and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates page 40 Chap. 15 How by the diuision that hapned betweene the Dukes of Britaine and Normandy the King recouered the said Duchie which he had giuen his brother page 42 Chap. 16 How the new Duke of Normandy returned into Britaine in very poore estate and vtterly discouraged bicause he had failed in his enterprise page 43 The second Booke Chap. 1 Of the wars betweene the Burgundians and Liegeois and how the towne of Dinand was taken sacked and rased page 45 Chap. 2 How the Liegeois brake the peace with the Duke of Burgundie then Earle of Charalois and how he discomfited them in battell page 48 Chap. 3 How some of the Citizens of Liege agreeing to yeeld their towne and others refusing so to do the Lord of Hymbercourt found meanes to enter into it for the Duke of Burgundy page 52 Chap. 4 How the Duke of Burgundy made his entrie into the towne of Liege and how the citizens of Gaunt where he had beene euill intreated before humbled themselues vnto him page 55 Chap. 5 How the King seeing what had happened to the Liegeois made war in Britaine vpon the Duke of Burgundies confederats and how they two met and communed togither at Peronne page 57 Chap. 6 A discourse wherein is declared how greatly learning especially in histories profiteth Princes and Noble men page 60 Chap. 7 How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castle of Peronne by the D. of Burgundies commandement page 62 Chap. 8 A discourse wherein is shewed that an enteruiew betweene two great Princes for treatie of their affaires hurteth more than profiteth page 64 Chap. 9 How the King to deliuer himselfe out of the castle of Peronne renounced his league with the Liegeois page 67 Chap. 10 How the King accompanied the Duke of Burgundie making war vpon the Liegeois who before were his confederates page 69 Chap. 11 How the King arriued in person with the Duke of Burgundy before the citie of Liege page 71 Chap. 12 How the Liegeois made a desperate salie vpon the Duke of Burgundies men where he and the King were in great danger page 73 Chap. 13 How the city of Liege was assaulted taken and spoiled and the Churches also page 75 Chap. 14 How King Lewis returned into Fraunce with the Duke of Burgundies consent and how the Duke proceeded in destroying the countries of Liege and Franchmont page 77 Chap. 15 How the K. by subtill meanes perswaded the Lord Charles his brother to take the Duchie of Guienne for Brie and Champaigne to the Duke of Burgundies discontentment page 80 The third Booke Chap. 1 How the King tooke occasion to make war anew vpon the Duke of Burgundy and how he sent a Purseuant of the Parlament of Gaunt to sommon him to appeere at Paris page 82 Chap. 2 How the townes of Saint Quintin and Amiens were yeelded to the King and for what causes the Constable nourished the war between the K. and the Duke of Burgundy page 84 Chap. 3 How the Duke of Burgundy tooke Piquigni and afterward found meanes to make truce with the King for a yeere to the Constables griefe page 86 Chap. 4 Of the wars among the Princes of England during these troubles betweene King Lewis and Charles Duke of Burgundy page 89 Chap. 5 How by King Lewis his aide the Earle of Warwicke chased King Edward out of England to the Duke of Burgundies great griefe who receiued him into his countries page 92 Chap. 6 How the Earle of Warwicke tooke out of prison King Henry of England page 96 Chap. 7 How king Edward returned into England where he slew in battell first the Earle of Warwicke and then the Prince of Wales page 99 Chap. 8 How the wars reuiued betweene king Lewis and Charles D. of Burgundy by the sollicitation of the Dukes of Guienne and Britaine page 101 Chap. 9 How the finall peace treated of betweene the Duke of Burgundy and the king brake off bicause of the Duke of Guiennes death and how these two great Princes sought to deceiue each other page 105 Chap. 10 How the Duke of Burgundy seeing that he could not take Beaunais before the which he had laid his siege went to Roan page 108 Chap. 11 How the king made peace with the Duke of Britaine and truce with the Duke of Burgundy how the Earle of Saint Paul escaped for that time a conspiracie that these two Princes made against him page 110 Chap. 12 A discourse very fit for this place of the wisedome of the king and the Constable with good aduertisements to such as are in credite with Princes page 114 The fourth Booke Chap. 1 How the Duke of Burgundie being seazed of the Duchie of Gueldres sought to encroch further vpon the Almaines and how he laid his siege before Nuz page 116 Chap. 2 How the towne of Nuz was succoured by the Emperor and the Almaines against the Duke of Burgundie and of other enimies that the king procured the Duke page 120 Chap. 3 How the king wan from the Duke of Burgundie the castell of Tronquey the townes of Montdidier Roye and Corby and how he sought to perswade the Emperor Frederic to seiz vpon all that the said Duke held of the Empire page 122 Chap. 4 How the Constable began to be had in suspition againe as well of the king as of the Duke of Burgundy page 124 Chap. 5 How the Duke of Burgundy leuied his siege before Nuz by composition and how the king of England his confederate sent to defie king Lewis page 126 Chap. 6 Of the trouble the Constable was in and how he sent letters of credit to the king of England and the Duke of Burgundy which after were in part cause of his death page 129 Chap. 7 How the king clothed a poore seruant in a cote armor with a scutchin and sent him to speake with the king of England in his campe where he receiued a very good answere page 131 Chap. 8 How truce for nine yeeres was treated of betweene the kings of Fraunce and England notwithstanding all the lets and impediments that the Constable and the Duke of Burgundy made page 133 Chap. 9 How the king feasted the English men in Amiens and how there was a place assigned for the enteruiew of the two kings page 136 Chap. 10 How the two kings met and sware the treatie before concluded and how some supposed that the holy Ghost came downe vpon the king of Englands pauilion in the likenes of a white pigeon page 140 Chap. 11 How the Constable after the truce made with the English men sought to excuse himselfe to the king and how truce was also concluded for nine yeeres betweene the king and the Duke of Burgundie page 143 Chap. 12 How the Constables death was fully concluded and sworne betweene the king and the Duke of Burgundy and how he went into the Dukes dominions where by his commandement he was
but lent him during his fathers life Wherfore minding now to preuent him he said thus Chide me not I acknowledge my great follie but I was hard by the bulwarke before I wist But this notwithstanding the marshal said more to his face then he had spoken behinde his backe and sure he was a faithfull and a trustie knight The Earle answered nothing but held downe his hed and entred into this campe where they were all glad of his returne and commended the Kings faith and sure it is to be thought that both the King and the Earle had great regard of their honor considering that each of them putting himselfe into others hands Yet neither of them receiued harme notwithstanding the Earle neuer after returned vnder the Kings power The Notes 1 That is 118750. pounds sterling How the treatie of peace was concluded betweene the the King and the Earle of Charolois and his confederates Chap. 14. IN the end all matters were fully concluded and the next day as the E. of Charolois was making his musters to know what number he had lost suddenly the King accompanied with thirty or forty horse came thither without warning giuen and rid about to view all the bandes one after another saue the marshals of Burgundy who loued him not bicause not long before the King hauing once giuen him Pinal in Loraine tooke it afterward again from him to bestow vpon Iohn Duke of Calabria greatlie to the said marshals damage The King acknowledging his error by little and little reconciled him selfe to the wise and valiant knights that serued the King his father whom he at his first comming to the crowne displaced wherefore they were with the Princes in armes against him Farther it was agreed that the next day the King should come to the Castell of Vincennes and likewise al the Princes that were to do him homage for whose safety the said Castell should be put into the Earle of Charolois hands according to which agreement the next morning thither came the King and likewise all the princes none being absent the porche and the gate being manned with Burgundians well armed there the treatie of peace was concluded 1 The Lord Charles did the King homage for the Duchie of Normandie and the Earle of Charolois for the townes in Picardie aboue mentioned as did also all the rest that had homage to do and the Earle of Saint Paul tooke his othe for the office of Constable but according to the common prouerbe neuer was so plentifull a marriage feast but some departed vndined for heere some had what them lusted and others nothing The King receiued into his seruice certaine gentlemen that were with his brother and also certaine meane persons but the greatest part remained still with his said brother the new Duke of Normandie the D. of Britain who went to Roan to take possession At their departure from the castell of Vincennes they tooke their leaue each of other and returned to their lodgings farther all letters pardons and other writings seruing for the confirmation of the peace were made On one day departed all these three Princes the Duke of Normandy and Britaine first into Normandy and the Duke of Britaine from thence into his owne countrie and the Earle of Charolois into Flaunders But when the Earle was ready to take horse the King meaning effectually to shew how greatly he desired his friendship came to him and accompanied him to Villiers-le-bell a village fower leagues from Paris where both these Princes lodged that night The Kings traine was very small but he commanded two hundred men of armes to follow him to conuey him backe whereof the Earle of Charolois being aduertised as he went to bed fell into great suspicion therof and commanded a great number of his seruants to be in armes Thus you see how impossible it is for two great Princes to agree bicause of the suspicious tales and reports that are daily and howerly beaten into their heads Wherefore two Princes that desire to continue in friendship ought neuer to come togither but to imploy vertuous and wise men betweene them who will encrease their amitie and repaire all such breaches as shall happen The next morning the two Princes tooke their leaue each of other with much courteous and wise talke and the King returned to Paris accompanied with the men of armes aboue mentioned called thither for that purpose whereby he remooued all suspicion the Earle had conceiued of their comming The said Earle rode towards Compiengne and Noyon being receiued by the Kings commandement into all the townes he passed by From thence he marched to Amiens where they did him homage as did also all the other townes vpon the riuer of Somme the territories in Picardy restored to him by this treaty which the King not past nine moneths before had redeemed for the summe of fower hundred thousand crownes as before you haue heard This done he marched incontinent into the countrie of Liege bicause they had by the space of fiue or sixe moneths made war vpon his father in his absence in the countries of Namur Brabant where also they had slain certaine of his subiects 2 but bicause the winter approched he could do no great exploit notwithstanding a number of villages were burnt and diuers small ouerthrowes giuen to the said Liegeois whereupon they made a treatie with the Duke of Burgundie and for performance thereof stood bound to him in a great summe of mony This done the Earle of Charolois returned into Brabant The Notes 1 The treatie was sworne the fift of October the conditions whereof reade in Meyer fol. 337. where he saith that by this treatie Flaunders was exempt from the Kings soueraigntie which saith Degrassalius cap. 1. pag. 6. the King could not grant Quia vltimus resortus alienari aut remitti non potest which also may well appeere to be lawe bicause we reade lib. 5. cap. 17. of our author that notwithstanding this treatie the Chauncellor of Burgundie and Himbercourt being imprisoned and condemned by the citizens of Gaunt appealed to the Parlament of Paris vvhich appeale notvvithstanding vvhether it vvere lavvfull or vnlavvfull or vvhether they appealed to delay the time for safetie of their liues hoping their friends vvould deliuer them or the King happily thereby to recouer his former soueraigntie I leaue heere to discusse Notvvithstanding if any such condition vvere in the treatie of Conflans as Meyer reporteth in my simple iudgement these tvvo vvise men vvould not haue appealed contrary to it and thereby haue made the cause of their death iust though before vniust by violating this priuilege and so infringing the liberties of the state of Flaunders obtained by this treatie of the King 2 The King persvvaded the Liegeois to rebell in Iune 1465. vvhich vvas the same sommer the Earle of Charolois vvas in Fraunce thereby to vvithdravv the Earle of Charolois out of Fraunce home vvhereupon the Liegeois about mid August defied the Duke of
