he haue force and authoritie where he liues ouer others if he bee learned and hath seene or read it will either amend him or impaire him For the bad impaire with much knowledge and the good amend Yet it is credible that knowledge doth rather amend him then impaire him were there nothing but the shame to know his owne euill it were sufficient toâ—keepe him from doing ill at the least not to wrong any man whereof I haue seene many experiences among great personages whom knowledge hath drawne from many bad desseignes and also the feare of Gods punishment whereof they haue greater knowledge then ignorant men who haue neither seen nor read History IT is a great aduantage for Princes to haue read Histories in their youth Lib. 2. Chap. 6. where they may plainely read of such assemblies and of the great fraudes deceipts and periuries which some of the ancients haue vsed one against another hauing taken and slaine them that haue relyed vpon such assurances It is not said that all haue vsed it but the example of one is sufficient to make many wise and to giue them a will to stand vpon their gard And in my opinion one of the greatest means to make a man wise is to haue read ancient Histories and to learne to gouerne himselfe wisely thereby and by the example of our predecessors For our life is so short as it sufficâ—th not to haue experience of so many thinges Besides we are decayed in age and the life of man is not so long as it was wont to be nor their bodies so strong All the Bookes that are written were to no vse if it were not to reduce things past to memory where we see more in one booke in three monthes then twenty men liuing successiuely one after another can see by the eye or learne by experience Although that enemies nor Princes be not alwaies alike notwithstanding that the subiect be yet is it good to be informed of thinges past Nourishment ALl men that haue beene great Lib. 1. Chap. 9. and done great matters haue begun very yong And it coÌ„sists in the education or coms from the grace of God This is spoken by the Author vppon the good education of Lewis the eleuenth without the which it had beene impossible for him to haue surmounted those great difficulties which he had in the beginning of his raigne and to blame that of the noblemen of his time who were not bred vp but to shew their folly in their speach and apparrell They haue no knowledge of any learning and there is not a wise man among them They haue Gouernors to whom they talk of their affaires and not to themselues and they dispose thereof and there are such Lords which haue not sixescore and ten pounds starling yearely rent which take a glory in saying speake vnto my officers thinking by these wordes to seeme great men In like manner I haue often seen such seruants make their profit of their maisters giuing them to vnderstand that they were beasts And if happily any one returnes and desires to know his owne it is so late as it serues him to small purpose A Princes subiects haue cause to greeue when they see his Children ill bred vp and in the hands of bad conditioned men Nature A Naturall wit perfectly good excells al other sciences that may bee learned in the world Example of Lewis the eleuenth who without any knowledge of learning had the reputation and the effects of the wisest Prince of his age Hope ALL well considered our only hope must be in God In the end of the first Book for in him lies all our assurance and all bounty which cannot be found in any worldly thing But euery man knowes it too late and after that he hath need yet it is better late then neuer Age. THe fathers old Age makes him to indure the Insolencies of his sonne patiently Lib. 1. Chap. 2. Example of Philip Duke of Bourgondy who dissembled the bad vsage of his sonne the Earle of Charolois to them of thâ— house of Croy. Foresight VVIsemen discerne so farre off as their life is not sufficient to see halfe of those things which they haue foreseene Lib. 3. Chap. â— Carelesnes and vigilancy MAd and distracted Princes are not to bee blamed if they gouerne their affairs ill Lib. 6. Cha. 4. but they that haue their iudgments sound and are well disposed of their persons if they spend their whole time in idlenes and folly they are not to be pittied if they fal into misfortunes But they which diuide their times according to their age somtimes seriously and in Councell and somtimes in feasts and pleasure are much to be commended and the subiects are happy to haue such a maister An Alphabeticall Table of the principall matters contained in the first seuen Bookes of this History A ACcord betwixt the King of Castile Portugal fol. 220. Affaires of a Prince are then effected with most safety and aduantage when he hath won that person who is most in credit and authority with the other with whom he Treates 166. Affection of Maisters to bad seruants is the cause of much disorder 14. Alphonso King of Portugall comes to demand succours in France 215. But is refused by the French King 218. Alphonso proclaimed King of Castile 217. His death Ibid. Amazment breeds strange effects 80. Ambition hath no other law then the fancy of the Ambitious 77. Amurath puts Scanderbegs brethren to death 120. growes fearefull of Scanderbegs valour Ibid. Army of the Earle of Charolois 79. Articlâ—s of a peace betweene France and England 165. Attempt against the Duke of Bourgundies life discouered by the King 206. B Balue the Cardinall imprisoned in a cage of his owne inuention 132. Basile besieged by Lewis the Dauphin 22. Battell of Firmigny 30. Battell at Montlehery 81. Battell at Wakefield 56. Battell of Varna 121. Battell of Morat 213. Battell of Nancy 224. Beauuais besieged 164. Birth of Charles the eight 146. Boldnesse after danger past 86. Bothwell in great fauour with the King of Scotland 232. C Cadet rescueth the Earle of Charolois 83. Challenge sent to the Duke of Bourgundy 3 Charles the seuenth disinherited by his father Charles the sixt 1. Hee armes against his sonne Lewis the Dauphin 12. He takes the Castle of S. Maxiant 13. His reprehension of the Duke of Bourbon 14. His fragility 26. His Death 27 Charles Duke of Orleans led prisoner into England 3. He dieth for sorrow 69. Charles of Nauarre poysoned by his Mother in Law 61. Charles Duke of Berry retires into Brittany 70. His solicitatioÌ„ of the Duke of Bourgundy to assist him for reformation of disorders in France Ibid. Campobasse his treason against the Duke of Bourgundy 223. Charles Earle of Charolois afterwards Duke of Bourgundy his negligence in trayning his Army 82. Is in danger to be slaine or taken 83. His repast among dead bodies 84. Runs into vnseene danger 94.
preuailed in Normandy and Guyenne Peace treated at Pouilly and then a peace was treated betweene the Dauphin and the Duke of Burgundy vnder the assurance whereof the Duke came vnto the Dauphin being at Montereau Faut Yonne m The Dauphin sent Charles of Poitiers Bishoppe of Valence to the Duke of Burgundy to draw him to Monsteâ—cau in Gasteacis for that he had refused to come by Tanneguy du Chastel saying that it were better for the Dauphin to com to Troye The 10. of Nouember 1419. he came was slaine vpon the bridge which was fortified with 3. barres The Duke hauing past the first entred into some apprehension of his fortune and meeting Tanreguy du Chastel he laid his hand vpon his shoulder saying Behold hâ—m in whom I trust and presenting himselfe vpon his knee Robert de Loire taking him by the arme sayd vnto him rise you are but too honourable who rising laid his hand vpon his sword to drawe it forward for that it hung too much back then said de Loire vnto him Doe you lay your hand vpon your sword before my Lord the Dauphin whereupon Tanneguy du Chastell stroke him so forceably vpon the face with a battell-axe as he made him to fall vpon his knee and cut off his chin another thrust his sword into his belly The body being stript was drawne into a mill and buryed the next day This death reuenged the house of Orleans but it gaue so great a share of the Realme to strangers as there remained very little for Charles who presently after the death of the Duke of Burgundy was declared by the king his father at the perswasion of his mother vnworthy to succeede vnto the crowne of France Hee might iustly haue appealed from these declarations to the Kings good sence but seeing him decay daily and that hee was still vnder the gouernment of this Medea he chose rather to appeale to God n Priuate persons haue many Iudges kings haue none but God saies M. Anthony Dion Niceâ—s the Iudge of Kings and to his sword lamenting with teares drawne from the bottome of his heart his owne miserie and that of France This disorder Death of K. Henry the fifth Charles the sixth contrary to the reason of nature the lawes of the realme was followed with strange changes Henry the fifth dies and 50. daies after Charles the sixth king of France Henry the sixth king of England is crowned at Paris Charles the seauenth at Poictiers there were two kings in one Realm two parties two armies but the English holde Paris and the first o In all factions the authority of the Senate is of great force Otho to shew the difference of his partie that of Vitellius said Nationes aliquas occupauit Vitellius imaginem quandam exercitus habet Senatus nobis cum est Sic fit vt hâ—c Resp. inde hostes Reip. constiterint Tacitus Hist. lib. 1. Senate who thought that all authoritie and soueraigne command was in effect on their side that the king had but the image some calling him for pitty sake Dauphin of Viennois and others in mocking King of Bourges or Earle of Ponthieu there remaining nothing to make him knowne to be the fourth sonne of Charles p Charles the 6. had 5. sonnes Charles who died of a â—â—â—sumption at 9. yeeres Lewis D. of Guyenne who died at 19. Iohn Duke of Touraine married to Iacquet of Bauaria in the yeaâ—e 1404. Charles the seuenth borne in the yeer 1402. the fiâ—th was he of whom the Queene was brought to bed when the Duke of Orleans was slaine the sixth but a peece of the crowne He goes to field weake of all things of armes friends men and mony but strong in right and courage to maintaine the quality of his birth which the enuy of fortune and the conspiracie of his enemies could not take from him for his mother had brought him into the world vnder purple q The Emperors of Constantinople ordained that their wiues should bee brought in bed vnder purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicetas lib. 5. and the flower deluce There is nothing so powerfull as a good cause maintained with a good sword nothing doth so much comfort the soule in aduersity nor moderate it in prosperitie as the iudgement of conscience when as she feares not to haue her intentions knowne to God and men But seeing himselfe forced to vanquish before he raigne that victories depend of the force of Armes and that the triumphant Chariot of Mars is not moued but by the force of gold and iron r Fower things do perpetually follow warre men iron siluer and bread but of these 4. the two first are the most necessary for that mâ—n and iron cannot furnish siluer bread but bread and siluer may find men and Ironâ— that the springs of his treasure are drawne dry and the royall reuenues held by his enemies he procures his subiects to assist him with taxes Taxes ordained The French who haue alwaies excelled other nations in fidelitie and deuotion towards their Kings not knowing what it is to haue good when they want did contribute freely cheerefully to the necessities of Charles who like a good Shepheard was content to fleece his 〈◊〉 and not to flea them France which had beene besieged 70. yeares Miseries of France last 70. yeares with the miserie and calamitie of warre might well haue beene without this cruell diuision which was no other thing then a conspiracie of the Children s Ciuill warre is a mortall seuer in an estate This ardent desire in the Graecians to make warre in Greece is called by Plutarch a conspiracy against themselues by the which they staid with their own armes the fortune which led them to the height of felicity and turned their weapons against their owne bowels to turne the points of their swords against their owne bowels to inuite their Ancient enemies to the funerals of her liberty and to bring back those cruell and bloudy dayes for the which England hath giuen to the two Edwards the proud titles of Lightening Edward the third and the Prince of Wales and Eagle There was nothing in generall but miseries confusions amasements and desolation The pesant being stript both of flesh and fat had nothing left but bones and they were bruised The Historie admires that euen the cattell hearing the bell a signe of the enemies approch fledde of themselues to recouer their retreates She had so lost her first excellence as she seemed a building of whose beauty no man could iudge but by the peeces that remained of her ruines Vertue and Fortune t For the greatnes and continuance of an Empire fortune or to speak better prouidence and destiny must agree with vertue Roma vt ageretur sublimibus incrementis faedere pacis aeternae virtus conuenit atque forâ—una quarum si altera defuisset ad perfectam non venerat summitatem Ammianus which in the beginning
