he and his sonne shall vse no lesse then the Nauarrois had done this happened in the yeare of our Lord God 1387. in the moneth of December This iust execution did greatly countenance the young age of Charles for that in so sollemne an acte he had carryed a countenance worthy of a royall Maiestie His age and the name of a King made him know that he was a King together with the dayly instructions which did sound in his eares by his most inward and trustie seruants yet his Vncle 's kept him still in his minoritie disposing of matters in councell by their authoritie 1388. Charles was much discontented with this proceeding of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne who should rather haue preuented him then he them experience hauing taught all Frenchmen what he was He therefore seekes a remedy for their errour He caused a councell to be held at Rheimes where it was decreed That Charles should be freee from the gouernement of his vncles Charles out of his vncles gouernemânt who grâwe discontented for that both his age and the proofe of his iudgment did tesâifie plainely that he was worthy to gouerne his realme This resolution greatly displeased the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne who would gladly haue held a longer possession of this royall authority which they inioyed being discontented with such as had put this spirit into the yong King The Cardinall of Laon one of the first authors of this councell enioyed it not long for he died not without suspition of poyson Iohn of Montague shall pay both principall and interest in this time Iohn Mercier and the Lord of Noiant shall haue their parts these shall now enter into quarter and haue all the credit It is this Noiant which caused the golden Hart in the Pallace to bee made for a modell of that which he would make of gold of the Ingots hee had gathered together in the Treasurye hauing reduced the coyned money into this forme least Charles a yong Prince and very bountifull should giue it away prodigally The Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne retire themselues quietly to their houses making a shewe to be very well satisfied although they hatched a great discontent and especially Philip being a man of an imperious and insupportable spirit The order âf this relation We haue drawne Charles out of his Minority the first parcell of our discourse Let vs now see his Maiority into the which I tremble to enter foreseeing so happy a beginning to haue so lamentable an end But alas what shall wee see therein which wee haue not seene in our miserable age Our experience shal be vnto vs a mourneful commentary most truâ in the raigne which we are to represent The Maiority of King Charles the sixt Remarkable in two respects of health and sicknes HE raigned thirteene yeares eyther with his Vncles or alone in his good sense and 29. in phrensie not ruling but ruled or rather rauished by the sundry passions of others So wee will distinguish his Maioritye according to the calculation of these two seasons and in eyther of them the most famous actes of these home-bred confusions The first time of the Kings health From the yeare 1388. vnto 1393. FRance enioyed a long rest the tempests of these popular tumults being pacified Flanders subdued and the English forced to hold a truce by reason of their home-bred quarrells the which brought forth strange effects as we shall hereafter shewe Charles then vndertooke the charge of his Realme to gouerne alone without any Tutors The flower of his youth framed to great affaires and commendable for his milde disposition promised the fruites of a raigne both wise moderate peacefull and most happy But oâ the vanity of mans hopes a dreame of him that wakes a fruitlesse paine which hunts and getts nothing Beeing freed from the gouernement of others hauing absolute authority he was desirous to marry Lewis his onely Brother and to giue him authority neither would he abandon his cousins of Aniou Lewis and Charles in their pretensions to the Realme of Naples The Estate of Milan did wonderfully import to aduance this action for the commodityes it hath in Italy To this ende he married his brother Lewis with Valentine the daughter of Iohn Galeas Duke of Milan a marriage which succeeded not according to his desseine no more then his owne An Italian woman ioyned with a Germane shall make strange worke to shewe that all is not gold that glisters for both these marriages were built vpon grounds of apparant good as farre as humane reason could comprehend to the ende they might haue great intelligences both in Germanie and Italy alliances which import much for the good of France Philip of Valois the Kings brother and Iohn Duke of Orleans were dead without children and the duchy returned to the ctowne Charles giues the Duchy of Orleans to his brother Lâwis Charles giues this duchie to his brother Lewis who was but Earle of Touraine and now shal be duke of Orleans and by this name shal be much spoken of In this profound peace it was necessary for Charles to make himselfe knowne to his subiects after so many confusions He makes a progresse into Languedock one of the farthest Prouinces from his chiefe Citty lying vpon the Mediterranean sea and yet one of the most fertill and best affected to the crowne He had especiall reasons to visit this goodly Prouince for the great complaints they made against the duke of Berry their gouernor who committed great extorsions by his officers vnder colour of authority Charles passeth by Dijon to his Vncle the Duke of Bourgogne He visits Bourgongne who accompanies him to Auignon The Earle of Sauoy comes vnto him the people of Daulphiné and Viâarez shewe a wonderfull ioy to see their King after so troublesome a time So he comes to Auignon being kindly receiued and much made of by Pope Clemenâ the 7. who could not stand without him hauing Vrbain the 6 for his competitor The widdow of Lewis Duke of Aniou repaired thither who by the fauour of Charles caused Lewis the 2 her eldest sonne to be crowned King of Naples This course wee must hold for the countinuance of our history From Auignon he went into Languedoc to settle his authority the which was much respected by the people of that country but had beene greatly blemished by the gouernement of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry his Vnkles Gouernours of that goodly Prouince one after another Hee stayes at Montpellier a Cittie of a goodly and pleasant scituation 1389. where he heard many complaints against the Duke of Berry âreat complaints against the Duke of Berry in Languedoc his Vncle for his great oppression of the countrie But the absence of this Prince and the authoritie of his name stayed the remedie to another season The Estates of the countrie made sute to haue the Earle of Foix for their gouernour hauing heretofore liued quietly vnder him but
voiage of Liege and to giue vnto Charles his brother the Earldomes of Brâe and Champaigne the which the Bourguignons did A peace betwixt Lewis Charles of Bourgongne that at neede they might haue more meanes to succor one an other the treatie of Arras and peace of Charenton were reconfirmed and sworne vpon the crosse which Charlemaigne was wont to carrie called the crosse of victorie Truely experience hath alwayes testified that princes do more wisely pacifie their quarrells by graue and trusty seruants then by enteruewes from the which such as had neuer anie matter to deteâmine to gither do seldome part without mutuall dislikes and grudgings the seeds of diuisions ' and warre the which may bee long smothered but at length it breakes forth From henceforth you shall see vpon the theater a wretched people panting yet with the bastonadoes lately receyued but not yet vanquished and so much the more lamentable for that their owne calamities cannot make them wise who hauing obstinately rebelled against their naturall Prince and indiscretly imbraced our Kings quarrell run headlong to their totall ruine Lewis was ingaged by promise and suÌmoned to performe it Besids the Scotts of his gard he sends for three hundred men at armes hauing with him Iohn Duke of Bourbon Charles Cardinall of Bourbon and Archebishop of Lions and the Earle of Beauieu brothers to the Bishop of Liege A Cittie then of the bignes of Rouan exceeding wel peopled seated in a mouÌtaine couÌtry Situation of Liege fertill watered with the riuer of Meuze which runs through it but by the last years check almost all dismanteled greatly weakened of men Liege beseeged so as the Marshal of Bourgongne the Lord of Himbercout leading the auantgard and gaping after spoile thought to haue entred at their first approch before the King or Duke were arriued Iohn of Vilette chiefe Tribune of these Liegeois They make a sallie and other Captaines seeing them lodge confusedlie in their suburbes they issue resolutely by the old breaches and kill aboue eight hundred men amongest the which were a hundred men at armes they hurt many amongest them the Prince of Orange All the people were ready to make a generall sally but some Canonadoes shot into the great steete kills very many and keepes in the rest The Tribune was hurt and died within two dayes after with some other Captaines whilest the two Commanders arriue take their lodgings Lewis in a great farme a quarter of a league from Liege Charles in the midest of the suburbes where the King went to lodge next day right against the Bourguignons lodging This approch breeds a great distrust for Charles doubted that Lewis would cast himselfe into the Towne or practise something against him Charles distrusts Lewis or at the least saue himself before the taking of the Towne To be the better satisfied the Duke doth lodge three hundred of his best men at armes in a barne betwixt his lodging and the Kings the better to obserue the Kings actions In the meanetime they make a good shew and keepe good gard vntill the nyne and twentith of October the day of the seege when as Charles and all his men disarme themselues to be the more readâe the next day for the assault During these eight dayes the beseeged gaue libertie to their Bishop to go to the Duke and to offer him their Towne and goods The Duke is inexorable at his subiects request desyring nothing but their liues But he had resolued a sharpe reuenge and retaynes the Bishop not accepting of any offer The Apostolike Legat had no more any credit with Charles neyther was he so happy as he expected The Ligeois abandoned by the French dispayring of all foraine succors and of all grace with their Prince behold a troupe of six hundred choise men of the Country of Franchemont issue forth hauing for their guides the masters of those two lodgings where the Generalls did lie The partie was well made but the enterprise was great and ill managed yet did they hardly faile in it The guides should lead them secretly through the hollow rocks neere vnto these Princes lodgings to surprise them kill theÌ The Ligeois dispayring hazard all or at the least to carry them away before their gards were in armes Moreouer all the people should issue forth by the gate and breaches right against the great streete of the suburbes and with their cryes and fighting discomfort the whole army or at the least sell their liues deere in dying gloriously They issue forth kill the sentinells and stayed at a pauilion in the which the Duke of Alençon and the Lord of Craon were lodged where they slue some seruants with their halberds and partuisans they charge euen vnto the grange wheras the three hundred men at armes were in their first sleepe the whole multitude runs thether and troubles both Nations some crying God saue the King others God saue the Duke of Bourgongne and some also crie God saue the King and kill to sowe diuision betwixt the French and Bourguignons They awake they arme defend the entrie In the meane time succors come froÌ al parts to the duke being charged by a squadron led by the master of the lodging He is slaine first and then all his company The King is no lesse amazed his host coÌpasseth his house with an other band The Scotts are about him The King Duke in great danger of their liues they first kill the âoste and then his followers and so the multitude recouers the Towne in disorder The two Princes talke togither and thanke God for their deliuerie and with a iust cause for if these desperate men had neyther linguered at the Pauilion nor at the grange without doubt they had had these two Princes at their discretioÌ but God would reserue ours for the restoring of his estate and increase of his reuenues with the Bourgnignons losse and the Bourguignon for a more tragicke ende Ouâ Lewis grewe likewise pale with distrust foreseeing that if Charles did not take this Towne by assault Lewis distrusts the burthen might light on him that he was in danger to be stayed and taken being the weaker in the army There was no hope of retyring he was too well garded The miserable estate of two Princes and his honour likewise ingaged Thus he stood vpon thornes yet resolute in shewe and alwayes a perfect dissembler A miserable estate of these two Princes who of late had so solemnelie sworne a peace and yet one could not assure himselfe of an others faith This desperate sallie had amazed the Dukes men who euen by the Kings advice would willinglie haue delayed the assault for some dayes but Charles constant in his desseine lettes Lewis vnderstand that if he pleased hee might retyre to Namur vntill the Towne were taken as for himselfe hee would not part without seeing the issue the next morning but Lewis was ingaged in honor
besieged in their houses We haue seene a poore young man appointed to guide a Ship during the fury of a storme without Helme without Maste without Sayles and without Oares beaten without by the Tempests and within by the Saylers Seized on in his Cabin by madde men imbrued with the bloud of his most trusty Seruants murthered before his eyes yea euen in his bosome Wee haue seene the Crowne of Kings in their minorities set to sale by their Tutors who became murtherers and of Regents Theeues making themselues Kings We haue seene a King in his non-age become madde gouerned by the passions of Men and Women holding the chiefe degrees in state which did striue to ruine it with in-bâed Factions Rages and populer Tumults by tragicall Massacres and furious Hostilitie Wee haue seene amidst these Combustions the Stranger not onely awaked at this brute but also Armed entred within the Realme and lodged within the bowels of the goodlyest Prouinces And which is more installed in the Kings Authoritie by the Edict of a lawfull King seated in the royall throne hauing the Crowne on his head with the Scepter and Purse in his hand and a Daughter of France in his bedde for a gage of this vniust pretension a Sonne to warrant his possession with the force and obedience of the Capitall Citty and the first Princes of the bloud armed with Power and Counsell to countenance these horrible confusions Amiddest these ruinous disorders of our Countrie who hath preserued the Realme of France but hee that with one and the same hand hath made both the lawe and the King of France O my Countrymen it is to you to whome your History is directed hauing the chiefe interest in the estate of our Mother although Strangers are forced to admire it But what Our Ancestors haue seene all these things specified here and represented in particuler in the discourse I now offer vnto you But I beseech you what haue wee seene with our owne eyes within these thirtye and fiue yeares haue wee felt lesse miserie or tryed weaker Remedies What were our troubles and to what extremitie were wee brought vnto of late yeares By the conference of our Historie with our Ancestors ours serues as a Comentarie for the well vnderstanding thereof yet can wee not denie but our age hath seene things farre more extraordinary and miraculous So as wee may say That wee haue liued in a time of myracles Without doubt our posterity will admire in particuler the Historie of our time as the rarest part of the whole body wee that haue seene it should often belye our Eares and Eyes in reading or hearing it when shee shall appeare in publâck to put vs in minde of that whereof wee were Eye witnesses and therefore witnesses aboue all exception But euery thing must bee done in order and time Behold the first part of my enterprise which it behooues you to looke vnto SHALL IT then bee in vaine The speciall vse of thââ Historie and without any fruite it is not my intention if the end of euery commendable enterprise be the VSE Shall wee thinke that the knowledge of our Ancient Estate is vnprofitable and in a time when as wee haue so great need of consolation Truly in the continuance of our long calamitie wee must needs bee oppressed with a troublesome care But in feeling the paine why seeke wee not the remedie If wee often apply the example to things wee do eyther without lawe or against the lawe how much more should it auaile vs being ioyned with reason An Example rightly represented in the Historie of our Ancestors serues vs now as a good guide to comfort vs when as the like misery is common to vs and them And if it please God to make vs like in condâtion what reason haue wee to complaine At the least wee may therein obserue that not at this time alone France is afflicted and hath shewed her indiscâetion So likewise by the same reason it is not now alone that shee hath felt the succours of her Protector who preserues her amends her follyes and repaires her defects without this pâotecting hand shee had long since perished What shall wee then say truely wee were much too blame to accuse our Fathers and seeke to excuse our selues of the like or greater errors our waywardnesse were not pardonable if our hearts should faint in these difficulties seeing that wee learne in the same Historie that our Fathers haue deliuered from the liâe afflictions It is therefore a speciall vse of this History to cast our eyes vpon the condition of our Predecessors to mollifie our languishings as a necessary symptome of our inciuill warres which like a continuall feauer hath suckt euen to the marrowe all the vigour of this Estate and hath not yet left it We must accuse our impatience and nicenesse if we shall complaine to haue been worse intreated then our fore-fathers seeing wee obserue in them the like afflictions Experience layes goodly grounds to reason this certaine experience ingenders in our hearts hope of future things without confusion or deceit Do wee not then reape excellent fruites of this Historie if by the deliuerance of our Fathers wee conclude and hope for ours but in such sort and at such times as the wise prouidence of God hath appointed which ordinance neither Enemies can hinder not Friends aduânce and therefâre the direction of this truth doth teach vs to saile in this Sea euery one as hee ought according to his degree expecting a happy harbor by the bountie and wisdome of him that rules the waues of humane confusions as the soueraigne Iudge holding in his hands both the hearts of Men the euents of Things Do we greeue at our long troubles let vs read the âeignes of Iohn Charles the fiât Charles the sixt and Charles the seuenth of our late losâes Let vs read the reigne of Philip of Valâis and wee shall see that the losse of the same Cittie was deerer to him then to vs. As wee may neuer dissemble our losses so iâ there a time to loose and a time to gaine if in our houses in the Countrie or Citty all things succeed not as wee desire who can with reason require alwaies the like successe in a State To conclude it to flatter the disease be no meanes to cure it or to compaire without remedie seeing that choller and despaire brings no helpe to the diseased let vs rather seeke for remedy then increase the disease by a bootlesse complaint If we wish for peace abroad let vs lodge it first in our hearts at home This inward peace shall be a good warrant for the generall but wee are very sick if we thinke by waywardnesse and furie to cure the disease If then wee seeke any sound cure for our griefes the Apothecaries shop is open behold some preparatiues But what is that in regard of the serious reading of the Historie it selfe as necessary at this day for French-men as necessity doth
of a very renowned people who might both hurt and helpe by their multitudes and their valour of theiâ Armes The style of this desseine which I haue vndertaken doth only note the thing for your vnderstanding without spending time in longer proofes This Apprentiship of the FRENCH by their many voyages into Gaule contynued a hundred and thirtie yeares for so much it was from Gallienus to Honorius vnder whome they began to sett footing into Gaule vpon this occasion Those of the Citty of Treues tyred with the Tyranie of the Romaines were infinitely grieued that Lucius their Gouernour a Romaine had by force taken the wife of a notable Cittizen This excesse ministred a subiect to call the French-men to their ayde who expelled the Romaines seased quietly on the Citty with the consent of the Inhabitants and so proceeding in their conquest they possessed their neighbour Countries and in time became Maisters of all that lyes beyond the Riuers of Escaut and Some and in the end hauing woone Paris and the territories about they gaue their name to the conquered Country I doe briefely touch what shall be represented in particular in euery place and sett downe truelie the originall of the FRENCH in this Realme PHARAMOND layd the first stone in the buylding of this estate CLODION followed in this desseine MEROVE made it appeare aboue ground in a more goodly forme hauing purchased credit among the Gaules both by his valour and the happy succeesse of his Armes CLOVIS adding the profession of Christ to his Predecessors valour and his owne did so winne the hartes of the Gaules who were for the most part Christians as by their hearts he got their voluntary obedience and the assured possession of these newe Conquestes Two nations vnited in one by the Conquerour giuing lawe to the Conquered with so wise and mylde a discretion as they held him worthy of this Alliance and Name ând the fruite of this mariage was to happy as the nâwe name of FRANCE was generally receiued in Gaule Thus this newe estate increased dayly in thâ râce of PHARAMOND by diuers occurrentes during the space of three hunâââd yeares But iâ was much more augmented by the famous race of PEPIN And ââd the Author of all good order in mankind giuing him to Sonne CHARLEMAIGNE to preuent the ruine of the Empire inriched him with singular graces and confirmed in him that great authoritie and power of the King of FRANCE and Emperour of ROME which greatnesse God would make profitable to all Christendome But his race Inheritor of these great honours did not inherite his valour and happinesse hauing scârce continued 237. yeares but degenerating from his vertues they lost both Authoritie and Crowne so much augmented and beautified by him and CHARLES MAâTELL So this second race vnworthy of the blood and name of their Grandfathers was spoyled of their Kingdome by their negligence But God the Guardian of Monarchies who changing the persons would preserue the State rââsed vp HVGH CAPET a wise and modest Prince arming him with wisedome and dexteritie fitt for the preseruation of his Crowne accompanying his Armes with lawe and his royall authoritie with well gouerned Iustice. It is to HVGH CAPET that the Realme of FRANCE standes most indââted for the establishment of those goodly Ordinances by the which together with the vallour and fidelitie of the FRENCH this great Monarchy halfe withstood the stormes of so many ages and maintaines euen vnto this day the lawfull heire in the same race for the space of fiue hundred and thirtie yeares So as gathering the summe of all these yeares they reckon from PHARAMOND to HENRY the fourth that now Raignes 1175. yeares This is the Plot or desseigne of the whole History of France the which being thus laid before we raise this great building in euery part according to the true measâres and iust proportions let vs make a Diagramme as a liuely figure which may conteine nakedly and without circumstance the names of our Kings according to the order of these three royall Races To the which we will adde a particuler Chronologie The order forme of thââ Inuentorie which shall be proued by the discourse of our Inuentorie I haue distinguished it into three parts according to the order of the three royall Races In the front of euery part I note the names of Kings and the time they haue reigned that at my first entrance you may obserue all that is represented in this pârticuler discourse wherein the wise Reader that shall take the paines to conferre this modell with the whole Historie will iudge that I haue omitted nothing that may concerne the subâect of the History with all principall circumstances to the end the truth in this short simple and vnseemly weed appointed for euery day may serue aswell as that which the Learned and eloquent writers shew forth in open Theaters at Festiuall times To Actions carefully described I adde sometimes my Iudgement for the vse of the History examined by the Maximes of State To actions I say generally aduowed as for the rest I leaue them âemembring that I am a Witnesse and no Iudge to do seruicâ to such as could not see the Originals I note in the beginning the Elections the Birthes Liues Aduentures Intents Desseignes Maners and Complections of our Kings the Motiues Actions Alterations Crosses Issues and Successe of their affaires both in Warre and Peace their Enterprises taking of Citties and Countries Battels Encounters Victories Ouerâhrowes Aduantages Disaduantages and other things remarkeable in State Finally I obserue their ends in their death as the Catastrophe of their Life and closing vp of their Reigne But to make this disâourse more proportionable for the knowledge of our Monarchie it was necessary to explaine it by that which hath chanced of most import in forreine Estates especially in the Church Empire the most famous Theatârs of the world by reason wherof I haue added a most carefull Collation of the one and the other with our Realme I intreate the wise Reader to way with iudgement what I shall report concerning matters most subiect to comptroule as those of the Church I doubt not but that hee shall finde that I haue conteined my selfe within the limits of State talking nothing of Religion nor medling with the diuerse humors of this age I haue onely treated of the politique gouernment of Rome with as much modesty as the subiect would permit I know likewise that making profession to write a History no man will wish mee eyther to disguise or to conceale the truth the which will warrant it selfe and free me from reproche in making knowne to iudicious and modest wits that I haue no other passion but my duty whereof I can giue no better proofe theÌ in iustifying my discourse with the Original if there appeare any difficulty I protest I haue only had a true desire to serue the publique whose profit is the only scope of my labours As for the Computations
ciuill warres bred in his minority and increased in his frensie so as a strange King was crowned King of France and became Maister of the greatest part of the Realme to Charles the 6. succeeded 54. Charles the 7. his sonne who established the Realme in expelling the Stranger and to him succeeded 55. Lewis the 11. his sonne who hauing incorporated Bourgongne and Prouence to the Crowne and purged the Leuen of intestin diuision left the Realme rich peaceable to 56. Charles the 8. his sonne who dying without Males left the Realme according to the law of State to 57. Lewis the 12. Duke of Orleance first Prince of the bloud who likewise dyed without issue Male leauing the Crowne to 58. Francis the 1. of that name first Prince of the bloud Duke of Angoulesme and he to 59. Henry the 2. his sonne and Henry to 60. Francis the 2. his sonne who dying without Male left it to 61. Charles the 9. his brother who dying without issue lawfully begotten left it to 62. Henry the 3. his brother the last of the royall race of Valois who being slaine by a Iacobin and dying without issue by the same right of the Fundamentall law of State he left the Realme intangled in diuerse confusions to 63. HENRY the 4. then King of Nauarre first Prince of the bloud and first King of the royall race of Bourbon A Prince indued with vertues fit to restore a State but successor to much trouble wearing a Crowne not all of gold but intermixt with Thornes wreathed with infinite difficulties gouerning a body extreamly weakned with a long and dangerous disease surcharged with Melancholy and diuerse humours sed with the furie of the people bewitched by the practises of Strangers who had crept so farre into the bosome of our miserable Country that they were ready to dispossesse the lawfull heires and to inuest a new King if God the Gardian and Protector of this Realme had not opposed a good and speedy remedie to their force in shew triumphant by the valour and clemencie of our Henry incountring his enemies with the one and by the other reducing his Subiects strangely distracted to their duties God send him grace to finish as he hath begun and Crowne the miraculous beginning of his reigne with the like issue Truly all good and cleere-sighted French-men may note how necessary this Head is for the preseruation of the State and by their daily and feruent prayers to pray vnto God for the long and happy life of our King And for the peace and tranquillity of this poore and desolate Realme Rom. 13. There is no power but from God and all powers in an estate are ordeyned of God THE FIRST RACE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE CALled Merouingiens of Meroueé the third King of the French the most famous founder of the French Monarchie DANIEL 1.2 verse 21. The Soueraigne Lord rules ouer the Kingdomes of Men. And giues it to whom he pleaseth He putteth downe and sets vp Kings at his pleasure A particuler Chronologie of the races from the yeare foure hundred and twenty to seauen hundred and fiftie The yeare of grace Kings  420 1 PHaramond raigned 11. yeares 430 2 Clodion the hairy 20. yeares 450 3 Merouee the great Architect of this Estate and in this regard the most famous Stem of this race raigned 10. yeares 459 4 Chilperic or Childeric the first the sonne of Merouee 24. yeares 484 5 Clouis the first 30. yeares the first Christian King   The foure sonnes of Clouis to whom he diuided the whole Realme that is 514 6 Childebert King of Paris   Clotaire King of Soissons   Clodamite King of Orleans   Thierri King of Metz reigned together 42. yeares and 558 7 Clotaire the 1. reigned alone eight yeares 564 8 Cherebert King of Paris   Chilperic King of Soissons   Gontran King of Orleans   Segebert King of Metz reigne together 25. yeares 578 9 Chilperic the 2. in the end reigned alone 8. yeares 586 10 Clotaire the second 37. yeares 632 11 Dagobert the first 16. yeares 647 12 Clouis the second 18. yeares 666 13 Clotaire the third 4. yeares 670 14 Chilperic the third and  15 Thierri 19. yeares 689 16 Clouis the third 4. yeares 693 17 Childebert the second 17. yeares 710 18 Dagobert the second 5. yeares 715 19 Chilperic the 4. called Daniel by his first name 5. yeares 720 20 Thierri 20. yeares 740 21 Chilperic or Childeric the 5. the last of the race of the Meroueens hee liued with the title of a King ten yeares being degraded from the Kingdome he dyed a Moncke and left the Crowne to 750 22 Charles Martel Maire of the Palace who without taking the name of King but inioying it in effect left the Monarchie heredâtarie to his posteritie the date of his reigne being set vnder the name of Chilperic vnto the decease of Martell So this race hath reigned in France 320. yeares PARAMOND 420. the first King of France PHARAMOND I KING OF FRANCE· PHaramond the son of Marcomir is held for the fiâst King of Fraâce by the consent of all our writers The fundamenâa l dare of the Freâch Monarchie In the yeere of grace 420. He began his Reigne the yeare of Christ 420. A date very remarkable to describe the first beginning of the French Monarchie At that time Honorius and Arcadius brethren sonnes to Theodosius the great held the Romaine Empire inuaded so by strange nations as it was not onely disâeâbred into diuerse parts but euen Rome was spoyled and sackt by Alaric King of Goths Amidst these confusions the French Monarchie had her beginning vppon the ruines of the Empire The French inuited by them of Treues Estate of the Empire at the beginning of iâ for the aboue named occasion first seized on the Cittie and from thence extended themselues to the neighbour countries they name Tongrie for their first possession which the learned hold to be the countrie of Brabant and about Liege This conquest was not made at one instant but augmented by degrees and the nearest prouinces were first surprised The French comming from beyond the Rhin it seemes they did first seize on that part which then lay neerest vnto them as the Countries betwixt the Rhin the Escaât and the Mâuse and from thence extended themselues euen to the riuer of Loyre They hold for certaine that this happie exploit of the French was vnder the name and authoritie of Pharamond their King who departed not from his natiue countrie but sending forth this troope as a swarme of Bees he reaped the honour and fruit of the conquest as the Soueraigne head Hee is commended to haue established good lawes His policie to haue framed and inured the French to a ciuil and well gouerned kind of life and to haue laid the first stone of the foundation of this great Monarchie in Gaule he reduced into one body and expounded
put the principall authors thereof to death as the ringleaders of rebellion Gillon entertaines this aduise he puts them to death that were the instruments of Chilperiâs disgrace And so with one stone giues two stroakes He take them away that might frustrate his desseine and disposeth the Frenchmens hearts to desire their ancient King And thus he makes the way for Chilperics returne by a very happie dexteritie and the ââent was answerable Gillon hauing put these aforenamed to death became very odious to the French Guyemans abandons Gillon and cunningly embraceth this occasion in fauour of Chilperic He blames the French for their lightnes to haue expelled their naturall Lord and reciued a stranger farre more insupportable Chilperic called home chasticed by affliction Thus he makes them resolue to call home Chilperic who vnderstanding their desire and seeing the peece of gold the token of his returne sent by his faithfull friend returnes confidently into France he is receiued by the French and by their ayd forceth Gillon to resigne him the place and to retire himselfe to Soissons Such was the first part of Chilprics life The last was of another temper for being taught by himselfe he was so addicted to do good as he got the good will of the French of whome he was beloued honoured and obeyed all the rest of his life So as to good minds capable of reason affliction serues as a chastisement and not for a ruine for an instruction and not a destruction Hee did fight happily against Odoacre King of the Saxons subdued the Germans woon a great couÌtry along the Rhin He added to this State the Country of Aniou hauing forced the citie of Angiers and to make absolute his happines hee had one sonne who augmented and assured his Realme They only obserue one notable error committed after his returne in taking Basine to wife being the wife of Basin King of Turinge who had courteously entertained him in his distresse violating the sacred lawes of hospitalitie suffering himselfe to be abused with the loue of a woman 585. accounted a witch for they say this woman who had forsaken her husband for him was a witch causing him to see a vision the first night of their vnlawfull marriage the which did represent the state of the succeeding kingdome by lions vnicornes leopards the which appeared fiâstin this visioÌ then by beares and wolues And lastly by cattes dogges and other small beasts the which did teare one another in sunder You must pardon these fables of antiquity bred as it seemes long after by the which she would represent the estate of the three races according to their diuerse occurrents Chilperic hauing liued thus and raigned thirtie yeares he left Clouis his sonne for successor and heire of one of the goodliest and bewtifullest pyllers of the French Monarchie as shall appeare by the following discourse CLOVIS the 1. the 5. King of France and the first Christian King CLOVIS .5 KING OF FRANCE CLOVIS succeding his father Chilperic was installed in the Royaltie by the French according to their ancient custome borne vpon a target in open assembly Hee began to reigne the yeare 485. and raigned thirtie yeares Hee had scarse atteyned to the age of fifteene yeares when as he mounted to the royall throne A yong man of great hope borne for the stablishment of this monarchie His forefathers had layed the foundation but he did build vpon these goodly beginings with so great valour wisedome and good fortune as he is to be held for one of the greatest Architects of this estate hauing had the honour to be the first King of France that receiued the Christian religion the greatest beautie of this Crowne and a priuilege so carefully planted by his successors as they haue purchased the title of most Christian as a marke of their chiefest greatnesse The progresse of the Historie will shew both his vertues and vices But at this entrie his mind being guided to so great a worke whereunto the wise prouidence of almightie God had appointed him fortifies it selfe the first fiue yeares of his raigne 485. being the time of his apprentiship before he vndertooke any thing the which hee did manage so discreetly embracing all occasions that were offered as in the end hee thought himselfe able to subdue all Gaule if God had not stayed the ambitious course of his vnmeasurable desires to shew vnto great personages that hee reserues a Soueraigne prerogatiue ouer all their enterprises We haue saâd before that in the dissipation of the Empire the Gaules had many vsurpers Bourguignons Goths and Frenchmen the Romaines had the least part for hardly could they keepe Soissons Compiegne Senlis and other small townes thereabouts The Bourguignons enioyed a great countrie the two Bourgongnes the Duchie and the Earledome Sauoy Lyonnois Forests Beauiolois Daulphiné and Prouence Arles being the Metropolitane Citty of the Realme The Goths possessed all Gaule Narbonnoise to the which they gaue the name and all Guyenne with the appertenances The French had the best part from the Rhin vnto Loire imbracing all the richâ Prouinces of the Lowe countries vnto the Ocean the countries of Heyâault Cambresie Picardie Normandie the Iâle oâ France Maine Anâou Touraine Vandomois the prouince of Orleans Beausse Hurepois GastiÌnois Sologne Berry and the neighbour countries although these great and large territories had particular Lords amongst the which the King was acknowledged for Soueraigne Such was the state of Gaule when as Clouis vndertooke the helme of this French monarchie To become absolute Maister of this goodly country which was set to sale to the mightiest he begins with the weakest the neerest Clouis aspireâ to the Monarchie of all Gaule and him with whom hee had the most apparent shew of quarrell which was the Romane who held nothing of this great name but the shâw and pride in a weaknesse altogether contemptible Siagrius sonne to that Gyles of whom we haue spoken commanded at Soissons for the Romans Clouis had an hereditarie quarrell against him hauing sought to vsurpe his estate irreconciliable quarrels among Princes Hauing so goodly a shew to demand reason for so notable a wrong he dâfies him They assemble their forces Clouis calleâ to his aide Ragnachaire the petty King of Cambray and Chararic of Amyens the first assists him the other excuseth being desirous to keepe the stakes and to be a looker on The first rooting ãâã of the Romaines and then to ioyne with the stronger Siagrius is ouercome in battell In this ouerthrow he leaâes his estate to Clouis and flies to Alaric King of the Goths being at Tholouse Clouis not content with Siagrius goods demands his person of Alaric and obtaines it Siagrius is sent vnto him his hands and feet bound Hauing him in his power he makes him taste the griefe of his misery reproching him that he had basely lost his gouernment deserued capitall punishâent and so he cuts off his head afterwards he suppressed Chararic
wherevnto he added a complaint of their bounds in the diuision whereof he would resolutely haue the aduantage But to giue a better colour to this quarrell of State hee ioynes religion For saith he to his people to what end should these Arrians haue so good a paât among the Christians Yet before he would come to open force Warre against the ãâã he talkes of a friendây conference The two Kings appoint a day and a place for an enterview to parlee of their affaires But this meeting increased their hatred for being both vpon the place some confident seruants to Clouis gaue him notice that Alaric had laide an Ambuscadoe to surprize him in their parle Clouis was much moued with this and resolues to make warre against Alaric hee raiseth an armie and beeing ready to marche towards Guyenne behold a new occasion which makes him turne his forces towards Bourgongne We haue shewed how that Gondebault King of Bourgongne Warres in Bourgongne and why slue his brother Chilperic father to Clotilde vpon the first diuision of their portions after their fathers death Hee had two bretheren remaining Gondemar and Gondegesil of whom he desired infinitely to bee freed hauing too many bretheren and too little land according to his vnsatiable desire Their debate was for Prouence and Daulphiné which they demanded for their portions Gondebault enioyed the chiefe Citties except Vienne which the brethren held Clouis his Armie ouercomes that of Gondebault marching victoriously through the Countrie of Venaison where the battell was fought Gondebault saues himselfe with great difficultie in Auignon and is presently besieged by Clouis who yee grants him an honourable composition and labours to reconcile him with his bretheren which done he returnes into France and Gondemar and Gondegesil retire into Vienne dreaming of nothing lesse then to haue their elder brother for an enemy But Vienne must be the pitte-fall of their misery to swallow them both vp one after an other for behold Gondebault is with a strong armie at the gates of Vienne and his bretheren are reduced to that extremitie as hauing no meanes to defend themsâluââ nor to get reliefe from their friends the Citty is easily taken and euery mân seekeâ to saue himselfe as he can Gondemar flyes into a Tower where he is besieged assaââed and burnt with all his troupe Gondegesil is taken aliue after this tragick feare but being alone he slippes a way and flyes to Clouis whome hee found in Armes ready to march vpon this new accident Clouis takes new aduise The ancient hatred he bare to Gondebault who had crossed him in his mariage the iniustice and more then barbarous crueltie the complaint of this poore Prince his ally who cast himselfe into his armes had much power to perswade him to the voyage of Bourgongne But that which made him resolue was for that Gondebault prepared to succour Alaric against whom Clouis did now march with his forces Thus the iust iudgement of God prouided a scourge for this murtherer who addes rashnesse and insolencie to his first disorders Clouis enters with an armiâ into Bourgongne Feare doth not onely surprise the countrie but also the peoples iust hatred of this tyrant being infamous with so many parricides so as in few dayes the principall Citties yeeld vnto Clouis and the rest are ready to submit themselues into his hands as to their deliuerer Gondebault pursued by God and men faintes being insolent in prosperitie and daunted in aduersitie 507. All things conspired to his ruine But as God doth not alwaies take sinners at the rebound Clouis conquestes in Bourgongne hee stayed the blow by meanes of Clotilde who grieuing to see her house decay to the ouerthrowe of the state of Bourgongne makes intercession to her husband for her vncle and his Countrie and preuailes so with him through her intercession as shee perswades him to passe no further but to leaue the rest to her vncle Gondebault with a reasonable peace whereof she drew the articles Thus Clouis dismisseth his armie hauing onely prouided for the gard of Vienne Mascon Chaalon and other Townes taken from Gondebault and hee giues the charge of them to Gondegesil This is all that Gondebault could hope for in so great a danger but he would needes perish A treacherous attempt of Gondebault when as he sees himselfe without any enemie By Clouis departure he marceth so secretly with his forces as in one night he surpriseth Vienne by the Conduit heads guided by him that had them in charge being cast out ofâ the Citie with the scumme of vnprofitable people Vienne must bee the Sepulchre of Gondegesil as it was of Gondemar for in this vnexpected surprise as ãâã and the Bishop sought meanes to saue themselues in the temple of Saint Mory amazement giues an easie entrie vnto Gondebault who being maâster thereof doth massâcre both Gondegesil his brother and the Bishop without any reâpect Clouis moued with this treacâerous attâmpt returnes with his armie and beseegeth Gondebault who vnable to resâst escapââ by night and saues himselfe in Italie with Thierry King of the Ostrogoths his friend and confederate They being tormented in conscience A iust punishment oâ the murtherer Gondebault without all ãâã of releefe hee falls into horrible dispaire and dyes hatefull euen to those that had receiued him leauing a notable example to all men that man is the cause of his âwâe miserie that hee deceiueth himselfe when as ouerruled by his owne passion hee thinkes to mocke God freely who sleepes not when as men are most secure in their wickednesse But after a long patience God payes both the principall and the interest and hee that seekes an other mans goods doth often loose his owâe the halfe being better then the whole for to liue quietly with content This was the end of Gondebault and the beginning of the title which the Kings oâ France pretended to Bourgongne The fast winning ãâ¦ã ând Prouânce The States of Prouence Daulphiné and Saâoye were dependances on this Crowne Clouis reteyning Daulphiné and the Countries adioyning vnto Bourgogne he left Sauoy and Prouence to Sigismond and Gondemar the children of Gondebault ioyning equitie and mildnes to his iust victorie Hauing thus setled the affaires of Bourgongne he marcheth presently with his victoâious armie into Languedoc against Alaric King of the Visigoths who held not onely that goodly Prouince but ãâã the Countrie from the Pirence mountaines euen to the bankes of Rosne and Loire as wee haue sayd Clouis hauing assembled his armie at Tours marcheth into Poictou where Alaric attends him with his forces meaning to fight with him at his entrie The battaile is giuen and much blood shed on either side but the absolute victorie remaines to Clouis as the bodies the held and the head of Alaric whome hee slew with his owne hand an accident very remarkable ãâã slaine by the hand oâ ãâã that one Prince should kill another with his sword in hand in the
