this new acquisition so the vrgent importunitie of his Scholemaister Lewis of Amboise Bishop of Albi and of Doctor Maillard made him to restore the Counties of Roussâ—llon and Parpignan too religiously vnto Ferdinand King of Arragon the which Lewis the XI his Father had gotten hoping by this meanes to tie the Spaniard to a perpetuall peace What should Charles do then with his Nobility and his youth he being young vigorous and of no idle complexion Now a great desseine makes him to call his eyes beyond the Aâ—pes and thrusts him to the conquest of goodly and rich Estates But let vs examine the causes and proceedings farther off We haue sayd before that René Duke of Lorraine was in Court and demanded restitution of the Duchie of Bar and the County of Prouence During his abâ—ad the Realme of of Naples being reuolted The first motiue of the voiage of Italie the Nobility and the three estates of the Realme put themselues vnder the Protection of the Churh as holding of it in fee. The Pope sends for René to inuest him in the Realme vpon some right which he pretended The Gallies of Gennes attended him the Cardinall of Saint Pierre was there to conduct him 1493. and men from all the Noble men of the Country prest him therunto where they expected him so long as the Pope was forced to make an agreement with Ferdinand being assisted by the Florentines Vpon assurance of this accord which the Pope the Ventians the King of Spaine and the Florentines had sworne and were bound to see obserued the Barons of the Realme returne home to their houses and were all taken prisoners The Prince of Salerne cheefe of the house of Saint Seuerin escapes and three of his Nephewes with him sonnes to the Prince of Basignan who retire them selues to Venice and demands of the Seigneurie what refuge they would wish them to choose to the Duke of Lorraine or to the Kings of France or of Spaine The Venetians answer That the Duke of Lorraine was a dead man vnable to support so heauie a burthen That the King of Spaine was alreadie strong at sea and the realmes of Naples and Sicile wold make him too mighty that they had liued in good correspoÌ„dency with the Kings of France who in former times had possessed the said realmes The delaies of the Lorraine being but poore made theÌ„ thus to qualifie him long for he wanted neither currage nor valour They were iealous of the Neighbourhood of a mightie Prince and did not consider that to call in a King of France to these Estates was the meanes to ruine them So they passe into France where the affaires of Brittaine held them aboue two yeares in their pursute One called Stephen de Vers a man of base sort who had serued the King well in his infancie as a grome of his chamber and now made Seneshall of Beaucaire and President of the Accoumpts of Paris with the Generall Brisonnet afterwards Cardinall ruled their master These Neapolitains gouerne them and they imbarke him in this voiage The motiues of the voiage of Naples who of himselfe was flexible The wisest disswade him as a dangerous enterprise for the French and alwayes fatall He wanted all necessarie things The King was yong and weake of complexion he hath few good Commanders and fewer wise men no money and himselfe wilfull the best was he had a gallant Nobilitie and yong but ill commanded nothing obedient and too wilfull like to their head the which notwithstanding pourchased to the King an immortall glorie Wants for this voiage The leading and returne of this army doubtlesse was the worke of heauen Before his departure Charles requires ayde and Counsell of the Venetians Aide we cannot giue you saie they for feare of the Turke yet were they in peace with him and the Turke then raigning was of small reputation As for counsell it were presumption for vs to counsell so wise a King assisted with so good Counsel notwithstanding we wil heâ—pe you rather then hurt you and you shal be very welcome In truth GOD will haue vs confesse that neither the wit nor pollicy of man can disapoint that which his eternall prouidence had decreed This succeeded otherwise then that common weale expected first they conceiued not that the King would vndertake this voiage in person Moreouer they hoped to be reuenged of this house of Arragon whome they hated exceedingly imputing it to Ferdinand as the means to drawe donwe Mahomet Othoman who conquered Constantinople and had done many outrages to the Venetians and Alphonse sonne to the said Ferdinand had stirred vp the Duke of Ferrare to make that chargeable warre against them the which had almost ruined them to haue sent a man to Venis to poison their cesternes with many other complaints which they framed against this house But the chefe motiue was for that by their meanes they could not extend their dominions as wel in Italy as in Greece Thus they thought to vse the King as a scourge to whip their enemie but not to ruine him and by their shipwracke to haue meanes to seaze vpon some Townes in Apulia lying vpon the gulfe as it happened This was one motiue to transport the Frâ—nch forces beyond the Alpes An other was that Bonne a daughter of Sauoie widowe to Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan a woman bâ—th without honor and iudgement was chiefely gouerned by a Secretarie of hers â—amed Chico bred vp in that house and by her Caruer Antonie Tasâ—ino Chico to assure the estate of the yong Duke Iohn Galeas sonne to the said Iohn had expelled all his fathers bâ—ethren vncles to the Sonne and among the rest Lodowike Sforce and Robert of Saint Seuerin sonne of a bastard Daughter of the house of Saint Seuerin Tascino who had a great interest in his Ladies bed and fauour calles them home with her consent Being returned they take Chico and against their promise to offer him any violence they put him in a pipe and dragging him through the City of Milan send him prisoner to Pauie where he died they modestly dismissed Tascino Lodowicke and Robert Lodowicke Sfoâ—ce seekes to vâ—urpe the Duchie of Milan freed from these two obstacles fortifie them selues neere the Duchesse and euen then did Lodowicke practise to vsurpe the Duchie of Milan For the first fruits of this proiect they sequester the two sonnes of Bonne and lodge them in the Castell and seize vpon the Treasor which was then held to be the greatest in Christendome They make three keyes whereof shee kept one but they had the gard of all They force her to renounce the wardship and Lodowicke was created Tutor This was not all the Castell was carefully kept and the Captaine went not without the turnepikes Lodowicke and Robert were not admitted but with one or two followers But two great Princes cannot raigne long together in one State without iealousie Lodowicke supplants Robert puts him from
this newe authority buried in Iohns tombe who died during these practises at Compiegne when as the fire began to kindle in fauour of the Bourguignon and to the apparent reuiuing of troubles in France To Iohn succeeded Charles Earle of Ponthieu the yongest sonne to our Charles the 6. He remained also the first Prince of the bloud with the prerogatiues of the fundamentall lawe A Prince that shall minister much matter to talke of his life in the course of our history guided by the singular prouideÌ„ce of God to raise vp this monarchy almost ruined The least but the happiest of all his brethren for this is that Charles the 7. who hauâ—ng corrected that furious giant of Bourgongne in the end shal expel the English and leafte a faire way to his posterity to restore this estate so neere the ruine But this shal not bee without many painefull difficulties the which the order of our history commands vs to represent in their due places Iohn of Bourgongne the murtherer of Lewis of Orleans hauing added newe troubles to the former ioynes with Isabell Queene of France Who hauing declared her selfe Regent of the Realme makes warre against her Sonne Charles the Daulphin The Quâ—ene takes vpon her the Regenâ—ie seiseth vppon Paris and there commits a cruell massacre where the Constable of Armagnaâ— and Henry of Marle Chancellor of France are â—laine But this Iohn of Bourgongne is in the end slaine by the Daulphin From the yeare 1415. to 1419. A Newe kind of misery now supplies the stage to despight Nature by the frantike drunkennesse of our confused passions A strauge coÌ„fusion the mother against the sonne An vnnaturall mother forgets her onely Sonne she bandies with his capitall enemy against her owne bloud seeking to transport the hereditary Crowne to strangers a Crowne inalienable by the lawe of Sâ—ate to the ende this Medea might fight both against nature and the Lawes of the Realme A horrible phrenâ—ie a fit of ciuill warre that is to saie of the assured ruine oâ— tâ—e State They câ—ll it ciuill being the ruine of Cittizens but very vnciuil indeede for if we shall iudge thereof by the barbarous and brutish cruelties what is therein the whole world more vnâ—iuill But alas behold the image of vnkinde confusions whereof the fâ—â—y of our warres hath made vs eye witnesses for haue we beheld lesse hauing seene the Crowne set to sale and our Kings blood shed vpon our Sâ—affold But the Hâ—stoâ—y requires audience to report things intheir order as they haue chanced accordâ—ng to the causes and motiues Charles Earle of Ponthieu had married the daughter of Lewis of Aniou King of Sicâ—lâ— Câ—arâ—es an enimy to the house of Boâ—â—gongne a capitall enemy to the â—ourgignon So this young Prince bred vp from his youth in hatred â—gâ—inst the house of Bourgongne must be the instrument to ruine him and his whole race He loued his pleasure much and sometimes he gaue himselfe vnâ—o it with too gâ—eat a scope yet he could imploy himselfe well to serious affaires and force his spirit in necessity firme in his resolutions and iâ—moueable in his desseâ—â—s wherein he happily ended his daies restoring the Realme strangely shaken by the errors and losses of his predecessors In thiâ— beginning of his new authority he was faithfully though not profiâ—ably assisted by the Constâ—ble of Armagnac one of the chiefe pâ—llers of the Orlean party almost alone since the imprisonment of the Duke of Orleans the death of the Dâ—ke of Berry the King continuing in his infirmity sometimes better sometimes woâ—se but alwayes weake both of body and minde The Bourguignon had his troupes together to the gâ—eat spoyle of the countrye who complayned still without any redresse This Prince being resolute in his course seekes all occasions of new garboiles his hatred encreaseth daily against the contrary faction The Bouâ—guignoâ—s practises seeing them aduanced in credit being out of hope to haue any interest in this new Daulphin who was wholly possessed by Armagnac an old foxe and an meconciliable enemy He hath practâ—ses in Amiens Abbeuille Peronne and all other good townes of Picardy who by reason of neigâ—bourhood are easily drawne to his party making goodâ—y protestations to maintaine them in peace and liberty vnder the Kings obedience He writes likewise to all the good townes of the Realme complayning of the death of Iohn Duke of Touraineâ— a Prince whom he assured to be wholy giuen to the good of the State and for this cause had bin poysoned by the enemies of the publike quiet But his true intent was to make such odious as were in credit about the King person 1417. although he named them not in his letters but in notâ—ng them he made a still and dangeâ—ous warre against them incouraged by his forces and perswasion â—â—o entring the Citties freely and causing his letters to be publikely read â—e moâ—ed tâ—eâ—â— hearts by the feeling of former confusions the blame whereof the Bouâ—guignon laied vpon his enemies The Kâ—â—g that is to say his Councell being incountred both by writings force sâ—ould lâ—keâ—ise oppose armes and writings agaiâ—st the Bourguignon but he sends the Lord of Canâ—y to treat with the Bourguignon which negotiation was fruâ—tlesse both â—or thâ—t the perâ—on sent vnto him was odious as also by reason of his charge which was nâ—â— pleâ—siâ—g vnto him He had an intent to put Canny to death but the respect of his maâ—ster withheld him making answer to all his instructions specified at large in the originall oâ— this historie But what auailes it to repeat many vaine words witâ—out any effect Iâ— bâ—iefe these are but accusations and excuses plaâ—nts and counterplaints All protest â—o be the Kings seruants and all ruine the Kâ—ng in troubling his realme Wâ—at plâ—â—ne Commentarie can we desire of these factions then what we haue heard and sâ—â—ne in our timeâ— The Bourguignon made a more dangeâ—ous warre then with Papers he had â—â—cret practises within the Citties to winne the inhabitants The Boâ—â—â—â—â—gnoâ— armeâ— drawâ— in the English He also drew the Engliâ—â— â—â—to armes and armed himselfe ioyning their forces togither but with dâ—uers inâ—entions yet their generall desseigne was to afflict France fiâ—hing in a troubâ—ed water making their profit of our confusions and building their affâ—ires vpoâ— the ruine of the realme The Daulphin Charles playes an other part he had scarse knowne the Couâ—t when as â—e was forced to go into Aniou to the funeralles of Lewis Dâ—ke of Aniou Kâ—ng of Sicile his fâ—ther in lawe and to assure the Duchie being in some danger by reason of the neigâ—bourhood of the Dâ—ke of Brittaâ—ne a doubtfull friend in the inâ—ertitude of â—hoâ—e confused times Being arriued behold a charge of dâ—â—ficultie for the fiâ—st fruites 〈…〉 new authoritâ—e The people were mutined at Rouen they had slaine Gaâ—court Gouâ—râ—our of the Câ—ttie the Aduocate and the Kings Proctor A mutiniâ— aâ— Rouan and besiâ—ged the Casâ—eâ—l
as they be very necessary for the well vnderstanding of the History which is the Register of times so hath it much troubled me being altogether neglâ—cted by the most ancient Writers borne in the first obscure ages The learned which haue happily handled this subiect before me finding plainly this notable difficultie haue held it expedient to make litle or no accompt to obserue the dates which was iâ— my conceipt vnder correction be it spoken to cut the knot a sunder insteed of vnloosing it But it hath made me more carefully to labour in this search â—o finde out some meanes amidst these extremities And therefore I haue distinguished the most nâ—table chaâ—ges not onely from one Race to another but in the Races themselues placing the dates iâ— the â—ront of the whole discourse as a Boundston to limit the Lands Moreouer I haue faithfully collected in grosse the yeares of euery reigne and haue deuided them as I thought most likely by the continuance of publike and priuate actions It is all I could do iâ— the most ancient reignes being vnable to deuine further but in those that approach neerer to our age the Reader shall see the vniting of things from yeare to yeare by degrees whereby he may marâ—lâ—e plaâ—nly in so goodly a light without any confusioâ—â— The Diagâ—â—mmes shall supply the particuler default of times which we cannot otherwise distinguish But let vs first see the whole patterne of our Monarchie without â—â—y câ—lour or fâ—â—â—â—ish whatsoeuer A generall Diagramme WHich notes onely the names of the Kings of France according to the order and succession of three Races from Pharamond the first King vnto Henry the 4. King of France and of Nauarre now raigning in number three score and three The first Race called Merouingiens in number twenty and two Kings 1. Pharamond 2. Clodion or Cloion the hayrie 3. Merouee Who vpon the foundation laid by his Ancestors of this Monarchie made the building appeare more resplendent and beautifull 4. Chilperic the first 5. Clouis the Great the first Christian King and the first of that name 6. Childebert the first 7. Clotaire the first 8. Cherebert 9. Chilperick the second 10. Clotaire the second 11. Dagobert the first 12. Clouis the second 13. Clotaire the third 14. Childeric or Chilperic the third 15. Theodoric or Thierry the first 16. Clouis the third 17. Childebert the second 18. Dagobert the second 19. Chilperic or Childeric the fourth 20. Thierry the second 21. Chilperic or Childeric the fift 22. Charles Martel Maior of the Palace in name but King in effect hauing layde the foundation of the royall Authoritie to his posteritie and so reckoned among the Kings the two and twentie The second Race of Carlouingiens or Carlees of Charles Martell or of Charlomaigne in number 13. Kings 23. Pepin the short or the briefe sonne of Martell 24. Charlemaigne King and Emperor hauing drawne the Empire of the West into France 25. Lewis the gentle King and Emperor his sonne first of that name 26. Charles the first called the bald King and Emperor his sonne 27. Lewis the second called the lisping King and Emperor his sonne 28. Lewis the 3. and Carloman basâ—ards to Lewis receiued by the estates against the Insâ—itution of Lewis by his will who had named Eudes for Regent they gouerne the Realme togither in the first yeare of the minoritie of Charles the simple pupill and lawfull heire to Lewis and yet being crowned Kings although they were but Regents are accompted amongst the Kings and make but one In the libertie of this Nonage Lewis the do nothing or idle Sonne or Brother to Carloman takes vpon him to be King but not being acknowleged by the French as they were readie to dispossesse him hee dyed and is not reckoned for any 29. Charles the 2. called the grosse a Prince of the bloud of France and Emperour of Germanie confirmed in the Regencie by the States following the example of these bastards is Crowned King hee was degraded from the Empire and the Crowne And in his place 30. Eudes or Odo Duke of Anger 's named by the Kings testament as is sayd is called and crowned as the other Regents and for this cause accompted among the Kings in the end the Crowne comes to 31. Charles the simple the lawfull King after 22. yeares but being forced to renounce it he dyes for sorrow in prison and leaues for his lawfull successor Lewis the 4. his sonne carried into England by his Mother yeelding to the violence of the victorious league by the which 32. Ralfe or Raoâ—l Duke of Burgondie Prince of the Bloud was called to the Crowne and and so is accompted among the Kings although he were an Vsurper and he being dead 33. Lewis the 4. called Doutremer or beyond the Sea Sonne to Charles the Simple is restored and leaues the Crowne to 34. Lothaire and he to 35. Lewis the 5. his onely sonne who dyed without issue Male hee was the last of this second Race leauing the Throne empty to Hugh Capeâ— the Stocke and first King of the third Race following The third Race called the Capeuingiens or Capets in number 27. Kings 36. Hugues or Hues Capet to whom succeeded 37. Robert his sonne alone of that name and to Robert 38. Henâ—y thâ— 1. his sonne And to Henry 39. Philip the 1. his sonne And to him 40. Lewis the 6. surnamed the Grosse his Sonne And to Lewis the 6. 41. Lewis the 7. called the young his Sonne And to him 42. Philip the 2. surnamed Augustus his Sonne And to Philip the 2. 43. Lewis the 8. his Sonne father to the King St. Lewis the most ordinary marke of his name And to Lewis the eight 44. Lewis the 9. honoured by the name of Saint for his singuler pietie and vertue to whom succeeded 45. Philip the 3. his sonne surnamed the Hardy and to him 46. Philip the 4. called the Faire his Sonne who was also King of Nauarre by his wife Ioane And to him succeeded 47. Lewis the 10. called Hutin his Sonne also King of Nauarre by his Mother he had one Sonne borne after his death called Ianenterre but not numbred among the Kings for that he dyed in the Cradle so by the lawe of State 48. Philip the 5. called the Long sonne to Philip the Faire succeeded his Brother Lewis Hutin he dyed without issue Male who left the Crowne to 49. Charles the 4. called the Faire his Brother who also dying without issue Male the Crowne came by right of inheritance to 50. Philip of Valois the 6. of that name first Prince of the bloud and first King of the royall line of Valois to whom succeeded 51. Iohn his sonne onely of that name vnfortunate to him succeeded 52. Charles the 5. surnamed the Wise who preserued the State during a horrible combustion to him succeeded 53. Charles the 6. his sonne called the Welbeloued and yet too wâ—ll noted by his long and vnhappy reigne amiddest the furies of
that the subiects consent who offer their goods and liues to their King be held in due degree This hinders no more the hereditarie prerogatiue of a Roialtie then the diuerse ministerie of the members do the soueraigne authoritie of the head ouer the whole bodie And as in the beginning or in the rising or infancie of an estate vertue ministers occasion for the people to choose such as should commaund ouer them successiuely leauing as it were in sacred gard in the hands of their best men what they hold most pretious and so to their successors who by all reasonable coniecture must be good and vertuous being borne of good parents euen so in the end vice makes them to hate such as abuse this prerogatiue and in like manner the same vertue makes them flie to others whome they hold more worthy to command in that they are obedient vnto reason This Maxime then stands firme that the authority of the states not being incompatible with the soueraignty of a king the royaltie of France is and hath alwaies beene merely hereditary without any exception nor can it otherwise subsist and stand all well considered And who so thinkes or speakes otherwise imagyning popular common-weales in France he is ignorant of the disposition of the French and feeds himselfe with a dangerous vanity The third The mâ—le only capable of the Crowne the female excluded in France But this lawe of a succeeding royaltie is limitted by a third Maxime That the right of the Crowne is tied to the heires male whereas in many nations for want of males the soueraigne Authority of a royaltie falles to the females of the royall race And this lawe receiued by the approbation of the subiect people is happily put in practise The president is very memorable and remarkable in the Realme of England whereas Queene Elizabeth alone hath surpassed the happinesse of the greatest Kings her predecessors ruling a long time with great Authority in peace So as hauing gotten most famous victories ouer her enemies shee hath erected through peace the goodliest trophies that euer king of England could haue planted there So great is the force of the lawe in the society of mankinde the which God will haue inuiolable vnder the gage of faith and publique order The French were often called Saliens of the riuer Sal in Francoâ—ia and the French lawes termed Salique lawes But the royaltie of France is wholy restayned to the males the fundamentall lawe of state being called the Salique lawe not admitting the females For this soueraigne lawe is set downe in these words In the Salique land let no portion of the inheritance come to the female but let the male haue the possession That is to say the males onely are capable of the Crowne of France the females being wholy excluded and by coÌ„sequence their issue the which can pretend no more interest then their mothers neither haue they any portion in the reuenewes of the Crowne which cannot be alienated So as it is giuen them but for terme of life by assignation of dowrie at the Kings good pleasure Thâ— fundamentall lawe called Salique This fundamentall lawe is called Salique by excellency although the Salique lawes conteine the rights of priuate men but amongest them that which concernes the maiesty of the prince is the principall and for this cause is knowne by this worthy obseruation 428. The practise of this fundamentall law is apparent in the first race where the cheefe proofe of antiquitie must be made in the daughters of Childebert The practise thereof sonne to the first Clouis In the daughters of Cherebert sonne to Clotaire the first in the daughters of Gontran son of the same Clotaire all which were excluded from the Crowne and in their places the neerest Princes of the blood admitted by the consent of all the French The second race hath no examples of this law in the particular circumstance of women The third hath very notable ones Edward King of England was excluded by iudgment of the States from the right he pretended to this Crowne being sonne to one of the daughters of France the onely daughter of Philip le bell Philip of Valois was preferred before his Neece daughter to Lewis Hutin And of late memory Francis the first of that name Duke of Angoulesme before the two daughters of Lewis the twelfth without any controuersie This law was obserued among the French before Pharamond was borne and by vertue of this law he reigned as Successor to his Ancestors Marcomir Sunno Melobaudes Here the Author wouâ—d haue a â—amed sâ—pposition to be taken for an vndoubted truth and others And as he was appointed by the wise prouidence of God to bee the first Architect of this Monarchie so was hee indued with singular graces fit for so excellent a worke in the which the law should fortifie the valour of this fierce warlike nation Thus Pharamond is renowned for his wisdome and iudgment who did countenance authorize the Salique lawes and that especially which was the chief to take away all future debate from his Successors And for the better strengthening of his lawes he assembled his captaines whereof the Counsellors of our ancient Kings were chosen They name among the chiefe of them Widogast Sabogast Wisogast and Bosogast the which our fabulous curiosities do transforme into some great Orators without any appreheÌ„sion of truth These were good warriors yet wise men and iudicious But who can beleeue they were great Rhetoricians So Pharamond was not the Author but the bewtifier of the SALIQVE lawes as Iustinian of the ciuill lawes of the Romaines To search out the originall of the word neither my style nor my humor will suffer me to dispute thereof Of the word Salique euery one hath his iudgement free But this is my opinion as words be the images of things so are they inuented to represent the nature of the thing whereunto they are applied It appeares that among the French the Saliens were those that held the cheefe degrees What the Saliâ—ns were and gaue the name to the whole Nation So as all Frenchmen are ofteÌ„ times called Saliens The SALIQVE lawes therfore are the FreÌ„ch lawes appointed to rule and gouerne the French It was the aâ—cient name continued with the most ancient lawes the which the honour of the Nation and the reuerence of so sacred a thing hath forbidden in any sort to alter So the SALIQVE lawe hath continued time out of mind the Soueraigne law of State vnder the which the French haue liued and so haue continued from father to sonne without any alteration either in the substance or the word maiesticall in the heartes and tongues of all French men What apparence is there then that Phillip of Valois hath borrowed the name of Pharamond in the inuention of this law to make it serue his turne How much vnlikely is it that so important a law being the ground of the Estate should
