to point beginning with rigour and ending with mildnesse they take a contrary course They feared sayd they in their iuâ—â—ification that his Holynesse holding the Wolfe by the eares pressed on the one side sometimes with promises sometimes with threats by the Emperour and on the â—ther side in a maneâ— despairing euer to finde grace or fauour with the King should in tâ—e end cast himselfe into the Emperours armes and runne the same fortune with him To drawe him therefore to the French party they offer the Pope in the Kings name To make him Iudge and Arbitrator of such controuersies and quarrels as hee had with the Genouois the which his Maiestie pretended were not conteined in his renunciation And the better to drawe him The Cardinals meanes to win the Pope they renued without any speciall commission the proposition first made by Pope Leo and after reuiued by Clement of the marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with Katherine Daughter to the Duke of Vrbin This did greatly please Clement who then began to hold vp his head and resolued to strâ—ke whilest the Yron was hotte This match was wonderfull honourable and beneficiall for his Holinesse and helpt much for the ratifying and support of his house the which he had in singular regard The Emperour did presently discouer that vpon the comming of these Cardinals the Popes affection to him was greatly altered And vpon the first discouerie of this tâ—eatie of marriage hee imployes the Lordes of Cannes and Granuelle to breake it in fauour of Francis Sforce with the sayd Duchesse of Vrbin and to perswade â—â—e Pope that his practices was artificially brought in by the King to entertaine him onely but not with any intent to conclude it considering the great disparitie of their degrees and qualities and seeing theâ—e two Cardinalls said he had no sufficient authoritie touching this allyance it was an euident proofe of the fraude But by meanes of this marriage the King thought to strengthen his house and to get new footing in Italie and the Pope did thereby free himselfe from the feare of a Councell wherewith he was threatned from France Germanie and England While the Cardinals attend a Commission from his Maiestie to conclude this marriage the Emperour continued his pursute for the assurance and declaration of his league comprehending the estate of Genes And the better to vnite it he required his confederates to make a taxe among them for the pay of such Souldiars as should be fitte to entertaine in Italie for the peace and quiet thereof that the first paiment should bee presently consigned into the hands of a Banker of Genes and that the Emperour should not be tied to any contribution in regard of his great charge to resist the Turkes inuasion and to preuent the attempts of such as would trouble the common quiet of Italy whereof there was now great likelihood By the force of his perswasions the matter was in a maner concluded But through the liuely reasons of the French Cardinals and the Lord of Velly Ambassador for the King shewing That the Emperour had no other desseine but to entertaine his armie vpon the frontiers of Italie at other mens charges being ready to assaile the King vpon all occasions without any charge to himselfe and that without doubt the King hauing reason to looke to his affaires would incounter him with another armie on the frontiers of Italy in the Marquisate of Salusse or in Daulphiné which would breed no quiet but troubles and combustions throughout all Italy for two armies being neere they willingly fall to blowes they concluded not to make any consignation but that euery one of the confederates should taxe himselfe for his portion any warre chancing in Italy and should giue a caution for his part the which did amount to a hundred or sixe score thousand Crownes a moneth So the Emperour sent three thousand men out of his Armie into Spaine as many likewise to Naples and the rest he dismissed Then came authority from the King to the Cardinals his Ambassador with an expresse clause for the confirmation of the marriage And the Emperour seeing himselfe frustrate of his intent to make the Pope declare himselfe openly against the King he imbarked the 8. of Aprill at Genes and sailed towards Spaine the Pope 〈◊〉 towards Rome The Emperor râ—tâ—râ—s into Spaine whether the aboue named Cardinals did accompanie him alwayeâ—â—â—sisting by the Kings importunitie that the troubles of England might be pacified before the fall of that great storme which threatned the Churches But the King of England wearied with the Popes dissembling and delayes â—hâ—m he then called but Bishop of Rome vpon the matter of his diuorce he caused it t◠〈◊〉 decided by the English Church The Arch-bishop of Canterburie Primate of England being president where by sentenceof the said Church his marriage was declared voide The first motiue of the separation of England from the Church of Rome and the dispensation voide as giuen in a case that was not dispensable and which is not in the Popes power not in the Churches According to this sentence he left his first marriage and tooke to wife Anne Bullen and in her name did publish an ample Treatie against the authoritie and preheminences of the Church of Rome resolute to sequester himselfe wholy if the Court of Rome did him not iustice These newes being published the Emperour growes in choller threatens to raise all the world against England takes his Aunts cause in hand summons the Pope to administer the like iustice to her that was put away as her cause required if hee doth it not he protests with an oath to be reuenged The Colledge of Cardinalls stoâ—â—â—â— they enuiron the Pope and all with one voyce demand iustice against the attemâ—t◠〈◊〉 the King of England and the Archbishops hauing taken knowledge of a cause the deciding whereof belonged to Iudges deputed by his Holinesse His Holynesse desired to temporise and to make a more quiet end He did 〈◊〉 that proceeding to condemnation and hauing no meanes to execute it really were a fruitlesse enterprise and would make his Apostolick authoritie contemptible 〈◊〉 no meanes to put it in execution without the Emperours assistance besides they â—ad a great let which was the strict alliance of the most Christian King with the 〈◊〉 who ioyning their mutuall forces offensiue and defensiue might ingage all Câ—â—istâ—ndome in more mortall warres then euer Notwithstanding in the end as well tâ— gratifie the Emperour as his Cardinalls The Pope censures the King of England he pronounced his censures against the King â—f England if within a certaine time he made not reparation of the sayd attempts Tâ—en he prepared for his enterview with the King notwithstanding all the crosses 〈◊〉 the Imperialls gaue him transforming themselues into as many shapes as Proteus 〈◊〉 draw him from this resolution all which are to be read in the Originals Nice had beene appointed for this effect
is in Hungary in the midest of many discomodities which he holds pleasing for Gods cause but before he goes he giues them occasion to talke of him in the Court of Parliament He had a cause pleaded there and his Aduocate gaue him the quality of a Prince Seruin the Kings Aduocate holding it a base preuarication to be silent at that which ought to be spoken for the Kings seruice and the Lawe of State did shew that that quality did not belong to any but to Princes of the bloud The Duchesse of Mercure who was then in presence sayd that they could not take from her Husband a quality that was due vnto him by the right of his birth and that the King held him so The Duke Mercure holding that which the Kings Aduocate had sayd in discharge of his duty for a brauado and a contempt went the same day vnto his house and gaue him iniurious words The King being aduertised thereof held it a bold act The Court esteemed the iniury done vnto them desired the more to repaire it for that the honor of the Kings seruice was wronged and that it had bin done in sight of the ParliameÌ„t of the Capital Citty of the Realme in his house that was wronged the which should be to euery man an inuiolable Sanctuary The Court decreed that he should be personally adiorned and had proceeded further if the Kings commandement had not stayd them It was a great vertue in the President Lizet when he decreed that the quality of Prince which the Cardinall of Lorraine tooke should be raized out of his Aduocates pleadings The Cardinall complayned vnto the King but the President Lizet answered with sutch Courage and Constancy before the King beeing in Councell that the Cardinall was no Prince nor equall to Princes if you will sayeth he vse it shew vs the place of your Principality A free speech which purchased the old man much reputatioÌ„ In the yeâ—re 1598. yet within two yeares after he made him resigne his place vnder an other pretext There was no Nobleman in France that vsed the benefit of the Peace more worthily theÌ„ the Duke Mercure for disdayning the idlenesse of the Court and the ease of his house hee imployed himselfe to succor the Christians against the greatest enemy of their Religion He leads with him the Count of Chaligny his brother with some gentlemen at his owne charge resoluing to imploy his Goods as well as his Life in this holy warre hauing vowed to serue Christendome two yeares at his owne charge Hee shewed himselfe a great Captaine as well to defend as to assaile hauing kept the enemy with an army of a hundred and fifty thousand men from beseeging of Strigonia this was in his first voiage before whose returne the Emperour desired to see him What pâ—st in Hungary and intreated him to take his way by Prague After the raysing of the seege of Buda or Belgrade the Christian army was dismissed sent to Garâ—isons Buda receiued a new Bascha The Knights of Comorre at the beginning had defeated part of the troupes which were come to coÌ„duct accoÌ„pany the Bascha they spoiled a Ship being laden with spoile they returned to their coÌ„panions The Turke sent fiue Shippes to Buda and changed aâ— the Estate and one of the Baschas which had beene there during the seege who had bene of opinion to yeeld the place was punished It was thought the Bascha of Agria would haue giuen some notable attempt hauing made great preparation for Warre in diuers places and prouided three hundred barrells of poulder Those of Sigeth on the other side hauing made Souldiars Coates of the Germaine fashion thought to surprize the Christians but they fayled being discouered The Tartares The Tartares demand a peace which adhere vnto the Turke by his commandement spoyled the Country vpon the riuer of Hipolis and fell vpon Peste Zolnâ—ek and Hattouan Townes subiect vnto the Turke who being tired with their courses and exhausted of money by the great warres hee had against the Persian hee resolued to demaund a Peace of the Emperour The Tartares came to make this demand at Vienna in the beginning of February who being adressed vnto the Arch-duke Mathias they had no answer The Tartares reuenge for being contemned The Tartares defeated by Palfi but returned as they came by reason of the spoile their men made this request was not reported vnto the Emperour nor vnto the Court at Prague In the meane time the Tartare made a furious reuenge hauing surprised the Citty of Tolice and put all to fire and sword they slue all within it that were of mans age and had done worse if the Lord of Palfi had not made head against them and slaine some among others three Captaines who choose rather to bee slaine then to yeeld except one Vallet who demanded his life and was saued They of Ratzen with all their men retired vnto the Mountaines to auoide the fury of the Tartares but they of Crabatzen resisted them brauely and tooke one of their Captaines Those of Vaxence vnto Buda defeated a great number being gone to freeboote neere to Palaner Meugrade and Zetschen but the rest of the Tartares hauing notice thereof burnt aboue thirty villages neere vnto Calon which had like to haue beene taken and Laomare also if it had not beene well manned but they durst not sally forth for that the enemy was aboue 12. thousand The Fort of Canisia was also burnt at that time whereas the soldiars and the Inhabitants lost all their baggage mouables About that time the garrison of Strigonia defeated a Conuoy tooke a great Booty Orsipetre the Gouernors Lieutenant got much welth and honor among other things he had a Gowne of cloath of Tissue of Gold and Siluer which was sent to the Bascha and knowing that the Fort of Wailes was fallen hee enters it and defeats the garrison with the Aga which is the Gouernor and deliuered them of Bischir The Heiducks which are horsemen led away 800. Sheepe which did greatly releeue Strigonia In the meane time there happened a great alteration in Transiluania the Vauoide Sigismond who had before accepted a recompence of the Emperour to deliuer Transiluania into his hands hauing gonne from his word What past in Transiluania hee prest the Emperour by the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and by Stephen Paschay his Chancellor to restore him Transiluania againe And without attending any answer he goes thether in post takes it againe and makes his Cousine Andrew Battâ—ry the Cardinall to sweare fealty vnto him the which he did also cause George Balte to approue being then at Cassouia in heigh Hungary Generall of the Emperours army who was therein surprized for hee gaue him to vnderstand that it was for the good of Christendome and in the meane time Cardinal Andrew treated with the Turke by safe conduct The Emperour sent Doctor Petzen thether but coÌ„ming to Thorne the Principall Towne
storme The cause grewe from a decree of the Court giuen against Solyciters and by the Kings authority and expresse commandement who before hee parted from Paris to passe the Easter at Fontainbleau sent for the cheefe of the Court of Parliament and of all the other Courtes to recommend their charges vnto them From whose owne mouth they vnderstoode howe much hee desired that all the Iustice might bee administred with lesse charge and lesse losse of time The Spices is 〈◊〉 vnto Iudges vpon euery 〈◊〉 that is iudged dâ—â—iniâ—iuely in France That there was no Iustice for them that had no money so excessiue were the Iudges Spices and the Soliciters fees The Court of Parliament desiring that according to the Kings minde intention and last comâ—â—unde the excesse whereof they complayned against the Soliciters might bee reduced to a meane and iust temper assembled to redresse those disorders The opinions beeing heard and numbred against Aduocates the first President sheweing that a reformation was as necessary in Iudges as in Soliciters The 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â—â— against 〈◊〉 In the ende 2 decree was made by the which it was ordeyned and apointed that euer Soliciter should set downe vnder his hande in the ende of his writtings what hee had taken for his owne fees to the ende that in case of excesse it might bee moderated when as the Court should proceede to iudgement of the processe Moreouer they should giue a certificate what they had taken for the pleading of causes to be set downe in the taxe of charges all vpon paine of extorsion The Law was not made against the good but onely to restraine the auarice of others who preferre the oportunitie of taking before all reprehension All notwithstanding did oppose themselues against the execution of this Law saying that they would rather leaue their places then subiect themselues to the rigour of the Decree and do so great a wrong to the Dignity and Liberty of their profession The Court made an other Law whereby it was decreed that such as would not pleade should deliuer their names vnto the Register A second decree against Soliciters after the which they were forbidden to practise as Soliciters vppon paine of falshood This second decree was pronounced in open Assembly in the house of the Kings Attornie generall The next day there went out of the Chambers of Consultation by two and two to the number of three hundred and seuen they past through the Pallace hall went to the Register to giue vp their hoods and to declare that they obeyed the second decree seeing they could not obey the first From that time the Pallace was without pleading the Soliciters being busied to defend themselues setting downe al the reasoÌ„s they could for their iustification yet could they not mooue the Court to reuoake or change the Decree they were forced to haue recourse vnto the King who to reconcile this diuision which happened vpon a day which reuiued the memorie of a greater trouble hee sent his letters to the Parliament in tearmes conformable to his Iustice and the wisedome of his Councell By the which it was lawfull for Soliciters to exercise their functions as they had done before the sayd Decree inioyning them notwithstanding to obserue the ordinance made at Blois in that behalfe in the 161. Article The parties which had sutes did languish in expectation of this declaration As they complayned of the corruption so they suffered the inconueniencie of the remedie The Court which had made many iust and seuere Lawes against Combats An â—idict against Combats confirmed the Edict which the King made at Blois Before his Maiesties departure from Fontainbleau hee had commanded the Constable Chancellor Marshalls of France and the cheefe of his Councell to deuise some meanes to suppresse the libertie of Combats being so iniurious and preiudiciall to his estate By their aduise an Edict was made by the which they that call or are called or which assist or seconds him that calls or is called are declared guiltie of high Treason and to bee punished according to the rigour of the Lawes Commanding the Constable Marshals of France Gouernours and Lieutenants generall of Prouinces to preuent Combats and to forbid them vpon paine of death to iudge absolutly as they shall thinke good of all that concernes the reparation of wronges and to force them that are condemned to satisfie by imprisonment The King effected his busines happely in Poâ—tou The King his voyage into Poâ—â—ou in three weâ—kes hee found so great an obedience and affection in them to please him as hee remained very well satisfied His Maiestie left so many testimonies in all places of his bounty as all had cause to prayse him and to blame their practises which sought to trouble the peace The Duke of Biron did not thinke the King should haue found so great obedience and loue among his subiects of that Prouince He had sent some of his seruants to Court to learne how the market went and to shew the discontent he had foâ— the iealousie which was conceiued of his Faith and Dutie The King sends for the Duke of Biron The King who was well informed of his intelligences with the Count of Fuentes reâ—olued to see him and to keepe him from his enemies Hee sent Descures vnto him with charge to say that hauing intelligence of the great Leuies of souldiars made in Italie he had resolued to maintaine the body of an army vpon the froÌ„ter to giue the charge vnto him and to that end he had coÌ„manded DeVic his Ambassador in Suisse to demand a speedy leuy of 6000. men to cause theÌ„ to march wher he should haue directioÌ„s that therein hee followed the Councell of the Constable his gossip whose aduice he sent him in writing and desired to haue his by mouth conâ—uring him to come with speede He stirres not for al that excusing himselfe sometimes vpon the holding of the Estates sometimes that the enemy being so neere it were an act vnworthy of his reputation to turne his backe abandon the Frontier The King sent the PresideÌ„t â—anin a man powerfull in perswasion The President 〈◊〉 sent vnto him who comming to Dijon gaue the Duke to vnderstand howe much the King desired to see him and how necessary this sight was and among many discourses applyed fitly to his humour hee let him knowe the Kings strength and the length of his Arme. This was not able to mooue him He considered that the Duke of Biron must bee perswaded to this voyage by him that was all of his Councell â—home he assured that as he should haue all the Honour of this perswasion Diuers aduises 〈◊〉 to the Duke of Biâ—on so he could expeâ—t nothing but disgrace and ruine of a contrary councell His friends notwithstanding did conâ—ure him not to come one of his best friends sent him word by his Brother that his Gouernment was disposed of and that for his last hope he
For what is a Royaltie but the image of a fathers command the loue honour and obedience which children beare towards their parents bee the effects of the lawe of nature figured in their hearts A father commands ouer many children who although they bee planted in diuers parts as wee see in the peopling of great familyes yet all returne to the chiefe stock or stemme all acknowledge and honour the father all obey him while he liues by a more voluntary obedience for that it is meerely naturall Behold the patterne of a ciuill gouernement To apply it to our subiect it appeares the first man had this naturall authoritie euen as wee see it at this day As mankinde multiplyed into diuers families so this multitude had neede of a greater gouernement Man cannot liue alone society consists in commandement and obedience From this fountaine a royaltie springs 425. Looke what is done in a family the like is in a state by the same force of nature one commands and is obeied There this naturall respect is that bond of lawfull obedience So here in like sort whereas the commandement of one giues lawe to all for that the lawe of nature hath power ouer all it doth authorize this respect in the hearts of subiects by a voluntary obedience to their Kings as to their fathers And as wee neede not to be taught to honour father and mother So who is so vnkind that wil make any question to honour the Prince vnder whom hee is borne It is that which the originall of the first truth doth teach vs Honour father and mother not onely to tie vs to them that gaue vs life but to those that make vs to liue happily in the common societie of mankinde that is to the father in the house and to the King in the state as the father of our fathers Thus a Roialty is the most antient and best forme of gouernment when as the King is Father of his people according to the ordinance of nature as we shal shew else where at better leasure I hope this smal digression shal be excused for the necessity of the subiect A Roialty then is the Image of a fathers authoritie How can a father then whom God hath giuen by the course of nature be chosen by his children A succâ—sâ—iue Roiaâ—tâ—e is the best If to liue well according to nature and by consequence that which proceeds from nature be the best who doubts but a Roialtie the which God hath giuen vs by the law of State the soueraigne law of societie wherein wee are borne is without doubt better then that which depends on the tumultuous factions of people Thus much for reason Now let vs see what Authority saies By authoritie which speaks plainly in the goodliest estate oâ— the world which was the comon weale of Israel wherin God had planted his church as his most pretious iewel Truly the lawful Royaltie of the house of Dauid hath bin hereditarie successiue from father to sonne and from Cousin to the nearest kinsman A paterne whereby to frame a perfect estate farre better then the common weale of Plato who notwithstanding hath respected the bloud Royall in the race of Kings with great prerogatiue moued thereunto by the force of nature to acknowledge the best forme of gouernment in an hereditary succession whereas one is borne to commaund an other to obey I will dilate no more of so rich and ample a subiect hauing onely coated that which is necessarie for the circumstance of my purpose By experience But what shall wee say of Experience the mistres of fooles What is hee but may thereby feele the visible proofs of this truth Doubtles those Countries and States which haue kept this libertie to choose their Kings do often feele to their costs the tumultuous fruites of their elections striuing with much paine to maintaine this priuilege against the lawes of nature postiâ—g from nation to nation with much toyle and small profiâ— searching for that a farre off which they might easily finde at home and for the avoiding of tumults which might growe among equall Competitors they procure vnto themselues infinite troubles the which they might auoide in receiuyng of him willingly whome God should cause to be borne among them with a lawfull authority But some will obiect that which we cannot deny to haue beene practised in two Races That the French had in former times authority to place and displace their Kings as appeares aswell by the Kings Chosen by Parliament In old time at the reception of a new king they vsed to caâ—rie him vppon a target in a publike aâ—â—emblie which were borne vpon targets as also by the famous examples of Pepin and Hughe Capet Wherevnto the answere is true and plaine that this consent was but the seale of the naturall prerogatiue due to the race of our lawfull Kings and their dissallowing a declaration of their base slouthfulnesse vnworthy of that naturall prerogatiue wherewith they were honored in their birth and from the which they did degenerate in liuing ill And as we see in the succession of Kings the neerest allied holds the other by the hand so in these two alterations when as necessitie forced the French to change their King as when the like necessitie constraineth the children to giue their furious father a tutor wee may obserue that they haue alwayes made choise of men neerest to the blood royall preferring vertue before a maske of Authoritie corrupted with vice the publique good before the priuate interest of a vitious man reteyning nothing but the name of his noble race 426. They haue preserued as much as they could their naturall respect to the bloud royall The lawe made the King that is his birth But the law of nature The prerogatiue of a Kâ—ng is nothing impaired by the peoples consâ—nt at his last recâ—ption fâ—lâ—owed by the law of nations and the free consent of the people hath not beene the cause but the very effect of this naturall authoritie So this royall authoritie is limited and ruled by the souereigne law of State which doth so aduance the head aboue all the members of the bodie as they may not be separated For what is a King without subiects but a head without members the King preserues his estate as the head doth the bodie But as the head from whence life proceeds to the bodie liues with the bodie so the King who preserues the estate by his authoritie is preserued in the estate by the consent of his subiects In this inseparable vnion hee doth fortifie his power by theirs and his commaund with their voluntary obedience Plato sayes that Authoritie not subiect to controulment is pernitious to him that commaunds and to them that are commaunded It is a lawfull and profitable restraint for Kings and the necessary counterpoyse of their authoritie This lawe will haue euery member to hold his place in the bodie of a State And by consequence
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