furie of the fight This happened in the yeare 509. The fruit of this notable victorie was so great as all yeelded to Clouis where hee marched Those of Angoulesme made shew of resistance but a great parte of the wall beââg fallen as it were miraculously not onely the Cittie yeelded butall the Countrie being terrified offered their voluntarie obedience vnto Clouis as if God holding him by the hand had put him in possession of all that Prouince as the lawfull heire Auâeâgne makes some shew to resist but in the end it yeelds with all the Citties of the Prouince In this generall reuolt against the Vuisigoths Almaric the sonne of Alaric gathers a new head in the Countries of his obedience with wonderfull speed Clouis seekes him out and finds him neere to Bourdeaux The battaile is fought and the slaughter great on either side the one armie fights for honour and the other for life and goods But Clouis remaines conquerour 504. who in detestation of his enemie calles the place the Aârien field which name continues vnto this day Almaric flyes to Thierri his confederate King of the Ostrogoths in Italy with an intent to returne speedily to be reuenged of Clouis All the countrie remaines peaceable to Clouis yea Tholouse the capitall Citty of the Goths kingdome And thus he returnes leauing a part of his army in garrison in the Citties of his new conquest vnder his sonnes command and in his Standard as a trophee he caried for a deuise Veni vidi vici I came and saw and ouercame like vnto Caesar. This great conquest gotten with incredible celeritie and admirable successe is a worthy proofe of Gods prouidence who disposeth of States according to his wise and iust pleasure pulling downe one and raising vp another Thus Clouis hauing expelled the remainder of the Romaines seized on the Bourgongnons estate and the Wisigoths remaining in a maner absolute Lord of the Gaules vnder the title of the Realme of France Hee desired much to liue at Tours as indeed it is the goodly garden of France but seeking to giue a perfect forme to this new estate as one head hath but one body hee choseth Paris for his capitall Citty being seated in the Isle of France and the true mansion of Kings aswell for the fertile beauty of the Country thereabout as for the concourse of Riuers which bring infinite commodities from all parts by the chanell of the Riuer of âeine into the which all the rest fall as the common store-house of all commodities Thus Paris from small beginings as may bee noted by the lowe buildings and narrow streetes of the Isle being the first plotte is growne to a wonderfull greatnesse being the head Cittie of all the Realme The brute of Clouis force spread ouer all with a great renowne of his valour The Emperour sonâs Ambassadors to Clouis moued Anastasius Emperour of the East to desire his friendship although hee had more reason to be his enimy hauing dispossessed him of his ancient inheritance Thus the Empire declined flattering his most dangerous enemies against whom he should oppose himselfe Hee salutes him with a very honourable Ambassage sends him a Senators roabe the priuilege of a Patrician and Cittizen of Rome and the dignity of a Consull in signe of the honour his successours should haue to bee Emperours and to preserue the reliques of the Empire from a generall shipwrack Clouis entertained Anastasius Ambassadours with honour and bounty desirous to ouercome them with curtesie as well as by the valour of his victorious armes The violent course of Clouis victories seemed vnresistible Clouis beinâ conqâerour is conquered but behold an vnexpected enemy not onely stayes him sodenly but takes from him the greatest part of his new conquests defeats his Armie and drawes him into danger neuer to performe any thing worthily The nation of the Gothes was then very great being dispersed in diuerse parts in Gaule Italy and Spaine so as one people issued from the same beginning as we haue sayd was distinguished by diuerse names to marke the places of their seuerall aboades The Wisigoths or rather Westgoths were they that dwelt in the West that is to say in Gaule West to Italy the Ostrogoths or Eastgoths possessed Italy by consequence East to Gaule These Estgoths had done great and notable exploits in Italy taken and sackt Rome and hauing seized on the goodlyest Countryes of Italy had there established a Kingdome vnder their name the which was ruined by the Lombards and the Lombards by the French as wee shall see in the continuance of this history These Goths named Getes by the Greekes an ancient people of Asia scattered themselues first along the riuer of Danubye entring the Countrie neere to Constantinople as well on the maine land as in the Taurique Chersonese neere to this quarter And so extending their limits did possesse Valachye and Hongarie and in the end Scandia and the Country which lyes neere the Riuer of Vistula in the Country of Sueden towards the Baltique Sea where they made their last retreate after many losses receiued in many places in seeking of their fortunes The Realme of Gothie carries their name euen vnto this day 510. I thought good by the way to note the estate of the Goths fit for this subiect Thus the successe of the French forces and the allyance so carefully sought by the Emperour a capitall enemie to the Gothike name did easily moue Thierry king of the East-goths to succour his kinsman Almarick a prince spoiled of his possessions whose example did solicite all the Goths to preuent the danger which did threaten them very neere So as from Italie Sicile Sclauonia and Dalmatia by his owne meanes and the credit of his friends he gathers togither fourescore thousand fighting men the which he giues to Ibba to leade against Clouis and he himselfe remaines in Italie to make head against the Emperours desseins least hee should cause some diuision in fauour of Clouis his confederate The Gothike armie enters by Piedmont takes Grace and Antibou and in short time all Prouence obeyes him The people of Languedoc louing their old maisters and not able to indure the insolencie of a new yeeld easily to the stronger A great losse both of Provinces and men Prouence remaines thus to the East-goths and Languedoc returnes to the Vuisigoths Clouis being brought a sleepe with the imagination of a generall triumphe awakes at this brute hee armes and marcheth speedily against the enemie hee is beaten and looseth 30000. men at this incounter whereby it appeared that he held not victoires at his girdle nor they proceeded not from his valour Clouis who vanquished euery where finding himselfe beaten and not able presently to make head against a victorious enemie returnes into France rather mad then transported with furious choller tossing in his braynes how to be reuenged of so notable a disgrace The Goths giue him leaue to runne and take cold being content to haue recouered
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 ãâã reââme the which was their proiect rather then the reueÌge of their brothers death ãâã was dââided among the brethren as a coÌmon prey all the realme of Bourââââââ is therin coÌârehended Thierri King of Metz had his part but the poore children ãâã 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 Cruelââe 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 repulâed 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
sweete Liquor of his insatiable reuenge A notable obseruation for treacherous and reuenging spirits who are then vanquished when they thinke to bee Conquerors Thierri a King in shewe is a spectator of these Tragedies as of a game at tables of his diuers Maiors which play at leuell coyle vntill that Pepin gets it and enioyes it onely with the Soueraigne gouernment of the French Monarchie Pepin during the confusions of these raigns had beene in Austrasia and purchased great credit with all men so as he was held worthy of this great charge the which he gouerned with so great wisdome and valour as hauing settled France in a peacefull Estate he had purchased more credit authority among the French then the King himselfe In the ende Thierri dies in the yeare 693. hauing raigned 19. yeares leauing Clouis and Childebert his Children for a witnesse that he had liued but in effect Pepin and his for the true heires of the Realme CLOVIS the third the 16. King of France CLOVIS .3 KING OF FRANC XVI BEing the eldest sonne of Thierri he raigned foure yeares and dyes without name and without children 693 to whom succeeds his brother CHILDEBERT the second the 17. King of France CHILDEBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVII WHO raigned 17. yeares 700. and dies in the yeare 718. hauing left two Sonnes Dagobert and Clotaire of like humour to himselfe DAGOBERT the second the 18. King of France DAGOBERT .2 KING OF FRANCE XVIII 719. HE raigned foure yeares and left two Children Chilperiâ and Thierri with no better memorie then the rest So there passed fortie and foure yeares during which time Pepin had good meanes to fortifie his authority the which was in effect absolute by the negligence or rather idlenesse of these Kings who made a necessary way to newe desseins by their voluntary suffrance to incroach vpon their authority Pepin well acquainted with the humour of the French naturally bent to loue their Princes did not openly despise his masters but excused their weake dispositions not capable of much paine representing the heauie burthen of a great Estate and that the honour to gouerne iâ is a trouble which costes deere He setled an impression in the Frenchmens mindes That those onely were worthie to bee Kings that knewe howe to gouerne So without any infinuating speech the ordinarie seruices hee did to the realme mayntayning ât in peace his great prâfession to loue religion Iustice and the peâple whose âase hee was wonderfull carefull of did recommend him to all men and the good turnes he did to all persons by reason of his charge did daylie purchase him many friends and seruantâ Doubtlesse as it is as great policie to bee a good man so is there no small dexterity in the tâking of Citties and Countries by the hearts of men Thus Pepin layed the foundation and his successors finished the perfect building of a newe gouernment A lesson for our Kings to haue a care howe they referre the charge of affaires to their seruants Read and iudge O yee Kings and to whome they trust and howe This example doth verifie that they were better to be more careful and take more paines then to disroabe themselues of this great authority the which makes them not only eminent aboue all men but carries as it were a tipe of the Maiestie of God in the gouernment of the world 718 whereof they must yeeld him an account and not loose that by base cowardlinesse which they should mainteine by vertue But let vs returne to Pepin âee made great shewe to loue religion and vpon this cause he makes warre against Râbod Duke of Fâise a pagan whome hee conquered and forced to receiue the Christian religâon âith all âis subiects He restored Lambert Bishop of Traict to his dignity beeâng expelled by âbroin and confined into a Monastery finally he infinitly fauored all that tended to the seruice of God and one of his chiefest cares was to aduance them that had chââge ouer the Church whose loues he had so purchased by this good vsage as they soone requited him causing the people to loue him with whome such as rule their consciences haue great authority This was a point of state as much as of deuotion He also made proofe of his valour in diuers sorts reducing the people of Germany on either side the âhin to the obedience of the French who began to mutine and so restored the beautie of the realme of Austrasia He was carefull to maintaine Iustice and imbraced the people no waies oppressing them with any new impositions In the meane time he was not carelesse of himselfe and his Children He commaunded absolutely beeing armed with the authority of his Soueraigne neither was there any appeale from him vnto the King Hee had two sonnes by Plectrude Drogon and Grimoald he gaue Champagne to Drogon and after his death hee caused his sonne to succeede him with the title oâ a Duke In the beginning he gaue the offices of great Master and generall of the Treasure to Nordebert his deere friend but after his death he inuested his owne sonne Grimoald in those places Pepin incontinent But as the vanitie of man transports it selfe beyond the lymits of respect it chanced in the end that Pepin forgat himselfe in his prosperity for not satisfied with Plectrude his lawfull wife hee fell in loue with a gentlewoman named Alpaide by whome he had one Bastard which shal be verie famous in the course of this historie vnder the name of Charles Martel and as the mischiefe encreased hee puts away Plectrude and marries Alpaide Lambert Bishop of Traict admonished him of this fault but he suffred Alpaide to cause him to be slaine by her brother Dodon who soone after âelt the punishment of this bloud for being strooke with a disease of wormes not able to endure his owne stench he cast himselfe headlong into the riuer of Meuze Grimoald the sonne of Pepin following his fathers example abandoned himself to strange women disdayning his wife But this adultery was decre to them both for Grimoald too familiar with one named Rangare sonne in lawe to Rabod Duke of Frisâ was slaine with him by a iust iudgement of God hauing taught him so filthy a trade to abândon himselfe to strumpets and to reiect his wife Pepin was so perplexed for the death of his sonne as hee died for greefe and choller against Rabod the author of this murther Thus both he and his sonne reaped the fruits of their adultery Vpon his deathbed he ordayned Charles his Bastard to succeed him in the gouernment of the realme but Plectrude imbracing this occasion Charles Martel bastard to Pâpin vpon the death of her husband and well supported by her kinsfolkes causeth Charles to be taken and put in pryson at Cologne and aduanceth Thibauld the sonne of Drogon her owne sonne and Pepins to the gouernment although in effect she vnder his name gouerned all the affaires of state This
of Tours For this great seruice he expected some notable recompence But Martel excusing himselfe that he could not alienate the reuenewes of the Crowne nor doe any thing to the preiudice of his Master left Eudon no more aduanced then before the warres and very ill satisfied but he died soone after leauing Hunault and âeffroye his children heires of âis dâscontent After their fathers decease they seeke all possible meanes to trouble the quiet of France Their cheefe strength was in Guienne they had lâkewise âome in Prouence through the fauour of Maurice Gouernour of the Countrie and Earle of Marseilles but especially in Languedoc whence they were issued as I haue said being descended from the Visigoths whose memorie with their name liues still throughout all that Prouince although they all depend vpon the Crowne of France Thus they assemble all the people they can A famous war in Languedoc either by friends or credit and fortifie good Townes against the French attending to make warre with al violence But finding all these meanes too feeble for so great a proiect they proceed farther The Sarazins remayning in Spaine were much grieued at so great a losse of their men being a general dishonour to al their nation They are easily drawne into this League to be reuenged of the French the better to fârtifie their partie they ioyne with the Vandales Ostrogoths Alans which remained yet in Spaine not friends among themselues yet common enemies to the French King Athin led the Sarazin troupes 738. Hunault and Ieffry brethren commanded those that were assembled in the Prouinces on this side Loire Besides their forces they had intelligence within Lions and the best Citties of Bourgongne assuring themselues to seize vpon Daulphiné as well for the neernesse of Languedoc where they had a great partie as also by meanes of Maurice the Prouensall and the credit they had with the principall of the Country Thus they make a great party to vndermine and ruine the state of France and did manage their practises with such secrecie as their army was sooner in field then Martell could haue intelligence of their preparations The bodie of this armie assembled in Languedoc passeth the Rosne entreth into Daulphinè and goes through it with such celerity and ease as the Citties of Pierrelate Saint Pol Montlimar Liuron Valence Romans other Townes bordering vpon the Rosne hauing yeelded at the first brute they surprise the Cittie of Lions by meanes of their intelligence Vienne alone held firme for the Kings seruice in this deluge of Goths and Sarazins The fidelity of the Viennois They passed from Lions by Sauoye and the Countries on either side of the mount Iura and in the ende seized on many of the best Citties of Bourgongne Chaalon Mascon Dijon and Auxerre by meanes of their intelligences and the generall amazement Martel slept not in this confusion but to preuent this vnexpected storme he assureth the Citties and leuies men with all expedition The courage of a Bishop The towne of Sens through the resolute counsell of their bishop Otho sallies forth so fitly vpon the Sarazin army as hauing slaine a great number they force them to raise the seâge with shame Other townes by their example growe resolute vnder the assurance of their Commander whom they finde carefull of their preseruation Thus this army halfe victorious fearing a second skirmish of Tours by the waighty blowes of Martel loth to ingage themselues farther in France retyres into the Countries of their allies leauing garrisons in the townes they had surprised One part passeth into Languedoc and lodgeth in friend townes an other seâzeth on Auignon then a Cittie of Prouence by the meanes of Maurice gouernour of the Country Arles holds firme for the Kings seruice amidest these confusions and the treachery of Maurice Hunault and Ieffroy returne into their Country of Guienne New attempts of the League to preuent the desseins of Martel and to retaine their townes in obedience Hauing thus disposed of their asfaires they send ioyntly into Spaine for newe forces whilest that Martell labors to settle that which they had disordered in many places And in truth they had prouided worke for him the which he preuented in this sort He sends Childebert presently into Prouence with a meane army as well to assure the townes that stoode firme as to keepe the enemy at a bay and to crosse their desseins Hee himselfe remaines in Bourgongne with a great army to recouer such townes as were held by the enemy Both worke according to their proiects but not with like successe Childebert beseegeth Auignon but with much toyle losse of time and small hope of successe so as he was shamefully forced to raise the seege but then comes Martel with his army hauing recouered the Citties of Bourgongne Lions and the rest of Daulphinè with the like facility as they had bin lost punishing the rebells in all places Being incamped before Auignon he so presseth the seege as in fewe daies he takes the towne and cuts the Sarazins in peeces yet their King Athin saued himselfe in Languedoc by the riuer of Rosne and retired to Narbone to his other troupes Martel hauing releeued the Cittie of Arles with a newe garrison passeth into Languedoc and beseegeth Narbonne beeing then a very strong Citty and of great importance for the whole Prouince And as this seege grewe long A new army oâ Sarazins in France behold a newe armie of Sarazins comes out of Spaine vnder the conduct of Amoré an other pettie Sarazin King Martel fearing least they of Guienne should come and those within the Cittie issue forth and all being vnited make one bodie of an army he resolues to fight with them apart vsing this stratageme which succeeded happily He leaues a part of his army before the Citty with the same countenance as if it had beene whole rising without sound of drum or trumpet and surpriseth this newe army of Sarazins with such celerity as he defeats them 739. Athin frustrate of hope of any succors saues him selfe by sea with a small troupe and abandons Narbonne and the whole Country to the mercy of Charles Martel then a Conqueror This was the ende of that perillous warre bred by Hunault and Ieffroy the sonnes of Eudon and the fruit of all these broyles in Languedoc was that they brought those Citties which had followed them Languedoc seuerely punished by Martel to extremity whome Martel punished seuerely for their rashnesse and rebellion The histories name Narbonne Nismes Beziers and Agde the which he caused to be sackt and burnt It is likely that the ancient walls of Nismes were then pulled downe whereof we nowe see the ruines of an admirable greatnesse vndoubtfull signes of the ancient beauty and welth of that goodly Cittie the which in the time of the Romaine Empire being free in Gaule Narbonoise did enioye the priuileges of Italie hauing had the honour to furnish Rome with an
the end yeelds by composition and Didier who had hated Charles without cause and attempted warre vpon an houre âalâs into his hands who shewes himselfe wise and modest both to vndertake a warre and to vse the victory Thus Charlemagne hauing wisely vndertaken a iust warre and ended it happily hee ruined the Kingdome of the Lombards carrying Didier prisoner to Lion or to Leege The Kingdome of the Lombards ruined for writers speake diuersely of the place of his imprisonment This was in the yeare 776. A notable date to represent the tragicall end of so great a Kingdome the which continued in Italy onely two hundred and âoure yeares vnder Princes of diuers humors But iniustice tyranie and pride prouoked the wrath of God against them so as thinking to take from an other they lost their owne to vsurpe the liberties of others they fell into an ignominious slauery and their subtilty was the cause of their owne misery A mirror for Princes and great States neuer to attempt an vniust and vnnecessary warre to vsurpe an other mans right neuer to thinke to preuaile ouer a good cause by craft and policy Charlemagne vsed his victory with great moderation towards the conquered nation to the great content of all the Italians who held it a great gaine to haue lost their old master and to be rightly free being subiect to so wise a Lord for he left them their ancient liberties and to particular Princes such as were vassals to Didier their Seigneuâies to Aragise sonne in lawe to Didier hee left the Marquisate of ãâã He placed French Gouernors in conquered Lombardy meaning to haue theÌââtreated with the like mildnesse as the ancient patrimony receiued from his Predecessors During the seege of Pauia a Councell was held at Rome by Pope Adrian in fauour of Charlemagne 778. to giue him honours answerable to his deseruing of the Church and namely the right to giue all benefices throughout all Christendome was said to belong vnto him Charlemagne being returned into France Aldegise the sonne of Didier sought to disquiet Italie aided by the Emperour Constantine and the practises of Rogand to whome Charlemagne had giuen Friul who reuolted from his obedience but all these rebellious were âoone suppressed by the faithfull care of the French Gouernours whome Charlemagne had left in the Countrie newly conquered and Rogand being seized of it suffered the paines of his treacherous rashnes being beheaded by the Kings commaundement Thus Italie remayning quiet to him and his as conquered by a iust warre it shal be hereafter incorporate to the French Monarchie in this second race being giuen in partage to the chidren of France whilest that the good gouernmeÌt of our kings maintaines the dignitie of the Crowne A memorable warre in Germanie But the end of this war was the beginning of an other in Germanie wherof the Saxons were the chief darwing vnto them according to the diuersitie of occasions other people of Germanie their neighbours This war continued 33. yeares not all successiuely but at diuers brunts seasons the Saxons hauing for a perpetual subiect to crosse Charlemagne in his desseins especially being busied in many other matters of great consequence I will breefly relate this war of Saxony reporting with one breath what hath beene seuerally dispersed in the whole history without confusion of times or mater following a stile fit for this history In those times Germanie was subiect to the Crowne of France although it had particular Estates vassals to our Kings whatsoeuer the Germaines say who confesse but a part thereof The Saxons were subiect to our Crowne as appeares by that aboue written and namely vnder Martel and Pepin his sonne The motiues of this warre were diuers the impatiencie of a people desiring their ancient libertie not able to beare an others command as the Germains say the hatred and iealousie of a mighty neighbour thâeatning them with seruitude the controuersie for the limits of their lands but the greatest and most important cause of these wars The causes of this wââre was the diuersitie of religion for that the Saxons would obstinatly hold the Pagan superstition which they had receiued from their Ancestors and Charlemagne vrged them to forsake their Paganisme and to make open profession of the Christian faith moued with zeale to the generall aduancement of the truth and the priuat dutie of a Prince to his subiects to prouide for their soules health A thing very worthie obseruation Belial did then fight against Christ The differeâce betwixt the warres which Câarles ãâã and ãâã this day Pagan superstition against Christian veritie But alas by whome and wherefore are these vnciuill warres at this day Christian fights against Christian the most sacred signe of Christianitie appeares on either side in Christian and French armies Christians bloud is spilt by Christians through a blind furie want of vnderstanding in the fundamentall accord of the sauing trueth These are not onely different but coÌtraâie wars to those of Charlemagne and our inâaged tumults are begun nourished without reason both against the good of the Estate and Church Vpon this controuersie of religion the Saxons made war eight times against Chaâlemagne especially when they found him busied elswhere watching their oportunitie either to crosse him in his desâeine or to frustrate his attempts At such time as hee was in Italie they played the wild colts not onely in reiecting the French coÌmand but also making open war against those Cities in Germanie which obeyed Charlemagne they had taken Eresbourg from the Crowne of France euen vpoÌ his returne beseeged Sigisbourg robbing spoyling al the Country about Charlemagne assembling a Parliament at Wormes Hee subdues the ãâã and perswades ãâã to be a Christian leuies a great armie to charge the Saxons in diuerse places This Councell succeeded happily for hauing vanquished the Saxons twise in one moneth in a pitched field he reduced them to their ancient obedience vsing his victorie with much modestie and wisedome desiring rather to shew them the power of his authoritie then the rigour of his force The chief among them was Widichind as religion was the chief motiue of these ordinary rebellioÌ so Charlemagne seeking the establishmeÌt of Christian religion in Saxony with great zeale happily eâââcted it Hauing vanquished this Widichind by reason and humanitie and brought him to the knowledge of the truth by his graue wise conuersatioÌ whom he perswaded without any violence to leaue the Pagan superstition 784. which force of armes could not effect in him nor in the Saxons for Mens soules are not gained by force of armes but by reason By the meanes of this Widichind the greatest part of the Saxons were drawne to the knowledge of the true God and the obedience of the French monarchie the most obstinate were forced eyther to obey or to abandon the country as in deed great numbers of the Saxons retyred themselues into diuers strange
countries Thus the war of Saxonie ended being both long dangerous those which were conquered by the truth were the true conquerers in knowing the true God Charlemagne hauing caused the Saxons to leaue their false opinions was carefull to haue them instructed in the truth Care of religion most worthy of Princes to this end he appointed holy and learned men in all places and gaue meanes to maintaine them as the Germaine histories report more particularly It sufficeth me in declaring this briefely to shew his pieây compatible with his valour and happinesse and for a president to Princes to make religion the soueraigne end of their armes and authorities This Widichind was a great personage both in wisedome valour and authority and by consequence very notable in the order of our subiect From him are descended very famous races The two Henries the one called Oiseleur or the Fowler and the other of Bamberg and the two Othoes all Emperours and likewise the Dukes of Saxonie the Marquis of Misne the Dukes of Sauoy and also the most famous race of Hugh Capet is drawne from this spring The offspring of VVidichind by the common consent of learned writers the which ought to be well obserued in the continuance of this Historie From this warre of Saxonie sprung many other in the Northerne parts whereof I will intreat hauing discoursed briefely of the warre of Spaine both for that it chanced during that of Saxonie as also being very memorable for the ouerthrow of the Sarazins who threatned Christendome like a deluge Histories differ much touching this warre but I will report what is most likely by the consent of most approued writers whereof the studious reader may iudge by conference I being but a faithfull reporter The motiue of this Spanish warre was more vpon pleasure then necessitie but the zeale of religion gaue a colour and shew of necessitie to the heroycall desire of Charlemagne seeking to inlarge the limits of the French Monarchie by armes Warre in Spaine So this warre of Spaine was more painfull more dangerous and of lesse successe then that of Italy whereunto necessity and duty had drawne Charlemagne but his wise proceeding in the action did warrant him from all blame The occasion which made him bend his forces against the Sarazins in Spaine was the assurance of his good fortune the quiet peace of his realme the meanes to imploy his Souldiars the Spaniards hate against the Sarazins and the generall feare of all Christians least these Caterpillers should creepe farther into Europe This was the estate of Spaine the Sarazins had conquered a great part thereof Estate of Spaine and were diuided into diuers commands vnder the title of Kingdomes yet these diuers Kings resolued to oppose their vnited forces against Charles their common enemie Foreseeing then the tempest they seeke to preuent it and to crosse the desseignes of Charlemagne which being discouered they caused King Idnabala a Sarazin to insinuate into his friendship being a man full of subtill mildnesse This stratageâ preuailed more then all their forces Charlemagne was thrust forwards by Alphonso surnamed the chaste King of Nauarre and by the Asturiens and Galliciens Christian people of Spaine to vndertake this warre being easie profitable and honourable and by consequence most worthy the valiant happinesse of Charlemagne Moreouer this Idnabala making a shew of friendship laboured to hasten him to the execution of this enterprise from the which he knew well he should not diuert him but in effect it was to betray him by the discouering of his intentions flattering his desire to get the more credit by pleasing him Charlemagne then well affected of himselfe and perswaded by others calles a Parliament at Noyon and there concludes a warre against the Sarazins of Spaine 786 The armie he imployed in that action was goodly both for the number of men and valour of great warriours Waââe agâinst the ãâ¦ã being the choise of the most worthy Captaines in Christendome Amongst the which they number Milon Earle of Anger 's Rowland the sonne of Milon and Berthe sister to Charlemagne Renald of Montaban the foure sonnes of Aimon Oger the Dane Oliuer Earle of Geneua Brabin Arnold of Bellande and others the gâeat valour of which persons hath beene fabulously reported by the writers of those obscure times with a thousand ridiculous tales vnworthy the valour of those heroick spirits Institution of the twelue Peeres proofes of the ignorance of that age being barren of learned wits They say that Charlemagne to make this voyage more honourable in shew did then institute the order of the twelue Peeres of France Being entred into Spaine he found no Sarazin forces in field but their Citties well fortified hauing resolued a defensiue rather then an offensiue warre The most renowmed Sarazin Kings were Aigoland The treachery ãâ¦ã the Saâazin Bellingan Denisâs Marsile and Idnabala which be the sâbâect of our fabulous tales but the last as I haue sayd made shew of friendship wâth Charlemagne and open hatred against the other Sarazin Kings with whom notwitâstanding he had most strict correspondencie to betray Charles Pâmpelune takân The first Cittie he attempted was Pampelune in the Kingdome of Nauarre the which he tooke by force but with much paine losse and danger Hauing sackt it and slaine all the Sarazins he found Saragoce yeelds to him by composition with many other small Townes terrâfied by the example of Pampelune This beginning incouraged him to march on relying on his wonted fortune but as he passed through the Prouinces of Spaine like a victoâious Prince without any dâfficulty hauing giuen a part of his armie to lead to Milon of Angiers his brother in law it chanced neere vnto Bayonne that Aigoland a Sarazin King hauing in this common dispaire thrust an army into field incountred âilon with his troupes little dreading any enemy and tooke him at such an aduantage as he defeated him The losse was very great for they report it was of forty thousand men The Sarazins victory where Milon was slaine for a confirmation of the Sarazins victory Charlemagne was farre off and not able by any diligence to preuent the losse hee pacifies this amazement least it should daunt the whole armie Hee hastens thether and gathers together the relikes of these discomfited troupes keeping the conquered Citties and such as were friends in their obedience But after this followes a second accident Aigoland puft vp with the pride of this victory âasseth into Gasconie and besiegeth Agen to diuert Charlemagne from his pursute and to draw him home to defend his owne country The Saâazins ãâã into Gâsâonie So as Charlemagne fearing least his absence and the Sarazins late victory should alter the mindes of them of Guienne being then subiects of small assurance he returnes into France Aigoland hauing continued some moneths at the siege of Agen and preuailed little but in ouerrunning the country the which he did freely without
sprong the first occasion of the fall of this race a King of small merit A confused and vnhappy raigne hauing performed nothing praise worthy for in that wherein hee desired to winne the reputation of doing well hee did exceeding ill His greatest ambition was to seeme a good Vncle to the onely daughter of his brother Lewis with whome hee had made so strict a League of loue He married her to Boson as I haue sayd but the euents shew that he married her with an iâtent to goâerne her inheritance at his pleasure Being proclaymed Emperour hee leuies a great and mightie army and goes in person into Italie His pretext was to suppresse the Dukes of Spoletum and Beneuent who âought to free themselues from the subiection of the Empire and to become Soueraigâes but âis intent was to seize vpon the strong places of Italie Charles seekes to deceiue hiâ Neece and so ây conseqâeâce of that which belonged to his Neece Hermingrade But Bosân her husband discouering her Vncles intent preuented him ioyning with the sayd Dukes and prouiding for the Citties of Italie with all expedition 879. as his wiues inheritance and then hee aduertised Charles entring into the Countrie that it was needlesse for him to passe any farther and to put Italie to vnnecessarie charges seeing that he himselfe could gard it sufficiently the foresaid Dukes did submit themselues to reason But being easie to iudge that Charles hauing an armie in field Charles diuerted from the warre of Italy and a resolute desseine would not retyre without constraint Boson makes factions in France in the heart of his Estate to diuert him An easie matter both for their discontents against him and the miserie of that age nourished in the libertie of vnciuill warres This occasion drew Charles from this vniust desseine for at the first brute of rebellion he turnes head towards France but there chanced more to him then he expected for he not onely left his Neeces patrimonie but his owne life in Italie with a notable instruction Not to loose this life for the desire of an other mans goods Thus died Charles the bald at Mantoua the yeare 879. leauing the Realme to his sonne Lewis Where he dies the which hee sought to augment with an others right LEVVIS the second called the stuttering 27. King and Emperour LVDOWICK .2 KING OF FRANCE XXVII HE raigned onely two yeares and succeeded his father likewise in the Empire but not without opposition for the Princes of Italie sought to be Soueraines and the Germaines bearing impatiently the confusions passed desired to restore the beauty of the Imperial dignity greatly decayed in Italie by such as possessed the âaâds of the Empire They spared not the Pope himselfe who by little and little vsurped the Imperiall rights in Italie These complaints being made to Lewis the Emperour Iohn the 3. Pope of Rome came into France to redresse that which conceâned the Sea of Rome He was courteously receiued by the King 880. staied in France a whole yeare and there held a Councell at Troyes in Champagne The raigne of Lewis was very short The Pope was scarcegâne but hee was lodged in the bed of death He had no lawfull children but two bastards Lewis and Caroloman both men growne whereof the one was already married to the daughter of Boson King of Arles His wife was with child In the doubtfulnesse of the fââite which should be borne he must prouide a Regent to gouerne the realme if it were a sonne And although Lewis loued his two bastards deere'y yet would he not haue them Regents but made choise of Eudes or Odon Duke that is to say gouernour of Anger 's the sonne of Robert of the race of Widichind of Saxony of whom we haue before made mention to bee Regent of the Realme and experience taught Lewis leaues his wife with childe that his iudgement was good Thus Lewis dyed hauing left nothing memorable but a sonne wherein I obserue three notable things The efficacie of the Lawe of State preseruing the right of the lawfull heire not yet borne The minoritie of a King subiect to many confusions and miseries and the liberty of great men in the weakenesse of a young Prince who fiâhe boldly in a troubled streame In this raigne happened the Eclipse of the Empire The first check giuen to this second race was by a League which dying in shew made the King to dye in effect and in the end carryed away the Crowne burying both the King and all his race in one tombe This History is very obsâure by reason of the Regents which are numbred among the Kings during the minoritie of the lawfull heire and therefore good directions are needfull in so confused a laborinth of diuers raignes Behold therefore the simple and plaine truth Lewis the Stuttering being dead the Parliament assembled to resolue for the gouernment of the realme vntill that God should send the Queene a happy deliuery The estates honour the Queenes wombe and if it were a sonne appoint who should be Gouernour to the King and Regent of the Realme vntill he came to the age of gouernment There was no Prince that made any question to the Infants title that was to bee borne or that sought to take the adâantage of the time to aduance himselfe vnder colour of neerenesse of bloud but it was concluded by common consent they should carefully preserue the Qâeenes wombe vntill her deliuery The Kings will was plaine for he called Eudes as we haue said to be Gouernour to his child vnborne and Regent of the realme Regents crowned as Kings but Lewis and Caroloman bastards of France had so laboured for voyces as they preuailed against this Testamentary decree and were chosen Regents by the Estates who for confirmation of this authoritie decreed they should be crowned yet with a profitable exception for the pupils interest the lawfull heire of the Crowne A dangerous proceeding A dangerous course making seruants taste the sweetnesse of Soueraigne command which made the way to a horrible confusion and multiplying the authoritie of many masters did greatly preiudice the lawfull heire the which may not without extreame danger be imparted but to one onely The Queene was happily deliuered of a sonne the which was saluted King and was called Charles of whom wee shall speake hereafter The day of his birth was the 12. of December Charles borne after his âathers death in the yeare 881. But we must now passe 22. yeares full of troubles before our pupill comes to age so as to marche safely in so obscure a laborinth wee must distinctly note the diuers parcels of this interreigne 882. The Minoritie of Charles called the Simple the which continued 22. yeares vnder 4. Regents whom they call Kings LEwis and Caroloman Brothers the bastards of Lewis the Stuttering chosen by the States raigned two yeares or there abouts to whom they adde Lewis the idle the sonne of
Reason and respect of the common good fights for Robert The same reason ioyned with the royall authoritie armes for Charles against these new desseigne But God who guides the least moment of our life watcheth mightily for the preseruation of mâankind and disposeth of Kingdomes by his wisedome had limited this bold attempt reseruing the change to another season and yet for the same âace of Robert Euen so the death of him that had crowned Robert was a foretelling of his owne The armies lodge in the heart of France neere vnto the great Cittie of Paris the seazing whereof was a maine point of State but see what happens he that thought to vanquish is vanquished As the armies approch neere to Soissons striuing in the vew of Paris who should doe best they ioyne The combat is very cruell but Robert fighting in the front is slaine Robert defeated and slaine by Chaâleâ leauing for that time the victorie to Charles the simple and a âonne in his house shall reuiue his desseine in his posteritie that is Hugues ãâ¦ã to Hugh Capet âhe death of Robert did not daunt his armie but it continued firme vnder the commaund of Hebert Earle of Vermandois son in law to Robert And Charles did so ill manage hiâ victorie as it became a trappe for his owne ruine for seeing these forces to stand fiâme hee seekes a treatie of peace with an vnseasonable feare Hebert imbraceth this occasion beseecheth Charles to come to Saint Quentins to confer togither Charles simple indeed comes thither without hostages Câaâles taken prisoner by ãâã Hebert hauing him in his power takes him priâoner And hauing declared vnto him the will of the French to haue the Realme gouerned by a more sufficient man then himselfe hee resolues to assemble the pâiâcipall of the Realme to that end conueies him to Chastean-Thierry and from thence to Soissons where hee had assembled the cheefe of the Realme chosen after his owne humor where hee makes him to resigne the Crowne to Raoul his godsonne the first Prince of the bloud by his mother Hermingrade daughterto Lewis and wife of Boson King of Bourgongne So this poore Prince is led from prison to prison for the space of fiue yeares yet ãâ¦ã in his raigne and after hee had renounced his right hee payed nature his due Câaâles diâs oppâessed with greefe and dying of a languishing melancholie to see himselfe so ignominiously intreated by that audacious affront done by the treacherie of his owne vassall Qâeene Ogina flies to England wââh her sonne Lewiâ He had to wife Ogina the daughter of Edward King of England a wise and a couragious Princesse by her he had a son named Lewis This poore Princesse seeing her husband prisoner and foreseeing the end of this Tragedie 908 by the strange beginning takes her sonne Lewis and flies speedily into England to her brother Aldesâon who then raigned yeelding to the time and the violent force of her enemies Thus Raoul was seated in the place of Charles the simple a Prince of apparent vertue and so they account him RAOVL the 32. King but in effect an vsurper of the Realme RAOVLE KING OF FRANCE XXXII HE was proclaimed and crowned King of France at Sâissons 923. in the yeare 923. and raigned about 13. yeares Raoul an vsurper his raigne was vnfortunate during Charles his imprisonment and after his death This raigne was painfull and vnfortunate Normandie Guienne Lorraine and Italy were the cause of mâch fruitlesse labour Hee sought to suppresse the Normans and to repaire the errors of Charles the Grosse and Charles the Simple who were blamed to haue suââered them to take footing in that country to the preiudice of the Crowne but he preuailed not nor yet in Lorraine nor in Guienne whether he made voyages with much brute and small fruite From thence hee turned his forces towards Italy where the State was much troubled by the decease of Boson and boldnesse of the Commanders who held the strongest places playing the Kings in refusing to acknowledge the Empire but in name and in effect they commanded as Soueraignes imagining their gouernments to be hereditary for their children Hee performed some things worthy of commendation in suppressing Berenger Duke of Friul 925. who hauing freed himselfe from the Empire had vanquished Lewis the sonne of Boson who inioyed Italie as we haue sayd as husband to the daughter of Lewis one of the sonnes of Lewis the gentle Raoul made a quiet end with Hugues Earle of Arles who had gotten possession of that goodly Cittie as gouernour seated in a fertile Countrie and very conuenient he suffered him quietly to inioy the Cittie and territories about it holding it of the Crowne of France Thus passed the raigne of Raoul without any great profit after so much toyle and trouble vnder a colour to do better then the lawfull heire wrongfully dispossessed by him Leauing no memorie but his ambition and iniustice in a deluge of troubles and confusions wherein the Realme was plonged after his departure to the great discontent of all the French He died after all these broyles in the yeare 936. at Compiegne An age wonderfully disordred Necessarie obseruations for great estates wherein we may profitably obserue by what accidents and meanes great estates are ruined Ciuill warres bred the first Simptomes As order is the health of an estate so is disorder the ruine The seruant hauing tasted the sweetnes of commaund imagins himselfe to be master being loath to leaue the authoritie he had in hand holding it as his owne by testament In this resolution there is nothing holy all is violated for rule all respect is layd aside euery one playes the King within himselfe for one King there are many where there are many masters there are none at all The which we must well obserue to vnfold many difficulties in the History of this confused age wherein we read of many Kings Dukes and Earles although these titles were but temporarie hauing no other title but the sword and the confusion of times Confusions of thosâ times Thus was France altered after the death of Charles the simple by the practises of Roberts League There was no gouernour of any Prouince throughout the realme which hold not proper to himselfe and his heires those which were giuen vnto them but as offices From hence sprang so many Dukedomes Earledomes Baronies and Seigneuries In France the which for the most part are returned to their first beginnings Italie giuen to an Infant of France was possessed by diuers Princes In Italâe and Germanie Germanie withdrawne from the Crowne was banded into diuers factions so as the Empire of the West confirmed in the person of Charlemagne continued scarse a hundred yeares in his race for Lewis the fourth the sonne of Arnoul of whome we haue spoken was the last Emperour of this bloud In his place the Germains elected Conrade Duke of East Franconia the yeare
