of gold pretious stones dedicated to his Crowne by a Holy humility and a religious acknowledgement of the victory which the Son of God hath gotten by his bloud to giue vs in Heauen the Crowne of immortall life This famous act chanced in the yeare 1099. in the moneth of March. Hauing put Godefroy and the Christians in possession of the Holy Land let vs returne into France to our Philip not without griefe to see the dissention betwixt the Emperour and Pope who were nothing reconciled by the voiage to the holy Land The increase of this newe power purchased in England to the Sonnes of William the Conquerour gaue him no small occasion to looke to his affaires and the rather for that this newe King of England had begonne to make a breach in his Estate taking Xaintonge and Poitou Countries very important being members of one of the principall Prouinces of his realme The sonnes of VVilliam King of England foreseeing also that Normandy would bandy it selfe against France without all respect William had leâ—t three sonnes of great hope William surnamed Rufus King of England Robert Duke of Normandie whome wee haue left in the holy Land and Henry Earle of Maine withall his treasure Philip therefore to secure his Estate following the example of his Ancestors caused Lewis his sonne whome hee had by Berthe daughter to Baldwin Earle oâ— Flanders to bee Crowned King Philip dies There was a scandalous breach in this marriage for Philip falling in loue with Bertrade the wife of Foâ—ques Earle of Aniou puts away Berthe and afterwards hauing reiected Bertrade hee receiued Berthe againe His disposition being mother to King Lewis to whome hauing resigned the crowne at Orleans hee died at Melun in the yeare of grace 1109. of his age 57. and of his raigne 49. hauing raigned long to settle his Estate but not without a leuaine of much trouble to come hauing degenerated from the vertues of his grand-fathers and father He was disloyall couetous louing nothing but his owne profit pittilesse ingrate and one who sowed dangerous seeds of much mischiefe which began to bud in the raigne ensuing LEWIS the 6. called the grose the 40. King LEWES .6 KING OF FRANCE XXXX AS wee foresee a storme by the clouds that rise 1110. by the darke mists of the thicke ayre The estate of this raigne pierced through with sparkles like the shining of a close fire and by the motiues of the water driuen with a violent and sudden wind euen so there be simtomes fits in an estate which foretell the alterations which shall insue the which fall not all at one instant but the subiect being gathered togither in processe of time breakes forth when it can no longer hold There is this difference betwixt naturall things and those which belong to man for that men can well discerne what the wether will be but he is blind in that which concerns himselfe and neuer beleeues vntil he feeles the blow falling into the danger which he flies by his owne fault neuer wise but after danger France had inioyed peace aboue a hundred yeares vnder these forepassed raignes shee now growes wearie This raigne is a preamble to a mornfull song which shal make them to weepe that reioyced in the fruition of so long rest The name of royall authoritie held all those great men backe which had any interest therein the wisedome of Capet Robert Henry and Philip had so bridled them as they willingly obeyed Now they are of an other humor The Duke of Normandie who since Capet had beene obedient and affectionate to the Crowne The French begin to fall from their obedience seeing himselfe strengthened with the Realme of England hee frames all his practises to ouerthrow this order by rebellions and tumults Lewis had scarce performed his fathers funeralls before the fire of rebellion kindled in diuers parts of the realme and as if the Kings youth had beene a blemish to his dignitie euery one will play the pettie King The places neere vnto Paris began these first reuolts by reason of the many great horses thereabouts Corbeil had an Earle 1109 Chartres an other Piseaux in Beause had one Crecy had his Lord Marle his Pompone his and so diuers other Seigneuries had euery one their particular Lord. But as a disease stirres vp all the humors in a weake bodie so all that were discontented with Lewis gather togither into one head to afflict him vnder the countenance of the King of England They were for a time suppressed yet this was but to open a vaine and not to cure the feuer Guy of Crecy the Lord Piseaux 〈◊〉 Earle of Dammartin Thibaud Earle of Champagne and Brye Pean of Louure in Parisi Milon of Montlehâ—ry and Philippe the bastard of King Philippe all ioyntly play the mutines and rise against their King At the same instant Henry King of England goes to field his priuate quarrell was for the Towne of Gisors seated vpon the riuer of Epre on the confines of Normandie Rebels suppressed and punished But this small processe was soone ended for Lewis hauing defeated the English neere vnto Gisors hee forced Henry to retyre and afterwards punished all these rebells increasing his reuenues by their confiscations But the quarâ—ell betwixt the Emperour and the Pope did hatch a more dangerous proces for France We haue sayd that Henry the 5. banded against his father Henry the 4. who had associated him to the Empire and had cast him into prison by the Popes Councell where this poore man died for greefe Henry the 5. wonderfully troubled in consciâ—nce and vexed with daily approches that hee had violated the Imperiall rights resolued to haue his reuenge of Pope Pascall the author of this cruell and vnkind Councell To conclude he aâ—mes and that with so great a resolution as in few dayes The Emperour 〈◊〉 for his 〈…〉 hee assembles threescore thousand foote and thirtie thousand horle with this army hee goes into Itâ—lie and hauing taken and spoyled Noâ—arre Pontremolo and Arezzo hee comes a Conqueror to the gates of Rome the which were opened without any resistance Being entred the Cittie and causing the Pope and Colledge to assemble he makes knowne vnto them the rights of the Empire as Pope Leo the eight had acknowledged them to Otho the second Emperour The Emperour comâ—s to Româ— and 〈◊〉 the â—oâ—e to take an oth and before him Adrian to Charlemagne according to the decâ—ee of the Councell at Rome conteined in the sixtie third distinction and to conclude he forced him to take the oath of fidelity as to the true and lawfull Emperour and then returnes with his army Pope Pascal extremely moued with this 〈◊〉 calls a Councell wherein he protests to haue beene forced by 〈◊〉 so by consequence pronounceth that whatsoeuer he had promised was of no force and after all these toyles he died Gelisais succeeded him both in place and hatred against the Emperour
these butchers attending their misery Lewis King of France punisheth the rebells shut themselues into the great Tower of S. Donas Lewis doth first bury the body of this good Earle honourably the which had lien without sepulchre and then doth punish the murtherers and their complices rigourously But this is not all He must prouide for the Earledome remayning without a Lord by the death of Count Charles deceassed without children Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders There wanted no pretendants William of Ypre sonne to Philip of Flanders the second sonne of Robert the Frison King Henry of England who desired greatly to ioyne this goodly Country with his Normandy Stephen of Blois Earle of Montreuill and Bologne Baldwin Earle of Hainault and William the sonne of Robert called Court-house brother to the King of England but his sworne enemy hauing vsed his father ill and kept him prisoner Lewis was soueraigne Iudge of this controuersy Flanders depending on the crowne of France He assigned all the pretendants of the Citty of Arras signifiyng that his intent was to do him iustice but in effect he inclined to fauour adiudging the Earledome of Flanders to the last that is to William of Normandy to binde him with more strict bounds against his â—â—nsman On the other side the Flemings assemble at Ypre and chose William of Loâ— Lord of Ypre The King aduanceth with his forces to Ypre to preuent this popular election where he enters the stonger and forceth William to renownce it VVilliam of Normandy made Earle of Flanders From thence he goes to all other good Citties where by his authority he causeth William of Normandy to be receiued for lawfull Earle and puts him in solemne possession by a publike act But his fauour had ill bestowed this goodly inheritance of an vnworthy man whose fury depriued him presently Lewis hauing installed him He oppresseth his newe subiects returnes into France William insteed of winning his newe subiects by equity and mildnesse begins to oppresse them after a rigorous and imperious manner by infringing of their preuileges ostentations of his authority taxes subsidies newe impositions and by all other meanes which Princes that seeke to loose their Estates hold to torment their subiects He had so far exceeded as the Citties without any wauering resolue to prouide a better Earle and to this intent they seeke a head The memorie of their good Earle makes them to cast their eyes vpon him that hath most right to this inheritance as the neerest kinsman which is Thierri son to the Duke of Alsatia and of Gertrude daughter to Robert the Frison The Flemings intreat him to come into their country The Flemings chooâ—e them a new Earle promising him all assistance to conquer the State He comes and is receiued with an extraordinary ioy by all the people All the Citties assemble to acknowledge him by order and dismisse William of Normandy who seeing a flat repulse by this people thus freed repayres to Lewis for succour in this extremity Lewis fayles him not his army marcheth with great speed hee himselfe comes in person and is receiued into Arras from thence he adiornes Thierry to come and answer before him as his soueraigne by what warrant hee carries himselfe for Earle this sommons is made vnto him at Ypre whether he had retired himselfe Hauing condemned him by default Thierrithe new Earle of Flanders defeated he approcheth his army to Ypre to vexe the inhibâ—bitants Thierri sallies forth with a notable troupe of men they ioyne the fight is fierce but the check falles vpon Thierries forces who with much a doe saues himselfe in Alost William pursues him and approcheth the towne sommoning the Inhabitants to obey and to deliuer vp Thierri as an Vsurper VVilliam of Normandy stâ—â—â—e in Flanders But he was not aduised that one with a Crossebow shot an arrow at him and pierced him through the arme Behold hee is wounded and within two dayes he dies Thierri and the Flemings send presently to Lewis to beseech him to receiue them into fauour whereby he may be assured of theyr faithfull seruice Lewis consents and confirmes him and hauing caused him to take the oath of fidelity and receiued his homage after the manner of his Ancestors 1121. he returnes into France But Flanders continued not long in quiet as we shall see hereafter To these stirres of Flanders were added some garboyles in Bourbonois and Auuergne Archibauld Earle of Bourbon was deceassed leauing one sonne of the same name Troubles in Bourbonois but a young man and a brother called Haman who abusing the time in the weake minoritie of his Nephew would make himselfe Maister of Bourbonois pretending the Earledome to appertaine vnto him by the death of his elder brother to whom hee must succeed in order as the yongest of the house The mother and friends of Archibauld opposed against Hamon the right of representation inuiolable in France in great houses which is that the sonne of the eldest brother represeâ—ts the Father and without doubt succeeds in all his rights to enioy them as if he himselfe liued for that the Father reuiues in the Sonne Hamon building his chiefe interest vpon force would not admit any reason that made for his Nephew so as the matter was brought before the King who by the aduise of his Councell declares Archibauld the lawfull heire and puts Haman from his pretensions commanding him to leaue the possession of Bourbonois free to his Nephew 1123. This Archibauld did afterwards marrie his daughter Beatrix to Robert Earle of Clermont in Beauuoisis sonne to the King S. Lewis The stâ—â—ke of the house of Bourbon and of this marriage by the royall stemme is discended the most famous race of Bourbon the which at this day doth happily enioy the Crowne and realme of France But Haman who held some places in Burbonois would not leaue the possession refusing to obey the Kings commandement relying vpon the fauour of Eustache Earle of Auuergne who sought to free himselfe There was a priuate subiect of complaint against him hauing displaced the Bishop of Clermont against the Kings will These occasions drew the King into Bourbonois where hauing besieged Haman he ended this controuersie in fauour of Archibauld The affaires of Auuergne were more difficult by reason of William Duke of Guienne who imbraced the cause for the Earle of Auuergne pretending that he was his vassall This quarrell seemed to take a long course but it was pacified by this meanes Lewis had six sonnes Philip Lewis Henry another Philip Peter Robert and one Daughter Constance He had crowned his eldest sonne Philip who dyed by a strange accident going to take the aire on horseback Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident a Hog passed vnder the bellie of his horse the which being feared did shake this young King so violently as he threw him downe and so brused him as within few dayes after hee
