blemished with this name of simple for his folly and contemptible humors gaue a great Lustre to this enprise with those great intelligences he had within the realme and namely with the Normans his confident friends With this assurance hee armes boldly against Charles promising himselfe an vndoubted doubted victorie by the valour of his men and the basenes of his enemie Charles the simple awakes at this strange reuolt and distrusting his owne subiects who ãâã sees risen in armes to dispossesse him of his estate he flies to Henry the 3. Emperour and prepares al hee can to calme so great a storme As their armies approach Robert to haue some title to make a warre causeth himselfe to bee crowned King at Rheims Râbârt câuseth himselfe to be crowned King by Herué the Archbishop who died three dayes after this vnlawful Coronation The opinions are diuers but for my part I doe not hold that Robert caused himselfe to bee crowned with a better title then his brother Eudes who was neither crowned nor raigned as King but as Regent But all the French complayned that they needed a better King then Charles the simple who would loose the Crowne if it were not foreseene The erroâs of King Charles He had alreadie ratified the follie of Charles the grosse in continuing the vsurpation of Neustria to the Normans who with the Kings consent were seized thereon with the title of lawfull possession and moreouer they were much incensed that hee had put himselfe into the protection of the Emperour Henry to giue him a cause to inuest himselfe King of France as of late dayes the Germains had infranchised themselues from the French Monarchie by the diuision of brethren which had raigned and the minoritie of Charles who then commaunded This iealousie inflamed the hearts both of the one and the other and serued Robert for a shew meaning to fish in a troubled water Now they are in armes
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 enâââed but sufferance preuailed much with the French in this newe accident ãâã ââat could they with reason conclude of his vsage against them who should be his natuâall and necessary subiects being yet terrefied with the memory of that which ãâ¦ã âââred vnder Lothaire his brother This waâ the preparatiue of Charles his ãâ¦ã wrought by himselfe to depriue him of that authority wherevnto God had ãâ¦ã These were the causes which made the French resolue to withstand Charles ãâ¦ã with all their force in his pretension to the Crowne of France But howe then Charles beeing reââcted 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 adââce to change târust forward with the only consideration of their quiet and proâlit 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 ãâ¦ã command the ãâã of an âstate This equall commande is a plague to the French they had deuoured ãâã 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 ãâ¦ã wot ãâ¦ã 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 beân danger to lose all as vsurpers A notable proofe of the Frenchmens humors The French caâot âubsist but ânder a Reââlâe 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 âo 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 fiâe 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 âlace ãâ¦ã 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 Archbishopââke of Roâan in recompence of the seruice he promised him against Charles to whom notwithstanâing contrary to his faith hee gaue meanes to seize vppon the Citties of Rheimâ LaoÌ SoissoÌs Hugh taking this presuÌption for a preiudice to come learning by what had passed Hughes proceeding against Arnulpâe bastard to Loââaire who is deâosed 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 coÌfines 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 Counceâlaâ Rheims excomunicates the Bishoppes which had assisted restores Arnulphe and depriues Gilibert of the Archebishoprike of Rouan and to temper this sharpe and âough 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 dignâây 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 mânners of Pope Ioân 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 manâers 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
Normandy the Earle of ãâã by the yeelding vp of Melun as they assembled their friends seruants on al siâes The Normand calls his farthest friends to his succors Logman king of Sueden and Olane King of Norwaye his kinsmen But Robert pacified this quarrell in time by his wisedome shewing by the effect how much authority imployed in time may preuaile and that wee must speedily quench a small fire the which neglected burns a whole forest There were great personages in all prouinces with hereditary power according to the grant made by Hugh Capet In Normandy Richard the third in Aniou Geoffrây Grisegonelle in Guienne William of the race of Pepin sonne to Lewis the Gentle in Languedoâ Cont Mathew in Champagne and Touraine Odo all great and valiant men with other worthy personages throughout the Realme al which were rash men of high atteÌpts but the name and royall authority of Robert conteyned all these great and couragious spirits with in the bounds of their duty and publike respect And so this raigne passed quietly without any great tumults Leauing a lesson for Princes A notablâ raigne to ioyne wisedome with authority and valour with mildnes it being as great a conquest to preserue his owne as to get an other mans and to vanquish mens minds by reason as by force A patterne in these two raignes of the meanes to restore an Estate dismembred by the disorders of ciuill warres HENRY the first the 38. King of France HENRY I. KING OF FRANCE XXXVIII HENRY 1031. being in possession of the realme during the life of his father succeeded him in the yeare 1031. and raigned 33. yeares Henryes raignâ He had two sons Philip and Hugh by Anne the daughter of George or Gautier the Sclauon King of the Russians and one daughter the which was married to Robert Duke of Normandy sonne to that Richard of whom we haue discoursed The beginniâg of his raigne was âough and vnquiet and the ende more milde and profirable But Henry in the preseruation of his Estate did nothing degenerate from the wisedome and dexterity of his father The cause of this hard entrye was the brothers portion apparently vnequall and preiudiciall although a wise father had so decreed it Queene Constance mother to these two Princes brethren nourished this dislike supporting Robert against Henry that is to say the elder against the younger Contentioâ betwixâ the brethren as oftentimes mothers haue the like humours to loue one more then an other The cause was plausible 1037 that it was against the lawe vse customes of France that the yonger should be preferred before the elder in a royalty The partyes were great for Robert Constance mother to the King Bauldwin Earle of Flanders and Odâ Earle of Champagne a busie man and rash For the King the royall maiesty the will of his father Robert yeelds vnto his brother the forces of the Realme and amongest all those of Robert Duke of Normandy The armies approach ready to fight when as behold Robert for whose interest the question was being a Prince of a milde and quiet disposition giues his mother and friends who had brought forces to his ayde to vnderstand that he would not be the cause to shed Frenchmens bloud and that Bourgongne should suffice him seeing his father had so decreed Vpon this declaration of Robert Queene Constance changeth her mind and sends backe her troupes imbracing peace with her children The armies were dismissed and agreement ratified betwixt Henry and Robert who liued like brethren and good friends That Bourgongne should remaine to Robert and his successors with the title of a fealty to France which they call Peere to be Deane among the Peeres Thus Robert of France enioyed Bourgongne and left it hereditary to his heire successiuely vntill the raigne of Iohn in the yeare 1360. But the County of Bourgongne and Normandy were the cause of much trouble in those times during the which he kept the stakes not onely as a spectator but as an vsurper This Odo Earle of Champagne who had incensed his brother against him lookt for a good part in Bourgongne and had already won Robert to promise him Sens who euen vpon the accord making had seized thereon but being easily expelled by the Kings authority he runnes an other course to loose both himselfe and what hee had supposing to vsurpe an other mans estate He held vnder the Crowne Champagne Touraine and the Country of Chartres Hee had two sonnes Stephen and Thibauld yet he sought to ioyne Bourgongne to his other Estates which was the cause of great troubles We haue before made mention of Boson the husband of Hermingrade daughter to Lewis the sonne of Lewis the Gentle who had the Realme of Bourgongne and Italy He had two sonnes Raphe and Lewis Lewis was ouerthrowne by Beranger Duke of Friul who easily seized on that which remained in Italy of Prouence as lying neere and of easie accesse Raph had the rest of Bourgongne the CouÌtie Sauoie Daulphiné for the Duchie of Bourgongne remained to the Crowne of France From this Raph sprong Lewis and from Lewis another Raph who liued during the raigne of Henry being old without children and ill obeied of his subiects He had two sisters the one married to Conrade surnamed the Salique Duke of Francony who was Emperour and an other to the Earle of Champagne father to this Odo who seekes to perswade Raph his vncle to make him his heyre as sonne to his eldest sister and imployes the fauour of many subiects who desired rather a neighbour then a stranger to be their Prince But Raph preferred Conrade before Otho and sent him his testament his crowne and Scepter instituting Henry his son and his Nephew his heire general Conrad made war in Hongary Odo imbraceth this occasion seeing him thus busied he enters into Bourgongne Odo Earle of Champaigne seeks to seize vpon the County of Bourgongne where he takes certaine citties the rest hold at Conrades deuotion being called to the inheritance but these desseines were soone cut off For behold the Emperour Conrad returnes with a goodly and victorious armye who not onely recouers againe the cittyes of Bourgongne that were lost but also takes some in Champagne so as Odo doth with great difficulty hold Troyes hee is forced to seeke by humble petitions to his Vncle who giues him his owne and forbids him to take from another The Earle being thus suppressed Conrad parlees with King Henrie and ratifies the ancient accords for the diuiding of Bourgongne whereof wee haue spoken From that time the Germaine Emperours challenged the right and title of the realme of Arles which the Emperour Charles the fift shall alienate and shal be soone diuided into sundry principalyties as we shall shew in their places Thus the Realme of Bourgongne had an ende in the posterity of Boson The Emperour Conrade beeing forced to go into Italy after all these treaties to
Henry but being too weake of himselfe neither hauing any such friend as the King of France according to the triall so often made time out of minde he comes into France but he died at Cluny and in his place Calixtus son to the Earle of Bourgongne was chosen Pope The reputation of the place from whence he was descended was great so as he being a Frenchman easily called a Councell in France to the great satisfaction of the French The Emperor degraded by the Popes decree in a Councell at ãâã It was held at Rheims where by an ecclesiasticall decree he declared Henry an enemy to the Church and degraded of the Imperiall dignity As this ignominious decree did moue the Emperor so did it minister matter to the King of England his brother in lawe to imbrace all occasions to annoy Lewis his capitall enemie for seeing this Councell had bin held in France and consisted chiefly of the French Church it was very apparant that the Kings fauour was very preiudiciall to the Emperours affaires The English fayles not to harpe vpon this string to the Emperour The Emperor and âing oâ England ioyne against France being already incensed by the thing it selfe promising him all his meanes incouraging him to enter France on the one side whilest that he came on the other with all the forces of Normandy and England The party was not small neither had Lewis small cause to feare being incountred by two such enemies But God shewed him the rod and reserued the punishment for an other season for as the Emperour was going to field the Germaine Princes foreseeing the misery of a warre vndertaken lightly vpon despight and weighing the importance of neighbourhood gaue him to vnderstand that he ought not to attempt warre against the King of France without declaring vnto him the causes of his discontent Hee therefore sends his Ambassadors to this end 1112. Lewis doth wisely answer him that hee is exceedinglie sorrie to see the two great Pillers of the Church so shaken by these dissentions and that it was to bee feared the whole building would bee ruined So as being a friend to both hee desired greatly to be a mediator of concord and not to carrie coales to increase the fire too much kindled alreadie the which ought to be quenched for the good and quiet of all Christendome This Ambassage was pleasing and preuailed so much as the Emperour disarmes The French King and the Emperour reconciled and was content to make Lewis a mediator for an accord betwixt him and the Pope to the great griefe of the King of England who expected a long continuance of this iaââe The composition was made at Wormes very beneficiall for the Pope in the yeare 1122. whereby Henry grants him the installing of Bishops and other benefices This did ease the sore but not cure it as the sequell of the Historie will shew While that Princes haue leisure to contend the poore people dye for hunger in many places of Europe This famine was exceeding great in Flanders Notable troubles in Flanders who then had for their Earle Charles surnamed the good for his good disposition and great charitie to the poore He sought by all meanes to releeue them But as barrenesse was one of the causes of this famine so the cruell couetousnesse of the rich was a great hinderance to the commoditie of victuals whereby there grew as remarkable an act as the successe was strange the particular report whereof the reader must pardon in the breefenesse of our stile There were three brethren at Bruges of the chiefe of the Countrie the which had gathered together a great quantitie of graine and would not sell it expecting a greater dearth which might cause a greater price that is Bertholphe Wendestrate Pouost of S. Donas and Chancellor of Flanders Lambert and Boussard Wendestrate brethren and an other rich Bourges called Lambert one of the chiefe of the Cittie This dignity of Prouostand Chancellor was so great as hee supplied the Princes place in his absence Vpon the peoples complaint the Earle decrees that all the graniers of these great houses should be opened and the Corne sold to the people at a reasonable rate The Comission was giuen to Thamard Almoner of the Earles house as a thing befitting his charge he causeth the graniers of these rich Bourgesses to be opened the corne is sold to the people and the money deliuered to the owners The people being releeued by the couragious care of Thamard commend him The Wendestrates and Lambert greatly discontented with this sale wherein they held themselues interessed cause many indignities to be done vnto him Lambert is directly accused by informations being a very audatious young man and the Wendestrates were touched therewith The Earle offended with these audatious attempts repaired them by Iustice threatning Lambert that if he continued he would seuerely punish him There was also an other complaint made by an old Abbot against the Prouost Treacherie against the good Earle of Flanders to whom the Earle spake roughly commanding him to restore vnto the Abbot what he ought him These free admonitions of the good Earle Charles did so alter the proud trecherous minds of these Cittizens as they resolue to kill him his milde facilitie giuing these wicked spirits both courage to attempt and boldnesse to execute And the end is answerable to their wicked desseine As the good Earle Charles went ill accompanied in the morning to his deuotion to the Church of S. Donas on Ash wednesday behold a troope of yong mad men led by this Lambert comes vnto him being vnarmed on his knees in a Chappell the Priest attired in his ornaments at the Altar the Earle holding forth his arme to giue his almes to a poore woman without any warning they beat him downe with their swords kill him and so forcing all to giue way The Earle of Flanders and his Almonet murthered they seeke for Thamard whom they find massacre with so great a furie as they leaue him vpon the place hewed into many peeces Their troope increaseth and they flie to the Pallace where all are amazed and finding it without gard without keyes without any gate shut they enter it with horrible cryes they kill sack and spoile and running from thence into the Cittie Crueltie in the Citty of Bruges they commit the like in those houses which they knew best affected to the good Earle Charles This furious crueltie was accompanied with an ouerweening indiscretion as if they had made some goodly conquest they braue it 1117. and play the maisters without feare of any punishment The people exceedingly grieued to see these barbarous cruelties against their good Prince whom they loued as a father durst not speake a word during this furye whereas this troupe of murtherers commaunded absolutely But the wisest Cittizens fled to Lewis as to their soueraigne Lord. Lewis comes to Bruges with great speede
depart from Corbeil and enter Champagne in hatred of the Earle who had forsaken them to follow the Kings partie But Lewis taking him into his protection and marching towards them with his men at armes all their desseignes came to nothing And yet they had imbarked the Duke of Lorraine and the King of England in this quarrell Lewis hauing expelled them Champagne followes his course takes Angiers without any contradiction belonging then vnto the Brittons and from thence hee marcheth into Brittanie Terror opens the Gates of all the Citties The Earle of Dreuz leaues his Brother who seeing himselfe abandoned of them all but first of iudgement confesseth his fault and doth homage to the King for Brittanie The League broken and by this rebellion he gets the name of Maâclerck hauing so ill imployed his time as to suffer himselfe to bee vanquished by a Child and a Woman These troubles thus pacified to the dishonor of the Authors the young King wonne great reputation and his Mothers wisdome was generally commended Lewis makes a progresse throughout ãâã realmâ who thought it fitte that her Sonne should bee seene of all his subiects As hee went this progresse hee receiued homage from all his Nobilitie and ordained many things according to occurrents It chanced that hauing erected Poitou to an Earledome and giuen it to Alphonso his brother Hugh Earle of Marche which lyes within Poitou would not acknowledge Alphonso for his Lord His Wife Isabell Mother to King Henry of England who had beene first married to King Iohn was the motiue scorning to subiect her selfe to an Earle of Poitou This ambitious passion was the cause of great Warre First shee drewe in the Earle of Lusignan vnder the same pretext for that there had beene Kings of Ierusalem and Cipres issued out of this Noble house and afteâwards the King of England The first tumult not preuented had almost surprised Lewis within Saumur and this Woman transported with pride and hatred sought to make him away eyther by poison or sword kindling the Warre in England by hired Preachers In the end after the two armies had made great spoile in Poitou Xantonge and Angoulmois both of friend and enemie a peace was concluded with the English vpon condition that La Marche should remaine in France This was the end of that feminine rage ridiculous in the issue but lamentable for the poore people who alwayes pay for the folly and malice of Princes Prouence was gouerned by the Berengers as wee haue sayd since the ouerthrow of Lewis the Sonne of Boson and then in the hands of Raymond Berenger Prouence comes to Charles of Aniou a sonne of France a fierce and cruell man who had so incensed his subiects being impatient and turbulent of themselues as they had recourse to Raymond Earle of Tholouse his neerest Kinsman to install him in their Earles place with whom they would haue no more correspondencie Being ready to arme the felicitie of Lewis pacified all Raymond Earle of Prouence had foure Daughters Marguerite which was wife to our Lewis the ninth and Queene of France Elenor which was married to Henry King of England Sanchia to Richard his brother Duke of Cornwaile and Beatrix which was to marry Daughters of great hapines hauing had three Kings and a Royall Prince The Earle of Prouence would hardly haue beene comptrould by Lewis but GOD who meant to plant a generall peace in France by the hand of this good King buried Raymond with his rage in one Tombe taking him out of the world whome a whole world could not containe Lewis after the decease of Raymond pacified the Prouençals in marrying his brother Charles the Earle of Aniou with Beatrix the Daughter of their Earle to their great content adding in fauour of this marriage Maine to Aniou And since this Charles was King of Sicilia Robert the yonger brother was Earle of Arthois By this meanes his bretheren remained satisfied Alphonsus being Earle of Poitou and Tholouse by his portion and mariage Charles Earle of Prouence and Aniou and Robert Earle of Arthois and the Realme continued in happy peace These things thus happily performed by Lewis hee imployed his care in the reformation of the Realme beginning first with himselfe and his houshold Lewis his disposition then did he plant Religion and Iustice the principall Pillers of a State for the good and ease of the people Hee lead a life worthy of a King louing and honoring Religion with much zeale and respect taking delight in the reading of the holy Scripures the which hee cauâed to be Translated into the French tongue which I haue seene in a Gentlemans custodie carrying this title He did greatlie honor Clergie men being worthy of their places and was a seuere censor of them that did abuse it whom hee charged to liue according to their Canons and to shew themselues patternes of good life to the people That they should bee preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities according to order in all libertie and should enioy their reuenues without lett That the exactions and insupportable charges imposed by the Court of Rome these are the words of his Edict on the realme of France by the which it was mâghtily impouerished and which hereafter might be leuied should not in any sort be leuied without apparent cause his expresse command and the approbation of the French Church He had a good soule being iust sober modest The Patterne of an excellent Princâ temperate in his eating and drinking in his talke habits and conuersation neither melancholie nor exceedinglie merry circumspect of a good iudgement staied charitable moderate vigilant and seuere in the obseruation of that he had decreed And as the Prince is the rule of his house he either chose seruants of his owne humor or else his seruants framed themselues vnto his disposition so as his Court was like vnto a well ordred Church His traine was royall and stately according to the times but there was nothing superfluous not lost so as hee had his Treasurie replenished to giue to such as deserued He paied his seruants wel yet he gouerned his treasure in such âort as his officers could hardly steale from him and such as offended he punished with so exact a seueritie as the rest feared to commit the like The orders for his treasure are registred in his Ordinances where you may see them at large He loued learning and learned men and delighted to read and heare good workes fauouring his Vniuersitie of Paris and drawing the Parisians to lâue Scholleâs so as in his time the Vniuersitie of Paris had great prerogatiueâ as the eldest Daughter of our Kings The realme was corrupted with the iniustice extââsion of former raignes by the sale of offices being most certaine that what we buy in grosse we must sell by retaile He did therefore expresly prohibite these sales and supplied such places as were voide according to the merits of persons after due examination to draw good men and
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 fliâs 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 ãâã 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 eâection dies and leaues the Chaâer 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 fâiend 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 warâing as hee could not appeere Frederick hauing sent his Ambassadoâs 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 Germaiâs 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 Giââlins 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 âredeâick 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 Frâderick dies Conrad his son poysoned by his Basterd brothâr Manfrây 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 vâurps Sâcilia 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 possâssion of what he had gotten he alies himselfe with Iames King of Arragon giuing his daughter Constance in marriage to Petâr 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 offâred 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 dâspâsition 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 confinâd these inâatiat 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 âurisdictions 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 âroctor 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 oâdained but two sittings of the Parliament in the yeare the which necessitie hath made ordinârie 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 Nauârââ wee may bâhold with admiration the great bountie of âur 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 fiâst subiect This Countrie is one of the chiefe Seignâuries of this Monarchie and in the yeare 1225. this lawfull subiection was acknowledged at Meluâ by the Earle of Flanders Cause of the wârâe 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 âeeds be the cause of their own afflictions as it chanceth ofteÌ that a rich people being too faâr The cause of quârrell in Guyenne seâke wilfuâly 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 limittâd the Seignâuries 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 orâer 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 âhe force and neighbourhood of England increased the quarâell 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 Occâsioââ to rânue the war with the ââglish 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 restiâââion 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 vasâall 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 fiâst letter in this Inuentarie of a very long processe although with some inteâmission yet so violent as it had a most ruined France The Constable doth his exploit Pâilip sends an armiâ into
Guienne hee taketh Bourdeaux the chiefe Cittie of Guienne and then most of the other Townes doe willingly yeeld obedience vnto the King Rions and some other Castels well fortified by the Eâglish âold good to serue as a Leuaine of this waâre Edward seeing himselfe thus assailâd aâmes by Sea and Land By Sea hee sends an Aâmie vnder the conduct of Robert Tiptoste A Leââue beâwixt Edwaâd oâ Enâland Gây of Fâanders the Emperor and Dukâ oâ Bâr against Philip. By land hee sends some forces vnder the command oâ Iohn Breton to preserue that which remained in Guienne and to fortifie himselfe with friends in the doubtfull euents of so important a cause hee makes a league with Guy Earle of Flanders and for confirmation thereof hee demands his Daughter Philip for his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales the heire apparant to the Crowne of England which the Earle accepts willingly And to omit nothing that might auaââe him hee enters league with Henry Duke of Bar giuing him Elenor his Daughter in marriage and with Adolphe of Nassau Emperour both hauing pretensions against France The Duke of Bar demanded Champagne of the King by the rights hâe preâended and enters it with forces Philip sends Gualter of Creây the Loâd of Chaââillion vpon Marne against him with a goodly Armie who on the other side entâing into Barrois makes a diuersion and forceth the Duke to returne to defend his owne against Gualter âhe Emperour brauângly giues notice vnto the King that he will make warre against him to recouer the Lands belonging to the Empire Philip makes no other answer but sends him a packet well sealed vp in the which was a whiâe Paper foulded like a Letter without any writing This scofâe was a great defie as indeed the braueries of Adolphe had no successe The Earle of Flanders was the neerest and most dangerous enemie to preiudice Philip who had ioyned himselfe to the King of England by so strict a bond as the marriage of his Daughter Philip hauing three great enemies in front tryes his wittes to staye them The most dangerous was hee that dealt vnder hand that is the Fleming who made a good shew to Philip Stââars dâluditur ãâã and yet treated with his most dangerous enemie but pollicie did circumuent pollicie The King findes meanes vnder-hand to giue him notice that hee would gladly see his Daughter whome hee had Christened and was called Philip by his name before he led her into England Guy brings her with him to Paris being arriued he is committed prisoner by the King The cause is made knowne vnto him by such as had commanââment to arrest him That being his Vassaâle hee had presumed to allye himselfe with a capitall enemie to the Crowne giuing him so precious a gage as his Daughter Guy obtaines leaue to speake with the King Hee excuseth himselfe Philip sâizeth vpon âhe âaâle oâ Flânâeâs Daugâter but his Daughter ââmaines as a pawne with the Queene to bee marryed at the Kings good pleasure ãâã Daughter although kindly entertained by the King and Queene was full of greefe lamenting dayly as if this honourable gaâde had beene a most cruell prison The Earle intreates Philip to send him his Daughter hee answers him plainely that hee tooke her not to restore her Herevpon Guy takes occasion to complaine of the great wrong hee pretended to bee done him by Philip who detaines his Daughter forceably without reason The English in the meane time make open warre in Guienne Philip foreseeing that this was the beginning of a greater storme meaning to lay the burthen vpon him that might doe him most harme sends a goodly Armie into Guienne against the English vnder the conduct of two great Commanders his Brother Charles Earle of Valois and the Constable of Neele to molest the enemie in diuers places Rions and Pondesaâ Townes vpon the Riuer of Garonne then strong but now desolate are besieged and after many diâficulties yeeld vnto the King and in the end Saint Seuer but with more paine Edmond Brother to the King of England is defeated at Sea The English affaires succeeded ill and reâuânâng into England repaires his Nauâe But striuing afterwards in vaine to besiege Bourdeaux with new forces hee goes and dyes at Bayonne then belonging to the English 1296. Thus all things succeeding ill for the English hee seekes all meanes to fortifie himselfe He flies to the Emperour Adolphe the chiefe instrument of his hope and sends him money to leuâe an armie To Pope Bâniface the eight beseeching him to remeâber the priuate bond he had to the preseruation of England whereof he was protector Guy Earle of Flanders ioynes openly with the English in this societie to make warre against Philip with all his forces But from these light beginnings sprung diuers occasions which ââoubled these great Princes The Fleminge is the chiefe aduancer of this Trageâââ and shall haue his share in it A great assembly of Princes against Philip. He cals a great assemblie in the Cittie of Gramont in the yeare 1296. at the feast of Châistmas where Adolph thâ Emperour Edward King of England the Duke of Austria Iohn Duke of Brabant the Earle of Iuliers William of Iuliers his Sonne Iohn Earle of Holland and of Haynault Robert Earle of Neuers William Henry and Guy of Flanders Ihon Earle of Namur and many other great personages meete and with one coâseââ resolue to make warre against Philip. The colour was to maintaine Guy Earle of âlanders vniustly afflicted by Philip who had violently taken and stolne his Daughter against the right of Nations and detained her refusing obstinately to restore her to her Father It was decreed that Guy should begin by force and bee well secoâded by the Emperour and the English in case of necessitie But before they come to Armes Pope Boniface should make the first point by the luster of his authoritie All things threatned Philip with much trouble but the end will shew that the attempts of man are all but vaine Boniface according to the intent of their league sends his Nuncio to Philip Popâ Boniface eâenây to Pâilip which was Iames Bishop of Metz to exhort him to doe Iustice both to the Earle of Flanders and to the King of England protesting that hee desired nothing more then peace betwixt Christian Princes Hee sent the same Nuncio vpon the same subiect into England but with an other intent then hee made shâw of vnto Philip casting Wood and Oyle into this fire in steed of Water to quench it But for that this Pope must appeare in many acts of this Theater wee must obserue his disposition by some sufficient and not suspected testimonie Platina the âopes Secretarie Being saith hee a Priest Cardinall of Saint Martin of the Mount Platina iâ ãâ¦ã hee affected the Pontificall dignitie with such vehemencie as hee omitted neither ambition nor fraude to compasse it and moreouer hee was puft vp with such arrogancie âs âee
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 sââict 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 slâe 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 coÌtinued 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 arâogantly 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 tempâral 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 asseÌbled the Prelaâs of his realm at Paris with al speed hauing represeÌted 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 pâeâendants for Britâaine 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 âonthieure the Seigneuries of Auaugour Guello Gincamp Rochedorie Lauuton Chaââeaulin 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 attendâng 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 Fâanders 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 Lâuaine 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 purâute held stoutly for the Engliââ Conâe Lewis father to the maide was in suspence feaâing both the English and the Freâch 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 ãâ¦ã and ânââand 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 tâis 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 Chârles that they wil willingly spend goods liues rather then fal into the king of Englands hands coÌtrariwise wold imploy al their meanes to liue vnder the subiectioÌ of the king of Fraâce This faithâull 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 ãâã by good and auaylable reasons and make it ânowne vnto all Europe who haâ tâeir eyes fixed vpon these two Princes playing their parts vpon so famous a Theater ãâã complaines by a sollemne Ambassage to the Emperour Charles the fourth ãâ¦ã the paines to come into France The Emperor seâkes to reconcile theiâ two Kings with an intent to imploy his authoritie and ãâã to reconcile these two Princes but it was in vaine The cause of this fruitlesse ãâã pâoceeded from Edward being resolute to haue his part tryed by armes being ãâ¦ã by his victorious successe in the former raignes Chârles âad alwayes protested to obserue the treatie of âretigny inuiolable But hauing ãâã the geneâall resolution of the States and of the countries and Noblemen ãâã 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 Gentleâââ ãâã Bââussâ called Chapponeau to the Prince of Wales being at Bourdeaux summoning ãâã to appeare before him at Paris Câarlâs proclaimes waââe against the Kinâ of Eâââlând at the instance of the Nobilitie and commons of ãâã complaining of him He also sent a Herald to the King of England to proclaime wârrâ against him The Earle of Armagnac the Lord of Albret who had newly maried ãâ¦ã Boârbon and by this alliance was become French the Earles of Perigort Cominââ and Carmaâ the Lords of Barde Condon Pincornet Pardaillan and Agenois began ãâ¦ã against the King of England followed by all those Prouinces protesting ãâã the crowne of France At ãâã example all the Townes of the Countie of Ponthieure yeelded to Guy Earle of ãâã and to ãâã of Chastillon Maister of the Crosbowes Then the Kings armies marche ãâã parts vnder the commands of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry the Constable ãâã to whose wisedome especially to the Chancellor Dourmans The successe oâ the Frânââ armie in Gââânne they attribââe 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 leaâing 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 âeâtility 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 paâience and dexteâity 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 leaâning 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 Scâiptuâe Phâlosophy hauing likewise caused the Eâhicâs and Politicks of Aristotle with many bookes of Tully to be translated into French The fauâut 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 paâticulaâly note that he did often vâsit his Coârt of Parliament and his chamber of accompts gaue audience vnto sutors read their petâtions and heard theâr 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 pâiuity of any to instâuct their sonnes and to marâie their daughters A testimonâe of a good conscience and of a wise man This bond of loyaltie could haue no better foundation then in transpoâting 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 shâlbe most miserable ãâã hath done the part of a good Brother of a good master a good Father and a good ãâã but God the Soueraigne of Kings had limited the euents of his cares To âeach vs ãâã a notable example That vnlesse the Lord build the house the worke men lâbour but ân vaine if the Lord keepe not the citty the watchman watcâeth but in vaine for an eternal maxime of ââuernement and state ConsideratioÌs worthy to be obserued by Princes Whosoeuer glories let him glory in the Lord. But vertues are noâ herâdââie Iohn not very wise begat Charles a wise and happy Prince and he begets a frantâke 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 scouâge 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
but yeeld vnto him as his vassall but as coÌstable of France and deerely beloued of his Maister the greatest monarch in Europe and Soueâaigne to the Duke of Brittaine herein the Duke must needes respect him his place giuing him auâhority 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 carâied 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 âhe which he had not yet performed And alâhough he had promised the King and giuen him a newe assurance Complaines against the Duke of Briâtaine yet did hee not ââust âhe King but continued hâs intelligences with the English fortified his places and coyned boâh gold and siluer against the Lawes of State He refused likewise to acknowledge Clâment âhe 7 for lawfull Pope whom France approoued noâ to suffer the Eaâle of Ponthiâure aforesaid to beate the name and armes of Brittaine These were the chiefe causes of their complaânts and differences The King and his most secret councell Mercier Montagu and la Riuiâre 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 fâile 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 afâer many discourses their quarrells are ended by marâiages 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 Sâates 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 âhe 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 doâe 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 âhe armed men seaze vppon the Constables sword and keepe him prisoner putting irons on his legges The Duke of Briââaââ âeâzeth 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 âbey 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 paât of the night riseth âarely in the morning calleth Baualan and demands what is become of the Constable The Duke of Briâtain 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 Consâable to the King It had beene more auaileable for him to haue suppâessed 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 oâherwise he might iustly haue put to death It is an easie matter for great men to manage their aâfairâs 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 Leâis Duke of Aniou his Brother who loued him so deerely as he trusted him with his greaâest secreats euen with his amorous passions wherevnto his loose disposition his age âasâ 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 Orleâns finding himselfe wâonged by this
disloyall affront done him by Craon Peter of Craon disgraced fâom Court in a verie light subâect but a proofe of his âash treacherie vnworthie of so strict a friendship wherwith he had honored him he complayned to the King his Brother who loued him exceedingây Both of them detesting this disloyal rashenes of Craon as a treacherous and an insufficient man holding him vnworthy of their seruâce dismisse him with great disgrace refusing to see him or to heare his pretended excuses Thus Crâon retyers to his house wonderfully perplexed with this disgrace and finding himselfe not greatly safe he retiers to the Duke of Brittain his kinsman and deere friend to whome he reports his misfortune The Duke imbraceth this occasion and with a deeper reach perswads him that the Constable is the cause of this disgrace The Duke of Brittain perswades Peter Craon to murther the Constablâ Clisson making his profit of the passions of these young Princes and proceeding in his discourse thâust on by the inueterate hatred he bare him he perswads Craon to kill him to ridde the world of so pernitious a man and therevpon offers him his means vpon all occasions This was that miserable councell which hatred malice gaue him two bad councellers âor if choller be a short furie who sees not by the effect that hatred is a continuing rage the moâher of reuenges the seede of all miserie to mankind As it was simply concluded betwixt them so was it vainly executed by Peter of Craon He had a house at Paris whether he finds means to send men fit for this muââher and followes himselfe secreâly an easie matter in this great forest of Paris The Constable assâulâed by Craon who knowing the howers of Court and hauing set spies to obserue when the Constable should goe fâom âhe King at night to his lodging he attends him with his muâtherers in a liââle house where he should passe and setts vpon him with twentie armed men Thâ Constable thinking at the first that the Duke of Orleans had done it in iâst made no great râgard thereof but vnderstanding it was Craon he defends himselfe with a great âkeine such as they did vsually weare in those dayes who beeing charged of all sides by âhese twentie murtherers and crying for ayde he saues himselfe all wounded in a bakers shop The pâople âhat were neere came running at this noyse Craon saues himselfe on horsebacke by Saint Antonis gate with the greatest part of these murtherers three onely were taken in this disorder The Constable was carried to his lodging called the house of Mercy it is now the house of Guise as the historie obserues all wounded The King and Court disquietâd by so audacious an attempt are all the night in tumult These murtherers being examined confesâe that Peter of Craon had not onely caused them to commit this acte but was also pâesent at the execution and so they are beheaded The King comes to visit the Constable lying in bed he doth comfort him and assures him that he will not leaue so execrable an acte vnpunished But in effect this affront so impudently done to his Constable in the bosome of his head Citty in the ââwe of all his Court and in his presence togither with the scorne of his audacious imprisonment and âhe patience of Clisson who keeping sylence the indignities he had so oft receyued of the Duke of Brittain pleaded for him being sealed by these outragious wounds All these things put Charles into such a choller and made so great an impression in his heart of settled hatred againât the Duke 1394. as he was farre more sicke then the Constable himselfe ãâã of ãâã conââmnâd for âââempting against the Constable King Charles assisted by his Councell declares Peter of Craon guiltie of high Treason and enimy to the Crowne of France hauing attempted against his chiefe Officer and doth cite him to come and iustifie himselfe speedily Hee is called and not appering is condemned for his contempt he is declared a banished man and his body and goods confiscate And in the execution of this sentence his house at Paris was razed The Tragedie began by this acte in the yeare .1393 in the moneth of May but it shall continue with many other mourneâull acts and shall cause newe Scenes vpon this Stage This sentence thus executed at Paris it went into Aniou and Brittain All Craons places and houses were seized on and put into the Kings hands and the Duke of Brittain was commanded by the same Commissioners to deliuer him The Duke of Brittain excuseth himselfe The first act of no mournefull tragedy swears that he hath him not in his power discouers the place where he is makes offer of all his meanes for the execution of Iustice he sends to the King to reiterate his excuses assuring him that he was not priuy to this murther Craon was fled to the Towne of Sable in Maine which apperteined vnto him Charles transported with choller lost both meate and rest incensed by the Duke oâ Orleans his Brother Charles distempered with chollet and his most trustie seruants Noiant Mercier and Montagu dreamâng of nothing more then to be reuenged of the Duke of Brittain whome he held to be the very cause of this attempt Such as were of iudgement and without passion thought no otheâwise But alas how weake is mans vnderstanding euen in the best things wherein there often wants a good proceeding Charles had great cause to be greeued with the Duke of Brittain but he should moderate the heate of his choller by the temper of wisdome expecting wisely a fit oportunitie to punish not troubling the quiet of his minde with such violence in seeking reuenge of his enemie We may well say That Charles had a good cause but it was ill managed and the Duke of Brittain a bad the which he gouerned with policy Wherein our Charles should haue vsed cunning to câosse his enemies cunning following the example of his wise father Charles the 5. who vanquished the Nauarrois with patience and flying the vnâempered rashenesse of Iohn his grandfather who seeking hastily a reuenge of the same Nauarrois his enemy did thrust himselfe into a mortall prison The Children are neyther heires of their fathers vertues nor of their happinesse whose bodies they haue by the will of God being the insâruments of their âssence but he reserues to himselfe the soueraignty of vertue and happinesse to gouerne them in the difficult pathes of this world The Kings Vncles difswade him from the war of Brittain The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne aduise the King their nephew to leaue the deciding of this quarrel to the Constable and Craon and not to attempt any thing against the Duke of Brittain who disauowed the fact who fealing himselfe oppressed wouâd sâeke for extraordinaây remedies to defend himselfe whereby strange inconueniences might insue But the King was resolute at any hand to make warre against the Duke of