equitie according to God and their consciences the Estates did choose Hugh Capet for King promising to obey him Hugh Capet chosen King oâ France and and his as their lawfull Kings according to the law of State This is the ground of Hugh Capets royaltie There was no need of any preachers to perswade the people nor to send to Rome for the Popes dispensation as Pepin did The people were fully perswaded in their mindes and a fit occasion was offered that without any iniurious change as that was in the person of Chilperie they might supplie the place being voyde with a better King 988. and more profitable for the common weale This Act was made at Noyon in the moneth of May in the yeare 987. and to giue more authority to this famous decree Crowned at Rheims the same Assembly goes to assist at the Coronation of Hugh who was annointed and crowned King the third of Iuly after his election Hugh Capet being thus chosen and crowned King he studied by all meanes to let the French vnderstand by the effects that they had made a good choise as the successe of his raigne and of his posterities will shewe in the following discourses From Rheims he went to Paris wel accompanied where he makes his entry to the great applause of all the people He imployes his first endeauours to send them all home well satisfied who had giuen him so notable a proofe of their affection But euery one being returned to his house behold Charles of Lorraine reiected assembles forces and with part of them begins to ouerrun Champagne shewing all acts of hostility Within few moneths after he himselfe comes to field with a great army of Germains Charles of Lorraine begins war and surprâseth towns Lorrains and Bourguignons and hauing taken Rheims at his first approch hee passeth on towards Paris as to the head or heart of the Estate and enters into Picardy where he seizeth on the Citties of Soyssons and Laon al by the practises of Arnâlphe the bastard sonne of King Lothaire and Archbishop of Rheims a man both cunning and head-strong from thence he runs euen to the gates of Paris filling all the country with fire and feare Hugh sleepes not but knowing howe much it did import to possesse the people with good conceit of him and to stoppe the courses and spoyles of Charles who of purpose tormented the Parisiens to breed some innouation hee gathereth together what troupes he can attending the rest which he had sent for and with them he goes presently to field but it chanced that Charles being far stronger then Capet did easily defeat him so as hauing cut his troupes in peeces Hugh Capet deâeated at the âirst in great danger he had almost surprised Hugh in the sight of Paris where he saued himselfe with much paine and danger These beginnings did as much amaze the people who had so cheerfully chosen Hugh as it puft vp Charles already a Conquerour and a peacefull King in his own conceit Charles promiseth to himâselfe a happy raigne who being retired to Laon in great triumph sends newe letters to all the Prouinces of France perswading them to acknowledge him for their lawfull King vaunting of this happy beginning as a gage of the felicity which did attend him in his raigne But he had not cast vp his accounts with him who holds the euents of things in his hand for the contrary fell out to that he had imagined Hugh is nothing dismayde at this first repulse these summonings of Charles make him to vse all hast and prickes them foreward with whom he had diuided the Realme hauing an especiall interest in his raigne according to their election All men flye vnto him Charles supposing that Hugh ment to yeeld and that these assemblies were made to haue the better conditions had dispersed his army about Laon and retayned the least part within the citty and with this assurance that all necessaryes should abound he had no care to make vse of his victory when as sodainely Hugh appeares with his army before Laon hauing stopt all the passages he beseegeth it all the Lorraines small troupes which were found in the villages thereaboutes were easily taken and disarmed and the citty was presently summoned to yeeld in the Kings name and to deliuer vp Charles of Lorraine guilty of high treason and enemy to the French vpon paine of fire and sword Charles flies to intreaties and teares The inhabitants complayning of him as the cause of their misery resolue with the aduice of Anselme their bishop to obey Hugh Capet as their lawfull King and to deliuer Charles into his hands The which they did with his wife and children Charles taken in Laon and This happened in the yeare 991. and so the controuersie betwixt Hugh and Charles of Lorraine for the crowne was decided in lesse then foure yeares Hugh being a Conqueror goes to Orleans and leades with him Charles Caried to Orleans where he dies in prison and the remainder of his miserable family inflicting no greater punishment on him then perpetuall imprisonment where he was well kept with his wife vnto his dying day in the which he had both sonnes and daughters 990. There are diuers opinions vpon this point Some say they died all there others say that they repeopled the State of Lorraine and transplanted their race vnto the Princes that rule there at this present But howsoeuer As the Romains had expelled the Gaules and themselues were afterwards driuen out by diuers nations and the race of Pharamond which had dispossessed them was displaced by Pepin so Hugh Capet expelled that of Pepin with a better title then Pepin beeing lawfully called by them which had the right and the presumptiue heire was iustly degraded for his fault Hugh Capet no vsurper Nâcâste Hugo regni inuasor out vsurpaâoâ eliquaâiâer est iudicandus queÌ regniproceâes elegerunt saith Nangius so as no man can with reason say That Hugh Capet was an Vsurper seeing he had so solemne and lawfull a calling by a decree of the generall Estates of the Realme To whom the application of the Soueraigne Lawe belonges as Nangius an auncient writer doth testifie For what auailes it the legitimation of his royaltie to say that Hugh Capet came of the race of Charlemagne by his Mother Auoye daughter to Otho Duke of Saxony and Emperour In this regard shee could not be of Charlemaignes race the which without doubt fayled in Lewis the fourth the sonne of Arnoul neither would it auaile him any thing to bee the sonne of a daughter of France seeing the Distaffe may not lawfully succeede This victory added an incredible reputation to Hugh Capets vertue the which was most apparent in greatest extremities and made him an easie way to purchase obedience in his newe Kingdome He began by homage as the seale of authority To that ende The subiects do homage vnto Hugh hee calles all Dukes Earles
by the decree of Clement But this was not all those which were opposite to the Emperour chose in the place of Gregory Vrbain the 2. and their party growing strong the confusions increased opposing oâe Emperour against another Herman of Luxembourg to Henry and after him Egbert Marquis of Saxony the which were taken by Henry and slaine one after another Vrbain hath other practises against Henry hee animates his owne sonne by his first wife against him forcing all the lawes of nature The Pope incenseth the sonne against the father who takes from him both his Empire his life And as Henry had suppressed the practises of this his eldest sonne Pope Paschall who succeeded Vrbain the 2. succeeds him euen in the like monstrous practises incensing his other sonne Henry whom the father intended to make Emperour relying on him as on his child beloued aboue all the rest So this sonne bewitched by ill councell found meanes to seaze on his Father depriuing him first of the Empire and then of his life The Pope added to this death a new disgrace causing by his thundring Bulls The Popes malice against the Emperour being dead the body of Henry to be digged out of his graue These were the fruites of their serious controuersies for preheminence not onely vnknowne to the ancient Church nor practised by the Apostles but expreslie forbidden by the holy mouth of the sonne of God The Popes one after another troubled with these crosses had recourse vnto our Philip so had Henry the 4. being a prisoner to his sonne but the respect of his coÌmon friends made him to keepe the stakes and to be a spectator of these lamentable confusions And yet many orders were erected by the Popes amiddest these disorders that of the regular Chanoines for a difference of the secular the Charteaux Templiers Benedictins and Carmes Thus Philip a witnesse of others miseries raignes peaceably during this age full of confusion both in Church and State The Emperour had reduced the realme of Bourgongne to the Imperiall iurisdiction distinguished as wee haue sayd but during these disorders The begining of the estaâes of Daulphiné Sauoy Prouence and Francâe Conté the whole body was dismembred and reduced to an other forme as when one is wearie of an old garment The industrie of such as held the Citties and Countrie in their possession made foure peeces of this garment The one was for Otho of Flanders which is the Countrie about Besançon with the title of an Earledome whereof it carryes yet the name The other for Berald of Saxony who enioyed Sauoy The third for Guigue the fatte Earle of Grisiuaudan who from little grewe so great in the confusions of times hauing taken the chiefe Citties of the Country and in the end Grenoble the capitall Citty as he became absolute Lord of all that Prouince the which hee called Daulphiné in fauour of his Sonne who hauing married the Daughter of the Earle of Albon and Vâennois named Daulphin would carry the same name holding himselfe honoured by so worthy an allyance The fourth peece is Prouence one of the goodlyest and richest both for the fertilitie of the Countrie and commoditie of Ports most conuenient in all the Mediterranian Sea this was fallen into the hands of Berengers successors by the meanes before specified So the Empire lost the command of these foure Prouinces which fell to foure diuers Lords leauing yet in Daulphiné some traces of the ancient name without any effect for they yet call it the Empire in their common language as wee haue sayd elsewhere But as during the raigne of our Philip these confusions were notable Voyage to the Holy Land so that great and renowned voyage to the Holy Land made by our Argonaâtes Christians âs worthy to be carefully obserued The proiect was to deliuer the Christians of Asia âormented by the furious tyranie of the Mahâmetaines and to repeople the land the which God had honoured with the first fruits of his Church This zeale of Christians was commendable I would to God they had at this day changed their disordered passions glutted with their owne bloud into so holy a resolution vniting their mindes and forces against the common enemie of all Christendome The occasion was giuen by a French Gentleman called Peter the Hermite The motiââ of this enterprisâ who hauing long trauelled in the East and seene the miseries of the Christians among the Barbarians the maners of the Leuantins and the commodities and discommodities of the Prouinces of Asia neerest to the Holy Land he laide a pâot with Simeon Patriarck of Ierusalem to solicite all Christian Kings and Princes to imploy their forces for the conquest of the Holy land The euent was answerable to the proiect for being come to Rome to Pope Vrbain the 2. he did so well lay open the estate and importance of this action as being satisfied by him he resolues to inuite all the Kings Princes Potentates States Comoâaltieâ Lords and Gentlemen of Christendome therevnto To this end hee calls a Councell at Clermont in Auuergâe where he assisted himselfe and induced the whole assemblie by his perswasions with so great efficacie as they resolued neither to spare their persons nor estates in the execution of so important a worke Godefroy of Bouilâon sonne to Eustace Earle of Boulogne vpon the Sea being Duke of Lorraine by his Vncle Godefroy the Crooke-back the sonne of Gothelon a great and a generous Prince ofââed himselfe the first to this expedition and was chosen chiefe of this famous action The Emperour and all Christian Princes promised to contribute their meanes some their persons A troupe of all the selected Nobilitie of Europe did willingly consecrate themselues The names of such as went to the Holy land The most apparent were Eustace and Baldwin brothers to Godefroy Hugh the great Earle of Vermandois brother to Philip King of France Robert the Frison Earle of Flanders Robert the second sonne to William the Bastard Duke of Normandie and King of England Stephen Earle of Blois and Chartres Aimar Bishop of âuy William Bishop of Oranges Raimond Earle of Tholose and Saint Gilles Baldwin Earle of Hainault Baldwin Earle of Retbel Bohemond Duke of Apouâlie Garnier Earle of Grez Harpin Earle of Bourges Ysoard Earle of Die Rambaud Earle of Oranges William Earle of Forest Stephen Earle of Aumal Hugh Earle of S. Pol Rotron Earle of Perche and many others worthy to be registred in this Historie I haue onely noted such as I could finde out All Europe was moued with this voyage France Germanie Italy England Scotland Hongarie Denmarke and Sueden Spaine onely failed being at that time much troubled to keepe their owne home from the Sarrazins who were lodged euen in their bowels France did contribute more then all the rest of Christendom The zeale which moued these generous and valiant men made them to hazard all Dukes Marquises Earles Barons Knights and Gentlemen sold and ingaged their Seigneuries
to furnish themselues in this affected voyage at what price soeuer Godefroy of Bouillon chiefe of the armie sold the Seigneurie of Bouillon to Aubert Bishop of Liege and Metz to the Inhabitants Robert Duke of Normandie ingaged all his lands to his brother William King of England Herpin Earle of Berry his Earledome to King Philip. A sale farre more honorable for the selâers then for the buiers There was a quarrell betwixt the children of Taâcred the Norman of whom we haue spokenâ who by his valour had conquered Scicile Calabria Apulia â growne from light beginnings It seemed to be immortall the question being betwixt wilfull Kinsmen but this zeale did so pacific their quarrels as they brought aboue twenty thousand braue men to the army with their own persons Iâ euery ãâã there was nothing but men making their prouisions the wayes were full of souldiers horseâ baggage which repaired to the Rendezuous the Ports Hauens and Seas swarmed with sâips and vessels to transport our generous Argonauts they being guided with this holy zeale The number of the Armie to the Holy lând to settle the State of Christians in the Holy land The number of the armie is diuersly reported Some write they were six hundred thousand fighting men others restraine it onely to a hundred thousand The first number were more likely for what were that in Europe but for our wretched dissentions But that which they adde is to be considered That many else well affected were kept back by reason of the dissentions betwixt the Emperours and Popes so as Germanie a great nurâerie of men of warre sent very few and Italy fewer being dispensed withall by the Pope who had ingaged others See the ordinarie frutes of home-bred quarrels the which fortifies the enemies of Christendome Some writers of iudgment adde that Pope Vrbain did cunningly vse the Christians zeale to weaken the Emperour and his Partisans that hee might preuaile with more facilitie causing them to marche in this action and retaining such as were at his deuotion This is their opinion as the wise reader may verifie in their places 1096. The sequell will shewe that this voiage did nothing mortifie the quarrell betwixt the Emperor the Pope the which was reuiued after a tragick maner We follow the traces of truth as euery thing hath succeeded Here we discourse of the beginnings and motiues of this war we shall see the end and issue of this great preparation Let vs reurne to the hauen to our Argonaââes the trumpets sound they are all ready to set saile Godefroye diuided his army into three fleets making the Rendezuous aâ Constantinople whether he had sent his Ambassadors to Alexis Emperour of Greece The army parts and arriues at Constaâtinople who entring into iealousie of so great an army made some difficulty to grant him ports yet in the end hee yeelded and gaue him an honorable entertainement The departure of these Christian Aduenturers was in the yeare 1096. the first day of Aprill Behold our Latins arriued in safe port thus hereafter wee shall call them to distinguish them from the Greekes being Christians friends the Turkes Leuantins enemies They vndertooke no small worke neither went they to take possession of an empty inheritance The Turkes and Mahometains their enemies were Lords of Asia from the realme of Pontus towards the Mediterranian sea vnto Hellespont after they had expelled the Greekes ouerthrowne the forces of the Caliphes of Babilon and Egipt The Maââmetain command and had seized on Palestina Iudea and all the rest of the Kingdome of Israell from the entry of the holie Land vnto Libanus Ierusalem was in their hands Their estate springing from weake beginnings encreased dayly Soliman Belchiaroc was their fiât Sultan or Emperour who quickned with so hot a sommons of Christians assembled his forces togither stoode vpon his gard and prepared to fight Godefroy taking the aduice of Alexis Emperour of Greece who made shewe to imploy all his meanes to aduance the common cause resolued to passe into Chalcedone and beginning with the Citties of Asia to make his passage more easie The Christian troupes twâse defeated by the Turkes Hee had sent Peter the Hermit before the first trumpet of this warre with Gaultier who was a better soldiar and some troupes to discouer the Country but both togither making scarce one good Captaine suffred themselues to be beaten by the Turkes so as Godefroy sends in their place one called Regnaud or Raimond who makes profession to know the Country but he speeds worse suââring himselfe to be beaten by the Turkes and to âace his life he renounced the Christian religion abandoning al that had followed him to the slaughter This was a âoretelling of ill successe The army marching by Asia the lesse first they beseege Nicomedia the lesse takes it ââen they attempt Nicea a Citty of Bethinia famous for the first generall Councell ãâã âas held against Arrius The Sultan had thrust Mahomet into it one of his braâest Captaines yet was it taken by assault by the Christians after two and twenty daies ââege The Sultan had his army in field the which approched to fauour the beseeged Godeââoy winnes the greatest part oâ Asia and to saue the remainder of this ship-wracke and likewise to hold the Citties in obedience which stood amazed Nicea being yeelded there were some skirmishes so fauorable for the Latins as Soliman retires his army to the mountaines leaues the plaines Citties to Godefroy who puft vp with this happy successe and leauing a good gard in Nicea he passeth through Bethinia and comes to Heraclea the which yeelds presently and goes on with such successe as in lesse then foure yeares he subdued all the goodliest Prouinces of Asia that is to say Lycaonia Cilicia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Siria Mesopotaâia and Comagene as the wise reader may see in the Originalls of the whole History without making of any particular relation in this discourse These happy and gainefull conquests strooke as great a terror in Soliman and the Leuantins as it purchased honour and reputation to Godefroy and the Christians so as hauing taken Antioche Tripaly and other renowned Citties Iudeâ and Ierusalem taken Godefroy of Boullân chosen King of Ierusalem they came into Iudea and to Ierusalem with a victorious courage Thus Ierusalem is beseeged with such dilligence and resolution as after eight and thirty daies it is taken by assault and all the Turkes âut in peeces The poore inhabitants without armes are carefully preserued to purchase a double victory to the Latins of valour in fighting well and of clemency in sparing the vanquished 1109. The Citty wone the Latins assemble in councel with one coÌmon consent choose Godefroy of Bouillon King of Ierusalem Al the royall ornaments were taken accâpted by him except the Crowne of gold the which he would haue of thornes like to that of our sauiour Iesus Christ to augment the price
Willam King of Sicilia Al these were preparatiues of great warre against France And could Baldwine Earle of Flanders be wel satisfied being intreated as we haue seene Richard ioynes with him They resolue to make warre against Phiâip in diuers places Hauing assembled foâces their Baldwine enteâs into Artois Richard into Vexin contries then in Controuersie wherby reasoÌ the warre should begin seing the processe was bred there Philip without any amazement prouids for Artois sending forces thether vnder the command of his Sonne Lewis Warres with Richard King of England He himselfe marcheth in person against Richard who beseeged Corceeile the which he releeued in despight of him Richard not able to hinder these souccors takes his way into the Contrie of Beauuoisin and spoyles it Phillip doth the like in Normandy All tends to trouble by the willfulnes of these two Princes when as the Pope some say Celestin others Innocent .3 sends his Noncio to exhort them to peace This perswasion staied it not but only made a diuersion of their armes for Richard supposing that Philip could not auoide the blow being ingaged in Nomandie he marcheth into Berry and being assisted wâth all his forces of Guienne beseegeth Yssoudun hauing wasted and spoyled all the country Philip beseeged Vernon although the name be diuersly coated Vernon Vernueil or Aumale he leaues the Towne and flies to Richard to draw him to fight who finding himselfe to weake retyres to his towne Philip returnes to his seege and wins the Towne not withstanding all the attempts of Richard who now takes breth to seeke his reueng but God had otherwise disposed with whome all Princes ought to accoumpt for their actions 1223. who laughes at men when they vexe themselues most During his aboade at Limoges hee was aduertised that one of his men at armes had found a great treasure in the ground This Souldiar fearing to bee ill rewarded by Richard flies to a small Towne of Limosin which the Historie called Caalac or Cailus held by the French although it were of the Prouince of Guienne then belonging to the English Richard besiegeth it but as hee approched too neere the walles hee was wounded with an Arrow in the left arme His desire to follow this siege makes him to neglect his wound which impaires not being drest He takes the Towne but the man saues himselfe hauing hidden his treasure so as Richard tooke not the treasure which hee hunted after with a desire so vnseemely for a great Prince but insteed of taking gold Richard King of England dyes death surprised him who leauing his life vpon so light an occasion leaues a notable example of the vanitie of this world in the lightnesse of humaine spirits who suffer themselues to bee transported with couetousnesse a miserable councellor both to great and small This death did somewhat temper the bitternesse of their dissentions but it did not quench it betwixt France and England Iohn had right to succeed in the Realme of England as brother suruiuing the King deceased Iohn succeeds Richard and makes peace with Philip. but Arthur Duke of Brittanie sonne to Geoffrey the other brother as wee haue said pretended the Crowne to belong vnto him as the sonne of the elder Elenor their mother being yet liuâng Iohn was receiued by the English so as being in possession he had the better and stronger title Philip fauoured Arthur but hee meant to make his profit of the Brothers dâuision and to keepe the stakes Being sought vnto by Iohn the new King of England who had then nothing of greater import then his friendship hee concludes a peace with him vpon condition That Iohn should yeeld vp all that his Brother had taken in Berry and neuer pretend any thing of that which Philip had taken Vexin in these latter warres and that Elenor Mother to Iohn Duchesse of Guienne should doe homage to the King for that Prouince as depending of the Crowne of France This aâcord is ratified by a new alliance the which encreased no loue Lewis the Sonne of Augâstus takes to Wife Blanche the Daughter of Alphonsus King of Castill War betwixt Iohn King of England and Artâur his Nephew and of Iohns Sister being his Neece In the meane time Philip fauours Arthur vnder-hand who assisted by his meanes takes the Cittie of Tours to his great content Arthur doth him homage presently for the Countries of Touraine Aniou and Maine and so passeth on and takes Mirââeau where Elenor his Gâand-mother was resoluing to proceed on further but the Almightie GOD stayed his course For Iohn comes besiegeth and takes Mircbeau againe and Arthur his Nephew likewise Iohn murthers his Nephew Artâur Elenor extreamly afflicted with these diuisions dyes for griefe and Iohn puts his Nephew Arthur whom he held Prisoner to death to extinguish all controuersies for the title âf the Realme although this death were cloaked as accidentally falne out for sorrâw The cauâe of a cruell warre Hence sprung a cruâll Warre Constance the Mother of Arthur Duchesse of Brittanie demands Iustice of Philip as her Soueraigne Philip adiornes Iohn and for not appealing hee condemnes him as guiltie of the crime imposed Iohn declared ãâã of murtheâ felony by ãâã and of fellonie in disâbeying of his commandements Hee proclaimes him an enemie and doth confiscate all hee held of the Crowne This sentence is seconded by open force to make the execution thereof more easie The Brittons and Poiteuins wonderfully greeued with this cruell fact arme and come to Philip. So Iohn abandoned of all flies to Pope Innocent the third accusing Philip of the breach of his faith in making Warre against him Innocent the third declaring that the breache of faith belonged properly to his authority and so by consequence carrying himselfe for Soueraigne Iudge of the cântrouersie betwâxt the two Kings commands both the one and the other to laye aside Armes and to suffer the Churches in peace threatning to cursse his realme that should disobey his authority Pope Innocent âââârposeth his authority Philip shewes that hee hath neyther broken his faith nor peace with Iohn But that hee being his vassaile had slaine his Nephew in the territories of his obedience as it appeared by good proofes so as it was not reasonable the holye authoritie of the Church should serue as a defence or support for his impunity in so detestable a crime seeing the punishments of subiects and vassals 1201. appertained to the Prince by all diuine and humane Lawes But there were new complaints to the Pope against Philip that finding himselfe oppressed with war he imposed certain tenths vpon the Clergy to ease the people who complayned of their burthens He did not exact this of the Church by his owne decree but had assembled a Nationall Councell at Soissons to that end The Pope said this was done against his authority and not onely threatned Philip by his Censure but also all the Clergy that had assisted
of K. Alphonso attending meanâ to repaire his affaires in better season In the meane time Simon doth promise himselfe the property of all Raymonds estates the which he had gotten with his Sword but for that it was apparent that the King of France would hardly grant so goodly a Prouince taken from his kinsman to one of his subiects Simon therefore flies vnto the Pope by whose authority this war was chiefely ingaged from whom he attended his chiefe recompence hauing laboured for him Innocent the 3. finding that Philip who would not desist in his pursute against Iohn King of England notwithstanding his interdictioÌâ would not be moued now by his simple authority to leaue so important a peece he assembles a great Councell meaning to force the King to yeeld vnto his will âhe Patriarkes of Ierusalem and Constantinople were there in person The Councell of Latran and those of Antioche and Alexandria sent their deputies there were 70. Archbishops 400. Bishops and 1000. Abbots Priors The Emperors of the East West the Kings of France England Spaine Ierusalem Cipres and other Kings Princes and great estates had their Ambassadors By a decree of this notable assembly Count Raymond was excommunicated with all his associats The Earldome of Tholouse giuen to Simon of Montfort by the Pope his lands adiuged to Simon of Montfort for his seruice done and to do to the Catholike Church Philip could not gain-say this decree confirmed in a maner by the consent of the whole world He therfore receiued SimoÌ to homage for the Prouince of Languedoc whereof he tooke peaceable possession but he did not long enioy it âor seeing himselfe inuested he began to oppresse his new subiects An Eâle is lost with ouer griping The people of Languedoc finding themselues oppressed with this insupportable burthen of Simon they resolue to call home their Count Raymond who was retired into Spaine to seeke some meanes to recouer the possession of his estate His case was not desperate for hee enioyed the Earldomes of Viuareâz Venaissan and the Citty of Auignon places kept by his subiects during these occurrents whether Simons forces were not yet come Raymond being called by his subiects returnes into Languedoc accompanied with a notable troupe of Arragonois being discontented for the death of their King Alphonso The whole Countrey baâdied against Simon hating him as an vsurper Simon hated by his subiects of Languâdoc for hâs oppression âyâânie and detesting him as a tyrant for doubtlesse vniust violent things cannot continue Whilest that Simon seekes to bridle the Citties of his new conquests leaping from place to place with an infinite toile behold Raymond is receiued into Tholousâ by intelligence with great ioy of the inhabitants Simon abandons all the rest and flies thether but he finds a stop for comming to the gates of the Citty as he approched neere the walles to parley he was hurt in the head with a stone wherof he died The example of Tholouse made the greatest part of the subdued Citties to reuolt Simon of Montfort left two sonnes Simon of Montfort slaân before Tholouse Guy and Amaulry vpon the reuolt of Tholouse the one seizeth vpon Carcassone the other of Narbonne but Guy was slaine in Carcassone by the Inhabitants who were the stronger Amaulry hauing fortified Narbonne repaires to Philip Augustus beseeching him to succor him in his necessity Philip had the Wolfe by the eare for as on the one side he desired this goodly Prouince for himselfe rather then for the children of Simon of Montfort so was he also restâained by the authority of the Pope and Councell He theâfore sends his sonne Lewis into Languedoc to reduce the Country to his obedience But he had scarce taken any one Castell when as his fathers death calls him home Count Raymond receiued againe in Languedock So as Count Raymond his subiects of Languedoc had time to reuiue their spirits recouer many places gotteÌ by Simon The king of England would neither assist nor send to the coronatioÌ of Lewis although he were held as Duke of Guienne 1223. This occasion moued Lewis to warre against him Warre in Guienne against the English whereby he got Niort and Rochel and Sauary of Mauleon Gouernour for the English retired to his seruice This losse made the warre more violent Richard Earle of Cornwaile brother to Henry King of England passed into France with a goodly armie and hauing taken S. Macaire Langon and Reolle Townes seated vpon the Riuer of Garonne and defeated some French troupes he made way for a truce which was fauourable for both parties But especially for Lewis being desirous to settle matters in Languedoc the which troubled him for the daily proceedings of the Albigeois yet was hee loth to labour for another For this reason he treats with Amaulry Earle of Montfort touching the right he had to that Countrie with whom hee preuailed the more easily for that hauing lost the greatest part of the Prouince he was not able to hold the rest with the Kings dislike to whom hee resigned it by order of a decree made by the Pope in the Councell of Latran and in recompence hee made him Constable of France with the consent of Pope Honorius Lewis compounds for Languâdoc with the âoân of Simon Montfort Hauing compounded with the Children of Simon Montfort hee resolued to winne Count Raymond to his deuotion and to perswade him to lay aside armes whereof hee did see the euents to be very doubtfull His intent was to vnite this rich Prouince of Languedoc to the Crowne But reason which saith that no man thinkes his owne too much the respect which great men do vsually beare one to another and the alliance which the house of France had with the Countie of Tholouse were great restraints for the couetousnesse of Lewis But how soeuer he determined to make himselfe the stronger to prescribe them a law To this end he leuied a great Armie fortified with his Edicts by the which hee thunders against these poore Albigeois as Heretikes and Rebels These Edicts were of force whereas his authoritie was respected Count Raymond considering with himselfe the cruell beginning of this warre and the continuance of the like miserie in these second armes fearing to imbarke himselfe the third time with a people against his King is easily perswaded by Lewis to reconcile himselfe to Pope Honorius Thus Raimond leauing to oppose himselfe Count Raymond submits himselfe vnâo the Pope yeelds to Lewis and perswades the âarle of Cominges the chiefe agent of his desseignes to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people go to Rome they make their peace with the Pope and leaue the Albigeois to the mercie of Lewis who seeing them without a head imbraceth this occasion to their ruine High and base Languedoc was wholy in his power by Raymonds departure Auignon remained with many other places in the Countie of
of vnderstanding to apply themselues to studie He punished the abuses of Iudges seuerely as appeares by his orders made to that ând And that which caused him to be much honoured he gaue free audience to his subiects complaints and especially at Bois de Vincennes where he tooke delight and often times being set vnder a Tree very simply like a Father giuing his Children councell He was a capitall enemie to suâes commanding the Iudges expresly to doe speedy Iustâce so as sutes were then laide aside and compromises did end an infinite number of controueâsies But his chiefe care was in sparing for to ease the people abating the taxes and subsidies imposed on them by his Predecessors and he did so husband the publike reuenuâs as he had sufficient for his traine and his great affaires and yet a surplusage to releeue poore Widowes and Orphelins to feed and instruct Children marry their Daughters cure the diseased and the remainder was to build Churches There are many in this greât Citty of Paris and about it built or repaired by him But he said A worthy saying of ãâã goâly Prince that the chiefe Stones of Gods Temple were liuing and they must rather beautifie the Church with good manners then rich walles words which he had learned out of S. Bernard But these Christian-like vertues were lodged in a royall brest fit for the gouernment of this royall estate A happy pâace in the raigne of Lewis Heroike Valiant Wise and Actiue Yet Lewis was more inclined to peace then Warre louing better a good and fruitfull rest then the doubtfull and âuâbulent euents of Warre God likewise sent a greater peace to his Realme then vnder any King that euer liued and with so great authoritie and obedience as there was neither great nor small but held himselfe most happy to obey so good and happy a Prince Hee was likewise well garded for all his Subiects were his garde and hee enioyed the peoples hearts by good vsage The people called him Father the Nobilitie theâr Head Religion her Defendor the Church her Protector the Lawes thââr Gardiân and Tutor and Armes their Mars by the terror whereof he kept the most rebellious in awe both within and without the Realme For after the pacification of the former troubles supprest in the Spring There was not any tumult within the Realme neither durst any one mutine against him But to crowne thâse blessings of GOD the peace of his house was ioyned to the publike ãâã happy ââuârnmeât Blanche hâs Mother had her humours â extreamly louing the sweete of command but shee resigned the Regencie to her Sonne when as hee came to age and discharged her selfe in open Parliament to the great content of all men Lewis and his subiects loued and honoured her much beeing generally well respected for the good education shee had giuen the King her Sonne and the happinesse of her wise gouernment Queene Marguerite the Wife of Lewis was much beloued and respected of her husband but not so by her Mother in Lawe Blanche being iealous of the loue which Lewis did beare her and of the credit shee had in his fauour and generally throughout the Realme but shee could wisely beare with the humors of her Mother in Lawe for the loue of Lewis a wise and a milde Princesse wholy of her husbands humouâ whose Continencie is commended to haue loued none but this woman by whome hee had fiue Sonnes and foure Daughters the gages of their inuiolable loue To this good gouernment was added the strict loue and amitie hee had with his Brethren and the respect they bare vnto him Worthy considerations of our Historie and considerable in our corrupted age The manuscript of these miserable Albegeois adds That euen as the Pope would haue continued his persecution against them The resâ of the Alââgeois and that the Marshall de La Foy so called for that he was as it were the cheefe Champion of the immortall war decreed against the Albigeois prepared for a new search to roote out the remainders Lewiâ âeeâes to reclame them by reason Lewis would not allow of it saying that they must perswade them by reason not constraine them by force whereby many families were preserued in those Prouinces They called them Valdenses either for that the greatest part of theÌ retired into the Vallies Mountains of Sauoy Viuaretz Dicis Prouince where the chiefe seed was preserued at Merindol Lormarin and Cabrieres or of the name of Peter Valdo one of their most renowned Doctors or that the Valleis of Piedmont haue preserued the families Why they were calâed ãâã from father to sonne vnto this day In those times also liued Gulielmus de Saint Amore a Doctor of Paris and Chanoin of Beauuais exclaming both by word writing against the abuses of the Churchâ and namely against this planting of Monks Pope Alexander pronounced him an hereretike and armed Thomas Aquinas and Bonauenture men of violent spirits well read in Aristoles Philosophie against him but hee preuailed against these reprouers Tâe writings of either part make mention and the issue of their controuersie is appareât France inioyed a perfect and plentifull Peace when as Italie and Germanie were afflicted with cruell and tragicall dissentions by the implacable quarrells of the Popes and Emperours as if they had beene hired to multiplie the miseries of Christendome by their importune hatred The subiect of the old quarrell continued the Popes would haue Italie and the Emperours would not yeeld it Rome which had beene the head of the Empire was then the seat of of their Pontificall authoritie belonging wholy to the Pope the Emperour hauing no more command there Estates of the Empire and the Church This vsurpation had beene gotten by degrees but they pretended the like of the whole Countrie first they would seize vpon what lay neerest vnto Rome then vpon Calabria Appulia and Abbruzzo euen vnto Lombardie the which they left to the Germaines French and Venetians to contend for hoping in the end to carry it after a long strife of the Contenders who should leaue the possession more easie to their successors To conclude in the end the Imperial soueraignty being banished out of Italie it was dismeÌbred by diuers Lords The Pope âeckâ to driue the âmâââour out of Italy the realme of Naples Lombardie were made the subiect of long bloudy wars betwixt the French Spaniards Venetians This raigne was a witnes aboue thirtie three yeares of these disorders by Excommunications Depositions Armes taking and sacking of Citties and Countries vnder the Empire of Frederick the second who opposed himselfe against Innocent the third Honorius Celeslin Innocent the fourth Gregorie the 9. Popes with such Pollicies Trecheries and vnkind cruelties as I am ashamed to set to viewe these scandales of Christendome whilest that our dissentions doe settle a free Empire for the blasphemies of Mahomet in the East As the Popes
enterprises were happy but in his age very vnfortunate Robert Earle of Artois by the decease of the Father and imprisonment of the Sonne remaines Tutor to the Children of his Father in Lawe Charles the Lame and Regent of the Realme of Naples Charles King of Naples âyes but Peter of Arragon keepes Sicilia at that time lost for the French After the death of Charles of Aniou behold Peter of Arragon is assailed with a new partie Pope Martin the fourth doubled his excommunications against him as a capitall enemie of the Church and inuested Charles the youngest Sonne of Philip King of France in his Realme hee absolues the Arragonois from their othe of obedience and Proclaimes a holy Warre as against a sworne enemie of the Church For the execution of these threats Philip imployes all his meanes to raise a goodly Armie vowing to be no more circumuented by Peter of Arragon Iames King of Maiorica and Minorica ioynes with him an enemie to Peter Philip makes warre agâinst Peter of Aragon who had spoiled him of his Estate so as there were foure Kings in this Armie Philip King of France and his eldest Sonne Philip King of Nauarre Charles his Sonne inuested in the Realme of Arragon by the Pope and Iames King of Maiorica The Armie was faire and the Frenchmens courage great being very resolute to reuenge the massacre of the Sicilian Euen-song the ridiculous scorne of the combate and the imprisonment of Charles The Red scarfe the marke of the holy Warre Warre in Arragon against one excommunicated and their couragious resolution to bee reuenged of a cruell enemy who had shed bloud by treason appeares in these troupes brauely armed All this promised a great victorie to Philip who commanded his armie in person But the issue will shew that being a Conquerour he lost the fruites of his victorie and in the death of three great personages shall bee seene the vanitie of this world Philip enters the Countie of Rossillân with a goodly Armie all obeyes him except the Cittie of Gennes neere to Perpignan the which hee besieged and it was well defended but in the end it was taken by the French Peter was come out of Sicilia to defend his Fathers inheritance hee fortifies all hee can against Philip and the difficultie of the passages seemed to fauour him but the resolution of the French surmounted the steepenesse of the Rockes The passages are forced Peters Armie is defeated and hee saues himselfe with difficultie by these inaccessible places The Armie enters the Countie of Emporias Peter of Arragon defeated Pierre ãâ¦ã in one day Girone is besieged and as Peter comes to succour it the French incounter him and ouercomes him who hardly saues himselfe in Ville-franche extreamly amazed with this happy beginning of Philip. What followed hee that was accustomed to deceiue all the world by his inuentions and pollicies He dyes could not by any meanes deceiue Death transported with griefe sorrow impatiencie and dispaire hee dyes the fifteene of August in the same yeare with his enemie Charles The brute of Peters death makes Girone to yeeld presently 1286. being a very strong Citty and promiseth Philip an assured possession not onely of the realme of Arragon but also of Sicilia where in shew they could not resist when as behold other occurrents which mans reason could not preuent Philip assuring himselfe thus of the peaceable possession of the realme of Arragon minding to free himselfe of a needlesse charge he dismisseth the Galleys of Genoa and Pisa the which hee had hired and for that the plague was crept into his Campe he had dispersed his forces about the Citties of Giâonne and Perpignan whether he retired himselfe very sick with an intent to pacifie the whole Countrie hauing recouered his health and taken some breath Roger Admirall of Arragon of whom we haue spoken ignorant of Peters death was parted from Sicilia with an intent to bring him succours against the French Fleete Being arriued at Genoa a newter Cittie and of free accesse for both parties he is informed both of the death of his Maister and of the estate of Perpignan and being there of this new accidentâ he takes a new aduise In steed of returning into Sicilia hee hiers the Galleys of Genoa and âisa dismissed by Philip and resolues to enter the Port of Perpignan where he had intelligence that Philip remained without any great garde and the Port to bee without defence He arâiues so happily as without any opposition he giues a signall to the people of his arriuall Philip set vpon vnawares and ãâã danger who sodenly rise and kill the French in the houses streetes Philip lay sick in his bed and the French Souldiars had no thought of Roger. The King made a vertue of necessitie he incourageth his men with a sicke and feeble voice and they behaued themselues so valiantly as they expell Roger out of Perpignan and Philip held the Citty who was so distempred with this alarum as his sicknesse encreased dayly The death of Philip. and he died the 15. day of October hauing suruiued Peter but two moneths in the same yeare 1286. and in the same moneth dyed Pope Martin the 4. to shew vnto great Princes the incertaintie of their great desseignes Thus liued thus raigned and thus dyed Phillp the 3. surnamed the Hardie hauing raigned 15. yeares and liued fortie a great vndertaker leauing no memorable acte to his posteritie but a good example not to deale in other mens affaires Of his first wife Isabel he had Philip and Charles remaining His children Charles was Earle of Vallois of Alanson and of Perche Father to Philip of Vallois who in his course shall succeed to the crowne Philip his eldest Sonne was King of France of the same marriage he had one Daughter Marie who was Duchesse of Austria By his second wife Marie he had Lewis Earle of Eureux and Marguerite Queene of England The estate of the Empire after a long confusion of diuers Emperours and the interregne had some rest the Popes being busied in the warres of Sicilia Raoul of Auspourg a good and a wise Prince was chosen Emperour after these disorders imploying himselfe carefully to cure the wounds of Germanie and held the Empire from the yeare 1273. vnto 93. The estate of the Church appeares by that which hath beene spoken in this raigne This onely is particular That a Councell was held at Lions by Gregorie the 10. where it was Decreed That to auoide the tediousnesse of the Popes election the Cardinals should assemble at the Popes death and keepe the Conclaue neither going forth not conferring with any one vntill the Pope were chosen The which is practised at this day In those dayes dyed Thomas Aquinas a very subtill disputer Bonauenture Ihon Duns called Scott and Gabriel Biel famous men in those dayes suruiued him PHILIP the fourth called the Faire the 46 King of France PHILIPPE .4 KING OF