forth in the yeare 834. But this deliuery was the beginning of a newe confusion For Lothaire hauing beene forced to yeeld vnto his father goes to field takes him prisoner againe and leads him to the Couent at Soissons where he stayed not long for the French did bandy openly against Lothaire and his bretheren did abandon him He is forced to giue theâ— portions so as hee was forced to yeeld vnto his father and to craue pardon This miserable King thus ledde for a long time giues portions to his Children To Lothaire hee leaues the realme of Austrasâ—â— from the riuer of Meuse vnto Hongarie with the title of Emperour to Lewis Bauaria and to Charles France Pepin enioyed Guienne without contradiction Lewis not content with Bauaria quarrells againe with his father and to force him to giue him a better portion hee leuies an army and passeth the Rhin The pittifull father although tyred with so many indignities yet transported with choller against his sonne goes to field with an army but age and greefe depriued him of meanes to chastise him for hee fell deadly sicke which made him leaue this world to finde rest in heauen He dies This was in the yeare of grace 840. of his age 64. and of his Empire the 27. He left three sonnes Lothaire and Lewis of the first bedde and Charles of the second these two first Children did much afflict the father and themselues and all were plonged in bloudie dissentions the which order doth nowe command vs to represent particularly The Estate of Lewis his Children presently after his death LOthaire as the eldest and Emperour by his fathers testament would prescribe Lawes to his brethren and force them to a newe diuision As he had â—â—ceeded against his father in taking him twise prisoner and stripping him before hee went to bed Diuision among the bretheren and the cause so he sought to disanull his will as made against the right of the elder and the Imperiall dignity the realme of France belonging to the eldest and the goodliest territories of the Empire to the Emperour Thus hee quarreled with Charles King of France and with Lewis who had his part in the inheritances of the Empire in Bauiere the dependances of the realme of Bourgondy that is to say Prouence and Daulphiné and in Italy This was the Leuaine of these tragicall dissentions among the bretheren as Nitard a writer of approued credit learned and a Prince for he was sonne to Angelibert the â—â—nne of Berthe daughter to Charlemagne and was imployed to compound these quarâ—ells doth very particularly describe 820. Behold the direction to a longer discourse whereof I owe but an abridgment noted with the principall circumstances Lothaire then armed with autâ—oritie force malice policie and boldnes thinkes to giue his bretheren their portions and there were great presumptions he should preuaile ioyning his force with the intelligences he had in the dominions of Charles and Lewis This common interest to defend themselues against a common enemie made them to ioyne togither resolute for their generall preseruation Lothaire seekes by secret treaties to diuide them but not able to make any breach in their vnion hee prepares force and â—olicie Lewis was in Bauiere of whome he kept good gard that he should noâ— passe the Rhin to ioyne with his brother hee likewise leuies an armie to surprise Charles in France This preparation of warre did awake the vnited brethren who assemble their forces and ioyne notwithstanding all Lothaires oppositions Lothaires armie was at Auxerre meaning to passe into the hart of France The vnited brethren hauing assembled their forces neere vnto Paris Saint Denis and Saint Germain approche to haue a better meanes either to treat with him or to incounter him Fâ—sâ— with great humilitie they offer to performe what should be held reasonable beseeching him to remember the condition of brethren the holy peace of the Church and the quiet of Goâ—s people suffering them to inioy what their father had bequeathed or elâ—e they would diuide France equally and hee should choose what part he pleased Lothane refusing nothing flatly â—ed them with delayes expecting forces out of Guienne led by Pepin and in the meane time he diuided the Citties by his practises meaning to asâ—aâ—â—e â—is brethren both within and without and to surprise them by authoritie and force as hee had done heretofore his poore father presuming of the like meanes But the subtill was taken in his owne snare for as Lothaire finding himselfe the stronger refused these conditions of peace Lothaire thinâ—ing 〈…〉 his breâ—â—ren is uâ—risâ—â— and defeated saying openly That his brethren would neuer bee wise vntill hee had corrected them behold the armies lying neere to Fontenay after these vaine parlees of peace Lewis and Charles charge Lothaires armie alreadie a Conqueror in conceit with such aduantage as hee was not onely put to rout but also ouerthrowne with a notable slaughter noted vnto this day by the place where the battaile was fought the which for this occasion is called Chaplis and the straight is called by the victors name the valley of Charles to continue the memorie of so bloodie a victorie where euen the Conquerours had cause to weepe hauing shed their owne bloud although forced to fight It is not now that France 〈…〉 to bee indiscreet banding against it selfe and digging in her owne bowels by â—â—â—se domesâ—â—c all and vnâ—â—â—ll dissentions Lothaire after 〈◊〉 defeat changed his huâ—â—r with his estate for hardly could hee retyre with his shame to saue his dominions â—â—e inioyed the â—â—â—arie maske of the Empire with Ausâ—rasâ—a yet very much cuâ—alled and dâ—â—ided to his three sonnes Lewis Charles and Lothaire Of these great inheâ—itances there remaines nothing cleere but Lorraine of the name of Lothaire And so the great discourses of him whome the whole earth coâ—ld nâ—t â—atiâ—fie without taking from father and brethren were buried in a cloister for Lothaire hauing remorse of conscience for attempting against his father and brethren and all to beare rule lost the honour hee had sought with such eagernesse and to â—â—der the paines hee had inflicted vppon his father hee professeth himselfe a Monke in the Abbie of Pluuiers Lothaire 〈◊〉 a Monâ—e and dies a Monke in the yeare 855. taking on him the frocke and being shauen as the ciuil death of a King or Prince of the bloud royall according to the French opinion which continues vnto this day for a note of the greatest paine they could suffer that were borne in this authoritie to bee shauen and made Monkes and to change the crowne of France into a Monkes crowne dead to the world This was the Catastrophe and end of this turbulent Prince by the iust iudgement of God published then in the greatest assemblies and made knowne vnto 〈◊〉 open and publike writings for a notable testimonie and witnesse to all men That whosoeuer disobeyes father and mother deceiues his brethren 824 troubles the peace
of the Church and state in breaking the sacred Lawes of God and nature hee dismembers himselfe by peece-meale loosing his goods honour and quiet for assuâ—ed gages of the horrible torments which attend him in the euerlasting prisons appointed to tame the vntamed and to make them suffer the infinit paines of their infiâ—it wickednesse Charles and Lewis were well satisfied to haue preuented their brothers desseins not making any further pursuite of their victory An â—accord betwâ—xt Câ—aâ—lâ—s and Lewis They seeke to confirme tâ—ue concord by the settling of their Estates Hauing stayed sometime vpon the place where the battaile was fought buried the dead released prisoners and proclaimed a generall pardon to all that would followe their armes they call the Bishops to take their aduice vpon ocurrents who beeing sollemnly assembled exhort them vnto concord laying plainely before them the iust iudgement of God against their brother Lothaire least they should drawe the people againe into these extremities by their dissentions The Brethren beleeuing their good aduice part good friends but when as Lothaire sought to renue the quarrell they met againe but this striuing was in vaine they assemble in the Citty of Strasbourg then belonging to this Crowne and there make a sollomne alliance for theÌ„ their subiects to liue togither in peace concord The forme is double one in the Romain tongue the other in Dutch that is to say the Germaine As for the Romaine it seemes to be that of Languedoc and Prouence by the Language although there bee some words which are not at this day in vse with vs as the reader curious of this antiquity may see in their proper places excusing my stile which suffers me not to dilate any further but onely to note what may be found in the originalls touching this subiect This allyance made they come to the diuiding of their parts and to this end they appoint twelue deputies whereof Nitard saies he was one who without respect of fertility or quantity regard that onely which was most conuenient for the nerenesse and commodity of their â—states I know this partition is diuersly set downe by many and who sees not in so obscure antiquity that it is impossible to make a true dessignation seeing that in small successions there is so great diuersity But in all this varietie of opinions it remaynes for certaine that Charles the onely sonne of the second bed who had beâ—ne so much persecuted by the Children of the first wife remayned sole King of France that the territories of the Empire were much decayed nothing remayning in effect but the name of those which lie on this side the Rhin especially in the dependances of the Realme of Bourgongne as Daulphiné and Prouence The portionâ— of Charles and Lewis Daulphiné doth yet carry the ancient name of the Empire in respect of the riuer of Rosne which doth seperate it from Viuaretz a Country opposite called by an expresse name the Realme as also for this cause Charles was called by expresse words in the designaâ—â—â—n of his portion King of France it confines at the one end with Lionnois at the oâ—â—er with Vzege which extends from Saint Esprit to Ville-neuue of Auignon along the Rosne all the sayd limits beeing of his portion bee called by a particular name the Realme vnto this day especially in their Leases which retayne more plainly the traces of the ancient tongue An obseruation which I ought vnto my Country for the which I keepe a ranke in the Theater whereon I meane to represent the Estate of our goodly Prouinces of Gaule Narbonoise in old time honored with the name of a second Italy and at this day so grosly vnknowne to strangers as in the Theater of the world they leaue a blanke for it like to the deserts of Affricke although it yeelds not to any Prouince of this great and goodly Kingdome whereof it is one of the cheefe parts and worthiest memâ—ers So Daulphiné and Prouence were left to Lewis in his partage for the comâ—odity of Italy the which was giuen him notwithstanding the pretensions of Bernards Children But Lewis enioyed not long these great possessions for the which he had so much troubled his poore father 829. his miserable subiects and himselfe for he die◠〈◊〉 â—â—ter Lewis dies without any issue male his great Estates 847. Behold the last rebellious sonne of the father and one of his scourges dead without any great memory the which was like-wise extinguished in his daughter anâ—â—n the diuers changes happened in these Estates Thus the Children impatient â—oâ—â—e their poore father liue died after many fruitlesse toyles the one in a monastery the other without heire to carry his name although the imagination of a famous race and of an extraordinary raigne had made them forget the holy Lawes of nature against their father Charles and Lewis had made profession of more then brotherly loue as their familiarities carefully obserued by Nitard in eating lying and playing togither do tesâ—ifie leauing to the wise reader to iudge howe vncertain the loue of brethren is when as Couetousnes and ambition creepes into their councells Charles married his Neece Hermingrade daughter to his brother Lewis to Boson Earle of Ardennes brother to his wife Richilde His colour was to match his Neece with a Prince of a good house Hermingrade daughter to Lewâ—s married to Boson King of Aâ—les and of more vertue and thereby to binde Boson vnto him but his intent was other as we shall hereafter see Boson tooke possession of the Countries belonging to his wife as her dowry calls himselfe King of Arles A point very remarkable to vnfold many difficulties that shall followe in the foresayd Countries and especially in Prouence where haue happened many changes the which wee will endeauour to represent in their proper places This was the Estate of the heires of great Charlemagne but his posterity did worse where the most famous memory of our Kings shal be noted by their vices eyther of body or minde one being called the stuttering an other the bald the simple the cruell the Barren and all mâ—sfortunes to shewe as it were in a goodly table that all the greatnes of this world is but meere vanity CHARLES surnamed the bald sonne to Lewis the gentle the 26. King and Emperour CHARLES .2 KING OF FRANCE XXVI · CHARLES called the bald King of France beganne to raigne the the yeare 841. and raigned thirty eight yeares 841 He caused himselfe to be proclaimed Emperour after the death of Lewis who suruiued Lothaire without contradiction The greatest part of his raigne passed in the confusions before mentioned or in the hatred and dissentions of brethren or in combustions and open warâ—es But why â—â—ould I encrease mine owne trouble and the readers with the report of these particularities vnworthy of brethren and worthy of eternall forgetfullnes A raigne of small fame but onely to note the confusion from whence
Normandy the Earle of 〈◊〉 by the yeelding vp of Melun as they assembled their friends seruants on al siâ—es The Normand calls his farthest friends to his succors Logman king of Sueden and Olane King of Norwaye his kinsmen But Robert pacified this quarrell in time by his wisedome shewing by the effect how much authority imployed in time may preuaile and that wee must speedily quench a small fire the which neglected burns a whole forest There were great personages in all prouinces with hereditary power according to the grant made by Hugh Capet In Normandy Richard the third in Aniou Geoffrâ—y Grisegonelle in Guienne William of the race of Pepin sonne to Lewis the Gentle in Languedoâ— Cont Mathew in Champagne and Touraine Odo all great and valiant men with other worthy personages throughout the Realme al which were rash men of high atteÌ„pts but the name and royall authority of Robert conteyned all these great and couragious spirits with in the bounds of their duty and publike respect And so this raigne passed quietly without any great tumults Leauing a lesson for Princes A notablâ— raigne to ioyne wisedome with authority and valour with mildnes it being as great a conquest to preserue his owne as to get an other mans and to vanquish mens minds by reason as by force A patterne in these two raignes of the meanes to restore an Estate dismembred by the disorders of ciuill warres HENRY the first the 38. King of France HENRY I. KING OF FRANCE XXXVIII HENRY 1031. being in possession of the realme during the life of his father succeeded him in the yeare 1031. and raigned 33. yeares Henryes raignâ— He had two sons Philip and Hugh by Anne the daughter of George or Gautier the Sclauon King of the Russians and one daughter the which was married to Robert Duke of Normandy sonne to that Richard of whom we haue discoursed The beginniâ—g of his raigne was â—ough and vnquiet and the ende more milde and profirable But Henry in the preseruation of his Estate did nothing degenerate from the wisedome and dexterity of his father The cause of this hard entrye was the brothers portion apparently vnequall and preiudiciall although a wise father had so decreed it Queene Constance mother to these two Princes brethren nourished this dislike supporting Robert against Henry that is to say the elder against the younger Contentioâ— betwixâ— the brethren as oftentimes mothers haue the like humours to loue one more then an other The cause was plausible 1037 that it was against the lawe vse customes of France that the yonger should be preferred before the elder in a royalty The partyes were great for Robert Constance mother to the King Bauldwin Earle of Flanders and Odâ— Earle of Champagne a busie man and rash For the King the royall maiesty the will of his father Robert yeelds vnto his brother the forces of the Realme and amongest all those of Robert Duke of Normandy The armies approach ready to fight when as behold Robert for whose interest the question was being a Prince of a milde and quiet disposition giues his mother and friends who had brought forces to his ayde to vnderstand that he would not be the cause to shed Frenchmens bloud and that Bourgongne should suffice him seeing his father had so decreed Vpon this declaration of Robert Queene Constance changeth her mind and sends backe her troupes imbracing peace with her children The armies were dismissed and agreement ratified betwixt Henry and Robert who liued like brethren and good friends That Bourgongne should remaine to Robert and his successors with the title of a fealty to France which they call Peere to be Deane among the Peeres Thus Robert of France enioyed Bourgongne and left it hereditary to his heire successiuely vntill the raigne of Iohn in the yeare 1360. But the County of Bourgongne and Normandy were the cause of much trouble in those times during the which he kept the stakes not onely as a spectator but as an vsurper This Odo Earle of Champagne who had incensed his brother against him lookt for a good part in Bourgongne and had already won Robert to promise him Sens who euen vpon the accord making had seized thereon but being easily expelled by the Kings authority he runnes an other course to loose both himselfe and what hee had supposing to vsurpe an other mans estate He held vnder the Crowne Champagne Touraine and the Country of Chartres Hee had two sonnes Stephen and Thibauld yet he sought to ioyne Bourgongne to his other Estates which was the cause of great troubles We haue before made mention of Boson the husband of Hermingrade daughter to Lewis the sonne of Lewis the Gentle who had the Realme of Bourgongne and Italy He had two sonnes Raphe and Lewis Lewis was ouerthrowne by Beranger Duke of Friul who easily seized on that which remained in Italy of Prouence as lying neere and of easie accesse Raph had the rest of Bourgongne the CouÌ„tie Sauoie Daulphiné for the Duchie of Bourgongne remained to the Crowne of France From this Raph sprong Lewis and from Lewis another Raph who liued during the raigne of Henry being old without children and ill obeied of his subiects He had two sisters the one married to Conrade surnamed the Salique Duke of Francony who was Emperour and an other to the Earle of Champagne father to this Odo who seekes to perswade Raph his vncle to make him his heyre as sonne to his eldest sister and imployes the fauour of many subiects who desired rather a neighbour then a stranger to be their Prince But Raph preferred Conrade before Otho and sent him his testament his crowne and Scepter instituting Henry his son and his Nephew his heire general Conrad made war in Hongary Odo imbraceth this occasion seeing him thus busied he enters into Bourgongne Odo Earle of Champaigne seeks to seize vpon the County of Bourgongne where he takes certaine citties the rest hold at Conrades deuotion being called to the inheritance but these desseines were soone cut off For behold the Emperour Conrad returnes with a goodly and victorious armye who not onely recouers againe the cittyes of Bourgongne that were lost but also takes some in Champagne so as Odo doth with great difficulty hold Troyes hee is forced to seeke by humble petitions to his Vncle who giues him his owne and forbids him to take from another The Earle being thus suppressed Conrad parlees with King Henrie and ratifies the ancient accords for the diuiding of Bourgongne whereof wee haue spoken From that time the Germaine Emperours challenged the right and title of the realme of Arles which the Emperour Charles the fift shall alienate and shal be soone diuided into sundry principalyties as we shall shew in their places Thus the Realme of Bourgongne had an ende in the posterity of Boson The Emperour Conrade beeing forced to go into Italy after all these treaties to
flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâ—â—â— his Nephew for the County of Flanders His meaning was to make a benefit of their common quarrell But it fell out otherwise by his prouidence who doth pull downe one raise vp an other alwaies iustly although the causes be vnknowne vnto vs. Robert defeates the King and his Nephews After this victory hee is receiued Earle of Flanders without any discontent of the King for the distressed pupills who relying no more on him fled for succor to Thierry Bishop of Liege who makes an accord That Robert the Frison should haue the Earledom of Flanders giue his Nephews some recompence After this peaceable possession of the Earledome of Flanders Philip fâ—rsâ—ks Baldwins Children at their neede In England Philip became a deere friend to Robert forgetting the good offices hee had receiued from his tutor measuring friendship by proffiâ— Such was tâ—eÌ„ the state of Flanders England had a greater change we haue sayd that Robert Duke of Normandy had instituted William his bastard sonne his heire and that hee had gotten possession of the Dâ—chie but behold a greater happinesse attends him Edward King of England hauing receiued much kindnesse from him and knowing him fit for the gouernment of the realme names him his heire by his testament by vertue whereof notwithstanding all the policy and force that Herould brother to the Queene could vse William is receiued King of England and crowned in a soâ—lemne assemble of the English homage is done vnto him as to their lawfull Lord this great dignity continued in his posterity Philip sees this new power impatiently Philip discontented at VVilliams aduancement to the crowne of England yet can he not preuent it but God hath prepared it as a rod to correct this realme by the three sonnes which William left to succeed in his Estates Robert William and Henry Ambition is the Leuaine of these warres it shewed it selfe soone after the birth of this new power growen to the Dukes of Normandy whose first breeding we haue seene in the second race by the increase of the realme of England Robert and Henry the sonnes of William come to the King at Constans vpon Oise As they play at Chesse with Lewis the sonne of King Philip there fell some contention among these yong Princes and from iniurious words they fell to blowes Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard Henry struck at him with the Chesse-board and had slaine him if Robert had not staied him This blow being giuen Robert and Henry made all hast to saue themselues in Normandy The Leuaine of distention betwixt France and England where they incensed both heauen and earth with their complaints From this light beginning grew all the troubles which disquieted these two Estates during 400. yeares vpon diuers occasions Robert Henry being escaped the fathers so imbrace the quarrell for their children as they fall to armes Philip goes to field and takes Vernon depending of Normandie Robert goes out of Normandie and doth seize vpon Beauuois King William parts from England and lands in France with a great and mighty power The English enter into Guienne and inuades Xaintonge and Poitoâ— Behold the first check of a dangerous game Philip moued with these losses enters into Normandie with a great and mighty armie but he cures not one wound in making of another William on the other side runnes and spoiles all the Country euen vnto the gates of Paris where hee entred not then but his posteritie did after him Hee dies soone after but the quarrell suruiued in his children who augmented this hereditarie hatred in many sorts While they began to weaue this web Italy was in no better estate being full of horrible combustions and the cause was so much the more lamentable for that the mischiefe came from them Conâ—â—â—â—ons in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes from whom all good was to be expected We haue formerly spoken of the deuisions growne betwixt the Emperours and the Popes of Rome for their preheminences In all ancient times the Popes were subiect to be summoned before the Emperour who had authority to create them to depose them that were vnworthy of their charges to call Synods and to confirme all things which concerned the outward gouernment of the Church The Pope on the other side maintaines that all this authority was his The Popes vsurpation as vniuersall Bishop hauing power to bind and loose to iudge of all men and all causes as the soueraigne Iudge of the Church not to bee iudged by any man and so to dispose absolutely of all matters as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill as Monarch in the Church not only armed with power of excommunication to damne rebels and authority to remit sinnes but hauing also the temporall sword with soueraigne authority ouer Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth to place and diâ—place and to dispoâ—e of their estates Hereafter we shall find in euery raigne some memorable example of this soueraigne authority This raigne giues a very notable one After the death of the Emperour Conrade called Salique Henry the 3. of that name hauing happily gouerned the Empire left it to his sonne Henry the 4 yet very yong so as the Popes during this weakenesse of the Empire had meanes to fortifie themselues and so imbracing this occasion Gregory the 7. called Hildebrand did prohibite the Emperour all authority ouer the Clergie and forbad vpon paine of excommunication to haue any recourse vnto him for the collation of benefices or for any thing else that depended on the Church Henry moued with so great an affâ—ont Sâ—range confuâ—oâ—s betwixt the Emperoâ—r and the â—ope lets Gregory vnderstand that this his decree was contrarie to the ancient orders the vse of the Catholike Church Vpon this refusall he lets him know that hee will maintaine the rights of the Empire and complaines to the Clergie of Rome in an open assembly Gregorie calls an other wherein hee doth excommunicate Henry and all his adherents and sends forth his Bull into all parts wherby hee declares him excommunicate and degraded of the Empire and in his place causeth Rodolph Duke of Sueuia to be chosen Emperour Thus there growes two factions in Italy and in Germanie one for the Emperour and the other for the Pope behold two armies leuied of these factions ready to shed Christians bloud nine battailes were giuen vpon the quarrell of these preheminences In the end Rodolphe the new Emperour is taken and slaine by Godefroy of Bouillon who followed the Emperour Henry the fourth who after this victorie assembled a great Councell at Bresse where as Gregorie the seuenth is excommunicated and Clement Bishop of Râ—uenna appointed to succeed him they conduct him to Rome with an armie take the Citty after a long siege whereas the new Pope is sollemnlie installed and Henry the 4. Emperour restored
when hee sees Frederecks conquests to increase hee straines his witt to find out remedies to stoppe so dangerous a deluge Hee rayseth some troupes which he calleth holy but they were to weake to withstand so great a force Hee therefore fliâ—s to Councells the firmest bulwarke of his authoritie hee makes a Bull of excommunication proclaymes him a capitall enemie to the Church and layes open the causes by a publike declaration Frederick continuing his 〈◊〉 answeres the Popes writing by an Aduocate of Capua called Iohn de Vignes and so giues words for words But Fredericks forces had preuailed without a better remedie Here-vpon Pope Gregory dies Celestin suceeds him who within fewe daies after his eâ—ection dies and leaues the Chaâ—er to Innocent the 4. with this quarrell not yet determined Innocent in the life of Gregory was a Gibelin and by his death beeing chosen Pope hee becomes a Guelphe as great an enemy to Frederick Gregory turnâ— enemy to Frederick being chosen Pope as hee had beene a fâ—iend a cunning and circumspect man who pollitikely wrought the meanes to vndoe Frederick After his election hee sends his Nontio into France to exhort our Lewis to succor him according to the ancient proofes of the most Christian Kings to the Holy Sea and to assure him the better hee giues him to vnderstand that hee is resolued to come into France as the most safe retreate of Christendome nowe afflicted He comes calls a Councell at Lions whether he cites Frederick but vpon so short a warâ—ing as hee could not appeere Frederick hauing sent his Ambassadoâ—s to the Councelâ— to require a lawfull time and to aduertise the Pope of his comming beginnes his iorney to performe his promise Being arriued at Thurin The Emperoâ— Frederick excommunicated and degraded he hath intelligence giuen him that the Pope had condemned him as contumax excommunicated him and degraded him of the Empire But this was not without the consent of the Princes electors of the Empire who after nature deliberation proceeded to a new election The thundering Bull of excommunication and deposition is no sooner published but the Princes Electors choose Henry Landgraue of Thuringe for Emperour vpon the recepit of these newes Frederick staies at Thurin and hauing sent to sound the Germaiâ—s mindes hee findes strange partialities the greatest part of the Nobility banded against him and resolued to reiect him The Germains choose an other Emperor Thus hee felt the force of the Popes powre The proofe of this resolution was at hand for as Henry of Thuringe the newe Elected-Emperour approched to Vlmes to force them to yeeld to his obedience and that the partisans of Frederick would not receiue him hauing beseeged the Citty hee was wounded with an arrowe whereof he died shortly after wherevpon the Princes Electors of the Empire did presently choose William Earle of Holland for Emperour at the same times the faction of the Guelphes of Pauia being banished found meanes to reenter the Citty where they made a horrible and bloudy massace of Giâ—â—lins with more then ordinary fury vsed in Ciuill mutinyes The Emperour Frederick in this various vncertenty of his affaires being in Italy with his army 1255. he flies to the neerest He beseegeth Pauia and for that he would not hazard his forces whereof he might stand in neede if Germany fayled him hee resolued to block it and builds a Fort which he calles Victoria but hee reckoned ill without him that giues victories measuring the issue too confidently by the proiect Thus God confoundes the enterprises of men when they attribute that to themselues which belongs to his power This done Frederick leauing his Bastard Encius to command the seege takes his way to Lions where the Councell was yet remayning with an intent to repayre his affayres but he is not farre gone when as newes comes vnto him that the Inhabitants had made a great sallye and forced and razed his Fort of Victoria with great losse of his men He returnes to Pauia takes it by force and did execute that which the outrage lately committed might moue a Choloricke man vnto being halfe desperate But this surprise repayred not his Estate for in all the cheefe citties of Italy the Guelphs faction was the stronger through the authority of the Councell of Lions which had wonderfully disgraced Frederick first by Excommunications and then by a ciuil Deposition The death of â—redeâ—ick Frederick seeing himselfe distressed of all sides as in great afflictions one mischief calling another the greatest is to be faint harted he suffered himselfe to be so oppressed with griefe as he falls into a burning feauer and dies burying in one graue his Life his Desseignes and his Imperiall dignity whereof at that time he was depriued Thus Frâ—derick dies Conrad his son poysoned by his Basterd brothâ—r Manfrâ—y leauing Italy and Germany in great combustion and Conrade his Sonne the Successor rather of his miseries then of his enheritance for seeking to effect that which his Father could not doe and to preserue the Realmes of Sicilia and Naples to his successors he lost his Life and both Realmes hauing trusted Manfroy his Fathers Bastard too much who poisoned him notwithstanding hee had appointed him Tutor to his Sonne Conradin not knowing by whose hand he died Manfroy seeing himselfe in possession by this Title giues it out that Conradin was dead and vnder this goodly title to be the neerest kinsman of the lawfull Lordes Manfroy vâ—urps Sâ—cilia Naples He tooke possession of these two Realmes The stronger alwayes preuailes in an Estate Manfroy was master of Naples and of Sicilia although Conradin had the right and to assure the possâ—ssion of what he had gotten he alies himselfe with Iames King of Arragon giuing his daughter Constance in marriage to Petâ—r his eldest sonne This was in the yeare 1255. a remarkable date for so long a quarrell Manfroy could not bee heire to Fredericks Estates but he must withall succeed in the hatred the Popes did beare him the subiect of discontent remayning in those Seigneuries which he enioyed vnder his name Pope Vrban the 4. who then did hold the Sea of Rome did excommunicate Manfroy as a disturber of the Church and of Italy but finding himselfe too weake for the execution of his decree he cast his eyes to the place from whence his predecessors had alwaies drawne assured timely succors Lewis our good King of a contrary humour to their turbulent passions Lewis refuseth Sicilia Naples offâ—red him by the Pope was a spectator of these disorders but so indifferent as athough the councell of Lions had beene held by his consent yet had hee done his best endeauor to quench this fire kindled betwixt the greatest persons of Christendom He could not be mooued by the authority or perswasions of Pope Vrban to take away an other mans estate being well content with his owne But Charles Earle of Prouence perswaded by his owne disposition thrust
Guienne hee taketh Bourdeaux the chiefe Cittie of Guienne and then most of the other Townes doe willingly yeeld obedience vnto the King Rions and some other Castels well fortified by the Eâ—glish â—old good to serue as a Leuaine of this waâ—re Edward seeing himselfe thus assailâ—d aâ—mes by Sea and Land By Sea hee sends an Aâ—mie vnder the conduct of Robert Tiptoste A Leâ—â—ue beâ—wixt Edwaâ—d oâ— Enâ—land Gâ—y of Fâ—anders the Emperor and Dukâ— oâ— Bâ—r against Philip. By land hee sends some forces vnder the command oâ— Iohn Breton to preserue that which remained in Guienne and to fortifie himselfe with friends in the doubtfull euents of so important a cause hee makes a league with Guy Earle of Flanders and for confirmation thereof hee demands his Daughter Philip for his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales the heire apparant to the Crowne of England which the Earle accepts willingly And to omit nothing that might auaâ—â—e him hee enters league with Henry Duke of Bar giuing him Elenor his Daughter in marriage and with Adolphe of Nassau Emperour both hauing pretensions against France The Duke of Bar demanded Champagne of the King by the rights hâ—e preâ—ended and enters it with forces Philip sends Gualter of Creâ—y the Loâ—d of Chaâ—â—illion vpon Marne against him with a goodly Armie who on the other side entâ—ing into Barrois makes a diuersion and forceth the Duke to returne to defend his owne against Gualter â—he Emperour brauâ—ngly giues notice vnto the King that he will make warre against him to recouer the Lands belonging to the Empire Philip makes no other answer but sends him a packet well sealed vp in the which was a whiâ—e Paper foulded like a Letter without any writing This scofâ—e was a great defie as indeed the braueries of Adolphe had no successe The Earle of Flanders was the neerest and most dangerous enemie to preiudice Philip who had ioyned himselfe to the King of England by so strict a bond as the marriage of his Daughter Philip hauing three great enemies in front tryes his wittes to staye them The most dangerous was hee that dealt vnder hand that is the Fleming who made a good shew to Philip Stâ—â—ars dâ—luditur 〈◊〉 and yet treated with his most dangerous enemie but pollicie did circumuent pollicie The King findes meanes vnder-hand to giue him notice that hee would gladly see his Daughter whome hee had Christened and was called Philip by his name before he led her into England Guy brings her with him to Paris being arriued he is committed prisoner by the King The cause is made knowne vnto him by such as had commanâ—â—ment to arrest him That being his Vassaâ—le hee had presumed to allye himselfe with a capitall enemie to the Crowne giuing him so precious a gage as his Daughter Guy obtaines leaue to speake with the King Hee excuseth himselfe Philip sâ—izeth vpon â—he â—aâ—le oâ— Flâ—nâ—eâ—s Daugâ—ter but his Daughter â—â—maines as a pawne with the Queene to bee marryed at the Kings good pleasure 〈◊〉 Daughter although kindly entertained by the King and Queene was full of greefe lamenting dayly as if this honourable gaâ—de had beene a most cruell prison The Earle intreates Philip to send him his Daughter hee answers him plainely that hee tooke her not to restore her Herevpon Guy takes occasion to complaine of the great wrong hee pretended to bee done him by Philip who detaines his Daughter forceably without reason The English in the meane time make open warre in Guienne Philip foreseeing that this was the beginning of a greater storme meaning to lay the burthen vpon him that might doe him most harme sends a goodly Armie into Guienne against the English vnder the conduct of two great Commanders his Brother Charles Earle of Valois and the Constable of Neele to molest the enemie in diuers places Rions and Pondesaâ— Townes vpon the Riuer of Garonne then strong but now desolate are besieged and after many diâ—ficulties yeeld vnto the King and in the end Saint Seuer but with more paine Edmond Brother to the King of England is defeated at Sea The English affaires succeeded ill and reâ—uâ—nâ—ng into England repaires his Nauâ—e But striuing afterwards in vaine to besiege Bourdeaux with new forces hee goes and dyes at Bayonne then belonging to the English 1296. Thus all things succeeding ill for the English hee seekes all meanes to fortifie himselfe He flies to the Emperour Adolphe the chiefe instrument of his hope and sends him money to leuâ—e an armie To Pope Bâ—niface the eight beseeching him to remeâ—ber the priuate bond he had to the preseruation of England whereof he was protector Guy Earle of Flanders ioynes openly with the English in this societie to make warre against Philip with all his forces But from these light beginnings sprung diuers occasions which â—â—oubled these great Princes The Fleminge is the chiefe aduancer of this Trageâ—â—â— and shall haue his share in it A great assembly of Princes against Philip. He cals a great assemblie in the Cittie of Gramont in the yeare 1296. at the feast of Châ—istmas where Adolph thâ— Emperour Edward King of England the Duke of Austria Iohn Duke of Brabant the Earle of Iuliers William of Iuliers his Sonne Iohn Earle of Holland and of Haynault Robert Earle of Neuers William Henry and Guy of Flanders Ihon Earle of Namur and many other great personages meete and with one coâ—seâ—â— resolue to make warre against Philip. The colour was to maintaine Guy Earle of â—landers vniustly afflicted by Philip who had violently taken and stolne his Daughter against the right of Nations and detained her refusing obstinately to restore her to her Father It was decreed that Guy should begin by force and bee well secoâ—ded by the Emperour and the English in case of necessitie But before they come to Armes Pope Boniface should make the first point by the luster of his authoritie All things threatned Philip with much trouble but the end will shew that the attempts of man are all but vaine Boniface according to the intent of their league sends his Nuncio to Philip Popâ— Boniface eâ—enâ—y to Pâ—ilip which was Iames Bishop of Metz to exhort him to doe Iustice both to the Earle of Flanders and to the King of England protesting that hee desired nothing more then peace betwixt Christian Princes Hee sent the same Nuncio vpon the same subiect into England but with an other intent then hee made shâ—w of vnto Philip casting Wood and Oyle into this fire in steed of Water to quench it But for that this Pope must appeare in many acts of this Theater wee must obserue his disposition by some sufficient and not suspected testimonie Platina the â—opes Secretarie Being saith hee a Priest Cardinall of Saint Martin of the Mount Platina i◠〈…〉 hee affected the Pontificall dignitie with such vehemencie as hee omitted neither ambition nor fraude to compasse it and moreouer hee was puft vp with such arrogancie â—s â—ee
Daughters whose names are buried in the confusion of times troubled by the pâ—etences of Males and Females and his wife with Child as wee haue sayd A wombe which shall breed many long and perilous controuersies Charles dyed in the yeare 1328. leauing the Crowne to the second royall branche of Capets wherevnto the order of the fundamentall law did lawfully call them THE SECOND PARCELL OF THE THIRD RACE OF CAPETS CONTAINING THIRTEENE KINGS in the second royall branche called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third THE NAMES OF THIRTEENE Kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip of Valois Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewes the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Francis the first Henry the 2. Francis the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. the last of this royall branche From the yeare a thousand three hundred twentie eight vnto the yeare a thousand fiue hundred eightie eight PHILIP of VALOIS the 50. King of France PHILLIP KING OF FRANCE L. THe doubtfulnesse of the issue which was expected from the royall wombe of Iane 1328. widow to Charles the faire held the beginning of this raigne in great suspence and perplexitie Controuersie for the realme betwixt Edward the 3. King of England Pâ—iâ—iâ— of Valois euen for the regencie it selfe for Edward the 3. King of England the sonne of Edward the 2. and of Isabell of France the daughter of Philip the faire and sister to the three Kings last deceased pretended it as his right and in case the child died whatsoeuer it were the realme also by the title of royall consanguinitie according to the lawes of England 〈◊〉 Philip of Valois the first Prince of the bloud of France maintained that 〈…〉 of the male if any were borne as the realme if it were a daughter oâ— the sonne died belonged directly vnto him without all controuersie holding the first 〈…〉 among the Princes of the bloud after the decease of the three brethren who had bin 〈…〉 aâ—ter another For Philip the hardie had left two sonnes Philip the faire and 〈◊〉 Earle of Valâ—iâ—â— of whom it is said That he was the sonne of a King brother to a King 〈…〉 father to a King and yet no King 〈◊〉 Philip and Charles had succeeded to the Crowne one after another so as after 〈…〉 the right came to Charles and his children according to the fundamentall law oâ— State To decide this controuersie the generall Estates were called at Paris Philip of Valoâ—â— preferâ—ed to the â—â—owne with great solemâ—iâ—â—e where they decree That Philip of Valois should be Regent of the realme if Queene 〈◊〉 had a sonne and King if it were a daughter 〈◊〉 was delâ—uered of a daughter the first of Aprill at Bois de Vincennes the which was caâ—â—ed Blanche This quaâ—rell thus decided Philip installed King Philip of Valois was saluted and proclaimed King of France and within few daies after was annointed and crowned at Rheims accordiâ—â— to the vsuall custome And â—hen being well accompanied with his Princes Peeres Officers and an infinite number of his nobility he made his entry into his chiefe Citty of Paris with an incredible ioy and pompe this was in the yeare .1328 Being thus in possession of the Realme he studied to settle his estate much disordered by the ill gouernement of the forepassed Kings 〈◊〉 settles his 〈…〉 France and likewise to satisfie the daughter of Lewis Hutin in regard of the Counties of Brye and Champâ—gne lying too neere to his good Citty of Paris to be diuided from the crowne So he treated with her and held them by his prerogatiue giuing vnto her as much in exchange as the said Earledomes were worth lying farther off in the counties of la March Rouergue and Languedoc But Flanders troubled him much more the Earle and his subiects were greatly incensed one against an other by reason of some exactions of money made by the Earle for the payment of his old debtes due by the accord so as they made warre against their Earle and tooke him prisoner Beeing the stronger they controlled their Lord but soone after they payde for their folly for the Earle being deliuered had recourse vnto Philip as to their soueraigne Philip takes the Earles cause in hand He suppresseth the Flemings rayseth a great armie against the Flemings takes sacks and burnes Cassel where they had made the body of their army after the defeate of two and twenty thousand Flemings in a pitched field Hauing subdued this mutinous people hee aduised the Earle to vse that aduantage modestly to win theÌ„ by mildenes not to thrust them into errors by despight or dispaire the which are sooner preuented then repayred in popular tumults Beeing returned from this voyage Philip found newe worke at Paris The Courts of Parlement and all the Soueraigne Iudges assembled from all the Prouinces made a general complaint against the Clergy of France A notable sute of the Patlements against the cleargie they accuse them ofsundry abuses namely that against the due of their charges they intermedled with the politike iurisdiction The sute was vehement famous for the greatnes of the parties The King to reconcile this quarrel calles a general assembly of his whole realme at Paris The cause was pleaded before him with great liberty by Peter of Cugnere this is he who by derision they called M. Peter Cugnet whoÌ„ at this day they finde in the great Temple at Paris noted with a little Monkeys head placed betwixt two pillers to put out the candles being odious by reason of his pleading and as coldly defended by Peter Bertrand both famous Aduocates in those times The issue was doubtfull but Philip foreseeing the euent of so important a busines after that he had seriously exhorted the Prelates to reforme themselues in reforming the abuse to auoide these popular complaints he referred the matter to a further hearing But he had other worke in hand Edward the 3. King of England for that he was not receiued King of France practised great and new desseines against him studying onely vpon reuenge He had purposely refused to assist at his coronation makes no shew of any intent to do homage for Guienne whereunto Philip did cal him Edward hauing no colour to refuse so apparent a duty came to 〈◊〉 with so great and extraordinary a traine as it seemed plainly not to be done to honour the king but rather to strike some feare or admiration into the French of his great forces To check this bold brauâ—do Philip shewed himself a King at his first enteruew with Edward who euen then champt vppon the bit and smothered his choler Edward appeares at the place and time prefixt royallie attired with a long roabe of crimson veluet pouldred with Leopardes of gold a crowne vpon his head a sword by his side and golden spurres on his heeles He presents himselfe standing before Philip