sight That which he ignorant call foâtune in dâuers âuents of woâldly things is a secâet operaâion of the wisdâme of God alwayes iust euen when it is most vnknowen vnto vs the which is no more pollutâd with humaine passions then âhe Sunne beames with âhe most infected carâon whereon it works by his heat Necessââie obseruâtions 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 feaâe âortune An assured pasport not only to a void the strange alterations of Coâââ but al other accidents of mans life which hath nothing constânt in it but incââstance it selfe But euery man ââeads on him that falls saith the same hiâtory Eueây man speaks iâfamously of the dâsgraced Constable they crie out against him as hauing bewââched âhe King Thus âhe affâicted is alwayes held culpable according to the censââe of âhis wiâe world which âudgeth onely by outwaâd circumstances But who would beleeue that Clisson and his companions who had so great an intârest in the Kings healâh wold make him sick The âsâue wil shew âhe contrarie verifing That as Slander is the touchsâoâe of vertue so there is noâhing more couragious then a good cause nor more victorious thâu âhe trââh Clisson stirres not all this bâute he stands vpon hâs gââd âourchaseâh âriends and attends the time which in the ende brought him to a saâe poât as we shall sâe hereaââer Aâter his condemnation the Dukes of Bârry âourgongne hasâened noâhing so much â to aduance one to this goodly charge wheâeby they might tye some greaâ peâson ânto them Philiâpâ of ãâã Made CoÌntable They offer it to the Lord of Coussy who reâuseâh it wherevpon Philippe oâ Eu Eaâle of Archois is aduanced and âor a confirmation of this newe league he giues ãâã sonne to the Duke of Berryes daughter Tâus passed the beginning of this newe authoritie when as Charles by rest a good aââr the coolenes of the winter good vsage began dâââe to recouer his health comming first to the knowledge of such as were ordinaâily about him of his wââe chââdren and Broâher who parted not from his bed whilest his vâcles made this goodly worke at Paris ãâã reâoâers hiâ hâalâh Hauing recâuered his health âames Harsely dismissed with an honorable reward all France was reuâââd with incredible ioy to see their King as it were raised ouâ oâ the graue and giuen deuouâly to his praiers But he hath a gâeaâer relapâe into this miserable dââease by a newe accident and this was the occasion Charles returned to Paris to his subiects great comfort who souâht to delight him with alkinds of spoâts Euery man imployed his witts there to âo as there was a new inuention of a maââ of wild men attired in finâ linnen cloth all coueâed with very fine flaxe from the foote to the head beeing glued tothe clothe so artificially as if it had growne to the skyn âhat they which ââd weare iâ had beene naked They were sixe and the King would make the seuenth to lead the daânce for the auoiding of al danger of fiâe which might âasely take the flaxe Commandement was giuân 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 âefuseâh âo let him go without knowledge what hee was And euen then the Duke of Orleans with a quicke resolutenesse answerable to hâs 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 wâre 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 âalls into a relapse by a straÌge accideÌâ not able to be helped well in so sodaine an outâry as the King could not be stayed in this amazemeÌt 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 bruâed through the citty that the King was dead so as the people dâd 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 Bârry 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 spiâiâs faile him âhe fallâs into his former phrensie and neuer after were they setled notwithstanding all the heâps 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 Parisâeâs mad to see thâ King and do not alwayes distemper the faculâes 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 himselâe and that nothing should be done but by his commaund Hence sprong the horrible confusions in this raigne âor âhat dâuers pasâionate 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 Bourgoâgne seeks to makâ the Duke of Orleans odious Iâlousie betwixt ââe Dukes of Oâleanâ Bourgongne but all this did not satisfie The Duke of Bourgongne repâocheth 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 Orleâns were with thâ Queânâ at Melun The Dukes of Berry and Bourbon and the King of Nauarre are at Paris wââh the Kâng and all the faction of Bourgongne The King of Sicile comes to Paris hee leââ the Dukes of Berry and Bourbon vnderstand how necessâry it was to quench this âire in âââe All these Princes are willing to mediate an accord but the indiscretion oâ the Dâke of Orleans had almost spoyled all Aâ the first he grew amazed but seeing no man to stârre and hauing some feeling of his authority he began to speake bigge writing to Paris and to the best Citties of the Reââme against such as had made this petition And contrarie to the aduise which tâe Pâânces his cousins gaue him not to part from Melun he resolues to come to Paris and to oâpose himselfe against the Duke of Bourgongne The Duke of Oâlâaâs discontents thâ Pariâienâ The Citty and Vniuersity of Paris send an honorable deputation vnto him excusing themselues beseeching him to he ãâã to a gâod reformation but he so checkt the deputies as they returned ill satisfied âo a peâple big with a seditious humour He shewed himselfe indiscreet in two sorts Excusiâg himselfe when no man accused him which was properly to accuse himselfe and in waâing of a sleeping dog incensing this mutinous people who were then kepâ in awe by hâs onely authority not daring to mutter against him but in secret The Bourguignon desired nothing more then to haue some apparent cause to drawe tââs people into mutinie The Paâiââânâ aâmed againsâ tâe Duke oâ Oâlâanâ giuing it out openly that the Duke of Orleans came in aâmes to âpoyle the citty of Paris Behold the Parisiens are in armes prepared both withân aân without to witâstand the Duke of Orleans comming they beat downe pentises witâin the Câttie to make the streeâes 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 Orâeanois 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 âe did nât foresee it Herevpon Lewis commands his troupes to retire and stâyes at the Castell of Beautie vpon Marne to haue the better meane A peace betwixt the Duâe of Orlâans aâd Bâuâgongne to heaâe 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 weâghed 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 bât âhat he seekes himselfe confirmed by the truth of these Oracles They haue no hârme 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 wâthout reason and the Dâke of Bourgongne in murthering him erected a scaffold to sââed his owne bloud This agreement made Iohn of Bourgongne informes the King and his Councell how much it dâd import to take the Towne of Calais from the English where the commoditie of landing and the neerenesse of the Kings estâtes gaue the common enemie great meanes to molest the prouinces of Fâanders and Picardie requiring aide and succours from the King to besiege ât the which he grants Wherevpon he with all his Citties make great preparations to fortifie the French armie the which enters into Picardâe aâtendâng a coÌmandement to beleager Calais The artillerie and munition was âeady to go to field through the great diligence of the Duke of Bourgongne stirred vp with hope to pull this thoââe 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 armâe commandiâg 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 Orâeans as the author thereof A new cause of dâsconâent bâtââxââhe Duke oâ Orââââ and Bourgongne and gaue occasion to all men that desired the good of Fraâce to deâest 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 grieâes of so apparant an iniurie he resolues to haue his reuenge once for all Thus farre the Duke of âourgongne had reason to complaine of the Duke of Orleans but he exceeds from reason he fâies 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 Boârâoâgne râsolues 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 ât 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 Thâs they set downe for one of âhe 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 considerabâe 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 Tragedâe Lewis Duke of Orleans is slaine
perplexed there fell out a fauourable occasion to raise him vp againe The Queene being much discontented with him incenseth the Daulphin This young Prince had some of his houshold seruants from the Bourguignon she vsing the authority of a mother The Queene discontents the Daulpin so as he writes to the Bourguignon takes them from him and puts them in prison the reason was for that she feared these men were of the Bourguignons faction The Daulphin takes this as an affront and writes to his father-in-law to assist him The Bourguignon imbracing this vnexpected occasion calls a newe assemblie of his subiects and shewes them these letters And making his profit thereof he giues them to vnderstand how needefull it was to leauy an armye to free the King and Daulphin whom the Orlean faction held in captiuâty and vppon this cause he writes to all the Citties of the Realme intreating them to assist him in so good a worke He abuseth the Daulphins letters and worthy of good subiects to their Prince Hereupon he leauies an armie and goes to field making a publike declaration That he takes armes to set the King and Daulphin at liberty and is followed by many French so as his armie increaseth daily Hauing passed the riuer of Some he enters into Compiegne doth summon Senlis to send him the keyes of their gates as maâching for the Kings seâuice but a countermand comes from the Daulphin which doth frustrate his desseine The Daulphin wonne by the Orleanois protesteth that he had neuer written these letters The Daulphin disauowes the Bourguignon and disauowes the Bourguignon He writes letters vnto him of a contrarye tenour requesting him to forbeare to torment the people vppon so vniust a cause protesting that he was not onely in âull liberty but doth also inioy his authority 1415. by vertue whereof hee commands him to dismisse his troupes and to leaue Francâ in quiet The Bourguignon goes on his course meaning to enter Paris and to stirre the people to a newe âedition and so hee marcheth with his troupes neere to the city He is ãâ¦ã and stayes at S. Denis but his proiect had no successe The Daulphin assures the Cittye walles and the peoples harts against him who seekes by all meanes to speake to the King or people approching himselfe neere the citty sending his Heralds with letâers planting his colours neere the gate and in the ende conuaies a staffe with letters âo it but all this would not preuaile The King doubles the battery of his Edicts against him as guilty of high Treason ãâã guilty or ãâã treason and a disturber of the publike peace commanding all men that were in his armye to leaue him vpon paine of confiscation Hereat the greatest part of his troupes flie away yea his Flemings abandon him who had alwayes protested vnto him in all his assemblies neuer to carry armes against the King nor Daulphin In the ende the King and Daulphin accompanied with the Princes of his bloâd maâch with a goodly armie they besiege Compiegne where the Bourguignon had left a garrison and takes it by composition from thence they march to Soissons a Towne of greater strength hauing taken it by force and Enguerand of Bournonuille his right hand in it The king mârcâeâh with an ãâã against the ãâã he leaues the towne in peace and cuts off Bournonuilles head at Paris with many of his companions to the peoples great content glad of this new bloud and in the ende he passeth to Arras the which he beseegeth with his victorious armie The Bourguignon amazed at these vnexpected euents demaunds peace of Charles obtaines it with much intreatie by the meanes of the Countesse of Hâinault his sister and the Duke of Brabant hir brother It is called the peace of Arras beeing made at that siege This was grieuous to the Dukes of Orleans and Berry who said He sues for peace that both the King and Daulphin had promised them not to laye downe armes before they had vtterly ruined the house of Bourgongne But God wiser then they would vnite all the French to oppose themselues with a common consent against the English their common enemie and will soone shewe that it is a meere vanity for mortall men to nourish immortall hatred against their enimies to satisfie their insatiable reuenge We haue said that Henry the 5. King of England watcht all oportunities to feede the confusions of this miserable raigne and to that end he did sometimes succour the Bourguignon sometimes the Orleanois still supporting the weaker And knowing well the Duke of Bourgongnes humor seeing the Daulphin incensed against him he leauies a goodly army to make a benefit of these diuisions The euent fauoured his desire but not his proiect for meaning to assist the Bourguignon hee findes that he had made his peace with ouâ Charles Hauing landed at Harââeu a sea Towrie seated vpon the Riuer of Sâine he sends his Herald to demaund his daughter Katherine This was a matter farre fetcht Henry the 5. King of ãâ¦ã France ãâã an aâmye and demands ãâ¦ã Kings daughters and a strange course but this daughter must be the ground of many miseries for this Realme and likewise an occasion to free this Realme absolutely from the English by a strange meanes and as wee may say admirable as the course of our History will shewe Henry takes Harfleu by composition Before he takes possession of this conquest he goes âate footed to the Church to giue God thankes He had not his whole armye with him one part attended him at Calais hauing an inrent to ioyne with them so to fortifie his troups With this resolution he lodgeth at Fauille passing through Caux to the county of Eu he comes to Vimeu to passe the riuer at Bâanquetacque an inâamous place by our losse where the passage beeing surprised he takes his way towards Arianes from thence to âaillu in Vimeu seeking to passe the bâidge at Remie but not able to force it he recouers Hangest vpon Some and so passeth the riuer at Voyânne Bâthencourt places ill garded by them of S. Quintin and then he lodgeth at Mouchy la Gaâhe towardes the riuer of Miramont He had in his army six thousand horse and twenty thousand foote That of King Charles was far greaâer of it selfe besides the Burguignons troupes which were drawne togither for another intent then to fight with the English They were in al aboue tweâtie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot The numbers of the English and French armye and therefore Henry did shunne the baâtaile and sought how to saue himselfe through the âennes Our accustomed rashnes and wilfull forgetfullnes of two experiences past against the same nation and in the like occurrents made vs to note with blacke and mournful letters that ouerthrow and calamitie Henry demanded passage to returne into England yeelding vp Haâfleu and other places conquered in this voiage
this newe authority buried in Iohns tombe who died during these practises at Compiegne when as the fire began to kindle in fauour of the Bourguignon and to the apparent reuiuing of troubles in France To Iohn succeeded Charles Earle of Ponthieu the yongest sonne to our Charles the 6. He remained also the first Prince of the bloud with the prerogatiues of the fundamentall lawe A Prince that shall minister much matter to talke of his life in the course of our history guided by the singular prouideÌce of God to raise vp this monarchy almost ruined The least but the happiest of all his brethren for this is that Charles the 7. who hauâng corrected that furious giant of Bourgongne in the end shal expel the English and leafte a faire way to his posterity to restore this estate so neere the ruine But this shal not bee without many painefull difficulties the which the order of our history commands vs to represent in their due places Iohn of Bourgongne the murtherer of Lewis of Orleans hauing added newe troubles to the former ioynes with Isabell Queene of France Who hauing declared her selfe Regent of the Realme makes warre against her Sonne Charles the Daulphin The Quâene takes vpon her the Regenâie seiseth vppon Paris and there commits a cruell massacre where the Constable of Armagnaâ and Henry of Marle Chancellor of France are âlaine But this Iohn of Bourgongne is in the end slaine by the Daulphin From the yeare 1415. to 1419. A Newe kind of misery now supplies the stage to despight Nature by the frantike drunkennesse of our confused passions A strauge coÌfusion the mother against the sonne An vnnaturall mother forgets her onely Sonne she bandies with his capitall enemy against her owne bloud seeking to transport the hereditary Crowne to strangers a Crowne inalienable by the lawe of Sâate to the ende this Medea might fight both against nature and the Lawes of the Realme A horrible phrenâie a fit of ciuill warre that is to saie of the assured ruine oâ tâe State They câll it ciuill being the ruine of Cittizens but very vnciuil indeede for if we shall iudge thereof by the barbarous and brutish cruelties what is therein the whole world more vnâiuill But alas behold the image of vnkinde confusions whereof the fâây of our warres hath made vs eye witnesses for haue we beheld lesse hauing seene the Crowne set to sale and our Kings blood shed vpon our Sâaffold But the Hâstoây requires audience to report things intheir order as they haue chanced accordâng to the causes and motiues Charles Earle of Ponthieu had married the daughter of Lewis of Aniou King of Sicâlâ Câarâes an enimy to the house of Boââgongne a capitall enemy to the âourgignon So this young Prince bred vp from his youth in hatred âgâinst the house of Bourgongne must be the instrument to ruine him and his whole race He loued his pleasure much and sometimes he gaue himselfe vnâo it with too gâeat a scope yet he could imploy himselfe well to serious affaires and force his spirit in necessity firme in his resolutions and iâmoueable in his desseââs wherein he happily ended his daies restoring the Realme strangely shaken by the errors and losses of his predecessors In thiâ beginning of his new authority he was faithfully though not profiâably assisted by the Constâble of Armagnac one of the chiefe pâllers of the Orlean party almost alone since the imprisonment of the Duke of Orleans the death of the Dâke of Berry the King continuing in his infirmity sometimes better sometimes woâse but alwayes weake both of body and minde The Bourguignon had his troupes together to the gâeat spoyle of the countrye who complayned still without any redresse This Prince being resolute in his course seekes all occasions of new garboiles his hatred encreaseth daily against the contrary faction The Bouâguignoâs practises seeing them aduanced in credit being out of hope to haue any interest in this new Daulphin who was wholly possessed by Armagnac an old foxe and an meconciliable enemy He hath practâses in Amiens Abbeuille Peronne and all other good townes of Picardy who by reason of neigâbourhood are easily drawne to his party making goodây protestations to maintaine them in peace and liberty vnder the Kings obedience He writes likewise to all the good townes of the Realme complayning of the death of Iohn Duke of Touraineâ a Prince whom he assured to be wholy giuen to the good of the State and for this cause had bin poysoned by the enemies of the publike quiet But his true intent was to make such odious as were in credit about the King person 1417. although he named them not in his letters but in notâng them he made a still and dangeâous warre against them incouraged by his forces and perswasion ââo entring the Citties freely and causing his letters to be publikely read âe moâed tâeââ hearts by the feeling of former confusions the blame whereof the Bouâguignon laied vpon his enemies The Kââg that is to say his Councell being incountred both by writings force sâould lâkeâise oppose armes and writings agaiâst the Bourguignon but he sends the Lord of Canây to treat with the Bourguignon which negotiation was fruâtlesse both âor thât the perâon sent vnto him was odious as also by reason of his charge which was nââ pleâsiâg vnto him He had an intent to put Canny to death but the respect of his maâster withheld him making answer to all his instructions specified at large in the originall oâ this historie But what auailes it to repeat many vaine words witâout any effect Iâ bâiefe these are but accusations and excuses plaânts and counterplaints All protest âo be the Kings seruants and all ruine the Kâng in troubling his realme Wâat plââne Commentarie can we desire of these factions then what we haue heard and sââne in our timeâ The Bourguignon made a more dangeâous warre then with Papers he had ââcret practises within the Citties to winne the inhabitants The Boâââââgnoâ armeâ drawâ in the English He also drew the Engliââ ââto armes and armed himselfe ioyning their forces togither but with dâuers inâentions yet their generall desseigne was to afflict France fiâhing in a troubâed water making their profit of our confusions and building their affâires vpoâ the ruine of the realme The Daulphin Charles playes an other part he had scarse knowne the Couât when as âe was forced to go into Aniou to the funeralles of Lewis Dâke of Aniou Kâng of Sicile his fâther in lawe and to assure the Duchie being in some danger by reason of the neigâbourhood of the Dâke of Brittaâne a doubtfull friend in the inâertitude of âhoâe confused times Being arriued behold a charge of dââficultie for the fiâst fruites ãâ¦ã new authoritâe The people were mutined at Rouen they had slaine Gaâcourt Gouârâour of the Câttie the Aduocate and the Kings Proctor A mutiniâ aâ Rouan and besiâged the Casâeâl
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 grieâes vnto the King he presumed to take Iohn of Malesâroit 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 discoÌtented 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 bandâe 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 cuâe 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 vâter 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 âoy 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 affaââes 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 ââuen 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 ãâã 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 Braâânt her lawfull husband for so had Pope Martin pronounced it in fauour of the Bââbantin but from lawe they go to armes The Bourguignon supported the ãâã These Princes hauing prepared their forces begin by writing The ãâã accuseth the Bourguignon of couetousnesse and trecherie The Bourguignon giues him the lie But from reproches they fall to armes The Bourguignon offers the Glocââââan to ende the question by combate and by that triall to auoide the effusion of theââ sold aâs bloud The Glocestrian accepts it all is prepared for the combate but the Duke of Bâââord 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 ãâã disanulled âeyther should it bee preiudiciall to eyther partie That is to say ãâã 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 depaât althouââ 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 oâ ãâã leaseth on Iaqueline Countesse of Haâââauââ 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
challengeth the right of first fruites which giues the first yeares reuenues of all benefices to the pope and so continues vnto this day But as he gathers together this money with a wonderfull greedinesse behold he fals from his moyle and bruseth himselfe Vrban dies miserablie The worke of heauen answerable to his insolent ambition who soaring too high makes him fall lowe dying when his hatred was greatest to ruine his enemies He languished 27. dayes in his death bed dying by degrees suffring the paines which he caused his poore Cardinalls to indure not able with his death to wipe out the immortall hate of his detestable life disgraced by al writers Thus Vrban the sixt the first guidon of Schisme died in the eleuenth yeare of his Popedome In whose place Peter Thomaâel named Boniface the 9. is chosen Pope successor to Vrbans couetousnesse Pope Boniface exceeding couetous as his life and death doth witnesse Niem obserues a memorable act Boniface lying at the point of death some one to comfort him saide that he should do well A brutish custome as if to speake of death to a sicke body were to pronounce the sentence of a Iudge to deliuer him into the executioners hands I should do well said he if I had money and yet he had full howses hauing then but ten howres to liue So he dyed the tenth yeare of his Popedom not lamented of any but that he liued too long and by his impudent couetousnes opened the gate to all impunity of sinne Innocent the 7. succeeded in the place of Boniface no more innocent then the former verifiyng the beauty of their names by the bounty of their liues A sworne enemy to the vnion of the Church causing two Romaine Cittizens to be put to death as seditious for that they mooued him therein as Platina doth obserue Pope Innocent an enâmie to the vnion of the Church Pope Gregory the 12. a cunning dissembler He continued but two yeares into his place Angelo Corrier a Venecian called Gregory the 12. was aduanced a subtill and dissembling man coldly ambitious and faintly holy hauing no piety but in shewe so as for his crooked manners he was called Erroriâs for Gregorius that is to say a Deceiuer drawing men into error with his goodly shewe All this was done at Rome by the Italians in the meane time what doe our Popes âea at Auignon Clement the 7. making profession of the same authority which the Pope did at Rome was no better then the other although the history notes not so many priuate acts of his excesse In generall he was cruell in the beginning couetous during all the time of his Popedome He was exceeding ambitious and wilfull vnder colour of modestie and humilility The estate of Auignon vnder their Popes Benet 13. an ambitious dissembler He suruiued him but two years After the death of Clement the 7. they create a new Pope to oppose against him at Rome which was Peter de la Lune a Spaniard bornâ but hauing liued long at Montpellier to study the law A man of sound iudgment learned actiue patienâ in shew but in effect very ambitious a dissembler giuen to his owne will and tyed to his profit free from cruelty wherof he is not taxed giuing free scope to couetousnesse So great was the impudency of Marchandize in the Church sayes Niem and Platina set to the view of all Christendome that the authority of the keyes and Apostolike learning was contemptible to the whole world Truely all diseases growe by degrees through surfeits taken vnaduisedly Disorders in the Church and bad humors which creepe insensibly into the body euen so in these miseries of the Church All was set to sale all sorts of benefices especially Cardinalls hats were for them that would giue most The reuenues impropriations and all things else were sold to him that offered most Sometimes one benefice was sold to many and all their money fell into good handes that had learned to receiue and not to restore againe The composition for all sorts of crimes whole Townes were sold by the authority of the Soueraigne pastor I write but a part of that which the Popes Secretaryes haue set downe at large and tremble to report the iudgment they make of these abhominable confusions To conclude all christendome tyred with these disorders commited by such as had the authority to order complained much to their Kings and princes who wishing a redresse exhorted the Popes of both seas Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. to leaue their priuate quarrells for the generall good of the Church Benedict makes great shewes to desire it That if he must needes yeeld he is ready to leaue the dignity wherwith the Church had honoured him yea his owne life these are his very wordes for the peace of Gods Church Gregory speakes more coldly yet hee promised the like but when it came to performance they were but shiftes delayes and other deuises to winne time and to retaine still their authority which neither of them would leaue In the ende at the great instance of Kings and Princes A counsell at Pisa to reforme the schisme of the Church the Colledges of Rome and Auignon agree to meet at Pisa to finde some meanes to determine of this reprochfull confusion Benedict yeelds but Gregory opposeth Notwithstanding his refusall all meet at Pisa. Thus all assembled whether the Emperour the Kings of France England Spaine Scotland Portugall Hongary Denmarke Sweden Pologne and Norway send their Ambassadors and the Churches of the east their deputies hauing debated the controuersie depending betwixt Gregorie and Benedict they depose them both Two Popes deposed Alexander the 5. chosen as nourishing a schisme in the Church and refusing to obey the Counsell whereas neither they noâ their deputies had appeared In their place they choose Alexander the 5. a Candâot held to be learned and veâtuous but he died within the first yeare of his Popedome So as the Colledge of Cardinalls retyring to Bologne created Iohn the 23. in his place But neither Gregory nor Benedict omitted any thing of their traine scorning the decree of the Councell So as for one Pope they had three Three Popes at one time the one at Rimini the other at Bologne and the third at Auignon and the last being worse then the first shall giue a reasonable good cause of further inquiry to Christian Princes in an other âeason the which we will attend by order of the history and will returne into France to our Charles the 7. in the ioye of his Coronation which was to him and to all his subiects a happy fore-telling of the restoring of his Râalme but this excellent worke was not so soone ended We must now see by what degrees Charles recouered the possession of the Townes subdued by the English and how he expelled them out of this Realme The second parcell is set downe by vs in the front of this
you haue yet done So the accord was made without comprehending of these three The Dukes of Bourbon and Alenson sweare to serue the King and yeeld vp Loches Corbeil Bois de Vincennes Sancerre Sancouins Erie Conterobert and other places which they held The Daulphin remaynes with his father who changeth all his trayne except his confessor and Cooke But all this is but counterfeit you shal soone see other broyles This phrensie of state bred in the Kings house against the King himselfe was by our Ancestors called the Pragââây Nine monthes of this yeare being spent in these garboiles Charles returnes to Tours to prouide for the raysing of the seege at Harfleu where the Earle of Somerset had lien long but it was in vaine for the Towne was taken in the end after a long and painfull constancie of the Inhabitants who could not be releeued in time by reason of these home-bred troubles and yet there was a second mischiefe The Lord of Gaucourt gouernor of Daulphiné a most profitable seruant of the King returning from the seege and causing some of his baggage which was scattered from the troupe to retire he was surprised by a companie of English and led prisoner to Rouen to the great griefe of Charles who loued him hauing giuen good testymones of his loyaltie in his greatest extremities But in exchange Charles takes Conches and Loââiers Townes of importance in Normandie from thence he came into Champaigne to subdue a part of these aduenturing theeues who had surprized some places in this Prouince Musse l'Euesque Montagu and others The Kings army led by the Constable takes them and razed them by the Kings commande pardoning most of these theeuish Captaines the bastard of Vergy and the Lord of Commercy A memorable execution but he caused Alexander bastard of Iohn Duke of Orleans to be drowned a notable theefe who hauing followed the discontented Princes had spoken vnworthilie of his maister This execution of Iustice is memorable vpon one of so high a birth being followed the same yeare with the exemplarie death of Gylâs de Raiz Marshall of France issued from a great and famous house The Marshall de Raiz burnt for sorcerie who beeing found guilty of Negromancie and Sorcerie was condemned by the Court of Parliament of Brittaine and burnt at Nantes with some of his seruants culpable of the same crymes He was honored for his valour but neither his armes nor his bloud could stay the hand of diuine Iustice meritoriously exâcuted by this iust decree of the magistrate Priuate actions worthie to be registred in the historie to shew that the greatest cannot flie the hand of God after they haue long abused his patience But the treaty of peace betwixt France and England being discontinued aboue a yeare was againe reuiued by the industrie of the Duchesse of Bourgongne a Portugall but much affected to the quiet of the Realme and a very sufficient woman who had great credit with her husband She followes it so wisely as in the ende two Kings sends their Ambassadors to Calais On Charles his behalfe were the Archbishops of Rheims Narbon A treatâe betwixt the two Kings for a peace but ãâã and the Earle of Dunois bastard of Orleans For Henry King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exeter who brought with them Charles Duke of Orleans so being longe kept prisoner in England This poore Prince after the languishing of so long a prison was exceeding glad to see some meanes to returne to his house hauing felt the aire on this side the Sea and imbraced the Earle of Dunois one of the branches of his house hee who âad so faithfully serued him in his afflictions but hee greeued to see himselfe presently carried backe into England for that they could not agree vpon the foundamenttall points the English being resolute not to leaue one foote of that which they held in France And although the King were content they should freely inioy what they possessed so as they held it as they had done in times past of the Crowne of France by homage yet would they not yeeld in any sort being loath to relinquish their pretended souerainty But he refuseth which afterwards doth sue At this time they were inforced to retire with this resolution That without infringing any thing of the treaty begun euerie one should go home and consider of his affaires to assemble againe when neede should require The Duke of Orleans deliuered the which eyther part desired And this is al could be done for the general They proceeded farther for the duke of Orleans but as in these trafficks such as hold the possession do coÌmonly vse policy the stronger giuing lawe to the weaker so in so precious matter as life the English must bee sued vnto making no hast to deliuer him for that they drewe great profit yearely for the pension of this great Prince Moreouer Charles had no great care of his deliuerie for that some malicious spirits had seasoned him with some bad impression against this poore Prince perswading him that his long imprisonment was not without some mistery and that it hatched some mischiefe against the King and his estate The which being miserable in so great a person gaue all men a iust cause of compassion But notwithstanding all these difficulties yet must this Prince one of the goodliest plants of this Crowne be now deliuered to leaue a successor for the realme of France The diuers aâflictions of the Duke of Orleans and God who would honor his race with the Crowne had prepared an admirable meanes for his deliuery by his helpe from whom in reason he might least hope euen when his owne friends had abandoned him A notable example for all men in many respects a prison of fiue and twentie years was a great affliction to a Prince borne to commande and yet captiue to an other The losse of all his goods gaue him a sufficient occasion to resolue to perpetual miserie and to leaue it for an inheritance to his posterity In the ende sclander a most cruell sting to a generous minde which hath honour for his assured Treasor had beene able to suppresse him But God who goâerns the rodde wisely giues him libertie goods and honour in due season in despight of this deuilish enuy which seeking to afflict the afflicted and controuling aduersitie as well as prosperity is then corrected when it seekes to correct an other but God doth neuer send helpes too late The Duke of Bourgongne vndertaks for the Duke of Orleans ransome Philip hauing resolued to do this good turne for the Duke of Orleans and to withdraw him out of prison compouÌds for his ransome with the King of England for three hundred thousand Crownes He giues his word for it and payes it and so Charles Duke of Orleans being honorably conducted comes first to Calais where the mony beeing payed hee comes free to Grauelin to the Duke of Bourgongne his deliuerer
and the same hope of eternall life Are our Prouinces more stronger fertill and richer then theirs our Townes stronger and better peopled O Christians if he be wise that takes warning by an other An excellent aduertisement to all Christians how well should these examples serue vs The same way which the capitall enemy of the Church hath made to Mahumed to inuest him in the Empire of the East is it not open by our common dissentions A miserable date the end of the warres betwixt France and England was the confirmation of the Ottomans at Constantinople and the beginning of many miseries to many nations as wee shall see in the following raignes But as misery is good for something nay rather as the prouidence of God is admirable who can drawe light from darknesse by the ruines of the Easterne Churches those of the West haue beene enriched The ignorance of all learning was very great throughout all the Westerne Prouinces since the rule of the Gothes The knowledge of learning and sciences being banished out of the East by the Turke came into the West so as by a singular miracle the West is now become East this goodly Lampe hauing lightned the Prouinces to be a herbinger to the gospell But this planting of the Muses is due to the raigne of Francis the 1. as well King of the Mules as of the Frenche The shipwarke of Constantinople did cast these great personages into Italie the which haue giuen a beginning of solide and perfect knowledge to our nations Emanuel Chrysoliras an Athenien George Trapezondee or of Trebizonde Learned men came into Europe Theodorus Gaza a Macedonien Ierosme Spartiate Gregorie Tiphernas Iohn Argyropile of Constantinople Laonicus Charcondil an Athenien Marcus Musurus a Candiot and Iohn Lascaris These haue begun but our men haue so followed as they haue surmonted them in the knowledge of those goodly professions Almost about the same time the arte of Printing had his beginning Some attribute it to the yeare 1440. to Iohn Guttemberg borne at Strausbourg Printing inuented others to Iohn Fauste at Mayence in the yeare 1452. Doubtlesse it is an excellent inuention to increase knowledge although the vanity and malice of men makes it often times their baude to the preuidice of the truth and all good manners But hauing wandred ouer so many strange Countries Let vs returne to France from whence hauing expelled the English and restored this Monarchie to her auncient beautie by the meanes of our Charles wee must nowe see the last act of his raigne and life The Last act of the raigne and life of Charles the 7. conteyned in seauen yeares From the yeare 1454. vnto 61. THis last act of the life of Charles 1455. 1456. 1457. 1458. 1459. 1460. conteyns a notable president of the vanity of this world Charles had passed a languishing youth borne in the weakenesse of his father and bred vp in the cruelties of his mother he began his life with pouerty the which was continued in the despaire of his affaires and yet he purchased peace to his realme but now he cannot inioy it Obseruations for the discours banding against his owne bloud lyuing in so wilfull a waywardnesse as in the end he brought himselfe vnto the graue after a terrible and tragick manner The whole Realme being in quiet after a long and tedious warre behold a newe storme ariseth in the Kinges house Lewis the eldest sonne of Charles and Daulphin of Viennois was not well satisfied with his father King Charles and the Daulphin discontented one with an other and his father lesse with him The occasions are rather probable then true as they are obserued by writers For to what ende should Lewis bee so discontented with his father for that hee was giuen to the loue of Ladies It is more likely that to proceed at what price soeuer names ceâtaine Noblemen that should supplie their places that were absent in this action that nothing might want of all necessarâe solemnities to iustifie the condemnation To conclude according to the forme set downe in this processe Iohn Duke of Alanson was found guiltie of high treason practising to bring the English into the realme the ancient enemie of this Crowne witnesses are produced Letters auerred and the confession of the accused what more Sentence was iudicially giuen that he should loose his head and forfeit all his goods all being at the Kings goods pleasure Charles giues him his life the which neither President nor Councellor durst contradict yet Charles giues him his life condemning him to perpetuall prison and his goods to his wife and children where he continued but two yeares for Lewis being King he freed him from prison and restored him to his dignitie It is a hard law when force is ioyned to a Kings command Howsoeuer it were the cleere sighted did iudge that the Kings iealousie was the true cause of the condemnation of this poore Prince who had alwayes serued the King faithfully and the King had loued him aboue all the Princes of his bloud honouring him so much as to make him his gossip carrying his eldest Sonne Lewis to the Font. This his familiaritie with his Godson and the credit the Daulphin gaue vnto his councels was held to be a dangerous testimonie against him Were it then iustly or vniustly that this Prince was thus intreated who seeth not heere a great proofe of the inconstancie of this world of great friends they become capitall enemies nâither bloud nor the gages of loue in so holy a thing as the badge of our Christianitie can subdue the violence of passion the which hath no restraint Passion makes Princes prisoners yea euen that which should be of most force to vnite loue hath most power to breed and increase iealousies A notable president in two so great personages Passion makes these two great Princes prisoners borne of one bloud the one a King the other capable of a kingdome The one is prisoner at Loches with his gard the other at Vendosme or at Tours in the greatnesse of his Court This is the difference the one endures paine forceably the other voluntarily But he that commits a sinne is hee not a slaue to sinne Charles his waywardâes Aâter this condemnation Charles seemed alwaies grieued both in minde and couâtenance the iealousie which he thought to quencâ in suppressing him whom he suspected so increased as in the end it was the cause of his death He suruiued little aboue two yeares after this Tragedie the which happened the 10. of October in the yeare 1458. and the King dyed the 22. of Iuly in the yeare 61. which time was vnto him a languishing prison or rather a pining death Doublesse he that serues God doth raâgne and he that serues vice is but a slaue the Crownes and Scepters of Kings haue no exception in this The quiet of a good conscience is true libertie And who can haue a good conscience but