nineteene moneths a prisoner This young Prince inuironed with all these difficulties had yet one which exceeded the rest The King of Nââaââe set at liberty comes to Paâââ The Bishop of Laon the chiefe of his councel betraied him bâing a priuate and passionate partaker of the Nauarrois Charles King of Nauarre is deliuered meaning to come to Paris and therefore he demands a safeâconduct from the Daulphin who grants it will he or no that is he puts a sword into the hands of his most malicious and âurious enemie and lodgeth him in his owne house These were bitter pilles but he must digest them euen the Daulphin and all good men that did assist him But many of them lothe to allow of these confusions by their free conâents retire themselues to their houses The Nauarrois hauing his pasport from the Daulphin not onely as a gage of the publike faithfulnesse but as a sentence against king Iohn being prisoner goes to Paris with a stateâââ traine where they all prepare for his entertainment The Bishop of Laon and the Prouost of Marchants with a great troupe of his Partisans meet him who went to lodge in the Abby of S. Germaine He lets the people vnderstand that he desires to speake publikly vnto them A scaffold is built the people throng in great troupes bringing both hearts and eares The Nauarrois a subtill and an eloquent man represents vnto them the wrong of his imprisonment and his interest to the Crowne he desires iustice might be done him according to his deââât and qualitie but aboue all he spares not to touch that string which should aduance him to the royaltie The people applaud him and giue charge to the Pâouost of Marchants to make the Daulphin acquainted therewith The Bishop of Laon a traâtor to his maiestie the which he perfoâmes with a brauado The Bishop of Laon a treacheâous seruant to his Maisteâ answeâs for him being silent in this necessitie That the Daulphin should shew grace and fauour to the King of Nauarre as one good brother ought to another He makes the Daulphin so humble as he preuents the Nauarrois who kept his lodging but to preach to this seditious multitude and doth vâsit him first whom he doth scaâse meete at the doore with a colde welcome He requires audience of his demands They are read in councell which consisted for the most part of men corrupted Wheâe it was decreed That all which the King of Nauarre and his complices had done against the King and his realme should be forgotten as neuer done The ãâã yeelds to the ãâã his goods seized and in the Kings hands should be restored both to him and his with their honours which had beene beheaded by the commandement of King âhon their bones should be gathered together and honourablie interred all acts of condemnation dâsânulled and an actâ of their iustiââcation autentically drawne to free them and theirs hereafter from all ãâã The demand of the King of Nauarres pretended title was remitted to another time But the Nauarrois brings in the king of England of whom the Daulphin demaÌded a truâe the which he grants vpon condition New causes of warre That he might succour the King of Nauar Iohn of Montfort duke of Brittaine in their pretensions Thus the seeds of warre were sowen during the confused calamitie of this poore realme by the meanes of Charles of Nauarre At the same instant Edward makes rigorous demands of his prisoner Iohn on whom for all his good couÌtenance he meant to make a benefit by his captiuity He required homage of him for the realme of France as holding it of the realme of England and vpon this condition he would set him at libertie K. Iohn being of a couragious spirit though a prisoneâ in his person answers him freely That he must not speake to him of that which he neither ought nor would do to alienate a right inalienable That he was resolued at what price soeuer The generous answer of King Iohn to Edwards demands to leaue it to his children as hee had receiued it from his Ancestors That affliction might well ingage his person but not the inuiolable right of the Crowne where he had the honour to be borne ouer the ãâ¦ã prison nor death had any power especially in him who should alwaies hold his life well imployed sacrifiâing it for the immortall preseruation of France This generous magnanimitie of King Iohn gaue as great occasion to pittie his calamity as the strange conditions of the English being victor ministred matter of griefe and ãâã to all true hearted Frenchmen but all this could neitheâ temper the malice of the Nauarrois not the furious impudencie of this inchanted people Hââevpân the Daulphin intreats the Parisiens to take pittie of his poore father who not able to auâid the ineuitable crosses of fortune common to all degrees The Parâsienâ in ãâã to their King could well shewe ãâã in greatest afflictions But these brutish mindes will not be mooued by any ãâ¦ã reasons so as after this poore Prince had vsed all the submissions necessity could ãâã to win the people in the end after the losse of his paines he sought to the other Citâââ ãâã France Hauing left Lewis Duke of Aniou his brother at Paris to supply his place ãâã maintaine some shewe of authority The Daulphin âolieâs the other Citties for the Kings liberty the effect wherof crept hourely into the Nauarrois power he went from Cittie to Cittie crauing aide of the French for the deliuerie of his father and the restoring of his Estate The hâstory doth much honor the Prouince of Languedoc to haue made greate showes of ãâã to their King being prisoner for it obserues That the three Estatâ of the Country assembled in one body at Tholouse vnder the authority of the Earle of Armagnac their gouernor did freely grant a great aide to the King for the performance whereof The loue and duty of them of Languedoâ to their Kingâ and of Champagne they would not only imploy their reuenewes but their most precious mouables yea their wiues iewells And to testifie their generall heauines they abandoned all sumptuous apparell and bankets especially all dances maskes plaies and other pleasures during the captiuity of their King Champagne followed this commendable example But examples did no more mooue the Parisââns hearts then reason had done who answere the Daulphin âoughly when hee intreats them most humbly that hee should call an other Parliament where they would aduise what was to be done Their intent was to take all authority from the Daulphin and to vâuâpe it themselues to dispose of the tresor of honors and dignities of peace and war and of the life and death of the Kings subiects at their pleasures Horrible ââsolenciâs of the Parisiens against their Prince To this end they made this young Prince coÌtemptible odious assembling together both without his priuity against his will in
much eased This prouision came happily for the preseruation of France against the which Edward made then great preparatioÌ at the instance of the Nauarrois The truce expired he did forbid the FreÌch to trafficke into England in the meane time his army laÌds at Calais himself follows in persoÌ with a goodly traine Being landed resolued to take possession of the realme of France or by force to turne it he marcheth directly to Arras the which he takes in 3. daies Edward enters France with an army hauing assured it with a stroÌg garâison he goes towards Champagne where passing onely he besieged Sens which yeelds without resistance and by their example Neuers All Bourgongne was strooke into such a terror as they redeemed their country froÌ spoile with a great summe of mony Hauing thus found means to intertaine his armie at his enimies charge enriched his souldiers with an inestimable booty he marcheth towards Paris as the head city of the whole realme the chiefe end of his desseââe the certain triumph of his conquest the goodly theater of his victories Our âegent was nothing amased at these threats of Edward for hauing asseÌbled a goodly army with great expeditioÌ he atteÌds him at Paris where the whole burthen of this was did lie He lodgeth his army in the suburbes fortifieth against approches being taught by the examples of his grandfather father not to hazard any thing resoluing only to defend himselfe within his trenches This resolutioÌ succeeded happily He besiegeth Paris but in vaine for Edward seeing the impossibility to draw the regent to fight notwithstaÌding al his alarums raiseth his siege marcheth into Britany to refresh his army to the great conteÌt of the ParisieÌs who could not sufficiently coÌmend the wisdom of their regent hauing so politikly auoided this storme The regent imbraceth this occasion he furnisheth Paris with aboundance of victualls commands the souldiers to liue orderly without oppression of the inhabitants he fortifies the weakest places with all speed and doth so incourage the people as they are ready to sacrifice theÌselues for the preseruation of the State Edward supposing the great wast caused by the men of warre resident in this great citty would haue taken from them al means to coÌtinue haue bred an impatiency in the minds of this vnconstant people giuing him the better meanes to enter it he returnes with his army being strong lusty by this good refreshing of Britaine Being returned he finds things better ordered then before so as preuailing nothing but walking about the citty beholding a far off the great towers and the admirable masse of so many buildings as a briefe of the whole world he resolues to leaue the siege returne no more Thus experience teaching him what the strength of our chiefe citty was he packes all vp and goes towards Chartres meaning to besiege it But whilest he lodged there his army making a horrible spoile of the whole couÌtry there chanced an occasioÌ as the worke of heauen which sodainely quailed his ambitious disseine to ruine France for behold a horrible extraordinary tempest of haile thuÌder and lightning falls with such violence as many horses men in the armie perished as if that God had stretched forth his hand from heauen to stay his course Edward amazed with thunder He resolues to conclude a peace with King Iohn This amazemeÌnt causeth Edward to vow to make a peace with King Iohn and the regent his son vpon reasonable conditions He which had thus thundred did likewise opeÌ the Duke of Lancasters mouth shewing how reasonable it was to limit humane attempts within restrained bouÌds not to attend an infinit perpetuall prosperity in wordly affaires beeing more safe to content himself with a meane successe theÌ to be traÌsported with the violent course of humane hopes cast in the mould of indiscreet desires He likewise laied before him the impossibility of so extraordinary a desseine as to make himselfe maister of all France a notable example for Princes to behold their own infirmities and the greatnes of God to whoÌ they owe the homage of their enterprises being theÌ most happy when they are most sober ââârate without imagining an infinite power in the short weaknes of this mortal life wherevnto they are subiect like other men A peace concluded at Bretignie The Articles This lessoÌ mollified Edwards hart inclining to the deliuery of K. Iohn his prisoner to a general peace the which was concluded at ãâã a village nere vnto Chartres in the yeare 1360. the 8. of May vpoÌ these coÌditioÌs That the country of Poitu the Fiefs of Thouars Belleuille the couÌtries of Gascony Agenois Peregort Limosin Cahors Tarbe Bigorre Rouergue and Angoumois in soueraignty with the homages of the two next yeares after 1360. at reasonable paâments And for the consideration the said King of England and the Prince of Wales his sonne both for themselues ãâã successors should renoâââ all rights pretended to the Crowne of France the Duchie of Normandie the countries of Tourance Aniou and Maine the soueraingty and homage of Brittâine and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes they should deliuer King Iohn at Calais at their charge the expences of the Kings house onely excepted The hostages giuen for the performance of the conditions For assurance of which agreement there should be deliuered into the King of Englands hands these hostages Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry sonnes to the King of France Philip Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Blois Alanson Saint Pol Hââcourt Porcian Valentinois Grandpre Denne and Forest the Lords of Vaudemont Coussy Pyennes Saint Venant Preaux Montmorency Careneieres Boâââ guion Estoute-ville the Daulphin of Auueigne Andregel and Craon A choâââ of well selected personages to be a sufficient caution for the money and conditions that were to be performed The Deputies that treated The Deputies for King Iohn were Iohn of Dormans Bishop of Beauuais and Chanâeller of France Iohn of Melun Earle of Tanearuille the Lord of ãâã Marshaââ of France â the Lords of Montmorency and Vigny Iohn Croâââe Simon of ãâã Iohn Marâââ Lawyers and Iohn Maillard and Stephen of Paris Bourgesies of Paris For the King of England were Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northampton Warwicke and Suffoâââ Renauâd of Celâsâan Gualtâr of Maâny Knights with certaine learned men for their Councell This treatie of a generall peace signed by the two Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Charles and Edward and proclaimed by Heraulds first at the wiâdowââ of the Kings and Princes lodgings and then at the corners of the streetes in great solemnitie The hostages were deliuered to Edward the father who imbarked at ãâã and lead them into England leauing the Earle of Warwicke in France to see the execution of the peace King Iohn brought to Calis
indignities he had digested during the sedition could not forget them but vnder fained quarrels to the end they should haue no cause of complaint as breaking the accord he pincheth some The Earle of Flanders seeks reuenge of his subiects and ruines others and for that the Gantois stood vpon their garde not suffering the Earles men to attempt any thing within their Cittie he made a search in the Cittie of Bruges where he commanded absolutely for such as had beene of the faction of White Cappes where he executed aboue fiue hundred This execution kindled a new fier Gand falles to armes and Ypre followes to whose âuccour the Gantois send three thousand men The Earle being the stronger cuttes them in peeces betwixt Courtray and Pourprigny The Flemings ââke armes as they marche Ypre yeelds vnto him being entred the Towne he cuttes off seauen hundred of the cheefest mens heads and then without any stay he marcheth to Gand and beseegeth it But his forces were too small in regard of that great and spatious Cittie so as hauing imployed all his meanes they had still the libertie of foure gates The Gantois loth to be shut vp and to endure the discommodities of a siege hauing a wonderfull aduantage by the numbers of their people resolues to prouide well for the garde of the Cittie and then to drawe forth a good troupe to spoile the Countrie and to force some of the Earles places thereby to make a diuersion of the siege They go to field with six thousand choise men vnder the commaund of Iohn de Launoy one of their Tribunes They take and burne Tenremonde and Gramont Townes belonging to the Earle committing infinite spoiles in the countrie The Gantois go to field with an armie and are defeated The Earle leaues the siege and marcheth away with an intent to fight with them He findes them neere to Niuelle chargeth them defeats them and puts them to flight They recouer the gates of Niuelle and the Earle enters with them pell mell some of them led by Launoy recouer the fort of the Towne the Earle besiegeth them and causeth many âagots and Bauins to be brought about this Tower and to be set on fire All these poore wretches are burnt making most horrible cryes This Tribune intreateth that they might be receyued to ransome and shewing his purse but receiuing no answer from them but scornes and mockes he castes himselfe from the toppe of the Tower vpon their Halbards and Pikes Many of thâ burnt in a Tower and so hee dyes very valiantly This sight was horrible and truely vnworthy of a Lord displeased with his subiects and yet he continued it with a new slaughter of this poore people who being amazed with this great defeat had neither feete to runne nor hands to defend themselues All are put to the sword A cruell execution of a Lord against his subiects so as of six thousand there hardly escape three hundred But the Gantois shall soone haue their reuenge At the bruâe hereof they were as much amazed as the Earle was pufte vp with pride to pursuâe his victorie being in so ready a way for the execution and pursue thereof In this disorder the Gantois choose another head Philip of Arteuille sonne to Iames of Arteuille who as wee sayd was slaine by the people who aduiseth them to humble themselues vnto their Earle and to craue pardon They are resolued hauing necessitie for their chiefe Councellour The Gantois ãâã for mercy praying and beseeching their Earle To haue pittie of the bloud of his subiects who submitted their liues and goods to his mercy to dispose at his pleasure eyther in pardoning them or suffering them to depart in abandoning their natiue Country as a perpetuall banishment that it would please him onely to graunt them their liues The Earle was greatly incensed against them and in such a choler as they could receiue no other answer But that all sorts within the Citty The Earle makes the GaÌtois desperate men and women aboue the age of fââeteene yeares should barefeet and bareheaded submit themselues to his mercy and being in this estate he would aduise what to do The people of Gand seeing him transported with wrath and no meanes to pacifie it They resolue by the aduice of Philip of Arteuille their leader in this extreame necessity to hazzard all and not to hope for any safety but in dispaire being the least of two mischiefes to die couragiously for the liberty of their country and defending themselues against the vniust violence of so inexorable a man then hauing seene their wiues and daughters deflowred they should either suruiue their infamie or bee slaine and massacred without any defence like Dogges at the mercie of so cruell an enemy The euent or rather GOD the protector of the afflicted The Gantois desperate resolution fauoured this couragious resolution For the effecting hereof they make choyse of fiue thousand of their most resolute and best armed men to trye their fortunes against the Earle and prouide the best they can for the gard of the Citty with a generall resolution and consent That if these fiue thousand men should be defeated to the ende they should not attend the doubtfull euent of a siege nor fall into the hands of so irreconciliable an enemy they would set fire of the Citty and euery one saue himselfe as he could This being concluded Philip of Arteuille parts from Gand with his desperate troupe and marcheth directly to Bruges takes a seat of aduantage and intrencheth himselfe attending the oportunity eyther to defend themselues with aduantage or to sally vppon the enimy The Earle puft vp with his first successe imagining them too few for the Laquaies belonging to the Gentlemen of his traine came to charge them within their trenches and to force them to fight Arteuille not like a Brewer of Beere as he was but as a great Captaine ordred his troopes with such dexteritie as the Earles armie had the sunne in their eyes vpon this sodaine change hauing a full view of the Earles men he goes resolutely to the charge leading forth this desperate troupe which fell vpon them like a great streame of water breaking forth sodenly hauing found a passage The Earle of Flanders defeated by the Gantois The first rankes troubled with the Sunne beames which dazeled their eyes and not able to withstand so violent a charge giue way and turning their backes they disorder all the rest The Gantois vppon this aduantage teare all in peeces they encounter as famished Wolues do in a flocke of sheepe This braue Nobilitie flies as astonied and is put to the sword The Earle cryes intreates and runnes but all in vaine he that had the swiftest horse and the best legges to flie was the most valiant The passage thence to Bruges was neere the multitude flyes thether like a current of water The Earle encounters with the rest not able to gather againe together his
vertue Philip of Arteuille their leader was slaine he was found breathing among the dead carcases whom the King commanded to be hanged and so he had the reward of his imagined Empire This double euent may serue as a lesson both for great and small for great men in the Earles person for small in that of this Tribun For the first to command well for the others to obey well and forall not to passe the bounds of their duties God punishing the great for their tiranny and crueltie and the lesser for their disobedience dangerous plagues of mankinde the which cannoâ stand but by order and authoritie well gouerned and well applied They calâthâs ouerthrow the battaile of Rosebecqâe which chanced in the yeare 1582. in December it was the more remarkable for that the vanquished had soone their reuenge Charles thus victorious could not manage his victorie for in steed of surprising the Gantois in this amazement he lingers too long at Courtray to seeke out the remainder of those miserable mutynous which remayned in this defeate whereas in pardoning the vanquished the victor getts a double victoây This place also being infamous by a great ouerthrowe which chanced in the yeare 1312. mooued him to choler for that this ill aduised people to noaâe the memory of that day did ceâebrate a âollemne feast yearely An vnworthy reuenge taken by King Charles and had reserued fiue hundred paâer of gilt spures which they had taken from the French in that battaile Charles was so transported with the memorie of this audacious indignitie as he caused this poore Towne to be burnt An vnworthie reuenge of so great a monarke who should hold it the greatest reuenge vpon his enemies to pardon when he may reuenge The Duke of Bourgongne in all this confusâon did not forget to seeke for goodly mouables whereof there was abundance He carried away that goodly clock and that exquisite tapistry which is now at Dyion in the Kings house The Gantois seeing their ruine flie to Richard King of England The Gantois flie to England for succore they choose Francis Artremân one of their Cittizens for their head and renue the league of white caps more obstinatly then before being resolued to die rather then to trust their Earle to whome they imputed the cause of all their miseries the which had continued fiue yeares and deuoured two hundred thousand men So fatall are ciuill dissentions betwixt the Lord and his subiects Lewis their Earle hauing labored to settle his affaires both by the French and English against the Gantois fealing daylie the inconueniences of this rebellious people as thornes in his sides fell into such a melancholie as hee died Leauing his whole estate much troubled to his sonne-in-lawe Philip Duke of Bourgongne who beeing faâre ingaged in his Father-in-Lawes quarrell was nothing pleasing to this his people The warâe was reuiued both by practises of the English and by meanes of Artreman the head of that faction who hauing tasted the sweete of popular commaund desired nothing more then to maintayne this diuision but there fell out a sodaine accident which pacified all this great trouble as a little raine doth a great winde Two Cittizens of Gand whose names deserued well to be registred in this historie discoursing one day of their common miseries A strange meane to pacifie Gand. and noating the true causes of these calamities within their Cittie as feeling the wound they sought the meanes to cure it the which had continued so long and cost their miserable Countrie so deere The Kings pleasure and the Duke of Bourgongnes must be knowne they were not ignorant of the peoples humour being verie weaâie of so many miseries Their enterprise was not without exceeding danger by the absolute authoritie of three or fower who had most credit with the people being susceptible of any mischiefe when they are thrust forward with a shewe of good It was requisite in the managing of so important a busines to vse wisdome and silence vntill the foundation were well layed and for the execution thereof there needed one which had both credit and authoritie with both parties The God of peace presented one vnto them which gouerned this action discreetly Iohn Delle a gentleman of Gand but bred vp in the Court of France He that seekes peace finds it This Delle goes to the King and Duke of Bourgongne hee layes open his dessâine and is well entertayned He returnes with a good answer both by letters of credit and priuate instructions to the Gantois At his returne the matter is so well furthered by those two Cittizens who were in great reputation with the people as without the priuitie of Artreman or the English Negotiators the banner of Flanders the signall of their popular power is sollemnly planted in the great market place Al the people flocke thether where hauing signified vnto the chiefe Magistrats that they would haue peace and obey the Duke of Bourgongne their Prince Deputies are appointed with power to negotiate conclude a peace with him This was effected after a long confusion to the content both of the Earle and Flemings Of a light beginning God performes a great worke when it pleaseth him Thus the Duke of Bourgongne pacified Flanders in the yeare .1384 when as he feared greatest tumults by meanes of some seditious persons to whose great griefe a peace was proclaymed throughout al the Estaâs of Flanders ãâã in Flanââââ which gaue an incredible content to all the people after so manie miseries Nowe King Charles grewe great and although he were but sixteene yeares of age yet was he desiroâs to marry The Duke of Aniou his Vncle according to the aduice which King Charles the wise had gâuen on his death bed thought good to seeke him out a marriage in Germanie in the house of Bauiere to counterballance the credit of the Emperour Wânceslaus no friend to the house of France what shewe soeuer he made He therefore marrieth with Isabel the daughter of Stephen Duke of Bauiere a Princesse from whom they expected much good but shee brought infinit troubles to France as we shal see hereafter Thus mans wisdome is deceyued when as hee hopes for best that God might bee knowen for the author of al good both in the family and State This imperious Proserpina verâfied the prouerbe That a woman raiseth or ruines a house She had almost ouerthrowne the State But shortly there shal an Italian woman be ioyned to this Germain to augment the confusions of this raigne reasonable good in the beginning but verie miserable in the ende This yeare likewise concluded a peace in Brittain after many troubles Iohn of Montfort hauing renued his homage to the King and sworne fealtie which shall not long continue to the great preiudice of the King and his realme The truce was continued in shewe betwixt France and England but with no more loue of the two Kings then betwixt capitall enimies who sought to annoye
the faire with great shewe and pompe in the middest was a royall throane and seates on eyther side The Herald giue commandement throughout the citty in the Kings name that euery man should repaâre to the Pallace at a certian howre The King sitting in his seat of Iustice hauing on eyther side of him the Dukes of Berry Bourgongne and Bourbon his Vncles with al the rest of his Counsell in order he commanded Peter Orgemont his Chancellour to deliuer his minde to the people of Paris The multitude beeing disarmed compassed in round about with armed men beeing bare headed they fall vpon their knees seeing Orgemont rise from his chaire who hauing made a great obeysance to the King hee turnes to the multitude Orgemonts spâech to the Parisiens If thou haddest quoth he O Citty as much care of thy duty as thy Kings haue alwayes mildely and fatherly intreated thee thou wouldst remember the soueraigne bounty and clemencie of our late King of happy memory Charles truely wise who desirous to tame thy folly rashnes by a wise mildnesse pardoned the strange and cruell errors which thou haddest committed against his father being a prisoner without any respect afflicting the afflicted and supporting his capital enemie against him with all treachery and insolencie Thou canst not denye ingratefull people how much thou wert indebted to that good Prince dutie did binde thee to sacrifice thy selfe cherefully for him in his afflictions But all these things being troden vnderfoot he vsed towards thee al the humanity which the most affectionate and faithful subiect may hope for of his Prince His sonne our King seated at this day in the royall throane and heire to his vertues hath followed his fathers steppes in this mildnesse and clemencie hauing supported thee more then a father could do his childe But thou hast followed beeing mad and ingratefull thy wretched disposition suffring thy selfe to be furiously transported by thy wicked counsellors the firebrands of sedition and disobediââce and by the vnruly passions of thy blind furie The goodly worke thou hast made of Late the disloyall intelligences thou hadst with those mutines enemies of all commande and policie the audacious practisies thou hast presumed to make in the Citties of this Realme and thâ blood which thou hast spilt in the bowels of this thy country whereof shee hath horrour feeling her bosome polluted with the bloud vniustly shed by thy violent hands All th se horrible and tragick effects are knowne to the world for the which thou canst yeeld no excuse which doth not double the offence O wretched people be not these authenticke testimonies to the whole Realme yea to all nations of thy ingratitude disloyalty crueltie villany and fury Miserable what hast thou deserued The Kings bounty But thou hast treacherously abused it Thou hast made shewe to contemne publike authority drunke with thine owne phrensie and of thy wicked councellours The King the King I say shall make thee feele that he hath one arme to support and maintaine the good and another to punish and roote out the wicked Thou hast seene examples vpon these wicked heads which made thee to forget thy duty But the punishment is light in regarde of the offence neyther dost thou feele any smart whereof thou thy selfe art not the cause Orgemont hauing thus ended turnes vnto the King My Liege saith hee is this it which your Maiestie commanded me to say vnto the people 1387. It is answered the King but this sufficeth not in regard of what they haue deserued This short and rough answer from the King the Chancellors speach vttered with great vehemencie and especially the bloud freshly spilt which they did see as it were rebound vpon the place of execution the fearâull armes wherewith the people were compassed in had brought them into extreame perplexitie like men alreadie in the graue so as euery one bethought himselfe according to the offences he had committed and such as had wealth according to the enemies which did maligne them being terrified with the tragick spectacle of Iohn de Marais They stand all mute their eyes fixed on the ground prostrate before his throne men and women young and old infinite in number In this great silence the Dukes of Beâry and Bourgongne rise from their seates with a very mournfull countenance and fall at the Kings feete beseeching him to haue piâtie of his poore Cittie of Paris and not to comprehend the innocent with the culpable good men with rascalles vnworthy of his grace Presently after their speech without expecting any answer from the King the sorrow of this miserable people suppressed during these complaints and threats burst forth into so lamentable a crye as if the whole cittie had beene lost All cryed foâ meâcy There was nothing but cryes lamentations and howlings The Parisiens cry to the King for mercie of women and men olde and young The Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Cittie with their haire hanging downe full of teares crye out Leege Lord will you ruine your Citâie of Paris for somerascallâs let it begin by vs and ours we desire not to suruiue this miserie Take pittie Leege Lord of your people who sue for pittie The people crie out againe with a fearfull voyce Mercie Mercie This spectacle was pittifull to behold there was no heart so hard but relented The King in the end answered the noise being quieted That he would not punish the good for the bad that he did pardon the people vpon condition they should be better aduised hereâfter and not suffer themselues to be seduced by these wicked ring l aders of sedition That for Gods sake and at his Vncles sute he gaue life vnto the prisoners paying such fines as his Councell should decree Those to whom the prisoners belonged cryed out God saue the King and the people freed from their feare redouble their cryes with great ioy and so they all depart The councell decrees That forasmuch as the Cittie of Paris had beene ingaged in this sedition The King pardons the Parisiens they should be depriued of their Magistrates chaines and armes and should loose all priuiledges vntill the King had otherwise determined That for recompense of this capitall crime as well the prisoners as all others guiltie of the sedition according to information duly made should pay the moytie of their goods The which was speedilie put in execution to send home the men of warre by meanes of the great summes of money which they leuied by this exaction Thus the sedition at Paris was suppressed and afterwards at Rouen and Orleance but with farre more rigour then at Paris An example for all subiâcts how to oppose themselues against their Lords who soone or late make them to reape the fruitâs of their rashnesse and insolencie Their Magistrates chaines armes and all priuiledges were soone restored to the Parisiens by meanes of the Duke of Bourgongne who from that time sought all meanes to creepe into the peoples fauour which
he would not accept of this gouernment without the good liking of the Duke of Berry so as all the punishment fell vpon Betizac his chiefe Treasurer who ãâã burnt at Beziers Betizac the Dukes treasurer burnt purging in the fire the extorsions he had committed vnder his maisterâ authoritie At that time Charles King of Nauarre died so often blemished in the truth of this historie we haue noted how he had retired himselfe from Court into his realme of Nauarre As this retreat was vnto him a reprochfull banishment so this shamefull solitarinesse was a ciuill death But the Catastrophe of his tragicall life was a famous proofe that God doth often reuenge notable sinnes by notable punishments euen in this life He was much broken by the excesse of venery and all sorts of dissolutions the which he had exceedinglie vsed with his wonderfull tyrannie and crueltie As they did anoint him with medicines fit to warme and comfort his benummed members some say they had chafed him with Aqua-vitae The tragicall ãâã of the Nauarroâ and wrapt him in a sheete but behold fire takes hold of this sheete with such violence as being vnable to quench it he was consumed by degrees liuing some daies as suruiuing his paine and that which encreased the horror of Gods iudgement his death made both great and small to reioyce and was receiued in France with as great content as the winning of a great and famous battaile Great robbing during the truce There was a generall truce betwixt the French and English so as the garrisons lying stâll the Souldiars bred vp and nourished in armes fighting no more by order vnder their eâsâgnes sought now their prey by disorder vpon the labourer and marchant The countries of Rouergue Perigort Limosin Auuergne and La Marche had English garrisons who spoiled these countries and did runne vp into the neerest parts of Languedoc Velai Geuaudan Viuarez and Suenes where the villages are for the most part walled in to preuent these sodaine incursions There were many theeues amongst them Teste noire or Black-pate in the Castell of Ventador Amerigor Marcel at Roâh-Vandais who breaking the truce sought to be supported by the King of England but in the end they all fell into the hang-mans hands or perished miserably by some strange death an Image of our late confusions Libertie had bred vp these warriours with so great aboundance as the English passed the sea to make Turneys and to fight at Barriers as they vse at great Triumphes There was a Tilt set vp betwixt Calais and Saint Iaquelvuert where the Nobilitie made triall of their valour as in a Schoole of Fence To take away this troublesome aboundance they tooke occasions to make long voyages into Castille and Italie but in the end there was a very famous one offred against the miscreaâts of Barbarie at the Geneuois request who suffred many discommodites in their traffick by these barbarous Affricans Charles granted them succours willingly and gaue the charge of this warre to Peter duke of Burbon assisted with the Earles of Auuergne and Foix the Lords of Coucy Guy of Tremouille A voyage into Affâââke by âhe Frenâh English together Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Philip of Arthois Earle of Eu Philip of Bar Harcourt Antoing Linge Pyquiny and many other great men from all parts of the Realme which ranne to so famous an action vnder so worthy a commander and at so great leysure more painfull then the toyle of warre to men that desired nothing but imployment Richard King of England to imitate Charles granted succours to the Geneuois vnder the command of the Earle of Salisburie accompanied with many Noble men and Engââsh Gentlemen moued with desire like vnto the French in the enterprise of this pleasing paine The Deputies of the Kings of France and England assembled to treate of a generall peace but not able to effect it they continue a truce for foure yeares with goodly pâouisions against robberies for the safetie and quiet of their Estates Charles gaue free passage to the English by the Countries of Langâedââ and Daulphiné to passe the Alpes safelie All come to Genes to the great ioy of the Geneuois Being shipt they land within fewe dayes in Barbarie Presently they beseege the Citty of Affricke So our histore termes it as bearing the name of all the vast and barbarous counâry They call the Afâricanic commanders Agadinquor of Oliferne and Brahadist of Thunes But our Argonautes found them which stayed their fuây The Barbarians defended themselues with an obstinate resolution But their foâce did them lesse harme then the ayre and diet beeing very contrary to theiâ complexions so as our armie decreased dayly especially of men of accompt This siege conâinued six weekes with much losse no hope to preuaile The ãâã noated alwaâes to be âaithlâsse The Geneuois hauing conceiued a hope of a sodaine victorie began to grow cold and slacke in furnishing of the armie The Duke of Bourbon foreseeing the difficulties which might grow in continuing obstinaâe at this siege fearing the winter and not trusting the Geneuois who are famous for that they haue no faith remembring the example of the King S. Lewis resolued to returne wiâhout any greater losse He trusseth vp his baggage bringes backe his troupes into France coÌtinuing the example to al such as are capable of reasoÌ how difficult it is for Christâans to performe these strange attempts after the experience of many ages The ârench and the English hauing liued louingly together in this voyage returned to their houses without doing of any memorable act but to haue endeauored to doe sometâing worthy of memory to auoide idlenesse during so peacefull a time âritâaine did then conceiue and afterwards bring forth more preiudiciall effects then Bârbary iâ selââ and the way was made by light occasions to horrible and monstrous efâects to the great preiudicâ both of the King and Realme for a notable tesâimonie to posterity what Councellors Enuye and ambition be in a state we like wretches seeke for peace and when God gâues it we flie from it we maligne an other mans good and depââue our selues of our owne But alas it were a small matter for a great personage to hurâ himselfe by his owne passions if this poison did not spred abroad to the preiudice of âhe common weale We haue said that Iohn of Montfort remained peaceably Duke of Brittaine by the death of Charles of Blois and the agreement he made with his widow Hatred betwixt the duke of Briâââine the Constable Clisson whose eldest sonne Iohn of Brittâine Earle of Ponthieure was redeemed from prison out of England by the constable Clisson who gaue him his daughter in marriage payed his âansome The constable was a Briâton and so a subiect to Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine his ancient and capitall ânimy and yet by this newe succession was become his Lord. Doubtlesse in this quality Clisson could not
like a puppet vntill she came to age satiâfying his humor by some other wayes howsoeuer it were it proued to the dislike oâ his subiects and scorne of neighbour nations Isabell being returned to her father shal be married to Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to this Lewis who is now in quarter and from her shall spring a goodly plant which in the end shall giue vs many Kings in their order to preserue this Monarchie But as if France had beene the store-house or rather the common Sanctuarie of all Christendome to whom the afflicted Christians might repaire in their greatest extremities It happened in those dayes that Sigismond King of Hongarie intreated Charles âo succour him against the Turke the common enemie to the Christian name The King of Hongarie craues succoââ of K. Câarleâ who got footing in the Empire of the East For the schisme in the Church the confusion of the Empire and the dayly warres betwixt France and England had so mortified all Christians zâale from all care to support the affaires of the East against the Turkes our sworne enemies as the way was made easie for the planting of themselues there to our ruine But all the fault was not in the Westerne Prouinces the Christians of the East were in horrible confusions and euen at Constantinople whereas the Paleologues had in some sort maintained the name of the Empire of the East since the bad gouernment of our French All the Lords of Greece vassalles to the Empire ioyning with the Despote of Bulgaria against the Emperour did striue to ruine one another This ciuill watte drew the Turke out of Asia where he was yet confined into Europe ouerthrew all the rest of the Empire and in the end shal burie the whole body of this great estate with the Christian name in the ignominie of our disordered passions as in a common sepulchre It sufficeth to note the motiue of this war which was to expell Raiazet of the race of the Otâomans who yet hold the Empire of the East being called in by Iohn Palcolog Emperoâ but seeing so mighty an enemy entred within his dominions vnder a colour to succâââ him he sought to be freed from him by meanes of Christian Princes his friends The neerest was Sigismond King of Hongarie who had reason himselfe to sâare this oueâflowing deluge the which in the end hath ouer-runne Hungarie being at this day for the most part vnder the Turkes tyrannie But the euent was not answerable to his deââeigne Charles being solicited for succours granted them as freely as his infirmitie would suffer But the Duke of Bourgongne made the prouision the charge of the armie was giuen to his sonne Iohn Earle of Neuers being two and twentie yeares olde and married to the daughter of Albert of Bauiâre Earle of Hainault Holland and Zeland by whom he had then one sonne who shall succed him The armie was goodly beautified with the presence of many great personages as Phâlip of Eu Constable of France the Earles of La Marke Saint Pol and Bar The Frencâ passe into Hongarie the Lords of Coussy Tremouille Vienne Bouciquault Roye Monterel S. Py Brezay to the number of a thousand Knights and Squiers Being ioyned to Sigismonds armie which consisted of many Hongariens Bohemiens and Germains they desired at any hand to haue the vangard to march in the face of an vnknowne enemie of whose discipline they were ignorant and to make proofe of their valour 1395. Against the aduise of Sigismond they cast themselues desperately into the midest of the Turkes auant coureuâs all the Christian armie being too farre behind to second them The French deâeated in Hongarie but it chanced that Baiazet followed by a farre greater troupe then theirs compassed them in easilie as with a Net so as after they had fought valiantly and made a great slaughter of Turkes not able to withstand so great a force they were all cut in peeces or taken prisoners Iohn of Bourgongne and all the aboue named Loâds were either slaine or taken not one escaped the sword or slauerie Faiazet moued with the great losse of his men would haue slaine all the prisoners but the greedie desire of ransome was helpfull to some few of the Noblemen The historie of âermanie notes but fiue all the rest were murthered after their taking by the commandement and in the presence of this Barbarian who hauing resolued to kill Iohn of Bourgongne as the head of the armie was disswaded by an olde Turkea Necromaâcien who sayd vnto him Preserue this young man who shall kill more Christians then thine armie A Prince borne to the spoile and ruine of his countrie whereof he shall be shortly a more câuell scourge then the Tuâkes They spared him but he spared not the bloud of his cousine germaine to defile his incestuous hands and to prophane the bosome of France whâch had so greatly honoured him Engâerrand oâ Coussy a great man in his time dyed in prison and Philip of Eu Constable of France by whose death the Earle of Sancerre was aduanced to this great dignitie but after him there shall be other Constables in this confused raigne This defeat chanced in the yeare 1396. before Nicopolis a Cittie in Misia neere to the which Traian vanquished the Danes This victory of the Turkes had proceeded farther by the terror it gaue to those countries but God gaue those Christians some time of breathing before the last stâoake the which came but too soone for the scorneâs of God yât afâer this ouerthrow as Baiazet prepared to pursue his victorie against the Christians Tamberlan another scouâge of mankinde ouerflowing Asia like a great deluge ouerthrew him and tooke him pâisoner and so God stayed the Ottomans force for that time but the Christians malice abusing the patience of God prouoked his wrath which being iustly kindled against them he suffered the Turkes to take Constantinople the capitall Cittie of the Easterne Empire as we shall see else where but let vs returne to France Charles had some truce with his infirmitie who notwithstanding this indisposition of his bâaââe was in reasonable good health of his body so as he had children during this time The Kings children during his infirmitie Before his sicknesse he had Isabell of whom we haue made mention and Lâwis the Dâulphin Duke of Guienne But Iohn Duke of Touraine Charles Earle of Ponthieu Michelle Marie and Marguerite two sonnes and three daughters a goodly issue to keepe the Crowne from being an Orpheline were borne to him by Isabell of Bauiere duâing the weakeâesse of his spirit And much happânesse befell him After the taking of Bâiazet and the returne of Iohn of Bourgongne into France Happy successe âor the Frânch hauâng payed his ransome the Lord of Bouciquault being sent to Genes to receiue it to the Kings obedience to whom they had willingly giuen themsâlues he made a voyage to Constantinople with a new armie more happy then
happily for the Duke of Bourgongne Henry the 4. King of England calles home the troupes he had sent to his succour The English troupes leaue the Bourguignon vnder the Earle of Arondells commande intreating the Duke to hold him excused if he did vse his owne at his neede Hee had no meaning to fauour the stronger paâty but to succoâ the weaker as experience did soone teach This sodaine altâration did somewhat stay the Bourguignons desseine to attempt Orleans but making warre aduisedly he attends his enemies proceeding and taking an honest leaue to retyre by reason of the winter he comes to Paris where not to loose any time he continues the Kings thundring Edicts and executes many of his prisoners to flesh the people To bloud he addes Ecclâsiasticall excomunications against the Armagnacs whilest the Orleanois âake cold by making warre in Charolois and sending for succors into England seeking for releefe in the same place where their enemy had found a scourge to whippe them Certaine letters carried by a monke from the Duke of Orleans to the King of Englând were intercepted and brought to Paris being examined in full assembly of the vnâuersitiâ and from thence imparted to the people with the Bourguignons commentaries They made the Orleans faction so much the more odâous as if the Dukes of Orleâns Berry and Bourbon combined togither had sought to take the Crowne from the King and Daulphin and to dismember the realme in giuing part of it to the English and to deuide the rest among themselues Strange newes without any subiect which vanish at their breeding but yet they serue to purpose according to the desseine of their Architect The King and Daulphin being possessed by Iohn of Bourgongne haue no thought but to ruine the Orlean party and pufte vp with this first successe hoping to finish the rest they imploy all their meanes to leuie a great army the which through the Bourguignons care was held to be a hundred thousand men A notable number after so many miseries and ân so great a confusion The Cittie of Bourges was of great importance for the vniting of the Prouinces on that side Loire where the Associate Princes had their greatest supplies of men The Bourguignons greatest malice was against the Duke of Berry who not onely had forsaken him but âor his degree and age vnderstood much iâ his enemies affaâres They resolue therefore to beseege it to make the way more easie for conquest of âhe rest In the beginning of the Spring the King and Daulphin go from Paris to theâr army which assembled in âasâinois being entred into Berry the lesser Townes yeeld without question Dun le Roy Fontenay and Sancerre Bourges being summoned makes answere That neyther the King nor Daulphin did make this warre but the Duke of Bourgongne The King Dâulpâiâ beseege Bourges by the Bourguâgnons âeane who holding their persones and willes captiue would depriue the Princes of France of their right hauing imbrued his murthering hands in the bloud of the fiâst Prince of the Câowne seeking to vsurpe the State There were verye many good soldiars within the Cittie which were supplied with all that might be wished for in a long seege They intreated the enemye in korne that hee would approch neere the Cittie and leaue their gates open in a brauery Many fortunate sallies are made by them crying in field God saue the King They take many prisoners The waters abroad are poisoned and many die before they discouer the cause All âângs out with military raylings of Armagnacs and Bourguignons but the greatest defeat is in spoyling oâ the Country âerry made desolate All âhe prouision being carried into the Citây what a spoile shold an army of a hundred thousand men with their followers make and to increase the miserie all the houses of the champion Country were eyther sackt or burnt The English being victors in France neuer committed greater spoiles then these French armiâs As the Duke of âerry the Lord of that Country was much greeued to see these spoyles so the Daulphin âhe heiâe apparent of the Crowne was discontented with his father in Lawes ambâtion growing odious vnto him His bloud which could not degenerate mooued him to compassion and the bloud vniustly shed troubled his coâscieâce Foâ to what ende should they ruine a whole âealme to maântaine so execrable a murther The Daâlphin disconâenâed with his father in Law the Duâe of Bouâgonâââ If zeale to reforme the State saieth hee bâe the Bourguignons intent is thâs the way His father being sicke could not apprehend these things by reason of his infirmitie what râproch then were it for him being his âldest sonne to âuffer himselfe to be bâflâd by his father in Lawe like vnto an infant These apprehensions mooued this yoâg Prince who nothing dissembling his conceptions told his âather openly that he was not pleased with these confusions that they must finde out some meane to pacifie them It chanced one day as they aduertised the King that in a sally made by them of the Towne they had slaine some one of his seruants the Daulphân câied out in the presânce of the Bourguignon Shall we neuer haue an ende oâ these misâries I am resolued to make them cââsse The Bourguignon hauing before discouâred some coldnesse in this young Prince found his mind now to be wholly changed He therefore replyed mildely That it should be well done so as they of Orleans would acânowledge their error How saith the Daulphin shall they acknowledge thâir fauât if wee do not knowe them for our bloud And then they resolued to make a peace The Duke of Berry had layed the foundaâion by Lignâc great master of Rhodes who fayled not to imbrace this occasion seeing the Daulphin so well affected The Eaâle of Sauoie had sent his Ambassadors to exhort both parties After a monethes seege they begin to treate of âhe meanes to pacifie these troubles The Bouâguignon mâkâs hast to bee the first in all things and parlees with the Duke of Berry betwiât two barres One accuseth the other excuseth but in the ende a peace is concluded by deputiâs The Priâces at an enteruewe imbrace one an other with all shewes of cordial louâ such as their bloud makes shewe of after long bitternesse The Bourguignou onelâ is tâoubled doubâing this peace to them would be a warâe to him for that hee had no peace in his owne Conscience The King enâers into Bourges where âhe peace is signed and for that reason it was called the Peace of Bourges the 25. of Iuly in the yeare .1412 âhe peace of ãâã A Parliament is called at Auxerâe to coâfirme it by sollemne oath The Princes are receiued inâo fauour with the King and Daulphin alâ Edicts made against thâm were disânulled and of no force They and theiâs restored âo their degrees and dignities All things to bee forgotten Tâe names of Armagnac and Bourguignon as in famous marks of ciuill dissention