spirit as he seemed capabâ—e to gouerne this great barke in the most horrible stormes of confusioÌ„ which happened in this Realme during his fathers imprisonment Iohn continued fiue yeares a prisoner for he was taken in the yeare 1356 in September and was deliuered in the yeare 1361. in the moneth of May. But let vs describe in order the disorders which chanced in his captiuity As soone as the Daulphin so called vntill he be regent came to Paris he imploies al his wits to procure his Fathers liberty and to maintayne the Kings free authority in the Realme the which was as much restrayned as the Kings person But in this good and coÌ„mendable resolution he found strange difficulties He presently calls a generall assemblie of the Estates at Paris in October following an expedieÌ„t remedy for the greatest affaires of this monarchy profitably practised in the most vrgent causes of our Kings There Charles laieth before them not onely the miserie wherevnto the King his father was brought but also the whole realme in his person he intreats them to giue him councell and assistance in this so great an extremitie The cause spake of it selfe his person was an excellent Orator Moreouer he failed in no point of his dutie for his mournfull countenance expressed his sorrow naturallie and he could well vrge the necessitie of the proofe with so wise modest an eloquence as it would haue moued and dissolued euen the hardest Rockes of the Pyrenean mountaines But the answer which was then made him A 〈◊〉 ill 〈…〉 dangerous 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 and the long continuance of crosses gâ—uen him in so commendable an action shew well what an ill councelled people is and how dangerous it is to let slip the reines of restraint to so furious a beast which growes then most outragious when there is greatest need of mildnesse and modestie Without doubt there had beene many disorders in the former raignes and in this new controuersie for the Crowne Philip had made great breaches But is it now time to complaine of the sick when he lyes at the point of death and to represent vnto him his forepassed errors iâ—â—â—eed of applying fit remedies for his griefe So doe the people being wittie and 〈◊〉 complaine of the errors of their superiours and are more ready to increase the diâ—easâ— by remedies worse then the disease it selfe rather then to cure it The peoples inâ—olencie during K. 〈◊〉 imprisonmeÌ„t as shall appeare by the popular actions during the raigne of King Iohn who from complaints haue exceeded to audacious seditions and in the end to cruell and tragicke massacres not onely to tread vnder-foote but to ouerthrow the lawfull authoritie of this Monarchie The Parliament consisted of all the best citties of the realme but as Paris is the chiefe so hauing among the rest the first degree and greatest meanes it was also the chiefe in credit So as when order is well obserued it brings the greatest benefit to this estate but when as disorder raignes the greatest confusion comes from thence Paris the chiefe 〈◊〉 of France â—yther for good or euill The Church holds the first ranke in Parliament and then the Prouost of Marchants in the cittie of Paris whereas the Vniuersitie had then great credit All parts shall play vpon this Theater eyther for good or euill by strange accidents But let vs returne to our Daulphin After that he had made his proposition the Estates being assembled in one body resolued That to auoide confusion there should be fiftie chosen out of all the Prouinces to determine of things necessary according to the instructions remembrances declared to them Thâ—se fiftie deputies assemble in the Gray-friars where by a common consent they resolue what to say vnto the Daulphin who being intreated to come vnto their assemblie and set to heare some notable offer of assistance conformable to the necessitie of the time Robert le Câ—câ— Bishop of Laon spake thus vnto him in the behalfe of the companie The Deputies of the Parliament make vnreasonable demands vâ—to the Daulphin That the assembly beseeched him to sweaâ—e to keepe secret what should be deliuered vnto him by the â—states This young Prince being nothing amazed in this perplexitie answers them presently with a resolution That he should greatly forget the degree he held in the State in receiuing a law from his fathers subiects And therefore he did command them by the naturall authoritie he had ouer them to speake freely what their hearts conceiued Then the Bishop in all their names made knowne vnto him the ill gouerment of the treasure demanding râ—â—â—â—mation thereof with a commission to call the receiuers to an accoumpt that all such as had managed the kings money should be displaced that hereafter both the treasure and the affaires of State should be gouerned by 4. Prelats 12. Bouâ—gesses aâ—oâ—gst the which the cittie of Paris should haue the first degree credit and that without this councell the Daulphin should attempt nothing And for the conclusion of all their demands they require him most instantly to set the King of Nauarre at libertie And vpoÌ„ this condition they promise the Daulphin aide succour for his fathers deliuery The Daulphin noting plainely both the intention of this ill aduised people and that it was now out of season to take exception at the violence of these popular furies demands respite to giue them an answer the next day passeth in this sort without answer to the deputies who intreate him to resolue He makes his excuse vpon the importancie of the affaires and demands a new day to consider thereof And as they pressed him dayly to make his answer so he still prolonged the time by many subtill delaies grounded vpon sundry excuses of purpose to disperse them and to dissolue their councels the which he sees was practised by his enemies 1357. And hauing caused the deputies to attend many daâ—es this plot so hotlie pursued grew colde and tired with tediousnesse they returne home to their houses without any other frute then great sâ—ewes leauing the King languishing in prison and the realme in pittifull disorder But they parted not without leauing the chiefe leuaine of their intended mischiefe at Paris and too many hands to worke in this masse of confusion to the great preiudice of France An ill aduised people hath this humor To complaine still of the present estate and to seeke the future with hope of better The Parisiens who had seized vpon authoritie more caâ—efull for the deliuerie of the King of Nauarre then of their lawfull king summon the Daulphin to set the Nauarrois at liberty according to the decree of the Estates and taking his delaies for a deniall they practise with Iohn of Piqueny gouernour of the countrie of Aâ—thoâ—â— to whom K. Iohn going to the vnfortunate battaile of Poitiers had giuen it in keeping to deliuer him out of the Castell of Alleux in Cambressis where he had remained
who was yet liuing The Inhabitants of Gand a mutinous people by nature who neuer want matter to mutine Troubles in Flanders pacified by Pâ—ilip had then a great discontent both against their Earle in generall by reason of some new impositions and against them of Bruges in particular iealous to see them in so great fauour with their Prince by reason of a Chanell which they had drawne from the riuer of Lis for the commodity of their country which Riuer crossing the riuer of Gand the Gantois supposed it was all theirs in proper so as none might vse it without their liking This iealousie grew so great that this great citty as big with their wayward and contenâ—ious humors as it was populous and rich being thus moued resolues to make shewe thereof and in this fury they make a League and choose a head bearing a marke or token of their faction and from words they go to blowes One called Leon a bold practiser of popular seditions was found fit to be the Ringleader of this tumult their marke was a white cap for all the troupe These Gaâ—tois gather together they hinder the worke of this chanell and the gathering of the custome beeing the cause of this quarrell they kill Collecters and receiuers and in the ende the gouernour of the cittie called Roger who being there for the Earle laboured to teach them their duties Their fury exceeded so farre as they spoyle the Earles Pallace fire it and in their rage pull it downe to the ground They run in great troupes to other townes to draw them to their league They beseege 〈◊〉 held by the Earles men crying in al places Liberty as hauing a meaning to change their Lord and then to seize vpon Flanders This cruell disorder amazed the Earle when as behold Philip Duke of Bourgogne his sonne in law flies vnto him to quench this fire and as men admire rather the Sunne rysing then sitting and that the name of the house of France and the greatnesse of his goodly portion gaue him great authority so it chanced that he pacified this rebellion to the content both of the Earle and cittyes taking a happy possession of this great inheritance by a famous and profitable occasion But Flanders alone was not subiect to these madde mutinies for those of Montpellier newly reduced to the obedience of our King Sedition at Montpelâ—ier grew into so great a fury as they slew Iames Pontel a Knight of the order and Chancellor to Iohn Duke of Berry Gouernour of the Country Guy of Scery Senâ—shal of Rouergue Arnauld of Montelaur Gouernour of the said citty and other officers of the Kings and Dukes to the number of fower score and cast their bodies into a well As the outrage was odious so the punishment was memorable The Duke of Berry comes with forces assisted by the whole Prouince detesting so â—oule an insolency so as the Inhabitants calling to minde their audacious phrensie resolue to submit themselues to punishment and not to stand desperately against force The Consuls of the Cittie hauing halters about their necks and torne cloaths The Duke of Berry comes to Montpellier to punish the seditions the keys of the citty in one hand and a red cap the marke of their office in the other met with the Duke their gouernour being followed by the Clergy carrying a crosse all crying for mercy and weeping with a lamentable noyse In this mournefull sort the Duke enters the citty gates being without any gard he finds the streets full of poore and desolate people vpon their knees men and women olde and yong crying for mercy and redoubling their pittiful cries as witnesses of their repentance Then the Duke commands they should presently bring all their armes into one place nere vnto his lodging placing a gard at the gates and vppon the walles The next day he caused a scaffold to be made in the market place where hauing sharply rebuked the people for their rebellion he pronounced a sentence in the Kings name whereby he declares That all their priuileges were taken from them their Consulship Towne house The sentence pronounced against them of Montpellier common Arches vniuersity their Bells Saltpannes and all Iurisdictions of the cittye eyther of soueraigne courts or of the commonalty six hundred Inhabitants to be chosen at aduenture condemned to die that is two hundred to loose their heads two hundred to be hanged two hundred burnt their children declared infamous and slaues for euer their goods confiscate The commonalty should pay six score thousand franks of gold and the charges of the Dukes voyage and his armies The Consuls with certaine Councellers that were named should drawe the bodies of such as had beene massacred out of the well and bury them A Chappell should be built for their obsequies With the same Bell which did sound the alarum The gates and citty walles should be beaten downe and their armes burnt publikely This was their doome but it was moderated at the intercession of Pope Clement The sentence moderated then resident in Auignon by the meanes of Cardinall de la Lune The same was qualified the priuileges restored the gates and walles preserued but the Aurhors of this sedition were put to death that the rest of the Inhabitants might liue in safety A notable president for subiects to suppresse their fury euen when they thinke to haue a iust cause of complaint feeling themselues surcharged or otherwise grieued considering the errours are sooner committed then repaired And for commanders that it is a dangerous resolution to let loose the raines to a mad multitude which augments the mischiefe supposing to cure it Queene Ioane wife to our wise Charles daughter to Peter of Bourbon dies about this time Queene Ioane dies to the great griefe of her husband to whom she left two sonnes Charles Lewis both very yong for Charles was borne the 3. of December 1371. and was carried to the Font by Charles of Montmorency and baptised by Dourmans Bishop of Beauuois and Chancellour of France Lewis was Duke of Orleans She leâ—t him also one daughter Isabell marryed afterwards to Richard King of England Necessary obseruations for the course of our history Her children This good Prince after his wiues death was nothing healthfull so as broken with poyson the which had much weakened him with the tedious toiles of his youth more then with age he decayed dayly and he himselfe perceiued it so as feeling the ende of his life to approach remembring what troubles he had past during the mournefull imprisonment of his Father by the contempt vsed of his yong age least the like should happen to his sonne Charles vnder colour of his minority gouerned by tutors he decreed in a general assemblie of the States by a lawe and an irreuocable Edict That after the decease of the king of France his eldest sonne should succeed him presently and at the age of 14. yeares should be
perplexed there fell out a fauourable occasion to raise him vp againe The Queene being much discontented with him incenseth the Daulphin This young Prince had some of his houshold seruants from the Bourguignon she vsing the authority of a mother The Queene discontents the Daulpin so as he writes to the Bourguignon takes them from him and puts them in prison the reason was for that she feared these men were of the Bourguignons faction The Daulphin takes this as an affront and writes to his father-in-law to assist him The Bourguignon imbracing this vnexpected occasion calls a newe assemblie of his subiects and shewes them these letters And making his profit thereof he giues them to vnderstand how needefull it was to leauy an armye to free the King and Daulphin whom the Orlean faction held in captiuâ—ty and vppon this cause he writes to all the Citties of the Realme intreating them to assist him in so good a worke He abuseth the Daulphins letters and worthy of good subiects to their Prince Hereupon he leauies an armie and goes to field making a publike declaration That he takes armes to set the King and Daulphin at liberty and is followed by many French so as his armie increaseth daily Hauing passed the riuer of Some he enters into Compiegne doth summon Senlis to send him the keyes of their gates as maâ—ching for the Kings seâ—uice but a countermand comes from the Daulphin which doth frustrate his desseine The Daulphin wonne by the Orleanois protesteth that he had neuer written these letters The Daulphin disauowes the Bourguignon and disauowes the Bourguignon He writes letters vnto him of a contrarye tenour requesting him to forbeare to torment the people vppon so vniust a cause protesting that he was not onely in â—ull liberty but doth also inioy his authority 1415. by vertue whereof hee commands him to dismisse his troupes and to leaue Francâ— in quiet The Bourguignon goes on his course meaning to enter Paris and to stirre the people to a newe â—edition and so hee marcheth with his troupes neere to the city He is 〈…〉 and stayes at S. Denis but his proiect had no successe The Daulphin assures the Cittye walles and the peoples harts against him who seekes by all meanes to speake to the King or people approching himselfe neere the citty sending his Heralds with letâ—ers planting his colours neere the gate and in the ende conuaies a staffe with letters â—o it but all this would not preuaile The King doubles the battery of his Edicts against him as guilty of high Treason 〈◊〉 guilty or 〈◊〉 treason and a disturber of the publike peace commanding all men that were in his armye to leaue him vpon paine of confiscation Hereat the greatest part of his troupes flie away yea his Flemings abandon him who had alwayes protested vnto him in all his assemblies neuer to carry armes against the King nor Daulphin In the ende the King and Daulphin accompanied with the Princes of his bloâ—d maâ—ch with a goodly armie they besiege Compiegne where the Bourguignon had left a garrison and takes it by composition from thence they march to Soissons a Towne of greater strength hauing taken it by force and Enguerand of Bournonuille his right hand in it The king mâ—rcâ—eâ—h with an 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 he leaues the towne in peace and cuts off Bournonuilles head at Paris with many of his companions to the peoples great content glad of this new bloud and in the ende he passeth to Arras the which he beseegeth with his victorious armie The Bourguignon amazed at these vnexpected euents demaunds peace of Charles obtaines it with much intreatie by the meanes of the Countesse of Hâ—inault his sister and the Duke of Brabant hir brother It is called the peace of Arras beeing made at that siege This was grieuous to the Dukes of Orleans and Berry who said He sues for peace that both the King and Daulphin had promised them not to laye downe armes before they had vtterly ruined the house of Bourgongne But God wiser then they would vnite all the French to oppose themselues with a common consent against the English their common enemie and will soone shewe that it is a meere vanity for mortall men to nourish immortall hatred against their enimies to satisfie their insatiable reuenge We haue said that Henry the 5. King of England watcht all oportunities to feede the confusions of this miserable raigne and to that end he did sometimes succour the Bourguignon sometimes the Orleanois still supporting the weaker And knowing well the Duke of Bourgongnes humor seeing the Daulphin incensed against him he leauies a goodly army to make a benefit of these diuisions The euent fauoured his desire but not his proiect for meaning to assist the Bourguignon hee findes that he had made his peace with ouâ— Charles Hauing landed at Harâ—â—eu a sea Towrie seated vpon the Riuer of Sâ—ine he sends his Herald to demaund his daughter Katherine This was a matter farre fetcht Henry the 5. King of 〈…〉 France 〈◊〉 an aâ—mye and demands 〈…〉 Kings daughters and a strange course but this daughter must be the ground of many miseries for this Realme and likewise an occasion to free this Realme absolutely from the English by a strange meanes and as wee may say admirable as the course of our History will shewe Henry takes Harfleu by composition Before he takes possession of this conquest he goes â—ate footed to the Church to giue God thankes He had not his whole armye with him one part attended him at Calais hauing an inrent to ioyne with them so to fortifie his troups With this resolution he lodgeth at Fauille passing through Caux to the county of Eu he comes to Vimeu to passe the riuer at Bâ—anquetacque an inâ—amous place by our losse where the passage beeing surprised he takes his way towards Arianes from thence to â—aillu in Vimeu seeking to passe the bâ—idge at Remie but not able to force it he recouers Hangest vpon Some and so passeth the riuer at Voyâ—nne Bâ—thencourt places ill garded by them of S. Quintin and then he lodgeth at Mouchy la Gaâ—he towardes the riuer of Miramont He had in his army six thousand horse and twenty thousand foote That of King Charles was far greaâ—er of it selfe besides the Burguignons troupes which were drawne togither for another intent then to fight with the English They were in al aboue tweâ—tie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot The numbers of the English and French armye and therefore Henry did shunne the baâ—taile and sought how to saue himselfe through the â—ennes Our accustomed rashnes and wilfull forgetfullnes of two experiences past against the same nation and in the like occurrents made vs to note with blacke and mournful letters that ouerthrow and calamitie Henry demanded passage to returne into England yeelding vp Haâ—fleu and other places conquered in this voiage