no other respect but for the reuerence of Religion and the zeale of publick peace This famous acte happened at Venice in the yeare 1171. in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kings and Princes of the greatest States of Europe that were Mediators of this Accord From Venice Frederick went into the East with a goodly Armie according to his promise And the dissention was well pacified by his humilitie but not altogether suppressed in Italy for it reuiued afterwards as wee shall see in the continuance of this Historie Thus the Christians liued whilest their enemies preuailed dayly in Asia to the great and shamefull losse of all Christendome Such was the estate of the Church and Empire vnder the raigne of Lewis the 7. 1179. Lewis caused his sonne Philip to bee sollemnly Crowned at Rheims at the age of foureteene yeares in the yeare of Grace 1179. Hee betrothed him to Isabel the Daughter of Baldwin Earle of Hainault and hauing thus disposed of his affaires hee dyed the yeare following 1180. An vnwise Prince and vnhappy with all his pollicies Lewis dyes leauing a Leuin of great miseries to his posteritie Doubtlesse the greatest pollicie is to bee an honest man This assured peace caused the Vniuersitie of Paris to flourish as farre as those obscure times would permit Gratian Peter Lombard and Comesior Complaints against the abuses of the Church learned men liued in that age The inexcusable confusion which raigned in the Church was a iust subiect of complaint to the good as appeares by the writings of Peter of Blois Ihon de Saraburck Bishop of Chartres and Bernard Abbot of Cisteaâ—x great and worthy men Their Bookes liue after their deaths wherein the wise Reader may see an ample and free Commentary of this Text the which the Historiâ— suffers me not to dilate of PHILIP the 2. called Augustus or Gods Gift the 42. King of France PHILIPPE .2 KING OF FRANCE XXXXII. THe title of Augustus giuen to Philip is worthy of his person and raigne who not onely preserued the French Monarchie An excellent King and an excellent raigne amidst so many sorts of enemies and difficulties but enlarged it with many Prouinces diuided to diuers proprietaries by Hugh Capet and vnited them to the Crowne for this cause hee was also called Conquerour His dispositioÌ„ The beginning of his raigne was a presage of happinesse for there appeared in his face a great shew of a good disposition inclined to pietie iustice and modestie being strong quick vigilant valiant and actiue Hee did consecrate the first fruites of his raigne to purge the corruptions which raigned among the people Blasphemies Playes Dicing houses publicke dissolutions in infamous places Tauernes and Tippling houses Hee made goodly lawes which our age reads and scornes doing the contrary with all impuniâ—ie but whilest he raigned they were duly obserued The Iewes were mightily dispersed throughout the Realme who besides their obstinate supeâ—stition vsed excessiue Vsurie and were supported for some great benefit by the Pope and oâ—her Princes and States where as they haue liberty at this day to liue after their owne manner Philip expelled them The Iewes banished out of France although they obtained a returne for money yet in the end they were banished out of all the territories of the French obedience and so continue vnto this day This was a small apprentiship and an entrance of much more happy paine the which hee should vndergoe both within and without the Realme in great and troublesome affaires as a famous subiect worthy of his valour England Flanders and Asia prouided varietie and change of worke to imploy his raigne the which continued fortie foure yeares but the change of his intricate marriages troubled him more then all his affaires 1190. as the progresse of our discourse will shew In the beginning there was emulation who should be neerest to gouerne him Philip Earle of Flanders and the Duke of Guienne were competitors The one as Vnckle to the young Queene Isabell his wife Competitors for the gouerment of the state and named by his Father Lewis The other as his neerest Kinsman and both the one and the other had great meanes to preuaile but Richard was the stronger as well by the Kings fauour as by the forces of England of whence he was an Inâ—ant and well beloued of Henry his brother who then raigned Behold the King is imbarked against the Earle of Flanders by the aduise of his Councell The subiect of their quarrell was for Vermandois which the Earle enioyed the King demanded it being no longer his by the decease of Alix dead without children and therefore must returne to the Crowne From wordes they go to armes Their troupes being in field and ready to fight a peace was made with this condition That Count Philip should enioy Vermandois Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois during his life and after his decease it should returne to the Crowne But this peace continued not long among these Princes The King could not loue his Wife Isabel It seemes this was the cheefe cause of the dislike the King had against the Earle of Flanders her Vncle. In the end hee put her away in the yeare 1188. from which time Philip loued Richard Duke of Guienne But this good agreement continued not long by reason of another coÌ„trouersie betwixt him and the English Marguâ—rite the Daughter of Lewis the 7. sister to Philip marryed to Henry of England as wee haue said dyed then without Children Philip doth presently redemand his Sisterâ— dowâ—ie Henâ—y sonne to Hâ—nâ—y the 1. King of England dyes before the father which was the Countrie of Vexin The King of England is loth to leaue the possession so as they fall to Armes and the mischiefe increased by this occasion Henry first sonne to old Henry dyed Richard Duke of Guienne his brother who might haue compounded this quarrell being called to the Crowne embraceth the action with all eagernesse And to crosse Philip by an important diuersion like to olde Henry auoides the blowe in Normandie and enters Languedoc by Guienne into the Countie of Tholâ—usa renuing the old quarrel he had against Count Raimond Philip being assailed in two places is nothing amased Hauing leuied an Armie with all celeritie Warre with England hee enters the English pale Where he sodenly takes Chasteaucaux Busaâ—cais Argenton Leuroux Montrichard Montsorâ—au Vandosme with other Townes and passing on hee batters and takes Mans and hauing waded through the Riuer of Loire he presents himselfe before Tours which yeelds at the terror of his forces Philip of Frâ—nce and Ricâ—ard of England make â— peace Old Henry amazed at the sodaine valour of this yong Prince faints and oppressed with grieâ—e dyes at Chinon in the yeare 1190. leauing his Realme to his Sonne Richard but noâ— his Malâ—ce For presently after his Coronation hee concludes a peace wiâ—h â—hilip vpon a cause very honourable to them both The
much eased This prouision came happily for the preseruation of France against the which Edward made then great preparatioÌ„ at the instance of the Nauarrois The truce expired he did forbid the FreÌ„ch to trafficke into England in the meane time his army laÌ„ds at Calais himself follows in persoÌ„ with a goodly traine Being landed resolued to take possession of the realme of France or by force to turne it he marcheth directly to Arras the which he takes in 3. daies Edward enters France with an army hauing assured it with a stroÌ„g garâ—ison he goes towards Champagne where passing onely he besieged Sens which yeelds without resistance and by their example Neuers All Bourgongne was strooke into such a terror as they redeemed their country froÌ„ spoile with a great summe of mony Hauing thus found means to intertaine his armie at his enimies charge enriched his souldiers with an inestimable booty he marcheth towards Paris as the head city of the whole realme the chiefe end of his desseâ—â—e the certain triumph of his conquest the goodly theater of his victories Our â—egent was nothing amased at these threats of Edward for hauing asseÌ„bled a goodly army with great expeditioÌ„ he atteÌ„ds him at Paris where the whole burthen of this was did lie He lodgeth his army in the suburbes fortifieth against approches being taught by the examples of his grandfather father not to hazard any thing resoluing only to defend himselfe within his trenches This resolutioÌ„ succeeded happily He besiegeth Paris but in vaine for Edward seeing the impossibility to draw the regent to fight notwithstaÌ„ding al his alarums raiseth his siege marcheth into Britany to refresh his army to the great conteÌ„t of the ParisieÌ„s who could not sufficiently coÌ„mend the wisdom of their regent hauing so politikly auoided this storme The regent imbraceth this occasion he furnisheth Paris with aboundance of victualls commands the souldiers to liue orderly without oppression of the inhabitants he fortifies the weakest places with all speed and doth so incourage the people as they are ready to sacrifice theÌ„selues for the preseruation of the State Edward supposing the great wast caused by the men of warre resident in this great citty would haue taken from them al means to coÌ„tinue haue bred an impatiency in the minds of this vnconstant people giuing him the better meanes to enter it he returnes with his army being strong lusty by this good refreshing of Britaine Being returned he finds things better ordered then before so as preuailing nothing but walking about the citty beholding a far off the great towers and the admirable masse of so many buildings as a briefe of the whole world he resolues to leaue the siege returne no more Thus experience teaching him what the strength of our chiefe citty was he packes all vp and goes towards Chartres meaning to besiege it But whilest he lodged there his army making a horrible spoile of the whole couÌ„try there chanced an occasioÌ„ as the worke of heauen which sodainely quailed his ambitious disseine to ruine France for behold a horrible extraordinary tempest of haile thuÌ„der and lightning falls with such violence as many horses men in the armie perished as if that God had stretched forth his hand from heauen to stay his course Edward amazed with thunder He resolues to conclude a peace with King Iohn This amazemeÌ„nt causeth Edward to vow to make a peace with King Iohn and the regent his son vpon reasonable conditions He which had thus thundred did likewise opeÌ„ the Duke of Lancasters mouth shewing how reasonable it was to limit humane attempts within restrained bouÌ„ds not to attend an infinit perpetuall prosperity in wordly affaires beeing more safe to content himself with a meane successe theÌ„ to be traÌ„sported with the violent course of humane hopes cast in the mould of indiscreet desires He likewise laied before him the impossibility of so extraordinary a desseine as to make himselfe maister of all France a notable example for Princes to behold their own infirmities and the greatnes of God to whoÌ„ they owe the homage of their enterprises being theÌ„ most happy when they are most sober â—â—â—rate without imagining an infinite power in the short weaknes of this mortal life wherevnto they are subiect like other men A peace concluded at Bretignie The Articles This lessoÌ„ mollified Edwards hart inclining to the deliuery of K. Iohn his prisoner to a general peace the which was concluded at 〈◊〉 a village nere vnto Chartres in the yeare 1360. the 8. of May vpoÌ„ these coÌ„ditioÌ„s That the country of Poitu the Fiefs of Thouars Belleuille the couÌ„tries of Gascony Agenois Peregort Limosin Cahors Tarbe Bigorre Rouergue and Angoumois in soueraignty with the homages of the two next yeares after 1360. at reasonable paâ—ments And for the consideration the said King of England and the Prince of Wales his sonne both for themselues 〈◊〉 successors should renoâ—â—â— all rights pretended to the Crowne of France the Duchie of Normandie the countries of Tourance Aniou and Maine the soueraingty and homage of Brittâ—ine and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes they should deliuer King Iohn at Calais at their charge the expences of the Kings house onely excepted The hostages giuen for the performance of the conditions For assurance of which agreement there should be deliuered into the King of Englands hands these hostages Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry sonnes to the King of France Philip Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Blois Alanson Saint Pol Hâ—â—court Porcian Valentinois Grandpre Denne and Forest the Lords of Vaudemont Coussy Pyennes Saint Venant Preaux Montmorency Careneieres Boâ—â—â— guion Estoute-ville the Daulphin of Auueigne Andregel and Craon A choâ—â—â— of well selected personages to be a sufficient caution for the money and conditions that were to be performed The Deputies that treated The Deputies for King Iohn were Iohn of Dormans Bishop of Beauuais and Chanâ—eller of France Iohn of Melun Earle of Tanearuille the Lord of 〈◊〉 Marshaâ—â— of France â— the Lords of Montmorency and Vigny Iohn Croâ—â—â—e Simon of 〈◊〉 Iohn Marâ—â—â— Lawyers and Iohn Maillard and Stephen of Paris Bourgesies of Paris For the King of England were Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northampton Warwicke and Suffoâ—â—â— Renauâ—d of Celâ—sâ—an Gualtâ—r of Maâ—ny Knights with certaine learned men for their Councell This treatie of a generall peace signed by the two Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Charles and Edward and proclaimed by Heraulds first at the wiâ—dowâ—â— of the Kings and Princes lodgings and then at the corners of the streetes in great solemnitie The hostages were deliuered to Edward the father who imbarked at 〈◊〉 and lead them into England leauing the Earle of Warwicke in France to see the execution of the peace King Iohn brought to Calis
one another by new attempts Charles hauing pacified Flanders and Brittaine resolues to bee reuenged of Richard who had sought all meanes to annoy him in eyther prouince besides the ordinary brauadoes he gaue him within the hart of his realme Charles sends men and mâ—nition into Scotland He therefore sends a thousand men at armes to Dauid King of Scots and threescore shippes well appoynted with furniture to arme twelue thousand men of his country vnder the command of Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Their entry into Scotland was pleasing but the Scottishmen grew soone discontented with our men eyther through their fault or our they accusing vs of insolency and loosenesse and we them of barbarousnes and cruelty to their friend a stranger who came to succour them This diuision caused Dauid to make a peace with Richard and our Admirall of Vienne to returne speedily home with his Frenchmen but not without obseruing the manners strength and commodities of this Iland diuided into two kingdomes And least he should seeme to haue made a fruitlesse voyage yeelding an accompt vnto the King of what he had done seene and learned in Scotland he lets him vnderstand that the strength of Scotland consisted but in fiue thousand horse and thirty thousand foote halfe armed and that of England in eight thousand horse and threescore thousand foote This relation were it true or false gaue aduice to assayle the King of England in his own Country where he might be vanquished with more facility then abroad the which so moued the minde of this yong Prince transpotted with the great harmes suffered with much indignity by the English as it was easie for the Duke of Bourgongne â— whom it much concerned to haue the English molested being often disquieted by him in his country of Flanders Charles resolues to make war in England to perswade the King to vndertake this war Oportunity did likewise seeme to inuite him for that the Duke of Lancaster pretending right to the realme of Castile by his wife had exhausted England both of men and money and the Gantois being pacified all Flanders would be held in subiection by this check The Regent acquainted with the Duke of Bourgongnes humoâ— being his brother who for his priuate interest would hazard the whole and noting the eminent dangers in the Kings person who would imbarke himselfe in this action the great want of money the peoples exclamations the great danger of tumults by the great exactions which must be made and in the action it selfe the inconueniency so apparant to any one that would open his eyes the impossibility of so great an enterprise to assaile a great King so oft a Conquerour within his owne Realme not holding any land there The Regent dislikes of thâ—â— enteâ—prise he was vtterly against it yet he spake soberly least he should offend the King who greatly affected it Lewis Earle of Touraine the Kings brother who soone shal be Duke of Orleans the Constable Clisson the Earle of S. Pol the Lord of Coussy and others in whom Charles had most trust had beene so perswaded by the Duke of Bourgongne as they had nothing else in their mouths nothing sounded in this yong Princes eares but the necessity profit honour and facillity of this voyage What my Liege say they are you lesse then the King of England shal the French yeeld to the English in valour courage or force what an indignity is it to haue this people alwayes at our gates to nourish them in our bosomes and to furnish them with armes to beat vs what a benefit wil it be to take their nest from them and leaue them no place of retreat Your Countries of Guienne Normandie Picardie and Flanders are wholy yours How much doth that import for the honour of your Maiesty and the