with the Burguignon being their neighbour with the Kings good liking In the meane time the Duke of Bedford leuies what men and money he can both in France and England for some great attempt Charles hath intelligence from diuers parts but what could he doe in so deepe dispaire of his affaires and in so visible an impossibilitie The famous Siege of Orleance ALL the Citties of this side Loire from the Ocean Sea were lost with the whole countries of Normandie Picardie the ãâã of France Brie and Champaigne He had nothing left but the Townes lying vpon the riuer of Loire from âyen to Anger 's for La Charité held for the Bourguignon The chiefe was Orleance this being wonne what could hold out long for the French Bourges could make small resistance if the English had forced Orleans The enemies of our State who called Charles King of Bourges threatned to take from him this small and languishing royaltie Orleans then was the marke whereat the Duke of Bedford aimed who hauing wonne the Britton it greatly fortified the English affaires in France As for the Bourguignon he had in a manner recouered the Estates of Holland Hainault Zeland and Namur And although ambition and couetousnesse may neuer be bridled yet these Princes nothing friendly among themselues but as coÌmon enemies to this Câowne agreed well in this to make their priuate profit by the ruine of our state But man purposeth and God disposeth we shall soone see how much he scornes their vanities In this lamentable time mans reason could not discerne by what means Charles should resist so mighty enemies But in the weakenesse of this Prince I read with ioy the words of the Original which saith During the time that the English held their siege before the noble Citty of Orleans King Charles was very weake beeing abandoned by the greatest part of his Princes and other Noble men seeing that all things were opposite vnto him yet had he still a good trust and confidence in God He was not deceiued in this hope as the sequele will shew The charge of this siege at Orleans was giuen to the Earle of Salisbury a wise valiant Captaine hauing giuen good testimonies of his sufficiency for the well managing of this siege he resolued to take in all the forts neere vnto Orleans that obeyed the French beginning with the weakest parting from Paris taking his way through the Countrie of Chartâes he seizeth vpon all the smal Townes wherein our Captaines had so much toyled but a fewe monethes before Nogent le Retrou Puiset Rochefort Pertrancourt Ianuille Toury Mompipeau the Castell of Pluâeâs and la Ferte of Gaules The Earle of Salisbury sets downe before Orleans and approching neere the Cittie both aboue and beneath Meung Baugency and Iargeau In the ende he plants himselfe before Orleans the 6. of October in the yeare 1428. A day to be obserued for that the 12. of May the yeare following was the last fit of our disease which changed the estate of our miserable country like vnto a pleasant spring after a long and sharpe winter when as a goodly summer crownes all our labours with aboundance of peace and plenty So this siege continued iust 7. moneths The bruit of this great preparation did wonderfully disquiet both court and country vnder the French obedience in the weakenesse and confusions of the state The King after the taking of la Charité was commonly resident at Poitiers he now retires to Chinon to bee neerer to Orleans The townes willingây contrâbute men money Charles his diligenâe to relieue Orleans and victualls Many great personages flie to this siege to defend the chiefe strength of our King and Kingdome Lewis of Bourbon the sonne of Charles Earle of Clermont the Earle of Duâois bastard of Orleans the Lords of Boussaâ and Fayette Marshalls of France Iohn Steward Constable of Scotland William of Albret Lord of Orâall the Lords of Thouars Chauigny Grauille Chabannes The Captaines la âire Xaintrailles Theolde of Valpergue Iohn of Lessego Lombards with many other gâeât personages There were not any of the Prouinces of Daulphiné and Languedoc for that the Dukes of Bourgongne and Sauoy at the same instant prepared a great army by the meanes of Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange to invade those Countries being wholly in the Kings obedience The Orleanois resolues to defend himselfe He presently beates downe all that might accommodate the enemy suburbs howses of pleasure wine presses yea and the temples themselues Salisburie doth likewise vse great dexterity and diligence to plant his siege The Earle of Salisbury builds up sorts towards Beausse and the port Banniere he builds a great Bastille which he calles Paris Another at the port Renard which he names Rouen Towards S. Laurence another to the which he gaue the name of Windsore At the port of Bourgongne he fortified a ruined Temple called S. Loup and neere vnto it an other named S. Iohn the white At the Portereân hee built a great fort vppon the ruines of the Augustines Church calling it London from the which hee wonne the Towre vppon the bridge and all with âonderfull speede All the cittye is inuironed hauing neyther issue ãâã but with sore fighting And in these toyles they spend the rest of the yeare The first day of the new yeare the English for a new yeares gift to the citty bring their scaling ladders couragiously to the Bulwarke at the port Renard but they were valiantly repulsed by the defendants the next day the Admirall of Cullant hauing passed the riuer of Loire at a foord winter being very drie this yeare visits them of the cittie brings theÌ diuers necessaries vpon his returne he incounters some English troupes which came stragling from forrage 1429. He chargeth them cuts them in peeces and so retires without danger Thus the moneth of Ianuarie passeth without any other memorable exploite The battaile of Herings vnfortunate for the French But there happened a strange accident the 20. of Februarie following The Duke of Bedford sent Lenten prouision to the Earle of Salisburie with some munition of warre vnder the conduct of Iohn Fastall and Simon Bowyer with 1700. men for their garde The Duke of Bourbon brought a goodly succour of foure thousand men to the besieged He resolues to charge this English troupe hauing well viewed their numbers It was likely the stronger should haue the victorie but the issue was contrary to the desseigne For it chanced as his men marched confidently as it were to an assured victory without any iudgement the English seeing them in doubt how they should fight either on foote or horseback and irresolute in the end they resolue to charge the French it falling out many times in this exercise that he which begins winnes To conclude without any farther aduise the English imbracing this occasion charge our troupes who were so surprised with this vnexpected impression as they presently giue way to
many discourse The Virgin answered We must go to Rheims to crowne the King It is true the King is the lawfull heire but his right is called in question by the English this maske deceiues many and makes them disobedient As for the meanes leaue that to the God of Heauen he will prouide for it This aduice preuailed as an Oracle all things are prepared in readinesse for the Coronation Charles retires to Bourges for this intent as if the preseruer of the Monarchie would mocke his enemies who called him King of Bourges in iest For shortly after hee partes from Bourges to bee proclaimed King of France But whilest hee attends there vntill that all things may bee made fitte for his iourney to Rheims behold an encrease of good newes to crowne his late and happy victorie against the English That the Bourguignon and Sauoyard who would haue seized vpon Daulphine were defeated The particular of this discourse is The realme beeing set to sale to Strangers and that euery one sought to haue his part The desseine of the Bourguignon and Sauoyard in Daulphiné Languedoâ the Dukes of Bourgongne and Sauoie had layed a plott to appropriate vnto themselues both Daulphiné and Languedoâ with other Prouinces that obeyed Charles vsing in this negotiation the helpe of Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange a man of valour and credit especially in those Countries by reason of his principality which laie neere vnto them The diuision of this marchandise was thus made betwixt them three The Bourguignon had the Viennois neere vnto Lions and that which depended on Lions whereon hee had cast his eye to make profit of that goodly Cittie Grisâuaudan with Grenoble euen to Romans Ambrunois Gapensois Briançonois and all the Countries of the Mountaynes were the Sauoyards part The Orangeois to inlarge his principality had Valentinois Dyois and the Baronies where hee held some land vnder the obedience of this Crowne This portion was alotted to him for his paines They all arme vpon this proiect euen when as the English pressed Orleans most The best houses of Bourgongne and Sauoie contribute to this warre as to a fleete that goes to the East or the West Indies but they had not assured their venture in the port with an intent to haue all the proffit This leuie is made with great shewe the Duke of Sauoie sends fiue hundred Lances Preparationâ against Daulphiné and Languedoc vnder the commaund of the Lord of Varembon besids voluntaries and three thousand foote The Bourguignon with his mothers assistance a thousand Lances Many Noblemen repayre thether as to an assured gaine There were leuied in his territories nine or ten thousand foote The Princes of Orange assembles a goodly troupe as well of his subiects as of his friends in Prouence where hee had a good portion and for his beginning hee seizeth vpon Enton a Towne vpon the Rosne a fitt passage for Sauoie and Bourgoâgne and Colombiers a Castell of great importance neere vnto it Hauing brought sixteene hundered men thether he attends the troupes of Bourgongne and Sauoie which repaire vnto him daylie Hee putts fortie men at armes into Colombiers for the gard of the place and keepes the rest of the troupes about him with great securitie fearing no enemie in this generall amazement of the Kings affaires but the successe was contrarie to his desseine for Raoul of Gaucourt gouernour of Daulphiné resolues in this extremitie who attending no succors from the King beeing visibly ingaged and in great danger doth husband such forces as hee could gather togither within his gouernment from Lions and Viuarez Countries that were vnder the French obedience Imbert of Grosâe gouernour of Lions and Marshall of Daulphiné Iohn de Leuis Baron of la Voute the Lords of Ioyeuse Turnon and Crusol great men in the Countrie of Viuarez did their best deuoir the Nobility of Daulphiné renoumed alwayes for their fidelity and valour assisted as much as could bee desired in so great a necessitie The Baron of Maubec is noted aboue the rest for his well deseruing Don Roderigo de Villandras a Castillian was there with a goodly and valiant troupe The Lord of Caucourt resolues to charge the Prince of Orange with this troupe ââuing him no leisure to assemble the body of his Armie the which increased ââily So without any further delay he besiegeth Colombiers and takes it by force before the Orangeoiâ had any intelligence of his approache Hauing this good successe hee would giue the enemie no time to take breath but desirous to make his profit of this happy beginning he partes sodenly with these resolute troupes to drawe the Prince of Orange to fight who was then parted from Enton hauing intellâgence onely of the siege but not of the taking of Colombiers beleeuing confidently that the very brute of his forces would make our men to hide them selues but hee was deceiued Hee had foure thousand men with him and Gaucourt had about two thousand The Prince of Orange defeated yet notwithstanding his small number being nothing amazed hee chargeth and defeates them The neerenesse of Enton saues many There were fiue hundred slaine vpon the place and two hundred of the brauest Souldiers taken prisoners The Prince of Orange hauing recouered Enton passeth the Rosne in a boate and saues himselfe The common report is that hee passed this violent streame on horsebacke all armed The people of that Country do beleeue it from father to Sonne that this horse was kept died at Orange hauing a long time been nourished there by the Princes commandement acknowledging the seruice he had receiued of this beast in his extreame necessity Monstrelet sayeth That he parted in great disorder and was chased euen vnto Authun Alain Charretier Secretary to our King Charles writes in expresse words That he passed the Rosne at the ferrie of Enton He setts downe that the bootie was aboue a hundred thousand Crownes besides many notable prisoners of Bourgongne and Sauoie which came to bee spoyled thinking to do the like to our Charles This defeate happened the twentith of May the same day that the English which retired from Orleans were defeated at Patay To credit the worke against such as made their accompâ alone without God who seeking to rauish an other mans goods vniustlie lost their owne deseruedly Thus GOD workes speedily as may appeere by the course of so many happy exployts linkt one to an other in this moneth of May as a prediction of the restoring of this estate in this Realme The Bourguignons and the Sauoâards desseine being disapointed by this defeat Gaucourt resolues to haue his priuate reuenge of the Orangeois beeing the factor of this filthie traficke To conclude without giuing him any respit hee passeth the Rosne with his victorious armes takes many places from him the which he sackes and burnes But not ingaging himselfe farther in the Franche-Conté where those of Chaalons haue many goodly places âaucourt takes Oranges from
the Countrie in great disorder The best soldiars were guilty of these insolencies for want of pay Rodrigo de Villandrade an Arragonois who had faithfully serued the King was in disgrace and banished with his troupe but being ioyned with Pothon in Gasconie and hauing taken some places from the English he made his peace with Charles This confusion was not alone in one Countrie but generally diâpersed throughout the Realme A troupe of 2000. horse led by Anthonie of Chabannes Blanchfort Gualter of Bron âloquet and other renowned Captaines The robberies oâ soldiars parting from Normandie passe through the Countries of Vimeu and Ponthieu by Dorlens Oruille Braâ Cappy Liâons in Sauters and enter into Cambresy from thence they lodge at Solames towards Hainault with infinit spoile eating and ransoming all after a hostile manner Iohn of Croy the Bayliffe of Hainault sent troupes against them but they were deâfeated They were called the shauers or fleaers In the ende through Charles his many commands they come into Champagne where hauing remained sometime they were imployed to take Chasteau-Landon Charny and Nemours and from thence they were led to Monstereau-faut yonne where there was a meruailous seege being well assayled and well defended but in the ende the Towne was taken by force and the Castell by composition Charles was at Bray and the Daulphin commanded at this seege He made faire warâes with the English The Daulpâin intreats the English courteously who thanking him before the King his father yeelded him these first fruits of his authoritie in the viewe of the whole army who honored him afterwards as the Sun rising whence greâe the iealousies we shall hereafter speake of Tâe Mignons of Court which were then in quarter gaue a great occasioÌ Christopher of Harcourt Lord of Chaumont and Martin Gouge Bishop of Clermont Factions in Fâanders The Duke of Bourgongâe in danger of his life at Bruges men that had no good in them but to do ill The Duke of Bourgongne had much trouble this yeare the English had sowed great diuisions in his chiefest Citties Bruges stirred vp strange mutynies against him whereas he was in danger of his life Lisle Adam chiefe Captaine of his gard is slaine A popular man whom wee haue seene to coÌmand the Parisiens twise once against the King and an other time for the King he presumed in like sort to gouerne them of Bruges but they teare him in peeces as the Gantois had in former times massacred Arteuille their Tribune A multitude is a dangerous thorne which cannot be handled without pricking Gant followed the example of Bruges but in the end all was pacified with the losse of the most seditious to the content of the same people who deuowre him they did adore After these seditions Philip returnes to waâre he beseegeth Crotoy a place very important for the free trafficke of his Countries but after great paines and charge it proued all vaine He is vnfortunate in war A man vnfortunate in war but in Councell he commanded mens minds with an Imperious grauity But a midest the generall shall I omit this particular obseruation profitable for the example That great Captaine la Hire passing neere vnto Clermont a Towne then subiect to the English was there honorably receiued by the Lord of Anfemont gouernor of the Towne 1437. Two strange surprizes and for that he trusted la Hire much he suffred him to enter with his men into the rauelin to eate a banket la Hire imbracing this occasion makes him his prisoner and takes the place Anfemont had his reuenge in time by meanes of the Lord of Mouy he enters Beauuais where la Hire was gouernor goes vnto him to the Tenise Court takes him and leads him away prisoner in vewe of all the Inhabitants and makes him to yeeld both his ransome and Clermont againe notwithstanding Charles his letters to the Bourguignon but in the ende they are good friends Thus discurtesie is alwaies requited with the like leauing a long repentance for him that is the author of the iniurie how braue and cunning soeuer he bee God punishing iniquitie in due season when as men thinke least of it and by meanes least apparent The warres had wonderfully vnpeopled France Famine and pestilence followe war but this scourge was not sufficient The whole Countrie lying wast not able to be tilled by reason of the daylie incursions and ordinarie spoiles of both parties there fell a great famine That which was vsually worth but fiue pence was sold for fiue shillings and six pence or more The people being famished sought bred where they might finde it being forced from their houses by raging hungar they disperse themselues in the fields and Townes in the one to finde some fruite among the trees and in the bushes ro some herbes or rootes in the other to get some morcell of bread or some garbage to fill the panch with any thing they could meete withall So their bodies filled with bad meates were likewise filled with bad humors falling into diuers languishing diseases In the ende all turned to a plague so horrible as al these poore creatures famished weakned with diseases were like vnto drie wood in a great flame Thus one plague bred an other and that miserable plant of warre brought forth two branches of miserie to our wretched Countrie famine and pestilence A lamentable spectacle in Paris These afflictions dispersed throughout the Realme raigned chiefely at Paris the sollemne Rendezâous of this languishing people There was nothing to bee seene but lamentable troupes of people pale and leane of all sexes and ages eyther running in the fields or vp and downe the streets or layed vpon dunghills or dead in the market places a most horrible spectacle to behold There died threescore thousand persons in Paris All the principall men abandoned the Cittie except Adam of Cambray the first President Ambrose of Lore the Prouost of Paris and the President of the Accounts whome God preserued in this contagion to eternize their commendable memories for euer hauing succored the publicke in necessity without whose couragious resolution the Cittie had easily fallen into the hands of the English who watched for all occasions and made daylie incursions from Mante euen vnto the gates The Champian Countrie being abandoned wolues left the forests without feare and hauing made their pray vpon the remainder of this miserable people they came to the gates of Townes euen into the streets This horrible spectacle hath beene seene at Paris in the Theater of the world in the most populous Cittie of all others So one miserie drewe on an other and these afflictions continued two whole yeares vnto the yeare 1439. whilest the contention of Antipopes increased the fire of Schismes in Christendome as we shall shewe in due place Amedee or Amé Duke of Sauoie carried himselfe as we haue sayed during the calalamities of France The Duke of Sauoie becomes a monke in the ende of
libertie and the good cheere which Charles made her Vpon the report of her death Bernard Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the Townes of Cominges Duret Lile in Dodon Samathan and Lombres The Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the County of Commings and preparing to warre he leuies troupes in Arragon by Sâlezard a Captaine of that Countrie causing Iohn of Lescun a bastard of Armaignac to inuade the Kings teâritories This excesse might haue proued verie preiudiciall when as Charles sends Lewis his sonne into Languedoc with a thousand horse to quench this mischiefe in the breeding Being arriued at Rouuergue all yeelds vnto him Euerie thing is opposite to the Earle of Armaignac The Earles of Perdriac and la Marche the chiefe supporters of his insolence leaue him in the plaine field Salezard doth likewise abandon him of such force is a royall maister against a bad cause The Earle of Amargnac seeing himselfe thus abandoned shuts himselfe into Lisle-Iordan 1443. to dispute his pretensions with more aduantage The Earle of Armaignac taken by the Daulphin but he thrust him selfe into the toyle for he was taken by Lewis and led prisoner to Carcassone These happy exploytes did greatly recommend the Daulphins iudgement and valour whom all men held worthy of a great commande Charles hauing commended him for so well doing would haue sent him backe against the Earle of Somerset who had raised a great armie on the frontiers of Normandy Brittain the which was like vnto a fire of straw for hauing taken la Guierche by force he left it as soone for money so retired with his army without any other exploit The heate of the English grewe more temperate touching the chiefe points of their affaires They stood vpon tearmes in the two first fruitlesse asseÌblies made for peace but nowe they seeke the King The Earle of Suffolke writes vnto him that he hath commandement from the King his Master not onely to renue the treaty of peace discontinued but also to finde meanes to marry him in France hee receiues a fauourable answer from Charles and vnder his safe conduct comes to him to Tours Charles continued still in an humor to loue peace and to seeke it but the Earle of Suffolke the Lord Rosse had no charge but to treat of a generall truce A generall truce the which they concluded for a yeere a halfe but this shall be a goodly occasion to send home the English After a shower comes a sun-shine and euen experience teacheth that after a great raine comes a long drought Now we shall see nothing but truces one after an other marriages and aliances during fower yeares which is a preparatiue to a ciuill peace for aboue a hundred yeares This truce being made they must now seeke warres else where so fruitefull is our vanity of change so as we cannot liue without suffering or doing harme to others The French impatient of rest when as they treated of this truce it was demaunded by the Ambassadors of both Kings what their men of warre should do This truce say they will be more chargeable vnto vs then warre for they must liue They haue not beene accustomed to work and yet they will make good cheere neither can the poore people endure any more Moreouer if they haue no worke they will fight with themselues we must therefore calme this storme and send them to such as loue vs not The French English sent to warre in Suizerland This was the cause of the war in Suizerland whereof Lewis was Generall leading both French and English vnder the same Ensignes Matago was Collonell of the English forces for the King of England vnder the Daulphins command He entred with his armie into the territory of Basill the country of Elsas betwxit Basill and Strasbourg one of the goodliest and most fertill prouinces of Germany they terrified Metz tooke Montbeliard filled all those countries with feare and combustion The motiues of this extraordinary enterprise may well be obserued by that which I haue said but these causes were farre fetcht and not to be imbraced by two Kings who but euen now tormented one an other especially by Charles who hauing suffred so many crosses should haue horror to cause others to feele the like without constraint yet he found a pin for all these holes Charles would haue his sonne take Montbeliard to be reuenged of the Gouernour for the wrong hee had done him spoiling his country as farre as Langres in his greatest necessity The motiues of this war in Suizerland He assayled the Suisses and namely them of Basill being fauourers of Eugenius against Felix his compettitor that is to say against that Amedee Duke of Sauoy who had so crossed him in his affaires whom he could neuer loue what shewe soeuer he made in pollicy And for that Germany that quarter nere vnto Suisserland supported Felix against Eugenius he therfore hated theÌ And to gratifie René King of Sicile who had a priuate quarrell against the citty of Metz he turned his forces against it But what meaning soeuer Charles had herein he imbraced this voluntary warre with an incredible affection as if it had bin to defend the hart of his Realme He himselfe came to Espinall hauing sent his army before to Metz he continued the siege fiue moneths vntill the Cittizens had paide two hundred thousand crownes for the charges of the warre and acquitted king René of a hundred thousand florins of gold which they had lent him in his necessity Lewis the Daulphin parting from Montbeliard ruines Portentru in disdaine of the Bishop a great sollicitor against Eugenius from thence he enters into the territories of Basill with this goodly and florishing army 1444. tyed togither with so many strings hee incountred foure thousand Suisses being resolute to defend their Countrie The greatest part of them were cut in peeces but they sold their liues deere for the Germain histories report that we lost aboue fiue thousand men although wee had the victorie The Emperour Frederic the 3. a Prince which otherwise loued peace vpon the complaints of the Citties lying alongest the Rhin The Suisses fight valiantly and are defeated caused them to arme so as Lewis returned into Lorraine fearing to be too far ingaged in an enemies Country whome he had incensed against reason yet Frederic sent his Ambassadors to Charles to renue their ancient allyances So this cloude of people-eaters passed falling vpon diuers quarters like a shower of haile in a field of ripe corne leauing nothing memorable but a notable example of rashenesse making a warre which was neither necessarie nor iust afflicting quiet peaceable people without any occasion Whilest that France EnglaÌd made Suiserland to weepe Henry the 6. King of England married with Marguerite of Aniou daughter to René Duke of Aniou and of Lorraine and King of Sicile and Naples The Earle of Suffollk fetched her froÌ Nancy
Prouost of Marchants calles the Captaines of the quarters and chiefe of the Cittie to councell he commands them in the night to make fires at all the corners of the streets and to watch in armes euery man in his quarter The people stands vpon their garde ready to attempt some great action The King himselfe goes the round Paris in danger to be surprized he findes the gate of the Basââlle towards the fields open and the artillerie cloyed But oh the prouidence of God misfortune is good for some thing These vnexpected fires disappoint the conspirators practises they hinder the approch and entry of the enemie and saue the Cittie Moreouer Gisors is belegard the garrison abandons it But that which imports more the widow of the great Seneshall of Brezai gouerned by the Bishop of Bayeux then resident at Rouan with some other Partisans Rouan yeelded to the Confederates giues Iohn Duke of Bourbon entrie into the Castle and so into the Cittie The Cittie desiring long to haue a Duke remaining in the country consents to this change and sweares to the said Duke for the Duke of Berry In a manner all the Townes and places of the Prouince follow the example of their capitall Cittie The Bourguignons armie was now reduced to extreame necessitie of victuals and money so as all the Noblemen dreamed onely of a retrait And yet an admirable thing the price of victuals was not risen in the Cittie So many stormes caused Lewis to demand a second enteruiew The peace of Constans and the conditions before that the yeelding vp of Rouan should be knowne to the Earle He grants the Duchie of Normandie to his Brother restores the Townes vpon Somme to the Earle to the Britton his Countie of Montfort with promise to deâsâaâe his charges he giues the office of Constable to the Earle of S. Paul he promiseth vnto Iohn Duke of Calabria men and money to recouer his realme of Naples to pay what had beene promised for the marriage of his Sister to the Duke of Bourbon with the exâcutâon of other clauses conteined in the contract to restore vnto all otheâs theâr goods offices and dignities which they had enioyed vnder his father Charles He ârants vnto the Princes that not any one should be bound to come in person at his summons but sâould discharge their homage and duties in sending such forces as they were bound to furnish at nâed To conclude all the publick good is turned to priuate interest The Earle of Charolois accepts these conditions so willingly as discoursing with the King the vehement desire he had to see the execution of this treatie carries him into the trench of the Bulwarke of franke-Archers by the which they entred the Cittie The Bouâguigâons hauing lost him crie out that he was stayed The chiefe assembâe togâther they tremble they condemne their Earle of rashnesse alleaging the inconueence happened to his grandfather at Montereau in the presence of Charles the 7. and they begin to talke of their safetie but as they walked into the field on horse-back behold they discouer about fiftie of the Kings horse conducting the Earle to his quaâter Loyaltie in King Lewââ So euery one reuiued his spirits and iointly commend the Kings loyaltâe Two dayes alter the treatie of peace was read and âworne on either side at ãâã Vincennes Charles the Kings brother did homage for the Duchie of Normanâââ ãâã Earle of Charolois for the Townes and land in Picardie and likewise the rest that ãâã homages to doe The Earle of S. Paul tooke his oath for the office of Constable ãâã rest for the most part receiue their goods and honours So the Duke of Normanâââ was conducted vnto Rouan by the Duke of Brittanie The Earle of Charolois tooke his way to Amiens and receiued homage of the inhabitants as also of other places that were restored vnto him by the peace Then he entred into the countrie of Liege that rebelled of late dayes against his father vpon the first brute of the ouerthrow of the Earle his sonne at Montlehery without attending the trueth He pacified the Countrie and returned into Brabânt This was called the peace of Conflans which was but counterfeit the 28. of October 1465. the which the Burguignon had not so easily yeelded vnto if he had receiued sooner that refreshing of men and money which Philiâ sent him by the Lord of Sauenze It was an act of great import for Lewis to disperse these Princes so cunningly he did well foresee Lewis a cunniââ artisan of diuision that the Charolois being farre from them and busied in his owne Countries would hardly turne head in the Winter season Moreouer he knew well the meanes as he was an excellent plotter of partialities how to diuide the Dukes of Normandie and of Brittanie And in trueth they were scarce arriued in their new Duchie but all the Noblemen Gentlemen and Captaines expected some preferment from Charles Duke of Normandie so greatly aduanced by this peace and moreouer the Duke of Brittanie who had beene farthest ingaged in the charge was little amended by the treatie they all by a generall discontent shew a notable subiect of distrust of their new Duke The Duke of ârittanâe discontented with ãâã Duke of Noâmandie so as there is spred abroad a still rumour That the Brittons would carry Charles into Brittanie Vpon this bruite the Dukes seruants and the Inhabitants troupe together they runne by heapes to Saint Katherins Mouaâe where Charles remained yet attending the preparatiues of his entrie they lead him into the Cittie without any other assistance but the Clergie in their ornaments The Duke of Brittanie fearing the mutinie of this people retires vnto his Countrie and in his way hee takes some Townes in Normandie wherein he leaueth diuerse garrisons Lewis imbraceth this occasion and vpon this diuision marcheth against his brother treates with the Duke of Brittanie at Argenton to win him from the alliance of the Duke of Normandie Lewis sets vpon his bâother he takes from him by the Duke of Bourbon newly reconciled Eâreux Vernon Louuiers Pont de Larche and other places and by Charles of Melun âisârs Cournay Chailly and consequently all base Normandie Caen held with some other places being in the hands of Lescut a trustie seruant to both the Dukes Charles abandoned by all men and set vpon by so mighty an armie resolues to retire into Flanders and seekes to the Earle of Charolois whom this dâuâsion did much greeue for he desired aboue all things to see a Duke in Normandie the which should gentlie weaken the King But the time was vnseasonable being busied against the Liegeois Yet for a proofe of his good hap he labours to put some troupes gathered vp in Picardie into Diepe but Lewis preuents him and compounds with the Gouernour Herevpon the two Dukes reconcile themselues The Dukes of Noâmandie âriâtanie are reconciled considering but too late that as their
army with a braue hardie resolutioÌ opened the passage by force but with great losse of hisforces the which fortified with newe troupes hee sends into high Misia and Selauonia chased Stephen King of Bossne out of Iaize the chiefe Citty dispossessed him of his Realme and in the end slewe him about the yeare 1463. A while after Matthias King of Hongarie recouered the sayd Citty and Realme ouerthrewe a great armie of Turkes spoiling the country of Sirme tooke many places in Croatia and Dalmatia and in the ende expelled Mahomet being come to beseege Iaize spoiled his campe and was master of all his baggage Scanderbeg expelled his country was retyred into Italy where shewing that the diuision of Christian Princes was the meanes to confirme the Turkes estate and that it was impossible to make him giue ouer this audacious and insatiable desire beeing at Lisse vpon the riuer of Drille hee was surprised with a feuer whereof hee died being threescore and three yeares old in the yeare 1467. Scanderbeg ãâã His vertues A Prince exceeding all men in valour of an wonderfull courage so as euen with vehemency his lippes did bleed at the beginning of euery charge Hee neuer refused battaile neuer turned his backe neuer was hurt but once lightly in the foote with an arrowe he neuer led aboue six thousand horse and three thousand foote and had slaine with his owne hand aboue two thousand barbarians striking with such force as he cut many in two peeces Mahumed being freed by the death of Scanderbeg vndertooke three warres at one instant Misithes of the race of the Paleologues had commission to go to Rhodes Acomath Bascha into Italy to conquer it with Rome and the Empire of the West and Mahumed himselfe goes into Asia Mesithes being often beaten was forced to returne with the remainders of his armie languishing and in pittifull estate Acomath lands in Calabria takes Otranto and so amazeth all Italie as the Pope neglecting all in regard of the safetie of his person resolues to leaue Rome Mahumed going into Asia died of the Collick neere vnto Nicomedia in the yeare 1471. A happy death for the Christians for Otranto besieged by the Italians aided by Matthias was yeelded by composition wiâh their liues and goods saued without attending fiue and twenty thousand Turkes which Acomath pursuing his victorie brought to their succours Thus Italie was deliâered from imminent danger and the Pope assured we will now leaue the raigne of Baiazet second successor to Mahumed to continue our worke in the West CHARLES the eight the 56. King of France CHARLES 8 KING OF FRANCE .56 THis raigne will not hold vs long 1483. but after the Duke of Orleans league the motiue of fiue yeares warre in Brittanie ended A briefe rehearsall of Charles his raigne by the Kings marriage with Anne the eldest daughter to Francis Duke of Brittanie we shall be transported beyond the Alpes to take the possession which René King of Sicile and Charles Earle of Maine his brother had by their testaments left to Lewis the xi to the rights they pretended to the realme of Naples vpon the way wee shall see him entertained by Lewis Sforce in the Towne of Ast then hauing receiued the Forts of Florence with the Cittie of Pisa from Peter de Medicis he enters Rome notwithstanding the gainsaying of Pope Alexander hauing vsed therein the rights of a coÌquerour he treats an accord with the said Pope receiues from him the title of Emperour of Constantinople with the institution of the realme of Naples and consequently causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of Sicile And to augment his honour hee makes his passage maugre the forces of all the Princes and Potentates of Italie at Fournoue and laden with glorie and spoiles returnes triumphantly to seeke some rest in France after his wearie toyles But alas when as in the greene and vigorous season of his life he shall meditate of a second voiage for the recouerie of his realme of Naples as easily lost as wonne and when as the Easterne partes liued in hope to haue the Christian church restoted by him oppressed now vnder the Turkish Traine Death vniust and vnseasonable according to man shal with himselfe cut off al his goodly desseins the which he had laid in the beginning of his florishing youth to carry him to the fruition of a better rest The iudicious reader may iudge if we haue reaped more honour profit in the getting then shame hurt in the losse of so many Estates lying farre from vs. Charles came to the Crowne at the age of 13. yeares Charles his disposition and education delicate weake sickly in his youth mild gratious deuout but wilful in his humors Lewis had bred him vp at Amboise attended on by few seruants not visited by any without any instruction but bare reading not willing to helpe nature by art Yet the weaknes thereof hath often times more need of a prop to support it a spurre to pricke it forward then of a bitt to restraine it Did he feare that learning should imparre his health or corrupt the good seeds which nature hap planted in his mind He was content that according to his fathers humour his sonne should learne this only senteÌce in Latin He that cannot dissemble cannot rule But he did him wrong for he was inclined to the reading of French books he came no sooner to the crowne but they found in him a desire of knowledge which made him to haue a taste in the Latin tongue But as the aptest of his age was slipt away without profit so did hee salute the Muses but a farre off weake of bodie but of a good wit capable of counsell succeptible of the helpes requisite for the gouernment of a firme solide State His minoritie was the cause of a quarrell The Duke of Oâleans and Earle of Beauieu contend for the Regencie betwixt the Duke of Orleans a young Prince and neerest to the Crowne and the Earle of Beauieu for the Regencie which caused his Coronation to be differred vntill the next yeere after the which an assembly of States should determine of the administration of the King Realme The Princes of the bloud attending this sollemnitie hauing bin so often wronged by Oliuer le Daim Daniel his seruant Doyac who had wholy gouerned the deceased King did without the Kings priuitie whose young yeares witheld him from gouernmeÌt informed of their insolencies proud carriage vniust murthers thefts extortions other crimes which they had committed vnder âhe authoritie of Lewis the xi and by a decree of the Court make Daniel forfaite both bodie and goods and his master likewise some few dayes after Doyac whipped at the corner of euery street Oliuer and ãâã hââged lost one of his eares vpon the pillerie at the Halles of Paris then hauing his tongue pearced with a whot iron he was conueied to Mont-Ferrant in Auuergne where he was borne
demand was iust that it was a pittiful thing to see the hard subiectioÌ that did oppresse theÌ Fauoured indiscreetly by the King The king who did not coÌsider the importance of this action breaking the treaty of Serezane that he câuld not giue liberty to a towne that was not his into the which hee was receiued onely by curtesie rashly le ts slip these words I am content 1494. Prick forward a strong headed horse and he will runne at randoâ This multitude doth presently change their crie of liberty into cryes of ioy and running to the bridge vpon the riuer of Arne they beat downe the Mazorco this was a great Lion planted vpon an high pillar of Marble with the armes of Florence and cast it into the riuer and in the same place they set vp a King of France holding a sword in his hand and treading this Mazorco vnder their feete But oh the lightnesse of Italians fewe yeares after at the entry of the King of the Romaines they shall deale with the King as with this Lion This ignominious and rashe wound giuen to the estate of Florence by Peter of Medicis contrary to the example of his predecessors without the aduise of the Cittizens and without any decree of the Magistrates had wonderfully incensed his fellow Cittizens Being returned to Florence to prepare his lodging for the King going the 9. of Nouember to enter the Palace of the Seigneurie to treat of the Kings arriuall behold Iames Nerli a yong man Noble and rich with other Magistrates being armed offer him the entrie alone Peter de Medicis and his bretheren expelled Florence but denyeth it to all his followers Hee retires home to his house and resolues to get that by force wâiâh hee could not willingly obtaine Hee armes and causeth Paul Vrsin to apprâacâ with his troupe the which was in the Florentins pay The State proclaimes hiâârebeâl the people flie to armes and cryes Libertie Peter recouers the gates and witâ him were the Cardinall Iohn and Iulian his bretheren they flie to Bolongne and from tâence to Venice Peter had no cloake but one of his groomes being hated of his fellow Cittizens disdained of his domesticall seruants his house spoiled with losse of aboue a hundâed thousand Ducats in moueables His miserable estate at Venice and to increase his misery a factor of his at Venice refused him for the value of a hundred Ducats in cloath A notable example of the inconstancie of worldly affaires Thus by the rashnesse of one yong man lately equall in a maner to great Princes the house of Medicis fell for that time which vnder colour of ciuill administration had gouerned the common-weale of Florence three score yeares peaceably and with a respected authority The Kings entry into Florence Charles entred the next day triumphantly into Florence himselfe his horse armed and his Lance vpon his thigh The Florentines were not ignorant of his discontent for that they sought to crosse him in his enterprise and that many of his followers thrâst on by couetousnesse gaped after nothing more then the sack of so rich a Citty hauing first of all resisted the power of France and that others also did solicite the restitution of Peter of Medicis especially Philip Earle of Bresse And although the Citty might worthily iustifie that violence whereof Peter and his complices were the onely motiues The Florentines fortifie themselues in their houses for feare of the King yet did they wisely foresee that the King would not let slip this oportunitie to become their Lord. But being vnable to stop this violent streame by any force they had secâetly filled their cheefe houses with resolute men receiued their entertained Captaines into the citty and did giue order that euery man both within and without neere the Citty should arme at the sound of the Pallace great bel Thus fortified with men they stand stiffely vpon the termes of composition Oft times we loose the eeâe by ouer-gâiping The fauour they did see some beare vnto Peter the insupportable summes of money that were exacted the absolute Seigneurie of Florence which the King demanded as hauing conquered it by the law of armes considering in what maner he entred made them refuse these rigorous demands with a firme resolution to mainteine their publike liberty with the perill of their liues Who makes vnreasonable demands Thus they grew angry on eyther side and for a conclusion of the last conference the Kings Secretary reading the articles which his Maiesty would resolutely haue concluded behold Peter Caponi one of the 4. deputies for the Citty a violent man and one of the mightiest families in the State puls the articles from the Secretary and teares them Seeing you demand of vs saith he so outragious conditions A bold acte you shall sound your Trumpets and we our Bells This audacious brauery did moderate the excesse of their demands for how lamentable had it beene to haue fallen to any tragicall decision of their controuersie The King calls him back and containing himselfe within the bounds of reason passeth this capitulatâon That the Cittie of Florence should be a friend confederate and in the perpetuall pâotection of the Crowne of France That at the end of the enterprise of Naples The Articles of the agreement the King should yeeld vp without any charge to the Florentines Pisa Liuorne Pietresancte Serezane Serezanelle and all other places taken or reuolted and in case of deniall they might recouer them by force that they should giue the King fiftie thousând Ducats in fifteene dayes forty thousand in March and thirty thousand in Iune following They should pardon the Pâans their rebellion and other crimes They should free Peter of Medicis from banishment and confiscation vpon condition that he should not approach within a hundred and fifty miles of their confines nor his bretheren neerer then a hundred miles This accord was sâorne vpon the great altar in the Church of S. Iohn at Florence But matters succeeded otherwise as we shall see so the Florentines changed their red Lillie into a white Two dayes after the King parted towards Sienne a Citty well peopled seated in a fertile country in ancient time rich mighty and the second Citty in Toscane which yeelded in many factions to the stronger party so as they enioyed more the name then the effects of liberty They tooke off their gates for the Kings entry notwithstanding the Citty being suspected of him for that it had beene alwayes at the deuotion of the Empire he left a garrison and tooke his way to Rome The Venetâans Mâlanâis growe iealous of the Kings proceedings Aigue-pendenté and Montâââscon places belonging to the Pope receiued him with royall pompe and laid the way open to Viterbe The Florentine fortes which the King held and the garââson left in Sienne made the Venetians and Milanois to feare that hee would hardly end his conquests with Naples To preuent this