bee vnknowne to the French What a drowsines had it beene in so wise circumspect a nation to suffer themselues to be abused by a new-come Prince and by so grosse a pollicie to drawe themselues into apparent combustion which hung ouer their heads in preferring the French before the English who had then so good a portion in France where hee possessed the goodliest and richest prouinces How vnsound is this policy to imagine that a poor Prince Count of Valois hauing to do with a rich King of England who encountred the Frenchmens minds with an intestine force by the golden vertue of his Angels could haue abused such as were kept in their obedience by the force of right and reason for the preseruation of the Crowne of France their Countrie Who sees not but it had beene the ouerthrowe of Philip of Valois cause to say that hee had forged a law at his pleasure to exclude the lawfull heire and her ofspring from her right Truely the good cause of Philip of Valois made him victorious against the forces of Edward King of England and the auncient reuerence to him 430. authorized by a continuall vse and receiued by the common consent of the French reiected gold to respect the order of right for the benefit of the lawfull heire These French lawes were called Saliques of the riuer Sal which is in Franconia Etimologie of the word Salique or East Franco it ioynes with Mein and is not yet dryed vp It is neyther new nor extraordinary for people to deriue their names from Mountaines or Riuers and to shewe an example springing from the same thing by noting the Riuers The Country where the Citty of Paris is seated not onely the chiefe of this great realme but the Theatre of the whole world if by a happy peace she may recouer her ancient beauty is called the Isle of France for the concurse of diuerse riuers which ioyne with Seine and to this end the ship the armes of our chiefe Cittie shewes the oportunity of these goodly riuers Who can with reason reiect the apparency of this likely-hood That as our ancestors remayning alongst the riuer of Sal were called Saliens so the name hath continued to posteritie the which for the like reason are called Ripuaires as made for the commodity and vse of the dwellers vpon that banck the which they likewise called Ripuaires or Ribberots Truely long time after Conrad of Franconie the Emperour was called Salique to marke his beginning in that Country by the ancient name Thus much for the word But the inuiolable Maximes and Principles of the state of France the consent of all the true ancient writers the prescription of so many ages the generall approbation of all the French nation should make vs hold this Salique lawe for certaine without seeking for new opinions not onely weake and vnprofitable but insupportable in the state where the olde prouerb must stand for an oracle Remoue not the stâ—ane well layed Thus hauing briefely set downe the principall lawes of the state of France I will returne to the course of my history Thus hee raigned thus he liued and thus died Pharamond the first King of France Death of Pharamond leauing for hereditary successor of his Realme his sonne Clodion according to the right of lawe and King in effect by consent of the French This age was the sincke of Babarous nations by whome God would iustly punish the vniust pride of the Râ—mains The greatest parte came out of Asia staying first in Germany and from thence like Caterpillers or Grassehoppers â—read themselues ouer Gaule Italie and Spaine that is to say the Goths or Getes Alans Hunnes Sueues others from the North the Bourguignons Normans and Lombards We must know the Chaunge of these nations for the vse of his history But it sufficeth to touch them briefly in their places without cloying our chiefe subiect with a cumbersome discourse 431. CLODION or CLOION the hairy 2. King of France CLODION·KING OF FRANCE .2 CLODION the sonne of Pharamond succeeded his father in the yeare 431. and raigned one and twenty yeares The first attempâ— of Clâ—dâ—oâ— He laboured to follow his fathers course and to settle himselfe in Gaule but hauing transported certaine troupes which made a happy beginning passing to the couâ—trâ—es of Cambresie and Tournay betwixt the riuers of Somme and â—scout behold a furious mulâ—itude oâ— diuers nations assembled toâ—eâ—her of â—andales Alans Sueues and Burgâ—ignons iealous to see this great and warlâ—â—e people follow their steps in the conquest of a land not onely â—et to â—ale but abandoned in the disorders of the Romaine Empire oppoâ—ed themselues against them The French not able to withstand â—o great vnited forces retyred themselues into their Country oâ— Franconia To this iealousie was added the practise of Stillico Lieutenant generall tâ— Honorius Emperour of the West who easily ingaged these Nations seeking for woâ—ke against the French laboured by all meanes to crosâ—e them and to possesse â—imselâ—e of Gaule yet the successe did not fitte his desseigne for being preuented by Honorius his maister he was slaine with his sonne Euâ—herius whom he had appointed absolute heire of that goodly portion But the prouidence of God had left it in prey to these great and victorious Nations being come from diuers parts of the world to diuide the Empire Thus confusion preuailed by his authority who had most interest in the practises of Stillico who in taking Gaule for himselfe reteined still the Romaine name being ouerthrowne by Honorius The deluge of these barbarous nations oâ—erflowed all Gaule which from yeare to yeare was replenished with new guests The Bourguignons had already seized on a great part with the title of a kingdome whereof Arles was the chiefe Citty The Goths possessed Gaule Narbonnoise 440. euen by the Emperours consent who granted what he could not take from them with promise to passe no further So this victorious nation dispersed in diuerse places in Italy Gaule and Spaine were called by sâ—ndry names Wisigoths and Ostrogoths according to the place where they were planted by their great multitudes and valour Such was the disorder of the Romaines who in their seasons had subdued the whole world by their victorious armes These tempests and stormes raigned during the Empires of the two brethren Arcadius and Honorius the one commanding in the East The estate of the Empâ—re and the other in the West of Theodosius the second sonne to Arcadius and in the beginning of Vâ—lentinian the third a vitious and vnhappy Prince The raigne of Clodion fell out in those times not greatly memorable but to obserue his resolutions and manly endeuours to settle and increase the conquests of his father but with no successe Thus great and heroicall enterprises haue often stayes and lets in the beginning or such difficult crosses as they seeme quite suppressed Aetius a Romaine borne succeeded Stillico for the Emperour in that which
Flaunders and Normandie Clodamyr King of Orleans and the estates of this realme were all the Duchie of Orleans Bourgongne Lionois Daulphiné and Prouence Thierri was King of Mets and to his realme were subiect the Country of Lorraine and all the Countries from Rheims vnto the Rhin and beyond it all Germany which was the auncient patrimony of the Kings of France Hee was receiued in this royall portion with his bretheren although hee were a bastard the which hath beene likewise practized by others in the first line And as euery one of these foure Kings called himselfe King of France so they also added the name of their principall Citty where they held their Court. Thus they called them by speciall title Kings of the Cittie where they had their residence And in truth euery one caried himselfe as King in the Countries vnder his obedience not acknowledging the elder but by mouth onely As the plurality of Masters is a plague in an estate so is it miraculous that the realme had not beene ruined by so many Kings especially amidst such monstrous confusions Horrible confusion among brethren which then reigned full of treacheries cruelties and parricides I tremble to enter into this labyrinth the which I will but passe ouer measuring the Readers sorrowe by my griefe in reading and writing these tragicall confusions But let vs obserue things by order After these foure brethren had peaceably made their diuisions and taken lawes of their owne accord in the yeare 515. according to the most approued calculation they marry their sister Clotilde to Almaric sonne to Alaric King of the Vuisigoths who had recouered a good part of Languedoc the which Clouis had taken from his father and by this marriage they yeeld vnto him the Cittie of Toulouse But this alliance was the cause of great diuisions and ruine Ambition and Couetousnes good Counsellers of state made euery one to conceiue as great a kingdome for himselfe as that of his father perswading them to attempt any thing to bee great Bourgongne was quietly returned into the possession of Gondebaults children Sigismond had the name of King as the elder and Gondemar a portion Clodomyr King of Orleans as nearest neighbour castes his eyes vpon this goodly Country although hee had no cause of pretension but onely conueniency Yet hee findes a colour to beginne this quarrell The rights pretended by his mother Clotilde issued from the house of Bourgongne and the zeale of Iustice to chastise Sigismond for that he had slaine his eldest sonne to please his second wife and her Children Clodomir takes and is taken He enters into Bourgongne with a mighty army seizeth on Sigismond his wife and children brings them to Orleans and there castes them all into a well Thus God punished the cruelty of Sigismond an vnkinde father by a cruell and disloyall hand Clodomir presumed that he had conquered all hauing slayne the King of Bourgongne But the Bourguignons incensed with this crueltie confirme Gondemar in his brothers seate and leauy an army to defend him against Clodomir The armies ioyne Clodomir puft vp with this first successe promysing vnto himselfe a second triumph thrusting himselfe rashely into his enemies troupes is slayne with a Lance and is knowne by his long haire the marke of Kings and Princes of the bloud as wee haue said The Bourguignons cut off his head pearch it on the top of a Lance and make shewe thereof to the French in derision who retire themselues after the death of their Generall But Childebert Clotaire his brethren returne into Bourgongne with a strong army force Gondemar to flie into Spaine leauing them free possession of 〈◊〉 reâ—â—me the which was their proiect rather then the reueÌ„ge of their brothers death 〈◊〉 was dâ—â—ided among the brethren as a coÌ„mon prey all the realme of Bourâ—â—â—â—â—â— is therin coÌ„â—rehended Thierri King of Metz had his part but the poore children 〈◊〉 are not only excluded Cruelty of brethren but two of them are barbarously slaine by the cruel commaundement of their vnnaturall Vncles 520. and they say that Clotaire slewe one of them with his owne hands Cruelâ—â—e of bretheren in the presence of Childebert the other was thrust into a monastery This confusion was followed by two others Thierri King of Metz making warre against them of Turinge called his brother Clotaire to his aide being repulâ—ed at the first by the force of that nationâ— aided by his brother he preuailes and the vanquished stands at the mercy of the conquering bretheren but behold they fall to quarrell for the spoile Thus the ende of a forein warre was the beginning of a ciuill dissention betwixt them Warre betwixt the bretheren They leauie forces with intent to ruine one another Childebert ioynes with his brother Thierri against Clotaire Such was the good gouernment of these bretheren as desire and ambition did counsell them They are in armes ready to murther one another As their armies stood in field ready to ioyne behold a goodly cleere day ouercast sodenly with such darkenesse that all breakes out into lightening thunder and violent stormes so as the armies were forced to leaue the place and by this aduertisement as it were from heauen An admirable reconcilement these Kings assembled to shed blould change their mindes and turne their furious hatred into brotherly concord Thus God the protector of this estate hath watched ouer it to preserue it euen when as they sought to ruine it and that men hastened to their owne destructions But from thence the vnited bretheren passe into Languedoc against Almariâ— King of the Visigoths their brother in lawe The cause of their quarrell came from their sister Clotilde maried to this Gothe as we haue said so as she which should be the vniting of their loues was the cause of their bloudy dissention She was a Christian and hee an Arrian This difference in religion was cause of the ill vsage shee receiued from her husband and his subiects These bretheren incensed by the complaint and calling of their sister enter into Almarics Country with their forces who hauing no meanes to resist seekes to saue himselfe but he is taken and brought before his brethren in lawe by whose commaundement he was slaine Thus Childebert and Thierri hauing spoyled the treasure and wasted the Country of their confederates returne into France accompained with their sister but shee died by the way inioying litle the fruite of her vnkinde impatience although shadowed with the cloake of inconsiderate zeale Thierri dies soone after leauing Theodebert his son heir both of his Realme and of his turbulent and ambitious humour A part of Bourgongne was giuen him with the title of a King the which he left to his sonne and as a chiefe legacie the hatred he did beare to his brother Clotaire King of Soissons As soone as he sees himselfe King by the decease of his father hee takes part with his Vncle Childebert King of Paris against
Countrie finding more safetie at Rome then in other citties of Italie retyred themselues thither and peopled the Cittie So by this occasion newe Rome the seat of the Popes iurisdiction succeeding the Emperours hath beene built within old Rome amidst the Pallaces walkes Basiliques Coliâ—ees Amphytheatres and other ancient buildings But aboue all the credit and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome by these new occurrents crept in by degrees vntil he aduanced hiâ—selfe aboue the Emperours Kings Princes of Christendome yet he of Constantinople held himselfe the Superior being in the proper seat of the Empire and in the light of the Imperiall Court Thus they fall to debate Contention for the Priemacie and the cause of their dissentions was the preheminence of their seas and the authoritie of the vniuesall Bishop This contention bred infinite confusions in the Church and in an vnseasonable time which inuited men to sacke and spoyle So as S. Gregorie Bishop of Rome a man of singular pâ—etâ—e learning hauing couragiously opposed himselfe against Iohn Bishop of Constantinople who affected this title of vniueâ—sall Bishop and detesting so vnreasonable and vnseasonable an ambition cries out Oh times oh manners the whole world is set on fire with warre Christians are euerie where massacred by Idolaters A worthie speech 〈◊〉 S. Gregorie Citties and Temples razedby Barbarians and yet the pastors of the Church as it were treading vnder foot the common calamitie of Gods people dare vsurpe names of vanitie and braue it with thâ—se prophane titles The reader curious to vnderstand the Estates of those times and to note the degrees and authoritie of this vniuersall Bâ—shop established in the Church may read the epistles of this good father great in name and in effect without troubling my selfe to â—et them downe in particular whose intention was to shew That who so taketh vpon him the authoritie and title of vniuersall Bishop in the Church and to haue any Soueraigne preheminence presumes aboue Iesus Christ the onely head of the sacred bodie of the Church Hee that takes on him the title 〈◊〉 vniuâ—rsâ—ll 〈◊〉 is the 〈◊〉 oâ— Antichrist and by consequence he doth affirme that he is the foâ—erâ—nner of Antichrist And yet after these graue and serious admonitions of Saint Gregorie the great within tenne yeares after Boniface the third obteined from Phocas the Emperour the title of vniuersall Bishop with authoritie ouer the vniuersall Church as Platina the Popeâ— Secretary doth reâ—ort To this quarrell for the Supremacie was added the controuersie for images which caused infinite confusions Dispute for Images the â—mperours and Bishops were banded one against another and by their dissentions the people were stirred vp to seditious reuolts the which aâ—ter many Tragicall euents were a meane to ruine the Empire of the East It was a popular custome to erect Images to those whome they would honour as hauing deserued well of the Common weale Christians desiring to honour the memorie of holy men began to set vp images euen for them also following this ciuill custome and did erect them in Temples as places consecrated to deuotion Some Bishops â—auored this new deuice in the Church and others did impugne it Epiphanius did teare a picture in peeces Images at the 〈◊〉 a politike 〈◊〉 and Serenus did beat downe an image the one in the Eâ—st the other in the West The Christians borne and bred in this ancient doctrine of the Apostles My children beware of Images maintainâ—d in the Catholike Church by succession from father to sonne could not digest this innouation no more could the Emperours Hence grew the dissention the greatest part of the Bishops holding the contrarie That it was a part of the seruice of God and a bond to retayne mens soules in deuotion with reuerence This contention grew in the time of the Emperour Philippicus called Bardanes who by an Edict caused them to be throwne downe in the yeare of grace 713. the which continued to 782. vnder Constantin the second called Copronimus an enemie to images who commaunded them to bee cast downe contraâ—y to the liking of his mother Irene who not onely maintained them with violence but also caused them to be confirmed by a Councel held at Nicee a Cittie in Bithinia seeing 〈◊〉 at Constantinople where shâ— had made the conuocation of this Ecclesiasticall Assembly the people were resolute to withstand them Hence grew an execrable Tragedie in the Imperiall Court Irene seing her sonne resolute against her deâ—ence oâ— Iâ—ages was so transported as hauing seized on him in his chamber she caused his eyes to be put out so as dying with greefe she vsurps the Empire Through this bad gouernment Tragicall crueltie of a mother against her soâ—ne confusion so increased in the East as in the end necessitie made the way for Charlemagne to take vpon him the dignitie and title of the Emperour of the West and to preserue prouinces in those parts from the disorders of the Grâ—â— Emperours as wee may see in the continuance of tâ—is Historie I am bound to obserue these so notable occurrents in those times as belonging to the subiect of my Historie to represent truely both the Estate of the Empire and of the Church when as Charlemagne vndertooke the gouernement of the Empire and vnited it happily to the French Monarchie The wise reader may verifie more plainly in the Originalls from whence I haue drawne this Inuentorie what I haue briefly set downe here touching the occurents of those ages wherein the Oracle of holy antiquitie was verified by the end of these straÌ„ge Tragedies The truth is lost by contending The first simplicitie of the Catholike Church being rich in her pouertie by the abundance of truth conteined since the golden age of the Apostles and their Dâ—sciples was changed into rich and stately pompe the Crownes of martirdome wherewith the fiâ—st Bishops of Rome had beene honoured into a triple Crowne Estate of the ancieÌ„t church which not onely hath and doth giue Lawes to the Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth but doth tread them vnder foot dispossesse them of their estates Insolencie of Popâ—s at this day and declares them incapable of rule when they obey him not and for a marke of this soueraigne authoritie hee makes them to kisse his feet in token of the homage of deuotion and spirituall reuerence as hauing power ouer soules to iudge of all men and all things soueraignly and not to bee iudged by any as the circumstances of our historie wil shew in diuerse places This was the Estate both of the Empire and of the Church vnto the death of Pepin the short the first King of the second race in the yeare 750. or thereabouts CHARLES the Great or CHARLEMAGNE the 24. King of France From the yeare 768. vnto the yeare 814. CHARLES THE GREAT KING OF FRANCE XXIIII 768. THE Estates of France assemble after the death of Pepin and by their consents and aduice
of the Realme being very carefull to entertaine their loues Richard Duke of Normandie was one of his most confident friends whom hee had gratified mainteining him in the possession of his estate Hee receiued requitall of this good turne with interest in the person of Hugh his sonne to seate him in the royall throne as our History shall declare But all these aduantages were not onely crowned with a goodly and great offspring but also with a sonne endowed with singular graces both of body and minde Hee had sixe Sonnes and two Daughters The offspring of Hugues the great but his eldest was the chieâ—e heire of his name vertue authority credit and happinesse with such successe as he made perfect the worke his father had begun Hee was named Hugues and by surname Capet eyther for that he had a great head He was called Capitosus or that being young hee was accustomed to catch at his companions cappes as a presage of that hee should do to Kings Othâ— and Henry two other sonnes of Hugues were Dukes of Bourgongne one after another his other sonnes were aduanced to Ecclesiasticall dignities the one Archbishop of Tholouse the other of Rouan and the third dyed young One of his Daughters was married to the Duke of Normandie the other to Frederike Earle of Metz. Hee had taken his first wife from England the Daughter of King Edward and sister to Queene Ogina the wife of Charles the Simple mother to Lewis the fourth and although he had no children by her yet did he carefully preserue the friendship of this allyance and before his death he chose a wife out of this great house for Hugh Capet his eldest sonne the which was Adelais the daughter of King Edward Thus he fortified his greatnesse by all meanes the which raised his posterity to the royall throne purchasing credit both within and without the Realme by all meanes fitte to establish a great family These were the ordinary proceedings which humaine pollicie being the gift of God and a branch of his wisdome in those that he will blesse leauing the wretched plonged in their wretchednesse by their owne indiscretion doth vsually prescribe to wise and carefull men But Hugues the great had another benefit which surmounted all these his great meanes or the force of his friendships and alliances hauing a sonne capable of iudgement for great attempts fit for the time brought vp and instructed by himselfe To conclude all things were so disposed in France as they must necessarily receiue him for King Necessity the generall consent both of great and small and a meanes to preserue the Crowne from ruine the which hee alone could effect But if the French were forward in seeking to him Hugues was so much the more incouraged to imbrace so great and famous a dignity And in the execution of this generous desseigne hee carried himselfe with so great wisdome moderation and dexteritye as wee may well say that God called him as it were from heauen There remayned nothing but an orderly proceding to that which reason presented vnto them Hugues beganne with the greatest who had a speciall interest to preserue what they held Hugh Capets proceeding to attaine the Crowne He treated mildly with them for the coÌ„mon necessitie The condition was To leaue them all that by inheritance which they held of the Crowne by title of office and they to do homage and acknowledge him for their lawfull King Thus was the accord made betwixt the Nobilitie of France Hugh Capet profitable for the great meÌ„ necessarie for the people honorable for Hugues beneficial for the realme for by this meane the realme was maintained in one bodie vnder the authoritie of one absolute Commaunder Hugues was well furnished hauing a sonne capable of the realme which was hereditarie The better sort had what they could desire for them or theirs A Parlement called at Noyon â—or the election of Hugh Capet and the people remayned in quiet after so many miseries Things being thus disposed on all sides the Parliament assembles at Noyon whither they runne from all parts and both necessitie and desire to winne his fauour to whome reason should assigne the Realme brought all the citties and made such hast thither as sought to settle their priuat estates by this publike authoritie Hugh failes not likewise to call all his friendes to reape the frute so long sought for with so great paine and trauaile both by himselfe and his father and now to imploy them as in a day of battaile The assembly was great by the concurse of all the Prouinces and Citties of the Realme which repaired thither It was the more famous for that in shew the French offâ—red the Realme to Capet as if hee had not affected it As things passe in this sort Charles Duke of Lorraine well aduertised of the Frenchmens intent the desseignes of Hugh labours to preuent him and being resolued to imploy all his forces hee begins first by admonitions but so ill seasoned as it made the way more easie for Capet for hee sends his Ambassadors to the assembly of the States not to intreat them to receiue him into their fauours Charles sends his Ambassadors to the Estates and and so to the Crowne according to his hereditarie right but to summon them That if they did not speedily obey hee would reduce them to obedience by force The French alreadie incensed against Charles and hauing placed their hopes in Hugh being present and soliciting for himselfe assisted with his best friends fell into so great a rage against Charles by his rough and importune speeches as hardly could the law of nations restraine them from doing some outrage vnto his Ambassadors for their indiscretion Then the Estates inact by a sollemne decree That for as much as Charles had shewed himselfe a friend to the enemies of France I reiâ—cted from the Crowne and a sworne enemie to the French so likewise did the French renounce his friendship declaring him incapable of the benefit of the Law both for that hee gaue the first cause as also not being bound to acknowledge him for King that is an enemie to the State their oth binding them to a King which is a father iust wise mild and temperate And therefore Betweene God and their consciences without any alteration of the fundamentall law they renounce him and declare that their intention is to choose a King which should prouide for the quiet of France They deliuer this declaration to Charles his Ambassadors commanding them to auoid the Realme presently Thus Charles his reiection was the raysing of Hugh Capet for presently the generall estates assembled in one bodie and representing all the Prouinces of the Realme declare by an autentike and sollemne decree That being necessarie to choose a King for the preseruation of the Crowne of France destitute as well by the death of Lewis the fift as by the apparent treacherie of Charles Duke of Lorraine That in
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