the Constables good seruices After this shamefull disgrace hee seekes to couer his fault He exclaimes against the King exclayming first against the King as if hee had beene the cause of this infamous disorder happened at Saint Iames hauing too freely discouered his grieâ—es vnto the King he presumed to take Iohn of Malesâ—roit Chancellor of Brittain prisoner as beeing particularly charged to solicit the payement of such money as was appointed for this Britton army Charles was much offended with this presumption and in despight of the Constable caused Malestroit to bee presently released and sent into Sauoy The Constable was greatly discoÌ„tented with this proceeding the which he tooke as an affront done to his person and resolues to be reuenged So great were the confusions of that age as the seruant durst prescribe a Lawe to his maister and his counsell bandâ—e against him to controll his will Yea the Princes of the bloud so great was the corruption of that wretched age were the chiefe controllers of the Kings actions Then was there nothing more miserable then France who discontented with her King A dangerous waywardnesse to make the King odious or contemptible nourished the ambition of many Kings This iealous ambition did nothing cure the infirmities of our Estate Charles found it lost he could not raise it alone To debase his authority was no meanes to cuâ—e the confusions of the realme And as there is nothing more troublesome then affliction the French nation beeing then extreemely afflicted did nothing amend their condition in casting vpon the King the reproches of their calamities This deptiue themselues of their head wherein consists the whole life of the bodie An vnreasonable discontent The whole body of the State was sicke and this distasted people would haue their head sound A notable circumstance for it is strange that after so many miseries this domesticall confusion had not beene the vâ—ter ruine of the State But let vs returne to our discourse The Constable had great credit with the counsell whome in the beginning the King had greatly countenanced but the priuate practises and the generall discontent of great persons had made him halfe a King to crosse the Mignons whome al men hated Great men hated them as possessing the King the people detested them as managing all things at their pleasure to the preiudice of the common weale There were two Mignons that did greatly vexe them Gyac and Camus of Beaulieu They resolue by a generall consent to dispatch them The Princes with the Lords of Albret and Tremouille who had a great interest in the Sate were of the partie But the Constable must do the execution The matter concluded betwixt them was thus executed Gyac was taken in bed with his wife carried to Dun le â—oy condemned and executed that is he was put into a sacke and cast into the riuer The Kings Mignons slaine by the Councell The Constable performed this office without any other forme of lawe then his bare commande Afterwards Camus borne in Auuergne as hee walked in the Kings lodging was venturously slaine by a soldiar belonging to the Marshall of Boussac Charles vnderstood it and in a manner toucht the bloud of his two domesticall seruants beeing wonderfully discontented but the time which did authorise these confusions caused him to swallowe this pill quietly Tremouille married Gyacs widowe the heire of Lisle Bouchart and entred newly in credit with the King giuing him to vnderstand that all was for his seruice so as there was no more speeche thereof euery man shut both eyes and eares But Tremouille shall haue his turne hee shall leaue some of his haire and hardly saue the moulde of his doubled Thus the affaâ—â—es of Court ebbed and flowed the which raiseth vp one and cast downe an other In this deceytfull manner of life there is nothing certaine but incertentie fauours beeing â—â—uen not by desert but most commonly by a blind appetite which hath no other iudgement but the apprehension of weake heads diuiding the happinesse of a 〈◊〉 life into quarters this day to one and to morrowe to an other A goodly lesson for such as are fauored in Court not to bee transported with vaine hope toyes to deceiue the indiscreete The surest gards of prosperity are Integritie wisdome modesty and patience to remember aduersity in prosperitie according to the precepts of the wise This was the good gouernment of the Constable of Richmont a bolde practiseâ— of these domesticall confusions whilest the Bourguignon plied his businesse Wee haue made mention of the sute of Iaqueline Contesse of Hainault and Holland for Humfry Duke of Glocester her pretended husband against Iohn Duke of Braâ—â—nt her lawfull husband for so had Pope Martin pronounced it in fauour of the Bâ—â—bantin but from lawe they go to armes The Bourguignon supported the 〈◊〉 These Princes hauing prepared their forces begin by writing The 〈◊〉 accuseth the Bourguignon of couetousnesse and trecherie The Bourguignon giues him the lie But from reproches they fall to armes The Bourguignon offers the Glocâ—â—â—â—an to ende the question by combate and by that triall to auoide the effusion of theâ—â— sold aâ—s bloud The Glocestrian accepts it all is prepared for the combate but the Duke of Bâ—â—â—ord interpeseth his authoritie To this ende hee calls the cheefe men of all estats to Paris to quench this fire and by common aduice decrees That that day 〈◊〉 disanulled â—eyther should it bee preiudiciall to eyther partie That is to say 〈◊〉 being well vewed and considered there was no iust cause for eyther to call the other to this wilfull combate from the which they could not depaâ—t althouâ—â— it were accepted without great preiudice to both their honours In the meane time neither the Popes authority nor the Regents decree by the generall aduice of the States could preuaile but all bursts forth into open warre The Bourguignon proued the stronger so as the Glocestrian leauing Iaqueline at Mons posted into England for newe forces but all was in vaine the Bourguignon making his profit of this Princes absence did easily effect his desire hauing no oposite but a woman dishonored for her infamous adulteries Hee failes not to enter Hainault with a stronge army and vseth all force to reduce this people to reason The Country seeing it selfe pressed by the Bourguignons forces neyther hoping for noâ— desiring any succors from England The Duke o◠〈◊〉 leaseth on Iaqueline Countesse of Haâ—â—â—auâ—â— and perswaded that Iaqueline supported a bad cause resolue to obey the stronger Hauing to that effect protested vnto their Lady what they thought fitting for their dutie they seize on her person and deliuer her into the hands of the Duke of Bourgongne Philip receiues her honorably and promiseth her all offices of friendship to comfort her From Mons hee causeth her to bee conducted with a goodly traine to Gand by Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange a braue Noble man The Gantois imploy their
doth command vs to obserue the estate of the Church and Empire hauing past it ouer in silence since the yeare 1364. towards the end of the raigne of Charles the 5. Doubtlesse we were sufficiently troubled with our owne confusions vnder the miserable raigne of Charles the 6. imbarking our selues in forraine stormes We are therefore briefely to note according to our stile what hath happened since about fiftie nine yeares in these two great bodies We haue left the Empire in the hands of Charles the fourth an excellent Prince but exceeding more in lawe and valour then in iustice and vertue yet hee vsed the councell of Barthol The estate of the Empire an excellent Lawyer hauing gouerned the publike affaires of Germanie and Italie twenty and sixe yeares amidest many confusions and in the end he purchased the Empire with the preiudice of the Empire His Sonne Wenceslaus whom he had caused to bee crowned King of Hungarie and Bohemia at the age of two yeares The dispositi of the Emperour VVencelsaus hauing bought the Empire for him hee caused him to bee installed and liued two yeares after dying in the yeare 1378. hauing left a wretched successor of so great and royall a dignitie deformed in minde and body a foole idle voluptuous and a coward hauing no othet care but to wallow in the most infamous filthinesse and sinnes of dronkennesse and whoredome nor other minde but to doe euill and mischiefe as malitious and cruell as without valour and vertue So contemning his affaires and businesse he grew contemptible in hating of his subiects he grew so hatefull as in the end the Germaines and Hongariens being wearie of such a scorne take him prisoner and at last after a painfull and shamefull patience they hauing suffered him 22. yeares and a huge masse of diuerse and sundrie confusions which grew by his ill and wicked gouernment they depriue him of the Imperiall dignitie by a common consent And yet to shew they bare no malice to the house from whence he was descended He is degraded by the Germanes they choose in his place Iosse Marquis of Brandebourg and of Bauiere the Sonne of Iohn Henry brother to Charles the fourth and so Cousine germaine to Wenceslaus who liued in that State but sixe moneths and had nothing of the Empire but that hee was buried with the Imperiall ornaments of that country Then Ruperte Cont Palatine Duke of Bauiere and first Elector was chosen Emperour after many controuersies and dissentions a man of small stature but of great iudgement vertuous valiant and louing the common-weale Hee laboured and tooke great paines to redresse the confusions of Italie then exceedingly disordred through the quarrells of Galeaz Duke of Milan the Venetiens Florentines French and Arragonois vpon diuers and sundry occasions but finding that whatsoeuer he could doe he lost his labour euen by the disloyaltie of such as imployed him hee suffered them to ruine and spoile one another and retired himselfe home where after he had happily gouerned the Empire ten yeares he dyed in the yeare of ouâ— Lord 1410. Sigismond King of Hongarie and Bohemia a Prince of happy memorie succeeded Rupert by the generall consent of all the Germaines who loued and honoured his vertues and although hee fought against the Turke with ill successe when as he borrowed forces of Charles the sixt as I haue saied yet his losses did nothing blemish his reputation nor his vertues whereof he gaue great proofe in the gouernment of the Empire But that which troubled him most was the estate of the Church The estate of the Church then plunged in Tragicall confusions bred by the long and scandalous Schisme which dismembred it by peece-meales through the dissention and controuersies of sundrie Popes which were chosen in diuers places and that diuerslie at one instant Order commands vs now to represent it as carefully as the subiect is of importance I tremble to rippe vp these shamefull and detestable wounds I will endeauour to represent it plainely and sincerely following the steppes of Platina Naâ—cler and Thierry of Niem who hauing remained in the Court of Rome Secretarie to diuers Popes A horrible Schisme one after another and managed the affaires from the beginning of the Schisme neere vnto the end ought to be held for an vnreproueable witnesse in that which he hath seene This Schisme continued fiftie yeares it banded all the Christians of Europe diuided Kings and Princes nourished their diuisions bredde and brought forth horrible scandales toucht the hearts opened the mouthes and dispensed with their hands to a newe faction reserued to our latter age Six Popes seated in Rome one after an other had euery one his opposite in Auignon with the same name or title and in the profession of the same authoritie Three Popes at one instant in three seuerall places Foure Councells were called to remedie these confusions beeing generally detested of all men both great and small seeing the Popes who had so long contended with the Emperours vntill they had chased them out of Italie contend nowe among themselues and this was the cause of the Schisme Wee haue sayed The cause of this Schisme that the vnfortunate successe of the voluntarie quarrell mooued by Boniface the 8. against King Philip the faire ministred occasion to transport the Pontificall sea from Rome to Auignon where hauing beene vsually resident 74. yeares and the Popes chosen out of the French nation Gregorie the x. a Limosin grewe desirous to go to Rome and to transport his Colledge thether consisting for the most part of French Cardinalls After his death beeing to choose a newe Pope the Clergie and people of Rome beeing vnited protest vnto the Colledge that they will haue a Romaine or an Italien and no French man If they do it not willingly they threaten force The French are the stronger in the Conclaue beeing thirteene against foure But what could they do against the mutinie of a multitude armed with furie To coniure this storme the French and Italien Cardinalls agree to name an Italien Pope with whome the Pontificall dignity should bee left in gard vntill they might choose one by a free election of the whole Colledge They all consent to choose Bartholomewe of Naples Archebishop of Bary in Apulia esteemed a learned man graue and modest The reputation of his vertues made them proceede to confirme him in the election so as all by a generall consent especially Peter de la Lune and the Cardinall of Saint Agreue in Viuarez crowne and adore him for a finall conclusion of his Popedome assuring themselues that hee would continue vertuous as he had afouretime begun vertuously But honors change manners Two dayes were scarce past after this sollemne reception but this Bartholomewe The Pope changeth his manners and discontents the Cardinals who shall nowe be Vrban the 6. in changing his degree and name did also change his humors and manner of life Hee which was accustomed to
thousand Ducats to enter Bourgongne at the same instant with three thousand horse and eight thousand and foote Germaines and Suissâ—s promising the Suisses a certaine summe of money to ioyne their forces with Maximilian being content they should reteâ—ne a part of Bourgongne vntill they were fully satisfied According to this agreement the English enters the marches of Picardie camps before Therouenne with fiue thousand horse of combate and aboue fortie thousand foote But the English forces did not molest France at land only the Admirall of England ran along the coasts of Normandie and Brittanie And the King to resist their incursions caused foure Gallies to passe the straight of Gibralâ—ar vnder the charge of Captaine Pregent At the first incounter the Admirall chased Pregent into Brest Here Pregent turnes his force fights with the Admirall and hurts him whereof he died within few daies after After that foure score English ships and twenty Normands and Brittons ships fought with equall forces ours hauing the winde But in the end Primauguet a Britton Captaine of the Nunne which Queene Anne had caused to be built beset by ten or twelue English ships and resolute to sell his death dearly grapled with the Regent the chiefe ship of the enemies fleete and fiering it burnt both the one and the other with all that was in them Therouenne was defâ—nded by two hundred and fiftie Lances and two thousand foot whilest the King prepared two thousand fiue hundred Launces ten thousand Lansquenets led by the Duke of Gueldres sixe thousand others Thâ—rouâ—â—â—e beâ—eeged which the Duke of Norfolke brought being fled long before out of England and tenne thousand French to succour the beseeged who in the meane time molested the enemie day and night with their artillerie with the which the great Chamberlaine of England was slaine and Talbot Captaine of Calis lost a legge The troupes assembled the King sent them to Aire vnder the comand of Lewis of Longueuille Marquis of Rotelin Captaine of the hundred gentlemen of his houshold Victuals grew scant in Therouenne when as the Lord of Pieâ—es gouernour of Picardie and the French Captaines chose out the most resolute of all their troupes and gaue them charge to carrie victuals to the Towne And for that their enterprise had happily succeeded retyring too confidently and reproching the enemie of couardise hauing no intelligence of their intent the English hauing sent their horse and fifteâ—ne thousand foote to cut off our mens passage who did ride on their nagges disarmed they charge them vnawares being readie to wade through a riuer that passeth at Huchin they kill about three hundred and take many prisoners amongst others the Marquis of Rotelin Bayard la Payete Clermont of Aniou and Bussy of Amboise all the rest casting away their Launces and trusting to their heeles and horses saued themselues by flight And therfore they call it the battaile of spurres which caused the yeelding of Therouenne the which was dismantled The incounâ—â— of 〈◊〉 to take away all cause of discord betwixt the Archduke Charles who by ancient right pretended it and the English who challenged it as conquered from the enemie by the sword From Therouenne Henry went to campe before Tournay following in this resolution not so much the actions of a good Commander in the warre seeing the taking of this place lying within the low Countries brought him small profit as the perswasions of Maximilian hoping that this Towne pulled from the French might in time returne to the obedience of his grandchild Charles to whome they pretended it appertained Tournay taken Tournay vnfurnished of men of warre and dispayring of succours for that the King not being maister of the field nor of sufficient force to incounter the English could not succour it saued her selfe from spoyle paying a hundred thousand Crownes To crosse the English at home The Scots defeated the King had stirred vp Iames King of Scotland an ancient allie to this Crowne but the chaunce of armes was nothing fortunate for him neither at land nor at sea for ioyning with the English armie where Queene Catherine was present he was vanquished vpon Til and slaine with aboue twelue thousand Scots After these victories the end of October approching Henry left a great garrison in Tournai The English retire dismissed his strangers and toke his way towards England carrying no other recompence for so great and sumptuous a preparation for warre but the Cittie of Tournay But some desseins vpon Scotland fallen into a pupils hands hastned him home An other storme threatned France The Suisses armed according to the former conuentions the King sends Tremouille vnto them to disperse them vnder whome many of the Colonels had receiued the Kings pay But neither by presents not promises preuailed he any thing onely he had a secret intelligence giuen him from some Captains to prouide for the defence of his gouernment of Bourgongne whether the Pope the Emperour Sforee did thrust them And behold foureteene or fifteene thousand Suisses with the troupes of the French Countie a thousand horse The 〈◊〉 enter into Boâ—â—goâ—ne and the artillerie which the Emperour gaue them vnder the conduct of Vlric Duke of Wirtemberg camped before Dijon Tremouille was returned with a thousand Launces and six thousand foot who by his practises had greatly altered the Colonels when as the multitude doubting the faith of their Captaines takes the artillerie and batters the wall Tremouille not able to resist the force of this nation which increased daily flies to the last remedy and without expecting any authoritie from his Maiestie agrees with them That the King should renounce the rights he had to the Duchy of Milan should pay them 400000 crownes within a time prefixt which they preteÌ„ded was due for their seruices in the former wars and for assurance therof he gaue for hostages his nephew of Mezieres Bailife of Dijon and foure bourgesses of the said towne who sauing themselues awhile after in Germanie escaped the threats of this people to cut off their heads if the King did not ratifie it Doubtlesse these were wise men to saue their heads from the Suisses choler A very preiudiciall accord for the King if he had beene constrayned to ratifie it But was it not better to lull the Suisses asleepe then to loose Dijon Our Lewis is now freed off two incombrances the English and the Suisses But the exemption of present dangers freed him not from a relaps for the English departing threatned to returne in the spring and prepared alreadie being loth to stay any more so long at the warre The Emperour had the like intent to annoy him The Catholike King deuised as was discouered by a letter written to his Ambassadour resident with Maximilian the meanes to draw this Duchie of Milan to Ferdinand their comon granchild yonger brother to Charles the Archduke shewing that by that meanes all the other estates of Italie should bee forced to take their law