and estimation his subiects are the more obedient they deny him nothing that he demandeth his soldiers also waxe thereby the hardier and the more couragious Notwithstanding oftentimes the Princes themselues after a victory obteined are so puffed vp with pride and vaine glory that commonly their good successe turneth to their harme all the which hapneth by Gods disposition who sendeth alterations according to mens deserts When they within Sainctron saw the battell lost and themselues inclosed on all sides supposing also the discomfiture to be much greater then indeede it was they laid downe their armor yeelded the towne and deliuered such men to the Dukes mercy as he demanded whom he incontinent caused to be beheaded sixe of them being of the hostages that he had dismissed a few daies before vnder such conditions as you haue heard From thence he dislodged and marched to Tongres which abode the siege but bicause the towne was nothing strong they yeelded before the battery vnder the same conditions that their neighbors of Sainctron had accepted and deliuered also ten men to the Duke who were put to death as the former fiue or sixe of them being likewise of the hostages aboue mentioned The Notes 1 The newe copie hath Liny but the old and La Marche name it Huy Guicci Hoey Hubertus Huyum Meyer Hoyum and almost all other good authors 2 The Liegeois armie to succour Sainctron was of 20000. men but understand besides the Kings forces lead by Messir Bare or Barrado as Meyer termeth him who vvas slaine in the battell Meyer 3 The King sent to aide the Liegeois 400. men of armes and 6000. archers Meyer 4 There were slaine at this battell 6000. saith the old copie 3000. Meyer grounding himselfe vpon certeine obscure Annalists one of Flanders the other of Brabant of purpose to contrarie our author as in my epistle is shevved more at large 5 This battell vvas fought vpon Alhallovve Eeuen De la Marche but Meyer saith the 27. of October How some of the citizens of Liege agreeing to yeeld their towne and others refusing so to do the Lord of Hymbercourt found meanes to enter into it for the Duke of Burgundie Chap. 3. FRom Tongres the Duke marched to the citie of Liege where the people were in great diuision for part of them gaue aduise to defend the towne saying that they had force sufficient within it so to do the cheife of the which faction was a knight called Master Raz of Laitre but others seeing all the countrey about burned and destroied would in any wise haue peace were the conditions neuer so vnresonable wherefore when the Duke approched neere to the city diuers ouertures of peace were made by certaine meane persons as prisoners and such like But the principall dealers in the matter were certaine of our hostages who doing cleane contrary to the others aboue mentioned and acknowledging the great fauor the Duke had shewed them brought to his campe with them three hundred of the best citizens in their shirts bare headed bare legged who presented the keies of the city to him and yeelded themselues to his mercy humbly beseching him onely to giue them his word that the towne should neither be fired nor sacked And at the selfe same time that they came in this estate to the Duke the Kings ambassadors being Monseur de Mouy and a secretary called Iohn Preuost were there present who were come to the Duke with the same demandes that the Constable had made a few daies before Farther the verie day of the composition the Duke supposing to enter the citie sent the Lord of Hymbercourt thither before him bicause he was well acquainted in the towne and had beene gouernor thereof vnder Duke Philip during the yeeres they liued in peace notwithstanding entrie was denied him for that day whereupon he retired and lodged in an abbey without one of the towne gates being accompanied with fiftie men of armes the whole number amounting to two hundred souldiers and I my selfe being one of them The Duke of Burgundie sent him word if the place where he laie were strong not to dislodge otherwise to retire backe to him for he could hardlie haue succoured him bicause all that countrey is rock and stone The said Hymbercourt resolued not to mooue for the place was very strong but retained with him fiue or sixe of the citizens that brought the keies to â—he Duke minding to vse their helpe to good purpose as heereafter you shall peceiue At nine of the clock at night we heard a bell ring at the sound whereof the citizens vse to assemble whereupon the said Hymbercourt doubted that this bell called companie togither to issue foorth to assaile vs for he was aduertised that Master Raz of Laitre and other of the citizens would not agree to peace and in deed his surmise was true for that was their determination and they were euen vpon the pointe to sally Then said the Lord of Hymbercourt to vs if we can dalie with them but till midnight we are safe for they will waxe wearie and desirous of sleepe and then those that are our enimies in the towne will flie when they shall see their enterprise frustrate wherefore to bring his purpose to passe he dispatched two of the citizens that he had staied with him and deliuered them certeine freindly articles in writing meaning only to busie the citizens with farther talke to win time for their maner was yet is to assemble togither at the Bishops pallace to debate of their affaires when the bel aboue mentioned is rung These two Burgesses which had been of our hostages when they came to the gate being hardlie two bow shot from the abbey where we lodged found a great number of the citizens there in armes some of the which would needs issue foorth to assaile vs some not Then our two Burgesses tould the Maior of the citie aloude that they brought certeine friendly articles in writing from the Lord of Hymbercourt the Duke of Burgundies lieutenant in those countreis willing him to returne to the pallace to read them whereunto he agreed and incontinent we heard the bell ring againe wherby we vnderstood that they were busied about our articles Our two Burgesses returned not but about an hower after we heard a greater noise at the gate than before and a much greater number came thither in armes crying and rayling vpon vs from the wals whereby the Lord of Hymbercourt perceiued our danger to be now rather increased then diminished wherefore he dispatched the other fower hostages that were yet with him by whom he wrote a letter the contents whereof were that during the time he was gouernor of the citie for the Duke of Burgundie he had vsed them gentlie and louinglie neither would for anie thing consent to their destruction especially seeing not long before he had beene a commoner of one of their companies in the towne namely the Goldsmithes companie 1 wherefore they ought so much the
rather to credit his words To be short he said if they would obteine peace and saue their countrey they most first receiue the Duke into the towne according to their promise and then subscribe to certeine articles written in the scedule he there sent them After he had well instructed these foure hostages they went to the gate as did the former which they found wide open Some of the citizens welcommed them with sharpe words but others were content to heare their message To be short in the end they returned againe to the pallace immediatlie wherupon we heard the bell ring which much comforted vs and by litle litle the noise that was at the gate ceased They were togither in the palace till two of the clock after midnight and in the end concluded to keepe the composition they had made the next morning to deliuer one of the towne gates to the Lord of Hymbercourt whereupon incontinent Master Raz of Laitre and his whole faction fled out of the towne I would not haue stoode so long vpon this point being of so small importance had it not beene to declare that by such fine deuises proceeding of deepe wisdome great perils dangers losses are often eschewed The next morning by day breake a number of the hostages came to the Lord of Hymbercourt desiring him to come to the palace where all the people were assembled there to assure them by his oth of the two points they doubted of to wit the firing and sacking of the towne which being done they promised to put one of the gates into his hands whereof he sent word to the Duke and then accompanied them to the palace where after he had sworne as they demanded he returned to the gate And the citizens commanded the soldiers that were vpon it to come downe and he put into it twelue men of armes and certaine archers and reared vp the Duke of Burgundies ensigne From thence hee went to another walled gate into the which he put the bastard of Burgundy who lay neere at hand Into the third he put the Marshall of Burgundy and into the fourth certain gentlemen that were with himselfe and thus were fower gates well manned with Burgundians and the Dukes ensignes vpon them Now you shall vnderstand that at that time the citie of Liege was one of the mightiest and most populous townes in those quarters except fower or fiue besides that a great multitude of the people of the countrey round about was retired thither so that their losse in the battell was no whit perceaued Farther they were well furnished of all things and it was the deepe of winter when we came before the towne the weather was maruellous foule and the ground woonderfull soft and mirie We on the other side were in great distresse both of vitailes and money and our army in a maner broken Wherefore the Duke had no purpose to besiege the city neither could he though he would and if they had staied the composition but two daies longer he was fully resolued to returne home Wherefore I may well conclude that the great honor he obteined in this voiage proceeded of the meere grace of God contrary to mans expectation for he durst hardly haue craued at Gods hands the good successe he gaue him which great honor and godly victory in the iudgement of all vertuous and wise men hapned to him for the fauor and mercy shewed to the hostages aboue mentioned This I write bicause both Princes and others