to the toombe of his Father at the Celestins at Paris the 21. of February 1504. by the commandement of king Lewis the twelfth his sonne After the battell of Azincourt he remained fiue and twenty yeares prisoner in England The English would not deliuer this Flower-deluce without ransome and to redeeme him the D. of Bourgundy payed three hundred thouthousand crownes What a change Iohn Duke of Bourgundy depriues Lewis of Orleans of his life Philip Duke of Bourgundy his sonne giues libertie to Charles of Orleans and to make the bond perfect he giues him the golden fleece and marries him to his Neece Mary of Cleues shee was the third wife hauing before his imprisonment married Isâ—bel of France widdow to Richard King of England and Bonna of Armagnac x The afronts which are receiued from great persons must not onely be disgested patienâ—ly but also after a constant manner murmuring auailes nothing Many haue made of scratchings incurable wounds oftentimes the iniury is doubled and renewes when as they make it knowne that it is receiued according to the designe of him that doth it x By Mary of Cleues hee had Lewis the twelfth his onely sonne and two Daughters Mary was promised to Peter of Bourbon and afterwards married to Iohn of Foix Vicount of Narbonne father to that Achilles of France GastoÌ„ of Foix Duke of Nemours of Germaine Queene of Arragon Anne of Orleans was Abbess of Fonteueâ—aud The Duke of Bourbon hauing opened the passage to this designe of the warre of the common-weale The Duke of Berry retires into Brittany they attended no more but to see the head Charles of France the Kings brother beeing at Poictiers and making show to goe a hunting whiles the king was in his deuotions steales away and goes vnto the Embassadors of Brittaine Iohn of Rommille vice chancellor of Brittaine and Tanequy of Chastell who were come to haue a Prolongation for other three monthes to make answere to the kings demands carried him away speedily by the meanes of the Lord of Lescon a Gascoine and led him into Brittanie y The King being gone in deuotion to our Lady of Pont in Limosin the Duke of Berry retires into Brittaine He was but eighteene yeares old hee held life so short and that of Princes which liue in subiection so troublesome as if he did not speedily know what it was to bee a master the knowledge would euer come to late He was welcome for this was the firebrand which they must cast to set France on fire The Duke of Brittanie promised him the seruice of his person and all the succors of his forces Hee declared the cause of his departure by letters which hee wrote to the Duke of Bourgundy and to the other Princes of their intelligence The most apparent was drawne from the bad gouernment of the affaires whereof the Princes of the bloud z It concernes the Princes of the bloud to look into the disorders of the estate and to assist the King faithfully to rearesse theÌ„ whiles there is heat in tâ—is bloud wee may hope for the life and continuance of the body which haue the chiefe interest and care of the whole bodie should apprehend the dangerous euents and had subiect to complaine to see vnworthy men without honor or merit to deale in that which should passe by their hands and to leap ouer their heads to great offices That his armes and his desires had no other obiect but to restore order vnto the Realme and there withall to ease the people of their oppressions the which he could not otherwise hope for but in making the King know in the beginning of his raigne a At the Câ—mming of new Pâ—aces they make demands and pursuits for that which they dâ—sire the rest of the Raigne for when they are well settled they will no more beare speake That 〈◊〉 Petcennius hauing prepared his companions to mutine hee said Quando ausuros exposcere remedia nisi noâ—â—m et nutantem adhuc Principem vel armis adirent Tacitus lib. 1. Annal. the extreame necessity whereinto it was brought His will was manifested more amply by his letters to the Duke of Bourgundy which Monstrellet setts downe in these termes Most deere and welbeloued Vncle I recommend me vnto you I let you vnderstand that of late I haue often heard the clamors of the Princes of the blood my kinsmen and other Noblemen of this Realme in all estates of the disorder and pittifull gouernment which now doth raigne by the councell of men being about my Lord full of all lewdnes and iniquity who for their owne profit and priuate disordered affections haue drawne my Lord into iealousie and hatred against you me and all the Noblemen of the said Realme yea against the Kinges of Castile and Scotland so long allyed vnto the Crowne b The most ancient alliances of the French haue beene with the Scots and then with the Castilians The Crowne of France hath had pretentions vpon Castille at the inheritance of the Lady Blanch of Castile mother to St. Lewis as euery man knowes In regard how the authority of the Church hath beene kept Iustice done and administred the Noblemen maintained in their rights and priuiledges and the poore people supported and freed from oppression I write no more vnto you for I know you are sufficiently informed and I am greeued at the said thinges as I ought to be as he whom it doth so neere concerne as euery man doth know c The Children of one family are interessed in the 〈…〉 and the Princes of the bloud in the gouernment of the estate and desire to prouide for it by the Counsell of you of the said Princes and kinsmen and other Noblemen who haue all promised to aid and serue me not sparing body or goods for the quiet of the Realme and the publick weale thereof and also to saue my person which I found to be in danger For incessantly and openly my said Lord and they about him spake such wordes of me d The words of such as are neerest vnto a Prince make men iudge of his intentions The Duke of Berry hearing that the seruants of the K. his brother spake freely against him thought that their discourses were framed vpoÌ„ his Good words entertaine friendship and bad dissolues theÌ„ as I might with Reason haue cause to doubt I therefore left my said Lord and am come vnto my good Cosin of Brittaine who hath giuen me so good and commendable reception as I cannot sufficiently commend it and is resolued to serue me with body goods and all his power to the good of the said Realme and publicke weale And therefore my most deere and welbeloued vncle my intention and desire is to imploy my selfe with you and the said noblemen my kinsmen whose counsell I will vse and not otherwise to restore and redresse the said desolate Realme knowing that you are one of the greatest of the Realme whom
confirmed by Pope Alexander the sixth in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and one and shee caused the Monastery of Saint Laurence of Bourges to be built The habite of her Religious women is a blew or skie couloured Gowne a white Kercher and a red Scapulaire with a Cord of tenne Knots signifying the ten Vertues or Consolations which the Virgin Mary had in her life l The ten Knots of this Cord had relation first to the purenesse secondly to the wisedom thirdly to the humility fourthly to the faith fiftly to the vertue sixthly to the praise seuenthly to the obedience eighthly to the pouerty ninthly to the patience and tenthly to the pitty of the Virgine Mary She dyed at Bourges the fourth of February one thousand foure hundred and foure Her body was burnt and the ashes cast into the wind in the first troubles when as the Earle of Montgomery tooke the Towne of Bourges Charles his sonne succeeded him at the age of thirteene yeares The Histories of those times speake much of the greatnesse of his courage and the weakenesse of his braine They all agree that hee neither had any great vnderstanding nor much wit Two great defects in two little words the which are much dilated in the actions of his life whereas wee see that hee attempts lightly and giues eare to many things which are alwaies preiudiciall to them that hearken to them m A Prince should stop his eares to reports and should flye them Clandestinas existimationes nullisque magis quam audientibus insidiantes susurros Melius omnibus quam singulis creditur Singuli enim decipere decepi possunt nemo omnes neminem omnes fefellerunt Secret suggestions and whisperings which circumuent none more then them that giue eare vnto them It is more safe to trust all in generall then any one in particular A man in particular may deceiue and bee deceiued no man hath deceiued all men neither haue all men deceiued any one man C. PLIN. PAHEG If the felicity of an estate dependeth of obedience if to obey well depends of commanding well if to command well depends of a Princes wisedome what good coÌ„mandement can be expected from a Prince who neither hath a sound iudgment nor hath gotten any thing to make it better What hope is there that hee shall euer be able to command others and himselfe well After that Philip de Commines hath shewed that hee was touched with the like feuer of the braine to Charles the seuenth his Grand-father and to Lewis the eleuenth his Father who both feared their Children and that for this cause hee soone past ouer his griefe for the death of the Dauphin his sonne He addes that this Prince was alwaye little DispositioÌ„ of Charles the eighth both of body and vnderstanding but hee was so good as there was neuer a better creature seene Claudius of Seissill saith That hee was a good Prince Noble and of a greater courage then of body couetous of honour and glory desiring all good and honest things as much as his age could beare and that hee failed in the flower of his youth when as hee began to vnderstand his owne affaires Peter Desrey a Champenois who hath written his Chronicle saith That hauing past the weaknesse of his first Age youth gaue great hopes of more force and vigor of his Spirit and that hee did exercise himselfe in the knowledge of many things which make Princes learned in the difficult knowledge of all n The knowledge how to reigne and commaund is the highest and most difficult of all others Bookes may helpe much for that they furnish examples whereof the shortnesse of life cannot see the hopes But a good vnderstanding doth all The knowledge which comes froÌ„ books may serue for an ornameÌ„t but not for a foundation The Phylosophy of Princes is constancy faith and sincerity other scyences are but as Paintings as Plato saith After the death of his father saith this Chronicler and that hee had taken vpon him the Royall dignity he began very willingly to reade bookes written in the French tongue and had a desire to vnderstand the Latine and to do like a good Prince hee imployed his youth willingly to serue God deuoutly and to heare the councell of wise men desiring to learne how to gouerne well Notwithstanding that the carelesnesse of Lewis the eleuenth to haue him Royally instructed and bred vp hath ministred occasion to the most famous Historian of those times and which hath beene since to write that which cannot bee spoken but of a Prince ill bred and worse brought vp yet let it not displease him for this Charles whom hee giues vs for an Ignorant Man is the same whom hee compares vnto Iulius Caesar for that his comming and his victory in Italy was but one thing o Carlo condotto ad allogiare al Castel Capoano gia habitatione antica de re Francesi hauendo con marauiglioso corso d'inaudita felicita sopra l'essempio di Iulio Caesare prima vinto â—he veduto con tanta facilita che non fusse necessaria in questa espeditione ne spregare maivn padiglione ne rompere mai pur vna lancia Charles being conducted to lodge in the Castle of Capua an ancient habitation of the Kings of France hauing with an admirable course of vnheard of felicity beyond the example of Iulius Caesar vanquished before hee had seene and that with so great facility as in the expedition he had no need either to pitch a Tent or to breake a Launce For it is true that hee strooke more amazement into Italy at the brute of his comming then the Gaules had done by their descent in former times Hee put all the Potentates in alarme Pisa at liberty Florence in feare and Sienna in iealousie and hauing the effects of his desire greater then those of his hopes hee entred armed into Rome with his Launce vpon his Thigh hee planted his Cannon on the Market-place and made himselfe to bee acknowledged and admired of all men for the Deputy of the liuing God for the reformation of the disorders of Italy and without striking stroake or pitching any Tent hee entred a Conquerour into Naples and in his returne hee marched as it were vpon the belly of Italy being all banded against him to hinder his retreate And although that France hath not reaped the glory and fruit which shee promised vnto her selfe by this voyage it sufficeth that the cause was iust and glorious for wee must iudge of things not by the euents and executions but by the causes and motions of their wils that haue done them p He that considereth of things by the euents doth iudge of the whole Image by the heele In all occasions we must settle our iudgements not vpon the issue execution but vpon the causes intentions of them which doe them and the differences of things Polyb. lib. 2. This course might haue carried me vnawares to