good of your Realme to returne them their owne who haue so often defeated your armies taken your ancestors spoyled your Estate braued it in your Townes and beseeged your chiefe citty of Paris As for the facility of the execution who sees not but you may effect it if you please The Saxons conquered England with a handful of men far from their own home and with small meanes and William the Conquerour with his sword alone And you my Liege hauing a realme ful of men victualls monie euen at your enemies gate shall not you preuaile England opens her armes vnto you your Realme inuites you which without doubt will imploy both heart and purse for so great generous a desseine the which imports both the honour and quiet of your Maiesty Such and like speeches they did continually buzz into Charles his eares but from his Chamber they were published in the Court and so through out the whole realme as that which pleaseth the King doth commonly please all The desseine was to bee wished against a capitall enemie of the State and the proceeding had a fayre shewe At the generall instance of all the French the King decrees in counsell to leauy a great armie for the voyage of England letters are sent out to all parts Subsidies Taxes Loans imposed greater then during the imprisonment of King Iohn but all was shadowed with this reason That they must endeauour once for all to roote out the English who vndermined this estate and sought to ruine it This decree was put in execution with great applause of all men as if France had layed new foundations of her greatnesse both to warrant it selfe from danger at hand to haue a reuenge of former losses and to build a newe Estate at the cost of the common enemy of the French nation The Nauie is prepared at Scluse and Blanguerge to the great content of the Flemings They armed fower hundred eighty seuen Shipps for warre with an infinite quantity of victuals the which came from all parts like to a flowing streame The nobility striues who shal be best appointed Strange Princes are inuited The King of Spaine then a friend to our King the Earle of Sauoy Preparation for the warre of England The Dukes of Saxony and Bauiere send men Our Princes will not yeeld one to another in costly showes they adde superfiuous curiosity to necessity They paint and gild their shippes All glisters with goodly ensignes penons banners standards and streamors The masts painted with rich grounds shining with leaues of Gold gaue notice to all men that they went not onely to a certain victory but to some ioyfull nuptialls But all this feast was made without any reckoning with God who laughs from heauen at these ants that striue to climbe without a Ladder and at Princes who made these brauadoes at the poore peoples cost who remembred not that God hath a soueraigne court and a register to controll their actions and to oppose against their vanities The armie was prepared in two places in Flanders and in Brittaine It consisted of twenty thousand Knights and Squires as many Ganouois archers on foote and fiue
men and gentlmen which had assisted these murtherers died of the plague except Lisle-Adam who was reseâ—ued to receiue his punishment from King Henry of England although vpon an other occasion as you shall see here after And was not this God who reuenged this crueltie But let vs returne to our discourse for seeiâ—g the punishment was so sodaine we might not well remit the rehersall to any otherplace Charles lookes but coldly vpon his wife whome he loued not neither in health or sickenesse Hee welcomes the Duke of Bourgongne with a cheerefull countenance who had wonne his heart by framing himselfe to his weakenesse with mild speeches shewes of honour and apparant humility Impressions of common sense whereof phrensie for the most part doth not depriue mad men The Bourguiguon alters all at Paris The Kings councell assembled presently many things were propounded the first day they began with Officers the Constables place was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Channcellors hip to Eustache of Lastre Lislle Adam and Chastelus are made Marshalls of France for their well deseruing at the masaker at Paris Our Bourguignon creates Charles of Lens Admirall of France being Captaine of Paris and Phillip of Moruilliers the Queenes Aduocate first President of the Court of Parliament The English take all Normandie During this confusion Henry King of England makes other worke He was in Normandy taking Townes and Castles without any resistance Touques a Câ—stell held impregnable was forced by him during the passions of our mad-men as the first fruites of his conquestâ— Louuiers Pont larche Caen Cherebourg Falaisse Argenton Alencon Constance S. Lo and other places followed to make the way open to Rouen without any great difficulty Rouen is besieged in a manner the very day of the massaker at Paris Henry doth assault it with all the force and policie he can as the Dongeon and chiefe strength of all Normandy Rouen besieged taken The cittizens giue a testimony of good and faithfull subiects by their valour and constancie They demand sucâ—ours from the King with a protestâ—tâ—on of the euent The Court makes shew to stirre and to prouide for their defence but what remedy can the dead giue vnto the sicke In the ende after all their resistâ—â—ce seeking to maintaine themselues vnder the obedience of France Rouen yeelds to Henry King of England vppon hard conditions All yeeldâ— vnto King Henry To paye him three hundred sixty fiue thousand Crownes of gold and three Cittizens at his choise to doe his pleasure And so he suffered them to inioy their priuileges Of the three which he had chosen to punish he pardoned two and caused Alain â—lanchart Captaine of the commons to bee beheaded worthy to be eternized in our history dying for the seruice of his Kâ—â—g and countrye in a time so famous for so desperate a confusion The sequile waâ— great for not onely all the Townes of Normandy yeeld vnto him but also the Iâ—â—e of France was so amazed as all obey hiâ— euen to the gates of Paris where the fuâ—â—e of our miserable dissentions prepared a Throne for the sworne enemye of 〈◊〉 Realme I am weary to report our shamefull losses as reuiuing our old soares Henry migâ—t haue grauen in his triumph I came I sawe and oâ—crâ—â—me onely Mont S. Michel in Normandy was maintained vnder the obedience of our crowne through the vallour 〈◊〉 some Gentlemen Normans whose names the history owes to posterity Iohn 〈◊〉 Montfort Duke of Britanie seeing this happie sucsesse makes composition wâ—tâ— tâ—e English shrowding him selfe vnder his protection but he shall soone leaue him 〈◊〉 a more happie season shall make him turne to the Daulphin In this shipwracke the Queene and the Bourguignon had meanes to glut their ambition and furie at Paris beholinge the ruine of France hoping that in all extremities they should make their peace with the King of Ingland at their Countries cost hauing a daughter for a paâ—â—e and confirmation of this accord They send Ambassadors to Henry King of England being a Conquerour and â—or a baite they carry the portrait of Katherine of France the Kings daughter a Princesse of excellent beauty who must likewise bee the Leuiâ—n of our miserie But Henry finding this figure to be faire The Bourguignon treates with the English but in vaine desires to see the essentiall substance so as the Queeâ—e and the Borguignon gouerning the spirit of this poore sicke King conducts 〈◊〉 person with his daughter to their enimy neere to Meulan to aduise of a meanes for a generall peace but they departed without any conclusion by reason of the great demaunds which Henry made puft vp with this victorious successe seeking to sell â—is friendship at too high a rate Yet the image of Katherine had made an impression in his heaâ—t beeing much discontented that they had refused her with these conditions The Bourguignon likewise found lesse kindnesse then he expected and returned maleconâ—nt for that Henry puft vp with these fortunate incounters and carried away with hope of future victorye spake more proudly then the Bourguignons humour could well digest which was the cause of his destemperature He growes discontented and seekes to reconcile himselfe to the Daulphin for Hâ—nry said in his choler That he would haue both daughter and Bealme whosoeuer said nay and that there was no sufficient security for what they promised seeing the Daulphin did â—ot consent theâ—eunto A pill which the Bourguignon could not easily swallow So he chawed vpon this speech of the English which drewe him to his ruine for euen then he beganne to study by what meanes he might reconcile himselfe vnto the Daulphin hoping to fiâ—de a better composition with a yong Prince his kinsman and weary of the warres then with the English growne insolent by his victories Charles was not quâ—et in minde fearing least in these treaties they should conclude something to his preiudice So as they both inclined to an accord but vppon diuers causes to oppose against their common enimie with a common force But before we shewe the effect of this common desire we must see both the estate of our Daulphin since hee retired himselfe from Paris and of the Bourguignon since hee became Tribune of the people Although this terrible storme might haue shaken the young yeares of the Daulpâ—in Charles vnacquainted with the affaires of the world and his disposition inclining to pleasure seemed vnfit to indure much paine and toyle The Daulphinâ— estate yet the effects at need shewed his constant resolution against all difficulties They attribute this consâ—ancie and resolution to the faithfull councell of his seruants yet was it much for him to follow it Tannegay of Chastell Iohn Louuet president of Prouence the Vicont of Narbone and Robert Masson were those which serued him most for Councell in the beginning but God soone after did raise him vp strong hands to mannage armes couragiously and valiantly La Hire Pothon
with the Burguignon being their neighbour with the Kings good liking In the meane time the Duke of Bedford leuies what men and money he can both in France and England for some great attempt Charles hath intelligence from diuers parts but what could he doe in so deepe dispaire of his affaires and in so visible an impossibilitie The famous Siege of Orleance ALL the Citties of this side Loire from the Ocean Sea were lost with the whole countries of Normandie Picardie the 〈◊〉 of France Brie and Champaigne He had nothing left but the Townes lying vpon the riuer of Loire from â—yen to Anger 's for La Charité held for the Bourguignon The chiefe was Orleance this being wonne what could hold out long for the French Bourges could make small resistance if the English had forced Orleans The enemies of our State who called Charles King of Bourges threatned to take from him this small and languishing royaltie Orleans then was the marke whereat the Duke of Bedford aimed who hauing wonne the Britton it greatly fortified the English affaires in France As for the Bourguignon he had in a manner recouered the Estates of Holland Hainault Zeland and Namur And although ambition and couetousnesse may neuer be bridled yet these Princes nothing friendly among themselues but as coÌ„mon enemies to this Câ—owne agreed well in this to make their priuate profit by the ruine of our state But man purposeth and God disposeth we shall soone see how much he scornes their vanities In this lamentable time mans reason could not discerne by what means Charles should resist so mighty enemies But in the weakenesse of this Prince I read with ioy the words of the Original which saith During the time that the English held their siege before the noble Citty of Orleans King Charles was very weake beeing abandoned by the greatest part of his Princes and other Noble men seeing that all things were opposite vnto him yet had he still a good trust and confidence in God He was not deceiued in this hope as the sequele will shew The charge of this siege at Orleans was giuen to the Earle of Salisbury a wise valiant Captaine hauing giuen good testimonies of his sufficiency for the well managing of this siege he resolued to take in all the forts neere vnto Orleans that obeyed the French beginning with the weakest parting from Paris taking his way through the Countrie of Chartâ—es he seizeth vpon all the smal Townes wherein our Captaines had so much toyled but a fewe monethes before Nogent le Retrou Puiset Rochefort Pertrancourt Ianuille Toury Mompipeau the Castell of Pluâ—eâ—s and la Ferte of Gaules The Earle of Salisbury sets downe before Orleans and approching neere the Cittie both aboue and beneath Meung Baugency and Iargeau In the ende he plants himselfe before Orleans the 6. of October in the yeare 1428. A day to be obserued for that the 12. of May the yeare following was the last fit of our disease which changed the estate of our miserable country like vnto a pleasant spring after a long and sharpe winter when as a goodly summer crownes all our labours with aboundance of peace and plenty So this siege continued iust 7. moneths The bruit of this great preparation did wonderfully disquiet both court and country vnder the French obedience in the weakenesse and confusions of the state The King after the taking of la Charité was commonly resident at Poitiers he now retires to Chinon to bee neerer to Orleans The townes willingâ—y contrâ—bute men money Charles his diligenâ—e to relieue Orleans and victualls Many great personages flie to this siege to defend the chiefe strength of our King and Kingdome Lewis of Bourbon the sonne of Charles Earle of Clermont the Earle of Duâ—ois bastard of Orleans the Lords of Boussaâ— and Fayette Marshalls of France Iohn Steward Constable of Scotland William of Albret Lord of Orâ—all the Lords of Thouars Chauigny Grauille Chabannes The Captaines la â—ire Xaintrailles Theolde of Valpergue Iohn of Lessego Lombards with many other gâ—eâ—t personages There were not any of the Prouinces of Daulphiné and Languedoc for that the Dukes of Bourgongne and Sauoy at the same instant prepared a great army by the meanes of Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange to invade those Countries being wholly in the Kings obedience The Orleanois resolues to defend himselfe He presently beates downe all that might accommodate the enemy suburbs howses of pleasure wine presses yea and the temples themselues Salisburie doth likewise vse great dexterity and diligence to plant his siege The Earle of Salisbury builds up sorts towards Beausse and the port Banniere he builds a great Bastille which he calles Paris Another at the port Renard which he names Rouen Towards S. Laurence another to the which he gaue the name of Windsore At the port of Bourgongne he fortified a ruined Temple called S. Loup and neere vnto it an other named S. Iohn the white At the Portereâ—n hee built a great fort vppon the ruines of the Augustines Church calling it London from the which hee wonne the Towre vppon the bridge and all with â—onderfull speede All the cittye is inuironed hauing neyther issue 〈◊〉 but with sore fighting And in these toyles they spend the rest of the yeare The first day of the new yeare the English for a new yeares gift to the citty bring their scaling ladders couragiously to the Bulwarke at the port Renard but they were valiantly repulsed by the defendants the next day the Admirall of Cullant hauing passed the riuer of Loire at a foord winter being very drie this yeare visits them of the cittie brings theÌ„ diuers necessaries vpon his returne he incounters some English troupes which came stragling from forrage 1429. He chargeth them cuts them in peeces and so retires without danger Thus the moneth of Ianuarie passeth without any other memorable exploite The battaile of Herings vnfortunate for the French But there happened a strange accident the 20. of Februarie following The Duke of Bedford sent Lenten prouision to the Earle of Salisburie with some munition of warre vnder the conduct of Iohn Fastall and Simon Bowyer with 1700. men for their garde The Duke of Bourbon brought a goodly succour of foure thousand men to the besieged He resolues to charge this English troupe hauing well viewed their numbers It was likely the stronger should haue the victorie but the issue was contrary to the desseigne For it chanced as his men marched confidently as it were to an assured victory without any iudgement the English seeing them in doubt how they should fight either on foote or horseback and irresolute in the end they resolue to charge the French it falling out many times in this exercise that he which begins winnes To conclude without any farther aduise the English imbracing this occasion charge our troupes who were so surprised with this vnexpected impression as they presently giue way to