in their words countenance appaâell the Castillian of the plainnesse of the French attire for Lewis had short garments of bad stuffe the which the Spanish nation did impute to miserablenesse wherewith he was neuer blemished So as from that day these Kings did neuer loue but both nations conceiued such a mutuall hatred one against an other as they haue left it hereditarie to their posteritie and we haue felt the bitternesse of this old leuaine in our late and more then vnciuill tumult So perilous shall the enterview be of our Lewis with Charles of Bourgongne who shall hereafter come often in place at Peronne as we shall see Lewis being returned to Paris as by the purchase of Roussillon he had fortified his realme towards Spaine so desired he to assure it on the other side redeeming the townes lying vpon Somme the which had beene ingaged by the treatie of Arras to Philip Duke of Bourgongne for foure hundred and fiftie thousand crownes with this condition that the King should maintaine all the officers aduanced by the Duke in the said Townes a promise without performance for after the oath taken to serue him against all persons at the first he tooke away the Captainship of Amiens of Arras of Dourlans from Saueuse that of Mortaigne from Haut-bourdin a bastard of Bourgongne and the Bailâwike of Amiens from the Lord of Creuecoeur whose lands he did confiscate soone after aduancing to these offices Launoy the Nephew of Croy 1463. whereby he did greatly discontent the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne more who in despite of the said redemption did afterwards chase away the Lord of Croy with his whole family and confiscate their goods they beeing the meanes thereof Beeing retyred into France Lewis gaue him the county of Guynes with the office of Lord Steward of his house A discontent which shall hasten the Charolois to arme against our France Moreouer Lewis to tye the Pope vnto him by the meanes of Iohn Balue Bishop of Arras who since was made Cardinall in recompence of so good a seruice done to the court of Rome sends Godfrie Bishop of Albi Cardinall of Abbeuille vnto him to renounce all rights of the pragmaticall sanction So doing the Pope promised to send a Legat into France that should giue all benefices to the ende that all the money which should bee raised thereby might remaine within the Realme and be no more transported to Rome But the Pope beeing seized vpon the charter of the said Sanction made no accompt to performe his promise and to please the Romans he caused it to be dragged through the streetes So as Lewis being thus deceiued did forbid to carry any more money to Rome nor to bring any Bulls from thence He made Sforce Duke of Milan his vassall giuing him Sauonne which the French held a heauy motiue of lamentable warres which followed and receiued his homage But whilest he labours to purchase friends abroad he procures himselfe insensiblie mighty enimies at home The princes and Noblemen to whom the first places in court The League of the common âecale and offices of the crowne did appertaine seeing themselues with great indignity supplanted by these mushromes growne vp in one night put from the Kings fauour they sound one another both by mouth writings and by diuers messengers being assured of their mutuall loues they open their mindes discouer their conceptions and conclude To defend and maintaine their dignities For say they to what end do we suffer the indignities and braueries of these new vpstarts we should shew want of courage not to apprehend the wrong the King doth vs. Wee haue armes men friends money to force him to reason seeing we are debarred his preseÌce by these base people that posâesse him The cheefe were Charles Duke of Berry the kings brother The chiefe of the league Iohn Duke of Bourbon who had married Charlotte the kings sister Francis duke of Brittaine Iohn Earle of Dunois bastard brother to Lewis Duke of Orleans the Duke of Nemours the Earle of Armaignac and the Lord of Albret The Duke of Berry was easily drawne into this league discontented to haue no better portion then Berry The Duke of Bourbon had not yet receiued his marriage money The Britton could not digest foure hard conditioÌs the which Lewis hauing an army ready in case he refused required of him That he should no more intitle himselfe By the grace of God Duke of Brittaine That he should coyne no more money without his permission That from thence foâth the King should leauie taxes and subsidies in Brittaine and not the Duke And that all that were beneficed within the Dukedome should acknowledge him immediately for Patron soueraigne Priuileges which till then had bin alwayes expresly reserued to all the Dukes his predecessors in the homages they did to the crowne The Earle of Dunois had alwaies bin of the chiefe of the army Lieutenant generall to Charles the 7. and now is depriued of all his offices and dignities by Lewis his sonne So euery one pretended diuers causes of complaint Charles of Berry must carry the bable a young Prince credulous an age which doth easily make men bold âash for they would vse him as the reuenging instrument of their passions But it is the means to draw him from Court without iealousie Behold an occasion is offred After that Lewis had visited the Townes of Picardy lately redeemed hauing crossed Normandie and Touraine he passeth to Poitiers leading Charles his brother with him Lewis going one day to his deuotion Iohn of Rommillé Tanneguy of Chastel Nephew to that Tanneguy that was charged for the death of the Duke of Bourgongne agents for the Britton in this action vnder colour to carry Charles Duke of Berry to the huntiug they lead him into Brittayne Tanneguy was discontented for that hauing disbursed fifty thousand franckes at the funeralls of Charles the 7. in the absence of Lewis he had neither recompence nor any thankes of the king and was not satisfied for the space of ten yeares There remayned nothing but to be assured of Philip Duke of Bourgongne 1464. who euen then had great cause of discontent for during the partialities of England betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke Lewis supported Henry against Edward he being of Lancaster and this of Yorke for that Henry had married the daughter of René King of Sicile and by consequence was neere kinsman to Lewis In fauour therfore of this Queene he makes a proclamation in the territories of the Duke of Bourgongne forbidding them to aide or assist Edward terming himselfe King of England And for a greater disgrace King Lewis would impose a custome vpon the Salt in the Duchie of Bourgongne The Bourguignon opposeth he protests that Edward King of England is his allie and that he could not deny him succors being required As for the custome he shewes forth the ancient priuileges of
mounted on a horse of the same proportion rushes through them diuids them that held him Then happilie arriues the bastard of Bourgongue and the Earles garde by means whereof the French retire themselues to their ditch Charles of Bouâggongâe taken and rescued where they had beene in the morning During the which a false brute of the Kings death had almost ouerthrowne all for euery one began to faint The Earle of Maine the Admirall of Montauban and the Lord of Barde imbracing this common beleefe flie with al the rereward Lewis aduertised of this amazement takes off his helmet shewes him selfe to his soldiars and so assures them that he is aliue On the other side the Bourguignon rallies his men dispersed and wearied readâe to flie if they had bin charged At the same instant the Count Saint Paul goes to the field and gathers together vnder his enseâgne about eight hundred men at armes and but fewe foote Behold the two armies ranked one against an other noâ like vnto tired men but hauing vewed one another and mutuallie discharged their Canon The night approched A famous battaile for running away which ended the battaile an in counter where the nâtable flying on either side did wonderfully moderate the furie of the fight The which beâng thus ended the King was conducted by the Scottes to the Castell of Montlehery hauing neither eaten noâ dronke all that day and then he retyres to Corbâil The Earle keeps the field âpoiles the dead and therfore holds himselfe a Conqueror· Amongest the Kings men were knowne Iefferie of Saint Bâlain Charleâ Earle of ãâã mastâr of the plââe of Battaile the great Steward of Normandy Captaine Flââ uel Baylife of Eureux with many gentlemen to the number of foure hundred horse and but fewe of foote men Our Burguignons the Lords of Lalain Hames Oâgnie Varenne and almost all the Earles Archers Haplainonurt Aimeries Inchy and many others were taken flying and brought prisoners to Paris of footemeÌ there were more slaine then of the Kings part A'l which were estemed by some at two thousand of both sides The number the dead others heâd theÌ three thousand six hundred but al affirme constantly that there were more Bouâguignons theÌ French although Lewis lost more horsemen In trâth the firme resolution the constant labour the dangerous hazards manfully passed by the King were sufficient motiues to incourage his men to honor and if he had beene well and couragiously followed notwithstanding his small number and want of artillery the Earle of Charoloâs soldiars had digged their graues at Montlehery Three daies after the battaile the Earle of Chârolois being aduertised that his confederates approched Succors come to the Earle of Charolois went to receiue them at Esâampes The Dukes of Berry Brittaine the Earle of Dunois and Dammartin the Lords of Lohâae Marshall of France of Buââl Chaumont and Charles of Amboise his sonne all disgraced by Lewis and put from their offices although they had well serued the King his father They brought with them saith the historie eight hundred good men at armes most Brittains who had newly lest the companies euery one pretending some discontent Of Archers and other men of war resolute wel appointed six thousand on horsebacke all of the Brittons charge who assured by some meÌ at armes that fled vpoÌ the Kings death promiseth to himselfe much good in conceit in case the Duke of Beâry come to the Crowne And if at that instant they would haue giuen him credit they should haue suppressed the Bourguignons or at the least dismissed them verifiyng That there is small loyaltie and lesse pitty in men of warre On the other side the Duke of Berry began to loath these broyles for in open Councel hauing vewed seuen or eight hundred hurte men wandering vp and downe the Towneâ he said how much more glad would I haue beene if this warre had neuer begon ãâã Duke Beâây lotheâ the esâuâiân of bloud then to purchase my selfe riches and honor which the price of so much bloud A speech worthy of a milde Prince and not bloudie but ill digested by the Bourguignon supposing that Charles would easely make his peace vpon the least motion made by Lewis And to assure him selfe as wel without as within the realme he sends William of Cluni afterwards Bishop of Poitiers to Edward King of England although he had alwayes supported the house of Lancaster from whence he was issued by his mother against that of Yorke Hauing refreshed their troups they all dislodge from Estampes and take the way to Saint Mathurin of Laroham and Moret in Gastinois and hauing an intents to passe the riuer of Sâine the Earle imployes many coopers to make pipes hauing brought great store of stuffe for that purpose whereon a bridge was made for want of conuenient boats through the fauour of the Canon which the Earle had planted in an Isâând in the midest of the riuer There ioynes with them Iohn Duke of Calabria the onelie sonne of René King of Sicile the Prince of Orange Thibauld of Neuf-chastel Marshall of Bourgongne Other succors come to the confederate Princes and Montagu his brother the Marquis of Rotelin the Lords of Argueil and Thoulongeon with many others leading nine hundred men at armes of the Duchie and Countie of Bourgongne six score men at armes barded Italians commanded by Galeot and Campo-bâsso foure hundred Germain crosse-bowes sent by the Cont Palatin and fiue hundred Suisses the which were the first that came to our warres A fatall and lamentable alliance for the Bourguignon as we shall see in his place of other footeman very fewe All this great torrent of a hundred thousand men inuiron Paris Paris beleagard they seize vpon S. Maur on the ditches Pont Charenton Consâans S. Deâis and other Places there abouts they tyre the inhabytants with contynuall skirmishes euen at their gates and shakes theyr affections by practises and deuises The Duke of Berry writes to the Clergie to the Court of Parlement to the vâiuersitie which then was in great credit in Paris and to the Bourgesses to euery one a part shewing them that all these forces tend not but to the peoples ease and profit and requires them to depute men of iudgement and learning to vnderstand more at large the causes of this their great assemblie Ten Deputies heare their complaints being led by William Chartier Bishop of Paris they report it to the Counsell of the Cittie who answeres That the Cittie shal be free for the Princes to enter into at their pleasure they and theirs abstaining from violence and paying their expences Surely this would haue beene a Conquest of the cittye of Paris But the great Maister of Nantouillet the Marshal Ioachim and other Captaines take a vew of their forces and by this meanes retayne the Parisiens who changing their minds are fully confirmed by the arriuall of Iohn of Rohan Lord of Montauban Admirall of France with
voiage of Liege and to giue vnto Charles his brother the Earldomes of Brâe and Champaigne the which the Bourguignons did A peace betwixt Lewis Charles of Bourgongne that at neede they might haue more meanes to succor one an other the treatie of Arras and peace of Charenton were reconfirmed and sworne vpon the crosse which Charlemaigne was wont to carrie called the crosse of victorie Truely experience hath alwayes testified that princes do more wisely pacifie their quarrells by graue and trusty seruants then by enteruewes from the which such as had neuer anie matter to deteâmine to gither do seldome part without mutuall dislikes and grudgings the seeds of diuisions ' and warre the which may bee long smothered but at length it breakes forth From henceforth you shall see vpon the theater a wretched people panting yet with the bastonadoes lately receyued but not yet vanquished and so much the more lamentable for that their owne calamities cannot make them wise who hauing obstinately rebelled against their naturall Prince and indiscretly imbraced our Kings quarrell run headlong to their totall ruine Lewis was ingaged by promise and suÌmoned to performe it Besids the Scotts of his gard he sends for three hundred men at armes hauing with him Iohn Duke of Bourbon Charles Cardinall of Bourbon and Archebishop of Lions and the Earle of Beauieu brothers to the Bishop of Liege A Cittie then of the bignes of Rouan exceeding wel peopled seated in a mouÌtaine couÌtry Situation of Liege fertill watered with the riuer of Meuze which runs through it but by the last years check almost all dismanteled greatly weakened of men Liege beseeged so as the Marshal of Bourgongne the Lord of Himbercout leading the auantgard and gaping after spoile thought to haue entred at their first approch before the King or Duke were arriued Iohn of Vilette chiefe Tribune of these Liegeois They make a sallie and other Captaines seeing them lodge confusedlie in their suburbes they issue resolutely by the old breaches and kill aboue eight hundred men amongest the which were a hundred men at armes they hurt many amongest them the Prince of Orange All the people were ready to make a generall sally but some Canonadoes shot into the great steete kills very many and keepes in the rest The Tribune was hurt and died within two dayes after with some other Captaines whilest the two Commanders arriue take their lodgings Lewis in a great farme a quarter of a league from Liege Charles in the midest of the suburbes where the King went to lodge next day right against the Bourguignons lodging This approch breeds a great distrust for Charles doubted that Lewis would cast himselfe into the Towne or practise something against him Charles distrusts Lewis or at the least saue himself before the taking of the Towne To be the better satisfied the Duke doth lodge three hundred of his best men at armes in a barne betwixt his lodging and the Kings the better to obserue the Kings actions In the meanetime they make a good shew and keepe good gard vntill the nyne and twentith of October the day of the seege when as Charles and all his men disarme themselues to be the more readâe the next day for the assault During these eight dayes the beseeged gaue libertie to their Bishop to go to the Duke and to offer him their Towne and goods The Duke is inexorable at his subiects request desyring nothing but their liues But he had resolued a sharpe reuenge and retaynes the Bishop not accepting of any offer The Apostolike Legat had no more any credit with Charles neyther was he so happy as he expected The Ligeois abandoned by the French dispayring of all foraine succors and of all grace with their Prince behold a troupe of six hundred choise men of the Country of Franchemont issue forth hauing for their guides the masters of those two lodgings where the Generalls did lie The partie was well made but the enterprise was great and ill managed yet did they hardly faile in it The guides should lead them secretly through the hollow rocks neere vnto these Princes lodgings to surprise them kill theÌ The Ligeois dispayring hazard all or at the least to carry them away before their gards were in armes Moreouer all the people should issue forth by the gate and breaches right against the great streete of the suburbes and with their cryes and fighting discomfort the whole army or at the least sell their liues deere in dying gloriously They issue forth kill the sentinells and stayed at a pauilion in the which the Duke of Alençon and the Lord of Craon were lodged where they slue some seruants with their halberds and partuisans they charge euen vnto the grange wheras the three hundred men at armes were in their first sleepe the whole multitude runs thether and troubles both Nations some crying God saue the King others God saue the Duke of Bourgongne and some also crie God saue the King and kill to sowe diuision betwixt the French and Bourguignons They awake they arme defend the entrie In the meane time succors come froÌ al parts to the duke being charged by a squadron led by the master of the lodging He is slaine first and then all his company The King is no lesse amazed his host coÌpasseth his house with an other band The Scotts are about him The King Duke in great danger of their liues they first kill the âoste and then his followers and so the multitude recouers the Towne in disorder The two Princes talke togither and thanke God for their deliuerie and with a iust cause for if these desperate men had neyther linguered at the Pauilion nor at the grange without doubt they had had these two Princes at their discretioÌ but God would reserue ours for the restoring of his estate and increase of his reuenues with the Bourgnignons losse and the Bourguignon for a more tragicke ende Ouâ Lewis grewe likewise pale with distrust foreseeing that if Charles did not take this Towne by assault Lewis distrusts the burthen might light on him that he was in danger to be stayed and taken being the weaker in the army There was no hope of retyring he was too well garded The miserable estate of two Princes and his honour likewise ingaged Thus he stood vpon thornes yet resolute in shewe and alwayes a perfect dissembler A miserable estate of these two Princes who of late had so solemnelie sworne a peace and yet one could not assure himselfe of an others faith This desperate sallie had amazed the Dukes men who euen by the Kings advice would willinglie haue delayed the assault for some dayes but Charles constant in his desseine lettes Lewis vnderstand that if he pleased hee might retyre to Namur vntill the Towne were taken as for himselfe hee would not part without seeing the issue the next morning but Lewis was ingaged in honor
what did concerne him And at the same instâât hee dispatcheth Contay to the Duke his maister with letters of credit of the Kings owne hand and somewhat to satisfie the Constable he giues the English Eu and S. Vallery to lodge in during the treaty of peace In the meane time oh notable trechery behold one of the Constables ordinarie trickes hee sends his confessor to the King of England with letters of credit The Constables trechery and intâeats him earnestly not to trust to the Kings promises but rather to seize vpon Eu and Saint Valery and there to passe some part of the winter That within two monethes hee would lodge him better Yet he giues him no other security but much hope and an offer to lend him fiftie thousand crownes with many other goodly shewes Edward reiects the Constables counterfeit offers to drawe him from so profitable an accord Edward answers that the truce is concluded and that he will not alter any thing That if he had kept his word he would haue accepted it Thus our Constable dispaires on all sides The King foreseeing that the CoÌstable wold thrust Edward into iealousie resolued by his bounty to take away all cause of suspect 1465. for the effecting whereof he sends Edward three hundred carts laden with the best wine he could get Lewis his policie to preuent the Constables practises and within halfe a League within Amiens Edward lod ging within halfe a league for confirmation of the truce he causeth two long tables to be set vp at the entry of the Towne couered with exquisite meats and all kindes of prouocations to drink with men to attend all comeâs and goers at the table At euery table were fiue or six men of reputation fatt and big the better to incourage the Drinkers amongest others were the Lords of Craon Briquebeâ Bresme and Villiers gentlemen of a pleasant humour and wheresoeuer the English tooke any lodging they might not spend any thing This bounty coÌtinued three or foure daies during the which if Lewis had ment treacherously he had good means they entâcing into Amiens confusedly to the number of nine thousand for of this great multitude some did sing some slept ouercome with wine and drousines But contrarywise he comitted the gard of the gate to English Archers whome Edward at Lewis his request had sent to take in and put out whome they pleased It was then concluded to appoint a place for an entervewe of these two Kings It is done with lesse confusion and hazard in a smal place Picqugny vpon Somme was held conuenient an antient prophesie which the English obserued described this very place To this effect they build vpon the bridge two pentises of wood An entervewe of the Kings the one for Lewis the other for Edward either of them capable of ten or twelue men Betwixt both was a partition with grates to put through ones armes going ouerthwart the bridge that no man might go from the one to the other Lewis made his profit of fore-passed euents he knew that if the barre at Montereau had had no more passage then this Iohn Duke of Bourgongne had not ended his dayes so lamentablie in the narrowe bounds thereof The 28. of August Lewis comes fiâst to the barre accompanied with Iohn Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and followed only with about eight hundred men at armes Edward comes after hauing with him the Duke of Clarence his brother the Earle of Northumberland his Chamberlain Hastings His Chancellor others and behind him all his army in battaile Either King had twelue men about him foure of the which went from one part to an other to search if there were nothing practised to the preiudice of their maisters They imbrace each other through the grate and sweare vpon the holy Bible to obserue the articles agreeed vpon The othe taken Lewis mingling his serious discours with some mirth inuites Edward to come to Paris that he would feast him with the Ladies and giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his Confessor a pleasant man and of free life who willingly would giue him absolution if happily he should sinne in that case Then they conferre together a while without any witnesses And vpon the Kings demand whether the Duke of Bourgongne would not accept of the truce men take an oxe by the horne and a man by his word a nd with the like policie the Duke of Bourgongne might haue bin surprised at his departure from Liege Edward answered that he might doe as he pleased I will summon him againe he saith if he will not harken to it I will referre my selfe to you two This accord being made Lewis begins to play vpon an other string makes the like demande touching the Duke of Brittain for whome he cheefely made the motion But he findes the English resolute in his protection The politike proceding of Lewis as hauing found no friend so kinde in his affliction Lewis surceaseth and with a wonderfull curtesie takes leaue of the King of England contents all his folowers with some kinde words and giues presents to some priuate Noblemen the Heralds trompets who to shew their thankfull mindes began to cry Alargesse for the most noble and mighty King of France a largesse ãâã largesse He hath alwayes made it manifest that he was exceeding suspitious and that from an antecedent he could cunningly draw a good consequence He is no sooner on his way to Amiens but he studies of Edwards facility to harken to the going to Paris that he was a very goodly Prince and of an amorous complexion and that some nice Parisien might stay him longer then his estate required 1475. or at the the least drawe him to passe the sea an other time that his Predecessors had loued Paris and Normandie but too well He therefore desires to see their backes and must by some meanes bring him from this desire wishing rather to haue him his good brother friend beyond the seas then here The necessitie which forced the King against the Burguignon serued for an excuse Moreouer the King was grieued to see the English so resolute to defend the Brittons quarrell he would gladly haue obtained that freedome to make warre in Brittaine the which hee wonderfully affected and made a second motion vnto him by Bousâhâge S. Fierre who returned with this answere That whosouer doth attempt saith he against the Duke of Brittaine I will passe the seas in person and succour him So hee was no more importuned The reason why King Edward protects the duke of Brittanie Edward had an especial cause to entertain the loue of the Duke of Brittanie for at the defeat of Henry King of England as wee haue heard Henry Earle of Richmont and neerest kinsman to the said Henry after the death of his sonne the Prince of Wales saued himselfe with his vncle the Earle of Pembroke and hauing entred a barke in hast they
The King of Sicile René King of Sicile seconds him Charles had already vpon the âope this good old man gaue him sent the Lord of Chasteauguion into Piedmont with twenty thousand Crownes to make a leauie of men to take possession of that Earledome But vpon this defeat he was happy to saue his person to loose but his siluer seized on for the King by Philip of Sauoy Earle of Bresse Vpon this amazement Lewis sends to his Vncle desires him to come and to assure himselfe of good entertainment else he would prouide by force Iohn Cosse Seneshall of Prouence an honest man and of a good house in the realme of Naples perswaded his maister to this voyage giuing the King to vnderstand that the treatie of René with the Bourguignon the which he himselfe had procured tended to no other end but to let the King know the wrong he had done his Vncle Lewis reconciled to the King of Sicile hauing taken from him the Castels of Barre Anger 's and intreating him ill in all his other affaires and that he neuer had any will to performe the accord A liberty of speech very pleasing vnto Lewis who from that time respected his Vncle and they liued like good friends TheÌ René made a transaction with the King that after his death the Earledome of Prouence should returne to the king and be incorporate to the Crowne In doing whereof the Queene of England daughter to the said René and widow to Henry the 6. King of England whom Edward held prisoner was redeemed by the King for fiftie thousand crownes For this cause she yeelded vnto the King all the right she might pretend to the said Countie and for a certaine pension which the King assigned her during her life The Duchesse of Sauoy sent Montaigni secretly The Duchessâ of Sauây The Princes of Geâmaâie to reconcile her to the King yet will shee trie the issue of the Dukes fortune The Princes of Germanie and the imperiall Townes who before were inforced to temporise now shew themselues enemies and turne from him Frederick Prince of Tarentum grieued with the strange dissemblings The Prince of Taâentâm leaues Charles touching the pretended marriage leaues him and soone after returning into France he marries a daughter of Sauoy the Queenes sister what then shall hee flie to his Hollanders and Flemings But he knowes their inconstancie and that they fauoured not his flâght yet hee sends his Chancellor Hugonnet with twelue commissioners to require ayde of men and money of his subiects who returne with this resolution That if the Duke their Lord were prisoner they would morgage and sell their liuings to redeeme him that to disswade him from the warre and draw him home into his countries they would assist him with all their power But to continue it they are not resolued to doo any thing To conclude euery bird had his peck at this Owle Euen as when a tempest ouerthrowes some great tree euery one teares off a branch Hee yeelds not yet but would be ashamed to confesse himselfe beaten by such a wretched people Charles armeâ againe and although all these crosses had wonderfully increased his sicknesse that heauinesse melancholie choller and other passions had altered his bloud with great preiudice to his health yet he gathers together the peeces of his wracke and within few moneths goes to field with his armie Hauing staied some space at Lauzanne He besiegeth Morat he went the 9. of Iune to campe before Morat a small towne two leagues from Berne belonging to the Earle of Rhomont who lead the foreward Anthonie bastard of Bourgongne camped vpon the Lake with thirty thousand men of foote and horse The Duke lodged in the mountaine and Rhomont vpon the descent towards the Lake with 12. thousand men The Cantons were sooner in armes at this shock then at the other and if before they gaue him a lâght defeat they shall now giue him a generall ouerthrow In their league are numbred twenty Townes prelats and commonalties Zurich Berne Lucerne Vri Suits Vnderual Zug Glaris Fribourg Soleurre Basill Chaf houze Appenzel Sangall the Grisons the Earle of Tocquembourg the Abbot of Sangall Valoâs la Casse Dye the ten iurisdictions of Malny All these did furnish eleuen thousand pikes ten thousand Halberds 10000. shot and 4000. horse and the King who made warre against the Bourguignon at an other mans cost had vnder-hand giuen the Duke of Lorraine meanes to ioyne with 600. men at armes Moreouer the Townes of the Rhin Songoy and Ferrete had sent a supply of three thousand men All these forces being ioyned the 22. of Iune behold at the first incounter the foreward is so violently charged Charles is ouerthrowne as the Earle of Rhomont is forced to saue himselfe with ten or twelue horse The garrison of Morat falles out and ioynes with the Duke of Lorraines troupes they charge the Bourguignons campe force it and ouerthrow him with a horrible slaughter of his men He recouers Besançon by the swiftnesse of his horse and from thence Riuere in the County of Bourgongne In this battaile died about eighteene thousand men others say two and twenty thousand seuen hundred and of Suisses fiftie men onely At this day are seene the spoiles of this battaile in a Chappell built where the battaile was fought and filled with the bones of such as were slaine The Suisses pursuing their victory take all the places of the County of Rhomont and along the Lake Leman euen vnto Geneua which are at this day vnder the iurisdiction of Berne and the Bishop of Basill and razed many places and Castels vpon the marches of the French Countie The Duke of Lorraine hauing a good share in this notable victory with his French troupes and some supplies from the confederates recouers Vââdemont Espinal Nancy and some other places by composition Now is Charles of Bourgongne exceeding heauie and for that the house of Sauoy had bin the chiefe kindler of this warre wherof the first fire-brand had bin for some Carts laden with skins taâen by Rhomont from a Suisse and doubting least she would speedily be reconciled to the King Charles surpriseth the Duchesse of Sauoy with her yongest sonne he sends to take her by force brings her to Rouure neere Dijon with her yongest sonne since Duke of Sauoy Philibert the eldest then Duke was with the helpe of some seruants of his house retired to Chamberi The King who neuer lets slip any aduantage and who politickly builds vpon anothers shipwrack treates with the Bishop of Geneue a sonne of Sauoy a man of a free disposition and gouerned by a commander of Rhodes both tractable who deliuer into his hands the Castles of Chamberi Montmelian and another place in the which were all the Duchesse Iewels She seeing âer selfe depriued of liberty dissembles no longer but sends Riuerol a Gentleman of ââedmont to the King to mediate her peace but with all
army with a braue hardie resolutioÌ opened the passage by force but with great losse of hisforces the which fortified with newe troupes hee sends into high Misia and Selauonia chased Stephen King of Bossne out of Iaize the chiefe Citty dispossessed him of his Realme and in the end slewe him about the yeare 1463. A while after Matthias King of Hongarie recouered the sayd Citty and Realme ouerthrewe a great armie of Turkes spoiling the country of Sirme tooke many places in Croatia and Dalmatia and in the ende expelled Mahomet being come to beseege Iaize spoiled his campe and was master of all his baggage Scanderbeg expelled his country was retyred into Italy where shewing that the diuision of Christian Princes was the meanes to confirme the Turkes estate and that it was impossible to make him giue ouer this audacious and insatiable desire beeing at Lisse vpon the riuer of Drille hee was surprised with a feuer whereof hee died being threescore and three yeares old in the yeare 1467. Scanderbeg ãâã His vertues A Prince exceeding all men in valour of an wonderfull courage so as euen with vehemency his lippes did bleed at the beginning of euery charge Hee neuer refused battaile neuer turned his backe neuer was hurt but once lightly in the foote with an arrowe he neuer led aboue six thousand horse and three thousand foote and had slaine with his owne hand aboue two thousand barbarians striking with such force as he cut many in two peeces Mahumed being freed by the death of Scanderbeg vndertooke three warres at one instant Misithes of the race of the Paleologues had commission to go to Rhodes Acomath Bascha into Italy to conquer it with Rome and the Empire of the West and Mahumed himselfe goes into Asia Mesithes being often beaten was forced to returne with the remainders of his armie languishing and in pittifull estate Acomath lands in Calabria takes Otranto and so amazeth all Italie as the Pope neglecting all in regard of the safetie of his person resolues to leaue Rome Mahumed going into Asia died of the Collick neere vnto Nicomedia in the yeare 1471. A happy death for the Christians for Otranto besieged by the Italians aided by Matthias was yeelded by composition wiâh their liues and goods saued without attending fiue and twenty thousand Turkes which Acomath pursuing his victorie brought to their succours Thus Italie was deliâered from imminent danger and the Pope assured we will now leaue the raigne of Baiazet second successor to Mahumed to continue our worke in the West CHARLES the eight the 56. King of France CHARLES 8 KING OF FRANCE .56 THis raigne will not hold vs long 1483. but after the Duke of Orleans league the motiue of fiue yeares warre in Brittanie ended A briefe rehearsall of Charles his raigne by the Kings marriage with Anne the eldest daughter to Francis Duke of Brittanie we shall be transported beyond the Alpes to take the possession which René King of Sicile and Charles Earle of Maine his brother had by their testaments left to Lewis the xi to the rights they pretended to the realme of Naples vpon the way wee shall see him entertained by Lewis Sforce in the Towne of Ast then hauing receiued the Forts of Florence with the Cittie of Pisa from Peter de Medicis he enters Rome notwithstanding the gainsaying of Pope Alexander hauing vsed therein the rights of a coÌquerour he treats an accord with the said Pope receiues from him the title of Emperour of Constantinople with the institution of the realme of Naples and consequently causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of Sicile And to augment his honour hee makes his passage maugre the forces of all the Princes and Potentates of Italie at Fournoue and laden with glorie and spoiles returnes triumphantly to seeke some rest in France after his wearie toyles But alas when as in the greene and vigorous season of his life he shall meditate of a second voiage for the recouerie of his realme of Naples as easily lost as wonne and when as the Easterne partes liued in hope to haue the Christian church restoted by him oppressed now vnder the Turkish Traine Death vniust and vnseasonable according to man shal with himselfe cut off al his goodly desseins the which he had laid in the beginning of his florishing youth to carry him to the fruition of a better rest The iudicious reader may iudge if we haue reaped more honour profit in the getting then shame hurt in the losse of so many Estates lying farre from vs. Charles came to the Crowne at the age of 13. yeares Charles his disposition and education delicate weake sickly in his youth mild gratious deuout but wilful in his humors Lewis had bred him vp at Amboise attended on by few seruants not visited by any without any instruction but bare reading not willing to helpe nature by art Yet the weaknes thereof hath often times more need of a prop to support it a spurre to pricke it forward then of a bitt to restraine it Did he feare that learning should imparre his health or corrupt the good seeds which nature hap planted in his mind He was content that according to his fathers humour his sonne should learne this only senteÌce in Latin He that cannot dissemble cannot rule But he did him wrong for he was inclined to the reading of French books he came no sooner to the crowne but they found in him a desire of knowledge which made him to haue a taste in the Latin tongue But as the aptest of his age was slipt away without profit so did hee salute the Muses but a farre off weake of bodie but of a good wit capable of counsell succeptible of the helpes requisite for the gouernment of a firme solide State His minoritie was the cause of a quarrell The Duke of Oâleans and Earle of Beauieu contend for the Regencie betwixt the Duke of Orleans a young Prince and neerest to the Crowne and the Earle of Beauieu for the Regencie which caused his Coronation to be differred vntill the next yeere after the which an assembly of States should determine of the administration of the King Realme The Princes of the bloud attending this sollemnitie hauing bin so often wronged by Oliuer le Daim Daniel his seruant Doyac who had wholy gouerned the deceased King did without the Kings priuitie whose young yeares witheld him from gouernmeÌt informed of their insolencies proud carriage vniust murthers thefts extortions other crimes which they had committed vnder âhe authoritie of Lewis the xi and by a decree of the Court make Daniel forfaite both bodie and goods and his master likewise some few dayes after Doyac whipped at the corner of euery street Oliuer and ãâã hââged lost one of his eares vpon the pillerie at the Halles of Paris then hauing his tongue pearced with a whot iron he was conueied to Mont-Ferrant in Auuergne where he was borne
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 âanished himself Lewis his title to the Duchie of Milan Bâing thus content in minde quiet within his realme his thoughts âoâred beyond the Alpes and now he takes vpon him the title of Duke of Milan He was ãâã vpon the right of succession Valentine besides her dowry which was the ãâã and Country of Ast with a great summe of money had obtaymed this clause ãâã in her contract of marriage That for want of heires male of Galeas Valentine ãâ¦ã the Duchie or she being dead her next descendants ãâã ââuention was of no force but the Imperiall seat was then vacant and the ãâ¦ã 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 heâre 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 spiââ had married Blanche bastard daughter to the sayd Philip and hauing no man at ãâã ââstant that might resist his violence hee did so cunningly winne all the greatest ãâã of Milan as by their support suffrance he soone seized on the state the which ãâã easily effect hauing all the forces at his command no competitor For ãâã Lewis Duke of Orleans nor his Children had any meane to recouer this Duâââ ãâã Francis by reason of the great warres which followed in France by the ãâã of the sayd Lewis and of the Duke of Bourgongne slaine likewise at Montereaâ ãâã ââwis the 6. and 7. Charles sonne to the sayd Lewis taken at the bâttââlâ of Azââââ ââguishing twentie fiue yeares a prisoner in England and deliuered by Philip ãâã âourgundy could neuer obtaine any aide from Lewis the eleuenth beeing ãâã 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 âword 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 ââââlesse 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 ãâã to expell Lodowike To make the way easie Pope Alexanders friendship ãâ¦ã Florentins and other Potentats of Italy was very requisite Hee seeke ãâã Ambassadors and findes that the death of Charles the eight had bred an alâââ in their dispositions The Pope conceyuing that the peace of Italy was the ãâã of his priuate estate did easily alowe of newe troubles The Venetians beâââ ãâã by the Kings decease from the feare they had of him for the iâââgnities ãâã had receyued did not beleeue that a newe King would so vehemently imbrace ãâ¦ã 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 âolâââ 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 ãâã to nothing more then the temporall aduancement of Caesar Borgia his sonne ãâã then Cardinall did willingly imbrace this occasion to plant him in the Kings ãâã sauour and by some especiall bond to purchase his masters loue He knew well ãâã 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 desseâgnes vpon all Italie The Florentiâes 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 solliciââd therevnto by Lodowick Sforce to the end that when the two commonweales of Venice and Florence should come to treate of the affaires