oftentimes finde fault as it were with themselues when they haue don a pleasure or a good turne to a man saying that they were accursed when they did it will beware heerafter how they pardon so lightly how they bestow any such benefit or shew any such fauor to any man which notwithstanding are things incident to their office Wherefore in mine opinion this is euill spoken and proceedeth of a base and abiect minde for a Prince or any other man that neuer was deceaued can be but a beast bicause he vnderstandeth not the difference betweene good and euill Besides that all men are not of one disposition and it is no reason for the naughtines of one or two to cease from doing good to a great number when time and occasion serueth Notwithstanding I wish Princes to make good choise of those they benefit for all men deserue not alike But me thinke it almost impossible for a wise man to be vnthankfull or vnmindfull of a good turne and if Princes bestow vpon fooles they are woorse than mad for they shall perceaue in the end that a fooles acquaintance can stand them in no steede Farther in mine opinion this is the greatest point of wisedome in a Prince to haue neere about him wise and vertuous men for himselfe shall be iudged to be of the nature and disposition of those that are most familiar with him Wherefore to conclude this discourse me thinke we ought neuer to be wearie of well dooing for one man alone yea the meanest of those we haue pleasured may happily so requite our friendship that he shal recompence the ingratitude of a multitude as appeered by these hostages the greatest part wherof were ingrate and vnthankfull but some of them acknowledged and requited the benefit receaued for by the onely means of fiue or six of them this enterprise was atchiued which turned so greatly to the Duke of Burgundies honor and profit The Notes 1 There were in this citie 32. companies without whom nothing was concluded the principall was the Goldsmithes companie but the most ancient the Blacksmithes Guicci How the Duke of Burgundy made his entrie into the towne of Liege and how the citizens of Gaunt where he had been euill intreated before humbled themselues vnto him Chap. 4. THe next day after the gates were yeelded the Duke entred the towne in great triumph 1 for a breach was made in the wall for his entrie twenty fathoms long and the towne ditch all the length of the breach filled vp euen with the ground with him entred on foote two thousand men of armes armed at all peeces and two thousand archers yet notwithstanding the force in his campe was maruellous great The Duke himselfe entred on horsebacke accompanied with all his houshold seruants and the noblest men in his armie clad and apparelled the most sumptuously that might be and in this estate rode he through the towne and lighted at the great Church To be short he abode there certaine daies and put to death fiue or sixe more of his hostages that had broken promise and with them the towne messenger whom he hated extremely he established certaine new lawes and customes and commanded a great summe of mony to be leuied in the citie which he said was forfeited to him for the treaties and compositions broken the yeeres before Farther he caried away all their artillerie and armour and rased all their gates and wals This done he returned into his owne countries where he
Duke returned to the pallace The King had already dined and seemed greatly to reioice at the taking of the towne and commended also much the Dukes courage and valiantnes knowing that report thereof should be made to him and that these good words would somwhat further his returne into his realme which was his speciall desire After diner the Duke and he met and communed togither very pleasantly and if the King commended his valiantnes behinde his backe I warrant you he dispraised it not before his face which the Duke tooke in very good part I must now returne to speake somwhat of this miserable people that fled out of the city for proofe of a discourse I made in the beginning of this history touching inconueniencies I haue seen ensue a battell lost by a King a D. or a meaner Prince These miserable soules fled through the countrey of Ardennes with their wiues and children But a Knight dwelling in those parts who euer to fore had taken part with them slew now a great number of them and to recouer the conquerors fauor sent word thereof to the Duke reporting the number of those that were slaine and taken to be much greater then in deed it was Notwithstanding that it were great whereby he made his peace with the Duke and saued him selfe Others fled towards Meziers vpon the Maz being within the realme of Fraunce but vpon the way two or three of their Captaines were taken one of the which was named Madoulet who were lead to the Duke and by his commandement put to death Some of these people died also of hunger some of cold and some for lacke of sleepe The Notes 1 Some write that there were slaine in one day at Liege 100000. and Munster writeth 40000. and 12000 women drowned in the riuer which seemeth to disagree with Commines who reporteth not aboue 200. to haue beene slaine notwithstanding our author must heere not be vnderstood so strictlie as though there had not died aboue 200. in all for his meaning is onely that at the entrance into the towne there were not slayne aboue two hundred othervvise considering the number that vvere slaine in Churches houses and flight it cannot be but that manie thousands died neither is our authors meaning othervvise 2 Some copies haue Saint Lavvrence but the old copie Saint Lambert vvhich Annal. Burgund and Guicci report to be the principall Church in Liege 3 The Duke slue before the Church of Saint Lambert tvvo or three archers vvith his ovvne hand La Marche 4 There vvere in Liege to the number of 32. Churches and eight Colleges of priests Meyer fovver abbies fovver frieries three nunneries and vvithout and vvithin the tovvne aboue an hundred Churches Guicci Hubertus How King Lewis returned into Fraunce with the Duke of Burgundies consent and how the Duke proceeded in destroying the countries of Liege and Franchmont Chap. 14. FOwer or fiue daies after the taking of the towne the King began to sollicite such of the Dukes seruants as he held for his friends to mooue their Master for his departure but he himselfe first brake the matter to the Duke after a sage and a wise sort saying that if he could stand him in any more stead he should not spare him otherwise he desired to returne to Paris to cause the treatie to be recorded in the Court of parlament for the maner in Fraunce is to record all treaties there otherwise they are of no force notwithstanding the Kings authority may do much therein He required also the Duke that the next sommer they mought meete againe in Burgundy and make mery a month togither whereunto the Duke in the end agreed mumbling somwhat to himselfe Farther the Duke commanded the treatie to be read againe before the King to know whether ought were passed in it that he misliked putting him to his choise to alowe or disalowe thereof at his pleasure Somwhat also he excused himselfe for bringing him to this siege Lastly he besought him that one article mought be added to the treaty in fauor of the Lords of Lau and Vrfé and Poncet of Riuiere to wit that they mought be restored to all their estates and offices that they enioied before the wars began which request misliked the King for there was no reason why the Duke should require to haue them comprehended in the treaty both for that they were none of his partakers in the wars aboue mentioned 1 and also bicause they serued the Lord Charles the Kings brother not the Duke Notwithstanding the King answered that he would grant his demand vpon condition that he would accord the like to the Lords of Neuers and Croy wherunto the Duke replied nought This was a very wise answer of the King for the Duke hated these Lords by him named so extremely and held so goodly possessions of theirs that he would neuer haue condescended to restore them of the other articles the King answered he would alter none but confirmed the whole treaty as they two had sworne it at Peronne Thus was it agreed that the King should returne home and the Duke accompanied him about halfe a league But at their leaue taking the King said thus vnto him if my brother who is now in Britaine will not accept this partage that I haue giuen him for your sake what will you that I do 1 Whereunto the D. answered thus sodainly without farther deliberation if he will not I refer the order thereof to you two of the which demand and answer sprang a great matter as heereafter you shall heare Thus returned the King in great ioy being safe conducted by the Lords of Cordes and Meriens 2 great bailife of Haynault to the frontiers of the Dukes dominions The Duke abode still in the city of Liege which was extremely handled I must needs confesse but sure they had well deserued so to be delt with bicause of the great cruelties they had cōtinually vsed against the Dukes subiects euer since his grandfathers daies Besides that they neuer performed any promise nor kept any treaty they made and this was the fift yeere that the Duke himselfe had been there yeere by yeere in person and concluded peace which ordinarily the next yeere they brake Farther they had continued excommunicated of long time for their great cruelty against their bishop whereof notwithstanding they made no account neither would obey the commandements of the church on that behalfe Immediately after the Kings departure the Duke with small force determined to go into Franchemont a countrey alitle beyond Liege lying among sharpe rockes and thicke woods From thence came the best soldiers the Liegeois had and of this countrey were they that made the desperate saly aboue mentioned Before his departure a great number of poore prisoners that hid themselues in houses at the taking of the towne were drowned Farther it was concluded that this citie heeretofore so populous should be burned at three seuerall times 3 and three or fower thousand footmen of the