the Countrie in alarme Occasions are offred of dayly skirmishes and daylie the English are beaten But the long stay of this little army and this thorne of Saint Denis stirred vp the people of Paris who loth to be so restrayned prepare a great power to force Saint Denis at what price soeuer The Marshall of Rieux loath to ingage himselfe beeing in all shewe the weaker retyres honorablie to Meulan without any losse The English beat downe the defences of Saint Denis being a common retreat to all men without any more labour eyther to keepe it or to recouer it The accord of Philip Duke of Bourgongne with Charles the 7. King of France IN the ende behold an agreement made with Charles so much expected so vnprofitablie sought after and nowe freely offred by the Duke of Bourgongne The deputies of the Councell presse both French English and Bourguignon to ende al quarrells by some good composition The Cittie of Arras is allowed of by them all to treat in The Assemblie was great from the Pope and the Councell of Pisa there came the Cardinalls of Saint Croix and Cipres An assemblie to treat of a peace with twelue Bishops For the King of France there was the Duke of Bourbon the Earle of Richmont Constable of France the Earle of Vendosme the Archebishop of Rheims Chancellor of France the Lords of Harcourt Valpergue la Fayette Saint Pierre du Chastell du Bois Chastillon du Flay de Railliq de Rommet Curselles and de Cambray first President of the Parliament at Paris with many wise and learned men as Iohn Tudart Blesset Iohn Charetier Peter Cletel Adam le Queux Iohn Taise and la Motte For the King of England the Cardinalls of Yorke and Winchester the Earle of Suffolke the Bishop of Saint Dauids Iohn Ratcliffe keeper of the great seale the Lord of Hongerford Ralfe the wise the Official of Canterburie and some Doctors of diuinity For Philip Duke of Bourgongne there came the Duke of Gueldres the Earle of Nassau the Bishop of Cambray the Earle Vernambourg the Bishop 〈◊〉 Leâ—ge the Earles of Vaudemont Neuers Salines S. Pol and Ligâ—y besides the deputies oâ— many of his best Townes The pompe was great both on the deputies behalfe of the Duke of Bourgongnes who intertained theÌ„ with all the honour good cheeâ—e that might be 〈◊〉 But leauing these circumstances I make hast to the principal matter The Kâ—ngâ— of France and England began the treaty The â—undamentall question was to whom the Crowne of France belonged The English did challenge it The question for the crown of Fâ—anâ—e both for that he was 〈◊〉 from a daughter of France as also by the graunt of Charles the 6. who did instâ—â—ce Henry the 5. and his successors heires of the crowne had disinherited Charles 〈◊〉 7. whom he termed an vsurper The deputies for Charles answered that they ought 〈◊〉 to call in question the ground of the Estate which cannot stand firme without that 〈…〉 heire to whom the lawe appoints and therfore without prouing of that which was apparent of it selfe they came to offers for the ending of all controuersies That if the King of England would both disclaime the title of King of France yeeld vp the countries held by him in diuers parts of the Realme he should inioy the Dâ—chies of Guiâ—nne and Normandy doing homage for them vnto the Kings of France as his soueraigne and with those conditions which his Ancestors Kings of England had formerly inioyed theâ— They stood vpon very different tearmes their authority was limited and possession puâ—t vp the English But sometimes he refuseth that after sues He that striueth to haue all most commonly looseth all One moitie in effect had more auailed the English then all in imagination who in the ende shall finde that the soueraigne Iudge the preseruer of the lawe and of States giues and takes away Charles the English cannot agree appoints and disapoints according to his good and wise will and that there is no force nor wisedome but his Tâ—e mâ—tter was soone ended betwixt the Kings of France and England seeing right could do no good the sword must preuaile Thus the Ambassadors of England returne without any effect those of France stay to treate with the Duke of Buurgongne and his deputies amongest the which he himselfe was the chiefe as well for his owne interest as for his iudgement in affaires A man exceeding cunning who could imbrace all occasions to make his profiâ— by an other as the discourse of his life hath made manifest Bâ—t 〈◊〉 what ende serues all this morter and so great workemanship to frame a building which shall be ruined vnder his sonne and shal bury him in the ruines thereof It is a â—oolish reason which thou calledst reasâ—n hauing no ground of reason and doest not hearken to the voice of heauen O Foole all thy riches shal be taken from thee this night Man walâ—es in a shadow he toyles in vaine to 〈◊〉 â—is name immortall in the graue he hunts with infinite labour and takes nothing As for Charles he sought to retire the Bourguignon from all league and alliance with tâ—e King of England and taking from him all occasions of discontent so to ingage him 〈…〉 honours as he should resolue to follow his faction as the most profiâ—â—â—â—â— knowing that his own priuate interest was the chiefe end of his desseins Matters 〈◊〉 câ—rried in shew according to the humour of that age the dâ—sposition of the court 〈◊〉 for the honour of Charles who must aske the Duke of â—ourgongne pardon hauing 〈…〉 father to be slaine against his faith Charles sends a blank to the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 what conditions he pleased But was it not true must not the crime be câ—nfessed by hiâ— that was culpable Charles therefore resolues to send him a bâ—anke tâ—e accâ—rd doth testâ—fie that the Bourguignon fiâ—led it with so many vnreasonable conditâ—ons as it is strange so great a monarch should stoâ—p so much to his subiect vassall but necessity â—ath no law A presidâ—nt for great men not to attempt any thing against reason least they bee constrayned to repaiâ—e it with reason and yet to know that it is an amendment of a fault to yeeld to necessity for the good of the state beeing a great thrift to loose for gaine The â—â—iginall sets downe at large all the conditions of this treaty wâ—o so please may reade 〈◊〉 Monstrellet in the history of S. Denis The summe is that the massacre 〈◊〉 〈…〉 person of Iohn Duke of Bâ—urgongne at Montereau-â—aut-yonne 〈…〉 repaired by confession and ceâ—emonies Great sommes of present money with goodly Seâ—gâ—â—uries are giuen to the Duke of Bourgongne so many assurances for him and hi◠〈◊〉 a great volume is full of these scrupulous conditions The Duke of Bourgongnes promise is more simple that he should declare himselfe a friend to Charles the 7. King of France King Charles and the
King The Presence Authority and intreaty of his Maiesty was of Force to smother the remembrance of all iniuries and to reconcile their willes Let vs nowe see what they haue done in the Nationall Synode helde at Gap held by them of the reformed Religion A Synod held at Gap whereas many beleeued that in giuing audience to Ambassadors and receiuing Letters from Forraine Princes and Common weales they had done more then their condition would allowe and had taken the way to make an Estate in the Estate I will say no more The passion of Religion might diminish the beleefe of the Trueth Peter Mathâ—w The Synode began the first of October It Treated of things touching Doctrine Discipline and the Gouernement of the Churches giuing a good Testimony that there are among them men full of zeale to the aduancement of their Religion and who in their Resolutions can ioyne Wisedome with Doctrine causing them to blushe that haue so much suffered the ancient constitutions of the Church to degenerate and haue so much neglected the Gouernement and Discipline as the Synodall Assemblies of Diocesses so necessary and profitable are nothing but vaine and fond Ceremonies where they doe onely exhort them to do well hereafter not caring to correct or amende the ill that is gone and past Of many meanes which the Church in her infancy did vse to preserue this spirit of Peace and Charity which gaue life vnto all the members and intertained the Cyment and bond of the whole building The profit of Synodes that of these Assemblies hath beene held the most fruitfull and should bee made twise a yeare if they will follow the Canons of the Apostles and the Decrees of Nice and Sardinia Thâ—re they conferred of the Order and Direction of all affayres There the Pastors taking knowledge one of an other entertayned their friendships renuyng the bonds of their affections It serued for a bloud-letting and a good purgation for badde humours in a corrupted Body to preserue and keepe it in Health Purytie and Chasterye of the Fayth There they shewed the power of the Spirituall Sword vppon the incorrigible who in the ende found the pappes of the Church drye for them when through Errour Malice or Obstinacy they made themselues vnworthy of the swetnesse of her Milke There in the ende they did strayne the strings of the Policy and Discipline of the Church the which beeing through negligence growne slacke made no Sounde nor Harmony In this assembly of Gap after that all the Deputies of the Prouinces of the Realme had shewed their Commissions they began by the Inuocation of the name of GOD the which was followed by the reading of the confession oâ— the Fayth wherein they did expound those things that were not playne enough The common desire of the Ministers te see the schisme pacified that was betwixt them and the other Congregations of Germany England and the Low Countryes made them resolue that the Assembly should write vnto the Vniuersityes both Lutherans and Caluinists to deuise some meanes to reconcile these contrarieties in some poynts of their confession This yeare the King did graue in the register of his vertues a memorable example of Iustâ—ce The cause is considerable and the subiect of consequence A yong gentlewoman of Normandie visited and courted by her Brother disdayned her husband A memorable example of a crime and of Iustice. by whome she had two Children for that he was some-what aged and made no profession of Armes This inequality of age togither with his condition made the Coniugall aâ—fâ—ction like vnto a small Brooke whereof when the spring is stopt the bedde remaines drie and there is nothing left but filthe for Toades and Frogges The greene graâ—â—e that was vpon the bankes withereth yea the trees that were planted along die This marriage hauing lost the radicall humor of Loue it made all pleasure and content to wither produced nothing but noise disdaine contempt and quarrell This miserable woman carâ—d no more for her husband bâ—t to drawe meanes from him to make her selfe more pleasing in the eyes of an other delighting in Luxâ—riosnesse and excesse oâ— Apparell vnder the which the Diuill is accustomed to make open Warre to Chasterie and to rauish the Honour of a woman without the which her life is a life without a Bodie a Bodâ—e without a Soule a Soule with out a Spirit a Spirit without Breth and a Breth without Aâ—re It seemed that the first acquaintance of this woman with her Brother was nothing but a perfect Loue such as Honour and that which they were one vnto another might well allowe Who so had seene the familiarities of this Sister with her Brother would not haue beleeued that they had made Loue the Lawe of Nature beeing of greater force then Reason or Truth it selâ—e In the meane time this furie prooued Adultery and Incest making the Wife to abandon the Company of her Husband to cleaue vnto her Brother who forgetting nothing that might be sayd or done to couer â—iâ— crime and to auoyde punishment waâ—dâ—ed vp and downe the Counâ—ry with hâ—r vnder disguised names but carrying still in his Conscience the sting and vlcer of so execrable a pleasure She grewe bigge with Childe and beleeuing that in hiding her great Beâ—lie her offâ—ence should bee also hidden shee caused her selfe to bee conductâ—d into that great forest of Paris where she continued with her Brother the exercises of Cupid and Psyches The figge leaues could not couer their shame The al-seeing eye oâ— the diuine Iustice discouers them and will not suffer that so Infamous a Lust should continâ—e These violent streames beeing runne out the Mudde and filthe that was in the bottom appered presently The husâ—band opprest with so iusta greefe as the Lawe doth not hold him puâ—nishable whom it forceth to kill the Wife beeing surprised in Adultery came to Paris and discouered those which had depriued him both of rest and Honour hee causeth them to be apprehended and committed prisoners the one in the great Chastâ—let the other in Four l' Euesques The Sister confesseth her-selfe guilty of Adultery to free her Brother from Incest laying the Childe to one that was aâ—togither innocent Vpon the difficulty of proofes the Lieutenant Cryminall condemned them both to the racke Hee might well haue proceeded to sentence A sentence giuen by the Lieutenant Criminell Bâ—t considering that they must deliberate well before they iudge of the life of a Man which is not made without care he desired rather to proceed coldly therein then ouerboldly The Husband whose heart could not be mooued to pitty by the consideration of his two Children appeales from this sentence of the racke The Court confidering that mildenesse doth norrish and giues more scope to vice declares the appellation and sentence from the which he had appealed to be voide and amending it A sentence oâ— the Court. they iudge the accused sufficiently conuicted of the crimes of