his returne but it cost him deere for Saladin whom he had kept in awe sence the taking of Acon Richard makâ— a truce with Saladin vpon vnreasonable conditions well informed of his necessity resolution makes him to buy a truce for fiue yeares at a deere rate yeelding him vp all that had beene taken sence the comming of the two kings into Asia and so the Bloud Time and Cost spent in this conquest were lost in an hower by the ill gouernment of our Kings Richard hauing left the absolute comande of the affaires of Asia to Henry Earle of Campegne takes his way for England but as he came to Vienna in Austria he was knowne and staied Richard King oâ— England staiâ—d by the Emperour mâ—de to pay a raâ—â—ome first by Leopold Duke of Austria and then by Henry the Emperor for some discontent he had against him Thus Richard was retained 22. monethes and not deliuered but for a ransome of an houndred thousand pounds sterling which was then a great and notable summe This was the successe of that long and dangerous Easterne voiage crossed with so many toyles takings and yeeldings vp and with such troublesome consequences for both Kings and both Realmes for the quarrell ended not vpon King Richards release out of prison as we shall see Richard being returned into England Strange marriages of Pâ—ilip he sought all meanes of reuenge for the Wrongs he supposed to haue receyued vnworthely of Philip in his absence and calamitie But let vs returne to Philip he had put a way Isabel taken Alix the daughter of the King of Hungary who liued not long with him She being dead he tooke Gelberge sister to the King of Denmarke whom likewise he put away and in her place married Marie the daughter of the Duke of Morauia After a long and bitter controuersie vpon the repudiation of Gelberge the king remaning obstinate in his resolution yet in end he receiued her againe beyond al hope and ended his daies with her sending backe Marie with honorable meanes to liue in this kind of sollitary life in manner of a widow But our Inuentary may not excuse it selfe vpon the breuitie of the stile without reporting the manner which Philip held in receyuing Gelberge after so long and obstinat a sute The King of Denmarke pursued vehemently in the Court of Rome for the honor and quiet of his sister reiected Philip not able to auoyd the decision of the cause And yet resolute not to receiue Gelberge prepares his Aduocates to shew the reasons which had moued him to put her away The cause was to bee pleaded before the Popes Legate in the great Hall of the Bishops Pallace at Paris thether they runne of all sides In this great and sollemne assembly Philipps Aduocates pleaded wonderfullie well for him against his wife but no man appeared for her As the Cryer had demanded three times if there were any one to speake for Gelberge and that silence should be held for a consent behould a yong man vnknowne steppes forth of the presse and demands audience An Aduocate vnknowne pleads against the King for his wife Gelberge It was granted him with great attention King Philip assisting euery mans ears were open to heare this Aduocate but especially Philipps who was toucht and rauished with the free and plaine discourse of truth which he heard from the mouth of this newe Aduocate so as they might perceiue him to change his countenance After this young man had ended his discourse hee returnes into the presse againe and was neuer seene more neither could they learne what he was who had sent him nor whence he came The Iudges were amazed and the cause was remitted to the Councell Pâ—ilip relents â—nd takes Gelberge againe Philip without any stay in Court goes to Horse and rides presently to Bois de Vincennes whether he had confined Gelberge hauing imbraced her hee receiues her into fauour and passed the rest of his dayes with her in nuptiall loue 1193 By Isabel he had Lewis the 8 of that name whome during his life he imployed in affaires and left him the Crowne But the peace of his house was blemished by these crooked changes whereby we may obserue by the disquieted mind of this worthy Prince that there is nothing absolutly perfect in humain affaires He which could surmount the insolencies of his enimies could not vanquish his owne passions He that could get else where could not preserue that which was most pretious that is the peace of his howse and of his bed and which is more of his soule who could not liue quietly a midest these contynual debates bred and norished in his bosome This was the banket which was prepared for him at his returne after so many broâ—les passed in the voiage of the â—ast Flanders and England ministred him matter of troubles all his life time 〈◊〉 had â—oudry wâ—rres 〈…〉 King of England and 〈◊〉 Earle of Fâ—andâ—rs and he requited his enemies with the like ouer whome he had victorious aduantages Balâ—wine Sonne to Baldwin Earle of Hainault and Namur called the fourth and of Marguerit of Alsatia the Heire of Flaunders by the decease of her brother Philip dead of late in the East was then seased of these goodly Seigneuries wherevnto he had added Vermandois the which he pretended to belong vnto him by a certaine agreement but in effect it was by the right of conueniencie the which he had seazed on in Philips absence who at his returne recouered it from him by force with the countrey of Artois the which he gaue to his Sonne Lewis being now growne great who tooke possession and receyued homage from them of the Country Moreouer Philip caused Bauldwin to doe homage as his vassal for Flanders and other Lands of the Low countries noted by that name at Paris according to the sollemnities required from thence he marcheth into Normandie takes Gisors and the Country of Vexin giuing it for a dourie to his sister Alix being put away by Richard whome he had married againe to the Earle of Ponthieu But sodenly there are complaints from England That Phlilip did breake his promise He replies That seing his sister was nothing to Richard there was noâ— reason he should enioye her doury But this quarrell must proceed farther Richard receiues his brother Iohn into fauour and pardons what is past so as he will serue him faithfully against Philip and be no more seduced by his practises It chanced moreouer that Otho of Saxony the Son of Richards sister was choseÌ„ Emperour in his absence being then in England froÌ„ whence he presently departs assisted with his Vncles meanes the which hereafter shall import him much Richard seing how much Tholouse did import him for his countries of Guienne enters into a strict League of friendship with Raymond Earle of Tholouse theÌ„ a widower by the death of Constance Aunte to Philip giuing him Ioane his sister in marriage the widowe of
depart from Corbeil and enter Champagne in hatred of the Earle who had forsaken them to follow the Kings partie But Lewis taking him into his protection and marching towards them with his men at armes all their desseignes came to nothing And yet they had imbarked the Duke of Lorraine and the King of England in this quarrell Lewis hauing expelled them Champagne followes his course takes Angiers without any contradiction belonging then vnto the Brittons and from thence hee marcheth into Brittanie Terror opens the Gates of all the Citties The Earle of Dreuz leaues his Brother who seeing himselfe abandoned of them all but first of iudgement confesseth his fault and doth homage to the King for Brittanie The League broken and by this rebellion he gets the name of Maâ—clerck hauing so ill imployed his time as to suffer himselfe to bee vanquished by a Child and a Woman These troubles thus pacified to the dishonor of the Authors the young King wonne great reputation and his Mothers wisdome was generally commended Lewis makes a progresse throughout 〈◊〉 realmâ— who thought it fitte that her Sonne should bee seene of all his subiects As hee went this progresse hee receiued homage from all his Nobilitie and ordained many things according to occurrents It chanced that hauing erected Poitou to an Earledome and giuen it to Alphonso his brother Hugh Earle of Marche which lyes within Poitou would not acknowledge Alphonso for his Lord His Wife Isabell Mother to King Henry of England who had beene first married to King Iohn was the motiue scorning to subiect her selfe to an Earle of Poitou This ambitious passion was the cause of great Warre First shee drewe in the Earle of Lusignan vnder the same pretext for that there had beene Kings of Ierusalem and Cipres issued out of this Noble house and afteâ—wards the King of England The first tumult not preuented had almost surprised Lewis within Saumur and this Woman transported with pride and hatred sought to make him away eyther by poison or sword kindling the Warre in England by hired Preachers In the end after the two armies had made great spoile in Poitou Xantonge and Angoulmois both of friend and enemie a peace was concluded with the English vpon condition that La Marche should remaine in France This was the end of that feminine rage ridiculous in the issue but lamentable for the poore people who alwayes pay for the folly and malice of Princes Prouence was gouerned by the Berengers as wee haue sayd since the ouerthrow of Lewis the Sonne of Boson and then in the hands of Raymond Berenger Prouence comes to Charles of Aniou a sonne of France a fierce and cruell man who had so incensed his subiects being impatient and turbulent of themselues as they had recourse to Raymond Earle of Tholouse his neerest Kinsman to install him in their Earles place with whom they would haue no more correspondencie Being ready to arme the felicitie of Lewis pacified all Raymond Earle of Prouence had foure Daughters Marguerite which was wife to our Lewis the ninth and Queene of France Elenor which was married to Henry King of England Sanchia to Richard his brother Duke of Cornwaile and Beatrix which was to marry Daughters of great hapines hauing had three Kings and a Royall Prince The Earle of Prouence would hardly haue beene comptrould by Lewis but GOD who meant to plant a generall peace in France by the hand of this good King buried Raymond with his rage in one Tombe taking him out of the world whome a whole world could not containe Lewis after the decease of Raymond pacified the Prouençals in marrying his brother Charles the Earle of Aniou with Beatrix the Daughter of their Earle to their great content adding in fauour of this marriage Maine to Aniou And since this Charles was King of Sicilia Robert the yonger brother was Earle of Arthois By this meanes his bretheren remained satisfied Alphonsus being Earle of Poitou and Tholouse by his portion and mariage Charles Earle of Prouence and Aniou and Robert Earle of Arthois and the Realme continued in happy peace These things thus happily performed by Lewis hee imployed his care in the reformation of the Realme beginning first with himselfe and his houshold Lewis his disposition then did he plant Religion and Iustice the principall Pillers of a State for the good and ease of the people Hee lead a life worthy of a King louing and honoring Religion with much zeale and respect taking delight in the reading of the holy Scripures the which hee cauâ—ed to be Translated into the French tongue which I haue seene in a Gentlemans custodie carrying this title He did greatlie honor Clergie men being worthy of their places and was a seuere censor of them that did abuse it whom hee charged to liue according to their Canons and to shew themselues patternes of good life to the people That they should bee preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities according to order in all libertie and should enioy their reuenues without lett That the exactions and insupportable charges imposed by the Court of Rome these are the words of his Edict on the realme of France by the which it was mâ—ghtily impouerished and which hereafter might be leuied should not in any sort be leuied without apparent cause his expresse command and the approbation of the French Church He had a good soule being iust sober modest The Patterne of an excellent Princâ— temperate in his eating and drinking in his talke habits and conuersation neither melancholie nor exceedinglie merry circumspect of a good iudgement staied charitable moderate vigilant and seuere in the obseruation of that he had decreed And as the Prince is the rule of his house he either chose seruants of his owne humor or else his seruants framed themselues vnto his disposition so as his Court was like vnto a well ordred Church His traine was royall and stately according to the times but there was nothing superfluous not lost so as hee had his Treasurie replenished to giue to such as deserued He paied his seruants wel yet he gouerned his treasure in such â—ort as his officers could hardly steale from him and such as offended he punished with so exact a seueritie as the rest feared to commit the like The orders for his treasure are registred in his Ordinances where you may see them at large He loued learning and learned men and delighted to read and heare good workes fauouring his Vniuersitie of Paris and drawing the Parisians to lâ—ue Scholleâ—s so as in his time the Vniuersitie of Paris had great prerogatiueâ— as the eldest Daughter of our Kings The realme was corrupted with the iniustice extâ—â—sion of former raignes by the sale of offices being most certaine that what we buy in grosse we must sell by retaile He did therefore expresly prohibite these sales and supplied such places as were voide according to the merits of persons after due examination to draw good men and
parties being hard the widow of Charles of Blois being called King Charles reconciles the pâ—eâ—endants for Britâ—aine and the matter debated he reconciles them vpon these conditions That for the interest which Ioane pretended for her and hers to the Duchie of Brittaine she should haue the Earldome of â—onthieure the Seigneuries of Auaugour Guello Gincamp Rochedorie Lauuton Chaâ—â—eaulin in Cornwaille Dualt Vhelgost and Rospreden to the value of twentie thousand Eures or franks of rent 2000 pound starling and if Iohn of Montfort died without lawfull heires the Duchie of Brittaine it should returne to Ioane and her issue male or female This accord drew Iohn of Montfort to Paris where hauing done his fealtie and homage as well for the Duchiâ— Brittain as the Earldome of Montfort and other Lands hee had in France the widow of Charles of Blois ratified it by vertue of the decree Oliuer of Clisson at the same treatie was restored to the possession of all his Lands forfaited when his father was beheaded as we haue saied He shal be Constable and shall giue vs good cause to speake of his life This accord was made in the Towne of Guerande in the yeare .1365 but it continued not long for Lewis of Aniou the Kings brother sonne in lawe to the Duchesse of Brittain was not pleased with this agreement whereby he saied he was greatly wronged Iohn of Montfort distrusting King Charles had his recourse to the King of England to whome he went in person to require ayde against the forces which he pretended would come against him The warre reuiued in Brittanie leauing Robert Knowles an Englishman in Brittaine who not attendâ—ng Iohns returne began to make warre vpon the French with all violence Charles being pressed both by the Duches Ioane and by Lewis of Aniou his brother declares Iohn guiltie of high Treason for that he had broken the accord would noâ— appeare vpon sundry summons dayly made vnto him So the warre began againe the successe whereof we wil note heere after Thus there passed six or seauen yeares with varietie of accidents in Brittaine In Fâ—anders Whilest that Brittaine was thus shaken with sundrie stormes Flanders was not without trouble by the accustomed practises of the English Lewis Earle of Flanders sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at the Battaile of Crecy had one only daughter named Marguerite who remayning heire of this great and rich estate was the Lâ—uaine of the antient iealousie betwixt the two Kings Charles and Edward striuing who should haue her The Citties of Flanders of greatest power in this purâ—ute held stoutly for the Engliâ—â— Conâ—e Lewis father to the maide was in suspence feaâ—ing both the English and the Freâ—ch for diuers respects and yet hee loued the first and feared the last But in the end by the meanes of Marguerite of Arthois mother to the Earle a marriage was concluded in fauour of Philip the hardy brother to Charles King of France to Edwards great griefe both father and son who in disdaine of this refusal sought al meanes to breed new troubles in France The treatie of Bretigny ministred a newe subiect and apparent cause of discontent to the King of England who complayned that hee had beene deceiued by Charles vnder a shewe of faithfulnesse hauing restored vnto him all his hostages receyuing onely the sommes promised for the ransome leauying vpon his simple word the reuenues of those Seigneuries granted him by the treatie The cause of new warre 〈…〉 and â—nâ—â—and Charles had retyred all his hostages in good time paying readie money and making knowne vnto Edward the sundrie charges he had giuen to the Countries and places comprehended in the treatie to yeeld them selues whollie into his power he likewise signified vnto him his subiects answers who in the beginning excused themselues ciuilly by honest delayes but in the ende the generall Estats giue Charles to vnderstand That the question being for the generall interest of the States they were not to bee forced to yeeld to an vnlawfull action directly contrarie to the fundamentall lawe of the realme which suffers not the King to preiudice the Crowne nor to alienate the reuenues thereof which were not to be alienated That tâ—is accord made in prison for the Kings redemption was forced and so by consequence vneiuill and not to be allowed by the Lawe of nations The effects followed this resolution with such an obstinacie of the Countries Citties Noble men which were charged by this treatie to yeeld as they protest freely to Châ—rles that they wil willingly spend goods liues rather then fal into the king of Englands hands coÌ„trariwise wold imploy al their meanes to liue vnder the subiectioÌ„ of the king of Fraâ—ce This faithâ—ull constancie of the interessed subiects must needs be pleasing vnto Charles 1366. but to that he himselfe had made this treatie his honouâ— was greatly ingaged the which he must 〈◊〉 by good and auaylable reasons and make it â—nowne vnto all Europe who haâ— tâ—eir eyes fixed vpon these two Princes playing their parts vpon so famous a Theater 〈◊〉 complaines by a sollemne Ambassage to the Emperour Charles the fourth 〈…〉 the paines to come into France The Emperor seâ—kes to reconcile theiâ— two Kings with an intent to imploy his authoritie and 〈◊〉 to reconcile these two Princes but it was in vaine The cause of this fruitlesse 〈◊〉 pâ—oceeded from Edward being resolute to haue his part tryed by armes being 〈…〉 by his victorious successe in the former raignes Châ—rles â—ad alwayes protested to obserue the treatie of â—retigny inuiolable But hauing 〈◊〉 the geneâ—all resolution of the States and of the countries and Noblemen 〈◊〉 bâ— the said treatie he resolues to protect them and hauing excused himselfe both to the Emperour and forraine Princes by a publike declaration he sends a Gentleâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Bâ—â—ussâ— called Chapponeau to the Prince of Wales being at Bourdeaux summoning 〈◊〉 to appeare before him at Paris Câ—arlâ—s proclaimes waâ—â—e against the Kinâ— of Eâ—â—â—lâ—nd at the instance of the Nobilitie and commons of 〈◊〉 complaining of him He also sent a Herald to the King of England to proclaime wâ—rrâ— against him The Earle of Armagnac the Lord of Albret who had newly maried 〈…〉 Boâ—rbon and by this alliance was become French the Earles of Perigort Cominâ—â— and Carmaâ— the Lords of Barde Condon Pincornet Pardaillan and Agenois began 〈…〉 against the King of England followed by all those Prouinces protesting 〈◊〉 the crowne of France At 〈◊〉 example all the Townes of the Countie of Ponthieure yeelded to Guy Earle of 〈◊〉 and to 〈◊〉 of Chastillon Maister of the Crosbowes Then the Kings armies marche 〈◊〉 parts vnder the commands of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry the Constable 〈◊〉 to whose wisedome especially to the Chancellor Dourmans The successe oâ— the Frâ—nâ—â— armie in Gâ—â—â—nne they attribâ—â—e the obedience of the people of Guienne discreetly practised by them Limoges and
aboue named ordinances by an Edict The Rector fearing a check keepes all the Schollers within their lodgings and reuokes the commandement he had giuen Iohn Standon a Doctor of Diuinitie a Brabanson and one of the chiefe authors of this counsell was banished the realme Thomas Warnet of Cambraie who preaching had barkt out some thing against the kings authority preuented this decree and â—anished himself Lewis his title to the Duchie of Milan Bâ—ing thus content in minde quiet within his realme his thoughts â—oâ—red beyond the Alpes and now he takes vpon him the title of Duke of Milan He was 〈◊〉 vpon the right of succession Valentine besides her dowry which was the 〈◊〉 and Country of Ast with a great summe of money had obtaymed this clause 〈◊〉 in her contract of marriage That for want of heires male of Galeas Valentine 〈…〉 the Duchie or she being dead her next descendants 〈◊〉 â—â—uention was of no force but the Imperiall seat was then vacant and the 〈…〉 it The Popes pretending the Empire being without an Emperour that the administration belongs to them And seing that by the death of Philip Maria Visconte the masculine line of Iohn Galeas failed who then should succeed in this goodly estate many contended for it the Emperour Frederick mayntained that it should be vnited to the Empire considering the line specified in the Institution made to Iohn Galeas by Wenceslaus King of the Romains was extinct Alphonso King of Arragon Naples armed himselfe with the testament of Philip by the which hee was made his heâ—re But in worldly affaires the strongest most often carries it Francis Sforce one of Philips Captaines sonne to Sforce Attendule an Aduenturer a braue and actiue spiâ—â— had married Blanche bastard daughter to the sayd Philip and hauing no man at 〈◊〉 â—â—stant that might resist his violence hee did so cunningly winne all the greatest 〈◊〉 of Milan as by their support suffrance he soone seized on the state the which 〈◊〉 easily effect hauing all the forces at his command no competitor For 〈◊〉 Lewis Duke of Orleans nor his Children had any meane to recouer this Duâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Francis by reason of the great warres which followed in France by the 〈◊〉 of the sayd Lewis and of the Duke of Bourgongne slaine likewise at Monterea◠〈◊〉 â—â—wis the 6. and 7. Charles sonne to the sayd Lewis taken at the bâ—ttâ—â—lâ— of Azâ—â—â—â— â—â—guishing twentie fiue yeares a prisoner in England and deliuered by Philip 〈◊〉 â—ourgundy could neuer obtaine any aide from Lewis the eleuenth beeing 〈◊〉 by homebred warres from the beginning of his raigne Moreouer Lewis did alwaies make accompt to settle his authority by the suppression of his neerest bloud And for this cause our Lewis his sonne in lawe sonne to the sayd Charles had no whit the more credit with his father in lawe for the recouery of his inheritance And the â—word which hee did vnsheath against Charles the eight his brother in lawe of whome hee pretended the Regencie and after in the warres of Brittaine tooke from him all meanes to attempt this enterprise vntill such time that the King hauing left him in Ast to crosse the attempts of Lodowike Sforce the seized vpon Nouarre but with a â—â—â—â—lesse euent Nowe is he seated vpon the royall throne of his Ancestors peaceable within himself and peaceable with his neighbors Triuulce doth not cease to lay open vnto him 〈◊〉 to expell Lodowike To make the way easie Pope Alexanders friendship 〈…〉 Florentins and other Potentats of Italy was very requisite Hee seeke 〈◊〉 Ambassadors and findes that the death of Charles the eight had bred an alâ—â—â— in their dispositions The Pope conceyuing that the peace of Italy was the 〈◊〉 of his priuate estate did easily alowe of newe troubles The Venetians beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 by the Kings decease from the feare they had of him for the iâ—â—â—gnities 〈◊〉 had receyued did not beleeue that a newe King would so vehemently imbrace 〈…〉 of his Predecessor and foreseeing that also that if S force were once quiet he would oppose him selfe against them for the affaires of Pisa whereof he did â—olâ—â—â— but coldly the restitution vnto the Florentins by the Popes meanes The Florentins had not yet so much estranged their affection from the French but there was good meanes to recouer it Being thus affected they all send their Ambassadors to the King The Popes affection The Pope who 〈◊〉 to nothing more then the temporall aduancement of Caesar Borgia his sonne 〈◊〉 then Cardinall did willingly imbrace this occasion to plant him in the Kings 〈◊〉 sauour and by some especiall bond to purchase his masters loue He knew well 〈◊〉 Lewis would willingly put away Ioane his wife to marrie with Anne the widowe of Charles and euen then hee resolued to exchange spirituall graces for temporall commodities He then agrees with the King for thirty thousand Ducats and drawes a promise from him 1499. He Capitulates with the king to aide him presently after the conquest of Milan to reduce to the obedience of the Apostolike sea the Townes possessed by the Gouernours of Romagna And for his sonne Caesar a company of a hundred Lances twenty thousand Frankes pension a wife in France to his liking and Valence in Daulphine with the title of a Duchie Then he committed the matter of diuorce to Ferdinand Bishop of Sept his Nuncio in France to Philip Cardinall of Luxembourg and to Lewis Bishop of Albi some name George of Amboise Arch-bishop of Rouan who vpon report of the protestation made by Lewis to a Notarie the day of his marriage That his meaning was not to contract any marriage and that the sollemnitie which he did celebrate was onely to please the King whom hee knew to be cruell against those by whom he thought himselfe to bee wronged And moreouer If by chance Lewis eyther by the expresse commandement of his father in law or after of his brother in law did lye with his wife hee did interpose secret witnesses that should depose of his abstinencie And besides the Physitians and Philosophers hauing iudged her incapable of issue they declared the sayd marriage voyde and gaue him liberty to marry with Anne who marrying elsewhere should haue diuided the Duchie of Brittanie from the Crowne of France The Venetians sent to congratulate his comming to the Crowne The Venetians and by way of excuse gaue him to vnderstand that the controuersies they had with King Charles proceeded onely of distrust and iealousie wherof he had giuen them cause seeing that not content with the realme of Naples he had cast his desseâ—gnes vpon all Italie The Florentiâ—es The Florentins did not forget their ancient customes in like cases to the Crowne of France but especially to put him in minde of their deseruings to the deceased King solliciâ—â—d therevnto by Lodowick Sforce to the end that when the two commonweales of Venice and Florence should come to treate of the affaires