with a strong armie the Towne prouided of all things necessarie for defence hopes to obtaine that now which he could not get when the port was disarmed hee perswades the Venetians to a second triall They come to Genes with fifteene light gallies three great one galleasse and three Bisâaine ships The French fleete going out off the hauen with two and twentie light gallies after they had giuen order that the contrarie faction should not rise met with them at Porto Venere where by the thunder of their Cannons and by the Tower of Codifa The Venetians make attempt against Genes they forced them to retire to Ciâitaueââhia whence the Venetian fleete parting to recouer the gulfe a tempest cast fiue gallies vpon the coast of Messine the others beaten and brused were driuen vppon the coast of Barbarie and in the end recouered the port of Venice halfe lost The armie which came by land led by the Arch-Bishop of Salerne brother to Octauian Fregose by Iohn of Sasatelle and Renier of Sasate the Popes Captaines seeing the fruitlesse attempts of the fleet at sea in stead of Genes went to take Fanane in the mountaine of Modene A small recompence for so many presumptiue stirres This disgrace did rather increase the Popes obstinacie then make him faint Hee âight easily obtaine a peace of the King and with such conditions as might well âââtent a Conquerour The King was content to referre the Duke of Ferrares cause ãâã iustice and gaue power to the Pope to name such Iudges as he pleased But Iulius âââlowing the holy Oracle Loued cursing and cursing followed him and for that he tooke no pleasure in blessing it forsooke him seeing the King yeeld to so reasonable conditions he impudently demands that Genes be set at libertie and with such bitternes as the Duke of Sauoies Ambassador offering his Princes intercession for their place he puts him in prison and tortured him as a spie Hee conuerts all his thoughts against Ferrare The Venetians thrust him forward fearing least in the end loosing the hope of his desseins hee should bee reconciled to the King And the King sufficiently informed of the Popes bad affection resolues to defend the Ferarrois and both by spirituall and temporall armes to crosse the Popes insolencies In the end of September the Pope comes to Bologâe with an intent to assaile Ferrare both by water and land the Venetians on the one side and he on an other perââading himselfe that at the fame of his forces the people would rebell against Alphonso But the Venetians companies hauing brought many barks by the riuer of Po into the territorie of Mantoua to make a bridge the Duke of Ferrare with the French forces set vpon them vnawares tooke them and many vessels in certaine chanels of Polesine with the Venetian Comissarie Then was there discouered a practise which the Venetians had in ârâsse The Pope reuiues the waâ against the Ferâarois for the which the Earle Iohn Maria of Martinengue was beheaded there This stay of the fleete did nothing discourage the Pope but perswading himselfe that his own forces were sufficient to conquer Ferrare he assembled them ãâã at Mâdene vnder the Duke of Vrbin being Generall the Cardinall of Pauie Iohn Paul Baillon Marc Anthonie Colonne and Iohn Vitelle Captaines of authoritie whilest that Chaumont incamped right against them at Rubiere and Marsaille tyring them with daily skirmishes he gaue the Ferrarois meanes with the Lord of Chastillon to recouer Polesine Final and Cente Hauing sackt and burnt it to ashes hee went to ioyne with Chaumont euen as three hundred men at armes many light horse and foure thousand Venetian foote to winne the passage of Po and to ioyne with the Popes forces hauing already taken Fiâqueroles Sâellate on the other side forced Alphonso to go to the succour of his countrie Thus the two Venetian fleetes hauing free passage vpon Po did greatly annoy the Ferrarois terrâtorie by daily inroades and spoiles when as the Duke âsâuing out of âerrare put to âoute that fleete which was entred the riuer of Po by Primare and came vnto Adria the other which consisted of foists and small vessels being entred by Fornaces and come to Pul selle seeking to passe into the riuer of Adicâ by a riuer adioyning they found the water so low as they could not enter but were to battered with the Ferrarois artillerie as they abandoned their ships seeking to saue themselues and their Canons The Pope seeing he could preuaile nothing by his temporall forces he flies to the spirituall excommunicating Alphonso of Este and all those that were or should come to his succour namely Charles of Amboise with all the chiefe of the French armie This furious course made the King to assemble all the Prelats of his realme at Yours wâth the most famous Doctors of all his Vniuersities as well in diuinâtie as in the câuill and canon lawes 8. Conclusions made by the French Chuâch against the Pope who resolue vpon eight notable conclusions against the Pope That it was not lawfull for the Pope to assaile any temporall Princes by force in their territoriâs not belonging to the Church That it was lawfull for any such Prince for the defence of his subiects and coââtrie âoâ onely to repell this iniurie by force but also to inuade the territories of the âhuâch possâssed by âny such âope not with an intent to hold them but to the end the Pope bââng disposâed thereof sâould haue no more meanes to molest his estate seeing the Pope had ãâã the aide of ââe said Prince recouâred the same lands vsurped before by certaine tyrants That for so manifeâââ a wroâg and vniust attempt any such Prince might with draw ãâ¦ã from the Popes obedience for the defence of his temporall estate seeing he had ãâ¦ã many other Princes and common-weales to inuade the dominions of the said Prince who ãâã reward and loue of the Apostolick sea That this substraction being made they ãâ¦ã France the common and ancient lawe and the Fragmatique sanction ãâ¦ã the Councâll of Basil. That any such Prinçe might by âorce defend another Prince his coâââderate and of whom he had lawfully taken the protection for these Seigneuries which he ãâã enioyed and with a iust title seeing this confâderacie had beene made with the consent of the saiâ Pope who as the chiâfe was comprehended therein and that this Prince allââd according to the forme of the league had giuen aide for the recouery of the patrimonie of Saint Peter That the Pope pretending any thing due for any rights belonging to the Church of Rome and the Prince on the other side challenged to holde of the Empire and should referre this controuersie to the censâre of indifferent Iudges as equitie required that in âhis case it was not lawfull for the Pope without further knowledge of the cause to make warre against any such Prince the which if he did the said Prince might oppose his forces
with other Princes his confederates so as that right had not beene possessed by the Romaine Church within a hundred yeares Thaâ if the Pope would not accept this honest and lawfull offer but contrary to order and right should giue sentence against any such Prince mainâaining his right not to dâpend vpon the Church neither he nor any other by opposing should incurre the censure of that sentence seeing that Prince had no free accesse neither to go nor send to Rome to defend his rights That if the Pope vniustly the due course of lawe not obserued should by maine force pronounce any censures against any such Princes their allies and subiects resisting in such a case the sentence were of no force neither could it by any meanes binde These conclusions taken the King according to the resolution of the Councel sent Ambassadors to Iulius in the name of the French Church to admonish him by brotherly spirituall correction that leauing his desseins he should attend to peace concord loue and charitie and reconcile himselfe with the foresaid Princes vpon reâusall they should summon him to cal a CouÌcel according to the decrees of the holy Councell of Basil. That his answere heard things should be ordered according vnto reason In the meane time fortie light horse fiue hundred foot hauing at the first summons of a Trumpet yeelded Carpie to Albert Piâ were incountred by foure thousand foote led by Palisse defeated and in a manner all slaine And Chaumont desirous to charge the Church forces before they should ioyne with the Venetian Companies and three hundred Spanish Lances which Ferdinand had sent him in consideration of the inuesting of Naples but not able to drawe them but to some light skiâmishes by the perswasion of the Bentiuolâs he turned his forces against Bologne where the Pope remayned sicke both doubtfull of the peoples faith being beseeged The sâege of Bologne and so discontented with the long stay of the Venetians as he protested publikely to Ierâsme Donat their Ambassador that if their succors entred not the next day into Bologne he would agree with the French And at that instant sent Iohn Francis Pic Earle of Mirandole to treat with the Lord of Chaumont Chaumont not to alter this good disposition vnderstanding the Kings pleasure keeps his troupes within their lodgings and sent backe the Earle with these propositions That Alphonso of Este and all those the Pope had comprehended in his Censure should be absolued That in regard of the Venetians nothing should be done contrary to the treatie of Cambray That the controuersies betwixt Alphonso and the Pope should be decided within 6. moneths by Iudges chosen by their âoÌmon consent That Modene should be restored to the Emperour Cotignole to the King the Cardinal of Auchx set at libertie that the gift of all benefices within the Kings dominions should be according to this nomination But Chiappin Vitellâ entring into Bologne with 600. Venetian light horse and a squadron of Turks which they had in pay made the Pope to sing another note That there was no meanes of accord if the King did not absolutely abandon the defence of the Ferrarois And Chaumont seeing that neither by treaties of peace nor by force he preuailed any thing the people of Bologne holding themselues quiet at the Popes deuotion being also afflicted with the ãâã want of victuals he returned to Chasleaufranc Spilinberte the which he had lately taken Chaumont is no soner gone but the Pope woÌderfully incensed exclaimes against the king to all Christian Princes as thirsting after his bloud the territories of the Church hauing caused him to be beseeged with all his Cardinals Prelats in Bologâe and returning to his former course with more vehemencie he sends his troupes ãâã augmented by fiue hundred men at armes sixteene hundred light horse fiue tâousand foote and three hundred Spanish Launces But whilest this armie soiournes ãâã Modene some squadrons running towards Rhegium being defeated by the French they lost a hundred horse and the Earle of Matelique was taken prisoner Moreouer the Dâke of Ferrare with the Lord of Chastillon incamped vpon the Po betwixt Hospitalet and âondân opposite to some other Venetian companies that were on the other ãâã of the riuer they sunâe nine of their vessels and forced the rest to returne to Venice Tâese smal victories were crost by the taking of Sassuole Forminge whilest that Chaumont refââsât himselfe within Pauia and Aubigne at Rhegium These conquered townes ãâã Iulius more violently against Ferrare the which he knew was well furnished with men and things necessarie for defence and the French through the continuall toyle of the warre were tyred both in bodies mindes And presuming to make the eâterprise more easie he went himselfe in person the second day of Ianuary before Mirandole aduertised that Chaumont had made an escape to Milan drawen thether as they said with the loue of a yong gentlewoman A iourny which did greatly quaile the câurage and hope of them that defended Mirandole who see themselues abandoned not so much by the negligence as by the dissention betwixt Chaumont and Iohn âaques of Triuulce who then was gone into France whereby it may be he was not ââch displeased to see the Earles Mirandole grandchildren to Triuulce by reason of Francis their mother 1511. his bastard daughter depriued of that place In the end after all the duties that might be performed by men beseeged Mirandole taken dispayring of succours seeing a breach made and the water of their ditches so frozen as it bare the souldiers they obtained in the ende by the intermission of the Cardinalls which assisted the Pope to depart with bagge and baggage vpon condition that Alexander Triuulce Gouernour of thetowne and all the Captaines should remaine prisoners and to redeeme the towne from sacke which he had promised to his souldiers they should pay a certaine summe of money After the taking of Mirandole two things were propounded in Councel by the French whether they shold assaile the enimie or besiege Modene or Bologne to draw the Popes forces out off the Estate of Ferrare by that meanes to draw them into a conuenient place for a battaile Great Captains hold it for a firme maxime experience hath alwaies taught it That we ought neuer to vndergo the hazard of a battell but for some great aduantage or when as vrgent necessity doth constraine This was the aduice of Triuulce newly returned to the Campe accordingly resolution was taken to go to Modene But let vs obserue a Spanish trick The policie secret aduertisements of Ferdinand did more harme to the King his vncle then the Popes open force He thinkes this to be a meanes to pacifie the Emperours spleene and to sowe some diuision betwixt the King and him Modene was held time out of minde to be a fee of the Empire and the house of Esté had not inioyed it but by
the fiue no otherwise but for the defence of his owne estates As for the Castells of Lugan and Lugarne strong passages and of great importance for the surety of the Duchie of Milan they desyred rather to raze them then to take three hundred thousand Ducats for the restitution thereof Let vs nowe lay out all armes aside for a certaine space and giue our warriours time to take their breath and returne againe shortly to warre by the ambitious factions of two most great and mighty Princes This yeare in Febuary was borne Francis 1â17 Daulphin and successor to this Crowne if his end had not beene violently forced The Daââpâin Francis borne Laurence of Medicis did present him at the Font for the Pope âis Vncle. A Christening celebrated with iousts skirmishes incounters besieging and taking of places and other such stately shewes as the memory of man hath not obâerued greater And the King to make a more stricter league with the Pope he caused the said Laurence to marry with Magdaleine daughter to Iohn Earle of Auuergne and Auraguez and of Ioane sister to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme who died at Verceil when as King Charles the eight returned from Naples Of this marriage came Katherin of Medicis whom we shall see Queene of France and Mother to the three last Kings of the name of Valois At the same time the King sent Gaston of Breze Prince of Fonquarmont brother to the great Seneshall of Normandie with two thousand French foote to succour Christierne King of Denmarke against the rebels of Sueden who after they had wonne a battaile for the King being abandoned in the end by the Danes in a combate vpon the Ice where those Northerne Nations are more expert then ours were ouerthrowne and the most part slaine such as could escape the sword returned without pay without armes and without clothes 1518. The yeare following the last of March Henry the Kings second sonne was borne who by the death of the Daulphin his brother shall succeed his father Henry King of England was his God-father and gaue him his name During this surcease of armes among Christian Princes the Pope motioned but saith the Originall rather in sâew then with any good intent Estate of the East a generall warre of all Christendome against Selim Prince of the Turkes Baiazet as we haue sayd in his latter age studied to install Acomath his eldest sonne in the throne of the Turkish Empire Selim the younger brother through fauour of the Ianisaries and Souldiers of his fathers gard forced him to yeeld the gouernement vnto him Selim was no sooner in possession but as they say hee poisoned his father and murthered his bretheren Acomath and Corcut and in the end all that discended from the line of the Ottomans Then passing from one warre to an other he vanquâshed the Aduliâns ouerthrew the Sophi of Persia in battaile tooke ââom him Tauris the chiefe seate oâ his Empire and the greatest part of Persia rooted out the Sultans of Egipt and the Mammelius tooke Caire and seized vpon all Egipt and Syria So as hauing in few yeares almost doubled his Empire and taken away the hinâârance of so mightie Princes who were iealous of his Monarchie Christian Princes did not without cause feare the happy course of his victories Hongarie was weake of men and in the hands of a Pupill King gouerned by Prelates and Barons of the realme diuided amongst themselues Italie dismembred by former warres âeared least the part alities of these Princes should cause Selim to turne his eyes towards it The âope and all the Couât of Rome making shew to preuent this imminent danger thought it expediânt to make a great prouision of money by a voluntarie contribution of Princes and a generall taxe ouer all Christendome That the Emperour accompanied with the horse of Polonia and Hongarie and an armie of Reistres and Lââsquenets fit for so great an enterprise should assaile Constantinople and the King of France with the forces of his Realme the Venetians Suisses and Potentates of Itaâie should inuade Greece being full of Christians and ready to rebell vpon the first approach of forâaine âoâces The Kings of Spaine Portugall and England should passe the straight of Gallipoli with two hundred saile and hauing taken the Castell at the enârie thereof they should approach neere to Constantinople That the Pope should follow the same course with a hundred great Galleys These were goodly plottes in conceit This counteâfeit shewe to send an armie into Turkie was but a deuice to fill the Popes coffers which was made emptie by the former warres especially by that of Vrbin To treate of these propositions Leo published in the Consistorie a generall Truce for fiue yeares amongst all Christian Princes and vpon rigorous censures to them that should breake it Appointing for Legats the Cardinall of Saint Sixte to the Emperour the Cardinall of Saint Marie in Portico to the King the Cardinall Giles to the King of Spaine and the Cardinall Laurence Campege to the King of England hee proclaymed his Bulls of pardon to all such as should contribute a certaine summe for so woâthie an expedition All Princes accept of this truce and shewe themselues verie willing to so honorable in action But the meanes howe in so short a time to make a firme Vnion among so many Potentats who had beene long at deadly warre Euery one studies of his priuate interest and finding the danger to concerne one more then an other they care for themselues and manage these affaires carelesly more with shewe then deuotion This negligence of the publicke state and greedinesse of priuate men was the more confirmed by the death of Selim who leauing his Empire to his sonne Soliman young of age but of a milder spirit and not so enclyned to warre A peace concluded with the English then all things seemed to incline to peace and loue betwixt so many great warriors The Kings of France and England renued their friendship by a defensiue League betwixt them vppon promise of a marriage betwixt the Daulphin King Francis eldest sonne and the onely daughter of Henry King of England both very young which contract many accidents might hinder before they came to sufficiencie And Henry yeelded Tournay for foure hundred thousand Crownes the one halfe for the charge in buââding the Citadell and for the artillery powder and munition which the King of England should leaue in the place the other halfe for the expenses in conquering thereof and for other pensions that were due vnto him Thus often times the looser paies the shott On the other side the Kings eldest daughter being dead And with ãâã Spaniards whome they had appointed to bee wife to the King of Spaine a peace betwixt these two Kings was reconfirmed according to the first Capitulation with promise of the yonger An alliance which eyther Prince did confirme with great outward shewes of friendshippe King Francis wearing the order
of the golden fleese on Saint Andrewes day and the King of Spaine that of Saint Michell on the said Saints day The Venetians also by the Kings meanes had prolonged their truce for fiue yeares with the Emperour But the soueraine Iudge of the world hauing decreed to punish the disorders of Christendome with sundry afflictions tooke Maximilian out of this world The death of Maximilian in whose life we may obserue a strange alteration of affaires for if prosperity did often present vnto him goodly occasions aduersity did as often crosse him in the execution A good Prince mercifull courteous very liberall a great spender the which did many times hinder his good successe painfull secret well seene in the arte of warre but his happie beginnings did commonly proue fruitlesse through his owne delayes and inconstancie This death bred an equall desire in the mindes of two great Princes Francis King of France and Charles King of Spaine Francis sent the Lord of Boissy Lord Stuard of France to purchase the fauour of the Germaine Electors for the Empire Some promised all fauour for the King his master yet the cause was not so fauorable for the French hauing no correspondencie with the Germains neyther in tongue manners nor life Moreouer the Commons of Germanie were sutors that the Imperiall dignitie might not go out of the nation The Pope fauored the King but in shewe onely hoping that by these demonstrations of loue hee would hereafter giue more credit to his Councells whereby discouering that in his inward thoughts the election both of Francis and Charles were alike suspect vnto him hee labored to perswade the King that seeing there was small hope for him to carrie it by voices he should seeke by his authority to aduance some other Germanie Prince to this Crowne rather then Charles But whilest that Francis feeds himselfe with vaine hopes giuen him by the Elector of Brandebourg and the Archbishop of Triers who to drawe money from the King gaue him great assurances 1519. Charles in steed of gold brings armes to the field An aâmy approacheth neere to Francford for the King of Spaine vnder colour there should be no force in the election the which increased their courage that fauoured his cause made them yeeld that wauered and troubled the French faction So Charles of Austria King of Spaine The election of Charles the fift of that name was chosen Emperour of Germanie the 28. of Iune The Election of a newe Emperour consists in the voyces of sixe Germaine Princes Three are of the Clergie the Archbishops of Maience Cologne and Treues Three seculars the Count Palatin the Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Brandebourg The King of Bohemia is Vmper when as the voyces are equall The Emperour is chosen at Francford and crowned at Aix la Chapelle Who could doubt but these two yong princes hauing so many occasions of Ieloâsie and quarrel would soone breake forth into fierce and cruell warres the which had taken deepe roote in both their hearts The King desired infinitely to recouer the Realme of Naples and did greatly affect the restitution of Henry of Albret to âis kingdome of Nauarre whereof he sees himselfe now frustrate by the sodaine aduaâcement of Charles to so high a dignitie and all that which the French held in Italy was in great danger The Emperour on the other side was disconteÌted that the King contemâiâg the accord first made at Paris and knowing the necessity of his passage into Castille for the which his fauour did much import had in a manner forced him to agree to new Articles Moreouer the king had taken the Duke of Gueldres into his protection an enemy to the Flemings who where subiects to Charles a sufficient cause to drawe both Francis and Charles into armes But aboue all the recouerye of the Duchie of Bourgongne caused strange alterations in the minde of this new Emperour The Duchy of Milan was a sufficient motiue of quarrell the King since the death of Lewis the 12. had neither demanded nor obtained inuestiture and therfore they pretended the possession to be of no validity and his interest to be voide yet all these were not sufficient motiues to stirre vp those horrible confusions which so afflicted the Estates of these two Princes for the space of thirty yeares Ambitious hatred is alwaies grounded vpon light beginnings In the meane time the Preachers of this voyage against the Turke dispersed through out all Christendome 1520. grew vehement promising according to the Popes Bulls pardon for all sinnes and the kingdome of heauen to such as paid a certaine summe of money Without doubt Leo vsed the authority of the Apostolike sea too boldly diâpersing throughout the world without distinction of time or place most large pardons not onely for the liuing but also to redeeme the soules of the dead from purgatory for money And for that euery one did plainely see that these pardons were oâly granted to get money which the Commissioners appointed for such exactâââ demaunded after an impudent and shamelesse sort being also well knowne that the greatest part of them had purchased their authority from the Popes officers Leo incurred great dislike many were discontented with this insolent proceeding especially ân Germany where the ministers of this collection appointed aâcording to the common opinion for the deliuery of poore Christians fighting vnder the burthen of the Turkâsh yoake sold for a small price yea played away in their Ale-houses their authority to redeeme dead mens soules from purgatory And that which did more increase the peoples spleene it was generally reported that Laurence of Medicis had carried a breefe froÌ his vncle to King Francis whereby he allowed him to imploy the money gathered throughout his Realme for this warre to what vses hee pleased vpon condition to yeeld it when it should be demaunded for the voyage beyond the seas and to imploy fifty thousand crownes to the benefit of the said Laurence his Nephew A worthy cause to make the French repine seeing the money they gaue to a good intent was conuerted to contrarie vses But that which made the Germains wonderfully impatient Leo had giuen to his sister Maudlin the profit of the exaction of Indulgences in many parts of Germany who appointed the Bâshop Arembauld a Commissioner in that part Worthy saith the history of such a charge the which he executed with great couetousnes and extortion Being the more odious for that this holy money went to satisfie the greedinesse of a woman So as not only this exaction and the Agents thereof but also his name and authority that granted it became odious in many prouinces Martin Luther a religious man of the order of S. Austin learned and vehement The beginning of Lutheââ doctrine began to preach against these indulgences in his publike sermons he taxeth the Popes authority complaines of Albert of Brandebourg Archbishop of Mayence and of the doctrine which these gatherers did teach
the Venetians of two and twentie thousand ducats which they should contribute euery moneth did owe threescore thousand and that little which Lautrec did gather of the custome of the Cattell of Apulia was imployed for the defraying of his ordinarie expences The number of the defendants ââs great their experience in deeds of armes well tryed beeing nine or ten thousand old soldiars It was therefore better to beseege then to assaile Naples A braâe âtratagem of Philippin Dorie and to prouide that they might not bee releeued with victualles neyther by land nor sea Philippin Dorie kept the gulphe of Salerne and the Imperialls relying vpon the valour and strength of their men conceiue a hope to ouercome him This resolution was necessary for the Spaniards they make choise of a thousand Spanish shot and diuide them into six Galleys foure Foists and two Brigantines Don Hugues the âiceroy Gobbe an olde sea Captaine and almost all men oâ command will be partakers and to amaze Dorie a farre off by a shew of a greater number of shippes they make a long traine of Fisher-boates and send two galleys before giuing them charge to retire at the enemies approach that they might draw them into the open sea Dorie aduertiâed of the Imperials councell by faithfull spies makes three of his galleys to disperse themselues as if they fled to the end that turning they might through fauour of the winde charge them in flanke and in poupe and followed with fiue galleys he marcheth towards the enemie The greatest stratagems consist in expedition the first blow ãâã worth two The Spaniards presumed that compassing in Dorie with the smoake of their Canon to take from him his sight and marke Dorie preuents them and for the first check he carries away with one Canon shotte fortie men out of the Admiraâl amongst the which was the Captaine and many officers the other peeces fitly discharged do likewise disorder them On the other side the galley of Don Hugues discharging her Canon kils the Captaine of Dories galley and hurts the maister with some others The approches are made and a furious charge is giuen with their shoâte and other armes These two fight with great courage three other Imperials presse two Genâuoises and seemed to haue the better after the death of many men of either side when as the other three which made shew to flie hauing gotten into the âpen Sea they turne the prâwe against the enemie beate in peeces the Admiralâ aâd an other called Gobbe take their foists sinke some burne others kill their men breake their armes and fighting hand to hand and foote to foote in the end they get both the aduantage of the combate and the honour of the victorie Don Hugues de Moncade Viceroy of Naples Fieramosque with many other Gentlemen and Captaines A victorâe at âea gotten by Philippin Dorie and aboue a thousand men wee slaine and remained a prey for the Fish Two Spanish foists sore battered recouered Naples with great difficultie the Prince of Orange caused the maister of one of them to be hanged the other went and yeelded to Philippin Dorie The Marquis of Guast Ascanius and Camille Colonnes the Prince of Salerne Saint Croix le Kiz Gobbe Serenon with a great number of chiefe men The successe thereof were taken prisoners These are goodly beginnings in so famous a siege which fill the French with great hopes of a happy successe and the Imperialls with a strange amazament They see the flower of their men buried in the waues they haue lost the command of the Sea and are blockt vp so neere at land as they haue no meanes to be releeued with victuals they haue no meale but by their hand mills no money for their souldiars the plague did dayly diminish their numbers Stabie Saint Germaine Fondy and all the countrie about yeelds to the conquerour the Prince of Melfe ioynes to that partie the people of Calabria seeme very willing to come vnder their command Distresses in the French armie But the point of a totall victorie consisted either in the conquest or the defence of Naples Our men were much annoyed for fresh water diseases encreased the which did greatly waste the armie the enemy being stronger in light horse did cut off their prouisions by their dayly sallies Lautrec without doubt a great Captaine but absolute in his opinions left most of his horsemen dispersed at Capoua Auerse and Nola so as the black bands hauing no horse to second them came often with disaduantage from their skirmishes The report was that they prepared an armie at sea at Marseilles but it was onely in imagination The Venetians more carefull of their priuate interest then of the generall good fitted themselues of those places which should be their portion of the conquest The Pope had no other desseine but to recouer the authoritie which his house was wont to enioy at Florence Thus there appeared many difficulties on either side yet such as there was an expectation of victorie for the French for in the end there arriues two and twenty Venetian galleys in the gulphe of Naples the tenth of Iune which depriued the besieged of all commodities at sea and threatned them with a generall famine But see what caused the totall ruine of our French The Emperour in the middest of a notable losse makes a great gaine We do commonly sinke vnder our owne burthens and are the cause motiues of our owne miseries The infidelitie of the Genouois is herein detestable but we may obserue a goodly lesson for Princes To endure much of a rude seruant when he is profitable vnto them and that they must neuer hope to recouer him when he is chased away or lost Lautrec aduertised of the foresaid victorie commanded they should send the prisoners into France Phillippin puts them into two gallies with that intent But the bootie was too good and might easily draw a Genouois soule to dispence with his faith As they passed by Genes Andrew Dorie stayed them couering his secret desseins with this pretext That the King had not satisfied him for the ransome of the Prince of Orange and other prisoners which hee had taken at Porte-sin during the seege of Pauie the which had beene set at libertie a peace being concluded at Madril with the Emperour neither yet for the entertainment of his galleys without the which he could no longer maintaine them That if it pleased his Maiestie to do him right yeeld vnto the Genouois their accustomed commands ouer Sauone the King thinking to keepe Genes in awe had transported the traffike of marchandise and the custome of salt to Sauonne with their ancient liberties and priuileges he would deale with the people that for assurance of his faith hee should furnish the King with twelue gallies entertayned in the which he might place such Captaines and souldiars as hee should thinke good reseruing onely two gallies for the gard of the port A strange and insolent
fourscore thousand men whereof there should bee tenne thousand horse with artillerie requisite for the said Campe. And besides this treatie these two Kings had many causes of discontent Our King found himselfe grieuously wronged for that the Pope and the Emperour with theââ partisans had newly made a League for the defence of Italie whereof they had declared Anthonie de Leue to bee generall The King of England had no lesse cause to complayne of the wrong he sayd the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of ãâã diuorce seâking to force him either to go to prison to Rome for to send then with expresse deputation men of great account that should stand to the Popes Iâdgement An insolent proceeding in like cases chanced among soueraine Princes seeing thât such a businesse of that importance and touching the conscience so neere did well deserue that according to the vsuall custome they should send Iudgeâ to the place it being reasonable that the persons should speake personally and ãâã by their Atturneyes and very vnreasonable that a Soueraine Prince leauing the ãâã and gouernment of his estates should goe and plead his cause at Rome Moreââer hee did complaine vnto the King of the exactions of the Romaine Church vppon the clergie and people of England and did instantly require that they two sâould send their Ambassadors ioyntly togither to the Pope to summon him to appeare at the next Councell forto heare the extortions he did vnto Princes and Chrisââân people The King propounded like abuses The Pope had dissembled with him touching certaine tithes which hee had graunted him to leuie vppon the Clergie and the French Church complayned of him of the vndutifull and new exactions which vnder colour of pietie they made at Rome for the expedition of Bulls by meanes whereof all the treaâor was daily carried out of his Realme to the preiudice of the Clergie which grew poore the Churches were not restored nor the poore âââthed nor fedd their yeerely rents were excessiue no equalitie in them many officeâs newly created which were payd vpon the dispatch and expedition of Bulls ouer and aboue the iust price which they were wont in former time to pay the offices which fell voyd were sold to the great benefit and profit of Saint Peter entertaining many gromes Chamberlaines Protonotaries their seruants Gardâners and others and for the repairing of Saint Peters Church a great summe of money was leuied the which they did afterwards imploy to make warre against the King Yet the King would neither wholly allow nor disallow of the King of Englands complaints but for that the Pope had sent him a promise by the Cardinall of Grandmont of an enterview at Nice or Auignon after the Emperours returne into Spaine he reqâested the King of England to attend the issue of their parle These griefes of the French Church had beene presented vnto the King in thâ assembly of the Estates of the Countrie and Duchie of Brittaine with many other things farre from that charitie which ought to be in the Church In the said Estates it was concluded The Duchie of Brittany incoâporate to the Crowne That Francis the Kings eldest sonne Daulphin of Viennois should be acknowledged Duke of Brittaine that the eldest sonne of France should hereafter carrie the titles of Daulphin of Viennois and Duke of Brittanie and the said Duchie should for euer be incorporate to the Crowne So the treatie made by the marriage betwixt King Charles the 8. and Anne Duchesse of Brittanie and others following were disanulled in regarde of the said Duchie As these things passed in England William of Bellay Lord of Langey promised the Germaine Princes in the Kings name That for the affection he bare to the preserââtion of the priuileges rights and customes of the Empire if the Emperour ãâã whom he desired to obserue inuiolably the alliances and treaties he had with ãâã would in that case imploy his forces to their oppression A treatie betwixt the King and the Princes of Germaââe he would succour them ãâã all his power so as neither his men nor money should not be imployed to the offââce âf any of his confederates namely of the Emperour but onely to defend the rights ãâã priuileges of the Empire A great desseine is alwayes shadowed with goodly sheweâ Herevpon the Emperour came to Bologne to conferre againe with the Pope The Kings of France and England well informed of the Emperours bad disposition and especially the English of the Popes to him by reason of his preâended diuorce they sent the Cardinals of Tournon Grandmont the Popes seruants that vnder coâourââ accompanie him at this enterview they might imploy their authorities that nothing might be done to the preiudice of their Maiesties The Kings of France and England complaine of the Pope or at the least they should giue iââelligence of their conclusions And the sayd Cardinals had commission to lay âpen vnto the Pope the griefes and complaints of the two Kings and to summon him to make reparation if not they would take order for it So as his Holynesse might weâl perceiue that they two together were not to be contemned and to wish him to cânsider wisely of the support and profit he might draw from these two Kings and what disgrace otherwise in discontenting them especially the King of England whose cause the King did no lesse affect then his owne For sayd these two Princes if wee come to demand a generall councell and his Holinesse doth not grant it or delayes it we shall take his delay for a deniall and calling it without him we will easily ãâã the fact with other Princes who producing the like or greater complaints would in the end forbid their subiects to send or carrie any money to Rome If his Holinesse for so did our Francis protest will proceed by censures against me and my realme and that I be forced to go to Rome for an absolution I will passe the Alpes so well accompanied as his Holynesse shall be glad to grant it me The scandales of Rome haue already withdrawne most part of Germaine and the Cantons from the obedience of the Romaine Church It is to be feared that if these two mightie Kings seuer themselues for want of Iustice they shall finde many adherents and these two together with their open and secret allyes may make such an attempt as it will be hard to resist That if the holy father be disposed to moderate things especially towards the King of England there is hope that at the first enterview all may be ordered by mildnesse before they should proceed to greater bitternesse by a generall summons from both the Kings Thus the King spake vnto those Cardinals whom he sent to Rome But we haue elsewhere obserued that men of the Church do commonly prefer the Popes respect before the seruice of such as imploy them These flea the Eeâe by the taââe 1533 and in steed of following their instructions from point
Bishop carried the spirituall sword in his hand to draw it for vnlawfull things at the fiâst impression of his fantasie To crosse the Pope the King forbids expresly to carry or send any gold or siluer to Rome for any dispatches Bulles Annats Dispensations or any other thing commaunding the Metropolitaines of the Realme to prouide according to the ancient priuileges and liberties of the French Church And for that Gonzague beseeged Parma to giue both the Emperour and the Court of Rome a blowe hee commâunded Charles of Cosse Marshall and Lord of Brissac his Lieutenant generall in Piedmont by the death of the Prince of Melphe to fortifye and furnish Miranâoâe Brissac sends some Souldiars Gonzague surpriseth them and puts them secretly to death and sodaynly doth belegar Mirandola War in Italy Warre is nowe begunne on all sides and for light occasions hee that seekes a quarrell wants no apparent shewes to colour it Both these Princes expected some worthye occasion But let vs raise vp our thoughts and say That GOD had not powred ãâã all his iudgements against Christendome being full of excesse and worthy of ãâã puââishment 1551. The King sends newe forces into Piedmont and commands the Marshal to ãâã Parma and Mirandola He effects it and by the taking of Quiers S. Damain ãâ¦ã places he forceth Gonzague to abandon the country of Parmesan to succour Montâerrat and to defend the estate of Milan On the other side Mary Queene of Hongary and Gouernesse of the Lowe Countries for the Emperour armed in fauour of her brother both by sea and land And vnderstanding that for a greater confirmation of loue the Marshall S. Andre earned in the Kings name the order of France to young Edward King of England she caused certaine ships to lie betwixt Calais and Douer to seize on him in his passage Buââo preuent her policy the Marshall caused some Flemish ships to be stayed which lay at anchor in the road of Diepe vntill they were assured of his arriuall in England And Mary likewise seized vpon all the French ships that were within her gouernement Thus hart burning grew on all sides which burst out into open warre euery one calls home his Ambassadors and assures the places neerest to the enemie the King especially of Lorraine hauing some iealousie of Christienne the Dowager and neere allied to the Emperour who to free her selfe from that imputation did put her selfe with her Sân Charles into the Kings protection who caused him to be brought vp with the Daulphin Francis and afterwards he married one of his Maiesties daughters Before we proceed to open acts of hostility the King excused himselfe vnto the Pope by the Lord of Termes for that which he did in sauour of Octauian Farnesâ and by the Abbot of Bellosanne he protested against the decrees of the Assembly which was held at Trent the which considering the Popes and the Emperours spleene against France he could not hold to be a lawfull and holy generall Councell Not that I pretend said he to withdraw my selfe from the obedience of the Church but onely to auoide the surprises of such as vnder colour of reformation seeke to disgrace both my person and realme And in trueth he confirmed sufficiently this last clause by the rigorous ordinances which he published against those which had their cause common with the Protestants of Germany touching matters of religion whereby fires were a new kindled against them in many parts of the Realme and yet the King treated priuately with the Protestant Princes of Germany and generally with all the Electors and free Citties of the Empire Who sawe their liberties and freedomes in a manner ruined if they did not oppose some mighty aduersary against the Emperour who by maine force might stay the course of his vnmeasured couetousnesse The Emperour contrary to his oath detained Iohn Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgraue of Hesse in miserable captiuity A league betwixt the King and the Proteââânts of Germany He had vanquished most of the other Princes in war and fearing least the French should in the ende demaund the right vsurped in old time by the Saxons ouer the heires of Charlemaigne when the Empire was hereditary he pretended to transport the Imperiall Crowne into his house for euer and now he thought to haue a fit oportunity He had suppressed his enemies in Germany he had a Pope at his deuotion he was armed The most part of the Cardinalls who assisted at the Councell were either naturall Spaniards or of the Spanish faction and by consequence might easily by a decree of this councell giue authority to what hee intended With this disseine he had caused his son Prince Philip to come out off Spaine who died King of Spaine in the yeare 1598. to haue him declared his successor or at least his associate in the Empire oppressing the people of Germany by insolent and tyrannicall exactions The Electors not accustomed to seruitude and lesse to the slauery of Spaine not able with their own forces to shake off the yoake which they see ready to be layd vpon them they repaire vnto the King shewe him the wrongs and outrages done vnto them they pretended the ouerthrow of the holy Empire and the abolishment of the rights and priuileges of the Electors Commonalties and Lords of the same they beseech him that in regard of the auncient league betwixt the Empire and the crowne of France he would take their iust cause in hand and maintaine the common liberty of Germanie The King resolues to enter into League with them 1552. and graunts the succours which they demanded They giue him this honorable title Defender of the Germains The King makes a league with the ãâã of Germany against the Emperour protector of the nation and of the holy Empire He armes thirtie thousand men and desirous to countenance his forces with his owne presence he appoints Queene Katherine his wife Regent in France he makes many goodly Edicts for the gouernment of the state for the ordring of his men at armes and for the obseruation of military discipline hee reformes the abuses of Commanders suppresseth the insolencie of souldiars a commendâble institution in comparison of that which hath beene seene in the raignes of his children and giues the Rendezuous âor his armie at Vitry Hee was accompanied with ââthonie Duke of V ndosme whom we shall shortly see King of Nauarre by the decease of Henry of Albret his father in Lawe Iohn Duke of Anguien Lewis Prince of Conde all bretheren Lewis Duke of Montpensier Charles Prince of Roche-sur-yon al of the royall familie of Bourbon the Dukes of Neuors Nemours Guise Aumale Elbeuf The Kings armie the Lords of Rohan Rochefoucault Chastillon d' Andelot and others in great numbers in very good order The Cânstable of Montmorencie was made generall of the armie a house which sâaâ hereafter be made a Duchie and Peere of France Claude of Loârâine Duke of ãâã a yonger brother