King no distinction of persons no gratuity but by chance mens courages that were estranged from the house of Arragon were not confirmed no restâtution of gâods and offices to the Angeuins and other Barons which had beene banished by old Ferdinand preâerments were giuen to such as purchased them with money and other extraordinary meanes to many they were giuen without reason and taken from others without any cause the Townes which were not wont to obey any immediatly bât the King were giuen for the most part to Frenchmen Things most insu p portable to subiects who had beene accustomed to the wise and well ordred goueânmeât of Kings of the house of Arragon and had hoped for better in the change of this ãâã These things did wonderfully blemish the reputation of the French On the ãâã there was no care to keepe the faith ingaged for the restitution of the Townes and fortresses to the Florentines and the Church A pretext which serued a principall ground for the following League In the meane time Alphonso and Ferdinand lately Kings of Naples lay before the Venetians the dangers they incuâred by this newe purchase to the Crowne of France The King of Castile is in doubt of his Ilands of Sicile and Sardinia The Emperour ãâ¦ã and they giue him falsely to vnderstand that the King desired his Imperiall Câoâne The Dâke of Milan could neuer beleeue the King should fiâde so great facility in this expedition or proceed so farre with his forces He was vnable to defend ãâã estate newly vsurped But an other feare possesseth him the seruitude that hangs oueâ his head and all Italy The Pope opposeth the Turke at the Popes instance threatânâ the Venetians if they declare not theÌâelues against the King The Venetians hauing seene the violent course of this happy successe that the King like lightening had runne through all Italy that he had seized vpon Pisa other forts of the Florentines that he had left a garrison in Sienna and done the like in the territories of the Church They imagined that his conceits had a further reach then the realme of Naples and hold an others dang er to be their owne To preuent it they conclude a League for thrââ intents sayd they to the Lord of Argenton the Kings Ambassador at Venice To defend Christendome against the Turke A League concluded against the French For the common defence of Italie And for the preseruation of euery ones priuate estate They conclude by secret articles to aid Ferdinand of Arragon for the recouerie of the realme of Naples who with great hope of the peoples loue was ready to enter Calabria That at the same instaÌt the Venetians should attempt some sea Townes of the said realme The Duke of Milan to cut off all succors that might come from France should seeke to surprise Ast where the Duke of Orleans remained with small forces And the confederates should giue the Emperour the King of Spaine a certaine summe of money to inuade France with a mightie armie The Florentines had iust cause to forsake the King He had not setled them in the possession of their places He preferred the Counsell of such as supported the Pisans before the Florentines or his faith perswading him that if these were restored they would vnite themselues to the other Potentates Yet would they not enter into this League desiring rather to recouer their places from his hand that did inioy them The Duke of Ferrara dissembling would not signe it yet was he content that his sonne should accept the pay of an hundred and fiftie men at armes and the title of Lieutenant generall for the Duke of Milan This League concluded made the courtiers desirous to returne into France thrust forward rather by an inconstant lightnes then any wise consideration or loue to the Kings honour and good Leauing many important affaires vndecided and the realme not wholy conquered some chiefe forts eyther not taken or not furnished gaue an entrie to the Arragonois We doe oftentimes contemne an enemie ouer whom we haue an aduantage So the Castles of Caiete Rhegium Brundusium Gallipoli Mantia Turpia Otrante and other Townes neglected made the way to a generall reuolt Now the confederates march to field to ioyne their forces meaning either to beseege Charles within Naples or to fight with him in his returne They must therefore resolue either to defend the realme or to leaue a good gard and so depart before this great storme fell vpon them The Spanish fleeâe landing at Regium had furnished it and assured it for the Arragonois Mantia Turpia and Otrante seeing the League and that they had not regarded them plant the Arragon ensignes and receiue the garrisons which Don Frederike had sent them The Venetian fleet coÌmanded by Anthony Grimaldi appeared vpon the coast of Apulia In the end all the realme begins to make open demostration of a new will But see he that was eâen now the peoples terror the Iudge of an others life and estate the hope of the East sâands in feare to be controlled A scourge to abate the presumption which his victorie had bred The King leaues Gilbert of Bourbon Earle of Montpensier for his Viceroy The order the King left in Naples a hardie and valiant Prince but saith the Historie Not wisâ hee did not rise before âoone And for the defence of the Realme two thousand fiue hundred Suisses a part of his French footemen eight hundred French Lances fiue hundred men at armes Italians in his pay some commanded by the gouernour of Rome some by Prosper and Fabricio Colonnois and by Anthony Sauelli Captaines well prefered in the distribution of places and offices within the Realme especially the Colonnes Prosper had in the Duchie of Tracette the Cittie of Fundi Montfortin and aboue thirtie other places Fabricio had the countries of Albi and Taillecousse which Virgile Vrsââ did formerly enioy The Lord of Aubigni a braue and wise Knight was made Gouernour of Calabria had the Earledome of Acri the Marquisate of Squillazzâ giuen him The Prince of Salerne was restored to the office of Admiral he of Bisignan well aduanced Steuen de âers sometimes groome of the Kings Chamber after Seneshal of Beaucaire obtained the Duchie of Nole the Captainship of Caiete other commands with the office of great Chamberlaine Controuller of the treasor within the realme wel affected to the gard thereof but too weake of iudgement to beare the burthen and care of so great affaires Don Iulian of Lorraine greatly commended for his gouernment was made Duke of S. Angelo Gratian des Guerres a valiant Captaine of reputation had the gouârnment of Abruzzo Gabriel of Montfaucon of whome the King made great accompt had Manfredonia but hauing receyued it well furnished with victualls and in a Country abounding with corne he so deâowred his prouision that after foure daies seege he was forced to yeeld vp the place for want of victualls The
as Lieutenant generall for the King but the Imperialls presented themselues before the Towne and receiued it very easily of the Earles of Mansfeild and Piguelin and by the recouerie of Montmedy did wonderfully endomage all the French troupes at Stenay and along the Meuse ifthe Duke assembling what hee could of those companies hee had dismissed had not chased them from Montmedy before they had any time to bethinke them selues A stratageme which did pacifie the Kings wrath for the dismissing of so gallant and braue an army in the heate of their most honourable and happie successe ãâã commonly sayd That youth can do what age doth knowe but cannot do What dâd this youthfull escape of the Duke of Orleans benefit preferring a desire of vââertaine glorie before the fruits of an assured Conquest No increase of his reputation small assistance vnto the Kings troupes if hee had beene vpon the point of battaile 1542. and a great preiudice to his Maiesties affaires for this voyage of Rousillon being wonderfull sumptuous and of no profit he might with great honour haue continued his victories the which he had so happily begun Let vs now obserue the successe of this enterprise Annebault hauing brought vnto the Daulphin Attempt of Roussillon fruitlesse being at Auignon eight thousand Suisses six thousand French foote of the old bands whereof Charles of Cossé Lord of Brissac was Colonel six thousand Italians foure hundred men at armes and sixteene hundred light horse whereof the Lord of Termes was generall and Mompesat hauing ioyned with him at Narbonne with his legion of Languedoc and part of that of Guienne sixe thousand Lansquenets and a great number of Suisses newly leuied who being ioyned with their Countrymen made about foureteene thousand so as the whole armie was esteemed fortie thousand men of all nations two thousand men at armes and two thousand light horse The rough entertainment the Imperials gaue them at the Castle of Saulses with their Canon and Culuerin made them to coniecture that the intelligences which Montpesat the first fire-brand of this attempt pretended to haue were vncertaine And what successe could Parpignan promise them finding it very well fortified with platformes well manned and well furnished with Artillerie and munition what assurance could the assailants haue in a plaine field behind gabions which they could not fill but with sand The long time which was spent in assembling so many sundâie nations and the fruitlesse stay of Annebault six or seuen weekes in Piedmont had giuen the defendants time to preuent their enemies desseines Moreouer winter approched and the Emperour might well keepe the place without hazarding of his person or trying the chance of battaile wherevnto the King sought by all meanes to drawe him This was the meanes to take cold and to consume himselfe in vaine Vpon the first raine there had beene no meanes to retire this armie by reason of the flouds which runne on all sides from the mountaines the which the neerenesse of the Sea makes to ouerflow the champion Countrie that lyes neere it so as being shutte vp betwixt two Seas and the mountaine the enemy would easily haue preuailed The King foreseeing these dangers retyred the Daulphin and his armie knowing but too late that he had beene ill serued These flourishing troupes fresh and resolute might haue beene most profitably imployed in the estate of Milan But the assurance they gaue the King to take Parpignan at the first of two parties made him chose the worst Moreouer in an armie there is alwayes some one of those that are of the Councell being iealous and enuying that any other should doe better loue rather to crosse and frustrate desseins then to aduance them In Picardie In the meane time Anthony Duke of Vendosme Gouernour and Lieutenant for the King in Picardie suffered not his armes to rust The enemie lurkt in diuers places which did greatly annoy Ardres and the countrie about Bolongne namely Montoire and Tournehan the first being strong of situation vpon a little hill at the entrie of the Countie of Oye discouering all that come out of Ardres The other vpon the edge of the Countie of Bologne going from Ardres to S. Omers belonging to the Countie of âures one of the strongest places of the countrie The taking and razing of these two was the destruction of many others which held for them and yet the enemie being the stronger in men made some shew to trie his forces In Piedmont But on the other side the countrie of Piedmont was left in prey to the enemy by reason that Annebault had carryed away the troupes for the enterprise of Parpignan The Marquis of Guast imbracing this occasion assembled his forces at the bridge of Esââre a fit place to haue the riuers at commandement and where soeuer he pleased on this or the other side of Po to assaile Piedmont Langey Lieutenant for the King in Piedmont to crosse the Marquis drawes a company of foote out of euery Towne makes an enterprise vpon Cony Quieras and Albe being ill furnished with Souldiars The vndertakers for Cony and Albe wander in the night and the daye approching made their voyage fruitlesse Aussun Gouernour of Sauillan and Centall of Riez appointed for Quieras planted their Ladders notwithstanding the day breaking had giuen the alarum in the Towne they force it and the Castle hauing but one horse and two sacks of meale in it yeelded after they had fasted 36. houresâ Centall being made gouernour manned it with two thousand Souldiars which hee leuied as well vpon his owne hands as elsewhere The Marquis posted to succour them but the distance of the places required three dayes iourney He tooke his reuenge vpon Villenenâue of Aât Poiâing ãâã small places not fortified resolute to passe the Po and to campe ãâ¦ã to take from the French all the plaine countrie and to famish Turin and Pignerol with the other places which they held ãâã this side to take from them all commoditie of the Marquisate of Salusses Fiue thousand foote with some few men at armes and lighthorsemen which Langey might oppose against the Marquis A gallant stratagem of Langey who lead fifteene thousand foote and two thousand fiue hundred horse were not sufficient to stoppe his passage But the industrie of a well aduised commander doth often that which force cannot effect Hee comes first to lodge at Carignan fortifies himselfe speedily and with continuall skirmishes keepes the Marquis from forcing of the passage âhe waters were lowe it was in the moneth of Iuly they might easily wade through both aboue and beneath Carignanâ these two armies had already camped fifteene dayes one against an other and the weakest in number was almost tyred Langey himselfe with his exceeding toile was growne lame yet hauing his tongue and his spirits free he winnes from the Imperiall armie sixe thousand Italians so as weakning his enemie hee fortifies himselfe The Marquis amazed and fearing least these should suborne
oâ the house of Guise was generall of the horse consisting of fiâteene hundred men at armes euery one hauing two archers two thousand light hârse and as many argoletiers besides an infinite number of voluntary French Nâbiliâie marching vnder the fauour of their Prince and desiâ us to maâe their vâlor apparent by good and faithâull seruices Gaspar Lord of âhastillion afterwards Admirall was Colonnel of the foot coâsisting besides the nâw and the ordinary companies which were twentie enseignes of the oâd handâ of Piedmont and fiue and thirtie ensigns of Gascons and Prouensals they note the two câmpanies of the Lord of Duras to bee compounded for the most part of ãâã ând old souldiers worthy of commaund of tenne thousand Lansquenets in ãâã Reâiments commaunded by the Reingraue and Reichroc To these bands the Protestant Princes ioyned a battallion of horse vnder the commaund of the Colonnell Chartell But let vs now see their exploits The Cittie of Thoul at the fiâst abord puts it selfe into the Kings protection but this was not the cheefe point of his desseine The Emperour pââsing into France had the passage of Metz at his deuotion and had victuals and other necessarieâ out of that Countrâe The King now requires the like from them They offer victuals for mony and consent to admit his Maiestie in their Cittie with the Constable The Kings armie enters into the countâie of Mââz followed with some Princes and Noblemen but as for any passage of the armie they excuse themselues and pretend neutralitie The Constable departs and protests that he will haue free passage free entrie and ââee issue at discretion without any limitation and partly by promises partly by threats he wins the Inhabitants The Cittizens had not foreseene this storme and lesse prouided any remedie to auoyd it Thus being forced to bid their libertie adue they agree with Lord of Bourdillon afterwards Marshall of France That the Constable accompanied with some Princes and Noblemen should enter with two companies of foot the companies were sixe huÌdred men strong they increase them with halfe as many more all chosen men of account the which being entred repelled the people become masters and draw after them so long a traine as the Mâââins had no meanes to resist This was the tenth of Aprill on Palme Sunday nine dayes after the King made his entrie in armes being followed with all his forces put in battaile hee receiued the oâh of the Cittizens and sware sollemnly to them in the porch of S. Stephens Church He leââ Gonner brother to the Marshal of Brissac for Gouernour and with him the company of the Earle of Nantueil two hundred light horse two hundred harguebufiers on horsebacke and twelue enseigns of foot Thus the famous Cittie of Metz was brought vnder the obedienâ of this Crowne a portion of the ancient patrimonie of the Kings oâ France and in former times vsurped by the Emperours The Constable would gladly haue vsed the like stratageme to Strasbourg but he âound more assurance and resolution then at Metz. Metz yeelds to French King They put a strong garrison into their Cittie and prepared for defence against any that should seeke to make them subiect so as seeing that neyther reproches threats nor bitter words could drawe any thing from the Inhabitants but victualls and necessaries for the Campe the army tooke the way of Haguenau and Wisbourg Here the deputies of the Germaine Princes come to beseech the King to passe no no farther to stay the spoile of the Country to harken to a peace with the Emperour wherevnto he seemed to be inclined and not to presse them to any priuate alliance An alteration in the Germainâ Princes considering their bond vnto the Empire and if it pleased him to be comââehended in this treatie hee should make it knowne with what conditions he ment to compound with the Emperour The King held good pawnes for the charges of his vâiage By his forces he had drawne the Emperour to reason with the Princes his vassalls this virago of Hongarie had alreadie taken Stenay vpon Meuse and to crosse the Kings attempts in Germany with troubles in France she threatned to enter the realme bârning spoiling and making the Countrie in her passage desolate So the King leauing Germanie bâought backe his armie into France At whose approch this swarme of enemies was dispersed like a flying cloud and leauing the Duchie of Bourgongne vnfurnished of men they inuited our French to the conquest of Roc de Mars of Mont Saint Iean Solieure Danuilliers Yuoi Montmedy Lumes Trelon and Glaion all which places might sufficiently speake of our French forces hauing made proofe therof But this last seizure was their ruine when as the greatest part through the furie of the warre were reduced into heapes of stoanes and ashes They could no longer retaine the old bands without some prey Cymâi a towne and castell belonging to the Duke of Arscot was surprised but this was in a manner the ruine of the army for some laden with spoiles others seized on with sicknesse and wearied with continual toyle began to slippe away in the end of Iuly The most healthfull which remayned were by the King put into garrisons attending the Emperours desseins hauing also giuen some troupes to the Marshall of la Mark with the which he recouered the Duchie of Boullen with the dependances The Emperour had beene opprest with a forraine and domesticall enemy To turne all this storme vpon France and to make profit of the Protestants forces and money he made his peacewith them and got a promise from the Princes and Commonalties to succor him with men money and artillerie for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun Albert Marquis of Brandebourg had in the Kings name made sharpe warre against the Bishops and Townes in Germanie with two thousand horse and eight thousand foote he nowe seekes to be reconciled to the Emperour as well as the rest but hewill insinuate himselfe by some notable seruice He had written often vnto the King holding him in hope to continue in his partie but hauing roded vpon the marches of Luxembourg Lorraine and the Country of Messin he spoiles the Country after a strange manner then hauing pressed Metz for want of victualls hee carries armes for the Emperour The Emperour marcheth against Metz and sends the Duke of Alua his Lieutenant generall Metz beseeged by the Emperour and the Marquis of Marignan from Sarbruch with foureteene thousand foote foure thousand horse and sixe field peeces to vewe the Cittie and to choose a conuenient place to lodge his army attending his comming with the rest of his forces The Duke of Guise Lieutenant generall for the King sends forth some troupes to skirmish where hee looseth Marigni a gentlemen of Picardie two Captaines and fiue soldiars and the enemy aboue a hundred and fiftie men But the Marquis of Brandebourg reuengeth this disgrace The Duke of Aâmale defeated vpon the Duke of Aumale and
after them passe the riuers put themselues in battaile to force the Duke or to make him to retire to Tours where the King then remainend Both the armies are in battaile but betwixt them is a small riuer which makes the Counâââe Moorish and very vnfit for a Generall fight so as they could not ioyne their battaââes and no meanes to bring the Cannon without hazard to loose it The Dâke who was lodged in Cell a village well intrencht flanked and gabioâd couered on the one side by a riuer on the other with a wood could not by any skirmishes be drawne to fight vntiâl he had assembled all his forces The Princes for want of victualls repasse Creuse and Vienne lodge at Faye la Vineuse and from thence the Country being spoiled and ill to lodge in passe to Montcontour a lodging of aduantage both for the situation and commodity of victualls The Dâke pursues him and by his speede deceiued the enemies His foreward led by Bâron meetes them vnlooked for at Saint Cere chargeth Mouy who made the retâeate with 300. horse and two hundred harguebuziers kills about fiftie men at armes and aâmost alâ of his footemen so amazeth the Princes army as they all begin to wauer and had not a straight beene where onely twenty men might march in fronte the whole army had then beene in route The Admirall makes hast to repaire this disorder and by his presence renues their daunted courages They charge and recharge twise or thrise at this passage and not able to be forced the two armies campe within shot of musket leauing it betwixt both The Duke had eight or nine thousand horse seauenteene or eighteene thousand foote French Suisses and Italians and fifteene peeces oâ aâtiâlerie The Princes had six thousand horse French and Reistres ten thousand harguebuziers French and Lansquenets and eleauen peeces of Cannon As these armies beheld one an other two gentlemen following the Dukes campe An ãâã for acciâânt present themselues to the first they meete of the protâstant party Aduertise the Admirall saied they that he forbeare to fight for the succors newely arriued haue gâeatley fortified our army let him temporise a moneth onely it is the time the Nobility hath giuen vnto the Duke with protestation to serue him for that time but not afterwards then shâll hee bee forced to a peace to your aduantage Of two Councells those which hasten to their owne râine do commonly followe the worst They aduerâise the Admirall hereof he apprehends it and desires to followe it so do the most modest and that at nine of the Clocke at night they should take the way to Eruaux putting the riuer that runnes there betwixt the two armies Others of a more boyling humour inferre That these nightly retreats terrifie them that make them preiudice their reputations augments the enemies courage and that they must do it only at the pointe of day Moreouer this might be a practise to amaze their troupes and that comming from suspected persones accustomed to deceiue it was also suspect and to be reiected This diuersity of opinions troubled the Admirall but see what afflicted him more nereây The Reisâres did mutine for want of pay the Lansquenets refused to march three or foure French regiments of the most remote Countries had alreadie asked leaue to depart many gentlemen were retired to their houses And the Duke approched The Admirall then beseecheth the Princes that were at Parthenay to come to the armie that by their presence they might conteyne them in obedience They bring a hundred and fiftie good horse But whilest the Admirall labors to pacifie the mutinie of the Germains two houres are spent so as the troupes cannot recouer a place of aduantage nere vnto Eruaux where they could hardly haue charged them These broyles appeased the armie takes the way to Eruaux the third of October and discouers the Dukes which aduanced They cause the Princes to retire being yet too yong but vnder colour to conduct them with more assurance many retire with them and arange themselues in a vallee beeing couered from the Cannon And vpon the approche of the Dukes foreward consisting of nineteene cornets of Reistres in two sâuadrons marching directly against the Admirall the Admirall sends to Comte Lodâwike who led the battaile to send him three Cornets The Earle obeyes but hee leads them himselfe who hath no sooner lefte his place Error of Comte Lodâwike but hee remaynes ingaged in the skirmish the which continued three quarters of an âoure the Admirall was hurt in the face his horsemen ouerthrowne leaue the field The battaile makes a great resistance but vnfurnished of a head it is forâeâ to yeeld to the greater number part of the footemen are cut in peeces and part dââpersed here and there the artillery lost and the enseignes carried away all flie euery man saues himself Battaile of Mâââcontour Comte Lodowike retires with three thousand horse in one coÌpany tuâning head still against them that pursued recouers Parthenay the refuge of the remaiâders of this shipwracke Foure thousand Lansquenets died in this battaile fifteene hundred French soldiars about three hundred men at armes many horses seruants and Lackeys of men of marke Putgreffier Biron brother to him that led the foreward and Saint Bonel Cornet of the Admirals company La Nouë was prisoner againe with Acier and others the Reistres baggage was spoiled that of the French being more aduanced towards Nâort and Parthenây was saued The Duke lost fewe foote but fiue or sixe hundred hoâse twice as many hurt wherof the most part died as the eldest Reingraue the Marquâs of Bade Clermont of Dauphiné and fewe others of quality Notable Errors Seldome do we reape the fruits of an absolute victory The Protestants footemen were dispersed and their horsemen for the most part Reistres were discontent for want of pay and losse of their baggage A hot pursute had in shewe produced one of these two effects eyther their defeate or their retreate into Germanie two monethes pay had drawne them vnto it To leaue the remainder of these forces at the Commanders deuotion was to giue the Admirall meanes being a wise Commander in the warre to gather togither the remnant of this shipwrake to repaire his broken vessell and in âhe spring to go to field with newe troupes to spoile diuerse Prouinces and in the ende âo bâing the warre to the gates of Paris Moreouer these daunted spirits would be soone reuiued by the presence of their Princes whereas vpon this fresh defeate they might shut them into some place whereby the warre should bee soone ended Victories after the battaile Thus discoursed the most iudicious but others finding the recouery of those places easie in this amazement which the Princes held in Poitou Xanitonge and Argoulmois the Duke followes their resolution and for the fiâst fruits of his conquest marcheth to Parthenay but there he finds nothing but the neast the place emptie
the Duke of Guise and the Admirall This apparent meanes to confirme a publike concord did please the Admirall beleeuing this marriage should be the ground of a most happie peace and the Queene of Nauarre feares least delay should alter the Kings good meaning But the accomplishment of the marriage was hindred by some leââs The Pope made some dâfficulty to dispence therewith as well by-reason of the consanguinity of the parties the one being petie Nephewe the other grand-childe of Francis the 1. King of France as also for the difference of their religions The Qâeene of Nauarre likewise made some scruple of this disparity of religion of the ceremonies and of the place of the sollemnitie She would not haue the marriage celebrated after the manner of the Catholike Church and feared the Citty of Paris as most affected to their religion and of long time an enemie to the house of Nauarre Contrariewise the King would haue Paris to be the Theater Pretexts for the lowe Countrie warres where this notable act should be sollemnly celebrated in the vewe of the Capitall Cittie of his Realme without changing any thing in forme of royall mariages In the end the respect of ciuill reason preuayled As âor the motiues of this warre pretended in the Lowe Country they were goodly in shâw for besids this hereditarie hatred of the French against the Spaniard beeing reuiued by the outrages and warres made in France by Charles and Phââip his sonne the remembrance whereof was yet fresh they renued the ancient quarrells of many possessions in the Lowe Countries depending of this Crowne Moreouer they pretended newe causes which seemed lawfull to breake the allyance betwixt the two Kings That his Maiestie had most certaine intelligence of poyson giuen by Philip to his wife the Sister of our Charles vpon some discontents and filthie iealousies These reasons had a shewe of truth and the Admirall to the end the French who cannot liue long togither in mutuall concord and that by a long vse of warre breathed nothing but warre should not seeke some newe seeds of ciuill diuision held it good to diuert this vehement heate against some stranger and nation a faââe off Many necessarie considerations fortified this ciuill Councell The forces of the Prince of Orange and his bretheren who spoiled by the Spaniard of many rich possessions both in the Lowe Countries and in the Countrie of Bourgongne had long time sought to recouer it by armes The credit and fauour of the Lowe Countrie men in Germany by reasoÌ of the exceeding crueltie of the Duke of Alba Lodâwike of Nassau brother to the sayd Prince a man of great courage and resolution prest it forward and his presence was a spurre to the Admirall Moreouer to the end it should seeme this warre was managed with the Kings consent his Maiestie did suffer the Prince of Auranges fleete to ride about Rochelle annoying the Spaniards and Portugalls which sailed vpon that coast the trafficke of the Lowe Countries and for the Comte Lodowike to sell the bootie hee had taken from the enemie freely and publikely at Rochell So the Admirall a wydower by reason of Charlotte of Laual deceased in the second troubles after he had espoused the Contesse of Antremont in Sauoye at Rochelle The Admiral comes to Court and giuen his daughter Louyse to the Lord of Teligny to wife he comes to Court relying vpon the Kings assurances so often confirmed by messengers and especially by the Marshall of Cossé whome the King had sent to accompanie him presuming the Admirall would giue more credit to the Marshalls words by reason of their familiarity The King receiued him with all demonstrations of loue those of Guise leaue him the place not to yeeld any thing vnto him but to returne soone after with greater authoritie and to take from him all iealousies distrusts which were giuen him froÌ al parts the King at the first doth recoÌpence the losses which the Admiral had sustained during the former warres by the gift of a hundred thousand frankes and grauâts him for one whole yeare the reuenues which his brother the Cardinall of Chasâââha enioyed being lately deceased in England He giues him a place in the priuy Councel doth ofte times conferre with him touching the warres of Flanders and mâkes shâwe to be gouerned therein by his aduice and Councell he honours him with that plaâsible name of father and treats with him so familiarly as the Countries tooke this familiarity for a seale of his Masters affection to the Admirall and the people begân nowe to murmure that Charles not onely fauoâed the Huguenots but would shortly himselfe become a Huguenot A Cunning bayte to free the Admirall from suâpition by the aduertisments wich had beene giuen him to the Contrary Hee could nowe tast no admonitions his spirit was so transported with the Kings Countenance and words Doubtlesse the wisdome of man failes euen in the wisest when it pleaseth him that giues it to weaken the strongest spirits and by a iudgement incomprehensible to man to cast a vayle before his eyes and to make him vnable to conceiue the iustice and horror of the iudgement which hee meanes to display For the better aduancing the enterprise of the Lowe Countries the Admirall thought it fit the King should make a peace with Elizabeth Queene of England They might treate it with a very honest colour to the preiudice of the Spaniards Elizabeth was not married and Henry Duke of Aniou had no wife the dignitie of so high an alliance was honorable for the Duke and the qualitie of a Kings Brother was not to bee contemned by the Queene hauing also in his yong age purchased great glorie and reputation Peace ââth the English This charge is giuen to the Marshall of Montmorency Bât the issue did shewe that besids this negotiation of peace their meaning was to abuse both the Admirall and all others whome it was expedient to âbuse for the execution of the Councell of Saint Cloud and by the same practise to send the Marshall farâe from Court least by his ordinary conueâsing with the King hauing a good iudgement and smelling out the complots of this pitifull Tragedie hee should discouer them to the Admirall his Cousin and by meanes of this newe peace the English in the midest oâ this indignity should bee restrayned from attempting of any thing in fauour of the Protestants as it chanced During this time the Admirall retires to Chastillon and in the meane season they prepare a fleete at Bourdeaux and Brouage vnder the Commande of Strossy Landereau and the Bâron of la Garde The pretext was the warre of Flanders yet had they expresse Commission to attempt vpon Rochell and by open or secret practises to get it in their owne powre The Admirall hauing sounded the fourd vpon his assurance to the Queene of Nâuarre of the Kings singular affection to her and to all her house The Queene of Nauarre comâs to Court in
Roâhell was in the meane time belegard soâldiars arriued hourely giuing terrible threats against the Towne who began to crie tâ the Admirall for succours In other Townes they heard secret murmurings âhich terrified the most cleere sighted among the Protestants These aduertisements sound continually in the Admirals eares But he continues alwayes like vnto himselfe constant in the midest of all motions and grew resolute against all such as laboured to call him from Court eyther by mouth or writing As for the house of Guiâe sayd hee whereof they will put me in feare the King hath taken order making vs to sweare before him to continue friends and as for them of the religion the marriage of Madam Marguerit whom his Maiestie giues not to the King of Nauarre alone but as it were to all those of the party to ioyne himselfe vnto them by an indissoluble vnion is the finishing of their quiet and safetie To conclude he will be no more troubled touching the Kings ill meaning nor the Qâeene Mothers the Duke of Anious the Guisiens nor any others And that which setles the Admirall the more in his conceit he finds the King after the death of Sigismond King of Poland to affect the pursute of that Crowne in fauour of his brother Negotiation of Poland Charles was cleere sighted in affaires of State he was young yet of a quick and ready wit and if bloudie and furious councels had not peruerted him without doubt he might haue brought forth better fruites and this Monarchie âad beene freed from the miseries which haue since ruined it His brother had great credit generally in France his mildnesse made him pleasing to his Mother and his liberalitie to the people He desired rather to see him command farre off then neere And the Admirall who knew the Duke of Aniou to be an irreconciliable enemie to tâe Protestants supposed that the King would by his absence settle a firme peace that Henry being confined in Poland his adherents would grow more milde that the house of Guise disapointed of this support would feare the Kings lookes the which sometimes appeared terrible and that Charles would soone discharge the Queene âis Mother from the gouernment of affaires and take it wholy vnto himselfe as already he made some shewes of his intent The Admirall seeing Iohn of Monluc Bishop of Valence a man of iudgment and practised in negotiations departed for this Ambassage hee fed himselfe with new hopes And contrarywise Monluc foreseeing the iminent storme was very glad to be neither a councellor nor a witnesse of the miseries that were like to fall vpon the Protestants And indeed he had before councelled many of the principalls amongst them not to medle in this imaginary warre of Flanders but to retyre in time to theyr houses and not to trust ouermuch in the goodly shewes of Court considering the enuie of the great and the ill will of the people of Paris But thus God confounds the iudgment and blinds the vnderstanding of such as he reserues for an example to their posterity O France my haire stands vpright and I tremble 1972. to enâer into the relation of so inhumaine a tragedie And shall wee neuer bee satisfied to heare the lamentable and contiâuall slaughter of our countrymen what man would not be troubled what minde would not be oppressed with heauinesse and griefe to see so much bloud vnprofitably spilt in our Citties which should be carefully preserued for the defence of our country against strangers and common enemies yet let vs passe this dangerous passage the course of times inuites vs to proceed A great number of Noblemen both Catholikes and Protestants repaired from all parts to the solemnizing of this marriage Those of Guise come bringing with them a large traine of persons of all qualities faithfull vnto them The water which moues by little and little the birdes which houer aboue it and the ayre colder then of custome foretell a storme to come So the common murmurings the stirring of the quarter maisters and other Captaines of Paris the Kings gards dispersed through the Citty the ordinary threates against the Protestants were certaine testimonies That this marriage should be seasoned more with bloud then water The day appointed comes the Cardinall of Bourbon marries the parties vpon a hiâh scaffold The marriage solemnisâd built before the doore of our Ladyes Church at Paris Foure dayes are spent in playes feasts dancing and maskes which finished the King protests to the Admirall that he ââll answer and satisfie the Protestants requests Euery one of their Churches had their Deputies in Court for many affaires wherein the Admârals authority was very necessaây They ought a great summe of money to the Germaines due for their entertainment in former warres for the payment whereof the King had suffered them to taxe themselues to the fift part of their estates The Commâssioners and Receiuers prest the collection being desirous to make an end of that businesse the day of payment being past Hereon the Admirall treated with the Priuie Councell on Fâiday the two twentith of August where the Duke of Aniou in the Kings absence was president At the rising of the Councel the Admirall hauing attended on the King who went to play at Tenis he retyred himselfe to his lodging at dinner time being accompanied with fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen and reading a petition when as being about a hundred paces from the Louure a Harguebuse shotte from the window of a lodging neere by belonging to Villemur sometimes Schoolemaister to the Duke of Guise The Admiral huât carryes away the forefinger of the right hand and wounds him in the left arme They breake downe the doore of the lodging they finde the Harguebuse but not him that discharged it This was Maureuel vnder a counterfet name of Bolland of the Kings gardes a fitte man for such murthers who mounting vpon a Genet of Spaine which was prouided ready for him fled by Saint Anthonies gate to a place of safetie The King played and vpon the first report of this hurt Shall I neuer haue quiet said he shall I dayly see new troubles And casting his Racket to the ground he retyred to the Louure and sweares with an execration to the King of Nauarre and the Pâince of Condé who were come vnto him to complaine of this outrage to take such exemplary iustice of the offendor his fautors and adherents as the Admirall and his friends should haue cause to rest satisfied Hee presently commands to purâue him that shotte but they go slowly after him hee appoints three of the Parliament to make infoâmations against the culpable Thran Morsan and Viole hee leaues onely two gates open with greaâ gardes vnder colour to search for such as were priuie with this outrage putting the whole Citty into armes The Qâeene Mother seemes to âee discontented They doe great wrong vnto the King cryes she if hee should suffer this crime vnpunished they would in the end
buried the which the greatest âearcâ of his enemies could neuer discouer They therefore make the forme of a man dragg it through the Cittie and then cause it to be hanged Moreouer the King commands by his letâers pattents That those of the pretended religion should be maintained in safetie in their houses bodies goods and libertie of consciences And to excuse what was past they cast abroad many libels defaming the memory of the Admirall and his followers They giue new charges to the Ambassadors being in Germanie Polanâ England Suisserland and other forraine Countries to iustifie the actions of the King and of the Catholikes to the confusion and shame of the Admirall and his paâtie But all these proceedings were meanes to discouer the iniquitie of their perââtiâus Councels For the intent of this declaration in fauour of the Protestants was presently discouered by the tenor of the letters which the Duke of Guise did write vnto his wife the day that Briquemault was executed The King said he hath decreed in Councel vtterly to roote out this seditious vermine But few would be taken and the practises against the Prince of Auranges and others being discouered by this letter vanished into smoâke In the meanetime they continued their attempts against Rochell and Essars being chosen cheefe of the warre for the Rochelois hauing taken one of the Baron oâ la Gards galleys who had approched too neere vnder colour of bringing a letter to the whole bodie of the Towne caused Biron to publish the Kings letters pattents giuen the sixth of the moneth and to make open warre to the Rochelois Bât Charles waâ not willingly drawne to aâmes hee sees well that hee had kindled a fire which hee âhould not queâch when hee would Hee now tries the last stratageme La Noue sent home by the Duke of Alba after the taking of Monts in Hainault had great credât amââg the Protestants as one of the cheefest Captaines which remained The King sollicits him to bee a meanes to bring the Rochelois to composition The impossâbiliââe of the thing ansâeres hee and my conscience will not suffer mee to aduise the Rochelois to offer their throtâs to them that will cut them Yet the Kings authoritie makes him tâ accept of tâis charge but râther with an intent to serue the Rochellois and to retire himselfe from Court then to hurt them of his religion After hee had giuen an account of his Ambassage to Biron who was then at Saint Iean d' Angâli hee returnes to Rochâll where hee performed his dutie so well and carefully as they acknowledge him for one of the cheefe Instruments of the preseruation theâeof during the seege Then appered there a new starre in heauen hauing the forme of a Lozenge of foure points A Comet and continued beginning the ninth of Nouember the espace of nine moneths immouable by the saying of the Astronomers the first three weekeâ resembling that which serued as a guide to the wise men that came out of the East to worship Iesus Christ in Bethlem An other repealâ of the ãâã Protestants The nineteenth of the said moneth the King by an other Edict called home all his subiects to their houses vpon paine of losse of their goods and sollicited the Protestant Suisses to chase away such as were fled to them for succour But the Ambassadors instance was of no force the taking of Sommiers by the Marshal of d' Anuille from the Protestants the perswasions of Gourdes to drawe into the bâsâme of the Cathoâike Câurch Monbrun Mirabel and Les Diguieres who euen then made shew of a most valiant most wise and most happy Captaine for their party and shall hereafter haue a good share in our History the assurance hee gaue them Tâat the King was resâlued to suffer but one religion within his realme with all the preparations for the destââction of them in diuers Prouinces tooke from them all desire to returne Seeing then that no Edicts can draw them home to their houses and that Rochell âââcârre and other places being threatned prepare for defence they must at the least take from the Protestants such refuges as they haue within the realme To shut vp Rochell Biron enters into the Country of Onis in the beginning of December with âeuen Cornets of horse and eighteene Enseignes of foote Those of Sancerre runne yet ât libertie but the opinion of their chiefe Commanders that they would attempt some other thing and the vaine presumption they had of the situation of their hilly place made them the more negligent both to furnish it with victuals and to repaire the necessarie fortifications to endure a siege against the which they should haue foreseene the small hope of succours and the constant resolution of the assaylants Let vs consider of these circumstances and prepare our selues to see the greatest reâoâuâion of men lead by Captaines to whom the necessitie of the time gaue more credit then their beginning gaue them authority Martignon Pilard Marâinat La âeur Chaillou Montaubân Buisson Paquelon La Minee and Doriual commanded there âuer sixe hundred and fifty men and for Colennel they had Andrew Ionneau Bayliffe of the Towne A hundred and fifty strong labourers in the Vines wrought great effects âith their slings which were called the Pâstols of Sancerre for seruices vpon the wall in assaults scalladoes and âallies In Ianuary La Chastre Lieutenant for the King in the gouernment of Berry and generall of this armie came before it with about fiue hundred horse 1573. and fiue thousand ãâã sixteene enseignes of Pioners Siege of Sancerre and a great number of pesants gathered together at the first he offers a reasonable composition to the besieged if they will accept it As the beginning of the Generall was courteous so was the proceeding of the bâsieged inciuill disdainfull and contrary to the lawe of nations They reteyne the âârum and make no answer To make his approches La Chastre builds a fort withââââure hundred paces of the Towne towards Pontenay another vpon the way of â âââââult a palissadoe in the field of S. Ladre intrenched the approches and wayes âbâut the Towne planted ten peeces of Artillery in the field of Saint Ladre and sixe âthers at Orme au Loup it is a âigh mountaine vpon the South side of Sancerre which commands the Towne he shootes against the walls and houses at randon and spends in two moneths aboue six thousand Canon shot and yet the besieged lost not aboue fiue and twentie men giues an assault but with the losse of many that were slaine and a great number hurt The 18. of March La Chastre by a second battery in three diuers places beates downe the defences both of Towers and wall makes a breach of about three hundred paces gâues a generall assault presents a scalado on an other side mines and sappes on the third that the Sancerrois wearied with so many difficulties might shriâke vnder thâir burthen But well assayled and