inducing the people to beleeue confidently that by the purchase of these pardons they must needes be saued as if the vertue of these money-pardons could wipe away any sinne and the money put into the coffers of the Church or of the Commissioners could drawe mens soules out off purgatory and send them into Paradice And therevpon he exhorts euery man to beleeue soberberly and to gouerne himselfe wisely in this busines and rather to imploy their money otherwise then in this friuolous marchandise The people giue eare vnto him finde his doctrine plausible and Frederic Duke of Saxony his Prince doth embrace it Luther supported by the fauour of his Prince and the people proceedes he publisheth propositions wherein he doth dispute at large Of purgatory of true repentance of the office and duety of Charity of indulgences and Pardons to seeke out said he the trueth calling all such to dispute as would propound any argument to the contrary He intreated all such as could not assist to answer by writing protesting that he would not maintaine any thing but submit himselfe to the censure of the holy Church yet reiecting all things that should not be conformable to the holy Scripture and the decrees of the fathers In the end he incounters the Popes authority the Images of the Church the celibate of religious persons restrayning the Popes authoritye within the limits of the Bishopprick of Rome and publishing the doctrine which hath caused the Generall schisme vnto this day The Pope to quench this fire cites Luther to Rome forbids him to preach declares him contumax if hee do not obey and submit himselfe to the Ecclesiasticall censure Notwithstanding the Originall saith he did not reforme many things that were of bad example which Luther did blame with reason being very odious to all men vsing his pontificall office with small reuerence But this was to cast oyle into the fire These Ecclesiasticall armes did but increase Luthers reputation with the people Neither the religious men which Leo sent to preach against him nor the letters which he did write to the Princes and Prelats nor all the other meanes he imployed to suppresse him could any thing withdraw the peoples inclination nor the fauour of Frederic from him This action seeming still of greater importance to the Court of Rome made them to feare some great disgrace to the Popes greatnesse to the profit of the Court of Rome and the vnion of Christian Religion Many assemblies were made at Rome many consultations in the Popes chamber betwixt the Cardinalls and Diuines appointed to preuent these inconueniences Some did shew that for as much as they did not correct in themselues so many vices and damnable things which did scandalise all Christendome the persecution of Luther would but augment the hatred of nations against him giuing Councell like vnto that of Gamaliel in the fift of the Acts of the Apostles that it had beene better to haue wincked at such a folly which happily would haue vanished of it selfe Notwithstanding the heate and violence of others preuailed so as not onelie the persecuions were doubled against him and his followers who by his name were called Lutherans but an excommunication was decreed against Frederick Duke of Saxony the which did so incense him as of a fauourer hee became a vehement protector of the cause the which since hath beene dispersed ouer all Christendome so as neither prisons nor banishment fire nor water sword nor tortures nor any other punishments could preuaile against it Without doubt wee haue learned by experience that religion is not planted nor rooted out by violent meanes The altars of pietie are enemies to armes drums and trumpets Mens consciences must bee gently intreated not violently forced Let vs attend this so desired re-union from heauen The mediation of the mâ—st Christian King is necessary let vs hope that the continuance of a holy peace wiâ—l giue him the meanes as hee hath a desire to chose men capable thereof who not regarding their priuate interest will seeke the aduancement of Gods glorie But let vs returne to our history Whilest that Charles the fift was crowned at Aix the people of Spaine foreseeing Troubles in Spaine that by the meanes of his aduancement to the Empire he should remaine for the most part out of Spaine being also incensed against the Lord of Chieures and some Flemings which had gouerned Charles in his youth through whose couetousnesse offices graces priuileges and expeditions which had beene vsually giuen to Spaniards were now deerely sold vnto them they rebelled refusing to obey the Kings officers They erected a forme of popular gouernment with the aduice almost of all Spaine whilest the Nobilitie sought by force to suppresse this popular libertie The King by the Popes Counsell who makes his profit of Chistian Princes quarrels that he might haue peace whilest they are at war seeing that the Emperour being often vrged did in no sort performe the articles of the treatie of Noyon sent an armie into Nauarre vnder the commaund of Esparre brother to Lautrec Nauarre recouered who in lesse then fifteene dayes reduced Nauarre to the obedience of Henry of Albret their lawfull King This was enough for Esparre It had beene better to returne a victor triumphing with glory and honour then to follow the aduice of too violent a Councellor Saint Colombe Lieutenant of Lautrecs company promising to him selfe it may be the conquest of Spaine as easily as that of Nauarre or fed with a hope to make some good bootie carried Esparre euen to the frontiers of Catalogne who hauing taken Fontarabie did runne as farre as the Grongne The Spaniards being incensed the Nobilitie against the people had endured the losse of the kingdome of Nauarre but seeing them to inuade their owne marches they put in practise the by-word of the dogs who fighting togither laied aside their quarrell to fall vppon the wolfe their common enemie So these being at great discord amongst them selues gaue ouer their intestine quarrels to pursue their generall professed enemies The Nobles and Commons ioyne their forces they incounter Esparre who to saue the souldiars pay had dismissed some part of his armie giuing leaue to all that would in yeelding halfe a pay they charge him defeate him and take him prisoner being hurt in the eye with a Launce whereof hee was blinded The Lord of Tournon was likewise taken with many other good men So the Spaniards finding Nauarre vnfurnished of souldiars Taken again recouered Pampelune with as great faciâ—â—ie as the French had conquered it The first breeder of the horrible confusions which shall follow But let vs see an other motiue of warâ—e betwixt these two Monarchs which rising from a small fire shall flame ouer all this Realme and many other estates The Prince of Simay of the house of Croy had before time obteined a sentence against the Lord of Aimeries giuen by the Peers of the Duchie of Bâ—uillon which iudge souerainly for the Towne
sayd Philibert But the Kings deputies not able to drawe any reason from Charles Vncle to his Maiestie he must seeke that by force which he could not get by a friendly and amiable composition The Kings first stratagem was to bring a part of Rence de Ceres company into Geneua to succour them against Charles who besieged it The second was to stirre vp the Bernois allyes and neighbours to Geneua who taking the Towne into their protection went to field with tenne or twelue thousand men made the Duke retire 1535. spoiled him of a good part of the lands that were vnder his obedience chased away the Bishop of Lauzanna and ioyning it to their Iurisdiction they remaine still in possession thereof The Emperour returned then from his victorie of Tunis against Barberousse and seeming dâ—sirous to make a more stricter League with the King hee offred him a pension of a hundred thousand Crownes a yeare out of the Duchie of Milan for any one of his Children whome hee should name hee treated the marriages of the Daulphin with the Infant of Portugall Daughter to Queene Eleonor and of the Duke of Angoulesme with such a one as the King should well like of it seemed that he ment the Infant of Spaine to the ende that by these newe bonds of coniunction tying their friendshippes more firmely they might ioyntly participate sayd hee in the honour and profit of the mightie conquests which they should make vpon Grece All this was but cunning The Emperour was tired and his forces were â—asâ—ed by the toyles of warre and the great heat they had endured And the King being readie with a fresh and mighty armie The Emperours dissimulation threatned the Duchies of Sauoy and Milan he must therefore busie him with some baâ—te and at the least stay the exploits of his forces The death of Francis Sfoâ—ce presents a newe occasion By this death the Emperour pretends to bee freed of that bloud The death of Francis Sforce and that he might dispose of this Duchie at his pleasure The captaines promise to hold their places of the Emperour The Emperour giues hope not onely to dispose of the sayd Duchie to the Kings liking but also to conclude of a generall warre against the Turke in the which he offâ—ed to impart with the King the good or euill that should growe thereby and of the faith aâ—d reunion of the Church namely for the reducing of Germanie and England to the generall beleefe of Christians and of a generall peace in Christendome In the meane time he prepared for waâ—re hee caused Cont Nassau to make a great Leuie in Germanie and called backe Ferdinand Gonsague into Italie with his Spaniards which remained in Sicile Thus all the negotiations and practises of these two great Princes gaue sufficient signes of open war there wanted nothing but a lawfull occasion for either of them to blame his companion and to lay vpon him the causes of the first inuasion The Emperour required moreouer that for the quiet of Italie the King should desist from the action of Genes That excluding the Duke of Orleans from the estate and Duchie of Milan the which the King demanded for his second sonne according to the treatie made with the Pope at Marseilles the Duke of Angoulesme for that hee was farthest from the Crowne should be inuested That the King should send him the sayd Duke of Orleans to assist him at the conquest of Alger which he pretended The King desired greatly to maintayne true friendship with him and to vnite it by as strong alliances as the Emperour offred that the greatnesse of the one might not breed any iealousie in the other As for the action of Genes hee was content to surcease that controuersie vntill it might bee decided by good and lawefull meanes to renownce for euer his pretensions to Naples and to cause the sayd Duke of Orleans to yeeld vp his quarrell to Florence and Vrbin with such security as the Emperour should require so as his second sonne might be inuested in Milan He promised the Pope which was Alexander Farnese vnder the name of Paul the 3. successor of Clement 7. summoning all Princes to that ende to imploye his forces to make Germanie and England obey the sentence decree of the Church and to imploy himselfe in fauour of the sayd Emperour to the states and Princes of the Empire that they should ioyntly receiue his brother Ferdinand for the true and lawfull King of the Romains Hee offred to succour the Emperour in his holy warre with a certaine number of galleys and men entertayned promising to accompanie him the yeare following in the voâ—age of Constantinople with all his forces But to exclude the Duke of Orleans from the enheritance of his Ancestors which his eldest brother did willingly yeeld vnto him in fauour of his marrâ—age to install his youngest sonne was it not to sowe dissention and cause of warre 1536. betwixt them whom he desired to breed vp in peace and brotherly loue And to what end did the Emperour demand the Duke of Orleans but rather to hold him in manner of an hostage then to make any shew of loue or trust On the other side to giue hope that hee would compound with the King touching Milâ—n and to vrge this clause vehemently That all should bee managed without the Popes priuitie who no doubt would seeke all meanes to crosse it sayd the Emperour if he should vnderstand they had treated without imparting it vnto him and notwithstanding to giue intelligence to the Court of Rome by Andrew Dorie and to assure him that although hee gaue eare to the Kings ministers yet would he not conclude any thing without the aduise and consent of his Holinesse was not this a corrupt proceeding seeking to breed a iealousie and distrust betwixt the Pope and his Maiestie The King wearied with these long dissimulations and delayes without effect sent the Lord of Beauuâ—is vnto Venice to make a new League with the Senate and the King of England â—ent the Bishop of Winchester to the same effect The Emperour had some intelligence thereof and to crosse the Kings desseins he sent Du Prat a Gentleman of his house to make a new leuie of Lâ—nsquenets and Andâ—ew Dorie to Genes to prepare his armie by sea but vnder colour of his enterprise of Alger Who would not then iudge but in steed of a confirmation of peace and loue all things tended to open warre Nothing could detaine these inuincible warriours but that the Empeour after so great a dissipation of his forces could not so sodenly repaire his armie and the King making a scruple to be the first assailant would not incurre the blame to haâ—e broken the treatie of Cambray But without breach thereof many motiues of discontent had long incensed him against the Duke of Sauoy Causes of the Kings dislike with the duke of Sauoy The Iewels which the Duke had engaged to borrow money for the
and Townes drunke so much Christian bloud and slaine so many millions of men of all qualities reteining nothing but the territories of Boullen and Calais Thus the winde doth sodenly drinke vp all the toile all the trauels all the swear of many ages And the Lord saith vnto man Thou foole this night will take thy soule from thee and who shall haue the things which thou hast prepared And All men are vaine doubtlesse man labours for a shadow he troubleâ—h himselfe for nothing But must the quenching of forraine confusions kindle new fires in the middestand foure corners of the realme without doubt there needed no violent but spirituall remedies to redresse those diuisions which grew daily for a religious cause Henry was of a milde and temperate spirit but hee gaue eare too lightly to such as could not effect their desseines but by troubles The prisons were full of such as they called Lutherans Persecutions for religion and euen then many noble faâ—ilies were toucht with that cause Moreouer many officers of the Parliament wâ—shed a milder proceeding against those prisoners This diuersitie caused an assemblâ—e which they called Mercuriale to heare the opinion of Presidents Councellors vpon this controuersie the which the King was required to countenance with his presence Councellors of the Parliament impâ—â—â—oned Anne du Bourg vsed a great libertie of speech some others did second his opinion This freedome transported the King into the choller hee commands the Constâ—ble to put them in prison and vowes to see them burnt within few dayes if they persist But oh Prince The yeares of thy accoumpt are come and thou entrâ—st into a pathe from the which thou shalt no more returne The Constable deliuers them to the Court Montgomery Captaine of his Maiesties gardes who leads â—ourg to the Bastille and the rest to diuerse â—ther priâ—ons Let vs not iudge hereby but admire howsoeuer the iudgements of God in that we shall see these three personageâ— euery one in his ranke dye an extraordinarie and tragicall death The marriages of the Kings Daughters and Sister were sollemnized with all the pleasures and sports that might be deuised The Court exceeded in sâ—mptuous feasts playes maskes dances and bonfires ordinarie acclamations in such ceremonies testâ—fied the peoples publicke ioy by reason of the peace but this pleasant Comedie was conuerted by a sad catastrophe into a pittifull and mournfull Tragedie The King would the tenth of Iune 〈…〉 the â—â—â—â—â—engers at the Tilt in Saint Anthonies streete being seconded by the Duke of Guise and Ferrare and to runne his last course in fauour of the Queene his wife he sent a Lance to the Earle of Montgomery The Earle excuseth himselfe to runne against his Maiestie the day before hee could not hit any one and it may bee now he feared a second shame But hauing a second charge from the King to enter the Lists he runnes and breakes his Launce vpon the Kings cuirasse and with a splinter thereof his Beauer being somewhat open strikes him so deepe â—nto the eye 〈◊〉 the tenâ—h of Iuly his soule left his body The death of King Henry in his house of Tournelles tâ—e 42. yeare of his age He had by Katherine of Medicis his wife fiue Sonnes and fiue Daughters His children Francis his successor of the age oâ— sixteene or seuenteene yeares Lewis Duke of Orleans who liued few moneths Charles Maximiâ—lian Edward Alexander afterwards named Henrâ—e the 3. and Hercules afterwards named Francis Elisabeth married to Philip King of Spaine Claude to Charles Duke of Lorraine Marguerite to Henry of Bourbon then King of Nauarre Iane and Victoire tâ—ins who dyed soone after their birth Hee was a religious Prince goodly of a milde disposition peaceable affable His disposition not greatly subiect to passions generous loâ—ing his seruants and men of merit but voluptuous and not able to discover in due tiâ—e the ambition and couetousnesse of such as possessing him made â—ale of lawes iustice offices and spiâ—ituall liuings emptied the subiects purses and nourished the warres which we haue before obserued namely since the breach of the truce finding such sweetenesse profit and honour in the managing of the Treasure and commanding of the Kings Armies in the voyage of Italie and especially in this last Lieutenancie generall in Picardie as hereafter wee shall see a young Prince raigne like a shadow and they being seized of the gouernment both of his person and of his realme shall dispossesse the chiefe officers of the Crowne keepe backe the Princes of the bloud the true and lawfull gouernours of the State the King being in his minoritie and to plot the meanes to raise their race to the royall throne 1559 FRANCIS the second the 60. King of France FRANCES THE .2 KING OF FRANCE 60. THis raigne is short but very memorable We behold a Theater whereon is acted a horrible tragedie a King yong of yeares and of iudgement gouerned by his mother and his wiues vnckles a a new forme of Court The Princes of the bloud haue no more credit and seeme to neglect both the publike and priuat interest The Courtiers stand at a gaze and for the most part stowpe to the stronger The Clergie shield themselues vnder those that kindle these fires in France The Nobilitie wearied with former toyles do yet wipe off the dâ—st and sweat from their armes The people diuided for matter of religion and oppressed with burthen of former warres desires to breath The Constâ—ble holds his place yet is he not so surely seated but they will displace him There are two factions in Court the Constable holdeth the one those of Guise the other The first was firme and sincere the last cunning Two factions in Couâ—t and plyable The Queene mother ioynes with the last The King of Nauarre might crosse them and therefore to be the better informed of his desseins she entertaines seruants and pensioners about him The Princes of the bloud the Constable the Marshals the Admirall and many other Noblemen prepared for the funerals of the deceased King when as the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine leading the King Alterations in Court his brethren and the Qâ—eenes to the Louâ—re begin a strange alteration a true patterne of the inconstancie of this world The Duchesse of Valentinois had quietly gouerned the deceased King and by her practices had caused Francis Oliuer a man of a singular reputation and Chancellor of France to bee dismissed At the first entrie shee is spoyled of her precious Iewels which testified the Kings loue vnto her to adorne the Queene that raignedâ— and by her disgrace leaues the place to Catherine to rule hereafter without Companion They take the seale from Cardinall Bertrand a â—eruant to the said Duchesse and to haue a Chancellor at their deuotion they restore Oliuer They giue the Cardinall of Lorraine the gouernment of the Treasure and of the affaires of State and to the Duke of
Guise his brother the command in warre This was properly to giue the Constable to vnderstand that without warrant hee should take his leaue the which hee did after that hee had conducted his good maister to the graue And to play their parts absolutely without controule they send the Prince of Conde into Flanders vnder colour to confirme the peace and him of Roche-sur-yon to carry the order of France to the King of Spaine then at his returne they depute him with the Cardinall of Bourbon to conduct Elizabeth to Philip her husband In the meane time the Guisians call the Cardinall of Tournon from Rome a man fitte for their humors They displace part of the ancient officers of the Kings house and place new at their deuotion they furnish Prouinces and fronter Townes with gouernours of their owne choise they obtaine a declaration from the King sitting in parliament whereby he made it knowne that touching all affaires which concerned the estate of his Crowne and house his pleasure was they should hereafter repaire to his two Vncles To conclude they do and vndoe place and displace in Parliament and priuie Councell like to a King of absolute power And the Queene mother challengeth the gâ—ft of money growing of the confirmation of offices and priuileges of Townes and commonalties the which by right cannot be exacted but when the realme falls into a collaterall line Now are they setled in this vsurped gouernment they haue officers at their pleasure But there is yet a moate in their eye Those of the religion who then were called reformed let vs hereafter call them Protestants for their common cause with the Protestants of Germanie multiplied infinitely Some Princes and many Noblemen did countenance them and were ready to take their protection To weaken them nay rather to ruine them quite the Kings letters pattents are granted the 14. of Iuly with a Commission to certaine Iudges for the triall of Anne du Bourg and foure of his companions prisoners It was to be feared their proceeding against these fiue Counsellors would preiudice the whole party They beseech the Queene by their letters who had made shew to incline to their doctrine when as she was barren to vse her aâ—thoritie in the restraint of these rigorous pursutes She passeth her word to the Prince of Condé and Admirall so as they will liue secretly and without any scandale Herevpon Anthonie King of Nauarre greatly prest by some Princes and Noblemen the Constable at the death of Henry had perswaded him to seize first on the gouernment arriues in Court being at S. Germaine in Laye Anthony King of Nauarre comes to Court and is disgraced hauing at Poitiers giuen good hope to some Ministers of the Protestant Churches to make open profession of their religion But what entertainment do they giue to this first Prince of the bloud of France his harbingers finde no lodging for him within the Castle It shall cost me my life and ten thousand more with me said the Duke of Guise to his harbinger before they take from me the place and lodging which the King hath giuen me neere vnto his person No man goes to meete him those of Guise looke that he should go to salute them and which is worse the next day he haâ—h no place in Councell After some dayes the King sayes vnto him that his Vncles hauing the charge of affaires hee desired them that would haue his fauour to obey them in all things So hauing obtained confirmation of his offices and pensions he approued by his silence the vsurpation of the house of Guise who lead the King to Rheims where he was triumphantly annointed the eighteene of September by the Cardinall of Lorraine Archbishop of that place Soone after the Coronation The Princeâ— and chiefâ— officers of the Crowne disgraced the Queene mother gets a resignation from the Constable of the office of Lord Steward in fauour of the Duke of Guise in recompence made his sonne Marshall of France The Admirall foreseeing that they would dispossesse him of the gouernement of Picardie hee first gaue the King to vnderstand that it belonged to the Prince of Condé for that his predecessors had long enioyed it 〈◊〉 resignation was willinglie accepted but not the condition It was better to pâ—â—chase a good seruant and partisan which was the Marshall of Brissac Thus the Prâ—â—ces and chiefe officers of the Crowne were disgraced but those that were 〈…〉 among the people were not mute They had a good share in the priuate discontent of these great personages foreseeing the disorders that might ensue and require a Parliament as the Soâ—etâ—â—â— cure for such diseases whereby the Queene Mother might be excluded from the Regencie and those of Guise put from the Kings person To please the King theâ— perswade him that they sought to bridle him and to make him a ward that hee should hold them enemies to his authority and guiltie of high â—â—eason that talke of a Parliament The King of Spaine crosseth them and by letters written to the King his brother in Lawe the which were read in Councell in the presence of the King of Nauarre he declares himselfe saieth hee for the good affection he did beare Tutor and Protector of him his Realme and his affaires against those that would change the gouernment of the estate as if the King were not capable of the gouernment Pleasant people which reiect so much the word of lawfull Tutâ—lage and yet they vsurpe it against the Lawes and orders of the Realme holding it onely by tyranie This other affront sent the King of Nauarre home into Bearne whence he came All this did but increase the hatred of great and small against the Guisians Many treaties are published written and printed and all tend to proue That it belonges to the Estates to prouide gouernours for Kings in their minorities that these two bretheren are incapable of the gouernment being both strangers the one a priest the other presuming to say in the life of the decreased King that the Realme belonged to the house of Lorraine as issued from Charlemagne from whome Hugh Capet had vsurped it A proposition which they haue presumed to publish in these latter times but so often confuted as it needes no further discours The King began to growe and euen nowe hee complayned that they kept him from hearing of his subiects complaints but he was so sickely as there was no hope of long life To get â—â—re footing in the gouernment of Estate they resolue to purchase many seruants in the Courts of Paliament to winne the affections of Courtiers and men of warre and by a burning zeale to the rooting out of Protestants to purchase the loue of the Clergie and people Anne du Bourg executed They publish sundrie Edicts against them they promise great recompences to them that discouer their assemblies many Townes fill their prisons they imploy aire fire and water to ruine them and yet it seemes that the more