bee vnknowne to the French What a drowsines had it beene in so wise circumspect a nation to suffer themselues to be abused by a new-come Prince and by so grosse a pollicie to drawe themselues into apparent combustion which hung ouer their heads in preferring the French before the English who had then so good a portion in France where hee possessed the goodliest and richest prouinces How vnsound is this policy to imagine that a poor Prince Count of Valois hauing to do with a rich King of England who encountred the Frenchmens minds with an intestine force by the golden vertue of his Angels could haue abused such as were kept in their obedience by the force of right and reason for the preseruation of the Crowne of France their Countrie Who sees not but it had beene the ouerthrowe of Philip of Valois cause to say that hee had forged a law at his pleasure to exclude the lawfull heire and her ofspring from her right Truely the good cause of Philip of Valois made him victorious against the forces of Edward King of England and the auncient reuerence to him 430. authorized by a continuall vse and receiued by the common consent of the French reiected gold to respect the order of right for the benefit of the lawfull heire These French lawes were called Saliques of the riuer Sal which is in Franconia Etimologie of the word Salique or East Franco it ioynes with Mein and is not yet dryed vp It is neyther new nor extraordinary for people to deriue their names from Mountaines or Riuers and to shewe an example springing from the same thing by noting the Riuers The Country where the Citty of Paris is seated not onely the chiefe of this great realme but the Theatre of the whole world if by a happy peace she may recouer her ancient beauty is called the Isle of France for the concurse of diuerse riuers which ioyne with Seine and to this end the ship the armes of our chiefe Cittie shewes the oportunity of these goodly riuers Who can with reason reiect the apparency of this likely-hood That as our ancestors remayning alongst the riuer of Sal were called Saliens so the name hath continued to posteritie the which for the like reason are called Ripuaires as made for the commodity and vse of the dwellers vpon that banck the which they likewise called Ripuaires or Ribberots Truely long time after Conrad of Franconie the Emperour was called Salique to marke his beginning in that Country by the ancient name Thus much for the word But the inuiolable Maximes and Principles of the state of France the consent of all the true ancient writers the prescription of so many ages the generall approbation of all the French nation should make vs hold this Salique lawe for certaine without seeking for new opinions not onely weake and vnprofitable but insupportable in the state where the olde prouerb must stand for an oracle Remoue not the stâ—ane well layed Thus hauing briefely set downe the principall lawes of the state of France I will returne to the course of my history Thus hee raigned thus he liued and thus died Pharamond the first King of France Death of Pharamond leauing for hereditary successor of his Realme his sonne Clodion according to the right of lawe and King in effect by consent of the French This age was the sincke of Babarous nations by whome God would iustly punish the vniust pride of the Râ—mains The greatest parte came out of Asia staying first in Germany and from thence like Caterpillers or Grassehoppers â—read themselues ouer Gaule Italie and Spaine that is to say the Goths or Getes Alans Hunnes Sueues others from the North the Bourguignons Normans and Lombards We must know the Chaunge of these nations for the vse of his history But it sufficeth to touch them briefly in their places without cloying our chiefe subiect with a cumbersome discourse 431. CLODION or CLOION the hairy 2. King of France CLODION·KING OF FRANCE .2 CLODION the sonne of Pharamond succeeded his father in the yeare 431. and raigned one and twenty yeares The first attempâ— of Clâ—dâ—oâ— He laboured to follow his fathers course and to settle himselfe in Gaule but hauing transported certaine troupes which made a happy beginning passing to the couâ—trâ—es of Cambresie and Tournay betwixt the riuers of Somme and â—scout behold a furious mulâ—itude oâ— diuers nations assembled toâ—eâ—her of â—andales Alans Sueues and Burgâ—ignons iealous to see this great and warlâ—â—e people follow their steps in the conquest of a land not onely â—et to â—ale but abandoned in the disorders of the Romaine Empire oppoâ—ed themselues against them The French not able to withstand â—o great vnited forces retyred themselues into their Country oâ— Franconia To this iealousie was added the practise of Stillico Lieutenant generall tâ— Honorius Emperour of the West who easily ingaged these Nations seeking for woâ—ke against the French laboured by all meanes to crosâ—e them and to possesse â—imselâ—e of Gaule yet the successe did not fitte his desseigne for being preuented by Honorius his maister he was slaine with his sonne Euâ—herius whom he had appointed absolute heire of that goodly portion But the prouidence of God had left it in prey to these great and victorious Nations being come from diuers parts of the world to diuide the Empire Thus confusion preuailed by his authority who had most interest in the practises of Stillico who in taking Gaule for himselfe reteined still the Romaine name being ouerthrowne by Honorius The deluge of these barbarous nations oâ—erflowed all Gaule which from yeare to yeare was replenished with new guests The Bourguignons had already seized on a great part with the title of a kingdome whereof Arles was the chiefe Citty The Goths possessed Gaule Narbonnoise 440. euen by the Emperours consent who granted what he could not take from them with promise to passe no further So this victorious nation dispersed in diuerse places in Italy Gaule and Spaine were called by sâ—ndry names Wisigoths and Ostrogoths according to the place where they were planted by their great multitudes and valour Such was the disorder of the Romaines who in their seasons had subdued the whole world by their victorious armes These tempests and stormes raigned during the Empires of the two brethren Arcadius and Honorius the one commanding in the East The estate of the Empâ—re and the other in the West of Theodosius the second sonne to Arcadius and in the beginning of Vâ—lentinian the third a vitious and vnhappy Prince The raigne of Clodion fell out in those times not greatly memorable but to obserue his resolutions and manly endeuours to settle and increase the conquests of his father but with no successe Thus great and heroicall enterprises haue often stayes and lets in the beginning or such difficult crosses as they seeme quite suppressed Aetius a Romaine borne succeeded Stillico for the Emperour in that which
put the principall authors thereof to death as the ringleaders of rebellion Gillon entertaines this aduise he puts them to death that were the instruments of Chilperiâ—s disgrace And so with one stone giues two stroakes He take them away that might frustrate his desseine and disposeth the Frenchmens hearts to desire their ancient King And thus he makes the way for Chilperics returne by a very happie dexteritie and the â—â—ent was answerable Gillon hauing put these aforenamed to death became very odious to the French Guyemans abandons Gillon and cunningly embraceth this occasion in fauour of Chilperic He blames the French for their lightnes to haue expelled their naturall Lord and reciued a stranger farre more insupportable Chilperic called home chasticed by affliction Thus he makes them resolue to call home Chilperic who vnderstanding their desire and seeing the peece of gold the token of his returne sent by his faithfull friend returnes confidently into France he is receiued by the French and by their ayd forceth Gillon to resigne him the place and to retire himselfe to Soissons Such was the first part of Chilprics life The last was of another temper for being taught by himselfe he was so addicted to do good as he got the good will of the French of whome he was beloued honoured and obeyed all the rest of his life So as to good minds capable of reason affliction serues as a chastisement and not for a ruine for an instruction and not a destruction Hee did fight happily against Odoacre King of the Saxons subdued the Germans woon a great couÌ„try along the Rhin He added to this State the Country of Aniou hauing forced the citie of Angiers and to make absolute his happines hee had one sonne who augmented and assured his Realme They only obserue one notable error committed after his returne in taking Basine to wife being the wife of Basin King of Turinge who had courteously entertained him in his distresse violating the sacred lawes of hospitalitie suffering himselfe to be abused with the loue of a woman 585. accounted a witch for they say this woman who had forsaken her husband for him was a witch causing him to see a vision the first night of their vnlawfull marriage the which did represent the state of the succeeding kingdome by lions vnicornes leopards the which appeared fiâ—stin this visioÌ„ then by beares and wolues And lastly by cattes dogges and other small beasts the which did teare one another in sunder You must pardon these fables of antiquity bred as it seemes long after by the which she would represent the estate of the three races according to their diuerse occurrents Chilperic hauing liued thus and raigned thirtie yeares he left Clouis his sonne for successor and heire of one of the goodliest and bewtifullest pyllers of the French Monarchie as shall appeare by the following discourse CLOVIS the 1. the 5. King of France and the first Christian King CLOVIS .5 KING OF FRANCE CLOVIS succeding his father Chilperic was installed in the Royaltie by the French according to their ancient custome borne vpon a target in open assembly Hee began to reigne the yeare 485. and raigned thirtie yeares Hee had scarse atteyned to the age of fifteene yeares when as he mounted to the royall throne A yong man of great hope borne for the stablishment of this monarchie His forefathers had layed the foundation but he did build vpon these goodly beginings with so great valour wisedome and good fortune as he is to be held for one of the greatest Architects of this estate hauing had the honour to be the first King of France that receiued the Christian religion the greatest beautie of this Crowne and a priuilege so carefully planted by his successors as they haue purchased the title of most Christian as a marke of their chiefest greatnesse The progresse of the Historie will shew both his vertues and vices But at this entrie his mind being guided to so great a worke whereunto the wise prouidence of almightie God had appointed him fortifies it selfe the first fiue yeares of his raigne 485. being the time of his apprentiship before he vndertooke any thing the which hee did manage so discreetly embracing all occasions that were offered as in the end hee thought himselfe able to subdue all Gaule if God had not stayed the ambitious course of his vnmeasurable desires to shew vnto great personages that hee reserues a Soueraigne prerogatiue ouer all their enterprises We haue saâ—d before that in the dissipation of the Empire the Gaules had many vsurpers Bourguignons Goths and Frenchmen the Romaines had the least part for hardly could they keepe Soissons Compiegne Senlis and other small townes thereabouts The Bourguignons enioyed a great countrie the two Bourgongnes the Duchie and the Earledome Sauoy Lyonnois Forests Beauiolois Daulphiné and Prouence Arles being the Metropolitane Citty of the Realme The Goths possessed all Gaule Narbonnoise to the which they gaue the name and all Guyenne with the appertenances The French had the best part from the Rhin vnto Loire imbracing all the richâ— Prouinces of the Lowe countries vnto the Ocean the countries of Heyâ—ault Cambresie Picardie Normandie the Iâ—le oâ— France Maine Anâ—ou Touraine Vandomois the prouince of Orleans Beausse Hurepois GastiÌ„nois Sologne Berry and the neighbour countries although these great and large territories had particular Lords amongst the which the King was acknowledged for Soueraigne Such was the state of Gaule when as Clouis vndertooke the helme of this French monarchie To become absolute Maister of this goodly country which was set to sale to the mightiest he begins with the weakest the neerest Clouis aspireâ— to the Monarchie of all Gaule and him with whom hee had the most apparent shew of quarrell which was the Romane who held nothing of this great name but the shâ—w and pride in a weaknesse altogether contemptible Siagrius sonne to that Gyles of whom we haue spoken commanded at Soissons for the Romans Clouis had an hereditarie quarrell against him hauing sought to vsurpe his estate irreconciliable quarrels among Princes Hauing so goodly a shew to demand reason for so notable a wrong he dâ—fies him They assemble their forces Clouis calleâ— to his aide Ragnachaire the petty King of Cambray and Chararic of Amyens the first assists him the other excuseth being desirous to keepe the stakes and to be a looker on The first rooting 〈◊〉 of the Romaines and then to ioyne with the stronger Siagrius is ouercome in battell In this ouerthrow he leaâ—es his estate to Clouis and flies to Alaric King of the Goths being at Tholouse Clouis not content with Siagrius goods demands his person of Alaric and obtaines it Siagrius is sent vnto him his hands and feet bound Hauing him in his power he makes him taste the griefe of his misery reproching him that he had basely lost his gouernment deserued capitall punishâ—ent and so he cuts off his head afterwards he suppressed Chararic
her impudencie did so faâ—re exceed as shee would dishonourablie haue stayed in Antioche and left her husband presuming to cloake her shame with a shew of Religion saying without blushing that she could be no more the wife of Lewis to whom shee was Cousin in the fourth degree preferring the loue of a Iester named Saladin of the Sarrazin race Queene Elenoâ— vnchast before the greatnesse of a King of France her lawfull husband Lewis being much disquieted perswades this woman to returne a heauier burthen to his minde then to his ship being returned to his house hee frees himselfe with all the speed he can And whereas hee should haue cast this insatiate woman into the Riuer being no more his wife and retained her Dowrie iustly gotten she playing bankerout of her honour Lewis pretends a cause to be diuorsed from Elenor and restores her Guienne hee calles a Councell at Baugency to haue her diuorsed the which was granted vnder colour of this farre fetcht consangunitie But his desire was to bee freed from her So retaining two Daughters borne vnder the vale of their marriage hee restores vnto Elenor all her Countrie of Guienne that is he puts into the hands of his furious enemie a Torche to set his whole Realme on fire for so soone as shee sees her selfe freed from the subiection and feare of a husband shee stayed not long to acquaint her selfe with Henry King of England and Duâ—e of Normandie Elenor marries with Henry King of England the greatest and most capitall enemie that Lewis had So hee obtained Guienne by the voluntary cession which Lewis made to haue the better meanes to annoy him and his whole realme Moreouer Lewis payde deerely for so great a discomoditie for the Pope would not giue him a dispence to marrie againe without a great summe of money to be imployed in the warres of the Holy Land and to finish this worke hee tooke to Wife Constance the Daughter of Alphonso King of Galicia being a weake friend Lewis marries againe and farre off This marriage was not greatly conuenient neither for his owne quiet not the peace of his subiects This subiect of deadly rancor encreasing the hatred of these two neighbour Monaâ—kes of France and England burst forth soone by dangerous effects The benefit of the new purchase of Guienne was the cause of that perrilous warre the which had so long and so lamentable a continuance William Duke of Guienne Grand-father by the Father to Queene Elenor had marryed the onely Daughter of the first Raimond Earle of Tholouse who