from the Duke of Burgundie the castell of Tronquoy the townes of Montdidier Roye and Corbie and how he sought to perswade the Emperor Frederick to seiz vpon all that the said Duke held of the Empire Chap. 3. ABout this time the truce ended between the King and the Duke to the Kings great griefe who gladly would haue prolonged it but seeing no remedie he went and besieged a little castel called Tronquoy in the yeere 1475. in the very beginning of sommer the pleasantest time of the yeere The castell in short space was taken by assault The next day the K. sent me to parle with them that were within Montdidier who yeelded the place departed with bag baggage Thence I went the third day being accompanied with the Admiral of Fraunce bastard of Bourbon to parle with them that were within Roye who in like maner yeelded the piece bicause they were vtterly in despaire of succors which sure if the Duke had been in the countrie they would not haue done Notwithstanding both these townes were burned contrarie to our promise Thence the King departed and laid his campe before Corbie which abode the siege Goodly approches were made to the towne and the Kings artillerie bet it three daies within it was the Lord of Contay 1 and diuers others who yeelded the place and departed with bag and baggage two daies after this poore town was also sacked and burned as the two former Then the King thought to repaire home with his armie trusting to perswade the Duke of Burgundie to make truce considering the distresse he was in But a certaine Lady whom I know well yet will not name bicause she is still liuing writ him a letter willing him to leade his armie to Arras and into those parts whereunto the King agreed for she was a woman of honor I commend hir not in thus doing for she was in no respect bound to the King The King sent thither the Lord Admirall bastard of Bourbon with a great band of men which burned many townes in those quarters and spoiled all the countrie betweene Abbeuille and Arras whereupon the citizens of Arras who were puffed vp with pride bicause of their long prosperity compelled the garrison of the towne to issue foorth But being too weake to encounter with the Kings forces they were put to flight and pursued so speedily that many of them were slaine and taken togither with all their captaines namely Master Iames of Saint Paule 2 the Constables brother the Lord of Contay the Lord of Carency and diuers others some of the which were neere kinsmen to the Lady hir selfe that caused this enterprise so that she receiued great dammage by the ouerthrow but the King for hir sake repaired all in time The King sent to the Emperor as you haue heard Iohn Tiercelin Lord of Brosse partly to sollicite him not to make peace with the Duke of Burgundy and partly to make his excuse for not sending his forces according to his promise and further to assure him that he would shortly send them and would also continue to spoile and endamage the Dukes dominions as well in the marches of Burgundy 3 as also in Picardy Lastly he made him a new ouuerture which was that they should sweare each to other not to make peace the one without the other and that the Emperor should seaze into his hands all the seigniories that the Duke held and ought to hold of the Empire and proclaime them forfaited to him and he would do the like with all those that were held of the crowne of Fraunce namely Flaunders Artois Burgundy and the rest The Emperor though all his life time he had made small shew of any valor yet was he wise and of great experience bicause of his ancient yeeres Further these practises between vs and him had continued so long that he waxed weary of the wars notwithstanding that they cost him neuer a grote For all the Princes of Almaine lay there vpon their owne charge as their maner is when the war concerneth the state of the empire The Emperor answered the Kings ambassadors after this sort There was somtime neere to a certaine city in Germany a great Beare that much endamaged the countrie three good fellowes of the which city being tauerne haunters came to a tauerne where they were indebted desiring their host yet once more to giue them credit promising him within two daies paiment of the whole debt for they would take this Beare that did so much harme in the countrey whose skin was woorth a great sum of money besides the presents that good folkes would giue them whereunto their host agreed and when they had dined foorth they went toward this beasts caue neere to the which when they approched they met with the Beare vnlooked for and being stricken with sudden feare fled one got vp into a tree the other fled towards the towne but the third the Beare tooke and ouerthrew and foiled vnder hir feete holding hir mussell hard to his eare The poore soule lay flat vpon the ground as though he had been dead Now you shall vnderstand that the nature of a Beare is such that whatsoeuer she holdeth in hir clawes man or beast so soon as she seeth it leaue stirring she foorthwith forsaketh it supposing it to be dead as also this Beare left this poore fellow not doing him any great harme and returned to hir den Then he seeing the danger past arose and went towards the towne But his fellow that stood in the tree hauing beheld all this pageant came downe and ran crying after him to stay and when he had ouertaken him desired him to tell him faithfully what counsell the Beare gaue him in his eare whereto she held hir mussell so long whereunto his fellow answered that she bad him neuer to sell the Beares skin till the Beare were slaine And with this fable paid the Emperor our King not giuing his ambassadors any further answer as though he should haue said come hither according to your promise and let vs take this Duke if we can and then make partition of his goods The Notes 1 This Contay is successor to him mentioned in the wars against the Liegeois 2 This Iames is named in other histories Lord of Richebourg 3 For in the marches of Burgundy the Duke of Bourbon had giuen the Burgundians a great ouerthrow as our author in the next chapter maketh mention How the Constable began to be had in suspicion againe as well of the King as of the Duke of Burgundy Chap. 4. YOu haue heard how Master Iames of Saint Paule and others were taken prisoners before Arras Their captiuity was to the Constables great greefe for the said Master Iames was a louing and naturall brother to him But this was not the onely misfortune that fell vpon him for at this very instant was also taken the Earle of Roussy his sonne gouernor of Burgundy for the Duke 1 and likewise his wife died which was a
of Burgundie in hir childhood and further when the Duke of Burgundie died he was gouernor of Picardie Seneschall of Ponthieu Captaine of Contray gouernor of Peronne Montdidier and Roye and Captaine of Bolloin and Hedin All the which offices he holdeth yet at this present of the King in such maner and forme as after the Dukes death the King our Master confirmed them vnto him After the King had fortified the citie of Arras as you haue heard he departed thence to besiege Hedin leading thither with him the said de Cordes who had beene captaine of the place not past three daies before and his men were yet within it and made shew as though they would defend it for the Lady of Burgundie saying that they had sworne to be true vnto hir but after the artillerie had beaten it two or three daies they fell to parlament with the said de Cordes their late captaine and yeelded the towne to the King But this was indeede a compact matter betweene the King and them From thence the King went before Bolloin where the like was also done but they held as I remember a day longer than the others This was a very dangerous enterprise if there had been soldiers in the countrie and that the King knew well ynough as he afterward told me for diuers in Bolloin perceiuing this to be a meere collusion between the soldiers and him trauelled to put men into the towne if they could haue leuied them in time and to haue defended it in good earnest During the space of fiue or sixe daies that the King lay before Bolloin they of Arras perceiuing how they had beene abused and considering in what danger they stood being enuironed on euery side with a great number of soldiers and great force of artillery trauelled to leuy men to put into their town and write thereabout to their neighbors of Lisle and Douay At the said towne of Douay was Monseur de Vergy and diuers others whose names I remember not with a fewe horsemen escaped out of the battell of Nancy These determined to enter the towne of Arras and leuied all the force they could being to the number of two or three hundred horse good and bad and fiue or sixe hundred footemen But they of Douay whose pecockes feathers were not yet all pulled constrained them spite of their teeths to depart the towne at noone day which was great folly and so came of it For the countrey beyond Arras is as plaine as a mans hand and betweene Douay and Arras are about siue leagues If they had taried till night as they would if they might haue been suffered they had sure accomplished their enterprise But when they were vpon the way they whom the King left in the city of Arras namely Monseur de Lude Iohn de Fou and the Marshall of Loheacs companie being aduertised of their comming determined with all speed to issue foorth and encounter them and to put all in hazard rather then to suffer them to enter the towne for they well perceiued that if they entered the towne the city could not be defended Their enterprise was verie dangerous yet they executed it valiantly and put to flight this band issued out of Douay the which also they so speedily pursued that they were all in a maner either slaine or taken and amongst the prisoners was Monseur de Vergy himselfe The next day the King arriued there in person reioicing much because of this discomfiture and caused all the prisoners to be brought before him and of the footemen commanded a great number to be slaine to put thereby those few men of war yet remaining in those quarters into the greater feare Moreouer Monseur de Vergy he kept long in prison bicause he would by no meanes be brought to do him homage notwithstanding that he lay in close prison in irons But in the end hauing been prisoner a yeere and more by his mothers perswasion he yeelded to the Kings pleasure wherein he did wisely For the King restored him to all his lands and al those he was in sute for He gaue him farther ten thousand franks of yeerely reuenewes and diuers other goodly offices They which escaped out of this discomfiture being verie fewe in number entred the towne before the which the King brought his artillerie and laide his batterie The artillery was goodly and great and the batterie terrible but the towne wall and the ditch nothing strong wherefore they within were in great feare the rather bicause the town was vtterly vnfurnished of soldiers Furher Monseur de Cordes had intelligence within it to say the truth the citie being in the Kings hands the towne could not be defended wherefore they fell to parlament and yeelded it by composition which notwithstanding was euil obserued wherof Monseur de Lude was partly to blame For diuers burgesses and honest men were slaine in the presence of him and Master VVilliam de Cerisay who maruellously inriched themselues there for the said de Lude told me that he got during the time of his being there twenty thousand crownes and two timbers of Marterns Moreouer they of the towne lent the King 60000. crownes which summe was much too great for their abilitie but I thinke it was repaied them for they of Cambray lent 40000. which I am sure were restored as I thinke were these also The Notes 1 This request the King made as Tutor and Godfather to the yoong Ladie in which respect also the said ambassadors did as he required 2 Arras was cut in two to wit into the towne and the citie the towne vnder the Dukes of Burgundie was fortified and the dravve bridge was drawen into the towne but the King beat downe the fortification of the towne and fortified the citie and altered also the drawe bridge and drew it vp into the ccitie whereas before it was drawen vp into the towne 3 If the King had demanded the towne of Arras the ambassadors would neuer haue granted it bicause it was the whole strength of the countrey but by obtaining the citie at that time not greatly accompted of bicause it was vtterly vnfortified he got the said de Cordes discharge who soone after procured him both the towne of Arras and the greatest part of the countrey of Artois 4 For they vvere vvilling to yeeld it but bicause they vvould depart like souldiers and vvithout suspicion of treason they desired to haue the cannon brought before it How the citizens of Gaunt hauing vsurped authority ouer their Princesse after hir fathers death came in ambassage to the King as from the three estates of their countrey Chap. 16. THe same time the siege lay before Arras the Ladie of Burgundie was at Gaunt in the hands of hir mutinous subiects greatly to hir losse but to the Kings profit for alwaies ones losse is an others gaine These citizens of Gaunt so soone as they vnderstood of Duke Charles his death thinking themselues thereby cleerely deliuered out