Guise his brother the command in warre This was properly to giue the Constable to vnderstand that without warrant hee should take his leaue the which hee did after that hee had conducted his good maister to the graue And to play their parts absolutely without controule they send the Prince of Conde into Flanders vnder colour to confirme the peace and him of Roche-sur-yon to carry the order of France to the King of Spaine then at his returne they depute him with the Cardinall of Bourbon to conduct Elizabeth to Philip her husband In the meane time the Guisians call the Cardinall of Tournon from Rome a man fitte for their humors They displace part of the ancient officers of the Kings house and place new at their deuotion they furnish Prouinces and fronter Townes with gouernours of their owne choise they obtaine a declaration from the King sitting in parliament whereby he made it knowne that touching all affaires which concerned the estate of his Crowne and house his pleasure was they should hereafter repaire to his two Vncles To conclude they do and vndoe place and displace in Parliament and priuie Councell like to a King of absolute power And the Queene mother challengeth the gâft of money growing of the confirmation of offices and priuileges of Townes and commonalties the which by right cannot be exacted but when the realme falls into a collaterall line Now are they setled in this vsurped gouernment they haue officers at their pleasure But there is yet a moate in their eye Those of the religion who then were called reformed let vs hereafter call them Protestants for their common cause with the Protestants of Germanie multiplied infinitely Some Princes and many Noblemen did countenance them and were ready to take their protection To weaken them nay rather to ruine them quite the Kings letters pattents are granted the 14. of Iuly with a Commission to certaine Iudges for the triall of Anne du Bourg and foure of his companions prisoners It was to be feared their proceeding against these fiue Counsellors would preiudice the whole party They beseech the Queene by their letters who had made shew to incline to their doctrine when as she was barren to vse her aâthoritie in the restraint of these rigorous pursutes She passeth her word to the Prince of Condé and Admirall so as they will liue secretly and without any scandale Herevpon Anthonie King of Nauarre greatly prest by some Princes and Noblemen the Constable at the death of Henry had perswaded him to seize first on the gouernment arriues in Court being at S. Germaine in Laye Anthony King of Nauarre comes to Court and is disgraced hauing at Poitiers giuen good hope to some Ministers of the Protestant Churches to make open profession of their religion But what entertainment do they giue to this first Prince of the bloud of France his harbingers finde no lodging for him within the Castle It shall cost me my life and ten thousand more with me said the Duke of Guise to his harbinger before they take from me the place and lodging which the King hath giuen me neere vnto his person No man goes to meete him those of Guise looke that he should go to salute them and which is worse the next day he haâh no place in Councell After some dayes the King sayes vnto him that his Vncles hauing the charge of affaires hee desired them that would haue his fauour to obey them in all things So hauing obtained confirmation of his offices and pensions he approued by his silence the vsurpation of the house of Guise who lead the King to Rheims where he was triumphantly annointed the eighteene of September by the Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop of that place Soone after the Coronation The Princeâ and chiefâ officers of the Crowne disgraced the Queene mother gets a resignation from the Constable of the office of Lord Steward in fauour of the Duke of Guise in recompence made his sonne Marshall of France The Admirall foreseeing that they would dispossesse him of the gouernement of Picardie hee first gaue the King to vnderstand that it belonged to the Prince of Condé for that his predecessors had long enioyed it ãâã resignation was willinglie accepted but not the condition It was better to pââchase a good seruant and partisan which was the Marshall of Brissac Thus the Prââces and chiefe officers of the Crowne were disgraced but those that were ãâ¦ã among the people were not mute They had a good share in the priuate discontent of these great personages foreseeing the disorders that might ensue and require a Parliament as the Soâetâââ cure for such diseases whereby the Queene Mother might be excluded from the Regencie and those of Guise put from the Kings person To please the King theâ perswade him that they sought to bridle him and to make him a ward that hee should hold them enemies to his authority and guiltie of high ââeason that talke of a Parliament The King of Spaine crosseth them and by letters written to the King his brother in Lawe the which were read in Councell in the presence of the King of Nauarre he declares himselfe saieth hee for the good affection he did beare Tutor and Protector of him his Realme and his affaires against those that would change the gouernment of the estate as if the King were not capable of the gouernment Pleasant people which reiect so much the word of lawfull Tutâlage and yet they vsurpe it against the Lawes and orders of the Realme holding it onely by tyranie This other affront sent the King of Nauarre home into Bearne whence he came All this did but increase the hatred of great and small against the Guisians Many treaties are published written and printed and all tend to proue That it belonges to the Estates to prouide gouernours for Kings in their minorities that these two bretheren are incapable of the gouernment being both strangers the one a priest the other presuming to say in the life of the decreased King that the Realme belonged to the house of Lorraine as issued from Charlemagne from whome Hugh Capet had vsurped it A proposition which they haue presumed to publish in these latter times but so often confuted as it needes no further discours The King began to growe and euen nowe hee complayned that they kept him from hearing of his subiects complaints but he was so sickely as there was no hope of long life To get ââre footing in the gouernment of Estate they resolue to purchase many seruants in the Courts of Paliament to winne the affections of Courtiers and men of warre and by a burning zeale to the rooting out of Protestants to purchase the loue of the Clergie and people Anne du Bourg executed They publish sundrie Edicts against them they promise great recompences to them that discouer their assemblies many Townes fill their prisons they imploy aire fire and water to ruine them and yet it seemes that the more
they kill the more they increase Amongest others Anne of Bourg persisting in the confession of his faith vpon the points of religion in controuersie was on the twentieth of December hanged at the Greue and his bodie then burnt to ashes The Counsellors âa Forte Foix Faur and Fumee imprisoned for the same causes escaped with some sharpe admonitions Manie could not beare this oppression The Princes were kept backe the greatest of the Realme out of credit threatned and secretly pursued to the death the conuocation of the Estates refused the Paliaments corrupted the Iudges for the most part at the Guisians deuotion the publike Treasure offices and benefices were giuen to whom they pleased Some learned Lawyers and diuines answered That the Princes beeing in that case borne Lawefull Magistrates and called by the Estates of the Realme or the âounder part thereof they might with their fauour or of some one of them lawefully oppose themselues against the vsurped gouernment and authoritie of the house of Guise and take armes at neede to withstand their force and violence But with this consideration of the publike they had so manie priuate passions as the enterprise must needes be fatall to the vndertakers The enterprise required a stout and couragious leader for the chiefe plot was to seize at what price soeuer on the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall his brother and then to require a parliamentâ to make them yeeld an account of their gouernment and to prouide for the King and Realme Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Conde is instantly required to accept therof The Prince examines the consequence of the fact and hauing imparted it to some persons âouing the good of the realme he giues comission to informe secretly of the crimes wherewith the house of Guise was charged to ãâ¦ã the same as conscience the coÌmon good should require They find by informations and certaine personages well qualified being priuie to their secret desseins and ââânesse that their intention was the King beâng vnable by the iudgement of the Phisitians to liue long nor to haue any issue first to roote out all Lutherans in France then to murther all the Princes of the bloud and to seize vpon the realme Moreouer they were charged with many thefts robings and extortions and by consequence were in many things found guiltie of high Treason The difficultie was how to seize vpon these two persons Godârâe of Barri Lord of Renaudie a Baron of Perigort accepts the managing of this action Tumult of Anâoâse and the Prince promiseth to assist him with his authoritie So as nothing bee said or done against God the King his brethren the Princesse nor the Estate protesting to oppose himselfe first against any one that should attempt the contraiâe Aâl that were in the action bind themselues to the like oth yea to aduertise the King if any thing were pretended against his Maiestie they appoint the tenth of March hoping to fiâd the Court still at Blois Fiue hundred French gentlemen with other troupes vnder the commaund of the Baron of Castelnau should accompanie Renaudie followed by a thousand others besides their troups on foote But it is almost impossible to keepe secret an enterprise imparted to so many diuerse humors but some one will discouer it Renaudie lodged at Paris in the suburbs of Saint Germaine in an Aduocats house a Protestant by profession who hauing discouered somewhat of this enterprise vnder colour to imploy himselfe for the aduantage thereof he learned all that passed But hoping of some notable recompence he sodenly went discouered it to Alemand master of requests a fauorite to the Cardinall and to Milet Secretarie to the Duke of Guise And Lignieres one of the Captaines of the enterprise did afterwards bewray the names of the commanders the rendezuous for their troupes with other circumstances to the Queene mother to saue said hee the honour and life of the Prince of Condé whom they accused of high treason To assure their persons they transport the King to Amâoâse they send letters from the King and his mother to call the Admirall and his brethren to Court they dispatch many letters Patents to Baylifâ and Seneshalls against all such as should be found carrying of armes vppon the way to Amboise The Admirall being arriued makes great admonitions to the Queene mother in presence of the Chancellor vpon the extreme violences and poursuits against the Protestants and the Chancellor hauing freely propounded the Admirals aduice in councell there followed an edict for the abolishing of that was past for matter of religion But this pardon excluded all ministers and such as should be found to haue conspired against the King his mother his wife or the Princesse his cheefe officers or the estate and all other culpable of like crimes Notwithstanding this Edict Renaudie proceeds and the Prince goes to Court to present the informations to the King against the houâe of Guise when as they should be seized on The execution was put off to the sixteenth by reason of the change of the place In the meane time the Guisiens had assembled men from aâl parts so as the troupes arriuing one after one to the appointed places were presenâly seized on The Bâron of Castelnau and the cheeâe of the factâon are at the Castle of Noisay the Guisiens aduertiâed thereof perswade the King that there are rebeâs assembled to murther him The King sends the Duke of Nemours wiâh a troupe 1560. who at the first surpriseth Captaine Maâerâs and Râunay walking without the Castle and sends them prisoners to Amboise he doth then belegar the Castle summons the Baron to lay aside armes and to go speake with the King binding himselfe by the faith of a Prince that he should haue no haâme The Baron trusted to his word But being arriued they speake with no man but with comissioners appointed for their trials Renaudie caused his troupes to aduance couertely through the woods but they had walled vp the gate by the which they should enter and the horsemen sent by the Guâsiens compassing them in many were led away and presently hanged and afterwards drawne to the riuer And as hee laboured to rallie his dispersed troupe the Lord of Pardillon incounters him in the forest of Chasteau-regnard Cruell executions at Amboise and passing by dischargeth his pistoll the which not taking fire Renaudie had his sword first drawne and as he was about to kill him one of the Pardillans seruants ouerthrew him with a harguebâs being slaine his bodie was straightway carried and hanged on the bridge at Amboise with this inscription Renaudie called la Forest cheefe of the rebelles Those of Guise being assured of their enemies and their troupe dispersed they giue commaundement to the Prince of Condé in the Kings name not to depart without leaue They begin to cut off heads to hang and to drowne their prisoners tyed to long poles six eight tenne twelue and fifteene in a companie and although there were
Queene the 17. of October The Princes gouerned by their innocencie arriue the eeue of All Saints and passe from the Portereau to the Kings lodging vpon the Estappe The Princes arââue betwixt two rankes of armed men The Cardinall of Bourbon and the Prince of Roche-sur-yon receiue them Not a Courtier nor a Bourgeios meetes them and for their first affront when as they sought to enter on horse-back according to the vsuall custome they were answered with a Brauado The great gates do not open The King attended them at the first hauing done their duties to his Maiestie and no man aduanced to bid them welcome I am said he to the Prince of Condé aduertised from diuers places that you haue made many enterprises against me and the estate of my realme and therefore I haue sent for you to know the truth ârom your owne mouth Lewis iustifies himselfe so plainly and doth charge his enemies so directly as the King himselfe could not impute these accusations bât to the wilfulnesse of his Vncles agâinst his owne bloud But he was possessed by them and suffered himselfe to be easiââe abused So hee commands Chauigny The Prince of Conde impriâoned Captaine of his gards sent by them of Guise to seize vpon the Prince Chauigny shuts him vp in a house hard by beâore the which they make a fort of Brick fâânked with Canoniers and furnished with field peeces to defend the approches The Lady of Roye his mother in law was likewise carried from Anici a house of hers in Picardie prisoner to S. Germaine in Laye by Renouarâ and Carrouges Ierosââe Groslot Bayliffe of Orleans vnder colour that his father had beene Chancellor to the deceased King of Nauarre and hee an affectionate seruant to the Princes accused also to be the Protector of the Lutherans in Orleans was likewise imprisoned two dayes after the Princes arriuall La Haye Councellor in the Court of Parliament at Paris who did solicite the Princes affaires was also in trouble Amaury Bouchart maister of Requests vnto the King and Chancellor to the Nauarrois was sent prisoner to Melun which others brought from Lions to haue proofes against the Prince whose triall they did hasten with all speed But they meant no harme to Bouchart he had already retired himselfe and blabbed by his Letters to the Cardinall of Lorraine to the preiudice of his maister Neither the informations taken at Lions by the Marshall S. André noâ the prisoners at Melun were sufficient to make the Prince a spectacle vpon a scaffold They send for the president of Thou Commissioners to aâaigne the Prince Bartholmewe Faye and Iames Viole Councellors of the Parliament at Paris to examine the Prince vpon the point of high Treason and if this peece of batterie were not of force then to touch him vpon the point of religion and to condemne him for heresie The Prince propounds diuers causes of recusation and appeales from them to the King The priuie Councell reiects his appeale and decrees That vpon paine of high treason the Prince should answer before these Commissioners He answers purgeth himselfe cleerly of all crime and aduowes his religion freelie The Prince condemned By this confession iudgement was giuen against him he condemned to dye a day appointed the x. of December to countenance the beginning of the Parliament They onely note the Earle of Saâcerre the Chancellor and the Councellor Morâier which did not pollute their soules with the approbation of this vniust sentence This sentence should in the end cause the ruine of all that were accused or suspected as well for matter of State as religion And for the execution of this desseine the forces of the realme diuided into foure marched already into diuers Prouinces vnder the command of the Duke of Aumale and the Marshals of S. André of Brissac and of Termes And with the same furie the King of Nauarre should bee confined into the Castle oâ Loches the Constable and his children to the great Tower at Bourges the Admirall and some principalls into one at Orleans the which was afterwards called the Admirale neere to that of S. Aignan But behold there are two more violent and more brutish councellors Brissac and S. André they hold opinion that to auoide trouble in giuing the King of Nauarre any gardes they should put him to death they imploy both poison and sword but neither succeeds God had otherwise decreed reseruing these princes for a more honourable death But howsoeuer let vs confesse that the Lord hath strange meanes to punish the ambition of great men we shall scarce see any one of those which acte these furious parts vpon the theator of this Historie end his dayes by an ordinarie and naturall death The x. day of December approched and the Deputies for the Estates ariue by degrees They presently forbid them in the Kings name vpon paine of death not to moue any thing concerning religion his Maiestie hauing referred this controuersie to the Councell which the Pope being then Pius the 4. successor to Theatin lately deceased appointed to begin at Trent at Easter following Those of Languedeâ amongst the rest came furnished with ample instructions both for the State and religion but they found meanes to stop their mouthes seizing both on their persons and instructions The ix day of the moneth they giue commandement to the King of Nauarre to be ready to go to horse-back their meaning was to carry him to Loches whilest they should present the prince his Brother vpon a mournefull Scaffold to the people of Orleans But O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declared the worke which thou hast done in their time A miraculous deliuerie and in the old time before them Behold the King is taken during Euen-song with a great fainting continued with a paine in his head at the left eare accompanied with a Feuer The Guisâens notwithstanding send forth many Commissions to leuie men and command the Marshaâl of Târmes to ioyne with the Spaniard who tooke the way of Bayonne to spoile the Country of Berne and then to assaile all those whome he should finde to haue fauored the King of Nauarre and the enterprise of Amboise It may be they would haue sold their liues deerely Seauen or eight hundred gentlemen go speedily to horse followed with fiue or six thousand foote resolute when the Marshall should passe Limoges to âemme him in betwixt two riuers He hath some intelligence thereof and râtires to Poitiers This desseine being made frustrate the Kings sicknesse encreasing those of Guise meane to proceed with violence and to murther the King of Nauarre God raysed vp the Cardinall of Tournon who thinking to do a greater act preuents it Hee aduiseth to attend the Constables comming with his Children and Nephewes to the end sayd he that killing one we saue not the rest who afterwards may do more harme then the Princes The dispaire of the Kings helth made them of
Guise to set a good countenance on a bad cause And the Queene mother seeking to hold her authority by supporting them of Guise calles the King of Nauarre into her closet As he was entring a Ladie of the Court sayd to him in his eare My Lord denie the Queene Mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead So he signed what shee desired A grant of the right which hee might pretend to the gouernment of the King and Regencie of the Realme and his reconciliation with them of Guise Vpon this graunt she promiseth to make him the Kings Lieutenant in France both for peace and warre and nothing should passe but by his aduice and of the other Princes who should bee respected according to the degree they held in France In the meane time death presseth the King The death of Fancis the 2. and those of the house of Guise shut vp in their lodging and seized vpon three or foure scoore thousand frankes which remained yet of the treasor came not forth in two dayes vntill they were assured of the King of Nauarre who hauing imbraced one an other all quarrells seemed to be layd vnder foote In the end this Catarre with a feuer brought the King to his graue the fourteenth of December hauing giuen no time by reason of his yong age and the shortenesse of his âaigne to discouer any thing in him but onely some shewes of courtesie continency and modestie vertues which his Vncles had easily corrupted by the tast of crueltie which they began to make an impression of in his soule as they did in his successors little lamented for his person but of such as possessing him in his âoâage grounded the greatnesse of their vsurped estates vpoÌ his life to ouerthrowe the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme whatsoeuer some wretched writers do babble whose soules haue beene as vendible as the Guisiens armes were then new in our France This death gaue life to the Prince of Condé opened the prisons for such as had beene committed for his cause reuiued an infinit number whome the Princes condemnation had drawne into danger countermanded the troupes of Spaine which aduanced towards Bearn disapointed Montluâ of the Earldome of Armagnaâ the which he had deuoured in hope by the promises of the house of Guise and brought many of their most secret seruants to the King of Nauarres deuotion CHARLES the 9. the 61. King of France CHARLES THE .9 KING OF FRANCE 1560. NOW we fall from a feuer into a frensie Wee shall see vndââ aââther pupill King of eleuen yeares of age raigning in the wrathââ God the heauens to powre vpon this Realme all the curses ãâã promised against a nation whose iniquities hee will punish ãâ¦ã dââpleasure A raigne cursed in the Cittie and cursed in the ãâã cursed in the beginning and cursed in the ending Mortality ãâã and âamine haue followed it euen vnto the end The heauens aboue are of brasse and the eaâth vnder iâ of iron the carcases are a prey to the birds of the aire to the bââsts of the field and no man trouble them They suffer no thing but wrongs and robberies and no man releââes them Men marry wiues but others sleepe with them They ãâã and plant but the nations whom they haue not knowne deuowre the fruit To conclude there is nothing but cuâsing terror and dissipation The 23. of December the Parliament began and that which the Queene mother most desiââd the coâfirmation of heâ Regencie allowed by the Chancellor and afterwards by those that were the speakers Iohn Quintin of Autun a doctor of the Cannon Lawe at Paris A Parliament ââld ât Orleans for the Clergie the Lord of Rochefort Damoisel of Commerây for the Nobility Angelo then Aduocate of the Parliament at Bourdeaux and afterwards Councellor there for the people The Chancellor propounded manie articles touching the meanes to pacifie the troubles and the remedies for that which concerned the estate and religion to discharge the Kings debts Quintin would haue the ministers of the Church inforced to discharge their duties not altering any thing in the reformation thereof the which cannot erre not to suffer any other then the Chatholike Apâstolicke and Romish religion Against such as demanded Temples and against the deliuerer of their petition meaning the Admirall against whom said he they should proceed according to the Canon and Ciuill constitutions for the prohibiting of such bookes as were not allowed by the Doctors of the Sârbonne and for the rooting ouâ of Lutherans and Caluinists âochfort did speake against the iurisdictions vsurped by the Clergie against the disorders growne among the Nobles against the wrong done to the true Nobilitie against the confusions growne by confiscations for matter of religion against seditions of the meanes to order the Clergie to containe them in their vocation for the releefe of the people especially in matters of Iustice the which should be reduced to a certaine number of Officers Ange insisted much vpon the ignorance couetousnesse and dissolution of the Clergie whence proceeded the greatest part of these present scandales The next day vpon the Admirals complaint to the Queene Mother Quintin excused himselfe vpon the instructions which were giuen him in writing and in his second speech hee did moderate his pleâ to the Admirals content The Estates continued their conferences and made the beginning of this yeare famous by some prouision for matters of religion whereby it was forbidden vpon paine of death noâ to reproach religion one to another and commandement giuen to all Iudges and offiâers to set at libertie all such as had beene imprisoned for the said religion Many other good necessary lawes were published but with more confusion then profit And in truth a number of lawes ill obserued peruert Iustice and giues the people occasion not to regard them But when they come seriously to handle the discharge of the Kings debts and that the Nauarrois submits himselfe to restitution If it be found that he hath receiued any extraordinary guifts those of Guise and others which could not make the like offer found meanes to frustrate this proposition by the referring of the Estates to Ponâoise hoping hereafter to find some deuise to preuent their yelding vp of any accoumpt Put of to Ponââoise And in truth all these assemblies vanished away like smoake without any other resolution then to lay the paiment of the Kings debts vpon the Clergie The King of Nauarre the other Princeâ of the bloud the Constable seeing themselues held to no end in Court and that for matters of State they had but the leauings of them of Guise it made them trusse vp their baggage to retire with an intent to crosse the regencie of the Qâeene Mother and the Guisiâns authoritie To frustrate this desseine she makes a new accord with the Nauarrois doth associate him in the gouernement of the realme and concludes with him that leauing the title of Regent he should
causiâg the Prince his son to go onâe to the Masse the K. of Spaine would giue him the realme of Sardigne The King of Nauarââ âorsakâs the Protestants in recompence of that of Nauarre The Pope likewise confirmes him in this hope This was properly to conceiue a mountaine to bring forth a mouse to take froÌ him al means to recouer his realme of Nauarre when he should attempt it So as being drawne by those Spanish and Lorraine practises he estrangeth him selfe by little and little from the protestants sollicits the Q. his wife to retuâne into the bosome of the Romish Church and so to instruct her children Vpon her refusal there growes a breach betwixt theÌ and he falls in loue with one of the Queene Mothers maids In the meane time she enteâtained the Prince of CoÌdé the Admiral whoÌ she knew to be yet strong within the realme maintayned the protestants in their peaceable exercise for that end commanded euery gouernor to retire to his gouernment She would haue sent the Prince of Condé into Guienne whose presence without doubt had stayed that horrible and câuell shedding of bloud whereby Mouluc vpon his refusall opened the veines of a body wonderfully afflicted But so passeth the world euery one would gouerne the King in his turne and the Regent by little and little did vndermine the âoundation of the Edict to ouerthrowe the whole body Moâeouer those of Guise were desirous to returne to their places neyther had they retyred but to get better footing They are now strong inough hauing drawen the King of Nauarre from the Protestant parte They march towards Paris and passing from Iainuille to Vâssy they dispersed about twelue hundred persons The massacre at Vassy which were asâembled for their exercise murther two and fortie wound many to the death leade aâay prisoners and sacke the Towne this was the first firebrand of the ciuill warres which were now a breeding This act puts the Protestants in alarum and makes them to leaue the trowell and the hammer which they imployed in many places to build their Temples euery one skowres his harnes euery one prouides him armes horses Their Churches and Nobilitie complaine and demand iustice of the King The Regent giues them good words and the King of Nauarre rebuks them chargeth them to be the first motiues of this trouble They haue saith he cast stones against my brother the Duke of Guise he could not retaine the furie of his followers And whosoeuer shall touch the end of my brothers fingar shall touch my whole bodie The arriuall of the Duke of Guise the Constable the Marshall of Brissac Montmorency Termes and afterwards of the King of Nauarre to Paris drawes the Prince of Condé and the three brethren of Coligni likewise thether But the stronger carries it They were too weake to incounter the Councels which were held daily at the Constables house To vnderstand what forces the Prince had within the Cittie they make a proclamation That all men of what qualitie soeuer should come and shew vnder what Captaines they were enrolled vpon refusall they should depart within 24. houres So the Prince retyres to Meaux and cals togither such as might by their armes force his enemies to some agreement The Queene mother seeing the Guisiens fortified within Paris and seized vpon the Kings persoÌ whom they caused to come from FoÌtainebleau to Paris writes vnto the Prince and recommends vnto him both the mother and the children The Princes intention was to come to Court when as newes is brought him Orleans taken by the Protestants That they possesse the King and bring him to Paris He therefore leaues Meaux to go and seize vpon Orleans and at the same instant either faction assures himselfe by diuerse surprises of places exposed to their pleasure The Constable causeth the houses of Ierusalem vpon S. Iames his diâch and of Pepincourt without S. Anthonies gate to be beaten downe where the Protestants did assemble for their exercise in al other places the people transported with the like humour vse extreame violence The Protestants grow egar in all places where they had might reuenge theÌselues on the Churches images priests and religious houses To conclude euery Towne thus diuided prepares a wretched Theatre to act a mourneful and bloudie Tragedie Yet euery one iustifies his cause Without the realme the Prince produceth the Regents letters in open ParliameÌt of the Princes of Germanie Within the realme he exhorts theÌ of his party to prouid men money by an association made with the Noblemen gentlemen of his partie he promiseth to imploy himselfe for the deliuery of the King and Queene and for the maintenance of the Edicts and the Estate of the realme On the other side the King declares by his letters pattents that both hee his mother and his brethren are at libertie forbids all his subiects to arme vnder that pretext commands them that are armed to surcease and to retyre home to their houses and by an other Edict he commands the execution of the Edict of Ianuary but within the Citie of Paris and suburbs thereof But to quite abolish it he cals the Nobilitie the 28. of Aprill and declares by proclamation the Prince and his adherents to bee seditious and bad Christians and that the Prince made prouision of forren forces to disturbe the quiet of France It is an example of dangerous consequence when a people armes vnder colour to set their Prince at libertie for often times in stead of liberty they make him captiue The Queene mother did easily arme that partie which she ment to imploy but great men who most coÌmonly maintaine their authoritie by armes do more wilingly take them then lay them downe She cannot now cause them to surcease whom she had armed for this deliuerance the confusion is too great their courages are too much incensed and their harts pust vp with many hopes they must come to blowes their fingars itâhed on either side In the meane time the heads beeing gone and perswaded to preferre the publike before all priuate respects they offer in shew to lay downe their armes and to retire home to their houses so as their aduersaries will submit themselues to the like But to conclude the companies of men at armes being for the most part arriued at Paris The first ciuill troubles with part of the old bands the King of Nauarre the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshall of Saint André the Protestants called the three last Triumuirs and in truth they were but three heads in one hood hauing by an Edict banished the Caluinists out of Paris take the way of Chasteaudun with twelue thousand foot and three thousand horse The Prince was as strong and euen then would haue ioyned with them d' Andelot and Boucart aboue all others vrged it but the Regent abused them with friuolous hopes of an accord whilest the Kings armie grew stronger
both with French and forren forces Hauing thus lost the oportunitie of a battaile the Prince maintaines his armie about two monethes with a commendable discipline without blaspheming whoring robbing or theft In the end they loose all patience Baugency taken by assault opens the dores to disorders for this first heate soone past with the French growes cold money for their pay growes short the nobility could not frame themselues to this strict discipline of war which the Admiral did practise being a great enemie to robbings In many Prouinces matters weÌt indifferently betwixt the Catholikes and the Protestants and to giue two strokes with one stone to stay the disputation of this armie and to releeue them that might in the end fall the Prince sent the Earle of Rochefoucault with some troupes into Poitou Xaintonge and Angoulmois Soubize to Lions Yuoy brother to Genlis to Bourges Montgomery into Normandy d' Andelot to hasten the succours of Germany and Briquemaut into England These troupes from the moneth of Aprill vntill the midest of August did possesse Orleans Baugency Vendosme Blois Tours Poitiers Mans Anger 's Bourges Angoulesme Rouan Chalon vpon Soan Mascon Lion the most part of Daulphiné with many others not without effusion of bloud spoyling of Churches and such insolencies as the warre doth cause in a Countrie of Conquest Orleans and Bourges held by the Prince did much helpe their affaires but Bourges might be easily surprised before it were fortified Bourges recouered The King then whom the coÌmanders had drawne into the armie marcheth thither and the composition which Yuoy made with his Maiestie put him for a time in disgrace with the Prince This arme cut off as the Gnissens said from the Huguenots inuited the Kings armie to the seege of Orleans where the Prince and the Admiral were But the resolution of these two Commanders and the feare to receiue shame losse made them passe on to Roüen where Montgomery commanded with seuen or eight hundred souldiars of the old bands and two companies of English Death of the King of Naâaââe The end of September was the beginning of this seege a famous seege by the hurting of the King of Nauarre in the shoulder as hee suruayed the weakest part of the Cittie whereof he died the 17. of Nouember three weeks after it was taken by assault and spoyled Montgomery saued himselfe in a gallie but many of the chief passed through the executioners hands On the other side Lewis of Bourbon Duke of Montpensier Rouen taken reduced to the Kings obedience the Townes of Anger 's Mans Tours the Marshal S. André tooke Poitiers from the Lord of S. Gemme and Henry of Montmorency Lord of Damuille incountred the Protestants forces in Languedoc whilst the Earles of Tende and Suze The Protestants beaten in diuerse places by the defeat of Mombrun tooke Cisteron for the King Montluc with Burie gouernours of Guienne put to rout the troupes of GascoÌs which Duras led to the Earle of Rochefoucault beseeging S. Iean d' Angeli The ouerthrow of Duras brought the Earle with 300. gentlemen the remainder of the defeated armie on this side Loâre to ioyne the Prince with the Reistres whom d' Andelot brought This supplie made the Prince resolue to go to Paris by aÌnoying it to encrease the feare wherwith they were possessed He marcheth forceth Pluuiers takes Estampes beseegeth Corbeil but finding it better furnished with men then he expected he approcheth to Paris makes a great skirmish beates backe the troupes that were come out off their trenches So hee camped at Gentilly Arcueil Mont-rouge and other neighbour villages The Queene mother busies him seuen or eight dayes with diuers parles during the which foure and twentie enseigns of Gascons and Spaniards arriuing were lodged within the suburbs of Saint Iames. The Prince then seeing his enemies forces to encrease resolues to fight with them before they were fully assembled so as all hope of peace conuerted into smoake hee riseth the tenth of December takes the way to Chartres and resolues to goe into Normandie to receiue the men and money which came out of England and by that meanes to diuert the seege of Orleans The Constable and Duke of Guise march after him Dreams are lies as we comonly say A notable dreame yet haue we often tried those which present theÌselues in the morning the spirit hauing taken sufficient rest to bring certaine aduertisements of that which is to come The night before the eue of the battaile the Prince dreames that he had giuen three battailes one after another obteyned the victorie ouerthrowne his three principall enemies and finally himselfe wounded to the death hauing layed one vpon another and he aboue them all yeelding in that sort his soule to God And to say the trueth haue wee not seene this vision verified by the death of the Marshall of Saint André which is at hand by that of the Duke of Guise before Orleans the yeare following and by that of the Constable at the battaile of S. Denis and of the Prince himselfe in that of Bassac In the Kings armie they numbred two thousand horse The battaile of Drâux and nineteene thousand foot In that of the Prince foure thousand horse and twelue thousand foot They ioyne the nineteenth of December and without any skirmishes charge with all their forces The Princes Suisses loose seuenteene Captaines with three parts of their âoâpes which were aboue three thousand and endure three charges before they could bee broken On the other side the taking of the Constable the death of the Marshall Saint André the defeat of their troupes caused a generall confusion in the Kings armie if the Duke of Guise charging the white cassaks the Reisters with furie whose pistols had made a great slaughter of his men had not forced through the Princes horse who straying too much from the battaile fel prisoner into the hands of the Lord of Damuille the which made the victorie doubtfull seeming before to incline to his side The conflict continued from tenne of the clocke in the morning vntill night with many charges there were seuen thousand men slaine vppon the place on both sides many hurt and in a manner all died and a great number of prisoners The King lost besides his Suisses the most part of his horse and a great number of foot There were slaine of men of marke the Duke of Neuers killed by one of his houshould seruants either by hazard or of purpose the Lords of Montbrun the Constables son d' Annebault Giury la Brosse and his sonne there were hurt the Duke of Aumale brother to the Duke of Guise Rochefort and Beauuais Aussun a Nobleman of Gasconie whome feare made flie to Paris and there he died of greefe The Prince lost about two thousand two hundred foote and a hundred and fiftie horse French and Reisters This battaile is famous by the taking of two Generals the one in
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 instâuctions 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 incouâter 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 Eccâesiasticall 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 ââth 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 sââuld giue the French such forces as were requisite for the execution thereof The holy League and in tâe meane time they should seeke all meanes to abolish the Edict which alowed the exerciâe 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 meaâes to this ââfect 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 Veâice 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 Theâr Ambassadors come to Fontainbleau demanded the obseruation of the decââes of the Councel throughout al France wherof the reading should be the fiue ãâã of March at Nancy in the presence of the Ambassadors of all Cathâliâe Princeâ asâeÌbled to make a general League against those estates that were falâe 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 Gâd 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 tâereof 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 âlacknes caused many to seeke their dwelling elsewhere to liue in quiet and safetie The complaints and discontents which âounded 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 Baâoâne 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 Câttadell and the King stiâs not before it be in defence By the example hereof many other Townes receiued the like restraint whilest on the other side they diâmanteled
theiââââgements and to loose in one day a notable occasion for eyther of them to ãâã against his enemie as âe shall heâre The Pâince had inâelligence âhat the Dâke camped in a place of aduantage vnder the fauour of a medow inârenched in diuerâ places so not abâe to ãâ¦ã to âight he dislodgeth and goes towards Lusigâan The Duke takes the same couâse ââd one not acquainted with the others ãâã the Maâshalls of both Campes meete in a manner at âne iâstant at Pamprou fiue leagues fâom Poiâiers a great vilâaâe furnished with victâals and in a very good countrie Tâey chââe and rechase oâe anâther but loth to dispute this Rendezuous with more hazard they both leaue iâ yeâ with an honourable retreat of eyther side to pât themselues in battaile a quââteâ of a leâgue from the place They âncouââer ãâ¦ã âlâughâer Tâe Admirall and d' Andelot his brotâer supported their men with fiue ãâ¦ã âorse set in order vpon a small hill to kâepe the Catholikes from viewâng of tâe ãâã aâd to giue them some apprehension oâ greater forces lodged thâre Tâe Prâncââas a Leagâe from theâce and adâanced with great speed On the Dukes part tâere appeared seuen or eâght hundred Lânces commanded by the Dâke of Martigues ãâã approched within Canon shoât the Admirall causeth a Captaine of ãâã to aduance alongest a hedge who more valiânt then discreet falls presântly to ãâã aâd ãâ¦ã to second them Mârtigues thinkes that they meane to fight and âends forth three or foure squadronâ of Lanciers The Admirall and ãâã brotâer griââed they had not preuented the indâscretion of their Captaine ãâã them to fight ãâã and contrary to their charge calls bâck the ãâã and with ãâ¦ã countenance couers the weakenesse of their troâpeâ âârtigues takââg a troupe of seruants for a battailon of Harguebuziers which aâpeereâ behind a village stââes his Lancieââ and for want of footmen loseth the ãâã to fight In the ãâã tiâe the enââignes of foote and troupes of horse arriâe ãâ¦ã parts A politike sâratagem the night apâroching gaue them leisure onely to skirmish with the Duke ãâã Anâous Foreward The Dââes Foreâard was too weake to endure the shock the Commanders deuise a pâlâcy whereby they perswade the enemy through fâuâur of tâe night that all their forces were present their drums sound after the Suisses ãâã they double their gardâ mâke great âiâes cast many matches amongst the ãâ¦ã men close without any skirmish least some prisoner should discouer the ãâã ââter they had refresht themselues they dislodge without any noise some marching to Iasenneil where the Duke lodged with the battaile the rest to the village of Sanây So ââding one another in suspence they loose the opportunity of a great aduantage the ãâ¦ã the Duke the second in the Prince Mans counsell without God preuailes nothing and The actions of great men are in his power as those of the meanest So saith the Oracle For the next day many things chanced more by hazard then by counsell This retreat giues them courage to fiâht to this end the Admirall followes them at the heeles and the Prince marcheth after There were two wayes one led to Sansây the other to Iasenueil At the breake of day there riseth a great mist which causeth the Prince to stray after he had marched tâo leagues he findes himselfe in the front of the Dukes armie Necessitie giues him resolution he puts his Harquebuziers before which were aboue twelue thousand and forced to make some shew of fight salutes the Duke with his Canon skirmishes with ciuers vollees of shott sends to learne newes of his foreward and wills the Admirall to make hast He had already turned head vpon the disâharge of the Canon but the Sunne setting at his arriuall preuenting a generall fight caused all to passe in sharpe skirmisâes with losse on eyther side and after a dayes breathing eyther part retired the Duke to Poitiers the Prince to Mirebeau Few dayes after they both returne to their fi st âesolution to fight The Duke goes to field recouers Mirâbeau Few daies after they both returne to their first resolution to fight The Duke goes to field and recouers Mirebeau But he doth not obserue the compositâon giues d' Andelot cause for a reuenge to cut in peeces the garrison he finds in S. Florent an Abbey neere vnto Saumur The Prince held Loudun It was in the Dukes way and enioying it he held a fertile country from his enemies which might feed his Armie a moneth together and there wâs no reason the Prince should hazard his forces for the keeping of a weake place The Duke approcheth the next day hee hath newes that the Prince puts his Armie in bâttaiâe alongst the suburbes hee likewise arangeth his the Canon playes on both siâes and passeth through their squadrons doing some harme Aboue forty thousand mân almost all French beheld one another in the midest of a champion field without any aduantage and with an equall courage and countenance attend but the signe of battaile But the outward cold did quench much of this inward heat the frosts were great continuall mists and the wayes so slippery as no man could hold his footing It âas dangerous for the first that charged the slippery wayes stâyed their horses and the maine ditches made to diuide their lands serued them as trenches So as either of them being loth to hazard any thing stands firme beholding one another expecting when the most rash should begin the charge Such as go to the skirmish eyther breake or put some member out of ioynt their falls hurt more then the shot Three dayes passe in this sort the fourth the Duke retires to warme his troupes benummed with colde and for the most part lodged in the open ayre of twenty yeares there had not beene felt so sharpe a winter in his retreate three companies were cut oââ in a viâlage one of Suisses and two of French and the sicknesse falâing amongst the Souldiars diminished both the armies of eight thousand men This fruitlesse aboad caused a generall murmure and both Noâilitie and Souldiars on eyther party did threaten if tâey were not lodged in safe and well fortified places they would prouide for themselues not able to endure the extreame frosts and colde wâthout any effects The two Commanders agree The Duke goes to winter beyond the riuer of Loire abâut Saumur and the Prince at Thouars Monstrueâl-Bellay and places thereabouts eytâer hauing some secret prâctise against his enemy but with small effect This retreat gaue the Prince leisure to deuiâe meanes for the maintenance of the warre Succours of money and munition froÌ Eâgland The goods of the Câergie of Poitou were ingaged and sold to them that durst buy them the Râchelois contribute foure ãâã thoââand Frankes and the Queene of England seât a huâdred thousand Angeâs six Canons poulder and shot for the which she was ãâã in Saât Woll and Belâ-mettall for the most part at the