as it seemed he would canonize him before his f Flattery giues honors to mortall men which belong not vnto them Tertullian reprocheth the Pagans of lying and flattery which made them declare men Gods and Tacitus saith Deum honor Principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierit Tac. An. lib. 15. The honor of the Gods is not to bee giuen vnto the Prince vntil hee hath left to liue among men death after this followed an accord by the which the Duke of Burgundy should for a reparation aske pardon of the King vpon his knee The Queene the Dauphin the Kinges of Sicile and Nauarre the Duke of Berry making the like request for him in the presence of the Children of the Duke of Orleans melting with teares and weeping with sobs to see the bloud of their Father put to compromise and themselues forced to forget so sencible an Iniurie France was presently deuided into two factions of Orleanois and Burgundians A league of Armagnacs Th' one taking his fauour and authority from the ruines disgrace of the other The Duke of Burgundy hath the soueraigne gouernment of affaires and forceth them of the howse of Orleans to make an offensiue and defensiue league against that of Burgundy g League of Orleanois at Gâ—en the tenth of March 1410. the heads were Charles Duke of Orleance and his brethren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon Iohn Earle of Alanson Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armagnac and Charles of Albert Constable of France The heads of the Bourgundy faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgundy his brethren Charles King of Nauarre son to Charles the bad the Dukes of Lorraine Brabant Brittaine the Marques of Pont the Earles of Neuers Vaudemont St. Paul Ponthure The name was of Armanacks the marke a white scarfe the cause the Kinges liberty who was in captiuity vnder the law and will of the Duke of Burgundy Challenge sent to the Du. of Burgundy and to the end the quarel might be ended with lesse danger losse of men and time Charles Duke of Orleans sent a challenge to the Duke of Burgundy to fight a combate with him and to be reuenged of his fathers death The Duke of Burgundy who had drawn the Queene vnto his party had noe great dificultie to perswade the King that the designe of the howse of Orleans was nothing but ambition and rebellion in denying him to demaund succors from Henry the fourth king of England The Dolphin being of yeares able to iudge of the intentions of the one and the other The sonne in lawe against the father in lawe found that the interest of the house of Orleans was that of the Crowne and that the ambition of the Duke of Bourgondy his father in law h Queene Isabel being banded against her nephewes of Orleans adhered to the Duke of Burgundy made the marriage of his daughter Catherinâ— with the Dauphin Lewis was the cheefe motiue of those troubles wherefore he vndertooke to crosse his designes and to make a peace this soule was seasond with good thoughts at the siege of Burges for when they told him that in a salley which the besieged had made some of his seruants were slaine and that the souldiers dyed of poisoned waters he said vnto the King his Father and the Duke of Burgundy That this warre lasted too long and that he would make an end of it Iohn of France Duke of Berry and i Enguerand of Monstrelet notes in what manner the Duke of Berry came to this treaty in his armes notwithstanding that hee was 70. yeares old for he llued aboue 80 hauing vpon theÌ„ a Cassocke of purple with a band poudred with marigolds and so he is painted in the gallery of the â—oâ—ure Philebert of Lignac great master of Rhodes employed themselues vertuously to reconcile the nephewes and the vnckle The conditions of this peace were concluded at Burges Peace of Burges sworn in a great assembly at Auxerre the names of that fatall faction of Armagnac and Burgundian were comprehended in the forgetfulnes of things past and Philip Earle of Vertus was married to the Duke of Burgundies daughter But all the parts of France recouer not their former health The warre renues againe and the Dauphin is no more for the Burgundian whose principall force consists in the sedition of Paris and the succours of the English who making their profit of ciuill diuisions win the battell of Azingcourt which was called the vnfortunate day of the 25. of October 1415. The battle of Azing-Court The Duke of Orleans armed to reuenge his fathers death and the libertie of his country was led prisoner into England and if religion had not comforted him he had no lesse reason then Pompey k The Mitcleniens came to salute Pompey after the battel intreating him to land which he refused and aduised them to obey the victor and not to feare any thing for that Caesar was a iust man and of a mild nature and then turning to the Philosopher Cratippus who was also come to see him he complained and disputed a little with him touching the diuine prouidence wherein Cratippus yeilded mildly vnto him putting him still in better hope to be amazed at the prouidence of God which seemeth to fauour the most vniust party tyranny against libertie and couetousnes against freedome Death of the Dolphin and Duke of Turraine This losse was followed by the death of Lewis the Dauphin and of Iohn Duke of Touraine the Kings second sonne By the death of these two Charles Earle of Ponthieu saw himselfe in the first degree of the Princes of the bloud and presently made show that he had been bred vp to apprehend the iniury which the Duke of Burgundy had done vnto his vncle All the Princes and Noble men which had followed the house of Orleans came vnto him and among others the Constable of Armagnac but his greatest affliction was for the vnnaturall hatred which the Queene his mother bare him who declared her selfe against him Regent of the Realme was maintained in that quarrel by the Duke of Burgundy vnder her was that cruell massacre committed the 12. of Iune 1418 whereas the l Amassacre at Paris vpon the Armagnacks from 4 of the clock in the morning the 12 of Iune vntil the next day 10. of the clock To note the Constable by the scarse which he carried they flead a bend of his skin and tyed it crosse his body his office was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Chancellors to Eustace de Lastre Constable of Armagnac and the Chancellor de Marle were slaine and the Dauphin ranne a daungerous fortune if Tanneguy du Chastel Prouost of Paris and his faithfull seruant had not saued him in the Bastille Paris saw it selfe reduc'd to that miserable estate as it seemed a retrait for Beares and Tigers During this fatall diuision the English
vnto fire but they haue neither the vertue nor the hardnes They found not any spirit well setled that would follow them but euery man stopt his eares at the first brute as if they had been inchantments All were amased i An vniust rash enterprise strikes horror into good men who foresee the miserable euents at the ignorant vulgar holds them fauorable they must stop their cares to their first prâ—positions for if they enter into the soule 〈…〉 it with confusion Claudendae sunt aures malis voelbus et quidem p. imis Nam cum initium fecerunt admissaeque sunt pâ—us audent Sen. at their boldnes and euery man said that fury would draw these wilde Bores into the toyle that the Foxes craft would not free them from the snare The Nobility of Auuergne giue them to vnderstand that if the Kinge came into the Country The declaration of the nobâ—lity of Auuergâ—e they could doe no lesse then to open their gates This name of Kinge and such a King against whâ— they could not arme but the reliques of his victories who had made so great proofes of his valor and courage made the most mutinous to tremble k A Prince whose great actions purchased the name of valiant and wise is alwaies feared and respected This authority disperseth all kind of factions and conspiracies when as carelesnes and contempt giues them life It was an Anuill which would weare all hammers Euery man said vnto the Dauphin I am yours without exception reseruing my duty to the Kings seruice The King could not yet dispatch his affaires with the English The Kinge of England had failed of the assignation made on the first day of May at S. Omer The King armes against the Dauphin to consider of a peace and made himselfe be sought vnto This trouble could not be but to the profit of the enemies of France He resolued to goe himselfe against this conspiracy before that time and the Innouation the auncient Idol m Caesar blamed the Gaules for a curious deâ—iâ—e of Inouations They are said he very inconstant in their opinions most commonly desire change of the French had giuen it more force Hauing fortified the frontiers against the English he aduertised his sonne of his duty but good wordes serue but as oyle to feede the lampe of this yong Princes desires He must vse sharper tearmes to force obedience n Good wordes are of no force to haue a difficult commandement â—bserued He that wil be obeyed in rigorous things must vse seueritie and authoritie So saies Machâ—auel in the third of his Discourses an vnpleasing commaund requires not milde speches He came to Poietiers he sent to the Duke of Bourbon to deliuer him his sonne and to the Duke of Alençon to yeeld him his Townes of Niort and St. Maixant and to both of them to yeeld an account of those combustions to come vnto him and to call their fidellity vnto them They were farre of this storme could not hurt them They were no Children to be afraid of this thunder The Duke of Bourbon would not obey at the first summons without caution for his obedience He had rather haue his absence o To flie iudgement is to confesse the fault but oftentimes the innocâ—nt teach no defence against the persecution of one more mightie but absence a witnesse against him then repent him for his presence He had a good pawne in his possession he had Townes and Subiectes which had sworne to follow his fortune thinking that the war being betwixt the Father and the Sonne all that were actors in it should gaine by it at the least they should be free from danger for the Fathers bounty would refuse nothing to his Sons humility and that oftentimes fidelity was worse rewarded then p There haue beene ages seene so full of confusion as they must haue done ill to reap good If vertue â—ere not of it selfe a great recoÌ„pence to good men they migâ—t haue some reason to repent themselues of doing well when as their condâ—tion is infeâ—iour to that of the wicked rebellion The Duke of Alençon thought he should alwaies haue Niort and St. Maixant to make his peace He had sent la Roche to defend the Castell of St. Maixant S. Maixan taken by the King but the Towne intrencht it selfe and put it selfe in armes against him It was presently assisted with the kinges forces who sent the Admirall Coitiui and la Varenne Seneâ—hall of Poictou thither The Castell being forced la Roche escaped making a shewe to goe for succors and the Captaines which he left within it were hanged The Kinges forces attempted not any Towne but they took it q A Prince that hath to deale with his subiects performes great matters in time how diffâ—cult soeuer Some endured the Cannon and were spoiled Rion and Aigues perces opened their gates at the first summons Clermont and Mont-Ferrand who had neuer giuen eare to the perswasion of the Princes of the league receiued the King The Estates of the Country assemble at Clermont to order this diuision Estates assembled at Clermont which separating the sonne from the father diuided one heart into two The King thinking it fit that a busines of that importance which concerned the safety of them all should be consulted of by many r Although that a soueraigne Prince may resolue of any thing of his own motion yet it is fit hee should commun cate it So Augustus made a pleasing sweet medlâ—y as Dion saitâ— of a Monarchie and a popular state hee appointed this assembly There they represented freely the ruines which threatned the Realme and that the English had occasion to mocke at the boldnes of the Princes of the bloud which had attempted against the head of their house and banded the Sonne against the Father That it was fit euery man should returne to his dutie the King by the way of his bounty and clemencie to them that had offended him by that of iustice to his estate to serue s To raign is to serue Tiberius comprhendâ—d the dutie of a Prince in three words and three kinds of subiects A good Prince who is ordained for the safety of his subiects must serue the Senat serue his subiects in generall and serue euery priuate man To serue the Senate is to follow their Councell to serue all is to procure the publike good and to serue euery man is to do him iustice that demands it the which hee was ordained of God as well as to command and the Princes by that of obedience and repentance with amendment for their faults that although the iustest cause to arme against the Prince were vniust yet the King should consider that a great Prince should apprehend nothing more then to see his subiects ill satisfied t A priuate man is pleased in satisfying himselfe but the condition of a Prince is bound to content his subiects and to saâ—isfiâ—