their wit was not able to reach thus far After the Duke of Gueldres was come before Tournay with this armie being to the number of twelue or fifteene thousand men verie well paid by the townes aboue-mentioned he set fire on the suburbs But within the towne were three or fower hundred men of armes which sallied out and charged his men on the backe as they retired incontinent put them to flight But the D. himselfe being a valiant Prince turned against his enimies meaning to maintaine the skirmish to the end his men might haue leasure to retire but being euil followed he was ouerthrowne and slaine and a good number also of this people yet was the Kings force that did this exploit verie small The Flemmings armie retired with this losse for there was but one band of them defeated The Ladie of Burgundy as I haue heard and hir friends reioised much at this newes for the brute ran for a certaintie that they of Gaunt were determined to compell hir by force to marrie this Duke of Gueldres which willingly she would neuer haue done for diuers reasons aboue rehearsed The Notes 1 VVith the letter the King had also vttered the message that the Chauncellor and Himâ—â—rcourt brought vvhich vvas to treat of a mariage betweene the Daulphin and this Lady which also they offered the King to further and this vvas the cause vvhy the Duke of Cleues became Himbercourts enimie 2 The causes of the Chauncellors and Himbercourts death read in Berlandus fol. 69. A discourse vpon this point that wars and diuisions are permitted of God for the chastisment of Princes and euill people with diuers good reasons and examples for the instruction of Princes which happened in the authors time Chap. 18. I Cannot imagine for what cause God hath so long preserued this towne of Gaunt the fountaine of so many mischiefes and of so small importance for the benefit of the countrey where it is situate For it yeeldeth no commoditie to the common wealth much lesse to the Prince neither is it comparable to Bruges which is a place where there is greater trafficke of merchandise and resort of strangers in my opinion than in any towne in Europe so that the destruction thereof should be an irrecouerable losse But it seemeth that God hath created nothing in this world neither man nor beast without an enimie to hold it in feare and humilitie and for that purpose serueth this towne of Gaunt very well 1 For there is no countrie in Christendome more inclined to all wanton pleasures pomps and delicacies than this countrie of Flaunders notwithstanding they are good Christians there and serue and honor God well But it is not this nation onely to whom God hath giuen as it were a continuall pricke to put them in minde of their dutie For to Fraunce he hath giuen the English men for enimies to the English men the Scots to the realme of Spaine Portugale I will not say Granado for they are enimies of the faith notwithstanding hitherto the said countrie of Granado hath much troubled and endammaged the realme of Castile Against the Princes of Italie the greatest part of the which hold their lands by no title vnles it be giuen them in heauen whereof we can but diuine and who rule cruelly and violently ouer their subiects by extreme exactions and leuies of monie God hath raised vp the free states of the said countrie namely Venice Florence Genua and somtime Bononia Senes Pisa Luques and others which in diuers points are contrarie to the Princes and the Princes to them each of them hauing an eie vpon other that none grow too great But to speake more particularly of the state of Italie against the house of Arragon God hath raised the house of Aniou against the Sforces which vsurpe the place of the Vicounts in the Duchie of Milan the house of Orleans against the Venetians the Princes of Italie as before I haue said and besides them the Florentines against the Florentines their neighbors of Senes Pisa and the Genuois and against the said Genuois their owne euill gouernment and want of faith each to other which is so vniuersally knowen that euery man can tell thereof for their factions are in league the one against the other as appeereth by the Fourgouze 2 Adorni d'Orie and others Now to speake of Almaine you haue alwaies the house of Austriche and Bauiere at variance and particularly them of Bauiere diuided among themselues In like maner the house of Austriche hath particularly opposite to it the Swissers the beginning of which their variance arose but about a little village called Swisse 3 vnable to arme sixe hundred men whereof the other Swissers beare their name who are now so increased that two of the Duke of Austriches best towns namely Zurich and Fribourg be of their cantons Moreouer they haue obtained great victories and slaine of the Dukes of Austrich in the field 4 Diuers other quarrels also there are in Almaine as the Duke of Cleues against the Duke of Gueldres the Dukes of Gueldres against the Dukes of Iulliers the Easterlings who inhabite so far northward against the Kings of Denmarke And to speake generally of Almaine there are so many strong places there so many men inclined to mischiefe to spoile to rob and that vse force violence one against another vpon small occasions that it is woonder to see for a man that is able to maintaine but himselfe and his seruant will proclaime war against a great citie or a Duke that vnder colour thereof he may the better rob and spoile for he will haue some small castell situate vpon a rocke to retire into where he entertaineth twentie or thirtie horsemen which run downe to rob and spoile the countrie at his commandement These men are very seldome punished by the Princes of Almaine bicause they vse their helpe when they neede their seruice but the townes if they take any of them punish them cruelly and often besiege and destroy their castels Further the said townes haue soldiers alwaies in pay for their defence Wherefore it seemeth that these Princes and townes of Almaine are preserued the one to force the other to that is right and good And it is necessarie that such diuisions should be not onely there but through the whole world I haue hitherto spoken but of Europe for I am not well informed of Asia and Affrike yet we heare that they are diuided and make war one vpon another as we do yea after a much beastlier sort For I know in this part of Afrike bordering vpon vs diuers places where they sell one another to the Christians as also well appeereth by the Portugales who haue bought and daily do buie of them manie slaues But I doubt how well we may vpbraid this to the Sarracens sith in some part of Christendome they do the like notwithstanding those countries are either vnder the Turks dominion or next neighbors to him as for example some
put from the crowne vnder colour of adulterie committed by hir mother But the matter ended not without great contention and war for the King of Portugale tooke part with his neece and diuers great Lords of Castile ioined with him yet notwithstanding the said Dom Henries sister wife to the son of Dom Iohn King of Arragon obtained the crowne and possesseth it yet at this day and thus this partage was made in heauen as diuers others are Further you haue seene of late daies the King of Scotland and his sonne being thirteene yeeres of age in battell the one against the other the sonne and his faction preuailed and the King was slaine vpon the place 13 This King murthered his owne brother and was charged with diuers other crimes namely the death of his sister and such like You see also the Duchy of Gueldres out of the right line and haue heard what impietie the Duke last deceased vsed against his father Diuers other examples I could rehearse which should manifestly appeere to be punishments and scourges of God which scourges are the principall cause of wars whereof insue mortality and famine all the which euils proceede of lacke of faith Wherefore I conclude considering the wickednes of men especially of great men who know not themselues neither beleeue that there is a God that it is necessarie for euery Prince and gouernor to haue an aduersary to keepe him in feare and humilitie otherwise no man should be able to liue vnder them or neere them The Notes 1 He meaneth that this towne of Gaunt is situate where it is for a plague to the whole countrey of Flaunders which otherwise bicause of the great abundance thereof would soone forget God 2 Fregosi and Fregosini in other histories 3 This diuision began anno 1309. betweene the Abbot of Einsidlen and the village of Suitz and the said Abbot demanded aide of Leopolde Duke of Austrich 4 As for example Leopolde Duke of Austrich brothers sonne to the former that began this diuision whom they slue at the battell of Sempache 9. Iulij ann 1386. 5 The reason heerof reade in Aristot Politic. lib. 1. cap. 2. Problem Anthonii Zimarae 12. 6 Shame commeth of knowledge so that if a man do a fault and for lacke of learning know not that it is a fault he can neuer be ashamed of it nor seeke to amend it 7 1800000. franks are 225000. pound starling after eight souse to the English shilling and the French liuer at two shillings sixe pence starling 8 4700000. franks are 587500. pound starling 9 That is 2500000. franks which amounteth to 312500. pound starling 10 For it was due by the conditions of the treatie 11 How King Henry the seuenth was next heire of the house of Lancaster the pedegree in the end of the worke will declare where also Philip de Commines error is controlled 12 Our Chronicles say but 3000. and some 5000. 13 This King that slue his father in battell was Iames the 4. who married Margaret sister to King Henry the 8. THE SIXT BOOKE How the Duchie of Burgundie was yeelded to the King Chap. 1. NOw to returne to the principal matter and to proceede in this historie written at your request my Lorde of Vienna while the King brought vnder his subiection the places and townes aboue named in the marches of Picardie his armie lay in Burgundie the generall wherof in apparance was the Prince of Orenge 1 that now is who was borne in the countie of Burgundie and a subiect thereof but lately reuolted the second time from Duke Charles wherefore the King vsed his helpe for he was a great Lord well friended and well beloued both in the said countie and also in the Duchie of Burgundie But the Lord of Cran was the Kings lieutenant and he it was in truth that had the charge of the whole armie and in whom the King reposed his principall trust and sure he was a wise man and faithfull to his Master but somwhat too greedie of his owne gaine The said Lord of Cran when he drew neere the countrie of Burgundie sent the Prince of Orenge before him with certaine others to Digeon to perswade with the citizens to become the Kings subiects which enterprise so well they atchieued by the said Princes meanes that the towne of Digeon and all the other places of the Duchie of Burgundie yeelded to the King Aussonne and certaine castels excepted which held yet for the Ladie of Burgundie The King had promised the Prince of Orenge many goodly estates and to restore him to all his grandfathers inheritance in the countie of Burgundie for the which he was in sute with the Lords of Chauuerguion his vncles 2 whom as he said Duke Charles had fauored to his preiudice For this cause had been often pleaded before him with great solemnitie and once the Duke being accompanied with a number of lawyers gaue iudgement against the Prince at the least thus he reported wherefore he forsooke the Dukes seruice and went to the King But Monseur de Cran after he was entred into all these townes aboue mentioned and had gotten into his hands all the best places that should descend to the said Prince by right of inheritance refused to yeeld them to him notwithstanding both the Kings promise and the said Princes request The King also wrote often to him about this matter without all collusion knowing that he much misused the Prince notwithstanding he feared to displease the said de Cran bicause he had the charge of the whole countrie neither thought he that the Prince either would or could haue caused the countrie of Burgundie to rebel as afterward he did at the lest the greatest part therof But I will heere leaue these Burgundies affaires till another conuenient place shall serue to speake further thereof The Notes 1 This Prince of Orenge was Iohn de Chaslons the Prince of Orenge that now is is of the house of Nassaw 2 The olde copie hath Chasteauguion Annal. Burgund Chaumergnon Annal. Franc. Chauuerguion and so vndoubtedly it is to be read for Chasteauguion was brother to this Prince of Orenge Gaguin How the King entertained the English men after the death of Charles Duke of Burgundie to the end they should not hinder his conquest of the said Dukes dominions Chap. 2. THose that heerafter shall reade this historie and happily vnderstand the affaires both of this realme and the countries bordering vpon it better than my selfe will maruell that since the death of Duke Charles I haue hitherto by the space almost of one whole yeere made no mention of the English men and will woonder that they suffered the King to take the townes bordering so neere vpon them namely Arras Bolloin Ardres and Hedin with diuers other castels and to lie so long with his campe before Saint Omer 1 But you shall vnderstand that the reason thereof was for that our King in wisedome and sense surmounted far Edward King of England then