had ingaged the sayd Countie to Raimond Earle of Saint Gilles who since also called himselfe Earle of Tholouse being seized of the sayd Countie and enioyed it quietly vnder the Kings obedience Henry King of England offers the money to Raimond to redeeme it The first war betwixt France and England for the Earledome of Tholouse and demands the Earledome as his Wiues right Vpon his refusall he armes enters into Quercy takes Cahors spoiles the Countrie and besiegeth Tholouse Lewis intreated by Raimond runnes to quenche this fire Beeing arriued and the two Armies readie to ioyne a peace was made betwixt the two Kings by the marriage of Marguerite the Daughter of Lewis with Henry the eldest Sonne of Henry King of England The two kings reconciled by a marriage But for that shee was very young and not yet mariageable shee was deliuered into Henry the Fathers hands vntill shee were of fitte age to marry Lewis had now buryed his wife Constance who left him but two Daughters without any heyres male so as being desirous to haue a successor hee made no delay to matry and tooke to his third Wife Alix the Daughter of Thibaud Earle of Champagne his vassall 1151. and newly reconciled but not greatly affected vnto him vntill that time Hee had a Sonne presently by her whom hee called Dieu Donné or giuen of God as an acknowledgement that God had sent him at his and his subiects praiers This is hee that shall succeed him I should begin to describe his raigne but order commands me to relate what happened during the raigne of Lewis in the neighbour nations of England and Italy wherein Lewis had great crosses Henry King of England had two sonnes by Elenor Richard and Geoffrâ—y and by his first wife hee had Henry who was made sure to Marguerit of France of whom wee haue spoken The Father caused him to be crowned to settle him in his life time and tyed the English vnto him by homage A young Prince ambitious audatious ill aduised and rash who cannot long conteine himselfe with the taste of this new authoritie Notable troubles in England betwâ—â—â— the father and the sonne but will play the King with his Father And although his Fathers admonitions restrained him for awhile yet this ambitious humour still burst forth So as the Father from milde admonitions came to threats the insolencie of this young Prince increasing dayly Some yeares passed whilest this fire lay smothered very long for young Henry to whom the Fathers life seemed too tedious and the children of the second wife grew by the care of Elenor their Mother Henry the Father discontented with his Sonne and fearing that in consumating the mariage betwixt him and the Daughter of France the young Prince would grow proud augmenting his traine and State and through the fauour of King Lewis his Father in Lawe attempt something preiudiciall to his authoritie Hee delayed the accomplishment of this marriage although the Virgin werâ— of more then sufficient yeares to marrie To this mischiefe was added an other more shamefull for that Henry the Father caused this Princesse to bee carefully kept the which should bee his Daughter in Lawe fearing least his Sonne should violently take her away Prince Henry iealous of his owne father and marry her Elenor falles into iealousie as if Henry had abused her And it was easie to settle this conceit in her sonne in Lawe Henryes head who had the chiefe interest in this delay And to publish this scandolous report vnto the people to make the old man more odious vnto the whole world A malitious and importune woman borne for a great plague to both these Estates As men doe commonly adore the Sunne rising so there wanted no Sicophants in Court to flatteâ— the cares of this young King and likewise to incense the two Kings one against the other in flattering their passions Thus Henry transported by these occasions complaines to Lewis of the double wrong his Father did him both in the delay of his marriage and deniall of his authoritie And as Lewis at his request had giuen some admonitions vnto Henry in the end this passionate young Prince came to Paris where beeing well receiued hee enters League with Lewis to make warre against his Father and to disquiet him in diuers parts William King of Scotland is an associate vpon condition that Henry shall giue him
his returne but it cost him deere for Saladin whom he had kept in awe sence the taking of Acon Richard makâ— a truce with Saladin vpon vnreasonable conditions well informed of his necessity resolution makes him to buy a truce for fiue yeares at a deere rate yeelding him vp all that had beene taken sence the comming of the two kings into Asia and so the Bloud Time and Cost spent in this conquest were lost in an hower by the ill gouernment of our Kings Richard hauing left the absolute comande of the affaires of Asia to Henry Earle of Campegne takes his way for England but as he came to Vienna in Austria he was knowne and staied Richard King oâ— England staiâ—d by the Emperour mâ—de to pay a raâ—â—ome first by Leopold Duke of Austria and then by Henry the Emperor for some discontent he had against him Thus Richard was retained 22. monethes and not deliuered but for a ransome of an houndred thousand pounds sterling which was then a great and notable summe This was the successe of that long and dangerous Easterne voiage crossed with so many toyles takings and yeeldings vp and with such troublesome consequences for both Kings and both Realmes for the quarrell ended not vpon King Richards release out of prison as we shall see Richard being returned into England Strange marriages of Pâ—ilip he sought all meanes of reuenge for the Wrongs he supposed to haue receyued vnworthely of Philip in his absence and calamitie But let vs returne to Philip he had put a way Isabel taken Alix the daughter of the King of Hungary who liued not long with him She being dead he tooke Gelberge sister to the King of Denmarke whom likewise he put away and in her place married Marie the daughter of the Duke of Morauia After a long and bitter controuersie vpon the repudiation of Gelberge the king remaning obstinate in his resolution yet in end he receiued her againe beyond al hope and ended his daies with her sending backe Marie with honorable meanes to liue in this kind of sollitary life in manner of a widow But our Inuentary may not excuse it selfe vpon the breuitie of the stile without reporting the manner which Philip held in receyuing Gelberge after so long and obstinat a sute The King of Denmarke pursued vehemently in the Court of Rome for the honor and quiet of his sister reiected Philip not able to auoyd the decision of the cause And yet resolute not to receiue Gelberge prepares his Aduocates to shew the reasons which had moued him to put her away The cause was to bee pleaded before the Popes Legate in the great Hall of the Bishops Pallace at Paris thether they runne of all sides In this great and sollemne assembly Philipps Aduocates pleaded wonderfullie well for him against his wife but no man appeared for her As the Cryer had demanded three times if there were any one to speake for Gelberge and that silence should be held for a consent behould a yong man vnknowne steppes forth of the presse and demands audience An Aduocate vnknowne pleads against the King for his wife Gelberge It was granted him with great attention King Philip assisting euery mans ears were open to heare this Aduocate but especially Philipps who was toucht and rauished with the free and plaine discourse of truth which he heard from the mouth of this newe Aduocate so as they might perceiue him to change his countenance After this young man had ended his discourse hee returnes into the presse againe and was neuer seene more neither could they learne what he was who had sent him nor whence he came The Iudges were amazed and the cause was remitted to the Councell Pâ—ilip relents â—nd takes Gelberge againe Philip without any stay in Court goes to Horse and rides presently to Bois de Vincennes whether he had confined Gelberge hauing imbraced her hee receiues her into fauour and passed the rest of his dayes with her in nuptiall loue 1193 By Isabel he had Lewis the 8 of that name whome during his life he imployed in affaires and left him the Crowne But the peace of his house was blemished by these crooked changes whereby we may obserue by the disquieted mind of this worthy Prince that there is nothing absolutly perfect in humain affaires He which could surmount the insolencies of his enimies could not vanquish his owne passions He that could get else where could not preserue that which was most pretious that is the peace of his howse and of his bed and which is more of his soule who could not liue quietly a midest these contynual debates bred and norished in his bosome This was the banket which was prepared for him at his returne after so many broâ—les passed in the voiage of the â—ast Flanders and England ministred him matter of troubles all his life time 〈◊〉 had â—oudry wâ—rres 〈…〉 King of England and 〈◊〉 Earle of Fâ—andâ—rs and he requited his enemies with the like ouer whome he had victorious aduantages Balâ—wine Sonne to Baldwin Earle of Hainault and Namur called the fourth and of Marguerit of Alsatia the Heire of Flaunders by the decease of her brother Philip dead of late in the East was then seased of these goodly Seigneuries wherevnto he had added Vermandois the which he pretended to belong vnto him by a certaine agreement but in effect it was by the right of conueniencie the which he had seazed on in Philips absence who at his returne recouered it from him by force with the countrey of Artois the which he gaue to his Sonne Lewis being now growne great who tooke possession and receyued homage from them of the Country Moreouer Philip caused Bauldwin to doe homage as his vassal for Flanders and other Lands of the Low countries noted by that name at Paris according to the sollemnities required from thence he marcheth into Normandie takes Gisors and the Country of Vexin giuing it for a dourie to his sister Alix being put away by Richard whome he had married againe to the Earle of Ponthieu But sodenly there are complaints from England That Phlilip did breake his promise He replies That seing his sister was nothing to Richard there was noâ— reason he should enioye her doury But this quarrell must proceed farther Richard receiues his brother Iohn into fauour and pardons what is past so as he will serue him faithfully against Philip and be no more seduced by his practises It chanced moreouer that Otho of Saxony the Son of Richards sister was choseÌ„ Emperour in his absence being then in England froÌ„ whence he presently departs assisted with his Vncles meanes the which hereafter shall import him much Richard seing how much Tholouse did import him for his countries of Guienne enters into a strict League of friendship with Raymond Earle of Tholouse theÌ„ a widower by the death of Constance Aunte to Philip giuing him Ioane his sister in marriage the widowe of
Willam King of Sicilia Al these were preparatiues of great warre against France And could Baldwine Earle of Flanders be wel satisfied being intreated as we haue seene Richard ioynes with him They resolue to make warre against Phiâ—ip in diuers places Hauing assembled foâ—ces their Baldwine enteâ—s into Artois Richard into Vexin contries then in Controuersie wherby reasoÌ„ the warre should begin seing the processe was bred there Philip without any amazement prouids for Artois sending forces thether vnder the command of his Sonne Lewis Warres with Richard King of England He himselfe marcheth in person against Richard who beseeged Corceeile the which he releeued in despight of him Richard not able to hinder these souccors takes his way into the Contrie of Beauuoisin and spoyles it Phillip doth the like in Normandy All tends to trouble by the willfulnes of these two Princes when as the Pope some say Celestin others Innocent .3 sends his Noncio to exhort them to peace This perswasion staied it not but only made a diuersion of their armes for Richard supposing that Philip could not auoide the blow being ingaged in Nomandie he marcheth into Berry and being assisted wâ—th all his forces of Guienne beseegeth Yssoudun hauing wasted and spoyled all the country Philip beseeged Vernon although the name be diuersly coated Vernon Vernueil or Aumale he leaues the Towne and flies to Richard to draw him to fight who finding himselfe to weake retyres to his towne Philip returnes to his seege and wins the Towne not withstanding all the attempts of Richard who now takes breth to seeke his reueng but God had otherwise disposed with whome all Princes ought to accoumpt for their actions 1223. who laughes at men when they vexe themselues most During his aboade at Limoges hee was aduertised that one of his men at armes had found a great treasure in the ground This Souldiar fearing to bee ill rewarded by Richard flies to a small Towne of Limosin which the Historie called Caalac or Cailus held by the French although it were of the Prouince of Guienne then belonging to the English Richard besiegeth it but as hee approched too neere the walles hee was wounded with an Arrow in the left arme His desire to follow this siege makes him to neglect his wound which impaires not being drest He takes the Towne but the man saues himselfe hauing hidden his treasure so as Richard tooke not the treasure which hee hunted after with a desire so vnseemely for a great Prince but insteed of taking gold Richard King of England dyes death surprised him who leauing his life vpon so light an occasion leaues a notable example of the vanitie of this world in the lightnesse of humaine spirits who suffer themselues to bee transported with couetousnesse a miserable councellor both to great and small This death did somewhat temper the bitternesse of their dissentions but it did not quench it betwixt France and England Iohn had right to succeed in the Realme of England as brother suruiuing the King deceased Iohn succeeds Richard and makes peace with Philip. but Arthur Duke of Brittanie sonne to Geoffrey the other brother as wee haue said pretended the Crowne to belong vnto him as the sonne of the elder Elenor their mother being yet liuâ—ng Iohn was receiued by the English so as being in possession he had the better and stronger title Philip fauoured Arthur but hee meant to make his profit of the Brothers dâ—uision and to keepe the stakes Being sought vnto by Iohn the new King of England who had then nothing of greater import then his friendship hee concludes a peace with him vpon condition That Iohn should yeeld vp all that his Brother had taken in Berry and neuer pretend any thing of that which Philip had taken Vexin in these latter warres and that Elenor Mother to Iohn Duchesse of Guienne should doe homage to the King for that Prouince as depending of the Crowne of France This aâ—cord is ratified by a new alliance the which encreased no loue Lewis the Sonne of Augâ—stus takes to Wife Blanche the Daughter of Alphonsus King of Castill War betwixt Iohn King of England and Artâ—ur his Nephew and of Iohns Sister being his Neece In the meane time Philip fauours Arthur vnder-hand who assisted by his meanes takes the Cittie of Tours to his great content Arthur doth him homage presently for the Countries of Touraine Aniou and Maine and so passeth on and takes Mirâ—â—eau where Elenor his Gâ—and-mother was resoluing to proceed on further but the Almightie GOD stayed his course For Iohn comes besiegeth and takes Mircbeau againe and Arthur his Nephew likewise Iohn murthers his Nephew Artâ—ur Elenor extreamly afflicted with these diuisions dyes for griefe and Iohn puts his Nephew Arthur whom he held Prisoner to death to extinguish all controuersies for the title â—f the Realme although this death were cloaked as accidentally falne out for sorrâ—w The cauâ—e of a cruell warre Hence sprung a cruâ—ll Warre Constance the Mother of Arthur Duchesse of Brittanie demands Iustice of Philip as her Soueraigne Philip adiornes Iohn and for not appealing hee condemnes him as guiltie of the crime imposed Iohn declared 〈◊〉 of murtheâ— felony by 〈◊〉 and of fellonie in disâ—beying of his commandements Hee proclaimes him an enemie and doth confiscate all hee held of the Crowne This sentence is seconded by open force to make the execution thereof more easie The Brittons and Poiteuins wonderfully greeued with this cruell fact arme and come to Philip. So Iohn abandoned of all flies to Pope Innocent the third accusing Philip of the breach of his faith in making Warre against him Innocent the third declaring that the breache of faith belonged properly to his authority and so by consequence carrying himselfe for Soueraigne Iudge of the câ—ntrouersie betwâ—xt the two Kings commands both the one and the other to laye aside Armes and to suffer the Churches in peace threatning to cursse his realme that should disobey his authority Pope Innocent â—â—â—â—rposeth his authority Philip shewes that hee hath neyther broken his faith nor peace with Iohn But that hee being his vassaile had slaine his Nephew in the territories of his obedience as it appeared by good proofes so as it was not reasonable the holye authoritie of the Church should serue as a defence or support for his impunity in so detestable a crime seeing the punishments of subiects and vassals 1201. appertained to the Prince by all diuine and humane Lawes But there were new complaints to the Pope against Philip that finding himselfe oppressed with war he imposed certain tenths vpon the Clergy to ease the people who complayned of their burthens He did not exact this of the Church by his owne decree but had assembled a Nationall Councell at Soissons to that end The Pope said this was done against his authority and not onely threatned Philip by his Censure but also all the Clergy that had assisted