night through the streetes of Barcellona complaining that the Queene his mother in law had separated it from his bodie by the violence of poison The Queene who was come to Girona saw her selfe besieged with Prince Ferdinand her Sonne and the Tower wherein she was retyred furiously battered The king seeing this great reuolt of his subiects entreates Lewis the eleuenth to succour him with men and money hee ingageth the Counties of Rousillion and Sardaigne vnto him for three hundred thousand crownes King of Nauarre demaunds succors froÌ„ the French King The king sent vnto him Gaston Earle of Foix Prince of Berne z Gaston Earl of Foâ—x married the second Daughter of Iohn King of Nauarre and of Queen Blanch his first wife and sonne in law to the king of Nauarre who freed the Queene and raised the siege of Gironna The Cattellanes nothing tractable to endure the humors of their Prince made a proclamation against the king declaring him falne from all the authoritie which he might haue ouer them and a murtherer of his owne sonne and violating the lawes of the country a They of Cattellonia declaâ—ed the K. an enemy vnto the countrey by diuers informations proceedings against his actions and the murther of his son the which they sent to Pope Pius the second They sent to Henry King of Castile to embrace their defence and protection submitting themselues vnder his obedience and offering him the crowne of Arragon beseeching him to adde vnto the iust title which their election gaue him vnto the Realme the right of Armes they alone doe purchase Empires b There are fiue kindes of Titles to Realmes the first by Armes so Cyrus Alexander anâ— Caesar made themselues Monarches secondly by the grace of God and in this manner raigned Moses Dauid thirdly by succession fourthly by election and the fist by the nomination of the Prince Marc. Anthony named Lucius Verus for his successor Dioclesian Maximinian and Gratian Theodosius and being gotten defend and preserue them He gaue them for succors two thousand and fiue hundred horse vnder the command of Iohn of Beaumont Prior of S t. Iohn of Nauarre The K. of Castill aides the Cattellans when the French and the Castillians met neere vnto Ixar they would not fight c No man can dispose as hee pleaseth of Auxiliary troupes they haue respects coÌ„trary to the designe of such as imploy them and the French intreated the king of Nauarre to take it in good part if they sought rather to end then entertaine their quarrels The Earle of Foix who was brother in law to the king of Castill and sonne in law to the king of Nauarre disposed the two Princes to referre themselues to the iudgement of the French king They yeelded sending their embassadors to Baiona where the French king was an honor pleasing to the humor of Lewis who would be interessed in all things and very deere to the reputation of France which was in possession not onely to iudge of the controuersies of forraine crownes but also to giue kings vnto those which had not any d The realmes of Christendome haue taken Princes out of the house of France to raign ouer them Alphonso son to the Earle of Tollousaraigned in Spaine the house of Eureux in Nauarre the Dukes of Normandy in England they of Aniou at Naples and Sicilie The Empire of Constantinople was held three yeres by the French They haue raigned a hundred yeares in Sora Cipres Palestina Charlemain Lewis the gentle haue added vnto the Empire of the Gaules all Italy Bohemia Hungarie and Germany In a word the seat of Popes haue beene in France The king of Nauarre went not from Saragossa Lewis the French K. made arbitrator betwixt the Kings of Castill and Arragon nor king Henry from S t. Sebastians in the prouince of Guipuscoa relying vppon that which their Embassadors treated The king hauing conferred of the controuersie betwixt them and of the causes which had moued the Cattellans to reuolt did iudge in such sort as to reconcile the parties it was necessarie they should meete and speake together vpon the frontier The enterview was at Endaia whereas the sentence giuen at Bayona was read by Aluaro Gomes The Cattellans were not content with this Iudgement saying that as the king of Castille had abandoned them so his Embassadors had betrayed them The king of Nauarre being offended for that hee was condemned to yeeld the towne of Estella to the king of Castille Enteruiew of the Kings of France and Castill to the preiudice of the reuenues of the crowne of Nauarre made the estates of Nauarre protest of nullity King Lewis reaped the greatest profit of this action for he practised and drew vnto his seruice some Ministers of these two kings and made them his pensioners e The King of Castille suffered himselfe to be gouerned by the great master of Castille and the Archbishop of Tolledo King Lewis made much of them to be informed of the state of Castille or at the least to drew them to his deuotion It is the least a Prince can attend of one that comes to see him This assembly did not confirme the affections which the crownes of France Castill had had together f The friendship and alliance betwixt the French and the Castâ—llans haue continued long Vpon which assurance K. Charles the sixt sent his Embassadors to Iohn King of Castill in the yeare 1418. to 〈◊〉 succors against the English The Castillians who could not lodge at Bayona with the French without quarrelling did not forbe are to scoffe at them at this enteruiew vpon the Riuer of Vidasa g The riuer of Vidâ—so diâ—ides the two realmes the Spaniards hold it is all theirs The King of Castill past the Riuer and came vnto the king The Castillians seeing him attired in cloth and very short with a hat differing from the rest and for a Iewell an image of lead imputed it to miserablenes h Apparell doth often minister cause of laughter The Siciliens did not esteeme of Gilippus their generall seeing him simply apparelled in a poore cloake wearing long bayre yet Syâ—â—â—â—s saith that the ancient Kings were knowne and distinguished rather by the minde then the pompe and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syn Orat 〈◊〉 regno There are Nations whereas they contemne the Prince if hee bee not so gorgeously attired as if he should show himselfe vpon a theater It is impossible to abstaine from laughter looking vpon the portraites of the Emperors of Greece which are so couered with Pearle and precious stones as they can not bee knowne but by their beards The French finding also the habites of the Castillians vnpleasing their king very hard fauoured and their manners insolent and full of African pride Of all this there could grow no great Alliance for such enteruiewes are alwaies noted more by the alienation of mindes then by alliances of estates
could not be giuen to any other Plut. where they dranke to his health as to Iupiter the Deliuerer The Assembly of Noblemen and Ladies was great he related his great dangers his diligence and toyle He drew teares of ioy and pitty from the hearers euery man said all is well z The King reported his aduentures and in so doing spake and declared many goodly words and pittifull where at all wept aboundantly Chro Martin seeing the King is wel a The health of a good Prince is the health of his Estate the people said of Alexander Seuerus Saluâ— Roma quia saluns est Alexander Lamprid. Hee assured all his seruants that he would neuer cease vntill he had chased all his enemies out of his realme Yet his designe was to doe what he could to end it other-wise then by Armes He sent the Bishop of Paris to the Earle of Charolois Bishop of Paris sent to the Earle of Charolois to let him vnderstand that he desired to know to what end he was entred into his Realme with so great a troupe for that hee could remember that when as he went into Flanders in the time of King Charles the seauenth his Father hee was not followed with so great a traine He commanded him to let him know the iniustice of his desseine That he vndertooke a warre vnder collour of the publik-weale to vndermine the whole estate and to set fire of the house to driue them out that clensed it That there was no such Phrensey as to make ones selfe sick to vse remedies b Peace is sweet after warre but much more proffitable before It is better neuer to haue beene an enemy then to bee reconcyled being naturall for a sick man to desire health But for him that was found to make himself sicke vpon hope of cure was folly and madnesse The Bishop of Paris went and hauing represented vnto the Earle of Charolois the Kings intentions and complaints Say vnto the King answered the Earle fretting the bitternesse of his ambition with humanity and myldnesse c Princes desirous to raigne haue made seruitude sweete with courtesie and mildnesse By this poysoned mylâ—nesse Caesar ouer threw the common-wealth of Rome that I am not come to doe any ill but to procure the good of his Realme hauing liued in such sort with mine army as noe man hath occasion to complaine that being as I am able to serue and succor my friends and to anoy myne enemies I am not bound to yeeld any other reason of my desseignes But not to conceale them from him I am heere for two reasons the one not to fayle of my word to the Princes which haue taken armes for the publike good the other to haue two men which the King hath fauored and supported against me d Priuat interâ—st are alwaies mingled with the sublike causes of warre The E. of Charolois was an implacable enemy to the Earle of Neuers and the Lord of Croy be added this hatred to the causes of war If I be come well accompanied it is to defend my selfe in France from that harme which the king would haue done me in Flanders That when he came hee was receiued honorably richly and quietly and then was not that done vnto him which hee had a will to doe vnto mee That in a word France had more need of a warlike and armed liberty then of a quiet and miserable seruitude After the Battell the Earle of Charolois caused the whole army to bee lodged at Estampes and there abouts Armes of the League loged at Estampes The commodity of this lodging saued that which one more discomodious had lost e â—f time and occasion giue leaue to chose a lodging to stay there they must consider two things which the ancient Romans haue alwaies obserued in their lodgings The helthfulnesse of the place for one and water with commodity of victualls for the other They knew what places were not helthfull obseruing their scituation the coÌ„plexion of the inhabitants In this place as the Earle of Charolois spake vnto Mounsieur at a window with great attention and affection a Britton cast a squib which strooke against the barre where they leaned and being amazed at this accident they thought it done of purpose to hurt them The lodging was presently enuironed with souldiers to gard them There was a dilligent search made for him that had done it who beeing only couered with his inocency descouered him-selfe and said that it was but a squib which he had cast to shew them pastime wherevpon this great amazement was turned to a iest All their forces being vnited they tooke councell how they shold imploy them Their opinions were alwaies applyed to their passions and desseines Charles the Kings brother weary of the warre An ordinary mischiefe in enterprises where there are many commanders f The pluralâ—ty of heads is alwaies rumous and vnproffitable euery one seekes to prefeâ—re his owne reasons and counsells They doe and vndoe indespight on of another Tâ—ndendo ad sua quisque consilia cum aliud alii videtur ad inuasioneÌ„ loâ—um hosti apperiunt Tit. Lâ—u lib. 4. That of the duke of Brittain was not answerable to that of the Earle of Charolois Monsieur seemed already weary of the warre he lamented those that were slaine hurt or maymed in the army which shewed that matters were represented to his imagination of another collour in the vndertaking then in the executing g Matters wheÌ„ they are conceiued and proiected haue an other fâ—ce then when they are executed He wisht that they were to begin greeuing that they made him the cause of so many miseries h A generous spirit is not sensible of the ruines and desolations which grow by warre and ciuill broyles The Duke of Berry was heauy seeing so great a number slaine and hurt in the Battell of Mâ—ntlehery The first slaughters of warre sticke terror into them that haue not seene them as of humain miseries the most lamentable is that which proceeds from his fault that complaines He had kindled the fire yet could not endure the flame he had begun the tragedy nay rather a cruell game whereas men made but a sport to force spoyle burne and kill He is not esteemed a soldiar that cannot doe al this in ciuill wars the most wicked of all others whereas by a fatall disorder they saw the fathers bury their children i When Craesus was prisoner to Cyrus by this reason that in the time of peace the children buried the frather and â—n warre the fathers bury their children be preferred peace before warre And of all warres ciuill is the most vniust iâ—humaine furious SummuÌ„ Brute naefas ciuilia bella fatemur Luc. These words were well obserued by the Earle of Charolois King of England sends the garter to the Earle of Charolois who from that time perswaded him-selfe that there would be noe great difficulty to reconcyle the