acquainting vs with ages past and the other by teaching vs more in a booke in three monthes than twenty men liuing successiuely can learne by experience so if a man lack wit to put that which he readeth in practise his reading serueth to no purpose Wherfore to end this discourse me think the greatest plague that God can lay vpon a realme is to giue them an vnwise Prince the roote and fountaine of all mischiefe for first diuision and ciuill wars arise thereof among his subiects bicause he giueth his authority to others which especially aboue all things he ought to reserue to himselfe After diuision ensueth famine and mortality and all other euils that accompany the wars wherefore heereby we may consider how much a Princes subiects ought to lament when they see his children wantonly brought vp and gouerned by euill conditioned persons The Notes 1 Of treasons in treaty we haue numbers of examples First of Iugurtha taken by his father in law Boccus and deliuered to the Romaines Sertorius slaine at a banquet by Perpenna In England we haue the treason of Hengist to Vortiger In Scotland we reade of William Earle of Douglasse slaine by Iames King of Scots in treaty In Germanie Albert Earle of Franconia betraied in treaty by Ottho Bishop of Mentz Iohn of Angieu slaine by Albertus Bauarus Earle of Henault and Flanders notwithstanding his safe conduct In Fraunce Iohn Duke of Burgundie slaine by Charles the 7. William Duke of Normandie by Arnulph Earle of Flanders Lewis King of Fraunce taken prisoner by the Normans and Danes at Roan Iohn Duke of Britaine taken at a banquet and imprisoned by Margaret Countisse of Pontibera Guido Earle of Flanders twice taken prisoner vnder safeconduct by Philip le Bell King of Fraunce Charles the simple slaine by the Earle of Vermandoys VVhat should I speake of the tresons of Ferrande and Alfonse Kings of Naples or of Christiern King of Denmarke with numbers of others recorded in histories as our author heere very truly reporteth 2 Others be of a contrarie opinion that our life is as long as in Dauids time appeereth by the 90. Psalme where he sheweth the vsuall age of man in his time to haue beene 70. and sometime 80. yeers which men reche to at this day also and if mans life be as long now as then it is a good consequent that his body is as strong as is to be prooued by manie reasons too long to reherse Now that our faith is as good as theirs appeereth also by the ancient histories for if this be a true saying Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis And the Princes in times past were so euill as none could be worse as who so list to reade without partiality shal be forced to confesse I see no reason that the world should be worse now then in times past although it seeme so to many bicause we see the worst of our owne age yea and feele too many times but commonly the histories deliuer to vs but the best of times past and burie the worst and though they did yet the euill seene with our eie is more liuely imprinted in minde then the euill we conceiue by our eare which is the cause men euer thinke better of the times past then the present estate 3 Imaruell if King Lewis were learned he would haue his sonne to learne onely this lesson Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare How and for what cause the King was staied and held prisoner in the castell of Peronne by the Duke of Burgundies commandement Chap. 7. YOu haue heard how the King and this army of Burgundie arriued at Peronne both in one istant for the Duke could not countermand them in time bicause they were well forward vpon the way when the Kings comming was first communed of Their arriuall troubled the feast bicause of diuers doubts that sprang thereof Notwithstanding these two Princes appointed certeine of their seruants to negotiate togither about their affaires in most louing and freindly sort But after three or foure daies communication these strange newes came from Liege which I will now reherse The K. comming to Peronne had cleane forgotten the two ambassadors sent to Liege to sollicite them to rebell against the Duke who so diligently executed their charge that before the Kings arriuall at Peronne the Liegeois had leuied great force and were gone to surprise the towne of Tongres where the Bishop of Liege and the Lord of Hymbercourt lodged accompanied with two thousand men and better and the said Bishop and Hymbercourt they tooke with certein other of the Bishops familiar friends but few they slew neither was the number of the prisoners great the rest fled as men discomfited leauing bag and bagage behinde them This done the Liegeois returned towards their citie not far distant from Tongres and vpon the way thitherward the Lord of Hymbercourt compounded for his ransome with a knight called Master VVilliam de Ville named by the French Le Sauuage who fearing lest this furious people should kill him suffered him to depart vpon his word which notwithstanding he neuer chalenged for soon after himselfe was slaine the people reioiced much for the taking of their Bishop Farther you shall vnderstand that they hated extremely certaine chanons of the Church taken prisoners that day of whom for the first repast they slew fiue or sixe one of the which was named Master Robert the Bishops speciall friend whom I my selfe haue often seene armed at all peeces waiting vpon his Master for such is the maner of the Alemaigne Prelates 1 The said Master Robert they slew in the Bishops presence and hewed him into a number of small gobbets which they threw one at another in dirision To be short before their returne to Liege which was but eight leagues from Tongres they slew sixteen chanons and others all in maner the Bishops seruants This done they receiued aduertisement that the treatie betweene the King and the Duke was alreadie begun wherefore they dismissed certaine Burgundians supposing to excuse their fault by seeming to haue attempted nothing against the Duke but only against their Bishop whom they led prisoner into the citie Those that escaped put all the countrie in an vprore as they went by means whereof this newes came soone to the Duke some said all were slaine others the contrarie for such aduertisements are neuer reported after one sort At the length certaine arriued that saw these chanons slaine who supposing the Bishop and Hymbercourt to be of the number auowed constantly that all were murthered and farther that they saw the Kings ambassadors in the companie whom also they named All this was told the Duke who foorthwith beleeued it and fell into an extreme furie saying that the King was come thither to abuse him and gaue commandement to shut the gates of the castell and the towne spreading a fond rumor that he did it bicause of a budget with iewels and monie that was lost The King
countrey of Lambourg 4 being neighbors to the Liegeois and almost of the same maners and language were appointed to fire it but to saue the churches First the great bridge built ouer the riuer of Maze was beaten downe then a great number were chosen out to defend the chanons houses about the cathedrall church to the end they might haue lodging that should say deuine seruice In like maner also diuers were appointed for defence of the other Churches This done the Duke departed into the countrey of Frachemont and immediately after he was out of the towne we saw a great number of houses on this side the riuer on fire he marched forwarde and lodged fower leagues off yet heard we the noise as easilie as if we had beene there present I wot not whether it were bicause the winde sat that way or bicause we lodged vpon the riuer The next day the Duke departed thence and those that were left behind in the towne continued still the fire as they were commanded but the Churches were all saued afew excepted and aboue three hundred houses to lodge the Church men which caused the towne so soone to be replenished againe for much people returned to dwell with these Priests Bicause of extreme frost and cold the greatest part of the Dukes army was forced to go on foote into the countrey of Franchemont which had neuer a walled towne in it but all villages The Duke lodged fiue or sixe daies in a litle valley called Polleneg his armie was deuided into two bands the sooner to destroy the countrie All the houses he commanded to be burned al the iron mils broken which is their onely trade of liuing Farther our men hunted the poore people out of great woods and forests where they lay hidden with their goods and manie they slew and tooke prisoners and there the soldiers got good booties The cold was more extreme then is almost credible for I saw a gentleman that with cold lost the vse of his foote and neuer recouered it and a Page that had two of his fingers rotted from his hand and in like maner a woman dead for cold and her childe with her whereof shee was newely deliuered Farther by the space of three daies all the wine that was drunke in the Dukes lodging was cut with hatchets for it was so frozen in the vessels that we were forced to breake them and cut the wine being a masse of yse into small peeces which men bare away in hats and baskets as best liked them I could reherse diuers other strange accidents of the cold too long to write To conclude at eight daies end hunger drew vs thence in haste and the Duke departed to Namur and so into Brabant where he was honorably receiued The Notes 1 This was the treaty of Conflans at the conclusion vvhereof these three heere named as our auhor himselfe before reherseth vvere the Dukes enimies and tooke part vvith the King vvherefore no reason it vvas that the Duke should seeke to haue them comprehended in the treatie as his freinds seeing at the conclusion thereof they vvere his enimies 2 This des Murz the old copie nameth De Meriens La Marche d'Emeries Annal. Burgund d'Aymeries The tovvnes name is Aymeries in Henault vpon the riuer of Sambre Guicci in the description of Henault yet the same author in his description generall nameth the man d'Emery Annal. Burgund in another place nameth him d'Esmeriez Meyer Aymericius and Emericius so that I suppose it best to reade