contemned the whole world Hee reports also that hee vsed a notable pollicie to circuâ—uent Celestin being chosen to the dignitie of Pope a simple man and vnfit for maâ—â—eâ—s of State hee suborned some one to talke to him in the night like an Angell perswading him to leaue this charge if hee would be saued hee preuailes by his pâ—actises and wrought so by subtill deuises as hee was chosen Pope in his place Being Pope hee desired nothing more then to kindle the warre betwixt the Guelphes and the Gibelins then called Blacke and White by a name and marke of a faction Platina coates a singular proofe of his disposition nothing inclined to procure peace among Christian Princes Prochâ—t Archbishop of Genoa affected to the Gibelin faction kneeled at Boniface feete on Ashwednesday As the Priest is accustomed to say Memento homo quia ciuis es in â—inerem reuerteris he sayd changing the wordes Memeâ—to homo quia Gibilinus es et eâ—m Gibilinis in cinerem reuerteris casting the Ashes into his eyes where as they are accustomed to cast them on the head in signe of humilitie and submission Boniface thus inclined to the peace of Christendome that is to say as the Lord of Haillan writes more puft vp with glory and vanitie then good zeale to the peace of Christian Princes hee commands Philip by his Nuncio to restore to the English and Flemmings what they demanded and for not obeying hee cites him to appeare at Rome vpon paine of excommunication Philip a wise and a valiant Prince although hee were discontented with this course yet hee sent an Honorable Ambassage to Rome by the Archbishop of Rheims and the Earle of Saint Paul to lay open his right before the Deputies of the King of England and the Earle of Flanders who were then at Rome to complaine as being wronged All parties being heard Boniface decrees that Philip as the fountaine and cause of all the miseries and inconueniences which had happened should yeeld to Edward and to Gâ—y all they demanded both in Guienne and Flanders The Pope makes a decree against Philip. charging the Archbishâ—p of Rheâ—ms to signifie this Bull vnto the King vpon paine of excommunication for not obeying This was the first blowe giuen by Boniface against Philip The other Sceane of this Theater shall represent an other acte But what doth Philip after these great threates He prepares for deeds not suffering himselfe to be daunted with words and tâ—ies his witte to finde out meanes to maintaine himselfe against so mightie enemies not holding it fiâ—te nor worthy of a King of France to be terrified with these CoÌ„minations from Rome imployed without reason against his lawfull authoritie So seeking for all helpes he resolues to be ready for all euents holding words insufficient to calme this storme Philip prepares to defend himselfe He layes great impositions which they call Maletost vpon his Subiects for the leâ—ying of Souldiars and imposeth great tenths vpon the Clergie But in the search of thâ—s remedie he was incountred with two difficulties On the one side The French mutine being surcharged his Subiects suâ—charged with the exaction of these great summes being almost in dispaire were ready to rebell in diuers places especially in the greater Citties And on the other side Pope Boniface thundred against him by new Comminations and Censures â— forbidding the Clergie to contribute any thing This Prince crossed with these difficulties continues his course resolutely Philip admonisheâ—h the Earle of Flandeâ—â— of his duty as a great worke requires a noble and vndanted spirit But before he enters warre against Guy Earle of Flanders he sends the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishop of Seâ—lis vnto him to aduise him not to enter into a voluntarie warre That the King was as carefull of his Daughter as himselfe to marrie her honorablie according to her qualitie That hee did nothing vnworthy of a good King or a good God-father in not suffering his subiects to allie themselues to his capitall enemies the which hee spake not for feare of the Earles forces or of his friends but for the care hee had of his Subiects not to see them runne headlong into ruine and therefore he presents him the choise of Peace of Warre Count Guy answers â—hat hee is resolute to recouer his right by force from the King seeing hee might not haue it by reason Philip hauing tryed mildnesse in vaine comes to force Hee had a goodly Armie whereof hee takes the one halfe and giues the other to Robert Earle of Artois his cousine He turnes the head of his Armie against Lisle and besiegeth it Philip inuades Flanders and defeates he Flemings whilest that Robert defeates the Flemings at Furnes and takes the Earles of Iuliers and Albemont with many other of great accoumpt and sends them prisoners into France So continuing his victory hee takes the Townes of Cassel Bergues Saint Winoch Furnes and all the West part with an incredible celeritie The King hauing taken Lisle hee enters victoriously into Bruges At this sodaine check all the rest of Flanders stâ—nds amazed This happy beginning did shake the desseignes of the confederate Princes so as without any more delay they sue for peace Ambassadors come presently vnto him from the King of England demanding a truce the which hee granted comprehending the Earles of Flanders and Neuers vpon condition they should put their controuersies to compromise And so he returned into France leauing Raoul of Neele his Constable Gouernor of the Countrie of â—landers This was the first voyage of Philip into Flanders in the yeare 1297. All things seemed to bee thus mildely pacified He seizeth vpon all Flanders but the progresse will soone shew that Philip had no meaning to receiue the Earle of Flanders into fauour For the truce being newly expired Charles Earle of Valois enters into Flanders with the same victorious Armie where hee takes Bethâ—ne Douay Courtray and all the rest of the Countrie of Flanders except Gand whether the Earle Guy was retired with his Children being disapointed of succours from his allyes and confederates England is quiet and the Emperour Adolphe is no more to be seene The Earle of Flanders forsaâ—â—n by his confederates who had made this poore Earle to weare the Bable And the Gaâ—tois make their peace with the King keeping their Priuileges But what shall become of the Earle hee yeelds himselfe absolutely into the hands of Robert Eaâ—le of Artois with promise that by his intercession he should be restored into the Kings good fauour and so into the possession of his estate 1299. Vpon this promise of Robert Guy accompanied with his children Robert William and Guy and his Nobilitie that were most confident vnto him comes to Paris but his hope was soone turned into a languishing sorrow for both himselfe his children and all his followers were dispersed into sundry places vnder sure gardes Guy put into prison as the Kings prisoners
hands 1303. as a pawne vntill the end of the paiment and he might beat downe what he had built in the Castels of Lisle Douay deliuering them to the Earle as to their lawful Lord. The Flemings tyed to sâ—â—ict conditions That the Flemings should raze the walls and Forts of fiue principal Citties Gaunt Bruges Ypre Lisle and Douay and neuer to build them againe That the King should make choise of 3000. men at his pleasure in Bruges and thereabouts that were coulpable of the seditions and murthers committed a thousand of them to bee imployed beyond the seas and two thousand on this side and that the Flemings should furnish 600. men at armes to serue the King one whole yeare where hee pleased And for the performance hereof the Citties should bee bound Six thousand pounds and should forfaire threscore thousand Liuers for non-payment for the effecting whereof Deputies should bee appointed During this treatie the Earle Guy and his daughter Philip Guy Earle of Flanders and his daughter dye the subiect of this troublesome reuolt died to the great great greefe of Philip who sees himselfe frustrate of al meanes to shew his clemencie and bountie But when these Articles were brought vnto the Citties the people did mutine with great impatiencie so as the Deputies perswaded Philip to moderate those which were most greeuous The demantling of the Townes except Bruges where the reuolt began and the banishment of the men conuerting it into a pecuniary fine and a great summe to an annuall pension prefixt to easie paiments Thus the accord was made Robert William and Guy brethren The conditions moderated the sonnes of the Earle Guy of Flanders were deliuered with all the prisoners but we shal see that in the execution thereof there was much trouble During these hard rough proceedings Edward King of England hauing receiued a check in Guienne was quiet fearing Philips resolution in greatest dangers whereof hee could wisely free himselfe in the end an accord is made by the marriage of Isabel the daughter of Philip Isabel the daughter of Philip married to Edward King of England with Edward the 2. who in regard of this marriage recouered all he had lost in Guienne in the taking of Isabell he left to his posteritie a heauy pawne to pretend a title to the whole Realme Philip had his reuenge of this Emperour Adolphe who had so boldly braued him in the beginning of this quarrell vnder coulour of demanding the lands of the Empire lying in the Countries of Bourgongne Daulphiné and Prouence being in old time the realme of Arles but then in the power of diuers Lords as we haue sayd vnder the Kings authoritie The King of England and Earles of Flanders had great cause to complaine of him hauing receiued two hundred thousand Crownes to make war against Philip the which he imployed in the pourchase of Thuringe taking possession of that goodly Land so vniustly gotten being solde by an vnnaturall Father who would disinherit his Children This filthie traffick agrauated by the complaints of the King of England and Earle of Flanders Adolphe the Emperour deposed made Adolphe of Nassau very odious and contemptible being issued from a noble and worthie race but this Act against the poore Children made him vnworthy of the Empire from which he was deposed by a decree of the Electors Albert of Austria seated in his place who poursuing him with war slâ—e him as they write with his owne hand in an incounter neere vnto Spire But Pope Boniface the 8. Philips greatest enemie remained yet vnpacified who stil continued his chollor against him in a season when as he thought him to be drawne drie both of men and money for they write that this warre of Flanders had wasted aboue three hundred thousand Frenchmen in eleuen yeares during the which it coÌ„tinued We haue seene how he vsed him by his Nuncios this last Act will not onely shew the continuance of his spleene but shal also represent a bad Catastrophé in this Tragedie the which shall light vpon the head of Boniface sought for by himselfe Albert of Austria was no sooner chosen and installed Emperour by the Electors but Boniface applyed his wit to winne him against Philip supposing to preuaile against Philip Pope Boniface his practise against Philip. as Gregorie the ninth had done against Frederic the second Hee proclames him Emperour inuests him King of the realme of France giuing him both the title and armes and taking occasion to sowe deuision in the heart of the Realme by meanes of the Clergie who by reason of their reuenues had great power in the State and for the interest thereof great will to preserue them Hee did also write his letters to Philip in this manner Boniface Bishop seruant of the seruants of God to Philip King of Frenchmen Feare God He write arâ—ogantly to Philip. and obserue his commandements wee wil thee to vnderstand that thou art subiect to vs both in spirituall and temporall things and that it belongs not to theâ— to giue any prebend or benifice If thou hast the keeping of any of them being vacant thou must reserue the profits of them to the successors If thou hast giuen any wee iudge thy gift to be void and do reuoke all that hath beene done and whosoeuer beleeueth otherwise wee iudge them heretikes giuen at Latran the fourth of the Nones of December the 6. yeare of our Popedome The King answeres him thus Philips answere to the Pope Philip by the grace of God King of France to Boniface calling himselfe the soueraigne Bishop little or no health Let thy great follie and rashnes be aduertised that in tempâ—ral things we acknowledge none but God for superiour and that the gift of prebends being void belongs to vs by our royall prerogatiue and the fruits that grow thereby the which wee will defend by the sword against all them that shall seeke to hinder our possession esteeming them fooles and without iudgement that shall thinke otherwise These are the very words drawne out of the originall But Philip to preuent the plots of Pope Boniface asseÌ„bled the Prelaâ—s of his realm at Paris with al speed hauing represeÌ„ted vnto theÌ„ the wrong which Pope Boniface had done him by his decree from the which he had appealed as erronious he makes them to renew their oath of fidelitie Hee thankes the King of England in that he yeelded not to the perswasions of Boniface who would haue incensed him against him and in the end he seekes to stay the violent course of his furious practises There was a Gentleman following the Court whose name was Felix of Nogaret borne in Seuennes a mountaine Countrie of Languedoc of the familie of the Albigeois as in that Countrie there were many reserued from father to sonne since the grant made them by Saint Lewis whome Philip held fit for the execution of this charge there was likewise a guide