commentâries 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 Councelâloââ 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 Piedmontoâs 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 arâes 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 matteâs of conscience And what was it to graunt vnto the Rochelâoâs 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 râine 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 Montpenââer threatned and according to the leysure hee gaue him hee prouided for the fortifications and all things necesâarie to maintayne a memorable seege which might by the meanes of some succours consume an armâe 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 composâtion 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
thâ Prince of Condé and the Marshal d' Anuille had promised the Prince to meetthem with good troups and to bring the pay vnto the armie but no man appeares neither is there any newes of money An affront which then had made them yeeld to any possible condiâions of peace if they had beene offered it in the beginning of these first confusions and might haue transported the men of warre beyond the bounds of modestâe and reason if by a good and commendable discipline the Prince had not restrayned and souldiars insolencies At their entrie those of Langres seeking to crosse their passage through their territories did presently see the Reistres to spoile all to loade their caâtes and to burne the neighbour villages to ashes Those of Diion made some sallies but they were fatall to some others were content to salute them with their Cannon shot into the ayre Cisteaux Gilly a Castle depending on the said Abbaie and Nuis a small Towne in Bourgongne were the first conquests of the Reistres the Prince and Lansquenets where they learned by the slaughter and spoyle which was made at Nuis how troublesome a thing it is for a Prince enemie to bloud and spoyle to be mastered by the greater number being strangers in his armie At Lourdon the Reistres threaten the Prince to take an other partie if hee giue them not readie money Hauing contented them with hopes of good wordes The Reistres begin to mâtyne the armie passeth Loire marcheth directly to the riuer of Allier and takes Vichy by composition a small Towne vppon the passage Thus these strangers did forrage whilâst the King by a proposition of truce gaue hope of a future peace and to preuent surprises hee studied to forâifie the places about Paris whether the whole armie threatned to come for the effecting whereof he finds his ordinary let which was the want of money The Parisiens remembred with what violence the King had lately forced them to yeeld to his demaunds they now promise for their contribution âourteene hundred thousand franks 1576. The Qâeene mother pursues this surceasing of armes she furnisheth the Duke oâ Alanson with very exquisite meats sends him his great horses and causeth them to bee proclaymed traitors that would not yeeld to the Duke her sonne amongst others the inhabitants of Bourges and la Charité offering Tours and Blois in exchange of the ââyd Townes Those of Guise haue their desseine apart He speakes boldly that France hatâ no need of a truce that they wil fight with the forraine foe vpon this hope published they build the proiects which we shall see them shortly to vndertake Amidst these common diuisions The King of Nauarre âscapâs from Court a new confusion troubles the Court. The King of Nauarre vnder colour of hunting escapes from Paris with a smaâl traine and wâites to the King from la Fere in Picardie a Towne belonging vnto him That the apprehension of a new Captiuitie and the ordinary slanders of his enemies are the causes of his absence The King excuseth himselfe and would haue him returne but hee had the fields at libertie And seeing this proiect will not preuaile he must trie an other Some bad Councellors which gouerned tâe Prince of Condé aduised him to passe the riuer of Allier and spedily to ioyne with the Duke of Alenson leauing Duke Casimir on the other side the riuer who should folloâe his ordinary march In the meane time the Duke of Maienne attends them at the passage with the Kings armie This tricke left the Reistres to the slaughter but Casimir an aduised and couragious Captaine lodgeth his men with aduantage and attenâs the enemie The Prince discouering their desseine turnes towards them and makes the Kings troupes retire to their lodging The Auuergnats fearing least this armie shouâd pasâe the rest of the winter vpon their marches make them to take the way of Bourbonnois giuing them a hundred and fiftie thousand franks Here began the first paââe of peace and to this effect letters and instructions were sent into Guienne Languedoc and Daulphiné Charâux a little Towne in Bouâbonnois besides money lent paied the charges of some daies that the armie stayed there whilest they made question to yeeld The Duke of Alenson chief of the Protestants armie The eleuenth of March the Dâke of Alenson comes to the plaine of Soze where in a generall muster they numbred thirtie Cornets of Germain horse tenne of French seuenteene ensignes of Suisses seuen of Lansquenets eight of French and the Prince of Condé deliuering the white Cornet into the Dukes hands aâcording to the aâticles of their capitulation he was sollemnly proclaymed Generall of this Noble and mightie armie The King in the meane time with the Qâeene mother and their Councellors omitted no practises to corrupt Duke Casimir and to bâeake the treatie betwixt the Prince and the Duke On the other side the French Reistres Suisses and Lansquenets demaunded nothing but battaile or to march towards Paris but the Duke of Alenson was alreadie assured of the best part of his demaunds and the armies without any memorable exploits of warre did onely spoyle and destroy France At length the Queene mother seeing matters almost brought to a desired end The fift Ed ct of peace shee comes to the armie the seuen and twentith of Aprill where after diuerse Ambassages and contestations shee granted in the end to the Duke Casimir a company entertayned of a hundred men at armes fortie thousand frankes yeerely pension and two thousand Crownes for the entertaynment of a certaine number of horses In consideration whereof hee did renounce the article câncerning Metz Thoul and Verdun That of eleuen millions of franks that were due vnto him hee should receiue two millions within sixe weekes and a sufficient pawne of Iewells for the rest and the reuenues of Chasteau Thierry The Duke of Alenson should haue for his part Aniou Touraine and Beâry for an increase of his portion The Prince of Condé should haue the gouernment of Picardie the Towne of Peronne for his abode and two hundred souldiars in garrison free exercise of the pretended reformed religion throughout the realme attending a free and generall Councell Chambers in the Parliaments of both religions for the administration of Iustice and at Montpellier for Languedoâ leauing them eight Townes in gard for the assurance of these articles and of their persons Aâgues-mârtes and Beaucaâre in Languedoc Perigueux and le Mas of Verdun in Guyenne Nyons and Serres in Daulphiné Issoire in Auuergne Seine with the great Tower in Prouence Restitution to the King of Nauarre Prince of Condé Marshall D'Anuille and diuers otheâs of their goods offices and honours which they enioyed before the foure and twentith of August 1572. Moreouer the King did anow by a sollemne declaration That the massacres of the sayd yeare had beene committed against all right and law of armes He ordeyned that the children of such Gentlemen as had beene murthered
the Prince on this side the riuer of Loire amongst many ââmyes of enemies hauing no bridge at his deuotion without boates to repasse or any hope of succour Then that cheerfull hope which had brought that little armie turnes into conââsion and disorder for the Duke of Mayenne had passed the Loire at Orleans with âââteene hundred horse Reistres and French to cutt off the Princes way if hee reâassed the water The Duke of Espernon and the Marshall Biron kept Beausse towards ââââeualle to meete with him La Chastre had drawne vp the mylls and boats and kept the passages of Loire The Duke of Ioyeuse marched at his backe Entragues Gouernour of Orleans came to crosse him and all the Commons did rise On the other side the Princes troupes were tyred He failes of two or three passages vpon ãâã riuer whereof hee made account betwixt Blois and Amboise The amazement increaseth and his number decreaseth such as had friends in Beausse Dunois Perche Veââosmois or Maine steale aâay The Lord of Rohan aduising hiâ not to thrust himselfe into an apparent ruine had turned head towards Brittaine Al the foresaid enemies forces would within few dayes charge him Being neere to Vendâsme hee leaues the cheefe charge of the retreat to Clermont and Saint Gelas ordereth the companies prouides for his househould seruants The Prince of Conde in rout and at eleuen of the clocke at night he parts accompanied with the Lords of Tremouille Auentigni and few others Finally after infinââe toyle and dangers past he recouered the Isle of Greneze lying in the English seas and so London being receiued by the Queene with all the honour and fauour hee could desire and then by her commandement accompanied with a good number of the Nobiâitie and men of warre in shipps well appointed he repassed the seas obtaining a sufficient conquest to haue saued himselfe and a rich spoyâe to haue returned with his head to âochell rather then to the Greue or the Hales at Paris Saint Gelais Bois-Dâlie Aubigni la Tifardiere and some others are commended to haue wiâely preserued these broken troupes nâere to the forest of Marchenoir diuided into small companies of twelue and fifteene whereof notwithstanding the Townes of Orleans Blois Amboise Tours and others thereabouts were straightly garded maây repassed the Loire Saint Gelais and others taking the high way to Paris crossed many companies dispersed in Beausse and hauing wandred long in the forest oâ Orleans in the end they passed the riuer neere to âyen and at last recouered Rochelle where the Prince the cheefe of the armie and the most part of the troupes were already in safetie The lightnings of Sixtus 1586. and the second Edâct of October had wonderfully mooued the King of Nauarre An other complaint of the King of Nauarâe Now he complaines to the Câergie to the Nobilitie to the tâird estate and to the Parliament of Paris of the breach of the last Edict of peace and that they had caused the question of succession to a King yet liuing to bee decided at Rome that they would make a Prince of the bloud of France subiect to the Pope that they suffer the Consistory to giue that which belongs not vnto it and that the Pope disposeth of realmes and principalitieâ at his pleasure Then hee sheweth the miseries which these vnciuill warres will breed he exhorts them not to serue as instruments to the Leaguers to ruine the King and his Realme And finally seeing they are so ill adâuiââd he protests as before That both he and his will vse all lawfull meanes to resist the violence of their enemies and casts all the miseries that shall ensue vppon the authors thereof Strangers deale earnestly in the cause The Princes of Germanie make intercession to the King Intercesââon of âorraine ãâã at the King of Nauars instance that hee would be perswaded at the humble petitions of his neigâbours and that opening his eyes at the teares and his eares at the complaints of his subiects he would maintaine his owne good quiet honour and âaith his Crowne and reputation and preserue a body wounded vnto death But those of Guise kept him in awe He speakes not but by the mouth of the League I make and change said he vnto the Ambassadors my ordinances as necessitie doth require for the good quiet of my subiects and leaue the care to all Soueraine Princes to gouerne their people as they shall thinke fiâ I haue the feare of God liuely grauen in my heart neither will I do any thing against the honour of my conscience and the fatherly âare I haue of my people This ââeaâed the League they are now on horsebacke The Duke of Mayenne marcheth with about two thousand horse The Duâe of ãâã armâe French and Reistres twelue regiments of foote and sixe thousand Suisses He must bring the Princes of the bloud prisoners to Paris in triumph their Captaines chained and couer the fields of Xaintonge Poictou and Guyenne with their slaughtered souldiars returne victorious and bring to the King the conquest of all the places that made resistance But what exploits what triumphes The wrath of God ruines his men in those Countries He beseegeth batters and takes some silly places which are scarce noted in the French map as Montignae Beaulieu Gaignac Castels and saint Bazille vppon Garonne Montsegur Castillon Fuynormaâd in Perigueux 1586 and the most part by composition but badly obserued leauing behind him Figeac Cadaillac Caior the houses of the Vicount of Gourdon Montfort Bergerac and Saint Foy places of importance all held by the Protestants The difficultie of passages the ouerflowing of riuers the vehement cold the continuall raine want of money munition victuals and supplies of men withdraw him from this warre to go winter at Bourdeaux there in the middest of his loues to make some enterprises vpon the Castels to the preiudice of the Marshall of Matignan So the most of his Soldiars deteined long without either honour or profit disband of themselues and the Duke brings from this voyage a more famous spoile the heire of Caumont being but twelue yeares old to giue her to one of his sonnes Hee had before time done better in Daulphiné where keeping his faith inuiolable hee had happily preserued his reputation and credit Indeed hee then liued onely vnder the Kings lawes and obedience and now hee spends much time labour and money to effect little in Guyenne In the meane time the Prince of Condé renued the warre assisted notably by the Earle of Laual and Saint Gelais who commanded about foure hundred and fiftye men and by the new conquests of Dompierre a Castell neere vnto Saint Iean belonging to the Marshall of Rez where the booty repayred the losses late suffred by the souldiars of Royen a strong place neere vnto Brouage of Soubize Mornac in Alleuârt Mondeuis and others defaced the greefe of the former crosses In the midest of these prosperities hee tooke to his
the Dâke 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 Huguenoâs 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 Dâke of Mercoeur to annoye the Protestants and not to suffer them to reape any commoditie in the Countâie The Duke of Mercoeur goes into base Poictou beseegeth Montagu repaired by Colombâers 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 âas 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 Edâct 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 tâe 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 Seneshalây 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 oâer 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 assââes 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 fiâst sitting of the best wits of all France rauished euery man with hope to heare rare propositions The Kinââ 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 pertineââây 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 keâper of the seale that vnder his happie coÌmaund they should reape in this conuocation the same effects which had bin tried in diuers raigâes 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 sweariââ blââphemies play lust vsurie vniust getting corrupt trading and other vices which be ãâã 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 Maiestâe 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
stratagems making much of his souldiars and honouring his Captaines But a Prince who hath blemished the greatest beautie of his practiâes by extreame ambition factions a great bragger vaine in beleeuing of Southsayers who assured him of his greatnes and of the change of his familie into a royaltie proud not able to submit his hopes euen to those from whome hee should hope for his aduancement giuing men to vnderstand by his inclination that he was not borne to obey but to commaund and with this dessein he framed the minds of the French by his first actions to beleeue that hee had partes fit to make a strange alteration in a Realme But let vs applie that great diuine Oracle and tremble at the apprehension oâ the horror of Gods iudgements For this cause God will desâroy thee in the end âee will pull thee out of thy tabernacle and thy root out of the land of the liuing The iust shall see it and feare and shall laugh at him saying behold the man that hath not taken God for his ayde and succour but hath trusted to the multitude of his riches and hath fortified himselfe in vanitie At the noyse hereof the Cardinall of Guise being amazed recouers the doore to go aâay Laâchant staâes him with the Arche-bishop of Lion and lodgeth them in a litâle chamber aboue the Kings lately built for Capuchins and Fueillans The Cardinall in the heat of this tumult casts forth some words which he would neuer haue delâuered being well aduised They report it vnto the King The King commaunds La âastide and Valansay being both of the fiue and fortie to kill him The first excuseth hiâselfe the other accepts the charge and accompanied with sixe others goes to the Cardinalls chamber to make him a companion of his brothers death but being readie to do the execution I knowe not what cold apprehension quenched this heate which had moued him to bath his hands in the blood of so great a Prelat without resp ect of his order The Cardinall of âourbon the Duchesse of Nemours mother to the Duke of Guise the Duke of Nemours her sonne by the second marriage the Prince Ginuille now Duke of Guise and the Duke of Elboeuf had at the same instant gardâ appointed them to bee assured of their persons Pericard being kept prisoner diââouered all the practises of the League and by the instructions hee had in his keeping hee informed the King at large of all his maisters desseins The Earle of Brissac Bâis Daulphin and some other gentlemen faâthfull to the Duke of Guise the President Neully the Prouost of marchants at Paris Compan Cotteblanche sherifes of the saied Towne and Le Roy Lieutenant of Amiens were put in pryson the rest stayed neither for boots nor spurres to dislodge Rossieux Secretarie to the Duke of Mayenne and sonne in Lawe to Armonuille Maior of Orleans had alreadie by special posts aduertised his master of what had pastâ so practiseth them of Orleans as Entragues comming from Blois to be assured of the Towne found a generall reuolt Doubtlesse the Inhabitants were inclined to the kings obedience if before he would haue graunted them at their humble sute an other gouernour at his maiesties choise then him who at the first had ingaged them and afterwards by his wilfullnes suffred them to runne into the laborinth of rebellion It is good to yeeld something to a mutinous multitude not to thrust them into dispaire The execution done the King carries newes therof to the Queene mother Madame saieth he I will hereafter raigne aloane I haue no more companions She answered him God graunt my sonne it fall out well for you but haue you giuen order to assure the Townes where the name and memorie of the Duke of Guise hath credit and authority This vnexpected speech did wonderfully mooue the Queene Mother but that of the Cardinall of Bourbon gaue her a deadlie wound Ah Madame saied he she comming to visit him beeing a prisoner and sicke you haue brought vs to slaughter Death of the Queene Mâther She excusing her selfe that shee had neither consented nor giuen Councell in this action left the Cardinall doubling his complaints and transported with griefe she died the fift of Ianuary following At night they drawe the Cardinall and the Arch-bishoppe from their Chamber to lodge them in a straighter and more obscure place and there to passe the night whilest that the King with-held the considerations of the quality of a Prelate a Peere of France Arch-bishop of Reims Cardinall of Rome and President of his order at the Estates consulted either of his execution or freedome from prison Bât Iustice hath no respect of persons The Cardinall slaine and treason is a worâe president in a Cardinall then in a simple Preest Moreouer the Cardinall might succeed in his brothers credit and his threats seemed dangerous if he liued longer So the King giues Captaine Gast commission to kill him He craues pardon but foure hundred Crownes do easilie finde foure ministers for the execution The Arche-bishop had his life saued at the humble sâte of the Baron of Lux his Vncle. The King loued this gentlemaÌ anâ pretended to drawe from the Prelate all the Quintessence of the League The punisâment of these two freed the King of Nauarre from being the cause of the miserâ of these ciuill warres seeing the King had thereby noted the first author of these tâoâbles But this Prince was neuer seene without a singular constancy in his greatest crosses nor an admirable modestie in his highest prosperities Hee vnderstands of the deaâh of two of his mightiest enemies and would gladlie haue seene the Kings wrath and forces turned against the house of Lorraine whereby he might make his proffit in Fraâce by the fall thereof and applâe it to his aduantage But Noble mindes neuer loâke on their enemies head but with a heauie countenance Hee laments not so much the death but the misery of them of Guise and yet continues his enterprise âhich hee had vpon Niort and the foure and twentith of December vnder the Conduct of Saint Gelais Parabieres Harambure Ranques Preau Valieres and others hee forced and sâaled the Towne beeing amazed and spoiled it without any slaughter but of twentie fiue or thirty men no rauishing of women noâ iniurie to the Clerge The same daie hee receiued the Castell by composition from Malicorne Niorâ taken by the King of Nauarre furnished with fiue great Cannons and two verie long Culuerins with the whâch the Lieutenant of the Towne a wicked and a turbulent man vanted when they were cast to salute the King when hee approched the walles of Noirt Bât the great furie of the victors armes hauing slaine him in the beginning of the fiâht was the cause he made not an exemplary compensation for the outrages and the vnworthie speeches hee had vsed againsâ the saied King and the Princes of the bâoud 1589. The Duke of Neuers on the other side
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 Poâctou 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 mâst 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 Chaâles 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 Mâiâstie 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 ârom 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-aâcise but being escaped the 26. of Iuly as we haue sayd death depriued âim 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 ãâã 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 pleaâings 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 agaiâst 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 Luxembouâg 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
stand and the enemies freed from him begin their retreat The Kings horse follow them to the top of the hill and there put themselues in battell A notable victorie The King hauing taken breath in the place from whence hee parted to go to the charge diuides his men into two troupes one for himselfe the other for the Marshall Here about a hundred French gentlemen take the place from fifteene hundred horse and by this meanes the King was master both of the enemies bodies and of the place of battaile His Maiesty gathers togither such as were dispersed to make the better shew HereupoÌ arriues the Earle of Clârmont Vitry the Kings light horse those of Cesar Monsieur the Duke d' Elbeuf the Earle of Chiuerny the Cheualier d' Oise the Lord of Risse and Aix which made about six hundred horse of his ordinary all greeued that they had not followed the fortune valour of our King to be partakers of the honor which he had wonn With this supplie hee turnes to ouertake them that âled and pursues them two Leagues neere vnto Grey A shamefull flight but not able to follow this shamefull flight hee was content his glorie should surmount their shame and that his valour had vanquished their âorce and vsing this famous victorie with pietie hee let all the world know in his person That it is not the sword nor the arme that strikes nor the number of men that preserues Kings in the midest of armes but that high Prouidence which fighting with the one band for the iust cause of lawfull Princes against the attempts and violences of ââurpers and Tyrants and holding victories in the other decides the quarrels of Sââerainties by the equitie hee finds in Princes armes vniustly oppressed and makes it âânifest that the admirable euents of battailes consist and relie not onely in number or force but in the free disposition of his fauours vnto a people whose miseries hâ will shorten which the continuance of war hath bred in a diuided Estate The enemie returned to lodge at Saint Seine and dislodging the next day ãâã feare 1595. they repassed the water vpon their bridges leauing both the one and the otheâ side of the hill at the Kings deuotion who without doubt had giuen them a great checâ vppon this retreat if his footmen had beene with him and the horses lâteây arââued could haue endured the toyle in the vehement heat of the sunne The Duke of Mayenne and the Castillian lost in this charge sixe score men slaine vpon the field three score prisoners and two hundred hurt His Maiâstie onely âoure slaine and one prisoner But for a notable circumstance and a signe of the eâpeciall care of God ouer his person hee performed these exploits without any other armes then his ââirasse alone and was well assisted to their great commendation by the Dukes of Guise and Elbeuf the Lord of Tremouille and the Marquises of Treynâl and Pizany by the Lords of Inteuille Roquelaure Chasteauvieux Liencourt Montigni Mirâpoix and others And in despight of all the furious attempts of the League the Castell of Dijon and in a manner all Bourgongne was sone after reduced to the Kings obedience and now the third time he freed his realme from strangers The King in the end inuades the County forceth one of their lodgings in the vew of the Constable of Castille neere vnto Grey becomes master of the field takes Aspremont and many other places he had forced their cheefe forts if the Suissâs had not intreated him to retyre his army and to suffer that Prouince to inioy her ancient libertie Whilest the King continues his victories the Marshall of Bouillon executes a dangerous enterprise but of importance vpon the Towne and Castell of Han. Han opened the way for the Spaniard from the fronter vnto Beauuais and Amiens f Haâ âurprised or the King but this surprise cunningly performed did wonderfully annoy them and not one Spaniard of those which had it in gard escaped either death or prison Six score naturall Spaniards and six or seuen hundred Captaines and souldiars of diuerse nations were slaine and three or foure hundred prisoners Humieres slaine But all this scumme of men could not recompence the deaâh of that braue and generous Nobleman aâ Humieres one of the cheefe actors in the enterprise as much lamented first by the King then by the Nobilitie and generally of all France as his vertues and mââits âad made him commendable and necessarie for his Maiesties seruice La Croix master of the campe Mazieres Lieutenant to Suruille and Boyencourt Captaine of Humieres gard were companions of his valour and graue The Towne was taken for the King with the death of some twentie other gentlemen and about a hundred souldiars Bât the Spaniard soone after reuenged this surprise vpon Castelet but more sharply vpon the Towne of Dourlans for hauing put to rout the succours which the Maâshal of Bouillon sent slaine the Admirall of Villars and many gentlemen they tooke the Towne by assault not for want of men or munition Castelet and Dourlans for the Spaniards but by their bad order and the intelligeâce which the Commaunders in the Towne had with the enemie and entred it with such great furie as they had no respect of sex or age hauing no reason for their horrible crueltie but the fresh remembrance of their companions It is cryed they to reuenge those of Han. The Duke of Neuers the Marshall of Bouillon and the Earle of Saint Paul Commaunders of the Kings troupes hauing diuided the charge amongst them to incounter the Spanish forces the Marshall and the Earle went to prouide for the places about Bollogne and the Duke for those vpon the riuer of Somme Passing by Amiens hee finds the people and the cheefest so amazed that to assure them he was forced to lay aside the qualities of his person and to promise to put himselfe into Corbia foure Leagues from Amiens to defend it if the enemie approched He enters it the third of August veâes it both within and without takes a suruay of the quantitie of munition and of the number of monethes and prouids as time and necessitie would permit him for things necessary for the preseruation of the place The Spaniard had an other desseine for the first day of the moneth hee parts from about Dourlans and taking the way betwixt Peronne and Corbie seemes to threaten Saint Quentin or Cambray So the Duke leaues Corbie but doubtfull whither the Spaniard went 2595 yet aduertised by the Viconte d' Auchy gouernor of Saint Quentin Cambray beseeged that the enemy approched towards him he goes to defend Saint Quentin He is no sooner armed but newes come that the Earle of Fuentes is lodged about Cambray to beseege it with seauenteene thousand men and threescore and two peeces of artillery The Lord of Balagny Marshall of France by his articles of capitulation with the King confirmes this aduice by
fetch the Lady Marguerite Daughter to Ferdinand the Archduke of Austria who was brother to the Emperour Maximilian the 2. being fianced or made sure vnto Prince Philip of Spaine The Archduke should conduct her into Spaine to consuÌmate her marriage with the sayd Prince and he his with the Infanta both at once the which he did as we shall see hereafter The Archduke before his departure had written letters of the 18. of August vnto the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces giuing them to vnderstand that he wânt to marry with the Infanta with whom he should haue the Lowe Countries in dowrie The Archdâke writes to the vnited Prouinces being already receiued by most part of the Prouinces for their Lord Prince That he desired nothing more then to plant a good peace in the Lowe Countries And being now apparent that the King was resolued to diuide the said Countries from Spaine thereby to take away all causes of iealousie and distrust he desired the States to call to minde that warre must once haue an end and therefore they should conforme themselues with theÌ of Brabant Flanders and giue eare vnto a generall peace to receiue and acknowledge him for their Prince Lord for the effecting wherof he had giuen authority to the generall Estates of his Prouinces whereof he expected their answers There were Letters also from the Prince of Orange the Duke of Arschot Letters from the Prince of Orange to Count Maurice the Marquis of Haure to Count Maurice of the like tenor perswading him to be the instrument of a good peace and to set before his eyes the honour of his house wherevnto he could neuer do better seruice seeing that all the other Prouinces had already acknowledged and receiued the sayd Arch-duke for their Lord c. To all which letters nothing was answered neyther by the States nor by Count Maurice The Emperour seeing the Estate of the Empire in danger appointed a Diet at Raââsbone A Diet at Ratis âone sending his brother the Arch-duke Mathias thither accompanied with a number of graue and wise men Hee propounded the iust complaint of the Emperours Maiesty for the great expences he was to make aginst the enemies of Christendome That their attempts were not lesse and their threats increased dayly contynuing theiâ barbarous cruelty so as he had no more means to make head against him much lesse to giue him battaile That the Estates of the Empire should remember the miseries of Hongary during the raigne of Mathias vnder whom it was lost and that they should prouide least the like calamities should chance for want of succors by means wherof in steed of the holy Christian faith the Turke would settle his cruell and baâbarouâ superstitions And that in these following yeares the Estates should furnish him ãâã twelue thousand foote and 4000. Horse that if the worst should chance the Empire might haue means to mainteine iâ selfe if they lost a victory or to march on with their forces if they did winne it Martin Bishop of Segobia did likewise make great complaints for the Countries of Stiria Carinthia and Carniola for the which hee demanded present succors The Estates of the Empire hauing consulted some daies decreed to giue succors vnto the Stiriens and to the otâer people that bordered vpon the Turke onely for the âpace of two monthes And for the rest they resolued to giue the Emperour the supply of money which he required Those of Aix la Chapelle had beene in mutiny some yeares before and had expelled the Catholike Magistrate and changed the whole Estate of the Common-weale by reason whereof at the instance of the King of Spaine by his Ambassador the Admiral of Arragon to the Emperour importuning him much to haue it reduced to the former Estate Exâcution of the Emperiall sentence agaânst the Towne of ãâã lying so neere vnto his Countries the Emperour had made a proclamation against them with an interdiction of all succors commanding the Arch-bishop of Treues and the Duke of Iuiliers to force those rebells by armes and to reduce them to their obedience The Inhabitants being amazed seeing also Albert the Arch-duke to enter into their Countrie with his troupes and garrison of Lâmbourg they resolued to submit themselues by the meanes of some Senators intreating the Arch-bâshop of Cologne by their deputies to mediate their Peace tâe wâich was granted them expelliâg the Ministers of the Confession of Ausbourg and others of the reformed relâgion The whâch was executed the Catholike Magââââate restâred as bâfore About this time the most Christian Kâng sent backe tâe Lord of Euzenuall into Hâlland to the States to continue his charge of Ambassadâr He aâsâred them thââ as âârre as his Master might preseruing the Peace hee would faâoâr them promising to repay them the money wherewith they had assisted his Maiesty dââing the warres ãâã âecouered from tâe Turke Some yeares before the Christians had receiued a sore blowe by the losse of Iauârin which the Turke had taken euen by the disloyaltie of some Christians which had betrayed it This yeare that wound was eased and almost cured by the recouery of the sayd Iauarin the which was surprised in the night by a valiant Captaine called Adolphe Schuartzbourg accompanied with the Barons of Palâi and Nadâstz two Frenchmen one being the Seigneur of Vaubacour the other called Caâiac who had the charge of the Petards with the which they forced a Port. They slue the Sangâac of Iaâarin a great number of Turkes Many of them especially women cast themselues into the Riuer so perished There were 300. Ianisaries which shât themselues into a Tower in the which was Powder which they set on fire and so died There happened a strange accident in the Realme of Naples a certaine woman transported with lust The loosenes of a Lady of Naples poisoned her husbaÌd called Appian de âoisy Chancellor of the realme a graue learned reuerend old man abandoning her selfe to one called Talâisy an idle perâon of no qâality for that she might coÌtinue it with more imputiny she poisoned her âather Alexander âuringel a worthy knight in his CouÌtry for that he would not consent she should marrie with her adulterer She did also poyâon her sister with her two Sons And in the end being miserably married to this man she grew iealous and growing bitter one against another in words they accused one another for these murthers so as they were iustly condemned and executed The King of Spaines sicknes beginning in Madril before the resignation which he made of the Low Countries to his daughters Isabella incâeased âaily âo as about the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist finding his strength to decay and somâtimes afflicted with a feuer by the torment of a gout in his hands as he had alwaies âad a great deuotion to his Church of Saint Laurence and a great delight in his Couât of
seeing that hee was not come thither with any bad intention not to seize vppon an other mans Countrie nor to wrong any man but for extreme necessitie a sincere afâection hee carried to the Empire and the preseruation thereof He blames the States That the States and vnited Prouinces were the cause of this mischeefe who would neâer reconcile themselues vnto the King their Lord notwithstanding so many offers of good vsage and intercâssions of the Emperour of other Kings and of the Princes of Germanie nor yet the grace and fauour which the King of Spaine hath done them hauing transported all the Low Countries to the Infanta his daughter married to Albert the Archduke That the said King and Archdukeâ hauing made him Generall of their armie the sooner to set him to worke and to enter into their Countries which were held by their enemies did thinke that they might well allowe them so much as to passe by the fronters of the Empire to wrest out off the enemies hands the places which they held and afterwards to râstore them to their true owners He bâamâs the Elector of Coâlen That through the long delay of the Prince Elector of Collen after the yeelding vp of Rhinberg and the retreat of the States shippes vpon the Rhine the sayd army had stayed along the Rhine pretending to raze Schercks Sconce lying at one of the Corners of the Rhine And being come thither that âor the treaties and negâtiations which were long in managing they must remaine there for âheir maintenance to free the riuer of Rhine and to keepe the Towne of Orsoy and that for some other reasons hee was forced to take the Towne of Burich to anoy the enemie to crossâ their desseines He excuâetâ the ãâã of the Eaâle of ãâã That victuals and forrage being spent considering the complaints of their neighbâurs many things haue past amongst others that of the Earle of Broucke who for his accustomed crueltie bad inclination killing tâem that went to forrage hauâng contemned all brotherly admonitions desiring rather to practise armes then to enteâtaine friendship if any misfortune had happened vnto him he was sorie for it beiâg reâolued to do Iustice. That when as the neigâbour Countries came to complaine vnto him of iniuries and oppressions which they sayd they endured he had vpon euery point giuen them iâst and lawfull excuses He excusââh ãâ¦ã That after he had taken the Towne of Bergh to preuent the policie of his enemies and receiued money and victuals from them of Wezel according to their agreemâât for their ransome he raised his army and went to Rees the which hauâng well fârnâshed he came to Emerick in the vew of the enemie a Towne seated vpon the Rhâne neer vnto the fort of Schenck the which being strong both by Art and Nature oâ hard accesse by reason of the waters not easie to batter and much lesse to giue assault he âft it and tooke his way by the high Countrie he went before Deutecom which yeelded and âo did the Castle of Schuylâmbourg That after many consultations of the reason of war and of the iniurie of the Tâme it was found expedient for the preseruation of the armie to cause it to winter ãâã places neerest to the âerritories of the Empire to stoppe the enemies courses and spoyle to entertaine the Kings armie during winter and to haue it alwayes readie That many by âeason of the strangenes of the fact being ignorant of the Perill Necessitie and Profit therof haue made their complaints vnto their Princes who ãâã the discomodities of their Subiects haue also coÌplayned vnto him 1599. who hath answered them curteously commending the good amitie of the Lords conâederates vpon the Rhine and of their Countries against all inconueniences He prayâââh the Kâng of Spaine putting them in mind of the Kings great benefits to his gâeat hazard to preserue the Lands and Territories of the Empire from vtter subuersion to the hindrance of his owne affaires That he did thinke by his mild carriage to haue cut off all cause of complaint and did hope that hereafter there should bee no mention made to the Empeâour nor in the other Courts and Estates of the Empire whereof notwitstanding he heard the contrarie fearing that in this assembly by the exclamations of some mooued with spleene and hatred against the King and the Catholike religion and through indiscretion or malicetrusting too much to the enemies inconstant promises or through ingratitude or some such like cause that such false reports are againe brought in question That he had held it expedient to aduertise his Imperiall Maiestie of the Kings merits and iustifications against such friuolous complaints and to send them to the Princes and States of the Empire in writâng and to that Assembly Intreating them in his Maiesties name and his owne that without iust occasion they would not take any bad impression of his Maiesties sincere intention by an vndue greefe commiseration oâ spleene growing from some smal misdemeanors which be the ordinary frutes of warre least they fall into greater inconueniences and troubles which might breed a greater mischeefe whereof would follow a âo late repentance But rather shewing wâsedome and Discretion measuring the good with the bad comparison being made of small damages and losses happened on these fronters of the Empire ioyning to those of the King from whome the Empire had receiued so many good turnes they should take all in good part That it will well appeare with what Bountie Moderation Clemencie Dilligence and with what Charge his Maiestie hath amidst so great troubles and turmoyles of warre preserued the whole Diocese of Collen and the neighbour Countries being in danger to bee lost and the Catholike religion supprest and that to the great preiudice of his âowne affaires By the which merits and good deeds togither with the bond by the which the said Diocese and Countrie of Westphalia are tyed no man of Iudgement if hee will not bee blemished with the note of ingratitude can with reason blame his Maiesties actions nor his own touching the lodging and wintering of his army conteyned in all militarie modestie This Iustification was tedious but it was answered all the points of vpbraidings and accusations made therein examined and reiected as false and calumnious to the preiudice of the Emperours honor of the Princes and States of the Empire This Assembly was referred to Conflâns We shall hereafter see what passed there We haue before shewed how that Madam Catherine the Kings only Sister The Kings sister marâied to ãâã Duke of ãâã the 31. oâ Iânuary he cântâact ãâã at ãâã the 5. oâ August 1598. had bin promised to the Marques of Pont Prince of Lorraine and Duke of Barr. The coÌtracts were made in the preseÌce of the Duke of Lorraine who came into France The conditions were that the sayd Lady should be entituled Duchesâe of Albret Countesse of Armâgnac and of Rhodez Vicountesse