and relikes afterwards they seize vpon the Castells of Bussiere and Mirebel and burnt the great house of the Carthusiens three Leagues from Grenoble Whilest these saile in full seas with a prosperous winde behold others suffeâ— a most pittifull ship-wrake The massacre at Vassy the Italian troupes of Fabricio Serbellone a Bolonoâ—s in Auignon and those of Prouence ioyned with Fabricio terrified the Pâ—otestants of Auranges nere vnto Auignon who to crosse the intelligences which they sayd these troupes 〈◊〉 in Auranges protect themselues with six hundred men Moreouer Fabricio writes to Sommeriue That seeing he hath an armie readie he should performe a great worke to bring it speedily before Auraâ—ges whether there resorted daylie a great multitude of Hâ—guenots If they were not suppressed at their first beginning not onely Auignon should be annoyed but also all Prouence receiue great harme So Sommeriue and Suze march against Auranches and at the first finde a good meanes to ruine the Towne Parpaille President in the Parliament of Auranges had beene taken at Bourg vpon Râ—one returing from Lions where he had beene to make prouision of armes for whose rescue the troupes of Auranges being of their neighbours Townes runne to Bourg Sommeriue and Suze fortified with many companies of Daulphiné and Auignon beseege â—uranges Seege and destâ—uction of Auranches being without soldiars they battâ—r make a breach force it and forget no kinde of crueltie that the victors furie doth vsually furnish All are put to sword without distinction of age sexe or quality and by a newe kinde of death practised synce in Ciuill warres they cast some downe vpon the soldiars halbards they burne others tied to their hookes in Chimnies they hang men women and children at their windowes they shoote some with their harguebuzes murther others in their mothers armes and to finish this disolation they sacke and burned tâ—e Towne Castell Palace and Bishops houses sixe weekes after Parpaille at the instance of the Vicelegat of Auignon lost his head But alas this was as they say but to anger a hornet The Baron of Adretz studies of nothing but reuenge He runnes he cries out he stormes and nâ—â—es with indiâ—nation and threats beates Pierrelate and forceth it in few houres puts all that he fiâ—des armed to the sword enters in furie into the Castle garded by three hundred souldiars of the troupes of Suze some he kils others he casts downe not one escapes The reueâ—ge oâ— Aâ—â—â—tz with the like furie he takes the Towne of Bourg Pont S. â—sprit brings him their Keyes Hee forceth Boulene a fronter of the Contat puts the company of Captaine Bâ—rtelasse to the sword and threatned Auignon when as newes came that Maugiâ—on entred by intelligence into Grenoble spoiles kils drownes He posts thether â—ssures himselfe of Romans by the way reduceth S. Marcelin to his deuotion and puts three hundred of Maugirons men to the sword Maugiron fearing the furie of this man retyres into Sauoy and from thence into Bourgongne to Tauannes leading with him all those of his faction and the 26. of Iune Adrets reenters into Grenoble setles things in their former estate and then he marcheth into Forest as we haue seene Behold strange alterations Suze and Fabricio beheld the Barons actions being in safetâ— his passage into Forest drawes them now to field Mombâ—un makes head agaiâ—st them and by the taking of Mornas doth partly reuenge the spoiles of Auranges Suze will haue his reuenge and comes to besiege Boulene but finding nothing but blowes to be gotten he goes and spoiles Vaureas in the County of Vâ—naisâ—in Suze defeated and thinking to inlarge his limits he meetes with the Baron who with a furie without viewing or giuing him leisuâ—e to arange his troupes doth charge him defeats him cuts in peeces the most part of his foote kils him with many Gentlemen and winnes his Artillery but he shall not keepe it long Then extending his victory hee vndertakes the defence of Cisteron threatned by Sommeriue forceth S. Laurent des Arbres and Rocquemaure a strong place takes and burnes the Castle of Pont Sorgues kills all Fabricios Souldiars that kept it and the next day surpriseth Fabricio himâ—elfe and chaseth him euen vnto the gates of Auignon As he continues his course along the riuer of Durance and findes nothing to stay the violence of his victories newes comes of the Prouensals arriuall at Gauillon He wades through the riuer the first of September chargeth them at the first kils the most part and puts the rest to flight But in steed of going directly to Cisteron whether he had sent Mombrun with fiâ—e hundred men and the Canon taken fâ—om Suze he had some splene against Mouuans Captaine of Cisteron hee takes thâ— longer way by the plaines whereof followed the ouerthrow of Mombrun the losse of his Artillery and the taking of Cisteron as we shall see Adrets had left the Councellor Ponat for his Lieutenant at Grenoble a man more capable of lawes then fit for ames Herevpon Vinay takes an occasion to attempt against the Towne S. Mauris and la Coche receiue him so roughly as the death of threescore of his best Spaniards and Italians at the first skirmish makes him to leaue Grenoble to go burne the pesants houses in the valee of Pragela In the end the course of the Barons prosperities is stayed by the taking of Vienne of the Castle of Pipet by the two seueral ouerthrows he had at Beau-repaire whereof followed this change of sides and the losse of the reputation and credit which he had gotten among his followers as we haue heard These losses caused the siege of Grenoble whereof Ponat being called away by Adretz had left the defence to La Coche The first siegâ— of Grenoblâ— Sixe thousand men campe before it But a goodly desseigne and easie to be effected is often made frustrate by the discord of the Commanders Many heads are the cause that Grenoble holds firme They assaile it but slowly their victualls now growing short after three weekes siege pressed La Coche to capitulate when as Captaine Furmeier hauing assembled six or seuen hundred foote and foure score horse passeth the riuer of Isere surmounteth the straight of the Mountaine forceth them that kept it and aduanceth vnto the riuer of Dras neere to Grenoble Meaning to Ferry ouer he sees the passage garded by three or foure hundred horse with a great number of foote discouers an other troupe in ambush within the next wood to charge him behind He retires and with a counterfet feare makes shew to turne back the enemie pursues him Raised by Furmeiâ—â— he turnes head against them wades through the riuer of Drac chargeth the fiâ—st hee 〈…〉 bâ—eakes them and by the resolution of his passage in the face of so many enemâ—â—â—mazeth all the troupe scattereth them chaseth them killing on all sides and this vnexpected arriuall strikes such a terrour in the Campe as euery
great confusion which the following ages did bring forth the like â—ssistance according to his power but both doe promise ioyntly â—o maintaine by all meanes the dignitie of the Catholike religion to cut off as much as in them lay all lets and speedily to seeke all occasions profitable for this desseigne beginning first with the heads This businesse was not so secretly managed but the Prince of Condé the Admirall and other Noblemen of that partie had intelligence They stand vpon their gardes aduertise their men and for this time preuent surprises The end of the yeare brought the King home much satisfied with the ioyfull entertainment his subiects had made him plunging himselfe with his yong brethren in maskes delights whilest the Queene his Mother with her Councellors gouerned France at their pleasure and layde plottes which shall soone breed as dangerous stormes as the former Whilest our Christian Princes studie by their enterview and League to kindle horrible combustions in their estates The Turkes army at Malâ—a they giue the Turkish Armie the better meanes to land in the Isle of Malta to besiege and take the Forte of Saint Elme latelye built by the Pryor of Capoua and by this victorye to make the siege of Malta more easie Let vs obserue three notable things before we conclude the yeare The first was that braue attempt of Peirot the eldest sonne of Montluc who weary to liue idâ—e rigged out some shippes with a good number of Gentlemen Souldiars and Marriners The death of the Pope and Emperour to make a voyage into Affricke hee tooke and sackt the Isle of Madera but with the losse of his life leauing his troupe excluded from all returne into France by the pursute the King of Portugall made demanding satisfaction of the outrages done to his subiects The Earle of Sanzay was sent to pacifie him and â—uen then was treated but without any effect the marriage of Marguerite Sâ—ster to Charles with the sayd King The second was the death of Ferdinand the Emperour and King of Hongarie deceased in September leauing his Sonne Maximiâ—ian for his successor The third was that of Pius the 4. in whose place was chosen to the Pontificall Chaire Michel Giseleo a Iacobin Cardinall of Alexandria and tooke vpon him the name of Pius the 5. The first fruites of this yeare were very commendable and if they had giuen hope of the like proceeding the haruest had beene very happy but such as trust â—ot but vpon good cautions take not all kindes of money for payment growing very suspitions by reason of the conclusions taken in this voiage 1566. To make it more gloâ—ious and lesse suspect the King calls an assemblie at Moulins of the greatest peâ—sonages of his Realme as well for the gouernment of Iustice as for other causes concerning the good and quiet of the state wherof followed that great volume of statutes of the which they rightly say That they were as iust and holy as ill obserued A 〈…〉 Those of the houses of Guise and Chastillon were called The quarell of Paris inuited the Marshall of Montmorency And the Admirall hauing purged himselfe by oath of the crime wherof they pretended him to bee principall motiue the King hâ—d already pronounced him innocent by his letters pattents the King the Qâ—eene Mother the Duke of 〈◊〉 brother to the King the Cardinalls of Bourbon Lorraine and Guise the Constable â—he Marâ—shall of Bourdillon and Vielle-uille the Bishops of Valence Orleans Limoges Ihou and Seguier first and second Presidents of Paris Dasis the first of Tolouse Lagebaston of Bourdeaux Truchon of Grenoble le Feurs of Dâ—â—on Fourneau the second President of Prouence and many other Noblemen assembled to that effect besides the aboue named Statutes made a reconciliation betwixt the two houses whereof followed imbracings protestations promises not to attempt any thing whatsoeuer against an other But the issue will verifie the saying That there is no trust in a reconciled enemie In the meane time the resolutions of Bâ—yonne appeared manifestly the moderations they made of the Edict the insolencies they committed in many places with all impunity the threats they gaue the protestants amazed them on al sides The Prince and Admirall were vigilant obseruing the countenances of their enemies The preparations of Spaine against the Lowe Countries made them to foresee that this enterprise wold in like sort preiudice their partisaÌ„s in France The Prince of Roche sur-Yon had before his death discouered many particularities they coÌ„plained that aboue three thousand persons had perished of violent deaths sence the Edict without any Iustice and theiâ— complaints had no other satisfaction but goodly words and gratious letters To conclude the winds saied they which did blow at Bayonne must needes cause a strange tempest So the causes of their discontent were manifest and secret and consisted in the dismanteling of some townes to take from them the meanes in the building of Cittadells in some places of their exercise in the ordinary murthering of their men Causes of the Protestanâ—s discontents in the massacring of men of accouÌ„t without punishement in the ordinary threats That shortly they should not lift their heads so high but especially in the leauie of six thousand Suisses made vnder a fained pretence so gard the frontier against the coming of Don Fernand Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alba who marched against the Protestants of the loâ—e Country with a mightie army whom notwithstanding they caused to enter â—â—r within the realme by some letters intercepted being sent from Rone and Spaine they had discouered many practises made for their destruction And the intelligences they had from one in Court well affected yet secretly to their party The 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 That it was decreed in a secret Councell to seize vpon the Prince Admirall to put the one to death and keepe the other prisoner at the same instant to bring two thousand Suisses into Paris two thousand into Orleans the rest into Poitiers then by the abolishing of the last Edict to establish one quite contrary All these coÌ„siderations made the chiefe heads resolue to stand vpoÌ„ their defence to obserue fourethings in this new taking of armes To seize on â—ew townes but of importance To bring a gallaÌ„t army to field To cut the Suisses in peeces by whose fauor the Catholikes should be alwaies masters of the field to chase the Cardinal of Lorraine from Court if they might as the chiefe fire-brand of tâ—e confusions which would consume the whole estate Man purposeth and God disposeth and of many resolutions fewe haue their desired ende The pleasure of God doth often disapoint the desseins of them which are most practised in knowledge valouâ— discours wisdome some enterprises little or not at al premedâ—taâ—ed do oâ—ten fall out veâ—y succesfully For the execution of the first point diuers considerations had made them to name three townes Lions Tolouse and Troyes
of the aduantage which he had ouer the said heretikes That for a present reformation of affaires and to preuent the feare the Catholikes had to fall vnder the commaund of heretikes he would call a Parlement of the three Estates of France and resolues presently to reuoke many impositions which oppresse the people As for the priuate complaints against the Duke of Espernon and his brother I will saith he alwaies make it knowne in all occasions that I am a iust Prince and will preferre the common profit of my Realme before any other consideration The duke of Espernons iustification But the two brethren Espernon and la Valette say To what ende should they make an enterprise at Paris to take the Duke of Espernon who was then in Normandie and why made they â—arricadoes euen to the gates of the Louure armed the people and seized vpon all the chiefe places of the Citty to chase la Vallete from Valence and other parts of Daulphiné where he remained And if the confusions of former ages haue kept other Kings from acknowledging our fathers seruices and he hath rewarded his merits in his children what bee those iealous and malicious heads that enuy our fauours with his maiestie What censure what rigour what lawe may keepe a King of France from aduancing to authority some fauourites who reuiue in them the vertues of their ancestors Moreouer the League makes mention in what places our fauour hath beene imploied the treaties of the Duke of Espernon in Guienne his being acquainted with Cleruauts negotiation for the Huguenots of Metz the enterprises hee hath made vppon Cambray his late fauour to the Reistres in their returne his secret conference with Chastillon the consultations of that tumult which hath lately happened in Paris the taking of Vallence Tallard Guilestre and other places from the Catholikes of Daulphiné and his practises to stay the yeelding of Aussone But we say would to God we had in like sort taken Chaalon Dijon Montrueil Cambray and all that are subiect vnto his Maiesty within the heart of France They tearme vs fauourers of Heretikes And yet we haue in sixe moneths taken from them by the sword all their conquests in Prouence the King since the death of Henry the bastard and Grandâ—Prior of France had giuen this gouernement to the Duke of Espernon which former Gouernours could not do in twenty years The taking of Sorgues in Daulphiné by vs two during the frozen time of winter and the ouerthrow of the Hugâ—enots Suisses by la Valette but especially the last disvnion of the Suisses from the Reistres which made the way for the Duke of Guise to defeat them at Auneau and the discontent wherein the Duke of Espernon left the King of Nauarre at his departure out off Guienne are not these sufficient testimonies that their accusations are as friuolous and malicious as the sale of offices wherewith foâ—ke chaâ—ge them for iustification whereof the Duke of Espernon offers to present his head at his Maiesties feete if it be proued that he had euer any such thought in his soule Contrariwise who hath during the reignes of Henry the second and Francis the second managed the treasure without controll but the house of Guise whereof the latter â—ollow the steppes of their Predecessors Who haue forced the King to exact vpon his subiects but the warre which they haue kindled and drawne his Maiesty into what house did euer from so small a beginning grow to so fearefull a greatnesse To conclude no man shal blame vs for being Pensionars to the King of Spaine to haue hindred our King from the recouery of the Seigneuries of the Lowe Countries nor to haue stollen away the reuenues of his generall receipts Wee will no wayes hinder this goodly reformation we are not in Court nor in the Kings presence Let vs see the first fruits of this so commendable a gouernement Haue you left Paris haue you yelded it to the King your Lord and naturall Prince Nothing lesse you haue reuolted Câ—rbeil Melun and Pontoise you haue with false perswasions withdrawne the best Citties of the realme But we will in protesting to bee ready to deliuer iâ—to his maiesties hands with our liues and honor all the offices â—harges gouernements and places which it hath pleased him to commit vnto vs inuite our accusers to doe the like And if they will pretend in quality of persons let them vnderstand that whatsoeuer eyther party holds it appertaines vnto the King neyther can they keepe it but at his pleasure Thus the two brethren iustified themselues whilest the Court of Parlement makes knowne vnto the King by their Deputies their griefe for this insolencie which had forced him to abandon Paris They appeale vnto his clemencie and bounty Deputies of the Parliament with the King They present for an humble excuse of his officers the weaknesse and feare which had forced them yeeld to so violent a reuolt beseching him to returne into his Citty and to giue rest and content to his Maiestie order to his affaires grace to their purple robes and authority to their offices and by his presence to disperse the mutinies which diuisions had bred For answer The Kings answer I doubt not said the King but you would willingly haue reformed this disorder if it had beene in your power neither of your persisting in the same affection and fidelity which you haue testified to my forefathers I am not the first that hath beene toucht with such afflictions neither will I leaue to be a good father to such as shall be good children I will alwayes intreat the Parisiens with the quality of a father as children that haue strayed from their duty not as seruants that haue conspired against their maister Continue in your offices and receiue from the Queene my mother the commandements and intentions of my will This answer was soft and colde but after dinner he addes a sharper part and calling back the Deputies I know saith he wherefore garrisons are set either to ruine a Towne or for distrust of the inhabitants But what cause had the Parisiens to presume that I would destroy a Towne wherevnto I haue brought so many commodities by my presence as ten or twelue townes would thinke themselues greatly benefited thereby and what distrust could I haue of a people whom I loued of a people in whom I trusted Haue they lost a loafe or any thing whatsoeuer by meanes of these pretended garrisons I sought the preseruation of my good Cittie of Paris and the safety of my subiects meaning by a strict search to put out a great number of strangers whom I knew to be secretly crept in They haue offended me yet am I not irreconciliable neither haue I any humour to ruine them But I will haue them confesse their faults and know that I am their King and maister If not I will make the markes of their offence remaine for euer I will reuoke my Court of Parliament my