But he knew morâ—ouer that being diuided from his maiesty his Councells could not succeed happily in the ende they treaâ— a new amity league togither and to make the king the better aâ—â—ected he giues a Cardâ—â—â—ls hat The Pope and King are reconciled to eyther of the forenamed Bishops and power vnto the King to dispose of all benefices wiâ—â—in the Duchy of Milan The more the King confirmed himselfe in the Popes alliance the more he loaâ—hed that of Maximilian and of Philip his sonne the passage which hee pretended into Italie with a mighty army to receiue his imperiall Crowne and to cause â—is sonne to bee chosen King of the Romans being greatly suspect vnto the King anâ— tâ—e greatnesse of Philip who by capitulation had sent his Father in-in-law Ferdinand back into Arragon hauing already so apparently estranged the Kings loue from him as he gaue Clâ—ude his daughter in marriage to Francis Earle of Angoulesme the next heyre to this Croâ—ne after the Kings discease without heyres males at the sute suppâ—ication of all the Parliaments of his Realme The which serued for an excuse to Philip. And the more to dâ—uert Maximilians passage into Italy the King sent men to succour the Duke of â—uâ—â—dres a great enimy to Philips prosperity and to molest his Prouinces of the Lovv-â—â—â—nâ—râ—es in his absence As these things passed the Pope burniâ—g with desire The Kinâ— seekes bâ— alâ— meaneâ— to 〈…〉 sonne 〈◊〉 to restore vnto the obedience of the Church all such placeâ— as had beene taken away intreâ—ted the King according to their agreement to ayde him in the recouery of Perouâ—e and Bologne This request was very pleasing vnto the King it was a meanes to tye the Pope whom they had in some â—ealousie in Court to haue beene prâ—uy to some practâ—se which Octauian Fregose had made to dispossesse the King of the Seâ—gneury of Genes Moreouer Bentiuole Lord of Bologne seemed more affâ—cted to Maximilian then to him and Iohn Paul Baillon the vsurper of Perouze was in diâ—grace with the King hauing refused to ioyne with his army when it was vpon the Garillan Notwithstanding the protestation which the Venetians made vnto the Kâ—ng The Popes expâ—oâ—â—s To take armes for the defence of Bologne if the Pope did not first make theÌ„ grant of the rights of Faenze belonging to the Church did somewhat diuert â—im referring the execution to another time Yet the Pope being vehement and pereÌ„â—tory by nature goes out ofâ— Rome with fiue hundred men at armes and giues notice of his comming to the Boloâ—nois commanding them to prepare to receiue him and to logde 500. French Lâ—nces in their country whereof he had yet no assurance Then Baillon fearing his comming goes to meete the pope and deliuers him the forts of Perouze and Perousin In the end by the perswasion of the Cardinal of Amboise the King commanded Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont 1506. to assist the Pope in person with fiue hundred Lances and three thousand foote amongst the which were Gâ—ston of Foix the Kings nephew and Duke of Nemours Peter of Foix Lord of Lautrâ—c his cousin the Lord of Palisse and others Bentiuole and his children amazed at this sodaâ—ne aâ—riuall Bentiuol compounds with the Pope anâ— deliuers vp Bologne beseech Chaumont to be a mediator and to procure them some tollerable conditions who dealing with the Pope obteined leaue to depart safelie out of Bologne to remaine in what part he pleased of the Duchie of Milan to sell and carry away all their mouables and to enioy the reuenues they possessed by any iust title without any molestation Thus Bologne returned to the obedience of the Church and the Pope hauing giuen the Duke of Nemours a sword inriched with precious stones amongst the which there was one Diamond of inestimable value eight thousand Ducats to Chaumont and ten thousand for his men he conuerted all his thoughts to annoy the Venetians The death of Philip Archduke of Austria At this time dyed Philip the Archduke of a Feuer within few dayes in the Cittie of Bourges young of yeares strong and healthfull of body leauing an heire the fatall scourge of the French Monarchie who within few yeares sâ—all mount vpon the Theater of our Historie to acte many and diuers tragicall parts And the Duke of Valentinois to finish the last acte of his Tragedie hauing slipt downe with a corde from the forte of Medina de'l Campo and sought for refuge with Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre The Duke of Valentinois slaine brother to his wife was in the end slaine before Viane fighting for his brother in law Too honorable a death for such a tyrant Chaumont was no sooner returned but there sprung vp a new occasion to imploy his â—orces Rebellion at Genes the Genouois taking occasion not of any desire they had to rebell but onely of ciuill discords betwixt the people and the Nobles the which do often transport men beyond their fiâ—st resolutions did sacke the Noblemens houses and did tumultuouslie create a new Magistracy of eight popular men whom to authorise them the more they named Tribunes of the people they sâ—ized by force on Spetie and some other Townes lying vpon the Easterne riuer The Lord of Rauastein being absent flies speedily to Genes with a hundred and fiftie horse and sâ—uen hundred foote The King had sent vnto thâ—m Michel Riccio a Doctor banished from Naples to perswade them to seeke rather the mildnesse of his mercie then to trye the rigour of his forces But a mutinous peopâ—e is like vnto a wilde horse which runnes furiously vntill some downefall stay him â—or in steed of giuing care to his counsell they go to besiege Monaco lying vpon the sea in a commodious place and of great importance for the Câ—ttie of Genes they create Paul de Noue a Dier of Silke Duke of Gâ—â—â—s beate downe the Kings armes and set vp Maximilians they take Castellat a Castell built abâ—ue Genes in the mountaine and â—gainst their faith cut the French mens throates that were in Garrison So the King imputing that to the Genouois as a rebellion which they had done by ciuill discord marched himselfe in person followed by eyght hundred Lances eighteene hundred light horse twelue thousand foote and an armie at sea consisting of eight Gallies The King goes with his armie against the â—ebels at Genes eight Galleons and many Foâ—sts and Brigantins he raiseâ—h the siege at Monaco takes the Bastion which they had built in the top of the mountaine forceth the Genouois to yeeld to his mercy disarmes theiâ— the 29. day of Aprill enters into Genoua â—n câ—mpleat aâ—mour with his sword in his hand vnder a Canopie accompanied with all his companies of men at aâ—mes and Archers of his garde who at the pittifull crye of the people demanding mercy of his Maiestie he grants them pardon paying a hundred thousand Ducats in ready money and two hundred
of Hierges in Ardennes yet through the fauour and credit which Aimeries had with Charles of Austria and the greatest in his Court hee was releeued although hee had not appealed from the said sentence in time grounding the causes of his reliefe vpon the lets and hinderances hee had had during the former warres at the which hee had alwayes assisâ—ed in person So as a Commission being granted before the great Chancellor of Brabant and a day assigned to the heires of Symay 1521. to come to heare the reasons of Aâ—mâ—ries releefe and if neede were to see the former sentence giuen to their behoofeâ— reuoked They found this commission so vniust and vnreasonable seeing that both their father and they had beene in long and quiet possession of the said Towne and that this decree was not subiect to appeale as they repaired to Robert de la Marke Duke of Bouillon as to their Lord and Protector that with their right hee might defend the liberties and priuileges of his Duchie Robert discontented that his companie of men at armes had bin cassierd for the extorsions and robberies they had committed in Italie and else where had left the King and was retired to the Emperour But seeing that iustice was denied him as well for the priuate interest of puâ—â—ls whose vnkle and Tutor hee was hauing married their Aunt sister to the Prince of Symay hee made his peace with the King by the mediation of his wife and his sonne Fleuranges being daughter to the Earle of Brenne with the Kings mother A bold and insolent â—act Robert hauing assured his affaires with the King sent to defie the Emperour at Wormes where he had called a Diet of the Princes and free Townes of Germanie against the new-bred troubles by reason of Luther A bold attempt of a pettie Prince against an Emperour mightie in meanes men and courage A great riuer runs quietly betwixt the bankes that bound it but at the first breach it ouerflowes the whole Countrie so there is nothing more easie then to incense Princes but being once moued they are hardly appeased This defie giuen Fleuranges the eldest son of Robert notwithstanding the Kings expressed prohibition made leuie as well in France as in other places of three thousand foot and foure or fiue hundred horse with the which hee beseeged Vireton a small Towne in Luxembourg belonging to the Emperour But soone after he retired his armie by the Kings commaundement and dismissed it But their spleens were wonderfully incensed vpon new occasions The King for that the Emperour fayled in the payment of the pension for the Realme of Naples and in the restitution of Nauarre and withall his preferment to the Empire had greatly discontented him The Emperour was greeued for the enterprise of Nauarre and the attempt of the Duke of Bouillon being also well informed Lâ—os ordinary dissembling that the King sought the meanes to recouer the Realme of Naples Francis had sent a gentleman to the Pope to know when it should please him to performe his part for the execution of that which they had concluded togither the which his Maiestie knewe according to the disposition of Leo to bee more counterfeit then currant And Leo giuing to the gentleman a note of the horse foot and artillerie that was necessarie for this enterprise assigned the King two and twentie dayes to arme whilest the Venetians might enter into this League The Pope had no meaning that Naples should bee subâ—ect to the French If the King had not in the meane time neglected his affaires Leo had beene forced to runne another course And the Pope glad to haue some colourable shew of disdaine accuseth the King either to be carelesse or ill affected hauing not drawen the Venetians into the sayd League for the defence of Italie He complaines that his maiestie had not payed but the first moneth for the leuie of Suisses which they had beene forced to make against the Spaniard who a little before had inuaded the territories of the Church whereof the King should pay a moitie and makes a shew as if the King had treated some thing with the Emperour without his priuitie and to his preâ—â—dice Thus Leo seeming iustly dspleased receiued into Regium contrary to his agreement with the King all the banished men of Milan hee inuested Charles of Austria The Pope capitulates with the Emperour in the Realme of Naples made a defensiue League with him including the house of Medicis and the Florentines and deuising how to conquer Milan they agreed That Parma and Plaisance should remaine to the Church to hold them with the same rights it did before That Francis Sforce brother to Maximilian should bee put in possession of the Duchie of Milan as hauing right from his father and his brothers renunciatâ—on and that the Emperour should ayd the Pope against his subiects and feudataries namely to conquer Ferrara This mutuall resolution of allyance was a meanes by Gods prouidence to shew his wonderfull iudgements and a scourge to punish both French Italians and Spaniards for many yeares whereby followed so many euersions of Townes oppressions of people desolations of Prouinces and the death of so many men of valour La Marks estate ruined The Emperour in the meane time leuies a great armie of horse and foote vnder the command of Henry Earle of Nassau who tooke Longnes from Robert de la Mark rased the Towne and hanged the Captaine with twelue of the chiefe of his troupe The Captaine of Musancourt deliuered by some of his souldiers with the place to the said Earle escaped the gallowes at the intreatie of the chiefe of his armie but twentie of his Souldiers were hanged and the place likewise razed and spoiled to the ground About this time there was much controuersie touching the Duchie of Milan the Emperour pretending it to belong absolutely to him not onely by conquest but much rather by inheritance concerning which the most learned in the lawes of the Empire produced many and very probable reasons and arguments These two prises caused Fleuranges and Sansey his brother the sonnes of Robert to put themselues into Iametz with a resolution to die or to keepe it The Earle after foure dayes siege hauing seene the garrisons firme resolution raised his campe to take the way to Fleuranges The Germaines which kept it yeelded vp both the Towne and their Captaine the Lord of Iametz the sonne of Robert into the Earles hands who hauing ruined it did the like vnto Sansy Bouillon was afterwards yeelded vnto him by intelligence After this Robert obtained a truce of the Emperour for six weekes But the Emperour Charles dreamed of a more important warre If his spleene had beene onely against the house of La Marck why should he grant them a truce being almost ruined The Kings armie against the Emperour and being a conquerour and strong enough to subdue the said Robert why did he still increase his armie The King hauing
the King and such as were held by Inheritance appertayned vnto her as the next heire and daughter to a sister of the sayd Peter married with the Duke of Sauoye The sute depended in the Court of Parliament at Paris Charles eyther distrusting the equity of his cause or fearing least the Regents authority should preuaile against his right so by consequence dispossesse him choosing rather to abandon his Country then to liue in want he practiseth with the Emperour by the meanes of Adrian of Croy Earle of Reux and to make the articles of his transaction the more strong hee obtaynes a promise from the Emperour to marry Eleonor his sister widow to Emanuel King of Portugall The King being past the Alpes the Constable should inuade Bourgongne with twelue thousand Germains which should bee secretly leuied by the Emperour and King of England who at the same instant should inuade Picardie whilest the Spaniards recouered Fontarabâ—e as they did Of their Conquests he onely reserued Prouence pretending to call himselfe King of Prouence as belonging vnto him sayd he by the house of Anâ—ou yeelding all the rest to the English A practise sufficient to shake France before the King being absent with his forces should returne in any time to succour it But they reckoned without their host and the gardian of this Crowne did preuent them for Argouges and Marignon gentlemen of Normandie and house-hold seruants to the Duke had aduertised the King of his pretended retreat to the Emperour but they were ignorant of the agreement made betwixt them To diuert him from this resolution the King passing by Molins did visit the Duke in his chamber who made a shewe to be sick and that cunningly I vnderstand sayd the King of some practises which the Emperour makes to withdrawe the loue you vndoubtedly beare vnto the Crowne as issued and neere allyed to the house of France I do not beleeue that you haue giuen eare to any such perswasions mooued with any dislike of mee or of my realme Some feare of distrust to loose your offices hath perchance made a breach in the loue you haue alwayes made shewe of Let not this conceyt trouble you I promise you in case you should loose your sute against my selfe and my mother to restore you to the possession of all your goods Prepare therefore to followe mee after your recouerie in the voiage of Italie The Duke being very wise dissembled his intent cunningly confessing vnto the King that in truth the Earle of Reux had sought him for the Emperour but he would giue no eare vnto him that his intention was to haue aduertised his Maiestie at the first view being loth to commit it to any mans report that the Physitians gaue him hope to be soone able to go in a litter and that he would not faile to come to Lions to receiue his Maiesties commandements But considering that he had to deale with too strong a partie and that hardly he should enioy his goods which were alreadie sequestred by a decree of the Court he retired to Chantelles in the beginning of September a house of his owne where he had the most sumptuous moueables that any Prince could haue From thence he sent the Bishop of Autun of the house of Hurauts to the King with instructions signed with his hand promising To serue his Maiestie well and loyally in all places whensoeuer it should please him during his life and without any breach vpon restitution of the possessions of Peter of Bourbon The King finding this manner of proceeding hard and insolent sent the Bastard of Sauoy Lord Steward of France and the Marshall of Chabannes with foure hundred men at armes the Captaines of his gardes and the Prouost of his house to besiege the Duke in Chantelles And vnderstanding that many Lansequenets did troupe together vpon the frontier of Bourgogne he caused the Bishop of Autun the Chancellor of Bourbonois the Lord of Cars Saint Vallier Bussy brother to Palisse Emard de Prie la Vauguion and many others to be taken prisoners who for the loue of him were content to abandon their country families and goods notwithstanding they found grace with the King But the Duke despairing of his estate resolued to hazard all and to begin a furious Tragedie in the which we shall see our Francis act the part of an vnfortunate prisoner of the warres and Charles reserued for a bloudie and tragicke end The Duke of Bourbon flies disguised He disguiseth himselfe and taking the Lord of Pomperant for his onely companion whose seruant he seemed to be After many turnings being often feared as appeares in the Originals the wayes being layed and the passages stopt or full of troupes marching into Italy he recouers the French Court and so by Ferrete crossing through Germanie he came into Italy and according to the choise which the Emperour gaue him eyther to passe into Spaine or to remaine in Italie with his armie in the end hee continued at Genes to see the end of these two great armies The Marshall and Lord Steward seized vpon Chantelles with the moueables of Carâ—at and generally of all the lands of the house of Bourbon for the King In the meane time the Marshall of Montmorency had made such speed as his twelue thousand Suisses were ioyned with the Admirall attending the Kings comming at Turin But his presence was necessarie in France there were strange practises against him He therefore sends part of his forces to the Admirall and commands him to execute the enterprise of Milan as they two had concluded Hee had eighteene hundred Launces twelue thousand French ten thousand Suisses Six thousand Lansquenets and three thousand Italians a sufficient armie for a great attempt but want of iudgement to imbrace occasions and negligence of his businesse made the Admirall loose the opportunitie to recouer Milan at the first and to bee vnfortunate in this voyage Prosper Colonne considering the Venetians league with the Emperour and the treachâ—â—â—e of the Duke of Bourbon could not beleeue that the King should continue constant in his resolution to inuade the Duchie of Milan that yeare This perswasiâ—n had made him carelesse to make necessarie prouision for this warre But now noâ—â—â—thstanding his infirmitie he imployes all his meanes and forces to keepe the French from passing the riuer of Tesin neglecting to repaire the Bastions and Rampars of the Suburbes of Milan being for the most part ruined and spoiled But the French finding the waters lowe some passed at a Foard others in Boates about sâ—me foure myles from the imperiall Campe making a Bridge for the Artillerye Colonne knowing that an incounter of the French is verye dangerous in their fiâ—st heate retired into Milan and finding the Cittizens and Souldiars wonderfully amazed seeing no meanes to keepe the Cittie in the estate it was he abandons it to prouide for the defense of Laude Without doubt the captious propositions of an enemie must be duly examined and moreouer an
breach and into the Towne they kill or at the least huâ—t aboue a third part of the defendants those which were set to defend the breach being forced to lie flat vppon their bellies They discouer the breach draw seuen or eight enseigns more into the ditch which diuided the great bastion from the Towne they had had no leysure but to make two Courtins of pipes full of earth to defend the way which went from the bottome of the Trench into the Towne they set fire to the props which supported the point of the BastioÌ„ that was vndermined it sinks downe and presently ouerthrows all them that defended this point into their trenches they giue the assault by that place and are valiantly receiued by la Sale and Saint Aubin But during the assault those which the enemie thrust into the trench winne the curtine made of Pipes force fiue and twentie or thirtie shot that kept it and enter the Towne pel mell with them come behind them who performing as much as valour and nature could doe that defended the bastion and cut in peeces all they incounter Those which defended the breach ignorant what passed on the other side had alreadie endured a furious assault when as behold those which were entred by the port of the great bastion come and charge them behind and the greatest number surmonting the lesse at the first charge they kill Moyencourt and his brother d' Yue they masâ—akeâ— in the furie of the fight seauen score of the company of Du Bellay Saint Paul recouered by assault and the most part of that of Villebon Villebon and Yuille were taken prisoners by Tonnoire a Spanish Captaine Du Bellay and Blerencourt were saued by Bose a Germaine Captaine La Palleâ—iere forced in the Castell by the bulwarke which was not yet in defence remayned prisoner but the contention of some euerie one maintayning that hee had giuen his faith vnto him was the cause of his death Finaly sparing neyther men nor children wiues nor maides religious nor Nunnes about foure thousand fiue hundred persons tryed the pittilesse chance of a horrible and cruell victorie wherevnto they are commonly subiect who against the Lawes of armes vndertake the defence of a place not defensible or that is not readie to withstand the violent attempts of a mightie armie Saint Paul being burnt the Castell and all the defences razed to the ground the Imperialls come before Montrueil Montrueil was ill furnished Canaples gouernouâ— of the Towne entred but three or foure dayes before with a thousand foote and some two hundred horse of the bands of Normandie but the Towne not being retrenched it required at the least sixe thousand foote and three hundred men at armes Sâ— the Earle of Bures placeth a part of his Campe at the port of Hedin one part at the Celestines vpon the way of Therouenne and a part at the gate of the great market towards Abbeuille hee plaints his artillery in three places makes a breach along a great courtin from the gate towards Hedin to the port of the great market and then pâ—epares for the assault The breach was reasonable but the trenches full of water made the accesse difficult On the other side the defendants were troubled with many disaduantages Two batteries of the enemies kept them from comming to the breach and beeing at their defence they lay open vpon both the flankes and had no meanes to couer themselues besides their number was not sufficient to keepe the one halfe of the base Towne so as the enemie comming to the assault had the rest of the Towne at his discretion the which is of a great circuit These considerations made Canaples demand Comâ—â—sition and the Earle intending the conquest of Therouenne to preuent the next victuaâ—ing which he did foresee he graunts the men of war to depart in armes with bagge and baggage and to the Inhabitants to carrie what goods they could about them This done the want of men and powder which he knowes to be in Therouenne inuites him to this enterprise Francis of Montmorency Lord of Rochepot then Lieutenant generall for the King in Picardie knowing the importance of Therouenne and the enemies desseine besides threescore men at armes a hundred foote and some hundred dead paies which kept it hee sent the Lord of Cany Lieutenant to the Companie of the yong Duke of Vendosme whom we shall see King of Nauarre and father to our most Christian King nowe raigning Foudras Lieutenant to Cany the sonne of Dampierre guidon to the Daulphin leading foure score men at armes and Saint Brise foure hundred foote He comes before it Therouenne beseeged makes his approches plants his Cannon in batterie forceth our men to abandon the Castell which had but two towers the English Talbot hauing taken the Towne in the yeare 1513. had razed the Castell and makes a breach in the Towne wall about two hundred paces long but hardly to be forced our Frenchmen retyring had made a trench behinde them and made the rampar in such sort as the enemie winning it should fall into a trench well flanked When as the Imperial army began to march against Saint Paul the King sought to redresse his army hoping according to the promises of the fortificators it would hold out vntill that succors should come Nowe the Daulphin accompanied with Montmorency Lord Steward Commander of the army vnder the Daulphin giues the rendezuous towards Abbeuille to the Earle of Furstemberg and to Nicholas of Rusticis newely arriued with foure thousand lowe Germains warlike men and in good order Whilest the Daulphin attends the rest of his troupes the beseeged giue him notice that they had great neede of shot and powder for the furnishing whereof they choose Annebault generall of the light horse With this desseine Annebault followed with an hundred men at armes and sixteene hundred light horse made choise of 〈◊〉 hundred harguebuziers vnder the charge of Biendras euery one carrying a sacâ—e of lether bound about him full of powder many voluntary gentlemen desirous oâ— honour a braue ambition if we could temper the heat of youth augment this troupe resolute to bee either taken or defeated rather then to faile of their enterprise The Imperials hauing intelligence of this desseine go to horse to preuâ—â—t the execution Therouenne victualed and the French light horsemen prickt forward by these yong Nobâ—emen desirous to trie their valour giue them an alarum Mischance is good for some thing It was night and the darknesse hindring the enemies foreward from â—howing tâ—eiâ— battaile which came from an other side to ioyne with them they charge and kâ—â—l one another whilest that our shot enter into Therouenne without discouerie being entred they make a signe whereby Annebault should make his retreat and might haue done it without danger Notwithstanding aduertised that his light horse were in skirmish he sought to retyre them The enemie preuents him and cuts off his way at the passage of a bridge