white Damask imbrodered thick with fine gold of Cypres with buttons of gold furred with fables a little black hat of his head with a feather of gold On either side of him were the Cardinall of St Susanne Bishop of Anger 's and Rene Duke of Anjou and King of Sicile o At the foote of the Kings scaffold were set The Vicont of Narbonne George of Pem 〈◊〉 the Lords of Tancaruille Chasttillon Buell Longueuille Lauall Aigle Câ—aon Cruâ—â—ol la Forest The Prince of Piedmont a yong Infant was vppon one of the steps Princes which werâ— about the King and of either side stood the Earle of Foix Prince of Nauarre and the Kings brother in law with the Earles of Neuers and Eu The Earle of Dunois high Chamberlaine of France was by reason of his gowt set vpon a little stoole behinde the King of Sicile with many other Noblemen There were two other places rayled in the one in the middest of the Hall neere vnto the Kings for the Princes of the bloud the Constable the Chancellor the Patriarke of Ierusalem the Arch-bishop of Ierusalem the Arch-bishop of Tours and other Bishops p In the second place railed in were the Marquis of Pont the Earle of Perche the Earl of Guise the Earle of Vendosme the Earle Dauphin and the Earle of Montfort The other being great and spacious which did inuiron the first of either side was for the Deputies of the three Estates Betwixt the Kings Theater and that of the Princes were two formes directly against the King on the one were the Peeres of France and on the other were the Officers of the Crowne Euery man being set q It is obserued that the Earle of S t Paul CoÌ„stable of France was at the vpper end next vnto him Monâ—â—urde Trayâ—ell Chancellor of France in Crimson veluet coâ—es and a little beneath theÌ„ on the same forme the Archbishop of Tours the Bishops of Paris Charâ—res Perigueux Valences Limogis Senlis Soissons Aire Anranches Angoulesme Lodeue Neuers Agen Cominges Bayone and others and all the greatest of the State humbled before the Prince like vnto the rods and Maces of the ancient Magistrates of Rome r In the assemblies of the people of Rome the Magistrates did hold downe their rods and Mâ—ces in signe of humilitie and spake standing the people being set shewing that they had no power to command and all Magistrates dealt by Petition vsing these words velitis Iubeatis the Chancellor rose from his place and presented himselfe vpon his kneee on the right side of the King who told him in his eare what his intention was Oration made by the Chancellor Hee made the Estates acquainted therewith in a long Oration the Deputies beeing prepared vpon the Kings instructions finde that they neither could nor ought to grant vnto Charles of France the Duchie of Normandie for his portion It was said that it should remaine vnto the Crowne and the King was intreated to maintaine the auncient lawes of the Realme concerning his Patrimonie holy sacred and inalienable either by contracts or by prescription of time and against any whatsoeuer and that the Princes of the bloud should not therein haue any more fauour nor priuiledge then priuate men s That which may make an alienation perfect and giue â— title of iust possession doth not comprehend those demands which are inalienable may be reunited although the alienation were made for euer yet the purchaser shall not recouer the price of the thing alienated the King himselfe being bound by oath at his Coronation not to alienate any thing and in doing so to giue vnto his Brother a portion with the title of a Dutchy or an Earledome the which should be worth twelue hundred poundes starling a yeare and a yearely pension of foure thousand and eight hundred pounds starling without drawing it to consequence t This clause of coÌ„sequence was superstuous shewes from what respect it came For the portion was so small as no man would make it a President There are houses in France where the yonger sons would not bee so satisfied for the yonger brethren of the house of France The King gaue the Dutchy of Guienne besides the riuer of Charante Guienne giuen to the Kings Brother the countrie of Agenois Perigort Quercy Xanictonge the Gouernment of Rochell and the Bailewike of Auins hee changed the Parliament of Guienne from Bourdeaux to Poitiers This resolution was carried to Monsieur and to the Dukes of Brittany and Bourgundy his confederates Monsieur was so ill and so desirous to change the ayre as notwithstanding that hee found small profit in the change of his condition yet would he not refuse it the Lord of Lescun perswaded him to reconcile himselfe vnto the King and to accept of what he should giue him The Estates did also resolue that the Duke of Bourgundy should be adiourned to appeare in person before the Parliament at Paris Adiournement of the Duke to the Parliament of Paris to doe right vnto the Earle of Eu u Charles of Artois Earle of Eu dyed without children in the yeare 147â— Hee was taken prisoner at the Battel of Azincourt and remained three twenty years in England for St. Valery and other lands which he detained The King was well pleased with this resolution for that he knew well that when the Duke should see himselfe charged in this manner he would make an answer according to his humorfull of contempt and that some grose-headed fellow executing his commission indiscreetly for profit would moue him and prouoke him to do somthing whereat the Court should bee offended and vrged to seeke reparation The same Court of Parliament sent Iohn Loyselier Complaints for the Pragmatike Sanction x The Deputies of the Court of Parliament let the K. vnderstand that the abolitioÌ„ of this Pragmatick was shamefull and iniurious for the FraÌ„ce had neuer had in like causes Ordinances which had taken their authoritie from the vniuersall all Church That as long as she had obserued this Pragmatick she was full of all prosperitie and feared of her enemies whom she had chased out of Normandie and Guienne and had seene Prelates of such holines as they had done miracles and Iohn Henry Councellors of inquests to represent vnto the King to the Estates the great preiudice which France had receiued by the abolition of the Pragmaticke Sanction that it was depriued of a rule which comprehended all the liberties and freedomes of the French Church approued in the Conciles of Basill and Constance That by the cessation of such decrees France must needs looke for some great confusion of the Ecclesiasticall Order and a generall impouerishment by the transport of gold and siluer beyond the Alpes But the King hauing obtained what hee desired against his Brother and the Duke of Bourgundy hee carried his thoughts to other things then to that which the Estates expected for
all them that fled had reserued one of the Dukes pages who did serue to finde out his body z The Duke of Burgundies bodie was known by a Porâ—ugall Phisition by the basâ—ara of Bourgundy by Oliuer of La March and by the Grâ—omes of his Chamber the which he knew by diuers markes the wanting his teeth of the vpper Iawe which he had lost in his youth with a fall by the scarre of a wound which he receiued in the throate at the Battell of Montlehery by the withering of the skin vpon his shoulder which a cole had made by a Fistula which hee had vnder his nauell and by his nailes which he ware longer then any one of his Court. The Dukes Ensignes and coulours were presently carried to Rene who obseruing the Fuzils or Irons to strike fire which they carried said The Duke interred at Nancy What a Pittie when this Prince would warme himselfe hee could not make vse of these Fuzils to strike fire a The duke carrie 〈◊〉 his coulours an iron to strike fire betwixt two trenchers of wood meaning that it was in his power to make a great fire of warre when he pleased The bodie was drawne from among the dead and carried to Nancy where after they had washt it and attired it in a poore weed of linnen cloth they layed it vpon a table vnder a cloth of Estate of black Veluet the chamber being hanged with the same The Duke mourning in his outward habite for this death and carrying ioy in his heart for his victory would needs see him and was not so scrupulous as Pompey who turned away his eyes from the dead body of Mithridates King of Pontus least he should prouoke the reuenging wrath of the Gods against him At this sight the Duke was moued to pittie and sorrow as compassion is not lesse naturall in great courages then crueltie euen against the dead is proper to base and cowardly mindes b Great mindes are moued at the spectacle of the ruines of nature and at the â—ragicall effects of fortune Alexander felt his â—ies to swell with teares when he read these words in Persian vpon Cyrus tombe I am Cyrus who conquered the Empire of the Persians let no man enuy this little ground which couers my poore carkasse Taking him by one hand he said God receiue your soule you haue caused vs much trouble and sorrow He caused him to be interred with all kindes of Funerall Pompe finding no expence so pleasing as that which is made to interre an enemie It is strange to reade what is written and credited K. Lewis aduertised of this death the next day that the day after the Battell King Lewis being at Masse the Archbishop of Vienna said vnto him presenting him the Pixe Reioyce S r your enemy is dead The Posts which brought this newes so speedily might truely be called windes like vnto those of Elius Verus c The Emperor Aâ—lius Verus gaue wings and the names of winds vnto his Posts calling one the North another the great wind an other the South c. And as the people beleeue not that which they desire not his subiects were long doubtfull of the truth of his death They said that the griefe of this losse kept him hid and that he had been seen in a Pilgrims weed It is troublesome to beleeue the death of Princes whom they loue who haue won their hearts by mildnes and affabilitie This Prince said and his tombe speakes it yet that he neuer had any rest in his life He would be the Eagle of Princes in designe and execution and as Eagles haue alwaies in their nests stones which sound hee had alwaies some designe in his head which disturbed his rest Hee that did inherit the matteresse whereon he slept might well keepe it to cause sleepe seeing that a man so distempered did sleepe little Wee must not suffer honor to grow old Humor of the D. of Bourgundy nor to weare like a garment it must be renued by some goodly action He sought by new designes and new enterprises to maintaine the brute of this reputation which he thought did passe away presently if some other couragious action did not renew it and hee feared nothing more then that his idlenes should giue the people occasion to demand what he did Meane men are not to giue an account of all their actions but will know what great men doe or doe not d A Prince should neuer giue the people occasion to inquire of his idlenes Cato had reason to say Non minus otii quam negotii clarorum virorum rationem extare oportere The reason of famous mens Idlenes must be apparent is wel as of their imployments His great courage was giuen him to afflict his bodie to torment his spirit His force was not equall to his Ambition lesse pride or more power His life was too short to goe that great way Hee would not haue been satisfied with halfe Europe Excesse the Dukes Ambition All or nothing Hee had more valour then gouernment Of this King this D. might haue bin made the composition of a great and absolute Prince e Who so could haue takeÌ„ some of the King our Masters conditions and some of his might well haue made a perfect prince for without doubt the King exceeded him much in iudgement and the end did shew it by his workes Phil. de Com. for the two essentiall parts necessarie to make a great Captaine Wisedome and Valour he had but one and would make himselfe to bee esteemed by actions which were rather animated by courage then guided by Counsell But he was laborious and diligent two qualities f He is a good Captaine that is both wise valiant Hanniball was valiant Fabius wise This man by his wâ—sdome vndermined the heat courage of the other Guiechiardin saith That it is no lesse the dutie of a valiant Captaine to doe â—he workes of a wise man then of a couragious Paulus Aemilius did perswade Marcus Varro his Colleage to temper the hot fumes of his courage by the coolenes of his vvisedome requisite to make a Captaine He would be euery where himselfe did view the scituation of his Campe with the aduantages and discommodities about it he obserued who went and came who entred and who went forth g Charles D. of Bourgundy vvas called by many the toiling for that he vvould see all and doe all toiling himselfe extraordinarily in all occasions He was still walking among the souldiors reprehending the Captaines priuately and the soldiors publikely when he found them to neglect their duties The meanest fortune requires wisedome to guide it and the greater it is the more it is enuironed with difficulties This Prince grew so insolent fell into so great a conceit of his own valour after his first deeds of Armes that although his naturall inclinations were not meerely warlike yet hee tooke delight in no other