the priuileges of the Towne In the same moneth the inhabitants of Troyes expelled the Prince of Ioinuille and recalled the Lord of Inteuille their ancient gouernour for the King In Champagne In Poâ—ctou Gasconiâ— The Townes and Prouinces contend who shall haue the honour to returne first to their due obedience from the which these popular furies had withdrawen them Sens Poitiers Agen Villeneufue Marmande and other Townes of Gasconie and in a manner all that had followed the dance of Orleans and Paris do now frame themselues to their tune And all this is done in few weekes The mâ—st factious of the partie did still feed the fire of rebellion in some Townes of Picardie Amiens and Beauuois wauered the Spaniard possessed Laon and La Fere places of importance in that Prouince and the Conâ— Chaâ—les of Mansfield had euen now besieged and taken Capelle a small Towne but strong in the Duchie of Thierasche The King being aduertised thereof went home to their Trenches to drawe them forth to fight but making no show to come forth to get that by force which he could not obtaine by reason hee besiegeth Laon defeates the succors at sundry times that come to the besieged kills aboue fifteene hundred of their men in sundry encounters and taking the Towne by composition in the end of August he ends by this act the furies of ciuill warres without hope of reuiuing and then returnes triumphing to Paris Chasteau Thierry before the siege and after the siege of Laon Amiens Beauuois and all the Townes in Picardie except Soissons and La Fere which the Duke of Mayenne and the Spaniard held did shake off the Strangers yoake and tooke the oth of fealtie to the King Cambray did likewise acknowledge him and gaue his Mâ—iâ—stie such aduantage as his enemies remained without meanes to maintaine the warre and without hope to obtaine their peace The Duke of Mayenne in the meane time entertained all his friends and intelligences at Bruxelles but the supplyes of men and money which hee drew â—rom thence were not able to stay the course of the Kings prosperities Hee therefore retyred himselfe into Bourgongne to assure such places as were yet at his deuotion Contrarywise his neerest kinsmen retyring themselues left him almost alone to treat with the Spaniard The Duke of Nemours made his accord at the Castle of Pierre-aâ—cise but being escaped the 26. of Iuly as we haue sayd death depriued â—im of the vse of his libertie as wee shall see hereafter The Duke of Guise did first testifie The Duke of Guise reconciled to the King that hee desired nothing more then the Kings seruice and drawing in the moneth of Nouember to his Maiesties seruice his bretheren with himselfe many Noblemen the Cittie of Reims and many other places it did greatly shake this monstrous building which was now ready to fall to ruine The sect of Iesuits had as chiefe pillars of the League mightily supported it vnto this day and by all meanes laboured to aduance the Spaniard in France Processe against the Iesuits renued they had spred throughout the whole realme the furious effects of the fire which they had kindled and continued in priuate confessions as lately in their Sermons to disgrace the memorie of the deceased King and the Maiestie of the King now raigning and to encrease it the principall of their Colledge and some others had lately approued countenanced and perswaded that execrable attempt of Peter Barriere The Vniuersitie of Paris grounding the renuing of theiâ— ancient Processe against the Iesuites vpon these considerations and motiues demand the rooting out of them Some great men and of the chiefe men of Iustice sue for them the Cardinall of Bourbon supports them The Duke of Neuers makes their cause his owne The respect of their learning and care and diligence to instruct and teach youth did moue them and a very vrgent cause must drawe the Court of Parliament whose authoritie notwithstanding they did contemne and reiect to pronounce and declare this great decree the which an accursed and detestable attempt by one of their owne disciples did in the end extort 1554. They procured that the cause might bee pleaded secretly for 〈◊〉 said their Aduocate to defend my Clyents I shall bee forced to speake some things offensiue to many which haue lately turned to the Kings seruice But their pleaâ—ings are to be read in Arnault against them and Versoris for them both graue and learned aduocates By the reduction of so many Prouinces Townes Comonalties and priuate Noblemen the League shall bee now confined into some corners of Bourgongne Picardie and Brittanie where the Spaniards to haue alwaies footing within the Realme entertayned the hopes of the Duke of Mayenne and Mercoeur The first began to fall from them but the other grounded vpon some vaine pretentions of the Duchie where he gouerned by reason of his wife hoped to preuaile if not of all yet at the least of a good part The Queene Dowager his Sister laboured to make his peace but hee delayed the time knowing that in his greatest extremity he should finde grace with the King The Spaniard being brought into Blauet by his meanes a fort which the situation of the country had made almost impregnable if as they had built a fort neere vnto Croisae to shut vp the entrie of the port at Brest they had also made an other right agaiâ—st it on the other banke hoped that being chased out of the other Prouinces he should yet hold this as a pawne for the money he had disbursed His Maiestie sent the Marshall D'Aumont Warre in Brittanie and Generall Norrice an English man to encounter him who fortified with a Fleete vnder the command of Captaine Frobisher they became maisters of Quimpercorentin and Morlay and then they forced the new fort at Croisae and slue but with the losse of men and of the sayd Frobisher foure hundred Souldiars to whom the gard was committed France grew quiet yet must they imploy the Souldiars and carry the warre into the Spaniards country It seemed this would free the realme but sildome doth it bring forth the effects that are expected In Luxembouâ—g Yet for a triall the King agrees with the Estates of Holland and their confederates to inuade the Duchie of Luxembourg with their common forces The Duke of Bouillon now Marshall of France and the Cont Nassau seeke to enter in October but they finde the passages stopt and the Cont Charles Mansfield before them who by the defeat of the Hollanders troupes made this attempt fruitlesse On the other side the King seekes to keepe the frontiers of Picardie safe from the Spanish forces and threatned Arthois and Henault That if they fauoured the forces of Spaine which molested Cambray and the Countries there about he would make violent watre against them The Estates of those Prouinces make no answer to these threates framing their excuse that they could draw no direct answer
all afâ—ayâ—es and especially for iudgements To condemne the iust is not good nor to strike Princes that haue carried themselues iustly 〈◊〉 17 v. 26. An excellent sentence and agreeing with our cause Hee called Iudges Princes and in another place they aâ—e termed Gods That if Gâ—d making his Iustice to sâ—â—â—ne hath since discouered the Murther yet hath not the Baker nor his Wife any cause to complaine of the Court The eye of God infuseth his knowledge into the spirits of men in such measure as he pleaseth giuing vnto some a neeâ—er light and as Synecius Bishop of Cyrene sayd more approching vnto things which he doth reueale to others farther off We take moysture from the Water heat from the Fire firmenes of the body from the Earth spirit from the Aire but Iustice comes from God who is the onely fountaine of all good Wee haue not this Iustice in vs be it for the good of our selues or for the perpetuall and constant dutie which wee owe vnto our neighbours to doe euery man right God onely knoweth all things and all is hidden from vs but what hee pleaseth There is none but hee which knoweth hidden things It is he whose admirable name is aboue all other names It is he whom Daniell calleth a CERTAINE by the word Palmoni of whom the admirable name of IESVS the Sauiour of the world was not reuealed before that hee was made man Dan. 8. That Sonne of Iustice whose glorie is incomprehensible It is hee who by his light doth open the Iudges eyes when it pleaseth him Iob. 22.20 To the end they should take care of the innocent and looke vnto his estate It is written in the booke of the wise King Pro. 27.19 That euen as in the water one face is opposite to an other so doth the heart of man vnto man so as oftent times the Iudge discouereth the truth of a câ—yme by the face and countenance as well as by the mouth of the Accused And to that purpose the same King sayth That Councell in the heart of man is like vnto a deepe water the which a wise man shall draw forth But this doth not often happen but vnto the King of whome the wiâ—e man saith thus There is no prophecying but in the Kings lippes and his mouth shall not stray from Iustice. Ibid. c. 16.10 God giues this priuiledge to a iust King God which is the onely searcher of hearts Ibid. 19. v. 2. There are many thoughts in the heart of man but the onely Councell of our Lord God is firme And therefore Saint Augustin in hiâ— booke of the Cittie of God in the Chapter which he hath expresly made touching the errors of humaine Iudgements makes a complaint of the perplexities whereunto Iudges are reduced when to saue an Innocent they are forced to condemne the accused vnto the racke and for an vncertaine fact they cause him to suffer a certaine paine The which hee excusing saith That a wise Iudge doing not things with a will to hurt but by necessitie to iudge that which hee knoweth not must cry vnto God A gust lib. 19. c. 〈◊〉 Ciuit dei Psal 25 v. 17. Deliuer mee from my extremities and cares The which hee speakes not to blame the racke for hee knowes it to be necessarie But if it bee not as we cannot rightly say done by malice yet is it a great miserie And doubtlesse if it bee a mischeefe yet is it well ordained and by good Lawes which are practised in al Countries whereas Iustice is well administred whereof of there are so many Statuts not onely in this Realme but in the Estates of Italie and in the neighbour Countries as in Piedmont in Saâ—oie and other parts of Christendome as there is no reason to doubt thereof Neither is it lawful to argue the Iudges of rigor in this cause for besides the presuÌ„ptions which might moue them who knowes whether the Accused had committed some other cryme whereof God would suffer this accusation whereof the now complayne should be the punishment There are some generations which thinke to be free pro. 30. v. 12. and yet they are not clensed from their filthines And what is hee that can say I haue purged my heart I am clensed from my Sinne. If thou sayest we did not know it Ibid. 24. v. 12. he that weighes the heart shall not he vnderstand it and reward euery man according to his workes In an other place the wise man saith that Hee which walketh innocently shall bee saued but the peruerse walking by two wayes shall fall Aristotle speaking of the Iudges of Greece sayd that they were accustomed before sentence to sweare that they should iudge by the best aduice they could conceiue The which Demosthenes in his Oration against Aristocrates hath sayd by the most iust aduice In which case although the Areopagites did sometimes iudge as one would say against the Law yet could they not bee reprehended to haue gone against the oath taken by them to iudge well whether it were in the Senate or in the Assembly which they call Heliaes no man being able to answere but for his owne conscience And for this reason by the Lawes of Charlemagne of Lewis the Debonair our most ChristiaÌ„ Kings It was not lawful to blaspheme that is to say to accuse of false iudgemeÌ„t to blame the Earles which was the title of Iudges in France if it did not appeare that they did iudge either by enuie 1599. or by some bad occasion To conclude the Iudges which those great Princes called Fideles were held for good and without blemish when they were oneâ—y guided by the zeale of true Iustice. So the Demanders doe not complaine of the Iudges but of the Accuser against whome if shee had framed her accusation maliciously and vpon spleene shee were then subiect to that which was decreed by the Capitâ—lâ—rie which saith Capiâ—ulaâ—ium Carolâ— magni lib 6 cap. penult That they which haue accused Innocents either before the Prince or before the Iudge if they were spirituall men they are to bee degraded if they be lay men they must bee condemned to the like punishment which they should haue suffered that were accused But this is to be vnderstood of accusations wherein there is malice in which case the falâ—e and malicious Accusers deserue that which the Accused suffred for the SlaÌ„derer resembles vnto the wicked which are represented by the wise man watching secretly for the innocent Prou. 1. v. 11. and persecuting him without cause In which case such as slander to vexe and to get money by the Constitutions of the Romaine Emperoâ—s were punished with the same punishments It is therefore no reason that the Complaynants should trouble the defendresse for the accusation which shee hath made seeing it was not with any intent of slâ—nder but they must take their trouble as an accident sent of God as a mischance which the Grecians called a
concerne the King his Person and his State and if it bee tollerable to heare what is sayd yet is it not lawfull to â—peake or publish it His Maiestie himselfe hath not yet declared the cause of the Count of Avuergues restraint and in the letter which hee did write vnto the Gouernour of Lions vppon that subiect hee did onely send him these wordes The Kings letters to la Guiche from Fontainbleau the 15. of Nouemb 1604. You haue vnderstood how that I haue againe caused the Count of Auvergne to bee apprehended being aduertised that hee continued still in his bad practises and that hauing sâ—nt often for him hee would not come At the least I will keepe him from doing ill if I can At the same time when as the Count of Auvergne was taken the brute was that the Duke of Bouillon had like to haue beene surprised When as he could find no other refuge for his â—ffayres but to retire himselfe out of the Realme hee hath vsed the lâ—bertie of his retreat wisely and hath alwayes sought the Kings fauour for the assurance of his reâ—urne Some forraine Prince of his friends aduised him not to returne to Court to hold all reconciliation suspect and to beleeue that when a Prince is oâ—ce offended he is neuer qâ—iet vntill the offence bee reuenged That hee must not trust to that which hee promiseth nor to that which hee sweares houlding both the one and the other lawfull for reuenge That the word of a Prince that is offended is like vnto Zeuzis cluster of grapes which takes Birds but his oth is like vnto Parrasius vayle which deceiues Men. Those which haue lost the fauour of their master for that they had intelligence with them whome they could not serue without cryme are alwayes in continuall distrust the which followes the offence as the Boat doth the Shippe vntill they haue quenched and smothered the cause and made it knowne that they are diuided and enemies to all their wils that would distract them from their duties for Men that are double and dissemblers are neuer tamed no more then a Batt which is halfe a Ratt and halfe a Bird or the Chastor which is flesh and fish The Duke of Bouillons patience hauing giuen the King time enough to consider of his intentions The Duke of Bouillon is redie through the Kings Clemencie to obtaine all that he could desire to returne to a greater fortune in the which lesse is allowed then to a meaner estate The Duke Tremouille ended his fortune by death Hee might haue dyed when as the King would haue lamented the losâ—e of him more Death of the Duke of Trâ—mâ—uille for hee was not now well pleased with certaine wordes which had beene reported vnto him and if hee had liued he would haue beene in paine to excuse himselfe of the commandement hee had made him to come vnto him to answere it From hence spring two fruitful considerations the one that there is nothing so fearefull and terrible as the threats and disgrace of his King the other that it is alwayes dangerous to speake ill of his Prince For the first Cassander greatlly feared Alexander euen when hee was dead for that hee had seene him once transported with choller against him And although that after the death of Alexander he was aduanced to the Throne of Macedon yet walking in the Cittie of Delphos and hauing seene an Image of Alexanders who was nowe rotten in his graue he did so tremble as his Hayre stood right vp his knees fayled him and the palenesse of his countenance shewed his amazement and the terrible assault which his memory gaue him for the second when a free speech hath once escaped against the respect of the Prince he must haue a great and a strong Citty as Lisander sayd to defend his liberty of speech They haue neither Friendes not Councell against the King and if their misery findes any shadowe or protection it is but like vnto Ionas Gourd of one night Let them not flatter themselues in the greatnes of theiâ— houses nor their Allyances this qualitie doth but increase their offence Princes are not so much mooued with that which the common people do as with the Lycentious words of great men Caius disguised himselfe into as many fashions as he imagined there were Gods A Cobler seing him set in his Pallace like Iupiter with a scepter in one hand a Thunderbolt in the other and an Eagle by his side burst out in a great laughter Caius causing him to come neere asked him why he laught I laugh at this foolerie answered the Cobler The Emperour laught also suffering it to passe freely without choller yet punishing other speeches seuerely which came from persons better quallified Thus ends the seuenth yeare after the conclusion of the Peace FINIS ⧠A TABLE OF THE MOST memorable things contained in this Historie Pharamond the first King of France THe fundamentall date of the French Monarchy Folio 1 The estate of the Empire at the beginning thereof ibid. The time of his raigne fol. 2 The estate of the Church ibid. The French can endure no gouernement but a Royaltie â—ol 3 The Royaltie of France successiue and the efficacie of a successiue Royaltie ibid. A successiue Royaltie the best kind of gouernement fol. 4 The manner of the receiuing of a new King in old time ibid. The people consent not to preiudice the Kings prerogatiue at his first reception fol. 5 In France the Male is onely capable of the Crowne ibid. The fundamentall Law which they call Salique ibid. The practise of the Salique Law â—ol 6 Of the word Salique and what the Saliens were ibid. The death of Pharamond fol. 7 Clodion or Cloion the hairie the second King of France THe first attempt of Clodion fol. 8 The estate of the Empiâ—e fol. 9 A Law â—or wearing of long haire ibid The Estate of the Church ibid. Mâ—roâ—â—è the third King of France HE enters France â—ol 10 The French ioyne with the Romanes and Gothes fol. 11 Orleans besieged by Attila hee is ouerthrowne but not quite vanquished ibid The happie raigne of Meâ—ouâ—è fol. 12 The estate of the Empire and the Church ibid. Childeric or Chilperic 4 King of France HE is expelled for his vice fol 13 He is called home againe ibid. Clouis 1. the 5. King of France and the first Christian King HE aspires to the Monarchy of all Gaule fol. 15. The fiâ—st rooting out of the Româ—ins ibâ—d Clouis becomes a châ—istian fol. 16 Religion the only true bond of aâ—â—ectâ—ons ibid. Gaule called France ibid. Waâ—res against the Wisigothes fol. 1â— Warres in Burgundy and the cause why ibid. Clouis conquests in Burgondie fo 18 A â—recherous attempt of Gondâ—bault hee is justlie punished for his murthers ibid. The first winning of Burgundy Daulphine and Prouence ibid. Alaric slayne by the hand of Clouis ibid. The Emperour sends Ambassadours to Clouis fol. 19 Clouis being conqueâ—or is conqâ—ered ibid. He looseth
head of the Albigeois in the raigne of Philip Augustus fol. 165. The Popes Legat slaine by the Albigeois ibid. An Aâ—my against the Albigeois a great slaughter of them by Symâ—n oâ— Monfort ibiâ— Count Raymond and his confederats defâ—ated by Symâ—â— of Monfort 〈◊〉 167 The Councell of Latran The Eaâ—ldome of Tholouse giuen to Symon of Montfort ibid Symoâ— hated by his subiects of Languedock is slaine before Tholouse Count Raymond is receiued againe into Languedock ibid Warre in Guienne against the English fol. 168. Lewis compounds for Languedock with the Sonnes of Simon of Monfort ibid. Count Raymond submits himselfe to the Pope Desolation of the Albigeois ibid. Lewis dies ibid. Lewis the ninth called Saint Lewis the 44. King of France QVeene Blanche Regent of the King and Realme fol. 169. Afection in France for the Regencie ibid. Languedock annexed to the Crowne by marriage fol. 170. Blanch preuents the discontented princes ibid. Lewis in danger to be surprized by his rebels ibid. Prouence comes to Charles of Aniou a sonne of France fol. 171 Lewis his disposition the patterne of an excellent prince fol. 172 A happy peace in the raigne of Lewis the rest of of the Albigeois fol. 173 Estate of the Empire and of the Church ibid. The Pope seekes to driue the Emperour out of Italie ibid. The Emperour goes with an armie against the Pope and his confederats ibid. The Pope drawes the French to his succour fol. 174 The Popes pollicie to supplant the Emperours ibid. Fredericks happie successe in Asia ibid. The Popes hatred against the Emperour irrecoÌ„ciliable ibid. The Emperour enters Italie with a great armie fol. 175 Gregorie turnes enemie to Fredericke beeing chosen Pope ibid. The Emperour Fredericke excommunicated and degraded the Germaines choose another Emperour ibid. The death of Fredericke fol. 176 Conrades sonne poysoned by Manfroy his bastard brother hee vsurpes Sicilia and Naples ibid. Lewis refuseth Sicilia and Naples offered him by the Pope ibid. Charles Earle of Prouence defeates and kills Manfroy in Sicilia ibid. The Empire without an Emperour by their ciuil confusions fol. 177 Charles of Aniou vicar of the Empire and king of Naples and Sicilia ibid. Conradin seekes to recouer his realme and is defeated ibid. He is cruelly beheaded by Charles with many others ibid. Lewis resolues to goe into Asia the confused estate of the Empire there ibid. The Empire of the Greekes translated to the French ibid. Three Emperours at one instant in the East 178 Lewis goes with an army into the East ibid. The Tartars refuse the Christian religion by reason of their ill life fol. 179 Lewis takes Damiette ibid. He besieged Caire indiscreetly The plague falls into his campe ibid. Lewis is distressed taken by the Sultan of Egypt and paies his ransome ibid. The French generally lament for their King fol. 180 Lewis makes good lawes ibid. Blanch his mother dies ibid. The English rebell against their King ibid. Lewis reconciles the English to their King ibid. Diuision in Flaunders pacified by Lewis ibid. Lewis goes into Barbarie fol. 181 Makes a league with England ibid. In danger at Sea ibid. His army infected with the plague ibid. Lewis beeing sicke giues his sonne instruction 182 His death vertues raigne children and posteritie ibid. The house of Orleans called to the Crowne ibid. Philip 3. called the Hardy the 45. king of France QVeene Isabel dies fol. 183 Richard sonne to Henry king of England slain traiterously ibid. Great contention for the election of a new Pope fol. 184 Lewis eldest sonne to Philip poysoned And the Countie of Tolouse annexed to the crowne ibid. The French expelled Constantinople by the Greekes fol. 185 Philips disposition and why called Hardie ibid. Charles king of Sicilia a turbulent Prince ibid. Peter of Arragon leuies an armie to inuade Sicilia fol. 186 Sicilian Euensong where all the French are slain ibid. Peter of Arragon Charles beeing expulst enters Sicilia and is crowned king fol. 187 The Pope supports Charles against Peter fol. 188 Philip succours his vnckle Charles and the Sicilianâ— seeke to make peace with Charles but Peter politickly auoides all danger ibid. A combate appointed betwixt two kings ibid. Peter fortifies himselfe in Sicilia fol. 189 Charles the sonne called the Lame taken prisoner and Charles the fathers death ibid. Philip makes warre against Peter of Arragon is defeated and dies ibid. Philip set vpon vnawares in danger with his death and children fol. 190 Philip the 4. called the Faire the 46. King of France PHilips disposition and issue vnhappy in the mariage of his sonnes fol. 191 The Parliament of Paris erected the Palace and the colledge of Nauarre built fol. 192 Cause of warre in Flaunders and Guienne ibid. Occasions to renew the war with the English ib. A league betwixt Edward of England Guy of FlaÌ„ders the Emperour the Duke of Bar against Philip. fol. 193 Philip seizeth vpon the Earle of Flanders daughter ibid. The English affaires succeeded ill ibid. A great assembly of Princes against Philip. fol. 194 Pope Boniface enemy to Philip. ibid. The Pope makes a decree against Philip and hee prepares to defend himselfe fol. 195 Philip hauing admonished the Earle of Flanders of his dutie inuades his countrey and defeats the Flemmings seizeth vpon all Flanders the Earle beeing forsaken by his confederates ibid. Guy put into prison and Flanders annexed to the crowne of France fol. 196 The people of Flanders oppressed reuolt and ioyne with the Nobilitie and kill the French ibid. Battaile of Courteay famous for the great defeate of the French fol. 197. A notable affront done by Pope Boniface to Philip. ibid. Arrogancy of the Popes Nuntio fol. 198. Philip subdues and makes peace with the Flemmings ibid. Guy Earle of Flanders and his daughter died fol. 199. Isabell the daughter of Philip married to Edward king of England ibid. Adolph the Emperor deposed and the Pope practiseth against Philip ibid. Pope Boniface his death and disposition fol. 201 The Colledge of Cardinals apply themselues wholy to please Philip. ibid. Pope Clement the 5. crowned at Lyons and remooues his seate to Auignon ibid. Philips death and the fruites of the Easterne voyages fol. 202 The Christians loose all in the East fol. 203. The estate of Sicilia ibid. Lewis the 10. callâ—d Hutin the 47. king of France THe maners of Lewis Hutin his wiues f. 204 Enquerand of Maâ—â—gny vniustly put to death ib. Ione the daughter of Lewis Hutin pretends the realme fol. 205 The Parliament made ordinary ibid. Philip the 5. called the long the 48. king of France COntrouersie for the crown of France fol. 206 Philips coronation childreÌ„ disposition ibid. Rebels calling themselues Shepards fol. 207. Flanders pacified ibid. Charles the 4. called the faire 49. King of France CHarles crowned without opposition fol. 208 His disposition and issue ibid. Isabel complaines of her husband Edward king of England fol. 209 The second parcell of the third race of the Capets containing 13. kings