Orleans Montauban and some others The Edict of peace is greatly impugned by an other made at Roussillon The King forbids all Iustices to allow the exercise of the pretended reformed religion but in places specified by the Edict For the first time he banished such ministers as had exercised their charge in places not comprehended in the Edict and for the second time punished them with death He commaunded all Priests religious men and Nunns that were marrieâ— to make separation and returne to their Couents if not to depart the Realme forbidding the Protestants all their Sinods as making Monopoles vnder that pretext and stirring vp the greatest part of the Realme From wordes they fall to deeds Those of Creuan in Bourgongne murther many assembled for their exercise Murther of Crâ—â—an with all impunitie And the Kings absence from those places where they were accustomed to see him caused many seditions and mutinies amongst the which la Curee Gouernour of Vendosme a Protestant by profession was murthered by the commaund of Chauigni 1565. Lieutenant to the Duke of Moâ—tpeâ—sier as he â—ought to suppresse some who vnder fauour of the troubles had purposedly murthered many men women and children in the Countrie of Maine and places thereabouts As this insolencie increased a Licentious rage transporting them of Tours Of Tours to fal vppon the ProtestaÌ„ts of their towne comming from their exercise they murther some huâ—t others and with the same rage bringing their weapons bloodie into the toâ—ne they kill drowne and spoyle without distinction of age sexe oâ— qualiâ—ie The Marsâ—aâ—l of â—ielle uille was sent to suppresse this mischeefe befoâ—e it spred farther â—ee was readie to carrie himselfe therein according to the tenure of his chaâ—ge but Châ—uigni opposing by open force caused all this premeditated punishnent â—o tâ—rne into smoake as if the examination thereof should discontent both great and smâ—â—l and make things tend to new troubles In the end at the importunate sute oâ— the Protestants who complayned of these horrible insolencies and that they were forcâ—d in all places to furnish holy bread at the parish masses to hang tapistrie before thâ—ir lodging on Corpus Christi day to contrâ—bute to brotherhoods and such other things and at their instant sute not to bee forced in their consciences against the conâ—â—tions of the Edict the King staying in Daulphiné commaunds all gâ—uernours 〈◊〉 Prouinces by his letters patents to entertaine and to cause the Edict of pacification â—o bee duly obserued and to haue a care that no mutinies should grow within thâ—ir gouernments This voyage of Bayonne is famous by that notable sute of those which with a preâ—umptuous and partiall title termed themselues of the societie of Iesus deciâ—ed in the Court of Parliament Steuen Pasquien pleading against them for the Vniueâ—sâ—â—ie of Paris a vehement and most graue Aduocate of so rare a cause and mâ—ster Petâ—r Versoris for their company their pleadings are read and their beginnings and fiâ—st entrie into France their aduancement and all that concernes their sect is so learnedly expressâ—d in an epistle of the fourth booke of the sayd Pasquier and in his pleading as it is needlesse to insert here This new yeere bread new troubles at Paris and was likely to haue stretched farre The Cardinall of Lorraine comming from the Councell of Trente accompanied with his nephew and a number of men with hargubuses contrary to the Edict followed at hand by the Duke of Aumale his broâ—her went to Paris The conclusions of the Councell and tâ—is carrying of armes did much disquiet the Protestants It is giuen out that tâ—eir meaning is to offer them violence Thâ— Maâ—â—hâ—ll of 〈◊〉 opposeâ—h 〈…〉 Câ—â—dinâ—l of Lorâ—aine they flie to the Marshall of Montmorency aâ— gouernour of the Isle of France a wise man louing the publike peace He intreats the Cardinal not to enter in this maner This request neglected he reâ—olues to vâ—e his 〈◊〉 The Cardinall growes obstinate and offers to enter with all hiâ— force But the Mâ—â—shal as the Kings Lieutenant opposeth himselfe being followed by the Prince Portien and about fortie gentlemen of account The Cardinal growes amazed saues himselfe with his nephew in the next houses and after some dayes of stay at Paris he goes into Champagne to attend the Kings returne from Bayonne Hereafter there is nothing but associations Leagues and conferences They must bee reuenged of this affront But they finde too strong a partie for the two houses of Montmorency and Chastillon most straightly allied by consanguinitie doe likewiâ—e vnite theâ—r wils in this defence The Marshal assisted by the admirall his Cousin conteines the Parisâ—ens in peace and makes the Parliament and the Kings Councell to approue this act The Queene mother fearing least this mutinie should hinder the effects of the voyage of Bayonne and by that meanes the fulfilling of her desseins would bee made frustrate makes the King to commaund by his letters patents such as were not yet entred into Paris not to aâ—proch any neerer and to such as were there to depart vntill that his Maiâ—stie had ended this quartell after his returne out of Gasconie Now the court was ful of complaints The ProtestaÌ„ts accused the Catholiks of vioâ—eÌ„ce and breache of the Edict To content them the Qâ—eene assignes them deputies aâ— Tolouse but they returne without any satisfaction but a discouery that they 〈◊〉 no good vnto them A royall Leaguâ— There it was concluded that all Princes and otâ—ers of what qualitie soeuer whereof many were very farre ingaged by their promise in a certaine League made in France without the Kings priuitie should renounce all confederatâ—ons both within and without the realme and should binde themselues by othe to the King onely vpon paine of rebellion This was the aduice of Montluc But the diffiâ—ultie was to drawe the Articles for to make a Soueraigne Prince to enter into assocâ—â—tion and company with his subiects Was it not by a pernicious consequence to bâ—emish his authority royall and ouerthrow that which should serue as a fundamentâ—â—l lawe for the quiet of the realme the obseruation of the Edict In the end the King hauing visited all Aquitaine he arriues at Bayonne in Iune and thether comes his sister Elizabeth wife to King Philip of Spaine to meete with him accompanied with the Duke of Alba and others to the end said she that the mâ—tter should bee lesse suspected and that their league might take sure hold But the most clearâ— sighted did attribute it to ambition least the Spaniard should seeme to vse any submission How soeuer it were the holy League was confirmed betwixt the two Kings by Elizabeths meanes For the establishing of the ancient religion and extirpation of the new And for that this Doctrine did extreamly afflict France the Spaniard did promise the French such ayde and succours as he could and the French to the Spaniard for that he did see his estate of the Lowe Countries to hatch a
Councell to assure her selfe and to destroy such as would follow any other partie but her owne and euen then did shee trouble the Kings head with an exceeding feare and distrust of his houshold seruants The Duke of Guise would gladly haue vndertaken the house of Montmorency but it was to no purpose if all the foure bretheren were not taken in one nett The Marshall of d' Anuille was in Languedoc and deteâ—mined to ioyne with the Protestants yet the death of the eldest might make the rest easie So the Duke of Guise one day picks a quarrell in the base Court of Saint Germain with Ventabran his houshold seruant and for a slight cause being resolued to kill him hee drawes his sword Ventabran flies directly to the Marshall of Montmorencies chamber which hee finding shut hee mounts higher to that of the Constables Ladie and widow where finding Thoré hee stayes and there receiues some blowes but it was flatlings with his sword This Tragicke act turned to a iest sent the Marshall out off Court 1574. but hee shall soone returne to receiue a 〈◊〉 disgrace The Duke of Alanson resolues likewise to leaue it and to leade the 〈◊〉 Nauarre with him but the execution was of great dissicultie To aske leaue 〈◊〉 breed too many scruples and iealousies in the Kings head to go without leaue was to accuse himselfe of some plot and to be pursued as a fugitiue He therefore stires 〈◊〉 but le ts passe a troupe of two or three hundred horse assembled in Normandee to â—auour as the common bruit was the Duke of Alensons retreat or as others would haue it but without any likelyhood to murther the King his mother and his Councell This leuie terrified the Court and brought it to Paris they presently charge the Duke of Alenson and the King of Nauarre To purge themselues they publish a declaration the foure and twentith of March touching the fact of Saint Germain they protest of their good affection to the King and they offer their seruices against all rebells Hereupon the Marshall of Montmorency is perswaded to come to Court Hee is no sooner arriued The Marshall Montmorencie put in the Bastille but they appoint him the Bastille for his lodging and for companions in prison the Marshall of Cosse la Mole Coconnas and Tourtay seruant to the Duke of Alenson whereof the three last lost their heads at Paris culpable onelâ— to haue beene acquainted with some of their masters Councels to abandon the Court. During these broyles in Court the Protestants and their associats make their profit in Viuarez Daulphiné Languedoc and Poictou And the Marshall d' Anuille hauing by letters surprised Diuers exploirs oâ— war discouered the practise against him conferred now with Saint Romain Gouernour of Nismes But seising on Montpellier Beaucaire Lunel and Pezenas he giues the Protestants some cause to suspect his desseins The Politicks of Poictou hauing ioyned with La Noue seize vpon S. Maixant Melle Fontenay Lusignan and other places The checke fell vppon the Normans Montgomery Lorges and Galardon his children Colombieres Sey and others with troupes of horse and foote had secretly taken Saint Lo Carentan and Valongnes but Matignon and Feruaques ioyned with the forces of the Conte Thâ—rigni who alreadie camped before Saint Lo shut him into Danfâ—one a weake place and ill furnished with threescoore horse and foure score hargubuziers They batter the Castle make a breach of fiue and fortie paces and hauing beene vigorously repulsed from a sharpe assault the Earle abandoned by his people whereof the most part were gone to his enemies and the rest wauering being vnfurnished of munition water and succours perswaded by the Lord of Vassey for he held it farre more honorable to die vpon the breach with a pike in his hand then to fall into the Queene mothers power to end his dayes ignominniously on a scaffold he did capitulate but not without a greeuous apprehensioÌ„ of Colombieros desiring rather to die vpon the breach then to serue as a spectacle at the Greue at Paris Coâ—te Montgomery taken to depart with their liues and to carrie away some furniture with their swords and daggers vppon condition notwithstanding to remaine some time in the hands of Matignon and Vessey kinsman to the Earle with suretie of his life A captious and fraudulent composition the obseruation whereof must needs bee broken The Earle goes sorth and was led away by Matignon and Feruaques at midnight but his company remaine at the enemies deuotion who force the Castle kill some spoyle the rest and put them all to ransome Then Vassey appointed by the two commanders lead the Earle to Paris where since wee did see him goare a mournfull scaffold expiate by his death to the Queenes content that of King Henry her husband In the meane time the Duke of Montpensier made warre in Poictou but slowly and except the Castle of Talmont which he tooke from the Protestants by composition he did not any thing worthie of memorie The taking hereof was encountred with two great disgraces the one neer to Saincte Hermine in the defeat of his companie by Saint Estienne Captaine of Fontenay who slue many gentlemen led away fifteene or sixteene prisoners gott great store of baggage and the Dukes plate The other at the seege of Fontenay Some thinking to reuenge a disgrace doe oftentimes increase it Hee gott nothing but blowes with the losâ—e of the most resolute of his troupes and then an â—â—nest colour the Kings sickenesse called him from this seege to attend new Commissions and forces At that time the Prince of Condé did recreate himselfe in Picardie The Prince of 〈◊〉 retreat into Geâ—maâ—y wearied with the turmoyles of the Court. Being aduertised of diuers practises layed to seize vpon his person he flies into Germanie with Thoré il beloued by reason of the Marshals of Montmorenâ—â— and d' Anuille his brethren and the Councels giuen to the Duke of Alenson Being at Strasbourg he exhorts the Protestant Churches to relie vpon his loue and zeale for their releefe and Thoré perswades his brother d' Anuille to open his eyes and to embrace the occasion that was offered This Marshall held the wolfe by the eares for on the one side the Protestants of Languedoc might greatly crosse him if he had banded his forces directly against them and on the other side he â—eared the King and the Queene his mother who to keepe him in awe caused his eldest brother to be â—aâ—ely garded as a sure pledge for his yongers actions Hee must therefore assure himselfe on al sides and according to the course of the market entertaine both the one and the other expecting a Catastrophe of this strange and horrible Tragedie which was acted in Court The King declyned in the meane time decayed visibly in the prime of his age since the King of Polands departure he seemed more changed in mind then in body being incensed especially against the authours
commentâ—ries in steede of pacifying all things past as he might easily haue done and haue giuen vs peace they cause him to resolue vnto warre making him beleeue that entring into Daulphiné all would yeeld vnto him where as the least dog-hoole made head against him the best of his conquests could neyther recompence the bloud of his men nor the treasure he should spend in this warre The Queene mother the Dukes of Guise and Neuers the Marshall of Retz the Chancellor Birague and some other newe bread Frenchmen disposed of the affaires at their pleasure in the secret Councells of the Cabinet Bad Councelâ—loâ—â— The King did willingly giue them authority and what might bee expected of men who gladlie would people France with newe Colonies of Italians Lorrains and Piedmontoâ—s carying onely to Court Ladies from the which he had beene sequestred almost a yeare with this nation which is lesse lasciuious then ours These pernitious Councellors cause him to protest by sundrie proclamations of his loue to the good of his subiects and to abolish what was past Ill Councell so as they lay aside arâ—es deliuer him all his Townes and liue quietly in their houses without any search constraint or molestation for matter of conscience A policy practised by them to entertaine the fire of ciuill diuisions to rule in this confusion and to fortifie a third partie which in the end we shall see will oppresse the King and bring the Realme to a very miserable estate The Protestants stood then the more vpon their gards they are full of iealousie distrust doubt and feare All those pattents made no mention of libertie for their religion neither of a Parliament for the politike gouernment nor of a nationall Councell for matteâ—s of conscience And what was it to graunt vnto the Rochelâ—oâ—s libertie of conscience and to forbid the exercise of their religion for a certaine season but to keepe their partie at a gase whilest by their great preparations which were made in all parts they should bee able to put a mightie armie to field to râ—ine them without hope of rysing So they arme on all sides espeally in Poictou The Baron of Frontenay afterwards Lord of Rohan in Brittanye beeing followed by threescore gentlemen and sixe hundred good soldiars puts himselfe into Lusignan which the Duke Montpenâ—â—er threatned and according to the leysure hee gaue him hee prouided for the fortifications and all things necesâ—arie to maintayne a memorable seege which might by the meanes of some succours consume an armâ—e before the Castell Seege of Lusignan About the beginning of October the Duke incampes before it and with a batterie of about two thousand three hundred Cannon shot thinkes to drawe the beseeged to a composâ—tion Their importuneâ— them but they answer they will attend a generall peace for all them of their religion He salutes them with twelue hundred and fiftie Cannon shot more makes a breach giues an assault vpon them and is repulsed and beaten back with great losse Fiue daies after the beseeged sallie forth and to reuenge the bloud of seauen yong gentlemen sixeteene soldiars and twentie that were hurt at this first assault they cloye fiue Cannons fire their powder kill nine Captaines and many soldiars bring away many Enseigns and returne laden with spoiles armes and prisoners This disgrace dispersed a part of his campe and made him to spend all the moneth of Nouember without any attempt against the beseeged In December the Duke fortified with twelue hundred Reistres and sixe hundred French foote presseth Lusignan againe and the more to hinder them he batters downe a mill which did furnish them with meale So their hand-mills not able to suffice they began to want bread To ease them of some superfluous mouthes they craue a pasport for some gentlewomen and other persons vnfit for the warre to returne to their houses or some other places of safetie But the hatred this Prince did beare to the Protestants had more force in him than the ordinary curtesie which FrenchmeÌ„ beare vnto Ladies He supposed the wiues Children should be an vrgent sting to draw their husbands and Fathers to yeeld speedely Nowe their horses serued them for foode the soldiars almost starued tooke away the bread violently as they carried it from the Ouen they brake into many houses in the night to seeke for victualls they had no wood but mouables and the ruines of houses ill clothed ill shod ill lodged no cleane linnen toyled with continual trauell to defend themselues both aboue and vnder ground to frustrate the mines which the Duke caused to bee made two of the which in their ruines buried many of the assaylants and gaue the beseeged courage to continue firme in their resolution The 23. of the moneth they begin to thunder with eighteene Cannons and foure Culuerins and the next day they continue the same furie with fiue and twentie peeces After diner they come to the assault the showers of musket shot comming from sundrie flankes makes the enemie retire and to leaue the breach full of dead bodies The greatest force was against the rauelin of la Vacherie which being woone by the assaylants makes them retire to the Castell that had it in gard At the first port of the Castell euery man did shewe his resolution all fight in the midest of the thunder fire and smoake and fiue houres togither dispute it with a doubtfull and bloudie fight In the end both the one and the other being tired with so furious an assault take breath the beseeged remayning masters both of the Towne and Castell being reduced to foure score cuirasses and foure hundred and fiftie harguebuziers resolute to liue and die both in the defence of the place and of their quarrell hoping that la Noue would finde meanes to send them some releefe Lasignan yeelded Not courage but force fayled them So as Frontenay the 25. of Ianuary accepted the articles of composition which the Duke offred vnto him by the Collonel Sarrieu Himselfe and his gentlemen to depart with their armes horses and baggage the Captaines and other Commanders euery one with a curtall if they had any their armes and baggage the soldiars with their harguebuzes their matches out and their Enseignes wrapt vp the gentlewemen and all others that would depart safely to be conducted to their houses or else to Rochelle Thus it was concluded This seege caused aboue twelue hundred men to be slaine a great number to bee maimed and ruined a mighty armie They endured ten thousand Cannon shot with many assaults and lost 25. gentlemen and about two hundred soldiars And the Duke for a memory of his losses caused the Castel of Lusignan to be razed being in former times one of the goodliest fortresses in Europe Such conquests were of more difficultie in Daulphiné the Protestants had mo places and mo Captaines at their deuotion Pousin Liuron Priuas and others did greatly hinder thetrafficke of Marseilles and Lions and
some running into Piedmont had charged the Kings baggage returning from Poland To reuenge these insolencies the king sends the Prince Daulphin to beseege Poussin eighteene thousaÌ„d men beseege it on either side of the riuer of Rhone Pâ—ustâ— beseeged in the beginning of October foureteene great Cannons batter it and make a breach Rochegude and Pierregourde defend it with a wonderfull slaughter of the enemie and so terrefied the rest of the army as all were 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 vp their baggage but â—odenly the wall shaken with tâ—e 〈◊〉 and oâ—ercharged with earth cast vp for the trenches within the Towne falles downe to the 〈◊〉 So the Towne lying open and the ruines noâ— to be repayred during the seege the place being too straight Saint Romain after many inroadâ— and sharpe skirmishes 〈◊〉 into it and iudging that in the ende it would be forced hee drewe out off it men women and children and puttâ—ng them into Priuas in safety hee abandoned and left 〈◊〉 to the beseegers mercie who entring by heapes spoile sacke burne and make the place desolate and by the taking thereof they recouer a part of Viuarais Grane â—oziol and Roinac beeing vnable to endure the Cannon made easie the approches of Lâ—ron But let vs vewe the estate of Languedoc The Qâ—eene Mother and those of Guise 〈◊〉 of Languâ—doc desired infinitly to dispossesse the Marshall dâ— Anâ—ilâ—e of his gouernment for hee crossed their aduancement with all his power and stayed them from proceeding as gladly they would against his elder brother being a prisoner But yet if hee â—ad not fortified his estate with the Protestants partie wâ—o were then strong in Languedoc hardly could hee subsist amongest so many and so mightie enemies He therefore in open assemblie of the estates at Montpelier ioynes himselfe with them according to the declarations lately published by the Prince of Condé and the people of Languedoc hee sets downe the causes of this his newe and forced taking of armes The Vicont of Turene his sisters sonne doth likewise publish his of the same substance Thoré and Meru bretheren and the Earle of Ventadour brother in Lawe to the sayd Marshall ioyne with him The Duke of Alenson seemes to sauour it but the euent will shewe whether it were fraudulent or with a sincere inteâ—â— This reuolte amazed the Court and to stoppe the course thereof the Queene mother doth presently by gratious letters inuite the Marshall to some agreement But giâ—ing the Protestants but a simple libertie of conscience shee debarres them of the publike exercise of their religion The Marshall protests of his affection to the common good of this Realme and assures the like desire to bee in his associats but with all hee shewes that the Councellors who by that horrible and infamous massacre the 24. of August had caused the deceased King to breake the last Edict of pacification gouerning at this day the helme of the affaires it was very difficult to establish a firme peace the which may no way subsist vnlesse the exercise of both religions may be indifferently allowed within the realme So this treatie of peace remayning fruitelesse the Qâ—eene mother changeth â—er countenance and labors by diuers practises but in vaine the alliance being yet too fâ—esh to sowe diuision betwixt the Marshall and his associats and yet by sundrie massacres continues this pretended parle of a generall peace in France But it could not be concluded with such conditions as the King required That all his Townes should fiâ—st bee yeelded vnto him without exceptions and then would he graunt his subiects peace The Prince Daulphin hauing leâ—t the commande of the Kings armie to the Marshall of Belâ—egarde Liuron honored with a second seege hee comes in the midest of December to campe before Liuron Roesses a gentleman of Daulphiné commanded there with about foure hundâ—ed men but full of resolution and great valour in a hillie place strong of situation but then of no fame amongest the other Townes of Daulphiné Foureteene companies of the Kings gards eleauen Enseignes of Suisses twelue Ensâ—ignes of Harguebuziers and Daulphinois nine Enseignes of Piedmont three hundred men of the olde bandes foure companies of men at armes and eight Corners oâ— Reistres beseege it on all parts Two and twenty great peeces of batterie planted in tâ—ree parts do batter it and aâ—ter eleauen hundred Cannon shot make a breach of sixe hâ—ndred paces The Marshall was not satisfied with this ruine hee will haue all battered downe and with a generall ouâ—rthrowe fiâ—l vp the trench They make a greater breach with a newe battery of foureteene hundred Canon shot He recouers the trench and maâ—â— defences for his men All this doth nothing amaze the beseeged but contrariwise to shewe that they haue force to defend themselues and that they mâ—st haue great dexterity and resolution to take them they tie to the ende of a Pike a horse shooe a paire of mittens and a cat they lift vp the pike as if they would say Marshal this cat is not taken without mittens Such was the estate of Liuron when as the King so iourning at Auignon beeing in penury for money to supplie his excessiue charge and prodigallity Charles Cardinall of Lorraine labouring the marriage of Henry with Lowyse of Lorraine daughter to the Earle of Vaudemont his kinswoman Cardinall of Lorraine dies and to furnish this excessiue and stâ—tely pompe aduising the King to sell for a hundred thousand crownes in benefices waâ— surprised with a feuer and falling from a feuer into a frensie he died the 23. of December in the midest of a cruell tempest and violent whirlewind which vncouered the houses and loosened the barres of iron in the Carthusiens Couent in the suburbes of Auignon Some impute this death to the smelling of a certaine precious purse which was giuen him full of rare peeces of gold with the Queene Mothers priuity whom the foresayd treaty of marriage which the Cardinall did practise made remember the crosses she had suffered after the marriage of Francis the â— her eldest sonne foreseeing that this newe alliance tended but to restore the house of Guise to the same authority they had enioyed vnder the raigne of the said Francis Others did attribute it to the blowes the Cardinall had giuen himselfe vnder colour of deuotion in the company of them 〈◊〉 beat themselues in the sharpest time of winter Others applied â—t to â—â—e iust iudgement of God vpon this Prelate who drawing all his greatnesse and all 〈◊〉 meanes from the Clergy of France would yet perswade the King to so 〈…〉 alienation of goods appointed for the vse of the Church whatsoeuer it were Nâ—twithstanding the strict familiarity which the Queene mother had with the 〈◊〉 yet did she giue this testimony of him after his death That the 23. of 〈◊〉 most wicked man was dead And the people both farre and neere said 〈…〉 storme in the ayre noted that this man hauing by cuâ—sed 〈…〉 his house
Chastillon comming from raysing of the seege of Aubigny which la Chastre chiefe of the League in Berry had beseeged promiseth the King that if hee will make him his Lieutenant on this side the â—iner hee will deliuer it into his power within eight daies His Maiesty giues him this Commaunde Hee makes a bridge of woode the point whereof reached vnto the breach that they might come couered to handâ—e stroakes with the enemie This newe engin amazeth them and drawes them to composition the which they obtayned on good-friday vpon condition to yeeld within eight daies if they were not releeued The Duke of Mayenne would not loose the certaine to runne after the vncertaine Hee held Chasteau-Thierry so straightly begirt as the Vicont Pinard was forced to capitulate with him before the King could come to his succour So the King lost Chasteau-Thierry and in exchange tooke Chartres a goodly and strong place There came forth about sixe hundred men with their armes horse and baggage and the 19. of Aprill the King made a triumphant entry in armes appointed a garrison â—estored Sourdis to his gouernment reduced Aulneau and Dourdan to his obedience and then went to refresh himselfe at Senlis Let vs nowe see soâ—â— other sinister accidents Charsteau Thierry lost A defeat in Prouence which in time shall helpe to ruine the League A thousand horse and eighteene hundred Harguebuziers Prouensals Sauoyards and Spaniards seeke to subdue that Prouince for the Duke of Sauoy la Vallette inuites le-Diguteres to do the King herein a notable seruice he goes and both ioyntly charge these troupes of strangers and bastard French they kill foure hundred masters and fifteene hundred 〈◊〉 take many prisoners and carrie away fifteene Enseigns winne many horses and much baggage and loose but one Gentleman and some twenty souldiars This done Les Diguieres returnes into Daulphinè Being gone the League recouers new forces in Prouence by the fauour and credit of the Countesse of Sault but shee had neyther force nor vigour able to countenance the factions of Spaine and Sauoye The Duke of Sauoye lately returned from Spaine growes iealous of 〈◊〉 intelligences preiudicall to his Estate and sets gards both ouer her and the Lord 〈◊〉 her son She is cunning counterfeits herselfe siâ—ke conceales her discontent In Poito◠〈◊〉 in the end finds means to escape with her sonne disguised to Marseilles In Poitou the gouernor of Loches hauing taken the Castell of la Guierche the Viconte of the sayd place presseth his friends inâ—eats the Duke of Mercoeur assembles all hee can to recouer his house The Baron of Roche-Posé ioyned with some other Commanders of the Country for his Maiesties seruice comes and chargeth the Vicont kills aboue three hundred gentlemen his best footemen aboue seauen hundred naturall Spaniards that were come out of Brittaine to succor the Viconte The Vicont after he had maintayned a little fight flies to a riuer by where thinking to passe in the ferry-boate the presse grew presently so great as boate and passingers â—unke La Guierche with many other gentlemen slaine or drowned did almost equall the number of the Nobility which died at Coutras Then the Princes and Noblemen Catholiks following the King did sollicit his Maiesty to turne to the Catholike religion and had by the Duke of Luxembourg sought to appease the bitternes of the Court of Rome against the estate of this realme The Dukes returne with small hope the petitions made vnto the King to prouide for his dutifull subiects of both religions to preuent the new attempts of Gregory the 14. and his adherents to the preiudice of this Crowne were the cause of two Edicts made at Mante in the beginning of Iuly the one confirmed the Edicts of pacification made by the deceased King vpon the troubles of the realme and disanulled all that passed in Iuly 1585. 1588. in fauour of the League Tâ—e other shewed the Kings intent to maintaine the Catholike Apostolike and Romish religion in France with the ancient rights priuileges of the French-church The Court of Parliament at Paris resident at Tours Chaalons in Champagne hauing verified these Edicts did presently disanul al the Bulls of Cardinall Caietans Legation The Popes Bull disanulled and other Bulls come from Rome the first of March proceedings excomunications and fulminations made by Marcellin Landriano terming himselfe the Popes Nuncio as abusiue scandulous seditious full of impostures made against the holy decrees Canonicall Constitutions approued Councells and against the rights and liberties of the French Church They decree that if any had beene excomunicate by vertue of the sayd proceedings they should be absolued the said Bulls and all proceedings by vertue thereof burnt in the market place by the hang-man Landriano the pretended Nuntio come priuily into the realme without the kings leaue or liking should bee aprehended and put into the Kings pryson and so to proceed extraordinarylie against him And in case he could not be taken he should be summoned at three short daies according to the accustomed manner and ten thousand frankes giuen in reward to him that should deliuer him to the Magistrate Prohibitions beeing made to all men to receiue retayne conceale or lodge the sayd pretended Nuntio vpon paine of death And to all Clergie men not to receiue publish or cause to be published any sentences or proceedings comming from him vpon paâ—ne to bee pâ—nished as Traytors They declared the Cardinalls beeing at Rome the Archbishops Bishoppes and other Clergy men which had signed and ratified the sayd Bull of excomunication and approued the most barbarous abhominable and detestable Parricide trayterously committed on the person of tâ—e sayd deceased King most Christian and most Catholike depriued of such spirituall liuings as they held within the realme causing the Kings Proctor generall to seize thereon and to put them into his Maiesties hand forbidding all persons eyther to carry or send gold to Rome and to prouide for the disposition of benefices vntill the King should otherwise decree That of Tours added this clause to their decree they declared Gregory calling himselfe Pope the foureteenth of that name an enemie to peace to the vnion of the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church to the King and to his Estate adhering to the conspiracy of Spaine and a fauorer of rebells culpable of the most cruell most inhumane and most detestable Parricide committed on the person of Henry the 3. of famous memory most Christian and most Catholike The Parliament of the League did afterwards condemne and cause those decrees to 〈◊〉 burnt at Paris which were made against the Bulls and ministers of the 〈…〉 So one pulled downe what an other built vppe During this contrarieâ—y of Parliaments there falls out a crosse to diuide the intentions of the Spanyard and Lorraine without the realme and of the Dukes of Mayenne and Nemours at Paris Euery one by diuers practises affected this Crowne and euery one tryed all his wittes to set