it as I haue translated it but that des Murz is very corrupt I am out of doubt 3 This city vvas diuided into three quarters as appeereth by Guic. description for the vvhich cause it vvas fired at three seuerall times 4 The old copie hath Lambourg as I haue translated it the nevv Luxembourg as haue also Annal. Burgund but not vvell in mine opinion For Lambourg is hard by Liege but Luxembourg farther off How the King by subtill meanes perswaded the Lord Charles his brother to take the Duchie of Guienne for Brie and Champaigne to the Duke of Burgundies discontentment Chap. 15. THe King after his departure from the Duke returned with great ioy into his realme attempting nothing against the Duke for his euill vsage at Peronne and Liege but seeming to take all in good part Notwithstanding sharpe warre arose afterward between them but not soon neither was this the cheif cause thereof though happily it might in part further it for if this treatie had beene concluded at Paris it had passed in effect as it did at Peronne But the Duke by his officers aduise sought to aduaunce the bonds of his dominions besides that diuers subtill practises were vsed to set these two Princes againe at variance as you shall heare when occasion serueth The Lord Charles of Fraunce the Kings onely brother and late Duke of Normandie being aduertised of this treatie made at Peronne and the partage assigned to him thereby sent foorthwith to the King desiring him to accomplish the treatie and performe his promise The King sent in like maner to him about that matter and manie messengers ran to and fro betweene them The Duke of Burgundie sent also his ambassadors to the saide Lord Charles desiring him to accept no other partage then Champaigne and Brie which by his meanes was granted him shewing him withall how great good will he bare him sith notwithstanding he had abandoned him yet would not he do the like as the sequell well declared but had also comprehended the Duke of Britain in the treatie as his confederate Farther he sent him word that Champaigne and Brie lay very commodiously for them both bicause if the King should at any time attempt ought against him he might within two daies warning haue succours out of Burgundie the two countries bordering on vpon another Lastely he aduertised him that his partage was very good and that he might leuie in his countries aides customes and subsidies neither could the King claime any thing there but homage resort and soueraignity This Lord Charles was a man doing little or nothing of himselfe but wholy lead and gouerned by others notwithstanding that he were aboue fiue and twenty yeeres of age Thus passed the winter which was well spent before the Kings departure from vs messengers ran continually to and fro about this partage for the King ment nothing lesse then to giue his brother that he had promised bicause he would not haue him and the Duke of Burgundie so neere neighbours But he treated with his brother to take Guienne which is in maner all Aquitaine for Brie and Champaigne The Lord Charles feared to displease the Duke of Bourgundy and doubted if he yeelded to the Kings request and he should not keepe touch with him that then he should loose both freend and partage and so be left bare boord But the King being the subtilest prince then liuing and the cunningest dealer in such treaties perceiuing that he
Priest there present mistrusting who he should be communed thereof with the ferry man and viewed well the yoong Duke and knew him There he was taken and led to Namur where he remained prisoner till the Duke of Burgundies death after the which the Citizens of Gaunt deliuered him and would perforce haue constrained the Dukes daughter afterward Duches of Austrich to marry him They led him also with them before Tournay where being weakly accompanied in a certaine skirmish he was miserably slaine in full reuenge of his impiety against his father The father during his sonnes imprisonment died the Duke of Burgundy yet liuing whom bicause of his said sonnes ingratitude and vnnaturalnes he made his heire by the which title the Duke at this present conquered the saide Duchy of Gueldres 5 where he found some resistance but bicause he was mighty and in truce with the King he easily subdued it and held it all the daies of his life and his ofspring possesseth it yet at this day and shall do as long as it pleaseth God This as I said at the beginning I haue rehearsed onely to shew that such cruelty and impiety neuer remaineth vnpunished The Duke of Burgundy being returned into his countrey grew woonderfull lofty and high minded bicause he had gotten this Duchy into his clawes and began to finde great sweetenes in this Duch enterprises both for that the Emperor was a Prince of an abiect minde enduring all things rather than he would spend any thing and also bicause without aide of the Princes of the Empire his owne force was but small Wherefore the Duke prolonged the truce with the King Some of the Kings seruants were of opinion that the King did vnaduisedly to prolong the turce and suffer the Duke to grow as he did And sure they had some apparance of reason to leade them so to say but bicause they lacked experience and had not seene the world abroad they wist not what the matter meant But others that vnderstood the case better than they and were able to say more therein bicause they had trauelled those countries aduised the King to prolong the truce and permit the Duke to weare and weary himselfe against the country of Almaine the greatnes and force whereof is almost incredible 6 alleaging that after he had taken one place or atchiued one enterprise he would foorthwith attempt another for one good aduenture could not content his nature wherein he was of disposition cleane contrary to the King for the Duke the more he was busied the more he sought to busie himselfe Wherefore they told the King that he could no way better be reuenged of the Duke than by suffering him to run himselfe out of breath as he did aduising him withall rather to send him some small aide than put him in any doubt of breach of the truce further alleaging that it could not otherwise happen but that he must of necessity vtterly consume himselfe against the greatnes force of Almaine bicause the Princes of the Empire would make resistance were the Emperor neuer so simple a man and so it came to passe in the end There was a quarrel 7 between two pretending title to the Bishoprick of Coulon one of the which was the Lantzgraue of Hesses brother and the other the Palzgraue of the Rhene his cosen 8 The Duke of Burgundy tooke part with the Palzgraue and attempted to place him in the sea of Coulon by force trusting thereby to seaze some places of the countrey into his owne hands and to that end went and laid his siege before Nuz a towne neere to Coulon in the yeere 1474. He had so many great enterprises in his head that in the end the burthen thereof pressed him to the ground for in the selfesame sommer he both trauelled with Edward King of England to passe with his army into Fraunce being in a readines by his sute and sollicitation and purposed also to atchieue his enterprise in Almaine which was this If he had taken Nuz he meant to man it well and two or three other places aboue Coulon 9 wherby the citie of Coulon being at his commandement 10 he might haue gone vp countermount against the riuer of Rhene into the countrey of Ferrette which he then held and so all the Rhene should haue been vnder his subiection euen downe to Holland where it entreth the sea vpon the which riuer are more strong townes and castels than any realme christened except Fraunce The truce with the King was prolonged for sixe moneths which time being now almost expired the King trauelled to prolong it still to the ende the Duke might do his pleasure in Almaine whereunto the Duke would not agree bicause of his promise to the English men I would gladly passe ouer this siege of Nuz bicause it is out of the course of my historie for I was not present at it notwithstanding somewhat I am forced to speake thereof bicause of diuers accidents depending thereupon The said towne of Nuz was maruellous strong and within it was the Lantzgraue of Hesse 11 with many of his kinsfolkes and friends to the number of 1800. horsemen as I haue beene informed who valiantly behaued themselues and of foote men sufficient The Lantzgraue as I haue said was brother to the Bishop elected against him whom the Duke of Burgundy defended who laide his siege before Nuz in the yeere 1474. His force was neuer so great as then especially of horsemen for bicause he meant to attempt somewhat in Italie he had in pay a thousand Italian men of armes good and bad vnder the leading of one called the Earle of Campobache a Neapolitan borne of the house of Anious faction a dangerous and a traiterous fellow In the Dukes campe serued also Iames Galeot a valiant gentleman of Naples and diuers others whose names for breuitie I passe ouer Further he had in his armie three thousand English men excellent good soldiers and of his owne subiects a maruellous number well armed and who long had been trained vp in the wars besides great force of goodly peeces of artillerie all the which preparation he put in a readines to ioine with the English men at their landing who vsed as great diligence in England as they could But it is long before an army can be leuied there bicause the King may attempt no war before he haue assembled his court of Parlament being the same in effect that the three estates in Fraunce which me thinke is a very good and a laudable custome For the King by that meanes is the stronger and the better serued in all enterprises he taketh in hand with the consent of his estates to whom when they are assembled he declareth his intent and desireth aide of his subiects for no subsidie is leuied in England but for inuasion of Fraunce or Scotland or such like enterprises of great charge which then the people grant willingly and liberally especially to passe into Fraunce wherefore the Kings of England