France Parricides and cruelties with his wife Daughter to the Earle of Bullen being forced to make that his contrie where he found his fortune thinking to see the same sunne euery where which he saw in Scotland He besought K. Lewis the eleuenth to assist him with sufficient forces to make war in Scotland t Euery soile is the Countrie of a great courage Quo modo lucem noctem que omnibus hominibus ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit As nature hath opened the day and night for all men so hath she al contries for men of courage Tac. lib. 4. The bad vsage he had receiued froÌ„ his brother caried him to these motions to ouerthrow all that hee could not remoue The K. thought it not fit to ground a war against his allies vpon an other mans passions so as the Duke of Albany seeing that he could not obtain that he expected froÌ„ the king he past ouer into England and perswaded K. Edward to make war against the K. of Scotland u It is alwaies dangerous to make warre vpon the Councels of men that are banished from their countries and reduced to those extremities to ruine it for reuenge Passion doth easily transport them they promise that which they cannot hold and their wils are subiect to change The Noblemen of the Realme apprehending this storme assembled together by night in a Church where they resolued to cast all that into the Sea which was the cause of this tempest and which made the King to play at tenis with his subiects heads x Nothing is of so little respect to a cruell Prince as the bloud of his subiects Stratocles seeing them buy the heads and nâ—ckes of beasts for his supper said it was that wherwith they that gouerned the commonweale played at tosse-ball Plut. in Demet. being necessary to rid himselfe of domesticke enemies before he did incounter strangers The King who had spies in all places was aduertised of this assembly and sent Cocheran one of his fauorites to discouer it he was met by Archembald Douglas Earle of Anguse Conspiracie of the Nobilitie executed who took him by the neck and made him fast with the same chaine of gold which he himselfe ware and then he gaue him in gard to certaine soldiors vntill it was day at the breake of which hee was carried vnto a gibbet lamenting his hard fortune which had raised him vp to ruine him Some cried out to haue him dispacht others were moued to pittie y In these changes of fortune some sing others weâ—p wâ—â—n Radamystus caused Mithridates to bee taken vnchained the people remembering the rigour of his coÌ„mandemenâ—s added blows to his misfortune others lamâ—nted the change of his fortune Vulgus duto Imperio habitum probra ac verbera intentabat Et erant contra qui tantuÌ„ fortunae commutationem miseretentur The common people required his hard command with reproches and blows And there were others which Pittied the change of his fortune Tac. lib. 4. To be wise we must fly the conuersation of fooles Magna pars sanitatis est hortatores Insaniae reliquisse Sen. Epist. 94. It is a great part of health to haue left the perswades to madnes All reioiced to see the Court purged from this contagious plague He goes directly to the Kings Chamber and seazeth vpon all these Empericks of state vnder whose gouernment impietie had so raigned and iniustice been in such credit in Scotland and causeth them all to be hanged The King of England made his profit of these broiles King of England sends an armie into Scotland for hauing sent Richard Duke of Glocester his brother into Scotland with a mighty Armie he forced the King to restore him Barwick which the Scottishmen had kept one and twenty yeares by meanes wherof a Peace was treated and sworne The Nobilitie of Scotland thought that the King would grow wise hauing no more these instruments of folly about him z but hee made them to change their opinions for hauing setled his affaires abroad he began to call them to an account at home and to be reuenged of them which had prescribed him a law This caused anew reuolt to pacifie the which the King fled to the Pope who sent a Legate to draw the Rebels to their duties and hee intreated the King of France and England by his Embassadors to assist him to quench a mischiefe the contagion whereof might creep in among their subiects Not holding himselfe safe in Edinbourg hee would haue retired to Sterling but the Gouernour would not giue him entry He was then forced to keep the field hauing no retreat his enemies incounter him he accepts the Battel which they presented King of Scotland â—â—airne and fought valiantly but finding his horse wounded he retires vnto a Mill whether hee was pursued and slaine in the yeare 1488. the 31. of his age and the eight and twentith of his raigne FINIS THE CONTENTS OF of the eighth BOOKE 1 THe King is aduised to make his profit of the diuisions of Italy but he will not heare of it 2 Troubles at Florence and conspiracies against the house of Medicis 3 The Pope excommunicates the Florentines and for their sakes the Venetians arming the King of Naples against them 4 The King declares himselfe for the Florentines and forbids to send money to Rome The Venetians ioine in league with the Florentines 5 He sends his Embassadors to Rome and is arbitrator of the controuersie Ouerture for a Peace The lets of the Venetians side 6 The Popes complaint against them 7 Intelligences of the Duke of Brittany discouered and Letters surprized by the King 8 Punishment of Peter Landais 9 Townes of the Riuer of Somme recouered by the King 10 Negotiation of Oliuer le Dain at Gand. Taking of the Towne of Tournay 11 Princesse of Bourgundy sends Embassadors vnto the King to haue his Peace and protection 12 The King wins the Embassadors Restoring of the Townes of Hesdin Therouenne and Monstreuil Siege of Bullen two and twenty Deputies of Arras hanged 13 Arras yeelds vpon a composition which is not obserued 14 The Gantois rise against their Princesse and will haue part in the gouernment of affaires Their Embassadors sent vnto the King bring back a letter which the Princesse had written contrarie to their Embassage 15 The Princesse Chancellor and the Lord of Himbercourt Gouernor of Liege put to death 16 Ingratitude and impietie of Adolpe of Gueldres against his father 17 The King entertaines friendship with the King of England and keepes him from inclining to the Princesse of Bourgundy 18 Marriage of Maximilian Archduke of Austria with the Princesse of Bourgundy 19 The Kings armie in the Franch Countie 20 The fiâ—st alliance of France with the Suisses 21 Estate of the affaires of Castille vnder the new raigne of Ferdinand and Isabella 22 Death of Iohn the second King of Nauarre and Arragon 23 Peace and alliances renued
Florence were welcome for the Pope did beleeue that they came to performe all that which the King had promised on their behalfe without this beliefe he had not receiued them for the Church dores are alwaies shut against them that are Excommunicate x They that bee excōmunicated are not heard but to demand pardon and absolution Pope Nicholas in the ninth Epistle to Lewis and Charles Kings of France saith vnto them That hee could not heare King Lothaire in his reasons for that hee had beene disobedient to his commandements Quod si contra propositum nostrum forte presumpserit venire Roman minime cum qua cupit honestate vel hic suscipitur vel hinc profecto regreditur That if hee shall presumne to come to Rome contrary to our purpose he shall neither bee receiued with the honesty that hee desires neither shall he depart when as they present themselues to contradict his iudgements and to excuse their faults But as they were about this Treaty the Pope supposing there would be no other difficulty but for the Ceremonies and Circumstances of the Reparation which was due for the offence done vnto the holy Sea a Post comes vnto the Venetians bringing them newes of an accord which they had made with Mahomet by the which they did giue vnto him Scudry Tenare the Promontory of Lyconia with the Iland of Lemnos and they did promise to pay him yearely eight thousand Crownes for the liberty of the Traffique This Peace brought ioy vnto the Venetians but it did terrefie all the Princes of Italy For this Tyrant was so neere as he saw them from the Port which he had newly gotten y Mahomet did besiege Scudry the fifth of Iune with foure score and fiue thousand men the siege continued nine monthes The Pope was wonderfully discontented seeing that the foundations of the Peace of Christendome were ouerthrowne and that the King was disauowed by them in whose name he had made such instance for a League against the Turke z Indoluimus pro fidei causa vehementius quia potissimum conficiendae pacis fundamentum submoneri ex hoc videbamus nec minus ipsius Regis Christianissimi gratia in cuius dedecus maximopere redundat quo dum se huius pacis ad Ligae requisitionem autorem profitetur ab ijs tamen pro quibus orati tam iniuriose contra fidei caussam affectus fuerit Wee were much grieued for the Faiths cause and for that he did see the foundations of making of a Peace shaken and no lesse for the most Christian kings sake to whose dishonour it doth much redound who whilst be doth professe himselfe author of the Peace at the instance of the League yet he is iniuriously delt withall by them for whom he had entreated yet he did acquaint the Venice Embassadours with the Articles and they demanded respite to answere and to haue aduice from their Superiours This answere was attended two and twenty daies Venetians demand suspension of Armes and Censures The Pope thinking that the longer they were to consult the more iust and reasonable the resolution would be a Fatemur errorem dilecti filij dies tam multos ad saniora consilia pertinere credidimus quanto inter eos consulebant diutius tanto iustius reuerentius ad salutem animarum vtilius responsuros putauimus Deere sonnes wee confesse our errour that there were so many daies of respite giuen wee did thinke they had bene employed in sounder counsels the longer they did consult among themselues the more iust and reuerent we thought their answere would haue bene and more for their soules health But for their answere they demanded before all things a Suspension of Armes and Censures adding great cōplaints the which Sixtus maintained to be contrary to the truth intreating them to resolue within eight daies The Pope reports all this vnto the Consistory and they finde it hard to suspend the Excommunication Vnpleasing to the Cōsistory b Dura res videbaturminusque aestimationi Apostolicae dignitatis conueniens ad corum condemnatorumque nutum nullā poenitentiae significationē edentium irrogatas poenas suspendi diesque tantum octo ad eam suspensionem edici Peruersa cōfusa iustitiae norma haud dubiè apparebat ex reo iudicem ex iudice reū constitui Porro autē cum Censurae ipsae nostrae ludibtio habitae esset magistratumque imperio interdictum nullibi obseruatū omnibus in locis omnia profanata ridiculum iudicabatur id suspendi quod seruatum non esset id concecedi quod sibi peccatores ante sumpsissent Et enim si censuras timebāt quaerebatur cur eas spreuissent si non timebant expediens non videbatur rem iudicio peccatorum non necessariam vel concedi vel peti before that they which were excommunicated had made any satisfaction to the Church nor made demonstration of repentance It was held a distastefull thing that the Accused should prescribe a Law vnto his Iudge that the Iudge should do the duty of the Accused and the Accused performe the office of the Iudge It was a ridiculous thing to demand suspension of that which had not beene obserued and that they should grant that which they had already taken of their owne authorities and they said if they feare Censures why do they contemne them if they feare them not why desire they to haue things granted which in their iudgement they hold not necessary Moreouer they considered Suspensiō of Armes not alwaies necessary to make a peace that it was not alwaies expedient to haue a cessation of Armes to make a Peace That many Treaties had beene made both within and without Italy in the heate of Armes That in this suspension there might not onely be losse but also danger for that the course of the correction being broken mens minds grew incorrigible more obstinate And yet the Embassadours of France did shew that priuate considerations could not haue such great effect as the generall for the common good of Christendome That the peace which the Venetians had made was no let but the other Soueraigne powers of Italy might ioyne together to resist the Turke euery one binding himselfe to entertaine a certaine number of Souldiers for so long time as should be thought fit Vpon this consideration Censures suspended a Truce made the Censures and Armes are suspended c In ijs disceptandis augustijs publica charitas priuatum nostrorum periculum vicit defiderio intenti ad ea quae Gallici Oratores finem procurandae pacis oratione sua mandatis medijs regio nomine ediderunt de iure nostro decessimus acquiescendumque putauimus In disscussing of those doubts the publicke charity preuailed ouer our priuate interest and inclining with a desire to that which the French Embassadours had deliuered in the Kings name and by his mediation and commandement for the procuring of a a peace we