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
vpon his expences Hee would haue the aduice of the Princes and Officers of the Crowne to acquaint them with the estate of his affaiâ—es to the end that if euery man did not obtaine what he demanded he should impute the cause vnto necessity The great tables charged with vnknowne superfluities more esteemed for the price and rarenesse then for the tast or necessity were then cut off by the Kings example which hath alwayes more force then either Law or Correction Excesse was conuerted into frugality Frugâ—litie 〈…〉 va our haâ—h â—otâ—en so necessary in an estate as the Romaines were no lesse bound to the Figges and Carrots of the Fabricij Curij then to their swords Then was there seene a new order in the disposition of the Kings treasure by the care and industrie of the Marquis Rhosny vnto whom his Maiesty gaue the charge of Superintendent From the first day he let them know how hard it was to draw monie out oâ—f the Kings Cofers for so many dealers in it as were wont to be there should now be but one His humor seemed strange hee cared not for all the petty Gods so as he pleased Iupiter as Apuleius saith He refused many things to the end that the grant might be reserued for the King all fauours receiued from his Maiesties only hand not from any other the which hath purchased him many enemies who enuying his prosperitie and condition desire the ouerthrow of his happines and yet are constrayned to admire the force and soundnes of his vnderstanding Those which are raysed to the Solstâ—ce of their greatnes must consider that Princes fauours are alwaies perillous It is a dâ—fficult thing to stand long firme vpon this ice and the fall how gentle soeuer will neuer suffer him to rise againe The which is proued in Tiberius to Seianus Charles the 6. to Iohn Montague and many others I haue learned of a great personage Ambassador to a Prince of Germanie 3. words which he carried grauen in a Clocke Hâ— said them once a day and did thinke of them continually Fauour may turne inâ—o diâ—fauour and grace into disgrace Gnad Kan Wol Zoin Werden Gnad erket nicht But hee that serues his Master according to his owne heart that doth nothing against his conscience and that gouerns his intentions according to Law Iustice and Equitie neuer abandons the Helâ—e although the wind beat his barke he needs not to feare any thing Fortune must alwayes â—eeld vnto vertue The Emperour hauing the last yeere as wee haue formerly sayd sent an Imperiall commandement as wel to the Admirall as to the Prince Maurice to depart out of the territories of the Empire and to restore the places they held vnto their right Lords whereof they made no great account finding many delayes and shifts to continue there still to the end they might haue elbowe roome to rob and steale and to winter there The Princes and Electors of the Rhine of the nether Circle of Westphalia The Deputies of the Princâ—â— and Sâ—â—â—es of the Empire assemble at Collen sent their Deputies to Collen where they did assemble in the beginning of Ianuary to redresse those disorders which the Admirall and Prince Maurice had committed seeing the Emperours letters were so little respected of them To the same end they did write vnto the Princes and States of the Circles of Franconia and base Saxony to moue them ioyntly to prepare to armes to expell as well the Spaniard as Prince Maurice out of the limits of the Empire that to that end the sayd Princes with the fiue Circles would send their Deputies to Conflans the eleuenth of March following The said Deputies being at Collen made new complaints by their letters of the one twentith of Ianuary vnto the Emperour as well of the Admirall and Spaniards as of the Prince Maurice and the States army beseeching him to grant an Imperiall armie which should be commonly of 40000. men to force both the one and the other to depart out of the lymits of the Empire and to repayre the losses sustayned by them The Emperour writes againe the eleuenth of February from Prague to Andrew Cardinall of Austria Gouernour of the Low Countries reiterating his commandâ—ments and also to the Admirall who had newly taken againe the Towne of Emerick in the Countrie of Cleues the which Prince Maurice had taken from him and deliuered freely vnto the Duke It seemed that these two armies played at base in the Countrie of Cleues The sayd Cardinall and Admirall sent excuses for an answere both to the Emperour and to the Deputies at Collen Ferdinand de Lopes of Villanoua The Elector oâ— Menâ—z answere vnto Carâ—inâ—ll Andrew going from the Cardinall to make his Spanish iustifications vnto the Emperour he past by the Archbishop Elector of Mentz whome hee thought to make deafe and blind presenting vnto â—im in the Cardinalls name a tedious writing conteining certaine reasons like vnto those which William Rodowitz Commissarie for the Admirall deliuered vnto the Deputies at Collen wherefore the Spanish armie had entred into the limits of the Empire and why it stayd there but the Prince Elector of Mentz gaue him a short and resâ—lutâ— answere That he could not alow of that which the Cardinall and Archduke had attempted against the constitutions of the Empire As for himselfe he would nâ—t â—aile in that which concerned his dutie for a preseruation of the peace and quiet of Germanie being troubled and disquieted in this manner aduising the Cardinall for for the bâ—st to retire his armie as soone as hee could out off the lymitts of the Empire and not to attend the end of Aprill to repaire the wrongs done to restore what they had violently taken and to make satisfaction for the damages done as well to the generall as to the particular In so doing the Princes and States of the Empire should haue occasion somewhat to excuse what was past to allow of the vrgent necessitie wherewith they seeke to purge and iustifie themselues 1596. This answere was made â—y the Elector the fiue and twentith of February 1599. The Admirâ—ls letter to the Deputieâ— of Câ—llâ—n The Admirall in the behalfe of the King of Spaine of Albert Archduke Andrew Cardinal and in his owne sent a Commissioner to Collen to treat with the Deputies of the Princes and States and especially with that of the Count Lippe Captaine generall of the Lower Circle of Westphalia The sayd Commissioner presented letters of Iustification from the Admirall to the Deputies written from Rees the 20. of Ianuarie full of allegations of the necessitie which had moued the King of Spaine to lodge his armâ—e in those quarters He vpbraideâ—â— them wâ—th 〈◊〉 goâ—d deeds the better to subdue his enemies and the States And first for the great benefits the Empire had receiued from the King of Spaine and the house of Burgundie it was reciprocally bound to ayde and serue him herein
rare about Paris the King would shew him his Court of Parliament for al that he had seene was nothing in respect of the admirable greatnes of that reuerent Court whereof in former times many Emperours Kings and Princes comming to Paris had more admited the Iustice that was administred there 1600. then any thing else that they had seene The King aduertised the chiefe President Achilles de Harley that he would go see and heere them They prepared the lodging of the Golden Chamber whereas the King and Duke might see and not be seene There was a most tragicall cause pleaded whereof the first President made choyse The subiect was of one Iohn Prost a Practitioner of the Law who had beene murthered at Paris and the authors could not bee discouered His Mother accused a Baker where he was lodged vpon some apparant presumptions of certaine money which she had sent vnto him Wherevpon the Baker was condemned to bee rackt with all extremity after the which hee was inlarged for a time putting in Caution for his appearance againe in Court It happened afterwards that three Gascons were taken for robbing of a house and condemned the next day to bee hanged At their execution the last of the three sayd that the Baker was innocent for that which he had bin accused of for the murther of Iohn Prost and that it was he with his companion la Sale that had slaine him thinking that he had money and that after they had slaine him they did cast him into the priuy whereas he was yet The which was found true Wherevpon the Baker being declared innocent he presents his petition vnto the Court and demands reparation of honor with his Charges Domage and Interest against the Mother The Mother defends her selfe and saith that her accusations were not calumnious Maister Anne Robert pleaded for the Baker and for theMother Maister Anthony Arnaulâ— and for the Kings interest Maister Seruin his Maiesties Aduocate Generall Anne Robert Aduocate in the Court pleading for the Baker being Plaintife-said thus MAY IT PLEASE YEE THe ancient Poets taking pleasure to discourse of many Combats happened at the battell of Troy report that Telephus the sonne of Hercules receiued in an incounter a sore wound with a Lance by Achilles who seeing his paine to encrease dayly fled to Apolloes Oracle for Councell who answered That nothing could giue him ease or cure but the same Lance wherewith hee had beeene wounded A Lance called Pelias of Mount Pelion in the toppe whereof Chiron gathered it to present to Achilles so as in Telephus accident the Remedy the Cure came from the same Lance which gaue the wound and did the harme The Plaintife with some like consideration hath reason to say that hauing beene by the authority of a sentence miserably tormented A wound giuen by sentence cannot bee be cured but by sentence and exposed to the rigour of the rack and tortuâ—e by the wilfull slander and importune rashnes of a Woman he hath recourse vnto the same Lance of Achilles which did wound him seeing that hee doth now appeale vnto the Authority Iustice of the same Court which hath heretofore giuen the first sentence of condemnation against him hoping that by the examplary punishment of the rashnes and slander of this Woman Alluding to the name of the Iudge which was Achilles D' Hâ—rlâ—y the soueraigne Iustice of this ParliameÌ„t guided by the conduct of an Achilles which doth preside hold the chiefe place shall giue cure to his wounds and bring consolation to his griefes The estate of the cause that is now in question and to be iudged is not whether the Plaintife were falsely and slanderously accused or no for the accident of two murtherers hath auerred and discouered the slander without any doubt But the question is if this Defendresse after so false and calumnious an accusation shall passe vnpunished and whether her pretended excuses shal be receiued and countenanced by Iustice. For one of the chiefe points which she pleads for her excuse is that the Criminall Processe hauing past through the hands of the most famous Iudges of Europe if they haue bin deceiued saith this woman if by presumptions and probable coniectures they haue found cause to condemne this Man vnto the rack if so many worthy Iudges haue bin surprised will you not excuse the simplicity of a Woman and the extreme sorrow of an afflicted Mother for the death of her son hauing had no hatred nor malice in this accusation It is a great abuse to measure the actions of Iudges with the actions of Parties the pursute and proceeding of parties is meerely voluntary no man is forced to plead or accuse the Plaintife should be well aduised before he begin not to drawe any man into the danger of a capitall condemnation if he be not first assured that hee who he calls into question hath done the deed and is author of the crime but the charge of a Iudge is tied to a necessary duty bound to certaine Maximes and subiect to rules established by the Lawes to condemne necessarily vppon presumptions and proofes and vpon the testimony of witnesses examined at the instance of the party Antiquity doth teach vs that Tiresias that great Southsaâ—er foretold things to come by the flying of Birds not that he did see the birds for he was blinde but say the Poets he had alwaies his daughter Manto nere vnto him who told him in what maner the Bâ—rds did fly thereby he diuined Iustice may rightly be compared to this excellent blinde man the comparison cannot seeme bad seeing that the Egiptians thought good to paynt their Iudges with their eyes blindfold Iustice doth iudge of thaâ— which appears For Iudges cannot rightly see nor knowe what doth passe Iustice decrees nothing but according to the reporte and testimony of parties witnesses If any inconuenience happen in the condemnation the mischiefe is to be imputed to the parties and not to the Iudges or Iustice. They report that the Greekes hauing put Palamedes to death his Father Nauplius to be reuenged obserued the time when as the Greekes after the sack of Troy returned by sea in a great tempest Nauplius beeing vpon a Rock in full sea held a burning Torch in his hand as if that place had beene a safe port for the descent of Ships the Greekes abused with this light ran against the Rock and suffered â—hipwracke In this misfortune if there were cause to complayne it was against the malicious inuention of Nauplius but as for the Pilots and such as gouerned the Shipps they were not to be blamed in following the direction of a Lanthorne in a darke night beeing vsually set at safe Ports So in accidents like vnto this in question all the harme all the coÌ„plaints and all the wrong is to be imputed to the accused which kindles the fire of slander and from whom proceeds the practises and subornation of witnesses and the
what reason were there to take for payment an auaylable satisfaction the indiscretion of the Defendresse and the excuse of Ignorance an ordinary companion to Slander and to pardon so notable a fault vnder pretext of an afflicted Mothers greefe for the death of her sonne and hereafter when any Murther is committed shall it bee lawfull for a â—ather a Brother or a neere Kinsman with all Impunitie vnder a pretext of Iustice to aâ—cuse whome he pleaseth and to bring him in question of his life or of some cruel torments and in the end to be quitt excusing himselfe vpon his Greefe or Ignorance The rules of Iustice and Law doe not allow it Titus Liuius sayd excellently that the Law was Inexorable Deafe without Pittie and without Passion The Lawe inâ—xorable Why doth that worthie Author say that the Law is deafe but for that it doth neuer giue eare vnto the vaine discourse of Pittie and Commiseration The propertie of Iustice is to bee strict and seuere The Surgion that is pittifull and doth not laâ—ch deepe makes the wound incurable An Indulgent ouer-milde Father makes the Child incorigible So a mercifull Iudge doth norish and increase vice and betrayes the Lawes and Maiestie of Iustice. This cause doth therefore import the Publike for examples sake for although the Plaintiâ—e hath no other quality but of a simple Bourges and handy-crafts man yet to obtaine reason in Iustice and to hope for reparation of the wrong which hath beene done him he thinkes himselfe great inough seeing he hath the happinesse to liue vnder the peacefull gouernment of the best King in the world who hauing heaped all happinesse vpon France mainteynes equally in his protection and vnder the safegard of his Maiesty the life and health of all his subiects Poore and Rich Great and Small The Ancients held that Themis which is the Goddesse of Iustice was the daughter of the Sunne and as the Sunne may be seene in a Glasse by them which cannot behold his beames So the Maiesty of our great King the true and comfortable Sun of this monarchy the eye and heart of France would giue authority to this famous Parlament as the true seate of his greatnesse to the ende that therein as in a Looking-glasse we might admire the Beauty Light and Beames of his Iustice. An Historian sayth that the Emperour Augustus had firy eyes Igâ—eos oculos inferring thereby that he had such glistering eyes and such a piercing sight as it was impossible or very hard to looke stedfastly on him And we in like sort must content our selues that it is lawfull for vs to admire the beauty of this soueraigne Court and to beleeue that our weake sight is not strong inough to inioy fully the presence of our great Prince sitting in his seat of Iustice nor to indure the glistering beames of the Maiesty of our great French Augustus whom God hauing led through so many dangers as it were by the hand to the height of all greatnesse and hauing endued him with the Valour of Caesar the Fortune of Alexander the Bounty of Traian we can wish no more vnto him but the happines the many yeares and the continuall prosperity of Augustus to the end that all we his subiects may liue happy and content vnder the raigne of so great a King and the assured Iustice of this famous Parlament So the Plaintife hauing recourse to this soueraigne Iustice as to the last Port of health beseecheth the Court to allow of his Request and that he may be absolued of the slanderous accusation layde against him that the inrolement of his imprisonment may bee razed and hee discharged of all condemnations which heretofore haue beene giuen and moreouer that the Defendresse may be condemned to a pecuniary reparation such as it shall please the Court to decree and to all Charges Domages and Interest 1600. ANTHONIE Arnaud for the Defendres sayd MAY IT PLEASE YEE Afflictions speake of themselues YOV shal vnderstand in this cause how true it is That ordynarie afflictions speake with iudgement and that extreme calamities do quench or confound the spirit The Pâ—â—â—â—tife hath represented his greefes vnto you in an elloquent discourse full of Arte tâ—e force of eloquence And contrariwise of our part you shall heare nothing but the Sobbs and Sightes of a Mother transported with greefe and reduced to all sorts of dispaire I would to God the torments whereof you speake and all the cruelties that may be imagined had beene executed vpon me poore Mother who haue one foote already in the graue And that the death of my Sonne and the Kinde of death more miserable then the death it selfe had not ministred the mournfull subiect of this miserable cause so as on what side soeuer you turne there is nothing to be seene but Teares Desolalation But there is this great difference that the greefe of the aduerse party if there yet remaines any may be mollefied in time by a thousand remedies which excellent wits haue inuented during many ages to ease the discomodities of the body But contrarywise the extreame affliction which findes no words of force to represent it for the losse of a Sonne of an onely Sonne the onely support and comfort of the trembling age of an olde Mother hath neuer found consolation in all the most excellent discourses in the world beeing the onely phisicke of the minde The Greefe is so violent as it exceeds all Remedy and bleeds a fresh euery day The older it growes the more greuous it is It doth hourely master the resistance which it found in the beginning and doth contin ually vanquish the forces of the Body wih them of the Minde It is a strange thing that my poore Sonne hauing beene thus cruelly massacred you who see him returne no more into your house insteed of aduertising me thereof went into his Chamber to take his money you transported it out of your owne house and hid it in your Brother in Lawes And which is worse being examined by the Iustice you denied it constantly and often vntill that your Sonne to young to conceale the truth discouered the place where you had layed it All this is iustified by the Processe the which remaines in the hands of the Kings Councell So as it was not in you that these Murtherers were not vnpunished but the peercing eye of Diuine Iustice which neuer sleepes for a robbery committed two months after hath brought them to the execution It appeeres by the informations that the very day of the Murther these two Murtherers went into your lodging and brake open my Sonnes coâ—er if you had fled vnto Iustice they might haue beene instantly apprehended Aâ—as peraduenture my poore Childe was not then fully dead Howe many are left for dead which are not so Howe many haue beene taken out of the Cofin yea out of the Graue which haue suruiued their Funeralls fiftie yeares At the least you cannot denie but you were the cause
and to ruine all the world with his delights At this time there sprong vp Religious men in France who said they were true Obseruers of the Order of S. Francis The order of 〈◊〉 and that the Franciscans and Capuchins did not maintaine it so exactly but they needed Reformation The King gaue them a Couent at Beauâ—ort by the example of this piety many other places desired it They would lodge at Balmette neere vnto Anger 's the which had beene Founded by Rene King of Sicilia The FranciscaÌ„s who could not indure to be dispossessed by these Recollets beseeged them offered to force their Gates and to scale their Walles The Beseeged defended not themselues with Words and Excorcismes but with Stones and in such Choller as if the People had not come the Scandall had not ended without Murther The Prouinciall seeing that the Recollets would not receiue him Trouble in the â—ouent of Balmâ—â—te and that the Bishop would not suffer him to vse force appealed as from an abuse of their Establishment The Recollâ—ts shew vnto the Court that they are the true Children and Disciples of S. Francis liuing according to the Rule and Discipline that was obserued in Italy from whence the good Precepts of the Reformation of Regulers were drawne that if those of the Famely of Obseruance and of Capuchins were tollerated honoured in France they should be of no worse Condition This cause was the Argument of a famous pleading in the Court Parliament in the which Seruin the Kings Aduocate said That a Reformation was necessary not only in the Order of the Franciscans or Grey-Friars A great pâ—eadâ—â—g â—n the Court of Parlament but also in all others but they must be careful not to transforme by Nouelties in steed of Reforming by Censures alleadging many reasons against the bringing in of nâ—we Orders Whereupon the Court pronounced that there was abuse and restored the Ancient Religious to the Couent of Balmette forbidding all religious Men of the Order of Grey-Fryars to go out off the Realme without license from the King or their Superiors Iealous and distrustfull heads gaue it out that the Peace was in weake estate when as after the iniury done vnto Rochepott in Spaine The King gâ—es to Calais and the forbiding of Trafficke they see the King gonne sodainely to Calais and that from thence hee had sent the Duke Biron into England The Archdukes tooke a sodaine Alarum and to that end sent the Count Soâ—a vnto the King to deliuer vnto him the state of the Seege to Ostend The Count Sora sent vnto the King and to beseech him not to suffer that their enemies should thinke that these approches should be to their aduantage and that their rebellion should be fauoured by an example so hatefull to all Princes The King sent the Duke of l' Esguillon to visit them The Duke of l' Eâ—guillon sent to the Archdukes and to assure them that his intention was not to trouble the Peace but onely to visit his Fronter and to prouide for the fortifications They did not generally beleeue this for although he made this Voyage in Post many thought that he would imbrace this occasion of the seege of Ostend and all the Court followed him as to some great Exploite And for that he would not haue the world in suspence of his desseignes he gaue the Gouernors of his Prouinces to vnderstand that the cause of his going to Calais was but to visit his frontier and to prouide for that which should bee necessary to assure it not from present dangers but from those that might happen He declared also that he had no other desseigne then the preseruation of Peace withall his neighbours to enjoy that which God had giuen him But there were other practises which could not be dispersed but by the Kings presence The Queene of England sent Sir Thomas Edmonds to visit the King and the King returned her the like by the Duke of Biron Hee went accompanied with a hundred and fifty Gentlemen The Count of Avuergne was there as vnknowne The Duke of Biron sent into England but his qâ—aâ—ity discouered him There was nothing omitted that might be for the reception of an Ambassador somewhat more Being at London many Noblemen receiued him and accompanied him to Basing where he rested a day or two before he did see the Queene who made him knowe that shee was honoured by her Subiects aboue other Princes A Prince should loose no occasion to let Strangers see the greatnesse of his Estate to giue them cause to admire him and to maintaine his Subiects in the dutie which they owe him The Queene of England who hath made good proofe that Wonten may raigne as well and as happely as Men obserues this bâ—â—tâ—r then any Prince of her age making all them that followed the Duke of Biron in this Legation to giue the like Iudgement The Queene beeing set in State all the French Gentlemen entred first His entry to the Queene but when as shee discouered the Duke of Biron whome shee knew by the description they had made of his Face and stature shee spake with a loud voyce Ha Monsieur de Biron how haue you taken the paynes to come and see a poore old Woman who hath nothing more liuing in her then the affection shee beares vnto the King and her perfect iudgement to knowe his good Seruants and to esteeme Knights of your sort As she spake this the Duke made a low reuerence the Queene rose from her Chaire to imbrace him to whoÌ„ he deliuered the charge he had from the King and withall his Maiesties Letters the which she read She thanked the King for his remembrance of her but she said she could not conceale The Queenes speech that as there was nothing vnto a heart like vnto hers full of affection and desire more pleasing then to see and heare what it desired so could she not but feele an extreme torment to see her selfe depriued of the sight and presence of the obiect which shee had most desired whose actions she esteemed not onely immortall but diuine being ignorant whether she should more enuy his Fortune then loue his Vertue and admire his Merits so much the one the other did exceede the greatest maruailes in the world That she could not say that a courage which feared nothing but the falling of the Pillers of Heauen should feare the Sea or not trust vnto it for a passage of seuen or eight houres blaming them rather which had not instructed him as well to contemne the Waues of the Sea as the desseignes of his enemies vppon the Land From these speeches shee fell into some bitternesse of Complaints which shee deliuered with a little vehementie saying That after she had succored this Prince with her Forces Purse and Meanes and if she could haue done it with her owne bloud and had as much desired the happy successe of his affayres as himselfe