great harme afterward in the two countries aboue named for they spoiled and burned many goodly villages and faire farms more to the dammage of the inhabitants of Tournay than of any other for the reasons aboue alleaged To be short so long they spoiled that the Flemmings arose and tooke out of prison the Duke of Guelderland whom Duke Charles had held prisoner and made him their captaine and in this estate came before the towne of Tournay where they lay not long but fled in great disorder and lost many of their men and among the rest the Duke of Gueldres who had put himselfe behinde to maintaine the skirmish being euill followed was there slaine as afterward you shall heare more at large Wherefore this honor and good successe that happened to the King and the great losse his enimies receiued proceeded of the said Master Oliuers wisedome and iudgement so that peraduenture a wiser man and a greater personage than he might haue failed to atchieue the like enterprise I haue spoken ynough of the great charge this sage Prince committed to this meane person vnfit to manage so waightie a cause onely adding that it seemed that God had troubled the Kings wits in this behalfe For as I said before if he had not thought this enterprise far easier than indeede it was but had appeased his wrath and laid downe his greedy desire of reuenge vpon this house of Burgundy vndoubtedly he had held at this day all those Seniories vnder his subiection The Notes 1 The King claimed this Lady as his vvarde bicause diuers of hir dominions namely Flaunders Artois c. were held of the crowne of Fraunce besides that he was hir godfather which vvas the cause vvhy he commanded this Oliuer to mooue this request Of the ambassadors the Lady of Burgundy daughter to the late Duke Charles sent to the King and how by meanes of Monseur de Cordes the citie of Arras the townes of Hedin and Bollein and the towne of Arras itselfe were yeelded to the King Chap. 15. YOu haue heard how Master VVilliam Bische yeelded Peronne to the King The said Bische was a man of base parentage borne at Molins-Engibers in Niuernois but inriched and greatly aduanced by Duke Charles of Burgundy who made him captaine of Peronne bicause his house called Clery being a strong and goodly castell that the said Bische had purchased was neere vnto it But to proceede after the King had made his entry into the towne certaine ambassadors came to him from the Lady of Burgundy being all the greatest and noblest personages that were able to do hir any seruice which was vnaduisedly done to send so many togither but such was their desolation and feare that they wist not well what to say or do The aboue named ambassadors were these the Chauncellor of Burgundy called Master VVilliam Hugonet a notable wise man who had been in great credit with Duke Charles and was highly adaunced by him The Lord of Himbercourt so often before mentioned in this history was there also who was as wise a gentleman and as able to manage a waighty cause as euer I knew any togither with the Lord of la Vere a great Lord in Zeland and the Lord of Grutuse and diuers others as well noble men as church men and burgesses of good townes The King before he gaue them audience trauelled both generally with them all and apart with euery one of them to draw them to his seruice They all gaue him humble and lowly words as men in great feare Notwithstanding those that had their possessions far from his dominions in such countries as they thought to be out of his reach would not binde themselues to him in any respect vnlesse the mariage betweene his sonne the Daulphin and the said Lady their Mistres tooke effect But the Chauncellor and the Lord of Himbercourt who had liued long in great authority wherein they still desired to continue and had their lands lying neere to the Kings dominions the one in the Duchy of Burgundy the other in Picardy neere to Amiens gaue eare to his offers and promised both to serue him in furthering this mariage and also wholy to become his the mariage being accomplished which course he liked not though it were simply the best but was displeased with them for that they would not then absolutely enter into his seruice Notwithstanding he shewed them no countenance of displeasure bicause he would vse their helpe as he might Moreouer the King hauing now good intelligence with Monseur de Cordes captaine and gouernor of Arras by his counsel and aduise required these ambassadors to cause the said de Cordes to receiue his men into the city of Arras 1 for at that time there were wals and trenches betweene the towne and the city but the towne was then fortified against the city 2 and now contrariwise the citie is fortified against the towne After diuers perswasions vsed to the said ambassadors that this should be the best and readiest way to obtaine peace in shewing such obedience to the King they agreed to his demaund especially the Chauncellor and Himbercourt and sent a letter of discharge to the said de Cordes wherein they aduertised him of their consent to the deliuerie of the citie of Arras Into the which so soone as the King was entred he raised bulworks of earth against the gates of the towne and in diuers other places neere to the towne Further bicause of this discharge Monseur de Cordes and the men of war that were with him departed out of the towne 3 and went whither them listed and serued where them best liked And as touching the said de Cordes he now accounting himselfe discharged of his Mistres seruice by the ambassadors letters aboue mentioned determined to do homage to the King and to enter into his seruice both bicause his house name and armes were on this side the riuer of Somme for he was called Master Philip of Creuecoeur second brother to the Lord of Creuecoeur and also bicause the territories so often aboue mentioned which the house of Burgundie had possessed vpon the said riuer of Somme during the liues of Duke Philip and Duke Charles returned now without all controuersie to the crowne For by the conditions of the treatie of Arras they were giuen to Duke Philip and his heires males onely Wherefore seeing Duke Charles left no issue but his daughter the said Master Philip of Creuecoeur became without all doubt the Kings subiect so that he could commit no fault by entering into the Kings seruice and restoring to him that which he held of him vnlesse he had done homage anew to the Lady of Burgundie Notwithstanding men haue reported and will report diuersly of him for this fact wherefore I leaue the matter to other mens iudgements True it is that he had beene brought vp enriched and aduaunced to great honor by Duke Charles and that his mother for a certaine space was gouernesse of the Lady
many cities which he had wrongfully vsurped 7 and seeing the image of him and his horse being of fine marble stood higher than the altar and yet his body lay vnder his horse feete He answered me softly Sir in this countrey we call all those Saints that haue done vs any good and he built this goodly charterhouse church which in very deed is the fairest that euer I saw for it is all of fine marble But to proceede the said Master Galeas sought to make himselfe great and so I thinke did the Duke of Milan also bicause he had married his base daughter for he manifestly declared that he would aduance him as his owne sonne bicause at that time his owne children were all very yoong The said Pisans were I confesse cruelly handled by the Florentines for they vsed them like slaues They had subdued them about a hundred yeeres before euen in the selfe same yeere that the Venetians conquered Padua which was the first victory that they obtained vpon the firme land And the fortune of these two cities was almost alike for they had been ancient enimies to those whom now they serued many yeeres before they were conquered and almost of equall force with them These Pisans consulted togither about this motion and seeing themselues counselled by so great a personage and being also of themselues desirous of libertie a great number of them both men and women came crying to the King as he went to masse Libertie libertie desiring him with weeping eies to graunt it them One of the Masters of the requests who was a counsellor of the parliament in Daulphine named Robot going before the King or executing his office said vnto him were it bicause he had promised the Pisans so to do or bicause he vnderstood not what they demanded that it was a lamemtable case and that of right he ought to graunt them their petition adding that neuer men were so cruelly handled The King not vnderstanding well what this word meant but bewailing in his minde the miserable estate of the Italian nation and the cruelty that both Princes commonalties vse towards their subiects notwithstanding that in reason he could not graunt them their liberty seeing the towne was none of his but lent him vpon friendship at his great need answered that he was contented to grant their request so the counsellor aboue named declared vnto them wherupon the people incontinent began to proclaim holiday in token of ioy and went to their bridge which is a very goodly one built ouer the riuer of Arne threw down to the ground afterward into the riuer a great lion standing vpon a strong pillar of marble called maior representing the Seniorie of Florence vpon the which pillar they caused to be erected the image of a K. of Fraunce holding a naked sword in his hand treading the maior or lion vnder his horse feet But after when the K. of Romains entred the town they did with the Kings image as now with the lion for such is the nature of the Italian nation to turne euer with the strongest Notwithstanding these Pisans were then yet are so cruelly handled that they are to be holden for excused The Notes 1 It was Fodormi in the French but corruptly 2 He meaneth that the Duke of Milan found delaies to cause the King to stay all the winter in the Florentines territories hoping that their townes would yeeld vnto him as indeede they did and that then he might obtaine of the King such as he would 3 The factions of the Guelphes and Gibellines began in Italie vnder the Emperor Frederike the second anno 1240. The Gibellines held for the Emperor the Guelphes for the Pope 4 This composition he speaketh of afterward in this chapter 5 It was sold to this Iohn Galeas and he sold it ouer to the Florentines 6 This parke was made by the said Iohn Galeas after he had conquered Pauia it was twenty miles in circuit walled round about and stored with all kinde of beasts but now by meanes of the wars it is destroied by this parke he built also the castell In this parke was Francis the French King taken prisoner 7 This Duke conquered in Italy 29. cities among the which were Pauie Bolonia Verona Senes Perouse Luques Verceil c. How the King departed from Pisa to Florence and of the flight and ruine of Peter de Medices Chap. 8. AFter the King had soiourned at Pisa certaine daies he departed to Florence where they declared vnto him the great wrong he had done their estate by restoring the Pisans to libertie against his promise Those that were appointed to make answer heereunto excused the fact saying that the King had not well vnderstood with what conditions Pisa was deliuered vnto him neither vnderstood he another treatie he made with the Florentines 1 whereof you shall heare after I haue spoken somewhat of Peter de Medicis ruine and shewed how the King entered into Florence leauing a garrison in Pisa and the other places lent him The said Peter after he had yeelded to the King the places aboue mentioned with the consent of certaine of the towne returned to the citie supposing that the King would not hold them still but restore them at his departute from Pisa where he would but repose himselfe three or fower daies Yet am I of opinion that if it had pleased him to winter there they would willingly haue agreed thereunto notwithstanding that Pisa be of greater importance to them than Florence it selfe saue that their persons and goods be resident in Florence 2 At the said Peters returne to Florence euery man frowned vpon him and not without cause for he had dispossessed them of their whole force and of all that they had conquered in a hundred yeeres so that their mindes seemed already to foretell them the euils that afterward fell vpon them Wherefore partly for this cause which I suppose to be the principall though they neuer vttered it partly for the great hatred before rehearsed which they bare him and partly also to recouer their libertie wherof they thought themselues bereaued by him they determined to banish him the towne forgetting all the benefits of Cosmus and Laurence de Medicis his ancestors The said Peter hauing no certaine intelligence of this their determination yet doubting it went to the palace with his ordinarie garde to aduertise them of the Kings comming who was about three miles from the towne but when he came to the palace gate and knocked one of the house of Nerly being the father and many sonnes whom my selfe knew well all of great wealth refused to let him in saying that if he would enter alone he should otherwise not and he that made him this refusall was armed The said Peter returned incontinent to his house and armed both himselfe and his seruants determining to make resistance against his enimies in the towne Whereof he also aduertised one Paule Vrsin who was in pay