would haue their share wheÌ„ it was taken saying that they had assisted theÌ„ and alwaies follow'd them you were not for vs answered the Wolues it was the prey that drew you thither if it had succeeded ill and that we had beene taken you wold not haue spared our owne flesh Experience teacheth many examples to confirme this Maxime Those estates which haue no other suport but by forraine forces suffer great discommodities in time of peace and receiâ—e small profit and succours in time of warre they are alwaies declining to their ruine the which is not deferred but by the slacknesse of the occasion or the small courage of the assailant Men of warre are not ordained but to preserue or conquer Obseruations of the aduaÌ„tages of Foot-men ouer horsmen to defend or take townes and to decide by a battell the rights and differences of Princes and Estates In all these occasions foot-men are more proper then horse-men A towne which is kept by hors-men receiueth such discommodity for provision as oftentime it is more prest by necessity within then by the enemies without and alwaies horse do more trouble a h Philip. father to Alexander seeking to campe in a place of aduantage for the souldiers but vnfit for the horse cryed out that it was a great pitty of our life which must be subiect to the commodity of horse Generall to feed then to discipline his souldiers At assaults of places hors-men are of small seruice if they leaue not their horse serue on foot At battels foot-men which haue meanes to entrench and couer themselues and haue good store of pikes are alwaies more then equall to horsemen It is true that the Cauallary hath great aduantages for a horse-man hath better legges then his owne hee chargeth more furiously and hath more force heat and breath then a foot-man Foot-men are leuied more speedily are led and lodged with more facility are paid and entertained more commodiously fight more safely couragiously and rally themselues againe more i We are not now in the time of the old warres when as Gentlemen onely gaue themselues to the exercise of Armes At this day euery man hath liberty to seeke it without the Realme and many are growne Souldiers and neuer went out of their Village easily For the facility of the leuy it is so great in France since that the ciuill warres haue armed the people as there is not any parish where you find not Souldiers which haue carried Armes and others which are resolued to run that fortune The Prouinces are so peopled France cannot be disarmed of footmen as if the King should loose as many battels as the mightiest conquerer could giue him yet could he not disarme him of Foot-men Adde hereunto that horse fit for the warre are alwayes deere and rare and that we euer finde more men then horses k The Romans to repulse the Gaules who had seized vpon some Townes of Lombardy made a description of their forces and of the number of men fit for the warre they found six hundred thousand foot and threescore thousand horse Touching the pay we know that the difference is great betwixt the pay of a man at Armes and that of a foot-man and that it is easier to raise a thousand foot then a hundred horse For the facility of lodging foot-men couer and entrench themselues in field and fortifie themselues within a Towne if they be lodged in a village they lye close to defend themselues and not scattering like vnto horse-men For the aduantage of fight it is true that horse-men haue sooner done l but also wee haue seene battels lost by the disorder and violence of the horse who can hardly keepe their ranks nor recouer them beeing lost and oftentimes they fall vpon the foot and breake them with more disorder then the Elephants of the Antients m One of the greatest forces of the Armies of the East consisted of ElephaÌ„ts They must of necessity saith M. de Montagne giue great credite to their beasts and to their discourse abandoning vnto them the head of the Battle wherâ—s the least stay they could make for the greatnesse and heauinesse of their bodies the least amazemeÌ„t that had made theÌ„ turne head vpon their owne men was sufficient to ouerthrow all to whose discretion they did commit the head of the Army A Foote-man fights more surely and more resolutely then a horse-man In what perplexity doth a valiant man fight vpa faint-hearted Iade and what is a Coward or a mad-man vpon a couragious horse How many haue we seene carried away by their horses into dangers not foreseene who can no more stay them in the flight then in the heat of their fight n They that speake of warre with knowledge and experience hold that commonly when as the Cauallary aduanceth to giue the first charge it is the cause of the losse of the victory returning often vpon their foot and striking a great amazement into them for that hauing conceiued a great opinion and assured themselues often to winne the Battell they finde themselues suddenly deceiued and therefore the Rout of the Cauallary is alwayes full of amazement For the commodity of the leading bee it to march lodge or fight the foot-men passe in all places whereas the Cauallary comes often into such difficult passages as the men at Armes should rather desire flying then ordinary horses Speaking hereof with a braue French knight very well knowne in these last warres and who hath yet command amongst the Kings men at Armes he said vnto me That the discommodity of forrage had beene so great as the horsemen were sometimes fifteene or twenty leagues from the campe to supply their wants That some went to warre with fiue or sixe Horse who fought but vpon one and yet the people were forced to feed these vnprofitable beasts with their keepers That ten horse-men had more Carts then a company on foote And if his aduice might purchase credite they should therein imitate the Spaniards who giue honors recompences and markes of vertue to the foote and the contrary to horse-men o It is more honourable in Spaine to bee among the foot companies then among the Horse The contrary is obserued at Rome Valerius the Consull said vnto his Troope Agite Iuvenes prestate virtute peditem vt honore ordini prestatis Goe to yong men excell the foot-men in vertue as you do in honor and order Liv. The Horse-men were the losse of the battell at Courtray and the footmen defeated the Earle of Flanders before Gand. The horsemen seeking to haue all the honour of the battell at Poitiers came to charge before that the foot companies had meanes to ioyne this was the cause that the English whose force consisted wholly in Foote wonne the Battell At the Battell of Guinegaste the Arch-duke Maximilians Horse-men abandoned the Foote who stood firme and kept the place of Battell Wee haue formerly seene that
the Kings Authority to restraine him from this liberty Hee made of men as an Auditor doth of Counters placing some for hundreds others for thousands some for ten and some for vnits He allowed many petty Companions in his Cabinet who could not remember the condition of their fore-fathers without blushing or disavowing them s Honor meeting with an vnworthy subiect hath lesse luster and esteeme When as the people of Athens saw that Yperbolâ—◠〈◊〉 decayed man and who had nothing to loose was intreatreated equally with good men they dissolued the 〈◊〉 an honorable punishment for those whose vertue was suspected In like manner they tooke it ill at Roma when as Flauius being freed by Appius was made Edilis Curulis But for all that he did not leaue to haue about him and to imploy in great charges Noble-men issued from houses which were then illustrious both by their owne vertues and by those of their fore-fathers Of this number was Iohn of Daillon Lord of Lude The Lord of Lude and Imbert of Baterney Lord of Bouchages They came in fauour with this Prince by diuers meanes and maintained it in like maner The Lord of Lude had been bred vp with this Prince and the affection which begins so soone doth not wither easily Philip de Commines addes this reason that he knew well how to please the King Fortune fauoured the merits of Imbert of Baterney Imbert of Baterney Lewis Dauphin of France retiring himselfe into Dauphiné and going from Moras to Romans hee staied in a valley vnder the Castle of Baterney to take the coole aire and demanding some refreshing in the heate of the season and the tediousnesse of the way the Lord of Baterney sent some things vnto him and came himselfe to doe his duty hee brought with him Imbert of Baterney being then but a youg man who carried a Hauke with the which hee kild some Partridges t The pleasure of hunting which had beene the raâ—ing of his fortune was in a manner the cause of his ruine Claude of Seyell saith that going to 〈◊〉 to see the Dauphin hauing had him to field to see his Haukes flye the king was much incâ—sed thinking that he had a designe to make him see the woâ—ld and to know it The Dauphin tooke pleasure in it and commanded him to come vnto him to Romans for that hee had a desire to see that Hauke flye againe He went and did so please this Prince as he demanded him of his father and from that time he neuer abandoned him vntill his death He made him great in riches and honor as he was in merit and vertue Charles of Artois Charles of Artoix Earle of Eu hauing remained three and twenty yeares prisoner in England returned into France and was much beloued of king Lewis the eleuenth for that he held nothing of the sower arrogant humors of his predecessors he continued in the Kings seruice at such time as the Noble-men left him to follow the Princes Armie He reconciled the King and the Duke of Brittanie and soone after died in Iuly in the yeare 1471. without any children Iohn of Bourgondy Earle of Neuers his Nephew was his heire u The accord betwixt the king and the Duke of Brittany was made at Saumur in the yeare 1469. and the difficulties were decided by the deâ—terity of the Earles of Eu and Dunois Iohn of Orleans Bastard of Orleans Earle of Longueville base sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans was the greatest and most fortunate Captaine of his time he alone of all the Noblemen of the league of the Common-weale pursued the fruits which France expected of such an enterprise He was chiefe and President of the Commissioners appointed for the reformation of the disorders of the Realme and died before he could see the effects of that which hee had so earnestly pursued in the yeare 1470. Andrew of Laual Andrew of Laual Lord of Loheac Lewis 11. tooke from him the dignity of Marshall of France wherewith Charles 7 had honoured him and rewarded his seruice Hee restored it vnto him againe when as necessity made him know that none was more capable then he For his sake he gaue vnto his brother the Lord of Chastillon the Office of great Maister of the Waters and Forrests Alaine of Albret purchased the surname of Great by the same greatnesse of courage which gaue the sword of France to Charles of Albret his grand-father Alaine of Albret x Charles of Albret was not onely entreated but in a manner forced by the King to receiue the sword of Costable The king pâ—t it into his hand the Dukes of Orleans Burgondy Berry Bourbo girt him with it a little before hee had caried Charles the seuenth vnto the font He left the league of the Common-weale as soone as he was entred into it and remained more constant in the assurance of his word then the Duke of Nemours his great corage found nothing impossible He was often wont to say that he which had force in hand needed no other thing He married Francis Vicountesse of Limoges and was father to Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre Iohn of Bueil Iohn of Bueil Earle of Sancerre presently after the coronation of Lewis the eleuenth was dismist from his Office of Admirally y The Earle of Sancerre was Admirall of France by the death of Pregent of Coitiuy Son-in-Law to Giles of Raix Marshall of France for no other reason but for that he had serued Charles the seuenth He returned to Court and fauour but yet he stood alwayes vpon his guard against that Lyon which strooke with his paw when they least thought of him Iohn of Andie Iohn of Andie Bastard of Armagnac Lord of Lescun and Earle of Cominges was Admiral of France after the dismission of the Earle of Sancerre and then Marshall of France he chased the Brittains from Baieux and was Gouernour of Dauphine Ioachim of Rouvault Ioachim of Rouvault z Hee had done great sâ—ruices vnder King Charles the seuenth and had beene present at the battell of Fromigny and at the siege of Bourdeaux The King gaue him the place of Marshall of France and Monstrelet saith that Charles the seuenth made him constable of Bourdeaux and that hee tooke his oath in the hands of the Chancellors of France Lord of Gamasches serued him worthily and couragiously in the warre of the Common-weale and was the cause of the preseruation of Paris He alwayes coasted the Duke of Bourgondy his Army to keepe it from scattering to the hurt of the Kings subiects and that it should not make profit by the surprise of any places in passing Then he cast himselfe into Paris and by his presence fortified the courages which an accident rather feared then foreseene had much deiected The King gaue him the gouernment with a troope of two hundred maisters and made him Marshall of France Tanneguy of Chastel Tanneguy