Alexander to put Philotas to death being giuen to vnderstand that if he pardoned him he would maâ—e him able to attempt newe treasons against him when as it should not bee in his power to pardon him A pardon doth not change the bad intent of a mighty malefactor This Philotas knewe well that they which had exhausted all mercy and drawne it drie hauing no more hope did runne head-long into dispaire That there are benefits which are odious for that hee blusheth to confesse the cause and to acknowledge himselfe debttor for his life to anâ— one Alexander had enemies enough abroad he had no neede of any at home and assurâ—ng his Estate of these hee needed not to feare the rest Kings like vnto Physitions must knowe the diseases of their States the accidents that â—â—e past the present and the future and imploye Iustice as a drogue the which is not good for them that bee sicke and may pâ—ofit others before the disease hath actually seized on them There remaines one only consideration that the Duke of Biron may do great seruice and that it is not impossible but he may returne to the way of his first innocency Therâ— is lesse harme not to beleeue it then to beleeue it Wee must not vpon an vncerteâ—â—tie that is to come neglect the râ—medy of a present mischiefe There is more trouble to absolue him and more daâ—ger to set â—im at liberty then to put him to death Heer 's not likely to doe any more good we can expect nothing but reuenge from his courrage There is no more any Fuâ—ius Camillus who changed his exile into a bonde vnto his Country that had banished him Serpents seeme dead in winter the cold keepes them from hurting but when as the Sunne recouers his forces they spend their venom The prisoners bad intents might sleepe for a time but it shold be to awake againe and neuer to leaue the State at rest Qui 〈…〉 profit exempâ—â— He that can neuer profit by his vertue nor his loyalty must profit by his example These were the reasons of the Court vpon the which by a generall consent a sentence of death was concluded against the Duke of Biron There were fewe in condemning him but sayd that it was fit to araigne la Fin and giue warrant to apprehend him and that it was impossible hee should be cleane from the slâ—â—ne which he had handeled that if the affaires of Spaine which is like vnto the Temple of Hecatompedon the which goes forward in words and not in workes had bin answerable to the vehemency of their affection hee had sayd nothing The King was aduertised â—hereof who assured la Fin by his letters that he would neuer endure that so great a seruâ—ce done vnto the Crowne should be his ruine It was reason for if the Ancients did appoint Honours for Beastes that had done any seruice to the Common-weale they should bee no lesse thankefull vnto a Gentleman that had saued his Country Whosoeuer discouers a Conspiracy against the sacred and inuâ—olable perâ—on of the Prince ought to bee rewarded by the publicke So was Vindicius by the Romains Princes loue them for a while that haue done some great villamies for their seruice They that reueale conâ—piracies are to be rewarded the which is soone turned into deadly hatred lothing to looke on them for that their presence doth reproch them with the wronging of their conscience But this happenns not to him who without any instigation of the Prince but mooued onely with his duty doth reueale a CoÌ„spiracy chosing rather to faile in the office of a Friend then in duty of a faithfull Subiect The Chancellor concluding their opinions pronounced the sentence of death The Chancellor pronounceâ—h the sentence of death and by graue reasons and great examples reconciled some fewe opinions for the apprehending of la Fin. Saying that the enterprise of the prisoner condemned was not in his head alone that there were others who hauing a desire to say some-thing would retire themselues when they should see la Fin so intreaâ—ed who in the common opinion had deserued reward And although that Mars would not haue the day which is giuen vnto him to bee the last to one that had deserued the name of a second Mars yet the shadow of death did enuiron him on Twesday about Noone seeing a great multitude of Parisians about Saint Anthonies gate he then beleeued that he should be a spectacle vnto them The Lord of Vitry's Lieutenant freed him from this imagination The Duke of Biron deâ—iers to see Mâ—nsiâ—ure de Rhosny making him beleeue that it was to see certaine Gentlemen fight Herevpon and of that which the heart doth alwaies Diuine in the like accidents seeing more signes of death then of life hee framed in his imagination infallible consequences of his death sending the Seigneur of Baranton to intreate the Marquis of Rhosny to come vnto him or if he could not to be an intercessor vnto the King for his pardon He answered that he was extremely greeued that hee durst not do the first and had not meanes to effect the second I hat the King was sorry that at his comming to Fontainbleau hee was obdurat and would not deliuer the truth which tooke from him the meanes to saue his life and for his friends to sue for him This multitude did not runne to the gate without some occasion they knewe that the sentence of death was giuen the day before Certaine officers of the Court and the Executioner were seene enter in the Bastille the Scaffold which should bee set vp at the Greue was made but they were ill informed for the King hauing commanded the Chancellor to send him the sentence after he had giuen it in the Parliament that he might let him vnderstand his pleasure touching the execution Sillery who had carried it to S. Germaine returned with letters by the which for the auoyding the ignominy of his death at the suâ—e of his friends and for other coÌ„siderations his Maiesty was pleased to change the place of the execution and to appointe that in the Bastille which should haue bin done at the Greue The King would haue him executed in the Bastille These letters being verefied on Wedensday morning the last of Iuly the Chancellor accompained with the first President of the Court of Parliament de Sillery and three Masters of Requests followed by some Officers of the Chancery The Châ—ncellor comes to the Bastilâ—e De Voyson register for Crymâ—nall causes 6. vshers came to the Bastille about 9. of the clock in the morning to let him heare the sentence of the Court. At his entring hee coÌ„manded them to make the Prisoner dine and not to aduertise him of his comming remayning in a little Chamber nere the entry on the left hand about an houre and halfe where he resolued who shold be sent for to assist at this execution of whoâ—e names he made
succesfull within these few yeares as the onely reuenue of silke doth now bring more money to these Prouinces then the Corne Oyle and Woade although they haue great abundance It doth also begin very happily at Lions and if it continues this Cittie wil be as famous for silke as Tire and Bulis were for Scarlett The beginning of this yeare was remarkable by a great and tragicall Mutine in the great Turkes Court. In Turkie all the mischeefs which fall out in the publike gouernment the Spahis and Iannissaries impute vnto the Baschas and if they do not their duties they blame him from whome they haue their authoritie The Seriuano who commanded in Asia being reuolted against the great Turke Rebell on in Asia against the Turke had found such weake resistaÌ„ce as he thought nothing could faile him in his enterprise so as resolution which is tryed in war more then in any other action did not faile him He was so hardie as he came in armes within 3. or 4. dayes iourney of Constantinople wherewith the Spahis and Iannissaries were so moued as they thought this boldnes proceeded for that hee had too much of that whereof their Emperour had too little and from the treacherie of his Ministers They conceiued so great a dispight as they assembled to the number of thirtie fiue thousand with the people and presented themselues before the Diuan or Tribunall of Iustice the which is held in the great Turkes Pallace the foure first dayes of the weeke Hauing set gards at the gates that they might execute their reâ—olution more safely they named tenne Spahis and tenne Iannissaries to deliuer the reasons of this mutinie and what they desired As soone as they were entred before the Baschas whereof the most couragious was not without feare thinking that the greatest courtesie they could expect from these Barbarians was that which Vlisses attended of Poliphemus to be deuoured last They first demanded to haue Assâ—n Bascha deliuered vnto them who thinking his head should serue for a sacrifice to pacifie this furie went all amazed through this mutinous multitude protesting of his Innocency and calling vpon his Prophet to discouer the truth Hauing heaped iniuries and reproches on him they asked him rudely whence it proceeded that whilest the cheefe forces of the Empire were in Hungarie to recouer Alba Regalis they had altogither neglected to stay and ruine the proceedings of the Rebells in Asia Hee answered that hee had done his dutie whilest that he had the charge of the armie in Asia but seeing himselfe readie to die he desired that his death might profit the publike and that in discharging his Conscience hee might declare the causes of these ruines Hee sayd that it proceeded onely from the bad gouernment of the Emperours Mother and of his Cipiaga At these words they demanded to speake with the Emperour who presented himselfe in the Imperiall seat with the high Priest of the Lawe 〈◊〉 Mophty the Emperour hauing commanded the Mophty Presidents the cheefe of the Iustice and the Doctors of the Law to sit downe so great the respect is to men of that sort in a Nation of so small respect the Baschas standing vp the cheefe of the seditious presenting himselfe demanded leaue to speake which being granted hee sayd thus Great Mighty and most Happie Emperour the Spahis and Iannissaries your obedient slaues full of greeâ—e and compassion to see your Highnes Estate in danger to be lost desire to know the cause why your greatnes doth not remedie it and imploy the meanes which God hath giuen you They suppose that the Rebells courses in Asia are vnknowne vnto you seeing they haue beene so hardie as to come in armes so neere vnto your Imperiall aboad without leâ—t or resistance They desire to know if all hath beene made knowne vnto him and if hee will take vpon him the care of the gouernment of this Monarchie the which by his negligence is like vnto great members well proportioned but haue little or no vigour or if hee be contented that all be dismembred and euery one to take what share he can The Iannissaries power in Turkie The Iannissaries are they which may speake boldest in Turkie they are the reynes of the Empire the Princes children acknowledge no other Father nay rather the great Turke is their Creature for they rayse them vp vnto the Empire and are bound vnto them as a Cup of gold is vnto the file the sizers and the hammer that workes it If Mahomet had done as one of his Predecessors aduised in the like mutinie if hee had opposed vertue and courage to this furious multitude it had dispersed of it selfe Hee carried himselfe too couldly and framed his countenance with a Maiestie full of mildnes smoothing the choller hee had in his heart with the best words his tongue could deliuer imputing the disorder of his affaires to the Infidelitie of his Ministers and the disguising of the truth That before their complaint hee had resolued to redresse it and to take from them all occasion of complaint or to vse any such speech which was not befitting them whose example of obedience and respect should profit the rest of his Subiects Then they demanded of Assan Bascha why he had not giuen an account of the Rebels proceedings vnto his Highnes Hee answered that he had neuer fayled of his dutie but that the Cipiaga had alwayes hindred him from doing it saying that it was not needfull to giue him that distaste but to repaire the disorders as well as they could That the cause of all the disorder proceeded from the Empresse his Mother and from his Câ—piaga Then the mutiners sayd that they were there assembled to require their heads being resolued to take a course if he refused it meaning thereby to make an other Emperour The great Turâ—e answered that hee would not for their humors put such as they demanded innocently to death but they should rest contented to haue it examined by Iustice if they deserued death and then he would giue them his owne Sonne if he were culpable The Mutyners replyed that hee had not put his Brethren to death by Iustice but for the preseruation of the State that those which they demanded were soe guiltie as the deserued not to haue their Processe made that the Lawes how iust soeuer should bee vnprofitable and Iustice iniurie if they did not punish them and therefore it must be so else they would prouide for it themselues As for the Emprese his Mother they were contented she should bee confined to some place a farre of It is a strange thing to see a Prince forced by the sedition and mutiny of his subiects A Prince forced to please a sâ—ditioâ—s multitude to deliuer an Officer at their discretions It had beene more Honourable and iust to haue suffred them to take him by force or to haue giuen him meanes to escape The violent resolution of these mutiners made the Emperour wisely to yeeld to what
Burgundy fol. 67 The maiâ—iâ—iâ— of K. Charles the sâ—xt Complaints against the Duke of Berry and Bâ—tzac his Treasurer burnt fol. 68 THe tragicall end of Charles King of Nauarre ibid. â—emaâ—keablâ— fâ—r â—is health fâ—â—m tâ—â— yeares 1â—88 vnto 1â—9â— Peter of Craon being disgraced in court is perswaded by the Duke of Britainâ— to murther the Constable whom he assaults but kils not fol. 71 He is condemned for his attempt foâ— 72 Charles being distempered with choller his Vncles and Phisitions dissuade him from the war in Brittaine yet hee marcheth on against the Duke ibid. The duke labors to pacifie the king who parting from Mans a strange accident befell him fol. 73 CHarles fals into a phrensie the court in a pitiful case with a generall censure of this accident fol. 74. The second season remarkable fâ—r his sicknesse from the yere 1393 vnto 1422. The second causes of his phrensie his army dissolued and care taken of his person fol. 75 An order taken for the gouernment of the realm fol. 76 The disposition â—f Philip Duke of Burgondy ibid. FActions and alterations in Court fol. 77 Philip Duke of Burgogne aduanced to the gouernment of the realme by a decree of the Estates The kings Minnions ill intreated ibid. The Constable flyes from Paris and is condemned beeing absent ibid. Charles fals into a relapse by a strange accident fol. 79 Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France fol. 80 Is put from his gouernment fol. 81 The French succour the Hungarians and are defeated ibid. Charles his children during his infirmitie fol. 82 Hatred betweene the house of Orleans and Burgundie fol. 83 The Duke of Brittaine and the Constable reconciled ibid. DIscentions between the Dukes of Burgundie and Orleans The beginning of the ciuile warre fol. 85.86.87.88 The duke of Orleans murthered by the Burguignon fol. 89 The sequele of this trecherous murther fol. 90.91.92 The faction of Burgundy and Orleans after some ciuile warre appeased by the Daulphin who dispossesseth the Burguignon and restores them of Orleans from the yeare 1409. to 1413. fol. 93 94.95.96.97.98 Iohn of Burgundy crost by the Daulphin and the house of Orleans stirs vp new troubles from 1412. to 1417. when as the Daulphin died but troubles ceased not The estate of the Court vnder Lewis the Daulphin fol. 100 The Daulphin takes vpon him the name of Regent fol. 101 The Duke of Burgundie disgraced and banished not admitted into Paris proclaimed guiltie of high treason the King marcheth against him and he sues for peace fol. 102.103 Henry the 5. King of England enters France with an army demands Katherine the Kings daughter and marcheth into Picardie fol. 103 The King of England forced to fight and gets the victorie at the battell at Agencourt fol. 104 The Emperour Sigismund comes into France fol. 105. The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Burguignon and his death ibid. Iohn of Burgundy ioines with Isabell the Queene who takes vpon her the regencie and makes warre against her sonne Charles the Daulphin seizeth vpon Paris kils the Constable of Armagnac Henry of Marle Chancelor of France but is slaine in the end by the Daulphin from the yeare 1415. to 1419. fol. 106 A strange confusion the Mother against the Son fol. 106. The Burguignon armes and drawes in the English fol. 107 The Daulphin encountred by three great enemies The Burguignon the English and his mother ibid. The King dislikes of the Queen and the Burguignon ioynes with her fol. 109 The Queene declares her selfe Regent of France erects new courts and officers fol. 110 Paris surprised the King taken and the Daulphin saues himselfe fol. 111 The Daulphin seekes to recouer Paris fol. 112 A horrible massacre at Paris with the number murthered and a plague ensues it fol. 113 Roan besieged and taken and all Normandie yeelds vnto the English fol. 114 The Burguignon and the Queene seeke to reconcile themselues to the Daulphin fol. 115 The Duke of Brittaine leaues the English and ioynes with the Daulphin fol. 116 The Parisians mutinie and kill the Burguignons seruants fol. 117 A peace betweene the Daulphin and Iohn of Burgundie ibid. The Daulphins proceedings reasons and resolution to kill the Duke of Burgundy fol. 118.119 The Daulphin causeth the Duke of Burgundy to be slaine fol. 120 Blood punished with blood with the Catastrophe of this miserable raigne fol. 121 During these occurrents Henry the 5. Charles the 6. dies leauing the Crowne in question betweene Charles the 7. and Henry the 6. proclaimed King of France at the funerals of Charles the 6. from the yeare 1419. to 1422. fol. 122. The exploits of the Daulphin and of Philip of Burgogne after this murther fol. 122 Queene Isabell hates her sonne deadly ibid. Henry the 5. proclaimed heire of France with his proceeding in his new royaltie fol. 123 The English defeated and the Duke of Clarence slaine fol. 124 The great exploits of Henry the 5. ibid. His sicknesse and death fol. 125 Charles the 6. dies ibid. Henry the 6. proclaimed King ibid. Charles the 7. the 54. King of France NOtable particularities of this raigne fol. 127 Charles his raigne his children manners and disposition fol. 128 The miserable estate of this Realme vnto the Coronation of Charles the 7. during 7. yeares  England Burgundy Sauoy Brittany enemies vnto Charles fol. 129 Charles aduanceth Scottishmen and makes a gard of them for his person ibid. The Dukes of Bedford and Burgogne conclude a great league against Charles fol. 130 Warre against Charles in diuers places defeated by the English and Meulan taken fol. 131 The cause of the diuision betweene the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy fâ—l 132. The notable battell of Creuant where the French and Scottish were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Bedford â—â—l 133. 〈◊〉 11. the eldest Son of Charlâ—â— borne 〈◊〉 134 New supplies â—ome out off Scotlâ—d the French growing weary of the Englâ—sh coÌ„plot agâ—iâ—st thâ—m 〈◊〉 135 The Duke oâ— Bedford sends a challenge to the Fâ—ench Army who are in diuisâ—on 〈◊〉 136. The French defeated at the battell of Veâ—nuill f l. 137. The number taken prisonâ—â—s and slaine fol. 138. Câ—arlâ—â— hiâ— miseraâ—le â—state discâ—ntentes fol. 139. Bedforâ— and Richmont brothers in law at variance f l. 140. Câ—arlâ—â— sends an ambassage to Philip of Burgundy 〈◊〉 141 The Duke of Bâ—ittaiâ—e comes to Charles and 〈…〉 English â—ol 142 Thâ—â—â—â—ttons dâ—fâ—â—ted by their error fâ—l 14â— The Kingâ— mâ—gnoâ—s slâ—â—ne by his Councâ—l 144. 〈◊〉 Duke of â—urgondy made heyre of 〈◊〉  Hamault Hollâ—nd â—nd Zelâ—nd 〈◊〉 145. The Duke of â—edford brings newe forces out of England 〈◊〉 Montargis beseeged by the English releeued by the French and the English defeated fâ—l 146 Pontarson taken by the English fâ—l 147. The famous sâ—â—ge of Orlâ—ans from 〈◊〉 148. 〈◊〉 156. THE Coronation of Châ—rlâ—s the 7. at Rheims 156. The desseigne of the â—urguignon and Sauoyard against Daulphine and Languedoc fol. 1â—7 All Champagne yeelds to
make a petition vnto the King fol. 827. The Kings answere vnto the Clergy ibiâ— The Iesuits seeke to be restored ibid. The Kings onely Sister fianced to the Prince of Lorraine fol. 828 Troubles for the Duchy of Ferrara 〈◊〉 Duke Câ—â—sar prepares to armes fol. 829. The Popes entry into Ferrara ibid. The Arcâ—-duke Albert meetes with Marguerite of Austria ibid. They passe through the Venetians Countrie fol. 8â—0 The Duke of Mantoua meetes them ibid. The Pope and Legats receiue them ibid. The Duke of Sessa Ambassador for Spaine attended her ibid. The Queens entry into Ferrara ibid. The King of Spaines marriage ibid. Foure of one Family of the same Name and bearing the same Armes married together fol 8â—1 The Popes nuptiall gift to the Queene of Spaine ibid The Admirall of Arragons exploytes in the Duchy of Iuilliers ibid. Prince Mauâ—ice his exploites fol. 832 The Archdukes Answer to the Ambassadors ibiâ— The Earle of Broâ—ke taken by the Spaniards in his Castle and then murthered iâ—iâ— Wezell forced to furnish Money and Come fâ—l 833. The Electors write vnto the Emperor ibid. Warre in Sueden fol. 834. The Turke beeseegeth Varadin in vaine fol. 8â—5 Bâ—da attempted in vaine by the Christians ibid An Inundation at Rome ibid The Pope creatâ— 16. Cardinalls ibid. A treaty at Boulogne fol. 836. The King sicke at Monceaux iâ—id The Deputies of the Princes and States of the Empire assemble at Collen fol. 837. The Electoâ— of Mexiâ— answer to Cardinal Andâ—ew ibid. The Admiralls Letter to the Deputies at Collen fol. 838. He excuseth the murther of the Earle of Brouk and his otheâ— outrages ibid. The Kings Sister marryed to the Duke of Barfoll fâ—l 839. She refuseth to change her Religion and why ibid. The King desires his Sister should become a Catholike fâ—l 840. The Prince of Lorraine comes vnto Paris ibid. Complaints made by them of the Religion fol. 841. Exclusion from publike charges ignominious â—â—l 842. No man is held a Cittizen if he be not partaker of the honors of the Citty ibiâ— The last Edict for Religion at Nantes ibid. Contestation touching their Synode with strangers ibid. The Court of Parliament opposeth against the edict of Religion fol. 843 The Kings speech to the Court of Parliament ibiâ— A Pâ—ince giues no reason of his Edict fol. 844. Necessity the fiâ—st and essentiall cause of an Edict ibid. The Kings sister pursues the establishment of the Edict fol. 845 The Inâ—â—ntas proâ—laâ—ation against the States of the vnâ—tâ—d Prouinces ibid An answer made by the Vnited Prouinces â—â—l 847. The Archduke comes to Genoa with the Queene of Spaine fol. 848. The magnificence at the King of Spaines mâ—rriage at Valentia ibid. Knights of the Golden-Fleece fol. 849 The life and death of Monsieur de Pinaâ— Archbishop of Lions ibid. Barricadoes at Lions against the Duke of Nâ—mours fol. 850. The Duke of Ioyeuze returnes to the Capuchins fol. 851. The seâ—ond Duke of Ioyeuze drowned fol. 852. The Earle of Bouchage left his habit of Capuchin by the Popes dispensation and is Duke of Ioyeuze ibid. His mother desires his returne to be a Capuchin and the King commends his resolution ibiâ— Iesuites incapable of Spirituall dignities fol. 853. The Marquisate of Salusses in question ibid. The Duke of Sauoy seâ—kâ—s to be reconciled vnto the Kiâ—g ibid. The Pope made Iudge of the Controuersie ibid. Brauery of the French fâ—l 854 The Aâ—biteâ—ment broken The King of Spaine repayres all fol. 855. The Duke complaines oâ— the Spaniards â—bâ—d Death of 〈…〉 Marquis of Monceaux and Duchesse of Beaufort ibid. A quaâ—â—ell betwixt D. Phillippâ—n of Sauoy and Monsieur Crequi fâ—l 856. They fought twiâ—e and at the second combate D. Philâ—â—pâ—â— was slaine fol. 857. Aâ—â—igâ—ac demands D. Philâ—ppins life fol. 858. The Estate of the Kings affayres in Suisse ibid. The petty Catholike Cantons allyed to Spaine ibid. Monsieur Sillery Ambassador in Suisse fol. 859. The King sends money to the Suisses ibid. The Duke of Lerma fauorite to the King of Spaine ibid. Asseâ—bly of the Deputies of some Princes of the Empire at Conâ—â—ance fol. 860. The Iustifications of the Vnited Prouinces ibid. Propositions of the Deputies oâ— Westphalia fol. 862. A Decree made at Conâ—â—ance ibid. The Count of Lippe Generall of the Germaine Army they beseege Rees ibid. Prince Maurice assures them of Bommell by his presence fol. 863. The Admirall takes Creuecaeur ibid. The Spanish Aâ—â—ye and that of the States retire out off the limites of the Empire ibid. The Arch-dukes passage into Flanders fol. 864 Isabelle of Valois mother to Isabelle of Austria called the Queene of Peace ibid. The entry of silkes forbidden in France ibid. The King at the Queenes request reuoaked the Edict for silke fol. 865. Martha Brossier possest with a Diuell ibid. The Bishop of Anger 's discouers her to be a CouÌ„teâ—feit ibid. A decree made by the Court against her ibid. An Attempt against the King discouered ibid. Complaint made by the King of Spaine fol. 866 The Archdukes send vnto the King fol. 867. An Army defeated at Dunkerke ibid. The death of the Chancellor Chiuerny Complaints against him ibid. Pompone de Bellâ—â—re Chancellor of France ibid. The death of the Elector of Treues fol. 868. Death of the yong Princesse of Conde ibid. The Marquis of Belle I le becomes a religious Woman ibid. Execution of the Edict of Pacification ibid. The Duke of Iuilliers marries the Daughter of the Duke of Lorraine fol. 869. The Court of Parliament perswades the King to marry ibid. Monsieur de la Guesâ—les speech vnto the King ibid The King of France neuer dies fol. 870. A Letter from Queene Marguerit vnto the King ibid. Her request vnto the Pope ibid Pope â—râ—gâ—rieâ— dispensation was after the Kings marriage fol. 871. The Kings age ibid. The Kings Letter to Queene Marguerit Her answer ibid. â—oure Knights of the Golden-Fleece made by the Archduke fol. 872. The Archdukes Army retires out off the I le of Bommell ibid. The States answer to the Emperors Deputies ibid. The Duke of Sauoy resolues to goe into France iâ—id Hee seemes to bee discontented with Spaine fol. 873. The Councell of Spaine demands the Dukes children ibid. The King of Spaine offended with the Duke ibid. The King giues order for the receiuing of the Duke of Sauoye at Lyons fol. 874. The Duke of Sauoye comes to Fontainbleau fol. 875. The Duke of Mercures voyage into Hungary fâ—l 876. The Tartares demand a Peace fol. 877. They are defeated by Paâ—fi ibid. Redeâ— and â—ebâ—sse made Knights by the Emperor fol. 878 Ambassadors from the Moscouite to the Poland ibid. The great Duke of Moscouie sends presents to the Emperor ibid. Duke Charles hangs vp the Nobles of SuedlaÌ„d that serued the King And makes seauen demandes vnto the Estates of Sueden 〈◊〉 879. The Christians enterprises in Hongaâ—y 〈◊〉 the Turke A Parle of Peace betwixt the Christians Turkâ—â— and Tartares 〈◊〉 Cardinall Andrew Battory defeated and 〈◊〉 by