what is past we must haue our eyes open to distinguish the causes from the pretexts and discouer the euill which is hidden vnder a shew of good holding alwaies for an infallible Maxime ãâã there is no ââst occasion to arme against his Prince nor to trouble the quiet of his Countrie We haue beene so abused as we haue taken the Maske for the Face Sâlanâââ For Inocencie and Falshod for Truth and vnder these false impressions we haue ãâ¦ã assured Peace for a doubtfull We haue beleeued those Emperiks of State who desirous to continue our languishing and to prolong our diseases haue from that Principle of Truth that Ciuill warre ruines both Estate and religion drawne this proposition Warre ruines both State and Religion That France cannot liue in peace with two Religions The which hath dost the liues of those that haue maintayned it and the ruine of others that haue beleeued it Being then reconciled for that which is past and well aduised hereafter hauing escaped shipwrake against our owne hope let vs remaine in the port of this concord where the King doth guide vs after so many stormes and tempests wee shall be there assured The Sea doth no harme to Shippes that haue good Anchors Obedience is the Anchor which doth assure our Shippe Obedience the eye and heart of an Estate against the furie of winde and waues It is that which giues life and motion to all the members of the body and there is not a more certaine signe of the life of an Estate then Obedience It is the eye of the body which liues last and dyes first it should bee the heart which liues first and dyes last This yeare the Princesse Antoinette Daughter to the Duke of Lorraine was conducted by the Earle of Vaudemont her brother to the Duke of Iâilliers who had married her shee was attended with a goodly traine and came to Collen where she was honourably receiued by the Senate and after some dayes she went downe the Riuer to Duisseldorp The Nuptiall ioy was great and stately The Duke of Iuillâers marries the daughter of the Duke of Lorraine although it were somewhat disturbed by the insolencie of the armies aswell of the States as of the Admirall The marriage of Sibille Sister to the Duke of Iuilliers and of the Marquis of Bourgondie brother to Andrew of Austria the Cardinall caused a peace in the Countrie of Cleues and all the Spanish pretentions went to smoake When as after the death of the Duchesse of Beaufort they saw the King falling into a new shipwrack from the which hee was lately escaped and that loue mourning yet for his first Venus lead him to another you might heare the sighes of the most modest the murmuring of the most turbulent and generally presages of some approching storme This was the onely spotte of Oyle which did pierce through the glorious actions of this Prince who superiour to all other in Courage and Valour and alwayes equall to himselfe made himselâe subiect to this Pâssion Trueth will not suffer me to suppresse that which cannot be bid It is good to conceale that which is doubtfull in his actions that hath no other Iudge but God· but to keepe secret that which is knowne and seene of all men is a basenesse It imports to know things truly which not being written shall passe to posteritie according to their passions which shall begin and continue the tradition Ancient Historieâ as full of simple Trueth as voide of Affectation haue not concealed the loues of Princes whose vertues they haue written Of all the foâlies of mân there is none more excusable nor of the which fewer do excuâe themselues then of Loue. All fight vnder this banner If then it was necessarie for the King to loue he could not loue any thing more worthy of his loue But when as Death did see that the Louer grew blind in the thing he loued and that this blindnâsse had brought France into confused darknesse he separated them Vpon this consideration the Court of Parliament finding that there is nothing that doth more preserue France from falling into forepassed miseries or more assure the present and continues their prosperities hereafter then the Kings issue The Court of Parliament perswades the King to maâây therefore they beseeched his Maiestie to marry and to giue to himselfe a Sonne and a Successor to his Realme there being no armie more powerfull either by Sea or Land to assure an Empire then many Children La Guesle the Kings Atturney general made the speech He represented vnto his Maiestie how much he was bound vnto God He discouered the publick diseases of his estate shewed the remedies and in the end he let him see that the enioying of all the felicities which peace purchased by his victorious armes could promise him was weakly grounded France was not assured to see it durable the which depended on the lawfull birth of a Daulphin That although by the lawe of State a sacred and immutable Law M. de la Guesles speech vnto the King and an originary and fundamentall Law of the Crowne the succession belongs to the neerest Kinsman yet France is too full of those turbulent spirits which in the calme of Peace watch carefully for occasions of warre which in the middest of rest breath after troubles and freed from the perill of armes hold still like madde man their Hearts and tâeir Courages armed to mooue new contentions an other day against the Lawe and order of the Realme whereof the King himselfe had made such tryall of their bad intentions as without the vertue of Heauen infused into him his Right had beene vanquished by Force That although his Maiestie by his wisedome accompanied with a singular boânâiâ and charitable affection to the quiet of his Subiects hath declared his successor to the Crowne yet France hath alwayes obserued that when the Crowne did leape from one branche of a Familie vnto an other and that the Sonne did not succeed the Father it was disquieted with new factions and the fields bathed with the bloud of her Cittizens and the fire of Ciuill warre so kindled as two ages was scarse able to quench ãâã That to take away these iust feares and apprehensions of these publike calamitâes the succession must not change the branch for where there is no change there is no stirre and the Children succeeding in the Fathers Realme it seemes that he that raigned is rather growne yong againe then changed The King of Fâance neuer dâes there is nothing new the Crowne continues in the same houâe the Fathers face is noted in that of his Sonne That the shining of the SuÌne is pleasing as a calme Sea or the Earth couered with his greene tapistrie But there is nothing so goodly nor so delightfull to the Eye as the sight of Children newly borne in a family that wanted this aduantage That to attaine vnto this happines they must begin by the dissolution of the
is in Hungary in the midest of many discomodities which he holds pleasing for Gods cause but before he goes he giues them occasion to talke of him in the Court of Parliament He had a cause pleaded there and his Aduocate gaue him the quality of a Prince Seruin the Kings Aduocate holding it a base preuarication to be silent at that which ought to be spoken for the Kings seruice and the Lawe of State did shew that that quality did not belong to any but to Princes of the bloud The Duchesse of Mercure who was then in presence sayd that they could not take from her Husband a quality that was due vnto him by the right of his birth and that the King held him so The Duke Mercure holding that which the Kings Aduocate had sayd in discharge of his duty for a brauado and a contempt went the same day vnto his house and gaue him iniurious words The King being aduertised thereof held it a bold act The Court esteemed the iniury done vnto them desired the more to repaire it for that the honor of the Kings seruice was wronged and that it had bin done in sight of the ParliameÌt of the Capital Citty of the Realme in his house that was wronged the which should be to euery man an inuiolable Sanctuary The Court decreed that he should be personally adiorned and had proceeded further if the Kings commandement had not stayd them It was a great vertue in the President Lizet when he decreed that the quality of Prince which the Cardinall of Lorraine tooke should be raized out of his Aduocates pleadings The Cardinall complayned vnto the King but the President Lizet answered with sutch Courage and Constancy before the King beeing in Councell that the Cardinall was no Prince nor equall to Princes if you will sayeth he vse it shew vs the place of your Principality A free speech which purchased the old man much reputatioÌ In the yeâre 1598. yet within two yeares after he made him resigne his place vnder an other pretext There was no Nobleman in France that vsed the benefit of the Peace more worthily theÌ the Duke Mercure for disdayning the idlenesse of the Court and the ease of his house hee imployed himselfe to succor the Christians against the greatest enemy of their Religion He leads with him the Count of Chaligny his brother with some gentlemen at his owne charge resoluing to imploy his Goods as well as his Life in this holy warre hauing vowed to serue Christendome two yeares at his owne charge Hee shewed himselfe a great Captaine as well to defend as to assaile hauing kept the enemy with an army of a hundred and fifty thousand men from beseeging of Strigonia this was in his first voiage before whose returne the Emperour desired to see him What pâst in Hungary and intreated him to take his way by Prague After the raysing of the seege of Buda or Belgrade the Christian army was dismissed sent to Garâisons Buda receiued a new Bascha The Knights of Comorre at the beginning had defeated part of the troupes which were come to coÌduct accoÌpany the Bascha they spoiled a Ship being laden with spoile they returned to their coÌpanions The Turke sent fiue Shippes to Buda and changed aâ the Estate and one of the Baschas which had beene there during the seege who had bene of opinion to yeeld the place was punished It was thought the Bascha of Agria would haue giuen some notable attempt hauing made great preparation for Warre in diuers places and prouided three hundred barrells of poulder Those of Sigeth on the other side hauing made Souldiars Coates of the Germaine fashion thought to surprize the Christians but they fayled being discouered The Tartares The Tartares demand a peace which adhere vnto the Turke by his commandement spoyled the Country vpon the riuer of Hipolis and fell vpon Peste Zolnâek and Hattouan Townes subiect vnto the Turke who being tired with their courses and exhausted of money by the great warres hee had against the Persian hee resolued to demaund a Peace of the Emperour The Tartares came to make this demand at Vienna in the beginning of February who being adressed vnto the Arch-duke Mathias they had no answer The Tartares reuenge for being contemned The Tartares defeated by Palfi but returned as they came by reason of the spoile their men made this request was not reported vnto the Emperour nor vnto the Court at Prague In the meane time the Tartare made a furious reuenge hauing surprised the Citty of Tolice and put all to fire and sword they slue all within it that were of mans age and had done worse if the Lord of Palfi had not made head against them and slaine some among others three Captaines who choose rather to bee slaine then to yeeld except one Vallet who demanded his life and was saued They of Ratzen with all their men retired vnto the Mountaines to auoide the fury of the Tartares but they of Crabatzen resisted them brauely and tooke one of their Captaines Those of Vaxence vnto Buda defeated a great number being gone to freeboote neere to Palaner Meugrade and Zetschen but the rest of the Tartares hauing notice thereof burnt aboue thirty villages neere vnto Calon which had like to haue beene taken and Laomare also if it had not beene well manned but they durst not sally forth for that the enemy was aboue 12. thousand The Fort of Canisia was also burnt at that time whereas the soldiars and the Inhabitants lost all their baggage mouables About that time the garrison of Strigonia defeated a Conuoy tooke a great Booty Orsipetre the Gouernors Lieutenant got much welth and honor among other things he had a Gowne of cloath of Tissue of Gold and Siluer which was sent to the Bascha and knowing that the Fort of Wailes was fallen hee enters it and defeats the garrison with the Aga which is the Gouernor and deliuered them of Bischir The Heiducks which are horsemen led away 800. Sheepe which did greatly releeue Strigonia In the meane time there happened a great alteration in Transiluania the Vauoide Sigismond who had before accepted a recompence of the Emperour to deliuer Transiluania into his hands hauing gonne from his word What past in Transiluania hee prest the Emperour by the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and by Stephen Paschay his Chancellor to restore him Transiluania againe And without attending any answer he goes thether in post takes it againe and makes his Cousine Andrew Battâry the Cardinall to sweare fealty vnto him the which he did also cause George Balte to approue being then at Cassouia in heigh Hungary Generall of the Emperours army who was therein surprized for hee gaue him to vnderstand that it was for the good of Christendome and in the meane time Cardinal Andrew treated with the Turke by safe conduct The Emperour sent Doctor Petzen thether but coÌming to Thorne the Principall Towne
all afâayâes and especially for iudgements To condemne the iust is not good nor to strike Princes that haue carried themselues iustly ãâã 17 v. 26. An excellent sentence and agreeing with our cause Hee called Iudges Princes and in another place they aâe termed Gods That if Gâd making his Iustice to sâââne 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 neeâer 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 câyme 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 wiâe 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. ãâã 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 Saâoie 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 presuÌptions 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 iudgemeÌt 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 oneây 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 Capitâlârie which saith Capiâulaâium 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 falâe and malicious Accusers deserue that which the Accused suffred for the SlaÌderer 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 Emperoâs 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 slânder but they must take their trouble as an accident sent of God as a mischance which the Grecians called a
Diuine Fortune We must not vse the inhumanitie of Gneus Pâso although he were an vpright man and free from many vices but hauing not the true rule of reason hee tooke rigour for a resolution of seueritie who being aduertised that two Souldiars going forth togither the one was returned without his companion he condemned him as a murtherer of him that was absent and as the condemned man was in the hands of the Executioner at the place of Iustice his companion whome they held to be dead returned This rigorous Iudge hearing that the officer had protâactâd the execution he caused him to be apprehended to be brought vnto the scaffold with him the Companion taking for a pretext that he was the cause of this mischeefe by his absence and to him he added the officer iudging him worthy of punishment for that he had brought backe the first condemned whome hee should haue presently executed according to the sentence It is not fit in all causes to stand so stifly vppon Iudgments as Alexander the Great did who had rather pay a fine for Athenodorus then remit it for somtimes a temper of humanitie is commendable as in this case Imitating the example of Pâince Titus the Son of Vespasian when he deliuered Iosephus out of prison saying vnto the Emperour his Father after that hee had commaunded the prisoner to be vnbound It is reason O Father that with his bonds the dâshonor should be taken from Iosephus for he shall bee as if in the beginning he had not beene bound But if wee vnbind him we must cut the chaine for so they vse them that are vniustly bound A speech of a woâthie Prince witnessed by the History of Iosephus worthy to be spoken before a great King and well approued of by the Emperor As true lippes please Kings and they loue him that speakes iust things with a pure heart Pro. 16 v. 13.22.11 And therefore to make an end of the Plaintifs miserie with that of Iosephs the Court if it pleaâe hauing in some sort regard vnto their request shall set them at Libertie declaring them innocents of the cryme of hospitalitie violated and of the murther wherof they haue beene accused without adâudging vnto them notwithstanding any Reparation Charges Domages and interests against the Accuser seeing she hath not nor cannot be iudged a Slanderer So either partie obtayning what they may hope for by reason Pro. 21. v. 1. things iudged shall remayne in their authoritie and God who holds the Kings heart in his hand as little brooks of runing water inclyning to his will shall make him raine happely and his Posteritie after him as all good Frenchmen and true Christians doe wish by a happie Marriage so as our great Henry the fourth siting in the throne of Iustice Ibid. 20 v. 8. or represented by his Councellors mayntaining his Countries shall disperce all danger by his looke and euery one will say with Saloman the wel beloued of God That the seat of the King which iudgeth the poore iustly shall bee firme for euer Ibid 29. v. 14 The sentence of the Court vpon these Pleadings pronounced by the first President on Monday the 17. of Ianuary was confirmable to the conclusion taken by Monsââur Aduocate for the Kings Atturney Generall 1600. The King and Duke tooke great pleasure to heare them Both gaue their opinions on them that had best pleaded but aboue all they commended the equity of the Court which dismissed the parties free froÌ further sute The King at the Dukes request graunted a pardon to a poore woman an Adulteresse that was condemned to die whose Adulterer had beene executed for that he had abused her being a house-hold seruant so had she beene in like sort but that she was found with Child This Pardon was granted by the King vnto the Duke notwithstanding any opposition made by the Court the Kings Councel shewing the consequence thereof His Maiesty would haue it passe of his absolute authority Yet vpon condâtion that shee should liue in perpetuall priâon and norrished at her Hus bands charge All these good receptions all these exerciâes al these pastimes did not make the Duke forget the care of his affaires he had sayd vnto Monsieur de Villeroy That he was not come to yeeld vp the Marquisate The King on the other side being at Fontainbleau sayd vnto him That he shold be alwaies his friend but he would haue his Marquisate The Duke was aduertised that the King had sayd priuatly in his Cabinet That the Duke was a braue and a gallant Prince yet he kept his Marquisate These words made him presume that âhe râport which the Cheualier Breton and Roncas had made vnto him that the King was desirous to see him and that they should agree was not true for whensoeuer the Dâke spake âo the King in priuate touching that businesse he desired him to referre it to their Councââls And although this was a very important businesse yet the King had one which did presse him neerer which was his Marriage Being aduertised as wee haue formerly shewed by Sillery his Ambassador at Rome Monsier d' Alincourt come to Genua thât the Pope had granted his desire touching the nullity of his marriage âe sânt Aâincourt Gouernor of Pontoise to thanke him and to aske his aduice vpon the alliance hee desiâed to contract with the house of Florence He came to Lions to passe to Auignion by the riuer of Rhosne and so to Antibo whether the State of Genoa sent him a Galley well appointed to conduct him to their Citty where hee was receiued with all the honors fit for the greatnesse of the Prince that sent him and worthy of the credit reputation which the name of Villeroy carries among the friends of this Crowne They did cast lots there where he should be lodged which fell to the Pallace of Grimaldy where hee was defraied two daies at the charges of the State The Ambassador of Spaine went to visit him He came to Rome on Ashewedensday the 6. of Fâbuary He went to the Senate was seated in the Dukes place and âaw the order they held in their Councells and Deliberations where they graunted him liberty for two Galley-slaues Frenchmen that were in the Gallies of the Seigneury the one was a Parisian and the other a Lionois which they esteemed a fit fauour to gratefie a Prince He went in post to Rome the Ambassador met him with a great number of French Gentlemen hee lodged him in his house and the second day of his arriuall he had audience of the Pope He continued in Rome ântill Easter during his aboad he did see the Vice-roy of Naples make his entry into Rome comming to do homage vnto the Pope for the Realme of Naples presenting vnto him a white Steede for an acknowledgemeÌt of the see â000 ounces of gold comes to fourescore thousand Crownes for the inuestiture of Naples for that it is
one of the Realmes which holds in fee and doth homage vnto the Church of Rome and for that reason besides the eight thousand Ounces of Gold which they owe yeerely they are bound to take armes for defence of the Church They had their part also of the fruites of the Holy yeare during which time many Frenchmen and others of the Religion went to see for curiosities sake without any feare of the Inquisition whose iurisidiction doth cease in the yeare of Iubilé many great personagâs from diuers parts of Europe went to this Iubile The Duke of Bar goes to Rome disguized to the Cardinal Aldobrandin and Ossat and to Monsieur de Sillery among the cheefe was the Dâke of Bar who went in a disguised habit to get absolution for that hee had beene married against the rules of the Church and without dispensation of the degrees of consanguinity that were betwixt him and the Kings Sister for which cause the Bishop of Lorraine refused him the holy Sacrament and held him for excomunicate The King assisted this Princes humility and submission with his letters of fauour to diuers Cârdinalls The Duke of Sauoy was not pleased with the long delaies of the Court he complained that he was intreated with to great rigour The Duke thought to finde a King âf Complements And the King a Duke more easie to restore that which he held The Duke couered his discontent with silence and discretion In the end they agree to treat of their affaires and differences by Deputies Deputies for the King and Duke For the King were named the Constable the Chancellor the Marshall Biron the Marquis Rhosny and Villeroy Fâr the Duke Bely his Chancelor the Marquis of Lullins Iacob the Earle of Moret and Aââmes The Kings Deputies demand restitution of the Marquisate of Saluces in the same Estate it was in wheÌ the Duke surprized it The Dukes first propositioÌ was to haue the King renounce the protection of Geneua the which was not sayd they coÌprehended in the Treaty of Peace in speciall words as other Townes This did much offend the King and his Councell The Duke intreated the Popes Nuntio to make this proposition The Popes Nuntio intreatâ the King to leaue the protection of Gâneua who hauing his soule as free from craft and dissimulation as it was full of zeale and integrity found meanes to speake vnto the King without trouble or alteration He sayd that there was a meanes to vnite the extremities of their wills for the same reason which required the Duke to restore the Marquisate did not hinder his Maiesty from the enioying of that which did belong vnto him It is true sayd the King There the Nontio repiled The Towne of Geneua belongs vnto the Duke and nothing hinders him from settling the authority which his Predecessors had there but the power of your protection Is it not then reason that as you will haue him restore the Marquisate which is yours you should suffer him to enioye the Towne of Geneua which is his The King to be speedily freed of this argument answered that things were different that hee had not made the protection of Geneua It was a Treaty whervnto he was bouÌd by faith for the reuerence he did beare vnto his Predecessors who had made them selues Protectors of that Common-weale from whom they had receiued seruice in their necessities And he would neuer oppose himselfe against the firmnes of their promises The Nuntio sayes presently vnto the King As you will not leaue the protection of Geneua for that it was made with your Predecessors in like sort the Duke is not bound to yeelde you the Marquisate of Saluces for that he tooke it not from you but from the deceased King Our difference replyed the King although for my part it consists of many points is reduced onely to that which concernes the Marquisate of Saluces The vsurper must restore the Duke of Sauoie hath vsurped my Marquisate there is nothing that doth free him from restitution I hold nothing of his and therefore must not restore him any thing I will neuer hinder him from hauing reason of Geneua so as hee get it without armes for when hee shall come thether with force I will alwaies resolue of that which I ought He thinkes that if I should abandon that Towne he might force them to acknowledge him but I should purchase in abandoning them much blame it being against the honor of this Crowne and the firmenesse of a Kings word The Duke had reason to affect this place he might make a great Bul-warke thereof against the Suisses to recouer that which they did hold from the ancient house of Sauoye and to make all things difficult for the French among the Cantons This proposition of Geneua was razed out of the Duke articles no more spoken of in the Assembly of the Deputies They did presse the restitution of the Marquisate or the exchange of the Countries of Bresse Pigneroll and Sauillan with some valleys for the passage of Piedmont The Deputies assembled but once The Duke fore-seeing what the issue would be They demand an exchange insteed of restititution and hauing vnderstood that the Chancellor speaking of the Restitution or Exchange had sayd that they must passe that way or by the sword he let the King vnderstand that to many delt in the busines and that it should be sooner ended if but one did faithfully report the intentions of either part The Patriarke of Constantinople was imployed therein but the Duke disliked thereof Hee resolued to free himselfe of these difficulties and to runne the hazard and shame of the refusall Then hee presented his first proposition of the Empire and Duchie of Millan giuing him very plausible meanes if they had beene as easie in the execution as in the discourse shewing that for all the fruite of the conquest he desired nothing but to hold the Marquisate of Salusses Whervnto the King answered That he was neither of that age nor his affayres in that estate that King Francis his were when he aspired to the Emâire That there was not a Duke of Saxony nor a Langraue prisoner to giue him the Title of Protector of Germany and other Princes prisoners as vnto King Henry the second If a King of France should bee ambitious of any thing greater then his Crowne it might bee an Empire but not in the estate that it is nowe The Emperor hath little more then the title the soueraignty remaining to the States of thâ Empire the title of an Emperour beeing little more then that of a Duke of Venice but as it was vnder Augustus when as Rome which commands but 7. hills had reduced all the world vnder one Empire or at the least as it was vnder Charlemagne As for the Duchie of Milan the King said that the enterprise was tedious and the issue vncertaine as of all other desseins and for the meanes which the Duke discouered vnto him there was nothing so
easie which the King of Spaine might not make difficult hauing both Land and Sea at his commandement to hinder him Besides it was the Nature of actions of War still to produce vnexpected difficulties You alone added the King caÌnot succour me I know not how my men will agree with yours And if things should succeed according to your desire I know not what shold become of the fruit of the CoÌquest I haue inough to do in my Realme without thinking of others The Peace is but in the flower the vent of such a desseine would wither it I wil haue no War with the King of Spaine vnlesse he be weary of Peace Brother you haue no need of my Councel but affection commands vs somtimes to giue it to him that doth not aske it I would counsell you to liue in good terms with him If there were any troubles betwixt you I would not meddle but to recoÌcile you I haue too much care of the honour of my word to breake a Peace so iust and so necessary without a precedent iniury If I did it I should make my selfe the Argument of all the complaints of Christendome the discourse of other Princes the cause of a forraine War and the renuing of infinite calamities It were an indiscretion for me vpon a vaine and imaginary hope to loose the assurance to recouer mine own wherwith I coÌtent my selfe without seeking an others The desires which are infinit are vnworthy of a iust Prince they are propper to Tyrants who raigne without Lawe and liue without Feare if I had any will to that which you propound there should not need so many words but hauing no will to it it is in vaine âor me to speake of it None of these words could content the Duke but dissembling his discontent he answered If I should reape no other good by my voyage but to haue seene so great a Prince whose valour and greatnesse is greater then the report I should not be grieued ârue it is that the estate of my affayres should haue perswaded me to haue come without the assurance of my Ambassadour that I should receiue more of your Maiesties free will then I could expect of the Popes sentence and that you would not so much presse the Restitution but would be satisfied with a gentler Composition I haue offered you the meanes which lead to so great and so worthy effects as the Marquisate of Salusses is nothing in comparison of them You find difficulties therein There is no great enterprise can be without them but being wel resolued it is halfe executed A courage like vnto yours finds nothing difficult and all Europe admires your actions hauing made that which was impossible possible And seeing that I must attribute it not vnto the violence of reasoÌ but to my vnhappines that I cannot perswade a thing which in his Glory and Profit carries his own Perswasion I beseech your Maiesty to intreat me as your most humble seruant kinsman who desires no greater happines for his theÌ to be yours They are already by the Laws of Nature they are by my wil shal be more by the fauours of your bounty For one Marquisate you bind many Princes The Duke demands the inuestiture of the Marquiâate for one of his sonnes and by the inuesting of one of my children all the house of Sauoy shall be bound vnto you your Maiesty will say that you make not such large gifts but you must consider if you please that many vertues are common to men but this belongs onely to Kings As it is more royall to giue then to take And they wrong the greatnesse of their courage if they should not giue great things And to giue a thing that is litigious and doubtfull you shall purchase an immortall right of soueraignty Hee added many reasons for the execution of the enterprise and with such vehemence as he seemed to haue some secret to make Mountaines remoue and drie vp Riuers âhe King considered that there was no profit but for the Duke and that the fruite which at the least he promised himself in keeping the Marquisate of Salusses would be more certaine to him then the Conquest of Milan vnto the King If the Duke of Sauây could haue ingaged the King he knew well how to crosse him in the execution All the danger he could apprehend was the King of Spaines indignation but hee might as easily returne into fauour without speaking a word as he came away without bidding him farewell For what should haue hindred him when as the French had bân far ingaged in Italy to haue ioyned with the Spaniards to expell them and to breake the Bridge of his assistance whereby he had made them to passe The Duke seeing that he could not obtaine any thing of the King but that he must make a double recompence for the Marquisate he coÌtinued a while in doubt of his returne as he alwayes repented him of his comming The King desirous to free him of all cause of distrust and apprehension The Duke of Sauoy perplexed that should force his will to promise that which hee would neuer hold sent him word that he should not trouble himselfe with the Resolution of his Councell for he should neuer be forced but by the right of Armes and that he should alwayes haue time to thinke of it and to returne to âurin with his will as free as when he came to Paris The Duke not able to see clearely with his owne eyes nor to distinguish of these difficulties aduised thereof in his Councell But as the eies troubled with those diseases which the Phisitions terme Hypostragma and Ictere haue the operation of the sight so troubled as they cannot well iudge of colours all obiects seeming vnto theÌ Yellow or Red. Euen so when Princes Councels are subiect to any passion they giue counsell accordingly nothing presenting it selfe vnto them but through the false sight of Opinion and Choller which doth alwaies make the bodies seeme bigger theÌ they are So in the Councell of this Prince those which desired War said That neither the Restitution of the Marquisate nor the Exchange of Bresse might be accepted and that a good Warre should be more honourable Passionate Councells then a shamefull Composition Others hauing no other passion then Peace aduised him vnto it at what price soeuer fearing that if the King should not receiue that satisfaction from them which he expected hee would stay them The Duke woâld depart without takâng his leaue The Duke grew into choller and would haue departed without taking his leaue The most aduised of his Councel told him that his departure in that sort would make him a by-word to all the Princes of Italy Spaine would laugh at him France would be scandalized that all Europe would hold him the cause of this War and in this War of a world of miseries That there needed no other Herald to proclaime War against him which would be in
his last hope vppon Bouuens to whome hee sends the countersigne without the which he was bound not to yeeld it This token was but counterfet D' Hostel played an other part he made this his colour to haue meanes to enter into the Cittadell A Countersigne carried to Bouuens and to giue this countersigne to Bouuens for his warrant and thereby to assure him that if he had meanes to hold good a moneth hee should disclame the signing of the ratification and make a shew of disobedience and hee should bee releeued D' Hostel went into the Cittadell and found that miserie would not suffer them to vant of resistance as they had done that things were no more in the Estate that Bouuens had represented them and that their neccessities were so extreame as there was no meanes to suffer them any longer beeing prest without by the Kings Army and within by cold and hunger which made the Duke more tractable to yeeld that which hee could not hold sending the ratification in the beginning of March and at the same time the Cittadell was deliuered into the Kings power Diuers opinions of the Peace The generall censures of this Peace were diuers The King was pleased that the pofit was apparent and assured for his Estates hauing for one Marquisate more Earles and Marquises then there are Gentlemen in the Marquisate of Saluces inlarging his frontiers aboue thirty Leagues and so restrayned the Dukes Estate on this side the Mountaines as hee hath left two third partes lost eight hundred Gentlemen and a fort which hee himselfe writing vnto Bovuens esteemed more then all the Marquisate with Prouinces as fertill as any bee in France It is true that the Honour to keepe that which was the cause of the Warre remayned to the Duke and by this meanes of a Peace hee hath no more neede of Spaniards nor of the Count of Fuentes Comodiâies which the Duke got by the Peace who did him alwaise some Spanish affront and is free from all feare of the French who keât Piedmont in awe while they had a retreate there The Duke who neuer went out of the gates of Thurin without six Companies of Horse and entertayned Garrisons which cost him more then the reuenues of the Countries exchanged may nowe sleepe and goe and come in safety This Moneth of March Louyse of Lorraine Dowager of France Widow to Henry the 3. The death of Queene Loâyse King of France and of Poland died her death was better known by the losse of such a light then by the mourning of her Heires or the Honour of her Funeralls for the Duke of Merâure her Brother to whom she left her goods and the execution of her will was then in Hungary The Duchesse of Mercure attended on her vntill she died and layed her Body in the Couent of Saint Claire vntill shee might bee enterred with greater pompe She desired to bee layed in one Tombe with the King whose Body attendes vntill that the piety of the lyuing may remember the condition of the dead the which giues cause of amazement that the Earth which neuer fayles for the life of Princes should now want for their interment She was Daughter to Nicholas Earle of Vandemont Death of the Princesse of Coââe A most vertuous Princesse shewing in al her actions a singular piety and modestie The same yeare also Madam Francis of Orleans Princesse of Conde Mother to the Count of Soissons died in her house of Grenelles at Paris the Funerall Pompe was celebrated in the Abbey of Saint Germain de pres The Princesse of Conty dies About the end of this yeare the Princesse of Conty died of a great and languishing sickenesse as shee went to her house at Fonnestable in Perche to change the aire by the aduice of her Phisitions but shee changed her life The Duchesse ââ Esquilâon leauing one onely Daughter the which the Count of Soissons married Afterwards the Duchesse of Eguillon died being Daughter to the Duke of Neuers deceased who left great cause of mourning to the Duke of Esquillon eldest Son to the Duke of Maine and the rather for that she died in child-bed the Child also with her The King in 40. daies had conquered all Sauoy with in 40. after hee married treated of a Peace made the Qâeene in case to be a Mother went in post from Lions and came to Paris which bare his long absence impatiently His returne gaue the world to vnderstand how quiet constant the affaires of France were that a King which went a 100. Leagues with 12. only in his traine was well assured of his subiects and feared not his neighbours The Qâeen followed by smal iorneyes came to Fontainbleau where she stayd not long but came to Paris abouâ S. Germains Faier her first lodging was at Gondies house her fiâst Gentleman of Honour beeing in the suburbes of S. Germaine The next was at Zameâs superintendant of her house then she came to the Lovure The Parisiens prepared themselues besought the King to giue them leaue to make her a stately entry but his Maiesty would haue the charges of this entry reserued for a more durable worke The Queene comes to Paris All the Princesses of the bloud with the chiefe Ladies of the Court and Citty presented themselues to kisse her hands and to do their duties vnto her Maiesty She made much of all that the King fauored and resolued to loue what hee Loued framing her will in such sort vnto his as she held his will for an vnwritten Lawe This yeare the Pope granted a Iubile and pardons to all the French that should goe vâsit the Church of Saint Croix in Orleans doing the workes of Christian charity An infinit number of people went thither from al parts of France the King and Queene went thether with the fiâst and gaue meanes to helpe to build this Church which had beene ruined during the furie of the fiâst ciuill warres The King layed the first stone of this building An act worthie of a Christian King the true successor of the pietie of S. Lewis his Predecessor But whilst he gaines pardons his enemies watch to surprise the best places of his Realme He was disarmed vnder the assurance of the Peace The armie of strangers was still whole togither and became fearefull to all Italie All the Princes were troubled therat and althovgh they bee not well vnited togither yet when there is any question of common danger they haue good correspondency At Rome they sayd it was for Geneua and that the Marquis of Aix was gone to intreate the Pope to fauour him with his blessing and to fortifie him with his meanes An enterprisâ vpon Maâseilles Many other discourses were made touching this army but time discouered that it was entertayned for Marsâilles There is nothing âo holy but money will violate nor so strong but it will force The Count of Fuentes vpon promise of great
and to ruine all the world with his delights At this time there sprong vp Religious men in France who said they were true Obseruers of the Order of S. Francis The order of ãâã and that the Franciscans and Capuchins did not maintaine it so exactly but they needed Reformation The King gaue them a Couent at Beauâort by the example of this piety many other places desired it They would lodge at Balmette neere vnto Anger 's the which had beene Founded by Rene King of Sicilia The FranciscaÌs who could not indure to be dispossessed by these Recollets beseeged them offered to force their Gates and to scale their Walles The Beseeged defended not themselues with Words and Excorcismes but with Stones and in such Choller as if the People had not come the Scandall had not ended without Murther The Prouinciall seeing that the Recollets would not receiue him Trouble in the âouent of Balmââte and that the Bishop would not suffer him to vse force appealed as from an abuse of their Establishment The Recollâts shew vnto the Court that they are the true Children and Disciples of S. Francis liuing according to the Rule and Discipline that was obserued in Italy from whence the good Precepts of the Reformation of Regulers were drawne that if those of the Famely of Obseruance and of Capuchins were tollerated honoured in France they should be of no worse Condition This cause was the Argument of a famous pleading in the Court Parliament in the which Seruin the Kings Aduocate said That a Reformation was necessary not only in the Order of the Franciscans or Grey-Friars A great pâeadââg ân the Court of Parlament but also in all others but they must be careful not to transforme by Nouelties in steed of Reforming by Censures alleadging many reasons against the bringing in of nâwe Orders Whereupon the Court pronounced that there was abuse and restored the Ancient Religious to the Couent of Balmette forbidding all religious Men of the Order of Grey-Fryars to go out off the Realme without license from the King or their Superiors Iealous and distrustfull heads gaue it out that the Peace was in weake estate when as after the iniury done vnto Rochepott in Spaine The King gâes to Calais and the forbiding of Trafficke they see the King gonne sodainely to Calais and that from thence hee had sent the Duke Biron into England The Archdukes tooke a sodaine Alarum and to that end sent the Count Soâa vnto the King to deliuer vnto him the state of the Seege to Ostend The Count Sora sent vnto the King and to beseech him not to suffer that their enemies should thinke that these approches should be to their aduantage and that their rebellion should be fauoured by an example so hatefull to all Princes The King sent the Duke of l' Esguillon to visit them The Duke of l' Eâguillon sent to the Archdukes and to assure them that his intention was not to trouble the Peace but onely to visit his Fronter and to prouide for the fortifications They did not generally beleeue this for although he made this Voyage in Post many thought that he would imbrace this occasion of the seege of Ostend and all the Court followed him as to some great Exploite And for that he would not haue the world in suspence of his desseignes he gaue the Gouernors of his Prouinces to vnderstand that the cause of his going to Calais was but to visit his frontier and to prouide for that which should bee necessary to assure it not from present dangers but from those that might happen He declared also that he had no other desseigne then the preseruation of Peace withall his neighbours to enjoy that which God had giuen him But there were other practises which could not be dispersed but by the Kings presence The Queene of England sent Sir Thomas Edmonds to visit the King and the King returned her the like by the Duke of Biron Hee went accompanied with a hundred and fifty Gentlemen The Count of Avuergne was there as vnknowne The Duke of Biron sent into England but his qâaâity discouered him There was nothing omitted that might be for the reception of an Ambassador somewhat more Being at London many Noblemen receiued him and accompanied him to Basing where he rested a day or two before he did see the Queene who made him knowe that shee was honoured by her Subiects aboue other Princes A Prince should loose no occasion to let Strangers see the greatnesse of his Estate to giue them cause to admire him and to maintaine his Subiects in the dutie which they owe him The Queene of England who hath made good proofe that Wonten may raigne as well and as happely as Men obserues this bââtâr then any Prince of her age making all them that followed the Duke of Biron in this Legation to giue the like Iudgement The Queene beeing set in State all the French Gentlemen entred first His entry to the Queene but when as shee discouered the Duke of Biron whome shee knew by the description they had made of his Face and stature shee spake with a loud voyce Ha Monsieur de Biron how haue you taken the paynes to come and see a poore old Woman who hath nothing more liuing in her then the affection shee beares vnto the King and her perfect iudgement to knowe his good Seruants and to esteeme Knights of your sort As she spake this the Duke made a low reuerence the Queene rose from her Chaire to imbrace him to whoÌ he deliuered the charge he had from the King and withall his Maiesties Letters the which she read She thanked the King for his remembrance of her but she said she could not conceale The Queenes speech that as there was nothing vnto a heart like vnto hers full of affection and desire more pleasing then to see and heare what it desired so could she not but feele an extreme torment to see her selfe depriued of the sight and presence of the obiect which shee had most desired whose actions she esteemed not onely immortall but diuine being ignorant whether she should more enuy his Fortune then loue his Vertue and admire his Merits so much the one the other did exceede the greatest maruailes in the world That she could not say that a courage which feared nothing but the falling of the Pillers of Heauen should feare the Sea or not trust vnto it for a passage of seuen or eight houres blaming them rather which had not instructed him as well to contemne the Waues of the Sea as the desseignes of his enemies vppon the Land From these speeches shee fell into some bitternesse of Complaints which shee deliuered with a little vehementie saying That after she had succored this Prince with her Forces Purse and Meanes and if she could haue done it with her owne bloud and had as much desired the happy successe of his affayres as himselfe