of Chastel a He was one of the Commissioners whom the King appointed for the accusation and Imprisonment of the Cardinall of Balue one of the Architects of the league found in the end that there was no better lodging then at the kings armes His fortune was ruined in Brittany and raised in France Hee did negotiate the enter-view of the King and Duke of Bourgondy at Peronne he was imployed in the Truce of nine yeares 1475. and was aduanced to the gouernment of Rousillon The Lord of Nantoillet had for a time the authority ouer all the Armies of France Lord of Nantoillet he wanted nothing but the name of Constable for he did exercise the Functions the King hauing made him his Lieutenant Generall throughout his whole Realme and afterwards Lord Steward of France He was so fauoured as the King gaue him often the moity of his bed This fauour lasted not long The Chronicle of the Kings library saith That the King could not pardon any one of whom he had suspition Death of the Lord of Nantoillet He caused his head to be cut off in the yeare 1468. and that the Hangman hauing cut off but a peece at the first blow hee lest him force and courage enough to stand vp and to protest before heauen and the people that hee died an Innocent After that Philip de Commines had said that he had serued the king well in Paris in the warre of the Common-weale he addes In the end he was ill rewarded more by the pursuite of his enemies then by the Kings fault but neither the one nor the other can well excuse themselues Anthony of Chabannes Anthony of Chabannes Earle of Dammartin brother to Iames of Chabannes Lord Steward of France saw the ship of his fortune cast vpon the shelfe in the beginning of this Princes Reigne His good fotune drew him out of the Bastille to go to the warre of the Common-weale in the end whereof hee was made Lord Steward of France hee had the chiefe charge of the Kings Army in Guyenne and was then much fauoured by this Prince with whom hee was so inward as when hee meant to marry his second Daughter to the Duke of Orleans hee discouered his secret affections vnto him by a letter which hee did write vnto him vpon that subiect wher of the Chronicle in written hand of King Lewis the twelfth makes mention hee sent him word that whatsoeuer they said hee was resolued to giue his daughter to the yong Duke of Orleans but no man should bee troubled to nourish the Children that should bee borne of that marriage Peter of Termouille Peter of Tremouille Lord of Croan saw not his life to end with the fauours and honors hee had had of this Prince His Predecessors Guy of Tremouille and Iohn of Tremouille Lord of Ionuelle were made great in following the Duke of Bourgondies party The eldest of this house married Ioane Countesse of Boulleyn and Comminges Widow to Iohn of France Duke of Berry b K. Charles 〈…〉 yeare 1430. King Charles 7 supported George of Tremouille Lord of Craon in the quarrell which he had with the Earle of Richmont for the Lands of Thouars and Benon Peter of Tremouille defeated the troopes of the Prince of Orange before Gy in the Franch-County but hauing beene repulst from the siege of Dole hee was disgraced by Lewis the eleuenth who loued the seruices better then the seruants Hee was saith Philip de Commines a very fat man who being reasonably well content and rich retired himselfe to his house Charles of Ambois did long feele the disgrace of Peter of Chaumont his father Charles of Ambois who retired himselfe in the begining of the reigne of Lewis with the Duke of Berry c The House of 〈…〉 by the Kings Commandement in the 〈◊〉 1465. He was afterwards imployed in great affaires and continued vnto the end His brother was Bishop of Alby and then Cardinall and the greatest fauourite of Lewis the twelfth who called him M r. George Philip de Commines calleth Charles of Ambois a most Valiant Wife and Diligent Man Peter of Rohan Peter of Rohan Lord of Gy did gouerne his fortune happily amidst the waues and stormes of this Princes reigne who made him Marshall of France He was one of the foure which vndertooke the gouernment of affaires during the Kings infirmity and disability d 〈…〉 the Bishop of 〈◊〉 the Lord of Châ—umont the Marshall of Gye and the Lord of Lude gouerned the Estate for 10 or 12 dayes Hee continued this great Authority vnder the reigne of Charles the eighth for the respect whereof the Lady Anne of France Regent to the King and Wife to Peter of Bourbon offended that the Duke of Orleans attempted vpon her Authority would haue taken him prisoner by the Marshall of Gye The Duke of Orleans retired himselfe and hee that was chosen to stay him was the Instrument of his returne and made his peace with the Regent Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange Iohn of Chalons left the Duke of Bourgondy to serue Lewis the eleuenth then hee left Lewis to serue Mary daugther to the Duke of Bourgondy This first discontentment against his first maister grew for that disputing the succession of Iohn of Chalons Prince of Orange his Grand-father e Iohn of Chalons sonne to Lewis Margaret of Vienne was married to Mary of Baussac heire of the principalitie of Orange by whom hee had Lewis surnamed the Good Lewis first maried Ioane of Montbelâ—art by whom hee had William and then hee maâ—â—ied Elenor of Armagnaâ— by whom hee had Lewis and Hugh Williaâ— was married to Katherine of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Iohn of Chalons was borne of whom wee now make mention against Lewis and Hughe his vncles the Duke of Bourgondy being President in his Councell when as the cause was pleaded made a Decree against him This despight drew him to the Kings seruice who promised to restore him to his lands and to giue him the gouernment of Bourgondy but when as he saw that he had but the name and that the Lord of Tremouille had the command of all the forces he returned to the seruice of the Princesse of Bourgondy and caused the whole Countrey to reuolt from the King He troubled him much and let him see that a great Prince hath no small enemies that a Hornet is able to put a Bull into fury Iohn of Esteteuille Iohn of Eâ—â—teuille Lord of Torcy gouerned his fortune amidst so many rockes and shelues vnto a safe port The King made him maister of the Cross-bowes and committed vnto him the guard of the Cardinal of Balue in the Castell of Montbason It was he that came and aduertised the King of the danger in suffering such numbers of English to enter into Amiens during the Treaty of Piquigny Philip of Creuecoeur Philip of Creuecoeur Lord of Esquerdes or Cordes Marshall of France He had great
two great Princes which desire to loue should neuer see one another but send honest and wise men one vnto another who should entertaine their friendships and reconcile their errours It is a great folly for two great Princes which are in a manner equall in power to see one an other vnlesse they were very yong at which time they haue no discourse but of pleasures But when as they beginne once to enuy one another although there were no danger for there persons which is in a manner impossible yet there hatred and enuy encreaseth Wherefore it were better they should reconcile their quarrels by good and wise seruants Gouernements A Prince should haue a great care what Gouernours he sets in a Country newly conquered or ioyned to his State to the end the Subiects may be better intreated then they were before Example of Archamâ—and of Hagembach who was the cause that the Duke of Bourgundy lost the Country which he held by engagement from the Arch-Duke Sigismond Councelles and Councellors A Wise man cannot be bought at too deare a rate Lib. 2. Chap. 1. It is very necessary for a Prince to haue many of his Councell for the wisest erre very often eyther for that they are passionate in matters whereof they speake through loue or hatred or for that they will oppose one against another and sometimes by the indisposition of persons for we must not hold that for Councell which is done after dinner Some may say that men committing any of these errors should not be of a Princes Councell To whom I must answer that we are all men and he that would finde out such as should alwaies speake wisely and should neuer be moued nor distempered must seeke them in Heauen for they are not to bee found among men but to recompence it there may bee some one in Councell which shall speake very wisely and much better then he hath beene accustomed and so one helpes another There are few things secret in this world Lib. 2. Chap. 8. especiallie of those that are spoken About great Personages there are alwaies some Clarkes or Lawyers as it is fit and reasonable when they are good but verie dangerous when they are bad they haue still the Law in their mouthes or some Historie and the best that can be found may be turned to a bad sense but wise men that haue read will neuer be abused neither will any be so hardy as to tell them lyes It is a great treasor for a Prince to haue a wise man in his company and very safe to giue him credite and that he may haue libertie to speake the truth Court of Parliament IT is the custome of France to publish all Accords in the Court of Parliament Lib. 2. Cha. 14. else they should be of no force yet the King may alwaies doe much Ambassadours WHen as Ambassadours returne from Treaties and Negotiations Lib. 1. Chap. 9. they must be heard alone or in little company to the end that if their discourse be to terrifie they should giue such words as they ought to them that are inquisitiue for euery man desires to heare newes of them that come from such Treaties and many will say Such a one will not conceale any thing from me But yet they will if they be as I say and that they know they haue wise Maisters It is not verie safe to haue many goings and commings of Ambassadors Lib. 3. Chap. 8. for many times they treat of things that are preiudiciall yet it is necessary both to send and receiue it Ambassadours which come from true friends Lib. 3. Chap. 8. and where there is no cause of Ielousie should be well entertained and may see the Prince often according to the qualitie of the Princes person for if he be not wise nor honest the lesse he is seene the better If Ambassadors come from Princes which are not friends they should be receiued and intreated honourably they must appoint trusty and wise men to accompanie them and dispatch them presently for it is a bad thing to keepe an enemy with him Although warre were begunne Lib. 3. Chap. 8. yet should they not breake off any Treaties or Ouertures that are made of Peace for they know not when they shall haue neede of it but intertaine them all and heare all Messengers doing the said things and keeping good gard what men should goe vnto them and who should bee sent both by day and night but as secretly as might be And for one message or Ambassador which they should send me I would send them two And although they were weary saying that I should not send any more yet would I send when as I should haue meanes and opportunitie For you cannot send a better Spy which should haue so good meanes to see and vnderstand And if they be two or three it is impossible to keepe so good gard ouer them but the one or the other will haue some speech or learne some thing from some of them I meane holding honest tearmes as they doe to Ambassadors And it is likely that a wise Prince will alwaies endeuor to haue some friends with his aduerse party and preuent it as hee can for in such affaires they cannot doe as they would Some will say that your enemy will grow more proud I respect it not for I shall know more of his newes and in the end shall reape both the profit and honour And although that others may doe the like with me yet will I not forbeare to send And to this end will heare all practises and not breake any but still find new matter Moreouer some are not alwaies so iudicious as others nor haue so great experience in these affaires neither haue they so great need And in this case the wisest gaine alwaies Treasure of the Prince KIng Charles 7. did neuer raise aboue one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds sterling a yeare Lib. 5. Cha. 18. And King Lewis his Sonne did raise at the houre of his death foure hundred threescore and ten thousand pounds starling besides Artillerie and such other like things and without doubt it was a great pitty to see the pouerty of the people But our good Maister had one good thing in him that is he laid vp nothing in his Treasure He took all and spent all and made great buildings for the fortification and defence of the towns and places of his Realme more then any of the Kinges which had beene before him Assemblies Conferences and Treaties THe Assemblies and Conferences which are made from party to partie are very dangerous Lib. 1. Chap. 9. especiallie for him that is in danger to fal Most men haue naturally a desire to raise or saue themselues the which drawes them easily to the stronger Some are so good and so constant as they haue none of these respects but there are few of them And this danger is cheefly when as they haue a Prince which seekes