the Valachians 〈◊〉 8â—1 Publication of the Iubile the beginning tâ—erâ—of 〈◊〉 882. New-yeares gifts sent by the King and Duke ibid. The Duke of Biron refuseth a presâ—nt fâ—om the Duke of Sauoy 〈◊〉 The chiefe cause of the Dukes voyage â—ntâ— France ibiâ— The Duke of Nemours his affection to the Kâ—ngs seruice foâ— 883. The Duke of Sauoyes pollicy ibiâ— The Duke of Biron impatient to heare an otheâ—s praise ibid. The King leades the Duke of Sauoye to the Court of Parliament to heare a cause pleaded ibid. Anne Robert Aduocate for the Plaintife fâ—l 884. Anthony Arnault for the Defendresse fol. 888. L. Seruin for the Kings Attorney generall fol. 891. Monsieur d' Alincourt comes to Genoa fol. 899. He comes to Rome ibid. The Duke of Bar goes to Rome disguised ibid. Deputies for the King and Duke of Sauoye fol. 900. The Popes Nuncio intreates the King to leaue the protection of Geneua ibid. Exchange demanded insteed of the restitution of the Marquiâ—ate of Salusses ibid. The Emperor of Geâ—many hath little more then the Title fol. 901. The Duke of Sauoy demands the Marquisatâ— for one of his Sonnes iâ—id The Duke of Sauoye perplexed fol. 902. A pretext of the Dukes stay fâ—l 903. Articles of the treaty of Paâ—is ibid. The Duke of Sauoyes departure and his discontent fâ—l 905. The Duke going out off Bourg shedde teares fol. 906. The Archdukes men mutine in Saint Andrewes Fort. iâ—â—d The Fort of Creueeaeur beseeged and yeelded to Count Maurice ibid. S. Andrewes Fort beseeged ibid. And yeelded fol. 907. Briaute killes his enemy fol. 908. He is murthered ibiâ— An Ambassador from the Turke to the Palatin of Valachia ibid. George Basta and the Palatin of Valachia hate one another fol. 909. Thâ— Valachians demands of the Emperor ibid. The Moldauian and Battory defeated ibid. The Valachian abandoned by his friends for his cruelty ibid. Basta receiued Vaiuode of Transiluania for the Emperor ibid. The Valachian defeated fol. 910. The Treason of two hundred souldiars in Pappa and thâ—ir punishment ibid. Schuartzbourg slaine before Pappa ibid. A treaty of the Kings marriage fol. 911. The Quâ—enes picture sent to the King ibid. A Conference at Fontainbleau ibid. The manner of their sitting at this Conference fol. 912. The Duke of Sauoyes irresolution ibid. He sends Ambassadors into Spaine their answer to him ibid. The King comes to Lions ibid. The Dukes Ambassadors come to Lions fol. 913 The Kings answer to the Ambassadoâ—s ibiâ— Monsieâ—r de Sillery and President Ianin Deputies for the King ibid. Difficulties inuented by the Duke ibid. An attempt to poyson the King ibid. She is burnt aliue fol. 914 Foure enterprises against the King ibiâ— Tâ—e States resolue to make ware in the County of Flanders ibiâ— Count Maurice prepares for it and lands at the Fort of Philipâ—n in Flanders fol. 915 Oudenbouâ—g abandoned by the Spaniard ibid. Count Ernestus and his Troupes defeated ibid. The order of the Princes Army fol. 916 The battell of Niewport The Admirall of Arragon prisoner Men of Account slaine on the Archdukes side The chiefe prisoners ibid. The Prince returnes to the seege of Nieuport fol. 917. He beseegeth Isabâ—llas Fort. ibid. The Archduke releeues it and rayseth the seege ibid. Count Maurice returnes into Holland ibid. The exploytes of the Vice-admirall of Flanders ibid. The Admirall of Arragon set at liberty fol. 918. Eaâ—le Gouries attempt to kill the King of Scotland ibid. The Duke of Sauoy refuseth to signe the Articles concluded by his Ambassadors ibid. The Kings preparatiues for War fol. 919 The Duke sends the Patriarke of Constantinople vnto the King fol. 920 The Kings answer to the Patriarke ibid The Duke demands two Legates of the Pope fol. 921. The King offers mercy to the Inhabitants of Chambery fol. 922 The King comes to Conâ—â—ance and batteâ—s it ibid. The King of Spaines Ambassador in Suisse complaines of the King fol. 923 Two desperate men senâ— to kill the King fol. 924. The seege of the Castle of Montmelian it is summoned The Earle of Brandis answer ibid. The vanting of the Sauoyards fol. 925. Cardinall Aldobrandin sent Legate vnto the French King ibid. He comes to Turin and is receiued by the Duke fol. 926. The Duke of Sauoy resolues to fight ibid. The King returnes to Montmellian fol. 927 The Capitulation of the Castle of Montmelian ibid. Hermiâ— iâ— returnes to the Legate fol. 928. The Dukes Letters to the Earle of Brandis ibid. The Legates speech vnto the King ibid. The Kings answer fol. 929. The situation of S. Kathâ—rins Fort. fol. 930. The Capitulation of the Fort. ibid. The Cardinall Alâ—â—brandin comes to Florence fol. 931. His speech vnto the Queene ibid. The Queenes answer vnto the Cardinall ibid. The Queene parts from Florence to goe into France ibid. The Queene enters into Lyons ibid. The Kings fiâ—st sâ—ght of the Quâ—ene fol. 932. The Duke of Mercure Lieutenant generall to the Emperor Canisia beseeged The Dukes answer to the Veâ—ir ibid. Canisia yeelded to the Turke fol. 933. The Gouernor of Canisia beheaded at Vienna ibid. The Dukes deputies demand Peace of the King and his answer fol. 934 The Kings speech to the Ambassador of Spaine ibid. Bouvens letter to the Dukes Ambassadors fol. 935. Monsieur de Rhosny renewes the Treaty of peace ibid. A Peace concluded ibid. The Ambassadors of Sauoy consult with Taxis fol. 936. Bourg yeelded to the King fol. 937. The Marquisate of Salusses transported to the Duke ibid. The King and Queene go to Paris ibid. The Legate is Aduertised that the Duke refused to signe the Peace fol. 938. The King grants a prolongation of the truce ibi The Legate dâ—scontented with the Duke of Sauoy ibid. The Count of Fuentes excuse fol. 939. The Legate and the Duke of Sauoy meete ibid Diuers opinions of the Peace fol. 940. Commodities which the Duke got by the Peace ibid. The death of Queene Loise of the Princesse of Condy the Princesse of Conty and the Duchesse of Eguillion ibid. The Queene comes to Paris ibid. An Enterprise vpon Marseilles discouered by the complices fol. 941 An enterprise vpon Metz. ibid. Berk beseeged by Count Maurice yelded ibid. Maeurs taken by Count Maurice fol. 942 A Christian Renegado sent by the Turke vnto the King fol. 943. The Scriuano reuolted in Asia fol. 944. The King of Persia sends his Ambassador to the Pope Emperor and King of Spaine ibid. The Duke of Biron sent into England His coÌ„ming to the Queene The Queenes speech fol. 945. The Duke of Biron returned out off England fol. 946. The Queene in trauell The Princes of the bloud may be then in the Chamber ibid. The Daulphin borne ibid. The Queene of Spaine deliuered of a Daughter ibid. The Spanish Army at Sea goes to Naples ibid. Cigala at Sea fol. 947. Chaâ—teauneuf in Morea taken by the Galleys of Malta ibid. The Prince of Parmas speech to Prince Doria his answer ibid. The policy of Count Fuentes fol.
to bee kept in prison vntill the money were paied and for the second losse of goods and life without hope of remission Allowing all men to stay and arrest all such as should carry such prohibited armes eight daies after the publication of the Edict None were excepted but the foure hundred Archers and the foure companies of Horse-backe of the gards of his person when as they waited in quarter the Archers of the Prouost of his house-hold of the Constable and Marshalls of France and they of the companie of light Horse belonging to the Duke of Vandosme who by the Edict might carrie Pistolls when as they were in seruice And to free his Subiects from the oppression of Souldiars to accustome them to obedience to whoÌ„ it is troublesome in the securest Peace he cut off the companies as well of Horse as of regiments of Foote but this traint was only of that which they might well forbeare It is dangerous to leaue an Estate long without Armes A disarmed Peace is weake The King therefore reserued the places vpon the fronters which remained still fortified with ordinary gards The gards appointed for Gouernors Lieutenants General of Prouinces were suâ—pended and the Companies of men at Armes were reduced to a lesser number Such whose spirits could not liue in the cessation of Armes and which were good Captaines in the time of Warre like vnto Marius but ill Cittizens in peace had leaue to go â—eeke the exercise thereof in Flanders and Hungary Peace doth change the exerciâ—e of Warre into hunting the King made it his daâ—lie exercise Being one day hunting in the great forest of Fontainbleau there was heard about halfe a League off The King hunting in the Forest of Fontainbleau a great cry of hownds and the winding of hornes and sodenly all this noyse which seemed to bee farre off came to his iudgement within twenty paces of his eare Hee commanded the Count Soissons to set out and to see what it was thinking that no man durst presume so boldly to interrupt his sports the Earle aduancing heard the noise yet could not discerne whence it came A big blacke man presented himselfe in the thickest of the bushes crying out Do you vnderstand me and then he sodenly vanished away Mâ—enteudez voâ—s At those words they which were discreet thought it great indiscretion to stay longer there a hunting The Heardsmen thereabouts say it is a spirit which they call the great Hunter who hunts in this forest others hold that it is Sâ—int Huberts chase the which is also heard in other places Many Noblemen and Gentlemen retired themselues now vnto their gouernments and priuate houses the King hauing sayd long before that he would force euery man to liâ—e of his owne and not to importune him any more Neuer any Edict was better obserued then this speech for euen then he resolued to imploy the remainder of his reuenues in publicke necessities and not in the prodigalities of Vitelâ—ius nor â—or the enriching of priuate men 〈…〉 â—00000 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 that of 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 saying that hee would ease the poore and giue example vnto the rich to content themselues with little and to liue accordingly The Constable went to his gouernment of Languedoâ— hauing obteyned of the King a reuersion of his gouernment for Henry of Montmorency his Sonne The King in his wisedome thought he could not sufficiently grace a house which hath brought forth so many Gouernors Admiralls Marshalls and Constables and which vnder the name of Montmorency comprehends that of Horne and Laualâ— which hath giuen wiues to Kings of France and Dukes of Brittaine The letters-pattents were read and registred in the Court of Aides at Montpellier the Duke of Vantadour being President and the Bishop of Agdâ— and Nismes assiâ—ting The oâ—der which the King did settle for the affaires of his house was a President to all France shewing the religious desire which hee had to see his subiects enioye the fruits thereof His Iustice would not suffer them to be charged and ouercharged with impossible duties seeing that the violence of the Warre had left them nothing but their tongues to complaine being like vnto a skinne laied vpon a dead mans bones Yet notwithstanding they were forced to pay the publike charges for the fruites which they had not gathered And therefore the King did vnto his subiects as Constantin and Theodosius did vnto them of the Empire by a generall discharge of the remainder of their taxe and tributes Hee also sent according to the resolution of the Estates held at Roâ—n many great personages as well of his Councell as of other companies to examine the necessities of his people to order the taxes and tributes Tâ—xes remitted to protect the weake froÌ„ the oppression violence of such as during the ciuill Warres had seene no light of Iustice but through the flamé of Harguebuzes hauing so abused the time as to enioye the priuilege of Nobles they would be so esteemed rather by their shewe then by the vse and seruice of the sword and when as the Lawe which doth chiefely bind Noblemen by reason of their Tenures and titles of Nobility to the duties of armes hath coniured them to succor the necessitâ—es of their Prince and Countries they haue thrust themselues among the people lyuing idely in Townes or in the delights of their houses so long as fire and danger were in field Men â—nworthy of the name of men of Gentlemen and of Frenchmen The Commissioners forced these kinde of gallants to pay who by pretended letters of their Innoling and abuse of the Priuileges had laied their Taxes vppon the people While the King labours to reforme all abuses and to roote out disorders The Clergy of France petition vnto the King the deputâ—es of the Clergy of France being assembled together at Paris with the Kings permission beseech his Maiesty to reforme the disorders of the Church Which speech was deliuered with great reuerence before his M. by the reuerent Francis de la Geusle Aâ—ch-bishop of Tours accompanied with many of the saied deputies of the Clergie The Summe whereof was That it would please his Mâ—iesty that the holy Councel of Trent might be receiued and published in France with such necessary qualifications as concerne the French liberties the Immunities of Churches and the priuileges of Parliaments That his Maiesty would not charge his conscience with the nomination vnto Bishoprickes Abbeyes and other benefices hauing charge of soules That lay pensions giuen in recompence to Noblemen and Gentlemen vpon the sayd nominations may be reuoked That Clergy-men may be suffred to enioy their liuings quietly without charge but only to do their duties in the seruice of God and the Church That Churches may not be prophaned nor the Incumbents houses suffred to go to ruine but to be well and duely mainteyned to the ende they may not pretend any iust cause of non residence and to separate them from
the common licentious conuersing with the people for the auoiding of scandales which do often followe That all reuersions of Benefices may be taken away as well for that it is against the Cannon Lawe and the holy Constitutions of Councells as also for that it is a cause to shorten the liues of the Incumbents That the Contracts before time passed betwixt their Maiesties and the Clergy may be confirmed without breach or supposition for the Subsidy granted vnto his Maiesty by the Clergie That it would also please his Maiesty to prouide them conuenient remedies vpon the complaints which they had presented vnto him Wherevnto the King made a very short but a pithy answer the effect was this I confesse that what you haue saied is true The King â— answer to the Clergy but I am not the author of these Innouations these mischiefes were brought in before my comming During the Warres I haue runne to the greatest fire to quench it I will nowe do what is needfull in time of Peace I know that Religion and Iustice be the foundations and pillers of this Estate the which is maintained by Pietie and Iustice. But if they were not I would plant them by little and little as I do all things with the helpe of God I will settle the Church in as good Estate as it was a hundred yeares since as well for the discharge of my conscience as for your content but Paris was not al built in one daie Let the people bee as much perswaded by your good examples to do well as they haue beene heretofore disswaded You haue exhorted me of my duty I do admonish you of yours let vs all do good Go you one way and I will go an other if wee meete we shall soone haue done My Predecessors haue giuen you Words but I with my graie Iâ—cket will giue you Deeds I am all gray without but I am all of Gold within I will write vnto my Councell to see your complaints and will prouide for you as fauorably as I may During these admonitions of the Clergy The Iesuitâ— seeke to be restorâ—d the Cardinall of Florence mooued the King for the restitution of the Iesuites The 7. Article of the treaty of Peace at Veruins did suffer the Subiects and seruants of either side as well Clergy men as Laye to returne enioy their Offices Benefices Reuenues obtayning permission letters patents vnder the broad seale from the Prince Many thought that the Iesuits should be comprehended in this Article and that if by this Peace the Spaniards were held Allies and as it were Cousin germains to the French those whom the Kings Aduocate had the yeare before in open Parliament termed Emissaires to the King of Spâ—ine shold returne to their Colleges from whence they had bin expelled by a sentence giuen in December in the yeare 1594. But the light ofPeace shines not vpon them The neâ—e world which it doth produce hauing cast the cenders of Warre Rancor and Reuenge into the Aire allowes them no retreat within the Iurisdiction of Paris The decrees which had banished them are grauen in Marble the Water of Praâ—ers Fauours and Teares although it perceth Stoanes preuailes nothing At the same time was concluded the marriage of Madame Catherine Princeâ—se of France and of Nauâ—rre The Kings only Sister 〈◊〉 to the Prince of Lorraine the Kings onely Sister with the Marquis of Pont Duke of Baâ— and Prince of Lorraine after many Iourneyes made by the sayd Prince vnto the most Christian Kingâ— in which accord there were great difficulties as well by reason of the diuersity of Religion the sayd Princesse refusing to leaue the reformed wherein sâ—ee had beene bred as also for that she could not be perswaded to go out off France Sâ—e had beene formerly sought by many great Princes to whom shee would not consent for the one or the other of these two causes and somtimes for both togither Francâ—s Monsiâ—ur Duke of Alenson desired her in the yeare 1582. but the difficulty was then greater for matters of Religion And before that King Henry the 3. comming out of Poland did affect her and it is thought that if he had seene her at Lion at his returne he would haue married â—er but Katherine de Medicis the Queene Mother described her to be a Dwarfe and crooked the which was most false for she was of a meane stature and of a good countenance It is true she had one legge somewhat shorter then an other which is a marke of the house of Albret for so had Alain Lord of Albret Father to King Iohn great Grand-father to the sayd Princesse Katherine The Qâ—â—ene Mother did this good turne for her God-daughter seeking to disgrace the King of Nauarre â—hom she haâ—ed from his youth vpon an imagination beeing told by an Italian Sooth-saier that he should succeed her Children Then the Duke of Lorraine who since was her Father in Lawe sought her The Prince of Condy loued her The King of Spaine sent to see her in the yeaâ—e 1580. promising great aduancement to the King of Nauarre This fayling the Duke of Sauoy sent twise in the yeare 83. promising no waie to impeach her Religion His Agent being refused he went into Spaine about his marriage with the Infanta Catherina Michelle In the yeare 86. the King of Scotland sent Master Meluin a Scotishman and others The Prince of Anhault being come to the succour of tâ—e Kâ—ng her Brother at his first comming to the Crowne of France demaunded her himselfe in person but through the necessity of the Warres which were dispersed throughout all France he returned as hee came with some discontent During these Warres two Princes of the bloud affected her the Earle of Soissons and the Duke of Montpensiâ—r but the neerenesse of bloud the diuersity of Religion and the indisposition of affaireâ— hindred the effect of their desires So as in the end he enioyed her to whom God had appointed her The ceremonies obâ—erued at this marriage wee will shew in the following yeare In Italie there grewe newe â—â—irres by reason of the death of Alphonso d' Esté Duke of Ferrara who was the last of that Noble house of Esté The Duchie of Ferrare is a masculine â—ee for so the Lawes call it belonging to the Holy Sea This fee had in former times beene graunted to the family of Esté by the Holy Sea in regard of seruices done by them vnto the Church Tâ—â—ubles for the Duâ—hy of Feâ—rara vpon condition that the Males onely should hold the sayd Dâ—chie and for want thereof it should returne againe vnto the Church to dispose thereof as it pleased Alphonso then being deceased without lawfull heires Males the Church demaâ—nds her right and for this effect there were great stirres on either side Duke Alphonso had in his life time labored all hee could to settle Caesar de Esté his last Brothers Sonne in the right of this dignity and the succession
sent to Court to knowe the Kings pleasure touching this difficulty The King demanded of him what a Chanoine of Honour was and if the Duke of Sauoies reception had beene like vnto his La Faye answered that the great and famous Churches of Europe had Chanoines of Honour who were either Soueraigne Princes in whose domynions they were founded or forraine Princes who by their piety haue bound the Church to this acknowledgement of Honour That the place of a Chanoine of Honour is neither for the office nor for the charge but onely for reuerence and priuiledge for as the Prince who is a Chanoine of Honour is not bound to any other thing but to sweare the protection and preseruation of the rights of the Church so hee reapes no other proffit but is partaker of their Prayers which they make there That this Honour should be of small import if the greatnesse of Princes which had disired it did not make it great in a great Church the which being one of the cheife of France as well in Antiquity as in Dignity the reputation thereof haue beene spred in farre nations who haue founded their Churches after this modell That this Honour had beene giuen in ancient time to the most Christian Kings Chanoins of honor are bound to shewe the antiqâ—â—ty and greâ—â—nesâ—e of their extractio◠〈◊〉 but the â—ing to the Dukes of Sauoy Earles of Villards to the Dukes of Bourgondy Dukes of Berry and Daulphins of Viennois which haue beene receiued Cannons of Honour in that Church but those receptions did differ from that of the Kings The King asked the opinion of his Councell in that case and by their aduice he answered that the Duke of Sauoy holding no more the County of Villards should not pretend the rights that depended thereon that comming into France to reconcile himselfe vnto his Maiesty hee would make so small an aboad in Lions as hee did not thinke that hee would stay for so simple a Ceremony That if he should demand that place of Chanoine of Honour as they had giuen it to his deceased Father the Chapter should excuse themselues vntill they knewe the Kings pleasure to do their duties at his returne The Duke was much offended with the refusall of that was due to him and the which they had giuen vnto his deceased Father Neither did hee dissemble his discontent for he would not go into this Church although he were lodged in the Archbishops Pallace nor passe ouer the place which is before the principall doore and when as the Deane with the whole body of the Church went to salute him hee sayd that he had alwaies honored that Companie as hauing the Honour to be of it Being receiued into Lions according to the Kings order command he had many presages of discontentment in his voyage His seruants in Court aduertised him that if he came without other desseine then to offer the Marquisate of Saluces hee would reâ—ent his comming One sayd vnto him that hee should not get any great matter of the King seeing hee was not pleased that the Cathedrall Church at Lions should afford him a little Honour and Ceremony A man at armes of the company of the Marquis d' Vrfe was put in prison vpon a false aduice that came from Geneua that hee followed the Duke with an intent to do a bad act at Paris It was strange in Court that the King had not sent any other vnto him then the Controuler generall of the Postes But nothing troubled him more then when as Varenne among other discourses which the Duke offred to sound their opinions touching his voyage sayd vnto him he should bee welcome so as hee restored the Marquisate A speech which toucht the Duke vnto the quick who esteemed not all the Estates of his patrimony as the Marquisate alone It is true that they loue that better which they haue gotten then that which hath beene purchased by their Predecessors Hee went by post from Lions to Roane from thence hee went by water to Orleans whether the King sent the Duke of Nemours to receiue him Betwixt Orleans and Fontainbleau he was met first by the Marshal Biron and then by the Duke Montpensier beeing followed by many Noblemen The 13. of December at night a memorable day for the Kings birthe hee arose when he knewe his traine to bee a sleepe and departs secretly to get to Fontainbleau before his people were awake Varenne who had commandement from the King to come before aduertise him had much adoe to follow him and if the Duke had found horses readie at the first post they had not carried the first newes of his arriuall He found the King comming from Masse with all the Noblemen of his Court attired all in redde and ready to go to horse-backe to meete him they did walke long togither after their first imbracings excuses Then the Duke told him the occasions of his voiage the which he had kept secret from his Councell The King his nobles werâ— aâ—â—ired in red the Dâ—â—e and his â—raine in black But hee could drawe nothing from the King by this first parle but hee should haue him his friend in yeelding him his Marquisate It is a difficult thing to feede a King with a white beard with words The King sayd alwaies that he desired nothing but his owne And the Duke of â—â—uoy beeing in the Lovure spake boldly that no power in the world should euer make him yeeld to this restitution A free couragious speech in anothers Country not among his owne people but to Villeroy the Kings chiefe most confident Secretary of State From Fontainbleau he went to Paris with a goodly traine he was lodged in the Lovure spent the Christmas in Nemours house He admired this great Court where he sees the chiefe Noblemen of the realme and noted that L'Esdiguieres who had so much trobled him was not so great in Court as in Daulphiné The Dukes presence did increase his reputatioÌ„ The Dukes praises he gouerned his actioÌ„s in such sort as hee freed theÌ„ from the skorne mockery of the Court His wisdom his Discretion his Courtesie made theÌ„ to forget the tales which were yet told of the good Duke Charles his Grand-father They did obserue in his actions Curtesie Courage Liberality Discretion Policy This yeare ended in all sorts of pleasures and sports familiarities and profes of true friendship so as many beleeued that the two hearts and the two Courts of these Princes were but one but there was alwaies some marke of constraint and amidest these embrasings there alwaies past some gird or quip The King who is ready and sodaine in his answers gaue him alwaies some touch to thinke on There was too great difference betwixt the tunes of their humors to make along good harmony But whilest the Court abounds in pleasure and delights Duke of Mercaeur voiage into Hungary in October 1599. the Duke Mercaeur