were prest to these extremities by the violences of such as would take from them their goods and liberties their religion liues Contrariwise I will giue the Parisiens life which Mendosa the Ambassador of Spaine takes from them by famine As for religioÌ informe your selues of these Princes and Noblemen Catholikes if I do force their consciences in the exercise of their religion or otherwise The comparison with them of Gant is not good The Parisiens haue sufficiently shewed their courage in suffering their suburbs to be taken I haue fiue thousand Gentlemen with me who will not be intreated after the Gantois maner I haue likewise God and the equitie of my cause Make a faithfull report of my words to them that haue sent you With this answere other speeches testifying the Kings good meaning the smal feare he had of the League these Deputies go to the Duke of Mayenne and hee sends them backe to the King and giues great hope to incline to a peace But Be not amazed at this treatie said he to the Parisiens by a Secretary of his going after the Deputies I will rather die then make a peace And being aduertised that Paris would shortly bee forced through want to yeeld vnto the King The taking thereof answered he shal be preiudiciall vnto him this conquest shall disperse his armie and then we shall preuaile easily But his Maiestie would neither see nor suffer the ruine of his capital Cittie and his meaning was not to seize vpon Paris in such sort as his enemies supposed It greeued him to see so many ill aduised people And if the Dukes of Mayenne and Parma coming to succour them would hazard a battaile he hoped by their ouerthrowe to bring the Parisiens vnto reason Thus the Duke thought to abuse the King with deuises and vnder a colour of treatie win time in fauour of the beseeged But the King being aduertised that the Duke of Mayenne was parted from Bruxelles The King goes against his enemies and tooke the way to Paris followed by Balagny Captaine Saint Paul and other troupes his Maiestie aduanceth with a troupe of horse and marcheth seuenteene Leagues to incounter him and missing them but one houre he forceth them to flie into Laon. The Duke fortifies himselfe there with his forces and approching vnto Meaux he giues a generall hope of a battile The King goes againe towards him but hee finds the Duke fortified betwixt two riuers attending the Duke of Parmaes comming who being come renues this first hope and with this desseme he goes to lodge at Claye and Fresnes sixe Leagues from Paris The King raiseth the seege comes to meet him appoints the Rendezuous for his armie The next day the tâirtith of August on the plaine of Bondy in the way to his enemies he chaseth their quarter masters from Chelles The seege of Paris âaâsed who began to marke out their lodging and forceth a troupe of eight hundred horse to retire into the bodie of their armie The first of September the Kings armie is in battaile aboue the village of Chelles about sixe thousand horse in the which were sixe Princes two Marshalls of France many Noblemen The King ofâers battaile more commaundets more great Captaines then are in all the rest of the woâld foure thousand French Gentlemen whom the bare shew of a combat doth draw more cheerefully to the place of battaile then to a gallant wedding eighteene thousand foote French and strangers The Duke of Parma standing vppon a hill to view them Be these sayd hee to the Duke of Mayenne the tenne thousand men which you assured mee would bee so easily ouercome there appeares aboue fiue and twentie thousand in the best order that I haue seene This Duke made more account to saue one of his men then to kill ten of his enemies So resoluing not to hazard any thing they change their Swords and Lances into shouels and Pâkeaxes and intrenching themselues in the Fenne auoyded the danger and preserued his armie and neither could skirmishes nor alarums make him abandon his trenches On the eight day of the moneth the miste was great and the winde being contrarie carryed away the noyse of the enemies Canon The Dukes laying holde of this occasion make a bridge of Boates besiege Lagny vpon Marne a weake Towne lying behinde their backes and halfe a mile from their Campe they batter it and take it by force but not without an honourable and vertuous resistance of three hundred men that kept it but holding it not gardable they razed it To drawe them out of their Forte his Maiestie makes shew of a great enterprise against Parts Lagny taken by the Dukes he makes his desseigne knowne that hee will attempt it by scaladoe and the tenth daye at nigât goes from the Campe with a good troupe But they keepe themselues within their Fennes yet could they not long subsiât in this straight where they endured all wantes and hungar in the end would driue the Woolfe out of the wood The King offred them battaile in vaine hee attended the tryall of the Dukes forces in ãâã Hee therefore mans those places hee held about Paris sends backe some of his troupes into Touraine Normandie Champagne and Bourgongne and retaines a sufficient armie to annoy his enemies This proceeding drawes the Dukes to field to free Paris Parma calles himselfe a redeemer and to make his profit of this aduantage and Corbell hee besiegeth and taketh Corbeil by force and kills all that hee findes in armes Rigaude a braue and valiant Captaine commanded there and hauing not time to fortifie against so great a power hee found there his honourable Sepulcher For dying at the breach hee performed the dutie of a faithfull and valiant seruant to the King But the Parmesan lost the Marquis of Renty with a great number of men blemished his reputation and weakened his armie for whilest that he wastes time the King makes new desseignes which shall bring the League into greater difficulties Euen then the Agents of Philip would haue filled his good Cittie of Paris for so the Spaniard called it with numbers of Spaniards and Walons But on the one side the plague was great and vâctualls very skant and on the other side the forces of Maurice Earle of Nassau pâeuailed in the Lowe Countries the Queene of England sending great succours thether And the sixteene of Paris seeing themselues at some more libertie thanked the Duke of Parma giuing him to vnderstand that his aboâd at Bruxelles would be more pleasing and more safe for him His armie decayed visibly hee sees himselfe in the midest of an inconstant multitude Thâ Duke of Parmas retreate and to dismember his forces to leaue any with the Parisiens were to loose them to drawe the King vpon him and to bee in danger of an ouerthrowe So in the end of Nouember he gathers together his troupes and makes his retreat beeing pursued tyred and beaten with dayly
cause sollicited the Archduke to seeke some meanes to quench ãâã but death cuts off the course of his enterprise The Earle of Fuentes that is to say Fontaines aduanced them couragiously Spaniaâds in Picardie causing the gouernour of Arthois to enter into Picardie with a thousand horse and sixe thousand foote Behold rough seas and great stormes which violently beat vpon our great Pilot but in despight of their attempts he shall guide his ship to a safe port and bring his enterprises to an end Vienne Nuiz Antun Beaune and Dijon did happily assist him let vs see the successe The Duke of Nemours escaped from prison The Duke of Nemouâs makes warre against Lionois assembled a good troupe of Souldiars horse and foote and drawing to him three thousand Suisses which wintered in Sauoy for the defence of the Country with these forces hee pretended to subdue the Prouinces of Lionois Forest and Beauieulois and to reuenge the disgrace hee had receiued in Lions For a beginning he had reduced to his deuotion Thisi a strong Castle in Lionois Vienne in Daulphiré Feur Montbrison Saint Germaine and Saint Bonnet Toânes in Forest and by this restraining them both aboue and beneath the riuer hee made an account eyther âo bring Lions to some extremity of victuals or to cause some tumult among the people Great seruice done by the Constable who should giue him entrie into the Cittie Being ready to effect his desseignes the Constable parted from Languedoc to ioyne with the King hee resolues in this encounter to doe him a notable seruice Hee comes into Lionois followed with a thouâand horse and foure thousand choise Harguebuziers happily for the preseruation of the Countrie for hee presently stayed the course of the Duke of Nemours prosperity who posting to oppose himselfe against the Constable hauing made a voyage to the Constable of Castille with hope to haue authoritie ouer these forraine forces and to dispose of them for the execution of his desseignes fortifies Saint Colombe a small village at the foote of the bridge of Vienne towards Lionnois lodgeth some troupes there and the rest hee puts in garrison into the Towne This great multitude of men shutte vp in Vienne makes their victuals grow sâant they likewise want other necessaries and munition for warre The Constable cuttes off all meanes from them The Suisses mutine for want of paye and being called home by their Colonels go to ioyne with the forces of Sauoy which the Marquis of Treffort commanded being Lieutenant generall for the Duke of Sauoy on this side the Alpes To curbe Lions more straightly the Marquis came to winter his men at Mountluel a small Towne of Sauoye three Leagues from Lions The Constable preuents him and surprising the Towne disapoints the Marquis lodgeth his men drye and leaues the Sauoysien subiect to the iniuries of the ayre and keepes him from attempting any thing against Lions The Constable aduertised of some discontent betwixt the Captaines of the Strangers that were in Vienne and the Seigneur of Disimieu a Gentleman of Daulphiné who commanded in the Castle of Pipet the chiefe Forte of the sayde Towne he practiseth Disimieu lets him vnderstand of his dutie to the Kings seruice his naturall Prince his duty to his Country and the profit hee shall bring by the reduction of this Towne to so many people threatned with forraine oppression Disimieâ giues eare and without any great difficulty hauing passed his word to the Constable suffers the Seigneur of Montoison to enter the Castle with a troupe of Harguebuziers The Constable parts the 24. of Aprill with eight hundred Harguebuziers three hundred horse and many Gentlemen as well of the Country as his owne followers and marcheth towards Vienne The Marshall of Ornano doth likewise meete him with fiue hundred Harguebuziers and two hundred maisters All shew themselues about Vienne at noone-day Then Disimieu giues the Seigneur of Cheylart and Dom Vincentio Colonnell of the Italian foote that were there in garrison to vnderstand That being well informed of the sinister practise and charge they had to seize vpon his person hee had resolued to yeeld the Towne and Castle vnto the King yet would he not put it in execution before hee had obtâyned a safe conduct for them and their troupes Montoison shewes himselfe with his troupe and makes Cheylart and Vincentio to accept the condition that was offered them They go forth and take the waye to Sauoye garded by a company of light-horse Disimieu brings them vnto Saint Blandine where the Constable attended him and there takes the oth of obedience and fealtie to the King Towards night the Constable entred Vienne and receiued the Towne and Castles of Pippet and La Bastie in his Maiesties name So Vienne the onely Sanctuarie of the Duke of Nemours the Rendezuous of Strangers and the Porte of Daulphiné to neighbour Prouinces caused the quiet of all the Country and neighbours about Since the which the Duke alwayes droopt being contemned hated and frustrate of all his attempts and finally hee ended all his griefes by a mournefull and pittifull end As all things succeeded happily for the King the Marshall of Biron hauing taken Beaune in view of this great armie of the Constable of Castille Autun Nuys in Bourgongne hee puts himselfe into Dijon being called by the Inhabitants hee chased away the Vicount of Tauannes troup es who held the Inhabitants shutte vp in a corner of the Towne fortified their Barricadoes against the Castle and did beleguar it attending his Armie which made haste to returne out of the Franche Conté His Maiestie foreseeing that the Constable of Castille being free after the recouerie of Vezou should bee imployed by the Duke of Mayenne to succour the Castle of Dijon wherein consisted the chiefe hope of his rising makes hast to Troyes makes a solemne giuing of thankes for so happy a victory and takes his way to Dijon arriues there the fourth of Iune carrying with him the execution of a desseigne more miraculous then all the rest Without doubt our posterity may put this History with the fabulous tales of the foure sonnes of Aymond of Rowland Oliuer and others if wee set not downe the trueth with the chiefe circumstances for is it not a dreame an enchantment and a fabulous tale that foure score Caualiers but true French Gentlemen generous and well lead haue amazed and put to flight two thousand horse But what durst not this braue Nobility doe hauing in the head of them so incomparable and valiant a Captaine and a King so well beloued and respected of all The Castillian had already passed his troupes and Artillerie vpon bridges of boates at Grey when as the King hauing fortified the Inhabitants with a thousand men commanded by the Earle of Thorigny hee viewed the Castle of Dijon the Fârt of Talen a Cannon shotte from the Towne and all the approches whereby tâe enemie mâght attempt to succour the Castle made choise of battaile
But hee will teach vs that the surest stroakes come from the head and if the olde Duke of Guise could by a gallant stratageme recouer a towne from the English most important for the Estate of this Crowne he in like sort by the like exploite will make himselfe the terror of all Picardie 1596 Hee departs from Bruxells and giues it out that hee will succor la Fere. For his first fruites he findes meanes to giue them some releefe of men and munition in March. Calais and Aâdres taken by the Spaniaâd Then in Aprill he causeth his army being very strong to turne head towards Calais beseegeth batters and takes both towne and Castell by assault against all the resistance of the beseeged and puts many French gentlemen to the sword being sent to supply the Castell The Senâshall of Montlimart commanding the French and Aluarez Osorio the Spaniards in la Fere hauing for the space of fiue monethes endured all the toyles of warre and seene the riuer within the towne to rise two or three foote by the labour of men La Fâre lost had the 22. of the sayd moneth by a good composition some-what recompenced this so notable a losse if the Cardinall had planted here the lymits of his victories But contynuing the prosperity of his armies whilest the Kings are weary and demand rest after so great toyle hee goes in the beginning of Maye and campes before Ardres a very strong towne and notwithstanding their great defence became Master thereof the 23. of the moneth and resolues to people these townes of his newe Conquest with straâge Colonies and prepares to adde vnto them that of Hulst in Flanders In the meane time the two armies spend the rest of the Sommer in light roads one into an others Country Warre in Arthois In the beginning of September the Marshall of Biron enters Arthois takes the Casteâl of Imbercourt encounters with fiue Cornets of horse of the Marquis of Varambon followed by fiue or sixe hundred horse of combate chargeth them hee kills all that seeke to withstand the violence of his armes puts the rest in route takes the Marqâis prisoner afterwards had fortie thousand Crownes for his ransome filled the whole Country with feare then inuading the County of Saint Paul he tooke and spoyled the towne and some other places The Cardinall busied at the seege of Hulst hearing that the Marquis was taken hee sent the Duke of Arscot to commande in his place As hee enters into Arâas the French assaile it on the other side spoile the Country about it and laden with bootie the Marshall retires safely to the fronters oâ Picardie Being discharged hee returnes to Bapaume spoiles Hebuterne Benuiller Courcelles and other places defeates such as would make resistance and carries away more spoile then at the first And seeing the Duke of Arscot incamped neere to Arras vnder the fauour of the Cannon intrenched carefully and loath to hazard any thing knowing that he was to deale with one of the happiest and most valiant warriors of Europe they fire all and reuenge as oportunitie would suffer them the Spaniards outrage in places lately taken they make a roade towards Bethune and Therouenne bring away many prisoners furnish their places with Cattell at the enemies cost and without any resistance go and campe in the plaine of Azincourt The Duke supplied with eight hundred âoote ioyned to the regiment of Colonel Bourlote parts from Arras the 5. of October and goes and incampes at Saint Paul The Marshall leaues him there returnes into Arthois runnes vnto Douay spoiles all then returning into Picardie hee gaue the Duke of Arscot meanes to recouer the Castell of Himbercourt who content with this conquest dismisseth his army and disposed of his companies into garrisons Then by the meanes of the Duke of Bouillon the alliance was confirmed and sworne betwixt the King the Qâeene of England and the vnited Prouinces of the Lowe Countries For matters past there is no remedie and the Polititians hold that there is no Lawe more vnprofitable then that which tends to reforme what is past The King therefore to settle his affaires and to prouide for the future resolute not to suffer theâe newe Colonies of Dourlans Capelle Castelet Cambray Calais and Ardres and with the newe yeare to renue a deadly warre against the Spaniard which might not bee attempted without a mighty army An Assâmbly aâ Rouân in âorme of a Parliament nor the army leuied without treasure the which he could not recoueâ without the helpe of his subiects hee assembled in manner of a Parliament the greatest and most discreet of the three orders of his realme at Rouan the fourth of Nouember where the Inhabitants of their owne voluntariâ free will 5596 spent foure hundred thousand Crownes to make his Maiestie an honorable reception where he receiued the gaâter a badge of the order of England by the hands of the Earle of Shrewsburie His Maiestâe desired to deserue these two glorious titles of Deliuerer âestorer of of his estate At his coming to the Crowne hee had found France not onely in a manner ruined but almost all lost for the French but by the grace of the Almightie by the prayers by the good counsell of his loyall Subiects who make no profession of armes by the sword of his Princes and of his braue and generous Nobilitie by his paines and labour he had preserued it from losse Let vs saue it now from ruine said our King speaking to the assembâie Participate my deere subiects with mee in this second glorie as you haue done in the first I haue not called you as my Predecessors did to make you approue my will I haue caused you to assemble to haue your Counsells to beleeue them and to follow them finally to put my selfe into your hands A desire which seldome commaunds Kings that haue white haires and are Conquerors But the vehement loue I beare vnto my Subiects and the exeding desire I haue to adde these two goodly titles to that of King makes mee to find all easây and honorable The sharpnes of winter had layd armes aside and the excessiue raine caused many inundations whereof amongst others followed that of the millers bridge at Paris which sinking on Saint Thomas night was the losse of three hundred persons slaine in the ruines of the building and drowned in the riuer Whilest they examine the resolutions taken in this honorable assemblie and that the King prepares for a mightie armie to chase the Spaniard out off Picardie behold the capitall Cittie of this Prouince strong of seat and well fortified where his Maiestie pretended to make his Arcenall and storehouse for the warre against the Sranger in Arthois and other Prouinces of the Low Countries was surprised in the day time the people being at sermon without force without defence by the practise of some factioâs and the carelesse basenesse of the Inhabitants who standing vpon their ancient
for the Greeke tounge All singular Men in learning and tonges This conference began the 4. of May in the Hall at Fontainbleau in the midest whereof was a Table of a resonable length At the one end sat the King on his ãâ¦ã Bishop of Eureux The manner of their sitting at the Conference and on the left right against him Du Plessâs ãâ¦ã Mercier Secretaries of the Conference were at the lower end ãâ¦ã Some what higher on the Kings right hand sat the Chancellor the ãâ¦ã Behind the King stood the Archbishop of Lions and the Bishops of Neuers ãâã and Chastres On the Kings left hand were the foure Secretaries of State ãâã them which conferred were the Dukes of Vaudemont of Nemours of ãâã of Mayenne of Neuers of Eibeuf of Aiguillon and of Ionuille the Officers of the ãâã Councellors of State and other Noblemen of quality After that all were âââmanded to keepe silence his Maiesty hauing said that the Dispute was not betwixt paâây and paâty but particular betwixt the two Confereâts not for any ãâã Right and Doctrine but for the literall trueth of some passages and that he ãâã they should Treat with al Mildâes and Moderation without any ãâ¦ã but that of the trueth Declaring moreouer that he did not meane that this ãâã should in any thing alter or disquiât the Peace of his Subiects as the Chancellor ãâã then declare vnto them at large by the Kings commandement After the first dayes Conference Monsieur du Plessis fell very ãâã so as they could proceed no further The King did write the same day vnto the Duke of ãâ¦ã had past in thiâ Conference and shewed by his Letter what his iudgement was ãâã friend the Diocesse of Eureax hath vanquished that of Saumur Wherewith Moâsâur âu Plessis was discontented so as in a discourse which he or some of his friends had ãâã soone after touching this Conference he termed this Letter A Sparke of fire and that the Bishop of Eureux Fly was made an Elephant The King had particular aduice that the Duke of Sauoy was irresolute what to do The Duke of ãâ¦ã and that he had sent vnto the Pope and to diuers Princes and Common weales in Italy to let them vnderstand that he had beene forced to the Treaty of Paris and how much it did import them if this Treaty were effected but he found not their intentions to iumpe with his neither had he the answer which he expected His Maiesty had also intelligence of his deepe dissembling saying somtimes That he would not restore the Marquisate but by force sometimes That he had rather deliuer Bresse then the Marquisate and most commonly hee would say That he would restore the Marquisate and that with a double desseine The one was that the King thinking he proceeded faithfully would graunt him some delay for the Restitution of the Marquisate during the which and before that the King should ãâã an Army Winter should come the which would hinder the French from attempting of any thing against him this yeare The other was to the end that the King of Spaine and his Councell who apprehended aboue all the Restitution of the Mârquisate for the neighbourhood of the French to the Duchie of Milan should grant vnto âeây the Dukes Chancellor and his Ambassador in Spaine whither he had sent him expresly to ãâã the Spaniards who ãâã offended with the Dukes voyage into France ãâã of Men and Money in case the King would force him or else that hee might draw some recompence from the Spaniard for the exchange of Bresse with the Mârqâisate Bely complaines to the Councell of Spaine The ãâ¦ã of the little time which their remayned for the Restitution of the Marquisate to the French to whom they answered That armyes were not so soone leuied in France that hee should assure the Duke his Maister that the Count de Fuentes should be at Milan by August whereas two millions of ãâã attended him with so many men and other prouision as whosoeuer should seeke to force him should haue inough to do to defend himselfe The King being well aduertised of all these practises The first of Iune beeing past The King ãâ¦ã 9. oâ Iâlâ by the which the Duke according to the Treatye of Paris should restore the Marquisate his Maiesty came to Lions where the Duke intreated him by his Letters to giue him some dayes of respite that he would satisfie him by his Ambassadors Whervnto the King yeelded TheÌ the Archbishop of Tarantaise the Marquis of Lullins and âoncas his Ambassadors came to Lions the 16. of Iuly Who sayd vnto the King That the Duke their Maister did complaine of the treatie of Paris that he durst not refuse any thing to his Maistie when as he was in the chiefe Citty of his Realme that he might be more blamed for holding of the accord then in breaking it The Dukes Ambassadors come to Lions for the great interrest of himselfe his Children and his Countries Notwithstanding he was ready to yeeld the Marquisate but he beseeched his Maiesty to graunt him the Inuestiture of it for one of his Sonnes The King answered them The Kings answer to the Ambassadors That the Duke had written many letters vnto him from Chambery and Thurin aduertising him that he was very well pleased with the accord which he had made at Paris promising to effect it as he was bound to doe As for his Demand of the Inuestiture of the Marquisate for one of his Sonnes there was no likelihood he should vse any such Liberalitie hauing so small cause To conclude he was much discontented with the difficulties which the Duke made vpon their accord the which if he did not performe by the first day of August he should prepare to defend himselfe Roncas the Dukes confident seruant returnes to his Highnes to let him vnderstand the Kings discontent resolution but espcially to giue him time to thinke of his affaires At that time Fosseuse returning out of Piedmont assured the King that he had heard the Duke of Sauoy sweare that he would neuer yeeld vp the Marquisate and if the King did attempt to make warre against him he would shew him sport for fortie yeares with such like words which were vnpleasing to the King Roncas returnes speedily bringing news that the Duke was content seeing the King would haue it so to restore the Marquisate of Saluces according to the treatie of Paris M r de Sillâry and the President Iaâin deputies for the King The King seemed well pleased with this resolution giuing the charge to Brulart and Ianin to treat with the Dukes Ambassadors how the restitution of the Marquisate should be made The articles were agreed vpon and being readie to signe them Roncas saide vnto the Ambassadors that his master might take it ill if they should signe them before hee had seene them that there were diuers humors about his Highnes that it would be more
His Maâesty hauing giuen order for Montmelian depaâted the next day without entring into the Castell to visit his Army tâe which finding as resolute as hee desired hee âad no other desseigne but to seeke all meanes to approch neere in viewe of his enemy by diuers discouâries which he âent to mâke in diuers places but all was so couered with deepe snowe as it was impossible to doe any thing but to greeue at the discâmmodity and in the meane time to âeepe the soldiars in breath in attempting of some places among others the Tower of âiliâte and âome Corps de garde placed at the entry of the next Mountaiâes the which âhe RegimeÌt of Nauarre did soone breake The King being aduertised by his good intelligence that the Duke stayed by the like discommodity of the wether and place ãâ¦ã ruine or at the least much inacoÌmodate his own Country his sâbiects aâd Army hee leât l' Esdigueres at Mousâiers with his troupes to command in the Country of Taâentâise and to attempt as occasion should serue vntill the Duke were retired Hâs Maiesty came to Chambery whereas the Cardinall Aldobrandino prâsented vnto him Arconas d' Alymes the Dukes Deputies for the Peace to whom he sayd Your Mâstâr hath nothing but words and I shew the effect I sayd vnto you at Parâs speaâing to Alânâs that you were welcome so I say now The Duâââ Ambâsâadors preâented to the King but I meane not to treate but with this Reuereâd peâsonage speaking of the Legat. Tâo dayes aâter this the King went to take Horse-backe hauing referred the treatie of peace to the returne of his Chancellor and Councell from ãâã and went with the rest of his army to assure Saint Katherins Fort whether in the beginning he had sent the Lord of Sancy to rayse a regiment of foot in the Countrie to keepe in the garrison of the Fort and afterwards Mounsieur d' Vitry with the Regiments oft he Cheualier of Montmorency Corces and other troupes Saint Katherins Fort is built vppon an high hill The Situation of S. Katherins Fort. which ouerlookes all the Countrie it consists of fiâe bastions which are not walled yet it is ditcht and furnished with al things necessarie It lies two Leagues from Geneua defended by six hundred men whereof two parts were Suisses Some few dayes before the Kings arriuall one of the Captaines of the bâseeged went forth with his Maiesties leaue to the Duke of Nemours who with the Kings good leaue was retired to his house of Anicy that he might be freed from this warre and not hurt or preiudice his Cousin the Duke of Sauoy the King sent presântly one of his gard to bring him to Leluisel where hee was lodged a quarter of a Leaââe from tâe âort hauing let him vnderstand the resolution of his desseine the greatnesse of his forces the small hâpe they should haue of the Duke hee preuailed so as soone after his returne to his Companions they did capitulate to depart with their bâggage and armes The capitulâtion of Saânt Katherinâ Fort. their Drummes sounding and Enseignes displayed caârying away with them a third part of the artillerie if they were not succoured within tenne dayes Tâe King left the Count Soissons to attend the effect of this capitulation and went to Lions to meet the Qâeene as wee shall shew hereafter The Duke of Sauoy hauing failed at Montmelian gaue it out that he would succor Saint Katherins Fort. He had a goodly army and those that were about him thâugât there were but too many to chase the French out of Sauoy Moreouer hee thoughâ to haue a passage by Valais either willingly or by force he had also good friends among the pettie Cantons of the Suisses being distasted with the seruice of this Crowne for that they were not payed what was due vnto theÌ De Vic the Kings Ambassador made all their friendship fruitles imploying himselfe worthily against all his practiâes hee assistâd in all their assemblies hauing good words to content some and paâience to disgest the indiâcrâtion of others and couragious answeres against the threats and braueries of the most diffiâult yet he could not hinder the Leuie of 4000. men granted to the King of Spaine by foure or fiue Cantons for the defence of Milan with charge not to enter vpon the Kings Dominions vpon paine of death but hee kept them from maâching so soonâ as the enemie desired which stay made them not onely vnprofitable but also hurtful by his great expences The six dayes being expired the Gouernour of S. Katherins Fort came forth with 600. men according to the Capitulation All the Captaines of the Duke of Sauoys places excused their yeelding vpon necessiâie to accuse theiâ Prince of indiscretion ãâ¦ã yeâlded who had reason to comâlayne of their valouâs for they might haue done better Tâe Count Soissons aduertised after the yeelding of Sâânt Katherins Foât that the Duke coming by the Tarentaise aduanced with his whole army to succour the bââeeged hee assembled his troupes and resolued to meet and fight with him if hee durst hazard the day But hee was sooner aduertised of his retreat then of his marching The Dâke had sayd at Paris and to the Seigneâr of âossause at Turin that whosoeuer would make warre against him he would shew him sport fâr fortie yeares space but hee lost all Sauoy in lesse then fortie dayes and theâe âemayned nothing in Bresse but the Cittadell of Bourg A Cââuoy for tâe Citâaââll ãâ¦ã without all hope to be succored by âorce He entertained Bouuens who commanded there with hope that he should receiue a great Conuoie from Bourgougne which the Baron of Lux and oâ S. Angel who beseeged it with blockhowses hindred Captaine Vatuiler to effect And then hee exhorted them by letters to hold it good vntill the treatie of peace whereof he assâred them the which was the onely meanes as wee shall shew to free the beseeged fâom the necessitie whereunto they were reduced The Duke of ãâã comeâ to Flârence and without the which they must needes haue fâllen vnder his Maisties subâection Behold all which passed of greatest import in the conqâest of Sâuoy and Breâe by the most Christian King But this warre did not hinder him ârom thinking of his marriage he had beene contracted at Florence the 25. of August Monsieur de Belle-garde Maister of the Kings âdorse carried the procuration to the great Duke of Tuscany The Duke of Mantoa came to âlorence the 2. of October and the next day arriued the Ambassador of Venice The Pope would gladly haue had the Qâeene receiue this blessing of her Marriage at his hands and to haue done her the like honor as he did to the Queene of Spaine at Ferrara The Cardinall enters into Fâoâenâe the which for certaine reasons could not be effected and therefore he sent the Cardinall Aldobrandino his Holines Legat Nephew in whoâe hands the words of preseÌt
that of other Princes which haue hereditary desâeins vpon that estate who would cast lots againe come to a new diuisioÌ These had sometimes sought to make ther profit of the diuersity of religion that is among the Cantons 1602. in weakning the bodie by cutting of the members France on the contrary side had alwaies exhorted them to liue in Peace and not to vnder-mine the foundation of their Estate the which consistes in Concord and Vnity So Princes should alwaies desire that their Allies might liue in Vnion and Peace This proposition of renewing the League with the King was very acceptable vnto them all but it troubled the small Catholike Cantons who had made new Leagues with their neighbors and desired that they would propound some meanes vnto them that in contenting the King they might with Honour keepe their latter promises The Ambassadors answered that they must take those resolutions of themselues whereby they might willingly contribute that which depended of them It is no reason sayd the Ambassadors that you should bee directed and set into the right way by vs seeing you left it without vs and against vs. The Cantons sayd that the friendship which they had sworne to France was grounded vpon conditions the which fayling the duty of their allyance must also fayle Friendship grounded vpon profit is neuer durable that of the Suisses cannot bee otherwise vnited they loue the Darigues more then Darius himselfe and Glory to see the greatest Princes of Europe to purchase their friendship Some aduised the King to leaue the petty Cantons and to take them as his enemies seeing they had broken the League But he thought he should wrong the reputation and dignity of his Crowne if hee should loose the friends which his Predecessors had gotten And therefore his Ambassadors although they seemed not to care for it omitted nothing that might serue to reduce them into the right way from the which the opinion of profit more then the force of friendship had drawne them thinking it reasonable to loue friends with their humors A million of gold granted to the Suisses not for the respect of the continuance of friendship nor of their coÌstancy but for the Honour of this Crowne They would not binde the Kings word to any other thing then the payment of a million of Gold in discharge of their debt or pension There must be an other day to deliuer that which should be resolued by euerie Canton vpon the Kings offers and propositions The pettie Cantons appointed a Diet at Lucerna to resolue of the difficulties they were in betwixt the alliances with France and Spaine seeing they might not hold the one but they must abandon the other Their resolution was to accept the renewing of the League and to esteeme olde frindes for the best Yet they did not publish it so soone that it might be the better accepted many daies were spent in Generall Assemblies at Baden and Soleurre to reduce it to an immutable pointe Monsieur de Vic went vnto the Grisons and procured an assembly to be called at Coire of the three Cantons and their Commons in their Episcopall Citty Assembly of the ârâsons aâ Coire Their were as many difficulties as the Country is rough the Spanish practises had so much withdrawne their affections from France They could not dissemble the greefe they conceiued for the confirmation of this League The Count of Fuentes would not suffer any prouision to go out of the Dutchy of Milan that the derth and discomodity of victuells might make the Grisons know that the friendship of Spaine was more profitable vnto them then that of France and that they should not so much desire the number as the profit of friends DeVic propounded the Kings intentions to 67. Ambassadors deputed by the three Cantons of the Grisons and to as many other chosen out of the Country They hold a great liberty of opinions in their Assemblies euery man speakes what he thinkes Here they which made least shewe spake loudest in the ende they resolued to accept of the renewing of the League adding thervnto such preiudiciall conditions as two of them were sufficient to make the League fruitlesse for the King DeVic sayd vnto them that they must not thinke that the King would endure any addition or deminution in the ancient Treaty Vnreasonable conditions answering the sayd Articles by writing to the end that the Commons which were to determine thereon might iudge that their reasons were not stronger then those which he had propounded vnto them and their commodities and suerties greater with the Kings allyance then withall others While that DeVic was with the Grisons Sillery labored to dispose the Cantons to the Kings will But there was stil something to resolue vpon The Suisses although they haue not the quicknes of spirit as other nations yet are they not lesse aduised in the conduct of their affayres So as when the Kings Ambassadors thought that in the last Diet held at Soleure there would bee but one sitting for that all difficulties had beene very exactly considered they must yet haue patience for twelue dayes Difficulties in the âreaty with more Crosses and difficulties then were euer treated of in Suisserland for the like affaâres for both the Kings friends and enemies had conspired not to consent to the conclusion of the Treaty without assurance to be payd vnreasonable summes euery yeare besides the million of âold that was granted The stay of the bâinging of the Kings money did also greatly distast them that should haue the best share in the distribution The more certaine the hope is the more troublesome is the stay This fayling was insupportable vnto them and thrust them into bad resolutions against the aduancement of the Kings affaires So as the Ambassadors did think for a time they should get much to breake with some to differ with others rather then to tie the King vnto such forced conditions But after much toyle of body and minde the Treaty was concluded The Duke of Biron ãâã to the Canâoâs to conââââe the Treaty There remayned nothing but to haue the Duke of Biron come to authorise by his presence what had bin concluded by the Kings Ambassadors he came in the end of Iânuary well accompanied and as weââ receiued by the Lords of that common weale and by the Colonells and Captaines to whom it seemed that they were in France seeing him alwayes that had coÌmanded ouer them in the Kings Army The Duke spake vnto them in the General Assembly at Soleurre in this âort Noble Lords The Dukââpeâch to the Suââses the King my Maister making the same esteeme which âis Predecessors haue done of your generossity desiring the continuance of true friendship and faithfull allyance which hath bin of long time betwixt his Crowne and your Cominalties hath coÌmanded me to come into your Country for the happy ending of the Treaty which the Seigneours of Syllery and deVic
did owe to gentlemen that had nothing to shew for it and among others to the Ambassador in England when the Chancellor had dined hee came to see him with the fiâst President found that as a troubled water growes cleere being setled so the time which he had giuen him to thinke of his affaires had takeÌ from him the violent agitations of his fantasie freed his heart from the feare of death He coÌmandded al that were in the place to retyre and they sat downe togither about halfe an houre but their dâscourse is vnknowne In the ende the Chancellor sayd vnto him I should doe wrong vnto your courage if I should exhort you vnto death shee hath presented herselfe vnto you in so many places as it is not in her power to trouble the Constancie and Patience wherunto I beleeue you are disposed You find it hard to die in the flower and vigour of your age but if you consider that our dayes are lymited and that they depend of the fore-sight of the Gouernor of the whole world you will receiue this death as by the will of God who meanes to retyre you out of this world for your owne good before that some great and long miserie shall send you As we may not desire a death which is farre off so may we not reiect that which offers it selfe No no answered the Partie condemned labour not my Lords to fortifie me against the feare of death theâe twentie yeares it hath not feared me and knowing not where she would take mee I haue expected her euerie where You haue giuen me fortie dayes to thinke vpon it yet I could not beleeue that beeing not in the power of my enemies to take away my life I should be so miserable as to be seazed on by death with the consent of my friends The King said the Chancellor hath cuât of al that might be shamefull and ignominous He then asked him if hee would speake with any one Hee sayd that he desired to see La Forse and Saint Blancart They tould him that they were not in the Cittie He deâires to see his âriends but there was a gentleman of the Lord of Badefous and after that he had demanded for Preuost Comptrouler of his house and that they had answered him that he was gone three dayes before to a house of his in the Countrie he then sayd that hee ought not to haue beene there that he had all his blankes adding thereunto these wordes of Compassion The Chancellor takes his ââaue of him All the world hath abandoned mee In these crymes friendship is dangerous friends fayle and the disease is taken by acquaintance as well as by infection He is wise that knowes no man nor no man knowes him At these words the Chancellor and the first President tooke their leaues of him with teares in their eyes He intreated them to receiue a good opinion of his life by the assurance which he gaue at the point of death that he had neuer attempted any thing against the King that if he would haue vndertaken it the King had not beene liuing three yeares since The Chancellor went out of the Bastille with the first President and Sillery stayed in the Arcenall vntil the execution was done The Duke of Biron intreated the Knight of the Watch to go after him to request him that he would suffer his Body to be interred with his Predecessors at Biron for although Nature hath prouided that no maÌ shal die without a Graue yet meÌ thinke curiously thereof before they die and imagine that as glory preserues the reputation of the life so the Graue maintaines the remembrance of the Body He that had seene him would haue thought hee had not bin readie to die so little care hee had of death or els he promised to himselfe some vnexpected effects of the Kings mercy or to escape by some miracle There is no such deceit as imagination frames in these extremities when shee flatters her-selfe with vaine hope imagining that God doth greater wonders and that they haue seene a pardon come betwixt the Executioners sword and the Pââsoners necke Voisin asked him if he pleased to say any thing else that might serue to discharge his conscience The Preachers exhorted him not to conceale any thing to consider that they could not giue him Absolution but for what he should confes He answered that although the King did put him to death vniustly yet he had so much loued his seruice and had serued him with so great loue âbedience neuer diuiding tâe one from the other as he felt in his thoughts of death those of his loue to be so liuely and ardent as he would not conceale any thing that he knew to be against his person or Sâate for aâl the world no not for the assurance of his life hee would not speake any thiâg tâat was not true He drewe Voisin and his Confessors a part and whispered some-thing vnâo them the which was presently written He praies before he goes forthe of the Cappell Hauing continued with his Confessors halfe an houre being neere fiue oâ the Clocke one came and told him that it was time to part Goweâ sayd he seeing I must He then kneeled downe before the Altar makes his praier and recommends him-selfe vnto God before hee goes out of the Chappell He asked if there were any one that belonged vnto the Marques of Rhosny Arnaut was there whome he willed to present his commendations vnto his Master in remembrance not so much of him that went to die as of his Kins-folkes which remained aliue and to assure him that he held him for a good seruant to the King and profitable and necessary for his seruice and that âe was sorry he had not followed his Councell Hee knew one that followed the Duke of Mayenne and intreated him to say vnto him that if in his life he had giuen him some cause not to loue him yet he desired him to beleeue that hee died his seruant and the Duke of Esguillons and the Earle of Sommeriues his Children He sends câmmendatioâs to the âount of Auueââne Hee charged Baranton to deliuer his last words of loue and affection vnto his Bretheren coÌmanding them to keepe the faith which bound them vnto the Kings seruice not to apprehend his misâortune nor to come at Coâât vntill that time had worne out the Sâarres of his ignoâinious death Hee intreated one of them that had garded him to go tel the Earle of Auuergne that he went to die without griefe but for the losse of his frieâdship that if God had giuen him a longer life hee would haue done him more seruice beâeeching him to beleeue that he had sayd nothing at his Arraignment that might hurt him if it were not that hee had more want then bad meaning The Count of Auvergne receiued this far well as from a true friend with a feeling worthy of his friendship he intreateâ