long Hayre by the which hee was hanged King Lewis then did alwayes say That Pride carried Ruine behinde him A Heart which knowes from whence the good comes which it inioyeth is alwayes an enemy to Pride So there is but a moment betwixt Glory and Ruine Great Trees are long in growing but are rooted âp in an instant And it is true if the Duke of Biron had had a Brayne he had not lost his Head and had not brought it into the handes of his Princes Iustice whom hee had so much offended The Marshall Bââons Virtues This Marshall had goodly parts communicable to fewe his Valour was admirable and happy in all his incounters of an inuincible Courage infatigable and neuer tired with any toyle continuing ordinârily fifteeene dayes together on Horse-backe He was not inclined to Volâptuousnesâe nor much to the loue of Women sober ynough the which began to quench that furious humour as Intemperancy greatnesse increased or that Rest did moderate his boyling passions He was extremely Vaine-glorious His Vanity Glory yea sometimes he would refuse his meate and content himselfe with little to feede his Fantasie with Glory and Vanity He was of a meane stature Blacke reasonable grosse hollow eyd and rough in speech and conuersation He was aduenturous in War Ambitious beyond all measure The excesse of his Ambition made him to braue it without iudgement He became so presumptuous as he thought that the King nor France could not subsist without him He was become ill-tounged speaking ill of all the Princes threatning the Parliaments and the Officers of Iust ce some with death and to dispossesse others of their places He was aduanced from the meanest to the highest degrees of Honours of a simple Souldiar hee became a Captaine then a Colonell afterwards Admirall and Marshall and in the ende Lieutenant of the Kings Armies and in his Heart he aspired to be Duke of Burgundy Son in Lawe to the Duke of Sauoy A comparison betwixt Silla and the Duke of Biron and Nephew to the King of Spaine If Sylla were Resolute Cruell and Bloudy he yeelded nothing to all men together If he were Valiant this man exceeded him by ten degrees and all the Romaine Princes together Their Actions and their ends were almost alike but that Sylla died after he had vanquished this before he could vanquish and in the middest of his Course did feele the Vengeance of Gods wrath His Credit and how hee was esteemed Howsoeuer he had wonne the Souldiars hearts to whom hee gaue all liberty he purchased credit with them that had neuer seene him for they that had seene and felt him wished him at the Indâes and made Strangers admire his valour the Constable of Castille in the Franche-County the Archduke at Amiens and the Marquis of Waranbon in Artois whom he made to pay forty thousand Crownes for his ransome with many Spaniards which he caused to be hanged sodainly for that they had called him Baron Moreouer the Kings exceeding fauours the prayses wherewith he did publikely honour him his admirable fortune his coÌming to the restoring of the last ruines of the State like to an other Camillus to deliuer the Capitoll had made him not onely famous throughout all Europe fearefull to all the neighbours but necessary for France Behold a man that was happy full of content which held Fortune captiue withall her treasures he coÌmanded the felicities of this world he had Glory Honour Riches those gifts which Fortune imparts to her darlings He was raised to the top of Fortunes wheele but he fell for he that gouerns the Helme and all her motions could no longer endure his insolency and vanity Sequitur superbos vltor a tergo Deus The causes of his ruine are infinite Shame followeâ Pride the contempt of piety is the chieâe this ground taken away all vices abound and as the seruant said to King Atraeus O Prince follow the infallible way of Piety your Scepter shal be durable for wheras Faith Holines hath no place there is no happines the reason is for that without God we hold all things indifferent the Law folly Iustice frensie and Faith a fantasie we hold the words of vertue vice to be idle wheras the feare trust in God limits our passions insatiable desires so as gouerning our actions by a iust proportion we cannot erre âe was oftentimes seen to iest at the Masse to laugh at theÌ of the Reformed Religion with whoÌ he had bin bred vp from his infancy âor at the age of eight yeares the Lady of Brisambourg his Fathers sister being of the reformed Religion did so affect him for his actiue disposition as she demanded him of his Mother the which she granted froÌ that time she made him her onely heire Vntill the age of 16. yeares he was called Charles of Gontault for then he had an elder brother which died since at the Duke of Alançons voyage into Flanders bred vp at Brisambourg nere vnto S. Iean d' Angely where he was nothing giuen to his booke but wholy inclined to Armes for which consideration his Father the Marshall Biron a Martiall Man then a Catholike âooke him froÌ his Aunt led him for a while with him through the Countries of Xaintonge Aulins Angoulmois where he caused him to be instructed in the Catholike Religion but vpon false principles which he did learne of some Courtiars he did often mocke at all Religion The second cause of his ruine was the alteration of his Fortune After the death of his elder Brother his father caused him to be called Baron of Biron brought him to Court where at the first he had a quarrell with the Lord of Carency son to the Earle of la Vauguion the which was ended by a Combat of three against three Biron Loignac Ienissac of the one side slue Carency Estissac and la Bastie their quarrell grew for the heyer of Caumont which either of theÌ affected in mariage yet neither of theÌ had her The Duke of EspernoÌ got his pardoÌ the which was coÌfirmed through the credit which his father had theÌ in Court Some say that being thus in troble he went disguised like a Carrier of Letters He went to a Mathematicien to know his Fortune vnto one la Brosse a great MathematiciaÌ whoÌ they âeid to be skilful in casting of Natiuities to whom he shewed his Natiuity drawn by some other And disseÌbling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he serued that he desired to know what end that man should haue La Brosse hauing rectified this figure said vnto him That he was of a good house no elder then you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered him I wil not tell you But tel me said he what his Life his meanes end shal be This good old man who was then in a little Garret which serued
he could desire Sobole presented him the keyes at the gate protesting of his affection and complaying of those which sayd he would reâuse him the entry the souldiars stood with their pikes vp and their Harguebuses and muskeâs vpon their shoulders and the Halbards behinde them The Dâke of Espernon returned to Court to vnderstand the Kings pleasure touching these troubles The Duke of ãâã goes ãâã to ãâã Hee made a second voiage to Metz. Their murmuring against Sobole was turned into publike complaints and their complaints into Barricadoes betwixt the Cittadell and the Towne the Inhabitants were transported with so strange a passion as they submitted themselues to any thing so as they might not be commanded by the two Bretheren This commotion had not lasted long if it had not beene suppoâted The presence of the Duke of Espernon gaue them courage who else would haue beene much amazed The King first sent Boissize and then Varane both which serued his Maiesty according to his intentions and disposed Sobole to do whatsoeuer hee should commande him declaring notwithstanding that he would not deliuer the place but to himselfe This was the occasion of the Kings voyage who went thether in a very unseasonable time Vpon the brute of his going many Princes of Germany sent to take vp their lodgings at Metz who notwithstanding hearing that the King would make but small aboade and the time being troublesome came not out of their Stoues so as there came not any but the Duke of Deux Ponts the Landgraue of Hesse the Prince of Brandebourg The King finding the hatred betwixt Sobole and the Inhabitants to bee irreconciliable was aduised to giue the charge of the Cittadell to Arquien Lieutenant of the Coronells Company of the Regiment of his Maiesties gards and the Lieutenancy of the gouernement of the Towne and of the Country of Messin to Montigny his Brother to hold them as Lieutenants of his Maiesty in the absence of the Duke of Espernon The King would not enter into Metz before that Sobole was out of the Cittadell Sobâle deliuers vp the Cittadell Some thought hee would not haue beene âo obedient but he shewed hee had no desseigne beyond his dutie This was a disgrace vnto him He blamed his âortune and Fortune accused his bad carriage The way hee tooke to maintaâne himselfe ouerthrewe hâm Men must hold great Commands lâke simpâe Commissions and not as Inheritances They must desire them without Passion and receiue them without Insolency The King past the feast of Easter at Metz. Where he herd the Iesuits requests for their restablishment They could not finde a better oportunity to speake vnto the King then that which Varenne controller generall of the Postes of France gaue them Fourâ Iesuits come to Metz âo theââ reâtabâishment giuing them Intelligence that the King would come to Metz and their spend the Easter Herevpon foure Iesuits of Pont a Mouzon were deputed to go and do their dutieâ vnto his Maiesty and to renue the request âor their returne vnto those places from the which they had beene expelled They came to Metz on the Wedensday before Easter day and the next day in the after-noone they had audience in the Kings Caâinet where as the Duke of Espernon Villeroy Geure and Varennes were present The King receiued them gratiously and would not suffer them to kneele but commanded them to stand vp and although he takes no delight in long speeches knowing that they come prepared with goodly words Yet he herd father Ignace Armand with patience and attention who made a long and eloquent Oration as you may reade a larâe in the Originalls The King answered them very gâatiously I wish no harme to the Iesuits and all the ill that I wish to any lyuing Creature let it happen vnto my selfe My Court of Parliament hath done some thing against you but not without good consideration Hee receiued that in writing which they had deliuered by mouth deliuered iâto Villeroy and hauing considered thereof he declared vnto them expresly howe desirous he was and what care he would take for their returne If your busines sayd he were not in the Popes hands The Iââuits second ãâã I would dispatch you presently but you know it is not expedient to do any thing without him I wil haue you You are profitable for the publike and for my Estate He added moreouer that being at Paris hee would thinke seriously of their affaires They demanded if his Maiesty would not be pleased that the three Prouincialls of their Company in France accompanied by three others should attend there at his returne and receiue his Commandements There needes not so many sayd the King it shal be sufficient that you and father Cotton come The King made this voiage partly to pacefie some troâble growne betwixâ the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Prince of Brandebourg for the Bishoprike of Strausbourg and this was the cause of their quarrell A Controuersie betwixt the Cardinââ of Loââaâne and the Prince of Braââebourg for the Bishoprike of Strausbourg The Bishoprike of Strausbourg beeing voide by the decease of their Bishop who was a Catholike the Cardinall of Lorraine obtayned the grant thereof from his Holinesse But for that they of Strausbourg since the stirres in Germany had held the confession oâ Ausbourg the deceased Bishop had retired himselfe out of the Citty and liued at a house of his in the Country in his Relligion yet notwithstanding he receiued his temporall reuenues ârom them of Strausbourg On the other side the Marquis of Brandebourg Elector of the Empire had obtained an Election from them of Strausbourg for one of his Sonnes who being named to the Bishoprike and receiued by them of Strausbourg he will in-ioye the Bishops rights wâthout any other ceremony Thâ Cardinall on the other side hauing obâerued the accustomed Order therein demanded the Bishops rights of them of Strausâourg such as his Predecessor inioyed who died a Catholike and according to the Article of the Interim set downe by the Confession of Ausbourg Herevpon they of Strausbourg made some difficulty the rather for that being neighbours vnto the Duke of Lorrains terretories they haue often many controueâsies to decide as it doth coÌmonly fall out betwâxt Neighbours They had also giuen their consent to the nomination of the Prince of Brandebourg for Superintendent or Administrator that is to say Bishop after their manner for these and other priuate reasons they refused the Cardinalls demande The Prince of Brandebourg gets possession and prepares to withstand the Cardinal all things tending vnto Armes Many and great Leuies of men were made on eyther side Those of Strausbourg were also in Alarme seeking to preuent al disorders if it were possible yet fauoring the Prince of Brandebourg more then the Cardinall of Lorraine The Emperour had written vnto them both declaring that his Intention was that neither of them should haue wrong The King was intreated to interpose
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 mâlls 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 Bieuâe 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 passâth 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 neceâsarie among Prouinâes 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 Lânguedoâ and Prouince No Region Prouince or Câtâââ can pâsse without theiâ nâighbours 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 Dâscââmodiâieâ by the ãâã 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 Mâgna 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 wiâh 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 ãâã 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 tâen against the Hayle Rayne Stormes and Tempests of Heauen Obedient Children kisse the âodd 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
the stemme foundation of the third royall race which raigne at this day Robert Philip the âiâst Lâwis 7. called the Long. Lâwiâ the eight Philip 3. called the bardy Lewis 10. called Huâin Henry Lewis 6. called the grosse Philip 2. called Augustus Lewis 9. called S. Lewis Philip 4. called the faire Philip 2. surnamed the long Charles the 4. called the Faire the last of this fiâst branch Robert the 37. King of France THe raigne of Robert long happy fol 129 He preferres Henry his younger sonne to the Crowne before the elder ibid. His disposition ibid. Wise Kings and of long life are happie for an Estate fol. 130 He giues Burgundie to Robert his eldest sonne ibid. Robert makes an agreement with the emperor for Lorraine ibid. He reconciles the Duke of Normandie and the Earle of Chartres ibid. Henry 1. the 38. King of France HIs raigne fol. 131 Contention betwixt the brethren ibid. Odo earle of Campaigne seekes to seize vpon Burgundie fol. 132 Robert Duke of Normandie preferres his bastard before his lawfull children fol. 133 Happie succâsse of the Normans in Italy ibid. Henry dies ibid. Philip 1. the 39. King of France BAldwin Regent in Philips minoritie fol. 134 He punisheth the rebels of Gascoine ibid. He dies much lamented fol. 135 The disposition of Philip. ibid. Philip forsakes Baldwins children ibid. William bastard of Normandie aduanced to the Crowne of England Philip discontented at his aduancement ibid. The Leuaine of dissention betwixt France and England fol. 136 The English enter Guienne ibid. Confusions in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes ibid. The Pope incenseth the sonne against the father and takes both Empire and life from him fol. 137. The beginning of the states of Daulphine Sauoy Prouence and Franche Countie ibid. A voyage to the Holy land and the motiue of this enterprise ibid. The names of such as went to the Holy land fol. 138. The number of the Army ibid. The Mahometans command fol. 139 The Christian troupes twice defeated by the Turkes ibid. Godfrey conquers the greatest part of Asia ibid. He is chosen King of Ierusalem ibid. The sonnes of William King of England fol. 140 Philip dies his disposition ibid. Lewis 6. called the Grosse the 40. King THe estate of this raigne fol. 141 Rebels suppressed and punished fol. 142 The Emperour grieued for the ill vsage of his father comes to Rome and forceth the Pope to take an oath ibid. The Emperour degraded by the Popes decree ibid. The Emperor and King of England ioine against France ibid. The French King and the Emperour reconciled fol. 143. Great troubles in Flanders ibid. Crueltie in the citie of Bruges ibid. Lewis King of France punish the rebels fol. 104 Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders ibid. William of Normandie made Earle of Flanders ibid. The Flemmings chuse them a new Earle and Thierry the new Earle of Flanders defeated ibid. William of Normandie slaine in Flanders ibid. Troubles in Bourbonois fol. 145 The stocke of the house of Bourbon ibid. Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident ibid. Lewis the yong marries the heire of Guienne ibid. Lewis the 6. dies fol. 146 Lewis 7. called the yong the 41. King of France THe estate of his raigne fol. 146 The Christianâ affaires in the East ibid. Godâfrây of Bouillon dies and the Christians loose all in the East fol. 147 The Emperor and King of France resolue to succour the Christians ibid. A horrible massacre coÌmitted by the souldiers of Lewis and by his consent fol. 147 The Emperour and Lewis goe into the East ibid. The Emperor of Greece deales trecherously with the Emperour and the King ibid. The Emperor and King of France make a shamefull returne from the East fol. 149 Queene Elenor vnchast ibid. Lewis pretends a cause to be diuorced from Elenor and restores her Guienne ibid. Elenor marries with Henry King of England ibid. The first Warre betwixt France and England for the Earldome of Tholouse ibid. Great troubles in England betwixt the Father and the Sonne fol. 150. Prince Henry âealous of his owne Father ibid. The Sonnes make Warre against the Father and Lewis supports his Sonne against him fol. 151. Henry King of England reconciled to his Sonnes ibid. Frâderike the Emperor ruines Milan takes Rome and creates a newe Pope ibid The Emperor subiects himselfe basely vnto the Pope fol. 152. Lewis dies ibid. Complaints against the abuses of the Church ibid. Phillip the 2. called Augustus the 42. King of France An excellent King and an excellent raigne fol. 153. His disposition The Iewes banished out of France ibid. Competitors for the gouernment of the State fol. 154. Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois ibid. Henry Prince of England dies before his Father ibid. Phiâlip of France and Richard of England make a Peace ibid. The miserable Estate of the Christians in Asia ibi The Christians in Asia at Ciuill warre fol. 155. The Emperor of Greece murthered by his Tutor ibid. King Philip and Richard King of England make a voiage to the Holy Land ibid. Richard exploits in Asia ibid. Philip stirs vp Iohn against his Brother Richard King of England fol. 156. Richard makes a truce with âelâdin ibid. Hee is kept prisoner by the Emperor and put to ransome ibid. An vnknowne Aduocate pleads against the King for his wife Gâlbârge ibid. Philipâ warre against the King of England and the Earle of Flanders fol. 157. Richârd King of England dies fol. 158. Iohn succeeds Richard and makes a Peace with Philip. ibid. Warre betwixt Iohn King of England and Arthur his Nephew ibid. ãâã murthers his Nephew ãâã ibid. Iohn declared guilty of murther and felony by Philiâ ibiâ Philip takes Normandy and Poitou from Iohn ibiâ Great enemies against Philip and a dangerous League against him ibid. His Victory at Bouines against the Empeâor fol. 159. The Emperor dies for griefe of his disgrace ibid. Iohn makes the Realme of England tributary to the Pope âol 160 He doth homage to the Popes Legat. ãâã Iohns oppression of his subiects is tâe cause of his ruine ãâã The English reiect Iohn and offer the Realme to Philip. ãâã Lewis of France receiued by the English ãâã King Iohn dies for griefe ââl 161. The English change their opinion They ââceâue Henry the Sonne of Iohn and dismisse ãâã of France ãâã Philips Actions Testament and his Lands vnited to the Crowne fol. 162. His death and his conditions ãâã The Estate of the Empire ãâã The Pope opposeth against the Emperor ãâã The Emperor muâthered by Otho who succâeded him ibid. The faction of Guelphes and Gibelius fâl 163. The Popes seekes to haue soueraigne authority ouer Christendome ãâã Orders of Relligious men ibid. Lewis the eight Father to Saint Lewis 43. King of France HIS raigne and death fol. 164. His manners ibiâ Languedoc returnes to the Crowne ibid. Diuers opinions of the Albigeois and their opinions as some write ibid. The Earle of Tholouse
Emperor fol. 475. King Francis challengeth the Emperor to the Combat fol. 476. Henry the eight King of England defies the Emperor and puts away his Wife ibid. The seege of Naples with the discommodities there of fol. 477. Phillipin Doria gets a victory at Sea and the successe thereof fol. 478 The reuolt of Andrew Doria with the great constancy of Lautrech fol. 479. Lautrech dies and the seege of Naples is raysed fol. 480. The French Army wholy ruined with the number that dyed at the seege of Naples fol. 481. Genoa recouered from the French fol. 482. A Peace concluded at Cambray betwixt the Emperor and the French King fol. 483. The Kings childrens ransome paid the Emperor returnes into Italy fol. 484. The Prince of Auranges slaine fol. 485. Causes of the Kings discontent fol. 486. A League of the Princes of Germany against the Emperor ibid. A League and interviewe betweene the Kings of England and France fol. 487. The Duchy of Britany incorporate to the Crown of France fol. 488. The Kings of England and France complaine of the Pope ibid. The Cardinalls meanes to winne the Pope fol. 489. The first motiue of the separation of the Church of England froÌ the Church of Rome fol. 490 The Pope excoÌmunicats the King of EnglaÌd ibid An entervew betwixt the Pope King fol. 492. The estate of England in 1534. fol 493. Charles the Emperors dissimulation fol. 494. The King discontent with the Duke of Sauoye conquers his Country fol. 495 Wars begin in Piemont fol. 496. The Emperors entry into Rome fol. 497. The Emperors protestation at Rome fol. 498. The Kings preparation for Warre with the treachery of the Marquis of Salusses fol. 499. Anthony de Lâua forced to flie out off his Campe. fol. 500. The Emperors conceit of his passage into France fol. 502. Francis the Daulphin poysoned ibid. The Emperors passage into Prouence and the Kings order against him fol. 503 The defeate and taking of Monteian and Boisy fol. 504. The Earle of Nassaw in Picardy takes Guise and beseeges Peronne ibid. The Imperialls defeated fol. 506. Marseilles surprized by the Emperour in imagination fol. 507. The Daulphin comes to the Campe. fol. 508. Exploits in Piedmont fol. 509. The Imperialls retreat and burne Aix ibid. The cause of Warre betwixt ãâ¦ã fol. 511. Pursute against the ãâ¦ã ãâã 512 Hedin S. Paul and ãâ¦ã S. Paul beseeged by the ãâ¦ã Recouered by assault and ãâ¦ã fol. 515. Therovenne victualed and the ãâ¦ã and beaten Francis Marquis of Salusses slaine The Imperialls attempt ãâã and are ãâã fol. 518. Piedmont being like to be lost for waât âf money first the Daulphin and afterwaâd the King goes thither ãâã 51â An enteruiew at Nice with a Truce for ten yeaâs fol. 520. The Emperors passage through France fol. 521. The Kings Ambassadors surprized and murtââred âol 522. Ferdinands Army defeated by the Turke ibiâ The Emperor goes to Algier without successe ibid. The reasons that moued the King to Waâââ fol. 523. Warre in Luxenbourg and in Rossillion with ãâã causes thereof ââl 524. Attempt of Rossillion fruitlesse fol. 526. War in Picardy and Piedmont ãâã A gallant stratageme of Monsieur de Lângây fol. 527. A new French Army in Piedmont where Monsieur de Langey dyes fol. 528 The rebellion of the Rochellois and the Kings Clemency fol. 529. Exploytes in Picardy with the taking of Landrecy and other places by the French fol. 530. The Castle of Emery taken fol. 531. The Imperialls surprised at Bains fol. 532. The Imperialls charge the French in their lodging and are repulst fol. 5ââ The King sends to succour the Duke of Cleues he yeelds to the Emperour fol. 534. Landrecie beseeged distrest and victualled fol. 535. A braue Retreat made by the French fol. 5â6 Nice attempted by Barbarousse and taken but not the Castle Mont-deuis yeelded and the Capitulation bââken âol 5â7 The Imperialles desseigne the French preââpreparations to fight with the sonnâ of ãâã two Armies fol. 5â8 5â9 The battaile of Sârisoles which the Duke of Anguien winnes after hee had bin in grâat danger with the number of the dead and prisoners fol. 540.541 Effects following the victory ãâã 542. Truce in Piedmont warre in Picardy âol 54â Saint Desier beseeged after a furious assault yeelded fol. 544. The King of England takes Bullen and Montrueâl and defeates the French fol. 546.547 The French Kings Army against England fol. 548. The French consult to take the I le of wight and to fortefie it fol. 550. Death of the Duke of Orleance fol. 551. Discription and sack of the Land of Oye fol. 552. A great plauge in the forte before Bullen fol. 553. The death of the Duke of Anguien fol. 554. Of Henry the 8. King of England Ibiâ Of Francis the 1. King of France Ibid. Henry the 2. of that name the 59. King of France THe Constable restored fol. 555. Henry the 2. crowned sends an Army into Scotland fol. 556. Cruelties coÌmitted by the rebells in Bordeaux La Vergnâ drawne with foure horses Ibid. Trobles in England fol. 557. Peace with the English and warre with Italy fol. 559. A leauge betwixt the King and the Protestants of Germany fol. 560. The Kings Army enters into the Country of Metz. fol. 561. Metz yeelded to the French and beseeged againe by the Emperor fol. 562. The Imperialls spoile Picardy recouer Hedin retire from Metz. fol. 563. Terouenne and Hedin taken and sackt and the Duke of Arscot taken fol. 564. The two Armies meete fol. 565. The Arrierband of France defeated and warre beyond the Alpes fol. 566. Sienna in Italy beseeged fol. 567. The Emperor resignes his Kingdome to his sonne fol. 568. Valence and Ostia with other places recouered by the French fol. 569. The Battaile of S. Lawrence lost by the French Ibid. The Pope reconciles himselfe vnto the Spaniards fol. 570. A great Inundation at Rome Ibid. Calais recouered froÌ the English Anno. 1558. fo 571. Francis the Daulphin married to Mary Queene of Scotland Ibid. Persecution for religion certaine Councelors of the Parliament Imprisoned fol. 572. The death of Henry the 2. his children and dispotition fol. 573. Francis the 2. of that name the 60. King of France Factions and alterations in Court fol. 574. Anthony King of Nauar and the chiefe Officers of the Crowne disgraced in Court fol. 575. Anne de Bourg executed and a tumult at Amboyse fol. 576.577 The Protestants petition to the King fol. 579. An Assembly of Princes and Noble-men fol. 580. The King comes to Orleans and the Prince of Condo Imprisoned fol. 581. Commissioners to arraigne the Prince and condemne him fol. 582. The death of King Franciâ the second fol. 583. Charles the 9. of that name the 61. King of France A Parliament held at Orleance put of to Ponthoise fol. 584.585 The Kings Coronation a conference at Poisy fol. 586. A Petition and Protestation made by the Protestants fol. 587. The King of Nauar forsakes the Protestants
herin more question of estate then religon yet they giue out that the Lutherans would maintaine themselues by the sword and as such men they caused many to be executed who by their examinations and impertinent answeres touching matters of conscience did witnes that they were not yet seasoned with any other doctrine then that of their fathers This alarum had put the yong King in feare but more the impression of his Vncles perswading him that they sought his person And what haue I done said hee often what haue I done that my subiects should attempt thus against mee I wil heare their complaints and doe them right And some times to those of Guise I know not what it is but I vnderstand it is you onely that they seeke I would gladly you would absent your selues for a time to see if they would attempt against you or mee Amongst all the prisoners foure are especially noted Castelnau Villemongis Champagnâe and le Picard for that with an admirable constancie and resolution they had blamed the Chancellor who against his conscience had signed the sentence of their deathes the which so terrified him The Chancellor dies desperatly as hee sodenly fell sicke of greefe and melancholie and soone after left this world murmuring sighing and sorrowing for the Councellor du Bourg and crying out some houres before his death O Cardinall thou hast damned vs all Michel Hospitall then Chancellor to the Duchesse of Sauoie was called from Nice and substituted in his place See here a furious storme dispersed which partly concerned the State partly religion but hereafter religon shall bee the onely marke The Protestants in the midest of these rigorous persecutions increased in multitude and in many places they could not conteine nor content themselues with secret assemblies An vndiscreet zeale transported them of Valence An indiscrâet zeale Montlimart and Romans to exercise their religion in ordinary Churches at noone day The Lord of Clairmont Lieutenant for the Duke of Guise in Daulphiné was of too mild an humor and Maugirân more violent The Duke giues him commission to suppresse them and to vse his authoritie in the Parliament of Grenoble Maugiron enters Valence with sixteene companies of the old bands of Piedmont and some other troupes of men at armes hee makes the streets flow with bloud Cause of the troubles sacks the houses and intreats the inhabitants as in a Towne which is taken by assault Montlimart also followed the like fortune Moreouer the President Truchon and some Councellors of Grenoble imprison 60. of the chief of Romans they hang two whip one and then send him to the gallies at Valence they behead two ministers hang three chiefe men in the Towne the rest escaped some by abiuring some by whipping some by banishment and some by a fine At the same time Paulon of Richiend Lord of Mouuans one of the chiefe of the enterprise of Amboise hauing failed to surprise Aix roaded Prouence with two thousand men armed at their owne charge and a great number of gentlemen and other voluntaries But their armes were no other wise imployed but to conuert the Images reliks and ornaments of the Church into gold and siluer the which with some respect to warlike discipline and more commendably then in the following age they left in the magistrats hands of the place This was to summon the neighbour Prouinces to like reuolts but the Earle of Tande hauing stayed the furie of this flying army The Protestants petiâion to the King they sheth their swords and vnsheath their pennes onely by supplications to the Kings Maiesty and to his mother protesting of their sinceritie they discouered the ground of their griefes against the Guisiens and propounded remedies to auoyde Ciuill warres Their admonitions conteyned three chiefe heads That it might be prouided for the gouernment of the realme offering the King a Councell according to the ancient constitutions of France That to pacifie controuersies touching religion a free and holy Councel should bee held That those of the religion in the meane time might quietly and with liberty of their consciences liue in their houses following that which is contayned in the confâssion of their Churches The two brethren seeing themselues directly charged by the Protestants thunder out against them they write to the King of Spaine and to the Catholike Princes That the Lutherans and Caluinists are the onely authors of the troubles of France and of the tumult of Amboise And to the Protestants That such as were executed in diuers parts of the realme are onely certaine sacramentaries enemies to the confession of Ausbourg A bare shift and weake remedie to quench the fire which began to consume a part of the world Herevpon Philip aduiseth them to bring the inquisition of Spaine into France The priuie Councell yeelds to it and the Parliaments allowe thereof but the Chancellor Hospitall was too wise a politician he would not see France disguised after the Spanish manner Katherine was much troubled not knowing howe to saile in so many stormes The conuocation of the Estats might eclipse her authority the restoring of the Princes of France incompatible with a Florentin humour the restitution of the Constable whome shee hated to the death accusing him to haue sayd to King Henry That no one of his Children did resemble him but his bastard whome his Sonne Montmorency had married These things did wonderfully afflict her soule Yet would shee gouerne and rule foreseeing that shee could not better maintaine her greatnesse then by the discord of the two houses of Bourbon and Lorraine She relies vpon the last and arming them with her authoritie shee puts the King her Sonne and herselfe into the protection of the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine This makes them swell both in hart and speeche but there must bee a meanes found to pacifie this quarrell which concerned the estate that vnder the cloake of religion a goodly and ordinary pretext for great personages the people might forget the vnlawfull vsurpation wherewith they were charged They protest thereforeto imploy all their meanes and their friends to suppresse those that sought any alteration in religion hoping that when they had cut this sinewe from the Princes of the bloud they should bee more easily reuenged both of them and of the Constables faction But during these garboiles the principall peece of their chase slippes out of their toyles the Prince of Conde escapes The Prince of Conde escapes and retires to the King of Nauarre his brother whilest the Duke of Guise in open Counsell opposeth in shewe though in effect he omitted no meanes to seize on him against his brothers aduice concluding directly to haue the Prince apprehended They forget not to proclaime this retreat and as if hee had doubted his cause they publish throughout the Realme that hee had shewed himselfe guiltie Presently newe forces are leuied and Commiâsions giuen to make warre in Gascony The Protestants fearing a nere
storme which threatned them flie to Nerac to the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé they present themselues and their meanes shewing them the wrongs done by them of Guise to the King and the Realme and beseech them to vndertake the deliuery of his maiestie and maintenance of the estate These two Princes had alreadie resolued to vse all their meanes to chase the tâo Lorrains from the gouernment of France This request confirmed them and euen then they sought out all Noblemen and gentlemen which by their armes and meanes might aduance this worke The Constable with the Vidame of Chartres and a great number of others promise to maintaine their iust quarrell against all men except the King the Queenes and his bretheren Their letters fall into the hands of them of Guise the Prince his Agent is imprisoned and the Vidame of Chartres shut into the Basâill and shall not bee fâeed vntill the day before the Kings death and himselfe shall die within fewe dayes after An Assembly of Princes Noblemen Thus all things tend to an open warre The Queene Mother desired to see these two parties fight but not with the ruine of either side for the fall of any one of them had set her beside the sadle She therefore caused to bee propounded in Councell by the aduice of the Chancellor and Admirall whome as yet she did willingly heare That it was expedient to assemble all the Princes Noblemen of the Realme and men of authority to aduise of the meanes to pacifie the troubles growne principallie by reason of the persecutions for religion Those of Guise approue this desseine this was in shewe a pitfall to take the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé Moreouer they hoped to sâborne so many witnesses as all things should second their desires and so for that time should dissolue the conuocation of the Estats So the King sends forth his letters into all parts intreating them all to bee at Fontainebleau the twentieth fiue of August especially the King of Nauarre and to bring his brother and those Noblemen that were then with him The Guisiâns also by their letters giue many good hopes and promises But we haue sayd they had in the beginning lodged spies in the King of Nauarres house By their meanes they woâke so as the King of Nauarre stirres not and le ts slippe an oportunitie that he had to settâe a lawfull gouernment within the realme The Constable better resolued thinking the Princes would assist arriues with eight hundred horse and by this troupe makes the Lorrains to shewe him a good countenance At the opening of the assemblie the Admirall presents a petition to the King for the Protestants who required to haue Temples graunted them and free exercise of religion throughout the whole Realme There-vpon Charles of Marillac Archbishop of Vienne shewed with such libertie of speech the necessitie to assemble a nationall Councell to remedie these controuersies growne for religion and a Parliament to order the gouernment of France as hee suruiued but fewe dayes after his oration The Amirall toucht the cause of religion and state more vehemently taxing by inuectiue such as giuing the King gards vpon gards entertayned him in distrust of his subiects and his subiects in hatred of their owne King As they had made shewe to like of this assemblie so they seemed to allowe of a Parliament They appoint it first at Meaux and afterward at Orleans the x. of December and the Sinode for the Clergie at Paris the twentieth of Ianuary folowing to determine of what should bee expedient to bee treated of in a generall councell whereof they gaue them hope But as they had vnderhand withdrawne the Princes from comming to this Assemblie so must they make them vnwilling to bee present at the Parliament To this intent those of Guise in the Kings name command the companies of ordinary souldiars to be readie the 20. of September they lodge them in such sort as those whome they suspected had them in front in flanke and behinde them and spies likewise to discouer them and they giue charge to the commanders to cutte all them in peeces that they should finde marching to ioyne with the Princes If their forces were not sufficient to diuert the Prince of Condé whom they knew to bee more busie and to endure lesse they doe also procure Letters from the King to the King of Nauarre whereby hee doth charge the Prince to haue attempted against the estate of France and to haue sought to seize vpon some of the good Townes of the realme Hee desires him therefore to send him his brother with a good and sure garde if not hee himselfe will fetch him well accompanied The answer of Anthonie and Lewis incountring the Lorraines with their owne armes holding them guiltie of the same crimes wherewith they charged them made them to change their note They send a second commandement Policie to abuse the Princes whereby the King giues his word to the Princes to come in safetie hee promiseth to heare all mens admonitions and iustifications willingly to receiue them according to their estates and dignities not to disturbe any Prince in his religion whereof hee now made open profession and that they should returne when they pleased free from iniurie and outrage And to draw them on the Cardinall of Bourbon a Prince not well able to discouer the deceites of the enemies of his house is expresly sent vnto them They marche and are no sooner come to Limoges but seuen or eight hundred Gentlemen well appointed do visit them The Deputies of Prouinces offer them six thousand foot Gascons and Poiteuins foure thousand horse and foote out of Languedoc as many or more out of Normandie and the other Prouinces promise to rise on all sides to fortifie them at this assemblie of States so as it will please the King of Nauarre to declare himselfe Protector of the King and Realme against them of Guise But the Cardinall of Armagnac Escars âarnac and some other Councellors of the same mould bad seruants to their maister propounded so many dangers so many inconueniences vpon their comming to Court with force and why should they not resist their enemies force as hee sent back all his companie and countermanded such as came promising notwithstanding to imploy himselfe couragiously in the Parliament for the good of all France Heâevpon they giue the King to vnderstand that the Lutherans of Orleans practised something to subuert his estate as they had of late attempted at Lions The King câmes to Oâleans To assure themselues of the Towne and to punish some which were noted in the booke of death whose confiscation was good the Guisiens first send Sipiere Lieutenant to the Prince of Roche-sur-yon gouernour of Orleans to disarme the people and to fill the houses suspected with men of war they call together the nobilitie men at armes of France then they conduct the King thether to make his entry with the
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 Masâon 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 CouÌtie carrying openly red scarfs The beseeged countenance themâelues 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 âews 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 âiâuer 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 bâotie 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 littâe 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 theâr neighbours Cattell The retreat of Saint Poinct made Eutragues seeke to exteâd the limits of his territory Hee beseegeth the Castell of Pierrecloux forceth Monâosat 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 âept the keyes of one gate being of the intelligence they passe the first and the second gate at the third the fiâst 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 mourâfull 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 ãâã parties being prisoners did solicit the conclusion of a peace The Admirall by a ãâã letters to the Queene purged himselfe of the accusation laid against him touchiâg the death of the Duke of Guise whereof Poltrot himselfe in the midest of his most seâsiâle torments at his execution freed him And the Queene mother leauing this thorâe 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 Protâstants 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 edâct 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 ParliameÌt 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 pleaâant 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