both parties A Peace concluded betwixt the Duke of Sauoy and the Towne of Geneua in Iuly 1603. they are bound to none but the grace of God and to the Kings wisdome who desiring to entertaine the publike quiet hath made a peacefull vnion of those willes that were so much diuided for at his Instance the Suisses had laied a side more Muâkets and Pikes which they had prouided then had beene seene in Sauoy in ten yeares before and they of Geneua did moderate their demands not so much for any respect of their enemy as to please the King yet the malicious gaue it out that the King had incensed them to Warre by his Ambassadors The Consulate of Lions had obtayned of the King at the Queenes intreaty and in consideration of the Honor done her at her entry a Priuiledge by the which none might come to be Sheriffes that were not Towne-borne Children A Primledge granted to the Citty of Lions it was the same prerogatiue which Pescenius Niger had giuen vnto the Romaines forbidding any person to bee admitted to publicke charges that was not borne and bred a Romaine Euery Priuiledge which causeth an inequality among Cittizens lyuing vnder the same Lawes is the Apple of discord and cause of diuision like vnto that of the Bianchi and Neri at Florence This newe distinction of persons must needes cause dangerous innouations in a Cittie where the inner part is more to be feared then the outward Those which pretended to be from their beginning by birth and affection of the Country of Lions seeing themselues perpetually excluded from the most honorable charges within the Citty had recourse vnto the King laying before him the inequality of this Priuiledge the disgrace which they receiued and the ruine which should fall vpon the Cittie when the Inhabitants should abandon the place of their aboade and that they might not remaine in a place where without offence or any iust cause they were for euer depriued of that little Honor they might hope for after they had serued the Publike in many burthensome charges Those which were originally borne at Lions sayd that the Inhabitants of the Country comming thether labored more for their own profit then for the good of the publike did not much affect the publike good if they did not hope for their owne priuate commodities hauing no hands but for themselues That it was neither profitable nor commendable to impart the chiefe Honours and to commit the gouernment of the Citty to newe men for many reasons which haue beene set downe by the wise but especially least they confound the ancient Order Gournement with strange Customes and Manners The King considering that a smal matter doth trouble a multitude as the incounter of a ditch doth disorder the rankes of an Army when it marcheth hee gaue them to vnderstand that he desired they shold agree together The King wil not haue this priuiledge to be the cause of any diuision sending them to la Guiche Gouernor of Lions to reconcile these wills diuided only vpon this subiect but vnited in al other points that concerned the obedience and seruice of his Maiesty This diuision began to decrease when as they vnderstoode that his Maiesties pleasure was to content both parties to reduce things to the ancient order wherin they had liued happily and not to suffer the good correspondency which had bin betwixt the Inhabitants of one Citty to be lost by the inequality of this Priuilege the which by fruitlesse Innouations did alter that which the Ancients had allowed maintayned The King declâres that his meaning was not to exclude his subiects but strangers only from the office of Consull The King therfore commanded that the reasons of either part should be carefully examined considered of in his Councell The President Ianin was reporter of this Controuersie The Councell hauing vnderstood the Kings intention and considered of the Gouernor of Lions aduice thought that as they might not change the Ancient Customes in the which they had liued well so it was iust and reasonable to gratefie the Originall families of the Citty for that they had suffred most in these last troubles and had opposed themselues most resolutly against the faction They therefore thought it good that there should remaine a distinction with some marke or prerogatiue of honor reseruing the charge of Prouost of Marchants for such as were Cittizens borne and that those of the Countrie which had continued there for tenne yeares Heads of families should bee capable of the Consulship to enter indifferently with them that were borne there By this Declaration both the one and the other had part of their demands The King sending them backe recommended vnto them Obedience Respect to their Gouernor and Concord and Vnitie among themselues And for that in the last Consular Elections there had beene something done indiscreetly the Chancellor vsed some words upon that subiect both Graue Iust and worthy the greatnes of his Charge It is my opinion sayd hee that as the King hath an interest that none should be chosen for Maiestrates of a Towne but those The Chancellorâ speech of whose Loyaltie his Maiestie is well assured so the more the libertie of election is left vnto them the more obedience should his Maiestie the Gouernors and Lieutenants Generall of Prouinces finde in the Inhabitants in that which it should please him to command them The King desiring to increase the comodities of the Realme Inuention to make silke in France and to inâitch his Subiects hauing tryed in his royal houses of Fontainbleau Madril and the gardens of the Tuielleries that silke wormes might be bred and brought vp as happily in France as in any part of Europe he resolued to add the arte of silke to the felicities of the peace a speedy and fit remedie to auoyd the transport of gold and siluer Hereupon hee had the aduice of Commissioners deputed for the establishing of the trafficke the which he had chosen as well out of his Councel as of the Soueraigne Courts of Parliament Chamber of Accounts and Court of Ayds They gaue his Maiestie to vnderstand that for the more speedie bringing in of this new worke he must of necessitie begin by the planting of Mulberrie trees to feed the wormes that weaue and make the silke And therfore some expert in that Art did bind themselues to furnish a great number of white Mulberrie trees and graynes to make Nurseries in 4. parts of his Realme at Paris Orleans Tours Lions who were bound to make their diuisions by the first day of Aprill this yeare with instructions how to sowe and plant Trees and Kirnels to gouerne the wormes to draw and spinne the silke to prepare it The profit of the art of silke and make it readie to be sold. There could not be found in this age a more profitable husbandrie The people of Languedoc Prouence Daulphiné haue found this labour so
he could desire Sobole presented him the keyes at the gate protesting of his affection and complaying of those which sayd he would reâuse him the entry the souldiars stood with their pikes vp and their Harguebuses and muskeâs vpon their shoulders and the Halbards behinde them The Dâke of Espernon returned to Court to vnderstand the Kings pleasure touching these troubles The Duke of ãâã goes ãâã to ãâã Hee made a second voiage to Metz. Their murmuring against Sobole was turned into publike complaints and their complaints into Barricadoes betwixt the Cittadell and the Towne the Inhabitants were transported with so strange a passion as they submitted themselues to any thing so as they might not be commanded by the two Bretheren This commotion had not lasted long if it had not beene suppoâted The presence of the Duke of Espernon gaue them courage who else would haue beene much amazed The King first sent Boissize and then Varane both which serued his Maiesty according to his intentions and disposed Sobole to do whatsoeuer hee should commande him declaring notwithstanding that he would not deliuer the place but to himselfe This was the occasion of the Kings voyage who went thether in a very unseasonable time Vpon the brute of his going many Princes of Germany sent to take vp their lodgings at Metz who notwithstanding hearing that the King would make but small aboade and the time being troublesome came not out of their Stoues so as there came not any but the Duke of Deux Ponts the Landgraue of Hesse the Prince of Brandebourg The King finding the hatred betwixt Sobole and the Inhabitants to bee irreconciliable was aduised to giue the charge of the Cittadell to Arquien Lieutenant of the Coronells Company of the Regiment of his Maiesties gards and the Lieutenancy of the gouernement of the Towne and of the Country of Messin to Montigny his Brother to hold them as Lieutenants of his Maiesty in the absence of the Duke of Espernon The King would not enter into Metz before that Sobole was out of the Cittadell Sobâle deliuers vp the Cittadell Some thought hee would not haue beene âo obedient but he shewed hee had no desseigne beyond his dutie This was a disgrace vnto him He blamed his âortune and Fortune accused his bad carriage The way hee tooke to maintaâne himselfe ouerthrewe hâm Men must hold great Commands lâke simpâe Commissions and not as Inheritances They must desire them without Passion and receiue them without Insolency The King past the feast of Easter at Metz. Where he herd the Iesuits requests for their restablishment They could not finde a better oportunity to speake vnto the King then that which Varenne controller generall of the Postes of France gaue them Fourâ Iesuits come to Metz âo theââ reâtabâishment giuing them Intelligence that the King would come to Metz and their spend the Easter Herevpon foure Iesuits of Pont a Mouzon were deputed to go and do their dutieâ vnto his Maiesty and to renue the request âor their returne vnto those places from the which they had beene expelled They came to Metz on the Wedensday before Easter day and the next day in the after-noone they had audience in the Kings Caâinet where as the Duke of Espernon Villeroy Geure and Varennes were present The King receiued them gratiously and would not suffer them to kneele but commanded them to stand vp and although he takes no delight in long speeches knowing that they come prepared with goodly words Yet he herd father Ignace Armand with patience and attention who made a long and eloquent Oration as you may reade a larâe in the Originalls The King answered them very gâatiously I wish no harme to the Iesuits and all the ill that I wish to any lyuing Creature let it happen vnto my selfe My Court of Parliament hath done some thing against you but not without good consideration Hee receiued that in writing which they had deliuered by mouth deliuered iâto Villeroy and hauing considered thereof he declared vnto them expresly howe desirous he was and what care he would take for their returne If your busines sayd he were not in the Popes hands The Iââuits second ãâã I would dispatch you presently but you know it is not expedient to do any thing without him I wil haue you You are profitable for the publike and for my Estate He added moreouer that being at Paris hee would thinke seriously of their affaires They demanded if his Maiesty would not be pleased that the three Prouincialls of their Company in France accompanied by three others should attend there at his returne and receiue his Commandements There needes not so many sayd the King it shal be sufficient that you and father Cotton come The King made this voiage partly to pacefie some troâble growne betwixâ the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Prince of Brandebourg for the Bishoprike of Strausbourg and this was the cause of their quarrell A Controuersie betwixt the Cardinââ of Loââaâne and the Prince of Braââebourg for the Bishoprike of Strausbourg The Bishoprike of Strausbourg beeing voide by the decease of their Bishop who was a Catholike the Cardinall of Lorraine obtayned the grant thereof from his Holinesse But for that they of Strausbourg since the stirres in Germany had held the confession oâ Ausbourg the deceased Bishop had retired himselfe out of the Citty and liued at a house of his in the Country in his Relligion yet notwithstanding he receiued his temporall reuenues ârom them of Strausbourg On the other side the Marquis of Brandebourg Elector of the Empire had obtained an Election from them of Strausbourg for one of his Sonnes who being named to the Bishoprike and receiued by them of Strausbourg he will in-ioye the Bishops rights wâthout any other ceremony Thâ Cardinall on the other side hauing obâerued the accustomed Order therein demanded the Bishops rights of them of Strausâourg such as his Predecessor inioyed who died a Catholike and according to the Article of the Interim set downe by the Confession of Ausbourg Herevpon they of Strausbourg made some difficulty the rather for that being neighbours vnto the Duke of Lorrains terretories they haue often many controueâsies to decide as it doth coÌmonly fall out betwâxt Neighbours They had also giuen their consent to the nomination of the Prince of Brandebourg for Superintendent or Administrator that is to say Bishop after their manner for these and other priuate reasons they refused the Cardinalls demande The Prince of Brandebourg gets possession and prepares to withstand the Cardinal all things tending vnto Armes Many and great Leuies of men were made on eyther side Those of Strausbourg were also in Alarme seeking to preuent al disorders if it were possible yet fauoring the Prince of Brandebourg more then the Cardinall of Lorraine The Emperour had written vnto them both declaring that his Intention was that neither of them should haue wrong The King was intreated to interpose
greât men are no hereditarie possessions to be left vnto their children but they are the gifts of God the author of all good and their soueraigne Prince to whom they owe homage for their greatnesse as to him of whom depends absolutely all the kingdoms of the earth and whose prouidence is the infallible rule of the changes which wee seâ incident to mankinde the wââch the ignorant without reason attribute to blind fortune Pepin seeing himselfe seated in the throne of the French Monarchie by the honourable fauour of the French Pepin striues to win their loues by good âeeds he resolues to satisfie their hopes by the effects of his actions and begins to confirme in their mindes the true and firme bond of obedience the which is vnited with these two strings loue and the peoples respect to their superiours No thing being more naturall then to loue him from whom wee receiue or hope for good and to respect him whom we hold sufficient to make vs to liue peaceably and in quiet especially when he hath power and command in the commonweale without the which the particular cannot subsist Thus Pepin assembles the generall estates meaning to laye a good foundation in time for the affayres of the realme by the aduice of such as had called him An assembly of the general estates and according to his Fathers stile hee names this assembly a Parliament wherevnto hee calles the Clergie the Nobilitie the Iudges of the land and the common people that with one consent they might resolue what was necessary for the whole estate consisting of these goodly parts During these alterations the Saxons as farthest from their Maisters had shaken off the yoake of the French obedience The Saxons rebeâl and are subdued and by their example and practises had drawne other people of Germanie subiect to this Crowne to the like reuolt Pepin armes presently and goes with such expedition as he ouerthrowes them at the passage of the riuer of Vistula but the Popes distresse giues him presently a new cause to imploy his forces for Zacharie being dead Stephen the second a Romaine borne succeeds both in place and troubleâ 751 beâng âorced to defend himselfe against the Lombardes the capitall enemies of the Romane ãâã Astolpho was then their King who made great preparatiues against this new Pope although he made no shew of open hatred Stephen well informed of the Lombards hâmour and intent resolues not to attend the stroake but to fortifie himselfe in time seeking âiâst to Constantine Emperour of the East without any âuccesse hee intreates Pepin to succour him from whom hauing receiued a fauourable answer the better to obtaine the remedy he expected Peâin prouidâs ãâã the affairâs of Italy he resolues to go into France where beâng honourably entertained by Pepin he doth againe Crowne him King of France in Saint Denis Church in a great and solemne assembly and makes miserable Childeric a Monke assigning him the Cloister for a perpetuall prison a Friars frock for an ignominious punishment âithout any hope of returne Then he imployed all his wits to perswade Pepin to vndertake the voyage of Italy against the Lombards and drew him easily thervnto But Astolpho fearing the Pope imployed Carolomân the brother of Pepin to diuert him from this enterprise This Caroloman was a Monke and in great reputation of piety A wâse ãâã of Pepin ãâã vndârtaking a warre but he could not disswade Pepin from this desseine yet would he not attempt any thing rashly but first trie mildnesse before force Hee therefore sends his Ambassadors to the Lombard to summon him to yeeld Rauenna and all the Townes of the six gouernours to the Pope Astolphe vseth great temperance in his answers to shew the reuerence he bare to the Church of Rome and to Pepins intercession but he resolued neuer to yeeld any thing Pepin finding the Lombards euasions and policie who sought but to auoâde this storme assembles a Parliament and layes before them both dutye aâd necâssity to succour the Pope To tâis end hee resolues to leââe an Armie against the Lombard Winter being spent in these treaties and in the preparations for warre in the Spring he enters Italy with a strong and mighty armie which marcheth victoriouslie in all places taking Townes and âpoiling the country of Astolphe and then hee went to besiege Pauia the capitall Ciâty of Lombardie Astolphe foreseeing his ruine flies to humble intreaties both to the Pope and Pepin The Pope lulled a sleepe with the Lombards faire promises not greatly louing the French but by constraint suffers himselâe first to bee abused and then hee perswades Pepin to returne backe into France Astolpho promiâed to yeeld vp both Rauenna and all that hee deteined from the Church the which âe could not performe in so great a desolation of his country being ãâã charged ãâã such an enemy ãâã breaks his ãâã and ãâã Rome Stephen was weâl satisfied with this promise forgeting âhe Lombardâ humour so welâ knowne vnto him Pepin glad to see the Pope satisfied hauing no other obiect bât to giue him satisfaction returnes presently into France to his âwne âffaires But he had sâarce passed the Alpes when as Astolpho assembles all hiâ subiectâ being mad with rage for their great losses and infiâitly incensed against the Pope who had drawne in the French and enters the terâitoâies of the Church in ãâã manner The Lombard ãâã Rome and is forced to ãâã and to sue for a peace sackes and ãâã all with a fârious cruelty sodenly besiegeth Rome where tâe Pope was resident Stephen amazed at this vnexpected violence sends back to Pepin implores his aide laments his credâlity and detestâ the treachery of the Lombards âe beseecheth him to make hast if he will preserue his old age from the cruell hand of this disloyall and the whole Church from a horrible desolation exceeding that of the Vandales or Ostrogoths Pepin moued with the Popes intreaties and the ancient daunger assembles his forceâ with a wonderfull celerity and although Constantin by a most affectionate message laboured to dâuert him yet he brings back his army into Italy âhe fruite of his returne was both sodaine great for Astolpho at the brute thereof raiseth the siege from before Rome and retires to Pauia the capitall Citty of his realme Pepin besiegeth him anââorceth him to accept of such conditions of peace as hee wouâd prescribe viz. ãâã Astolpho should presently deliuer vp all that he held of the Church and giue ãâã and Pepin should remaine in Italy at the Lombards charge vntill hee had ãâã all things Astolpho sends in forty hostages yeelds Raueâna with the Citties of the sixe Gouernours 754. and those hee held in Romagnia but when there remained no more to deliuer vp but the Citties of Ferrara and Faenze the Lombard did cunningly delay the full accomplishment of his promise to finde some meanes to send backe so rude an officer as the
French lying vpon his countrie in garrison and spoiling it and so to deceiue both the Pope and Pepin but behold a strange accident befalls him Of an ill life an vnhappy end Being a hunting chasing more after his fantasies then the beast his horse casts him downe a rocke and breakes his neck Thus the subtill Lombard thinking to deceiue was deceiued he ended his subtiltie with his life and the warre begun by him without reason by a iust death The Pope recouers his places and Pepin returnes into France taking nothing in Italy but leauing the realme of Lombardie in the same estate he found it without any alteration This Kingdome ended not with Astolpho for Didier Duke of Hetruria his neere kinsman seizeth presently thereon by meanes of his intelligences but Rachise brother to Astolpho who was lately become a Monke leaues his frock to enioy his fathers kingdome yet for that he was the weaker in this iust title the Pope pacified this controuersie in fauour of Didier who remained King of Lombardie vpon condition that the Citties of Ferrara and Faenze should be yeelded to the Church But let vs returne to Pepin his absence with two yeares continuall warres had broken the vsuall custome to call a Parliament and bred many disorders within the realme Pepin confirmes his authoritie by a Parliament so as being returned into France he presently called a sollemne Parliament wherein he established lawes according to the inconueniences that were to be redrest as good lawes doe commonly proceed from bad manners In this assembly he gaue audience to the Ambassadors of the Emperour Constantin who demanded a confirmation of the amitie and alliance which the Emperour had with the house of France and receiues the new homage of Tassillon Duke of Bauiere So referring all matters of importance to the iudgement of the Estates honouring them that had honoured him he doubled his subiects deuotion and established good lawes within his realme But knowing the humour of the French impatient of rest he found how difficult it was to reteine them long in peace without some forraine imploiment and necessity presents him two occasions one in Guienne He makes a forreine wit to auoide a ciuill and the other in Saxonie Countries subiect to the Crowne of France but both impatient of the French command The Saxons began first with whom Tasillon Duke of Bauiere who as we said did homage to the King ioines contrary to his oth This warre seemed of some difficultie drawing to it all the other Germaines subiect to this Crowne but Pepin preuented it with such speed as hauing suppressed the Saxons he forced them to a new obedience charging them to bring him yearly three hundred good horses for an homage that they should vndergo the censure of the Estates be enemies to the enemies of the King and realme Hauing thus pacified Saxonie he makes a generall assembly at Wormes to settle the affaires of Austrasia from thence he marcheth with his victorious armie against Ieffroy Duke of Guienne according to the resolution of thâ Estates being leuied for that occasion We haue said that Eudon father to Ieffroy had greatly disquieted France and left his children heires of his discontent but Martel withdrawne by new difficulties could not finish that which he had begun Ieffroy remaines sole Duke of Guienne by the death of his brother he growes daily more insolent bandies all his subiects of Guienne openly against France and afflicts the Clergie infinitly in their liues and liuings Pepin begins with admonitions and threats but Ieffroy grows more obstinate in contemning his Kings command so as they must come to open force and Ieffroy must pay the interests of his long delayes Pepin enters Guienne with an armie and Ieffroy seeing his resolution sends his deputies to auoide this storme Warre in Guienne beseeching him with all humilitie to pardon what was past promising obedience Pepin hauing comanded him to make restitution to the Clergie returnes into France and dismisseth his armie supposing Guienne to be quiet Ieffroy seeking his owne ruine by his furious rashnes goes to field with such forces as he could leuie among his subiects hauing pasâed Loire he enters Bourgogne in hostile manner hoping to surprise Chaâlons The King held a Parliament at Orleaâs 764 when this intelligence came vnto him he sends them presently to Neuers assembleth his forces and marcheth against Ieffroy who sodenly repasseth the riuer and with great marches recouers Bourdeaux as the Citie of his greatest safetie being as much confuâed in his defence as he was rash in his attempt Pepin pursues him and in his passage all the Townes of Guienne yeeld without any difficulty as to him whom they acknowledge for their lawfull King Ieffroy forsaken of all men pursued criminally by his Prince is slaine by one of his houshold seruants and is interred like a beast in a marish âere to Bourdeaux In detestation of his memory Ieffrây pittifully slaine ãâã like a beast A foolish life a filthy end the place is called the Tombe of Caiphas vnto this day Thus was the vniust and rash rebellion of Ieffroy punished by his death the warre died in Guienne and the wise valour of Pepin was so much the more commended for that his iust pursute was accompanied with patience and mildnesse But Pepin was mortall the toile of so great warres the care of publike affaires had much broken him so as his old age might be more profitably imployed in the maintenance of Iustice and peace then in warre the burthen whereof he might without danger lay vpon his eldest sonne Charles Pepin resignes the Crowne to Charles a wise a valiant young Prince of whose modestie and obedience he was well assured Thus resoluing to passe the rest of his dayes in quiet but not idlely he retires to Paris but soone after he was surprised with a sicknesse whereof hee dyed and so went to heauen there to find rest which he could enioy on earth it was in the yeare 768. of his raigne the eighteenth By his wife Berthe with the great foote he left two sonnes Charles and Caroloman recommending them to the Estates to giue them portions at their pleasures So great was the assurance of this good Prince in the loue of his subiects whom as he had made the most assured gard of his person state so at his death he left his children to their faithfull discretion Pepins childreÌ He had seuen daughters Berthe the wife of Milon Earle of Mans mother to that great Roland Hiltrude wife to René Earle of Genes mother to that renowmed Oliuer Roâarde Adeline Idubergue Ode and Alix He had the happines to enioy his owne father vntill hee came to the age of man the like good hap continued in his children and for the perfecting of his happinesse hee had a sonne one of the greatest and most excellent Princes that euer ware crowne Thus Pepin the first of that race
His death mounted the royall throne of France thus he raigned thus he liued and thus he died leauing to his posterity a happy taste of his name A religious Prince His manners wise moderate valiant louing his subiects beloued of them happy in father in children in his gouernment an excellent patterne for excellent Princes who by his example hold it for a resolute maxime That the strongest cittadell of a Prince is the loue of his subiects and the surest bond of their authority a respect gotten and preserued by vertue Estate of the Empire and of the Church BVt before we enter the raigne of Charlemagne we must briefely represent the estate of the Romane Empire the which was happily vnited to the French Monarchy and of the Church of Rome by reason whereof there happened great and notable exploits vnder his raigne The Empire in the West The Empire of Rome had nothing remaining in the West as we haue shewed Gaule was possessed by the French with the best part of Germanâe since the beginning of their Monarchie vnto the time we now describe it hath beene greatly inlarged In Gaule not onely in compasse of territories obedience of people but also in reputation of ciuility mildnesse iustice wisdome and valour aswell by the happy successe of their victorious armies as by the modest vsage of their victories towards such as they subdued In Spaine Spaine was apportioned to diuers nations Vandales Goths Sarazins pelmel some here some there Italy was in miserable estate Rome sometimes the head of the world was then the sinke of all confusion In Italy the Rendezuous of all furious nations as if they had vndertaken the ruine thereof by taske hauing sackt it three time for vnder the Empire of Honorius in the yeare of grace 414 the Goths by their King Alariâ tooke it after two yeares siege and sackt it without demanteling thereof Fortie fiue yeares after vnder the Empire of Martian in the yeare 459. the Vandales vnder the conduct of Genserike their King take it againe sacke it spoyle it and disgrace it leading the widow of the Emperour Valentinian the third basely in triumph 768. In the time of Iâstânian the Emperour the Goths vnder the command of Toâila hauing vndermined it with a long siege tooke it sackt it and demanteled it Thus Rome was no more Rome but a horrible confusion after so many ruines retaining nothing of her ancient beauty but onely the traces of her old buildings and the punishment of âertyrannie hauing endured that which she had caused other Citties to suffer Behold Italy wasted infinitely tormented by sundrie enemies Italâ desolate by the Goths who had vniustly afflicted all the nations of the earth The Goths had fiâst seized thereon and enioyed it long but as vnder the Empire of Iustinian in the yeare of Christ 552 they were expelled by the valour of Narses an excellent Captaine who deâeated their armie slew their King Totila and repeopled Rome so soone after the Lombards comming out of Germanie lodged in their place as if they had played at leuell coyleâ being drawne thether by Narses himselfe discontented with the ill vsage hee receiued from Iâsânian his maister The Lombards held Italy about 200. yeares By the Lombardâ vntill that Chaâlâmagne expelled them At the same time the six Gouernours for the Empire of Rome held Rauenna and some other Citties depending thus was the greatnesse of the Romaine Empiâe restrained but with such couetousnesse and insoleââââ as it tyred them no lesse then forraine foes That gouernment of sixe ended by the Lombards and the Lombards by the French as the sequel will shew who purchased credit euery where The which ãâ¦ã by the Fâânch by comparing of the barbarous and confuâed inuasions of these warlike nations they adding to the valour and good successe of their armes iustice pietie teâperance and clemencie this reâutation of vertue winning them as many hearts as theâr swords did Câtties During these confused and obscure times there passed about 400. yeares from the first sack of Rome vntill that Charlemagne expelling the Lombardes became absolute maister of Italie was made Emperour at Rome All this passed vnder the Empires of Theodâsius sonne to Arcadius of Valentinian the 3. Martian Leo the second Zenon Anastasiâs Iustin the fiâst Iustinian the first Iustin the second Tiberius Mauritius Phocas Heraclius Constantin the second Iustinian the second Philippicus Artemius Leo the third Constantin the third Leo the fourth Ireneus Nicephorus vnder whom by a publicke and sollemne contract the distinction of the Easterne and Westerne Eâpires was made The command of the West is left as it were in garde with Charlemâgne and the French nation But the East was in a bad plight although the name and âeate of the Empire were yet at Constantinople for besides the dissipation of the State to increase their miserie a new sect sprung vp forged by Mahomet an Arabian borne Eâtate of the East vnder a colour of libertie by the mixture of sundrie doctrines and after a mouâd of carnall felicitie With this charme hee corrupted infinite numbers of people and erected a new Kingdome in the East from whence hee vtterly expelled the Romaine name with all the dignitie of the Empire This was in the time of the Emperour Heraclius in the yeare of grace 623. an infamous date The beginniâg of Mahomets sect to note the beginning of Mahomets blaspemies Hee began in Arabia hauing wonne credit with the Sarrazins who were Arabian Souldiars desperate aduenturers and discontented with the Romaines and by the first beginning of his new doctrine hee gotte so great reputation as hee assembled an infinite number of men armed with an incredible celeritie vnder the enseigne of liberty So as he marched as a conquerour in all places hauing not onely subdued by the force of these tumultuous troupes Arabia where hee was borne but also Persia Palestina Iudea Egipt and Affrike and then ranging ouer Asia the lesse he came to the gates of Constantinople in lesse then thirtie yeares Buâ the prouidence of God caring for the preseruation of his Church opposed the Frââch Monarchie against the violent rage of Mahomet which else had ouerflowed all Europe into the which hee had already made a breach by Spaine had gotten a great countrie and was ready to inuade France if Charles Martel had not stopt his course at Tours as wee haue sayd During these confusions in the Empire the Bishop of Rome grewe great by these ruines The Goths and Vandales were more enemies to the estate then to religion for although for the most part they were Arriens yet did they aduow themselues Christians The Estate of the Church of Rome and held the common signe of Christianitie so as in the taking and sacking of the Cittie of Rome the Bishop was somewhat respected in his fauour the people built vpon the foundation of the ruined houses and many of the
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 Coliâees 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 hiâselfe 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 pâetâe learning hauing couragiously opposed himselfe against Iohn Bishop of Constantinople who affected this title of vniueâsall 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 ãâã 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 thâse prophane titles The reader curious to vnderstand the Estates of those times and to note the degrees and authoritie of this vniuersall Bâshop established in the Church may read the epistles of this good father great in name and in effect without troubling my selfe to âet 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 ãâã vniuârsâll ãâã is the ãâã oâ Antichrist and by consequence he doth affirme that he is the foâerânner 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 reâort To this quarrell for the Supremacie was added the controuersie for images which caused infinite confusions Dispute for Images the âmperours and Bishops were banded one against another and by their dissentions the people were stirred vp to seditious reuolts the which aâter 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 âauored this new deuice in the Church and others did impugne it Epiphanius did teare a picture in peeces Images at the ãâã a politike ãâã and Serenus did beat downe an image the one in the Eâst the other in the West The Christians borne and bred in this ancient doctrine of the Apostles My children beware of Images maintainâd 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 contraây 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 ãâã 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 deâence oâ Iâages 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 soâne 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 Grââ Emperours as wee may see in the continuance of tâis 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 straÌge 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 Dâsciples was changed into rich and stately pompe the Crownes of martirdome wherewith the fiâst Bishops of Rome had beene honoured into a triple Crowne Estate of the ancieÌt 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 Popâs 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
a corrupt conscience who in the beginning of the warre of Lorraine entred into practise with Duke René heire apparant to the house of Aniou after the death of King René his grandfather by the mother promising to prolong the seege of Nancy cause defects in necessary things touching the seege He might wel do it Camâobassâ a traitor to Charles of Bourgongne hauing more authority in this army theâ any other captaine But behold an other act of notable villany The duke of Bourgongne had giuen him forty thousand ducats before hand to raise his câmpanie Passing at Lion to âo into Italie he grewe familiar with a Physitian named Simon of Pauie giuing by him the King to vnderstand that for an hundred thousand crownes in ready money his company entertained and a good Earldome at his returne 1476. he would deliuer him the Duke of Burgongne and confirmes the same to S. Prye He offers to kill the Duke who then was Ambassadour for the King in Piemont Being returned and his troupe lodged in the Countie of Marle he reiterates his offer to the King to kill the Duke when he should come to the Campe if he desired not to haue him brought prisoner vnto him assuring himselfe to execute it easily for saith he he is accustomed to visit his armie mounted vpon a Nag and ill accompanied Or if the King and the Duke should at any time fight a battaile hee would turne to the King with his companie Lewis discouers his treason to Charles Lewis abhorres the treacherie of this wicked wretch and to shew the Duke his franke and royall disposition he giues him intelligence thereof by Contay In the meane time Campobasso diuerts the Bourguignon all he can from the warre of Lorraine and makes the taking of Nancy prooue more difficult The Duke is so much incensed therewith Charles strikes Campobasso as from iniutious words he proceeds to blowes and strikes him A blowe which the Earle will reuenge in time and place Hee dissembles for the present and Charles either thinking the Neapolitane had forgotten this outrage or supposing that his hired souldier had been bound not to reuenge it or happily fearing if he lost him his affaires would receiue some dangerous check he entertaines him still in his seruice yea euen contrary to the Kings aduice he loued or made shew to loue him better supposing that Lewis his intention was to set diuision betwixt him and his most trustie seruants But let vs rather say that he which sounds euen to the deepest thoughts of man had by a iust iudgement altered the sense of this Prince not to taste the holesome counsels that were giuen him with most apparent reasons This proud presumption like vnto Nembroth made him conceiue a world of Chimeres and bring forth a shamefull confusion as we shall read hereafter Hee is now puft vp with the new purchase of Lorraine by the taking of Nancy with the possession of S. Quentin Chaâles puft vp with his new conquest Han and Bohaân and with the Constables moueables but he would not make this the limits of his conquests The Suisses had incensed him redeeming of the Countie of Ferreâe for Sigismond Archduke of Austria Moreouer they had spoiled Iames of Sauoy Earle of Rhomont Hee makes warre against the Suisses brother to the Duke of Sauoy of the Countrie of Vaux and the Lord of Chasteanguion brother to the Pâince of Orange of many places lying ãâã their marches These Noblemen were allied and partakers to the Duke and thrust him on to reuenge On the other side the King desired to parle with him after the manner of Picquigny wishing him to lodge and refresh his troupes tired both with the siege of Nuz and the reuenues of Lorrain and to graunt a peace to this mountaine nation being poore but yet froward But Charles prefers the violent passioÌâ of his ambition The Suisses craue peace of Charles with great submission before the honest and holesome counsell of Lewis and enters into Suisseâland The Cantâns hearing of his approach intreate for peace they offer to yeeld vp the place in question and by a second Ambassage to renounce all alâiances that should dislike him especially the Kings to serue him against all men yea against the King with six thousand men for what pay he would giue them and as often as he would call them If he did triumph ouer them by an absolute victory there were no profit to be found seeing the spurres of his horsemen and the bittes of his horses were of more value then all their countrie He proudly refuseth it But he refuseth all accord no preuention can stop this streame He marcheth and after thiâ imaginarie conquest of the Cantons he passeth the Alpes and layes holde of Italy for that Frederick Prince of Tarentum sonne to Ferdinand King of Naples was lately come to him with hope to marry his daughter Moreouer old René King of Siâile and Duke of Aniou and Vncle to the King seeing his sonne Iohn and his Grandchild Nicholas were deceased promised to resigne vnto him his pretensions of Sicile to adopt him for his sonne and heire and soone after to put into his hands the Earledome of Prouence But wee shall soone learne the causes that mooued him to this attempt hee gaped aboue all other things after the goodly estate of Milan where hee presumed to haue great intelligences The Suisses arme for their defence The Ambassadours being returned the Suisses protest of their submission and of their desire to pacifie all things calling God and the world to witnesse then they prepare for their defence Charles for the fiâst fruits of his army fortified with fifteene thousand men from the Duke of Milan fiue thousand from the Duchesse of Sauoy for now he loues strangers better then his subiects and the troubles of his mind makes him conceiue a hatred and iealousie against them takes Lozââna a mountaine Towne seated vpon the Lake Leman with other places in the Countrie of Vaux causing the garrisons for the most part to be hanged Then he brings the whole body of his armie being about fiâtie thousand men and fiue hundred peeces of Artillerie of all sorts before Gransson lying neere to the Lake of Yuerduâ Câarlâs his great forces which belonged to Rhomont being defended by seuen or eâght hundred Suisses of the Canton of Berne He batters makes a breach and giues an assault with the losse of a hundred men But the batterie continuing the defendants not able to hold the Towne fire it and recouer the Castell where hauing many Towers beaten downe they compound to haue their liues saued An accord treacherously broken Granssân taken and the souldiers cruelly and treacherously slaine for he cauâed foure score to be hanged some write fiue hundred and twelue he drownes two hundred and puts the rest in prison A detestable crueltie and so odious vnto all the Citties vpon the Rhin as
they send men to the Duke of Lorraine and the Suisses to their aide He is nothing amazed therewith but for the statelie entertainment of Ambassadours that came vnto him from diuers countries namely from Germanie and Italie he shewes himselfe in his campe with incredible pompe and state Pauilions and riche tents glistâing armes goodây standards vessell of gold and siluer of inestimable value rich apparell exquisite Tapistrie Iewels precious stones and other costly ornaments to conclude the goodliest furniture that might beautifie a campe The Suisses not yet aduertised of the losse of Gransson send foure or fiue thousand meÌ to releeue it but too late The Duke contrary to the opinion of the best aduised goes to meete them They campe at the entrie of the mountaines hold the straites of hard accesse and of great aduantage for the foote and dangerous for the horse where one man might stay fiâtie But he was as the Prouerbe sayes mounted to the Pies neast and God blinding his vnderstanding prepared an exemplarie abatement of his pride He sends a hundred Archers before to seize on a passage of the mountaines who discocouer not an ambush of shotte that kept it the which suffer a part of the foreward to enter whereas the battaile could not succour them whom they charge âith such resolution and furie that with this terror the Bourguignous flie and fall vpon the other part which was yet in the plaine which likewise turnes head toward the Campe. The battaile and reereward seeing the foreward in route shâinke presently and notwithstanding all the Dukes labour to stay them they saue their liues by flâght ill informed of the small numbers of their enemies who pursue them with all furie Charles himselfe was forced to ioyne with them that sled abandoning both Campe Artillerie to saue their persons staying in no place vntill he came to Ioigne The ouerthrow of Granssân whâre Chaâlâs lost all his baggage fifteene or sixteene leagues from Gransson A hastâer flight then the pursute for want of horâes so as the Duke in the middest of so great a terror lost but seâen men at armes but very many foote This happened the second day of March. A day not so famous for the losse of men as of spoile esteemed at three millions wherewith the Suisses not so cunning in those dayes as now made themselues rich Esteemed at three millions although they were ignorant of the value of things For a proofe of their grosse aâd râde ignorance the Originall obserues The Suisses âgâorant theâ oâ the valuâ of things that they did teare in peeces the goodliest most sumptuous pauilions in the world to apparell themselues That a Souldier did sell a siluer dish like vnto pewter for two pence halfe penie An other taking vp the case of the Dukes great Diamond wherat did hang a great Pearle the which he viewing put vp againe and so cast it into a Cart comming afterwards to fetch it he sold it to a Priest for a Florin worth twelue pence the Priest sent it vnto their Lords who gaue him six shillings They held it to be the goodliest in Christendome Besides manie others they got three Pearles of inâstimable value the which they called the three bretheren with two other the most rare stones that could be found To conclude whatsoeuer the Duke had of rich or sumptuous hee caused to be carried after him in ostentation to shew his superfluous and fearfull greatnesse vnto stâangers So the eternall God did signifie vnto Ezechias by Esay Gods punishment for pride and ostentation That all the cofers of his drugs siluer and gold his sweete perfumes and pretious ointment with all his artillery yea all that was found in his treasures all that was in his house all that his fathers had gathered together vnto that day should be carried into Babilon for that he had made a shew to the Ambassadors of Berodac-Baladan the sonne of Baladan King of Babilon The Suisses reuenge the crueltie of Charles at Gransson Presently after this battaile the Suisses recouer their lost places take downe their companions and burie them hang vp as many Bourguignons with the same halters The King remained at Lion attending the successe of the Bourguignons forces fearing exceedingly least he should subdue the Cantons Lewis feares the good successe of Charles He disposed of the house of Sauoy as his owne the Duke of Milan was his allie he held Lorraine and hoped for Prouence which sucâeeding his power extended from the westerne sea vnto the East France had had no issue out but by the Dukes fauour And seekes all meanes to crosse him or by sea for the preuenting whereof Lewis sent often to the Duchesse of Sauoy his sister in law being wholy at the Dukes deuotion to René his Vncle being much incensed against him so as he would scarse heare his messengers to the Princes commonaltie of Germany who returne him an answer Say vnto the King that if hee warre not against him we will make our peace and warre our selues against him This was it âe feared yet would he not breake the truce neither haue Charles discouer the messages hee sent But now the Bourguignions shipwracke cheered him grieuing onely at the small number that were slaine The Duke on his part was toucht with feare to preuent it he sends Contay to the King The Duke feares the King should breake the truce charged with humble and gratious speeches contrary to his custome He beseecheth his Maiestie to obserue the truce loyally excuseth himselfe that he did no assist at their enterview neere vnto Auxerre and promiseth to be there shortly or wheresoeuer it should please the King The King assures him of his demands neither was it yet time to do otherwise but to keep himselfe in the shade whilest that Charles chafed himselfe Lewis was well acquainted with the loialtie of the Dukes subiects who would easily crosse him His friends allies leaue him and he falles sicke seeing him oppressed with aduersitie One mischiefe comes neuer alone the losse shame despight to see himselfe vanquished laies him sick in his bed But behold a rougher charge in prospeâity friends come by hundreds in aduersitie they flie by thousands Galeas Duke of Milan lead the dance he was allied to Charles by reason of his practises in Italy The Duke of Milan which being dissolued by this check he sends a Cittizen of Milan to the King he disswades him from making a peace with the Bourguignon and to preuent it he offers him a hundred thousand Ducats presently The King detesting the inconstancie of this man who three weekes before was estranged from him hunting after the Bourguignons good hap with a great and sollemne Ambassage considering also that their wiues were sisters and his couetous proceeding he reiects his money reprocheth the little loue he bare to his brother in law but in the end he accepts of his aââiance