He demands them to this end aâ—cording to the conuentions This charge being deliuered in the Towne house where thâ—se miserable Bourgeses were assembled by his permission to giue their Countâ—y their last farewell they gaze one on an other terrified with so pittilesse a condition As they al stood mute in this common calamity one of the troupe breaking this mournfull silence Sâ—eâ—â—g â—aith he I haue so often imployed my life for my Countriâ—s good should I nowe feare to 〈◊〉 it for my last oblation A notable farewell of the Calisâ—â—s O my Countrimen I doe cheerfully offer my head to the King of Englands 〈◊〉 and will liue no longer in my Countries myserie This hee spake without teares and with so resolute a countenance and a browe so manly big as hee mooued the whole company so as all with one generall voice 〈◊〉 Let vs go to the death it is the last duty we can performe to our poore Countrie Immediatly there was pressing among this great multitude who should be of the six to carry their heads to Edwards triâ—mphe They were chosen out drawen bound and led to execution The Queene hauing notice thereof desired to see them who were brought bound in the executioners hands The Queene 〈…〉 This spectacle mooued her to weepe and compassion caused her to beg a pardon of the King beseeching him to giue life to these men worthy to liue after so constant a loyaltie She obtayne her request and leaue for them to remayne still in Calais esteemed to continue faithfull to their deliuereâ— who had shewed themselues so constant in the faithfull loue of their lost countrie The history did owe this digression to so commendable an act The same Some brought Edward a wisshed successe in Brittaine Troubleâ— in Bâ—iâ—â—ain touching the quarrell for the Duchie Philip had taken Iohn of Montfort and Edward in exchange tooke Charles of Blois whome he led into England and still weakeneth Philips authoritie in Britain and settles his owne Thus passe the affaires of this world euery one hath his turne Vertuous Princeâ—â—es in their husbands miseries The two Duchesses of Britain Ioane the wife of Iohn of Montfort and Ioane the wife of Charles of Blois did wonders in keeping those places they had in their possessâ—ons during the imprisonments of their husbands without entring farther into the discourse of the female wars of these Amazons worthy yet of eternall memory hauing so couragiously releeued the afflictions of their imprisoned husbands and neuer yeelded to necessity Newe troubles in Flanders Flanders likewise grewe mutinous by Edwards practises being then greatly respected for the successe of his victorious armes The Flemings receiued their Earle Lewis of Malle without any opposition beeing sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at Cressy but the Kings of France and Eâ—gland contended who should winne him Lewis was in heart a Frenchmâ—n The Citties were generally affected to England The marriage of this young Prince was great Edward desired him for his daughter but especially the oportunitie of this rich County for his affaires He comes himselfe to Gand to compasse his desire but the euent was not answerable The Earle of 〈…〉 into France for although the Earle made shewe to imbrace this alliance at the great instance of his subiects yet his heart was otherwise affected who vnder colour to go flie at the Heron goes out of Gand with a smal traine flies to Paris to Philip who hauing receiued him gratiously perswades him to espouse Marguerit the second Daughter of the Duke of Brabant thereby to cut off all hope of marying with England Thus the hatred of these two Princes continued which in the ende must breake forth into hostâ—le effects Pacardy was the stage of their lamentable tragedies from thence the miserie was dispersed ouer the whole Realme 1348. Philip giues the gouernement to Geoffry Earle of Charny the Lieutenancy to Anthony of Montmorency They fortifie the Towns and bridle Calais beeing assisted by a great number of voluntary Nobility louing the coÌ„mand of these two great captaines as a schoole of military discipline to shewe that the French did not faint in their afflictions These losses were then repaired by the gaine of the country of Daulphiné one of the noblest and goodliest Prouinces of this Realme And this was the occasion Imbert or Vmbert Daulphin of Viennois hauing lost his eldest sonne in the battell of Cressy as I haue said and his yongest being two or three yeares old by a strange accident they say that he himselfe let him fall out of his armes as he plaide with him at a window thinking to feare him moreouer hauing Amé the 6. Earle of Sauoy an irreconciliable spightfull enemy beeing too weake to resist him nor able to make choise of a kinsman to repaire his estate being wearie of the world and decayed in iudgement he resolues to cast himselfe into the King of France his protection to oppose him against his enemy and to put this goodly inheritance into his hands thereby to preuent the Earles greedy desire Forthwith hauing aduertised Philip of his intention and being graciously intertayned by him he giues all the Countrie of Daulphiné to him and his successors Kings of Francâ— vpon condition that the first son of the house of France should carry the name of Daulphin of Viennois the armes of the country of Daulphiné should be quartered with the armes of France that the Nobility whole country shold be receiued with their priuileges Amé Earle of Sauoy otherwise a deare friend to Philip sends his Embassadors to make his benefit of this exchange but it was not for him all that he could obtaine was to exchange some land with that which laie intermixt within his territories adioyning Daulphin incorporate to the crowne the better to liue in quiet afterwards Daulphiné was thus incorporated to the Crowne of France For we cannot with any reason doubt but in old time it was a meÌ„ber of this our Monarchy as likewise Sauoy was but in these diuersities of portions vnder the children of Lewis the gentle as we haue noted before the Realme and Empire swallowing vp both the effect the name of the Realme of Arles in the which these Estates were comprehended haue maintayned themselues by a remarkable distinction and so vnder the authority of the Empire they haue since held their soueraignty not acknowledging any Emperour but their Princes Daulphiné is returned to his first originall and Sauoy maintaines it selfe vnder the obedience of his soueraigne Prince vnto this day As for the name of Daulphin giuen to the first sonne of France the execution of Prince Imberts will was not put in practise before Charles the fift sonne to Iohn then Duke of Normandy in the life of his father Philip and not giuen to Iohn in the yeare 1348. The towne of Montpâ—llier purchased to the crowne The yeare following the Citty of Montpellier one of
King Iohn who had already granted his pardon vpon good assurance Iohn grants his request yet could he not command his heart to leaue this malitious iealousie the which made him to seeke new occasions daylie to crosse his father in Lawes actions He then offers his seruice to the King of England who failes not to imbrace this occasion hauing the heart and hand of a Prince of the bloud whose power was great in the State Vpon this assurance he sends Edward his eldest sonne Prince of Wales into Guienne with a goodly armie a yong man of an exceeding hope And giues him for councell Iohn Shandos Robert Knowles Fraâ—cis Hali and Iohn of Arondel great men in their times and which shal be famous in those actions which shall follow New warre by the King of Nanâ—s practises He attended the end of truce the which being expired he enters Guienne and passeth into Langnedoc to Thâ—louse Narbonne ouer al he spoiles sacks kils and finds no resistance and returnes wiâ—hout difficulty to Bourdeaux being loaden with spoiles At the same instant another cloud of English men breakes out of Calis and spoiles the Country of Picardy but Ioâ—n by these skirmishes foresees the tempest of a greater warre measuring the forces of England by the will of King Edward his assured and tryed enemie He therefore seekes a remedie by an ordinarie course he calls a generall Parliament to take Councell and comfort from them in these newe occurrents Charlâ—s of Nauaâ—re assists but with an intent to crosse the Kings procedings by indirect practiâ—es and to withdrawe the subiects affections from assisting the King with their meanes in this necessitie Open force of the 〈◊〉 against the King but it was in vaine for in regard of Iohns promise to better the coyne they granted him a reasonable aide to raise and intertaine a great armie This faithful resolution of the French did for that time suppresse the violence of the English but not the furious malice of the Nauarrois for hauing labored in vaine to disswade the people from their promised succours and hauing raised by these practises seditions in diuers parts of the realme he lands at Cheâ—ebourg with two thousanâ— men robs and spoiles the countâ—y and takes â—he Castel of Coâ—ches in Normandie from the King An intollerable presumption of a subiect against his Prince after the muâ—ther of a Constable But Iohn disâ—embles this assiont and by the mediation of his sonne Charles Daulphin of Viennois he remâ—ts this second fault and receiues the King of Nauarre his son in Law againe into fauour but in effect he doth it to frustrate his purposes and to punish such as had assisted him Iohn did then giue the Duchie of Normandie to the Daulphin for his portion so as hee must take posâ—ession thereof An apparent cause to drawe him thether but in effect Iohns intention was to drawe the Nauarrois into a place of easie surprise to make him and 〈◊〉 adherents to giue an accompt of their wicked actions and to preuent them hereafter The new Duke of Normandie arriues at Roan whether all the good Townes of the Countrie runne to do him homage The King of Nauarre who held Eureux and many great Lordships in the Country with one of the greatest dignities in the realme comes to do him honouâ— well acompanied but better receiued by Charles his brother in law The King aduertised that the Nauarrois was at Roan with his sonne goes speedilie from Paris accompanied with his Brother Philip Duke of Orleans Lewis his second sonne Duke of Aniou the Earle of Tancaruille and Arnoul of Endreghan Marshall of France and ranne to Roan with this great traine 1352. Arriuing about dinner time he presently goes to his sonnes lodging where he findes him at table accompanied with the King of Nauarre and the most of them which had assisted him at the Constables murther where without any more deliberation or delay he causeth them all to be apprehended And then not pausing longer he made choise of fower out of this number the two Brethren of Harcourt the Lord of Maubue and Colinet Doublet chieâ—e actors in the foresaied murther and without any other forme of proceeding as a matter long before determyned he causeth their heads to be cut off Charles of Nauarre taken pâ—isoner by the King Fower of his complices beheaded setting theÌ„ vpon stakes and drawing their carcases to the gibet The next day he made choise of prâ—soners and sends the Nauarrois with Friquet and Bontabu his domesticke and most trustie seruanâ—s to Arras vnder sauegards and presently dismisseth all the rest to their houses enioyning them expresly vnto fidelitie and loyaltie to his seruice bynding them by a new oath This vnexpected execution amazed the whole Countrie like to a cracke of thunder but it roused vp the Nauarrois faction especially Philip of Nauarre brother to Charles and Geoffroy of Haâ—court Vncle to the two Bretheren beheaded Occasion of newe warre the which opened the gates to a strange confusion which shal cast Iohn into miserable captiuitie and drawe the Nauarrois out of prison with a flaming torch in his hand to fier the whole realme Behold Philip and the house of Haâ—court presently in England crying out against murther They intâ—â—ate Edward to stretch â—orth his hand to bee reuenged of so notable an iniustice and disloyaltie They offer him their hearts persons goods Townes and hauens to land in Nâ—rmandie without any difficultie and there to make warre comodiously against so trecherous and cruell a Prince Edward a wise and vigilant Prince who had his eyes open to all occasions that might annoy his enemy imbraceth this offer hee asâ—embâ—es his troupes to send them speedâ—ly into No mandie And to do nothing by halues hee imploies all hee can to leuie a great army the which he sends into Guienne to make worke for Iohn in diuers places and not to suffer this first heat of the discontended french to coole hee then without anie delay sends the Duke of Glocester into Normandie with .4000 choise men who lands easily Warre in Normandy and ioynes with Philip of Nauarre and so they ouerrune and spoile the Champion Countrie The terror of these newe forces spâ—eads presently ouer all The Towns of Lizieux Orbes B cheloin and Ponteau on the sea yeeld presently And not staying to beseege any great Citties he goes to Bretueil and Tuillieres and from thence to Vernueil in Perche the which he takes easilie giuing it out in all places that it was to reuenge the wrong done to the King of Nauarre and his seruants a dutie of humanitie which Kings ought not to refuse one to another in their greatest necessity King Iohn hasteth thither with his armie and recouers Bretueil and Tuillieres and had easily repossessed all the rest if a new occasion had not drawen him else where and the secret decree of God to his owne ruine Edward Prince of Wales the eldest sonne of Edward King of
King Iohn hauing long expected the time of his deliuerie parts from England with a strong garde and is conducted to Calis attending the money 〈◊〉 the first pawne of his libertie The Regent his sonne labours earnestly the 〈◊〉 of Paris did contribute willingly a hundred thousand Royals and after their example all other citties paied their portions Of such power is our head cittie both to 〈◊〉 good and euill so by this ende they made amends for all former errors The money is brought to S. Omer whether the Regent comes to see the deliuerie Edward returnes to Calis he is wonderfull kinde to Iohn The two Kings sweare a mutuâ—ll league of friendship and they sweare a league of friendship and comprehended Charles King of 〈◊〉 being absent in this peace his brother Philip vndertaking for him to the end that all quarrels might be troden vnder foote and all men liue in peace vnitie and concord So Iohn being set at libertie after a languishing imprisonment foure yeares take his 〈◊〉 of Edward with all the shewes of loue that might be betwixt brethren and 〈◊〉 friends Being parted f om Calis he findes his sonne Charles comming to meete him with a great and stately traine I cannot well expresse the ioy of this first encounter this good King imbracing his sonne as his redeemer with ioy mixt with teares and full of fatherly affection with the content of his sweete recouered libertie seeing himselfe in his 〈◊〉 armes who had giuen him so many testimonies of his faithfull loue in his necessitie 〈◊〉 in the middest of his subiects with his first authoritie depending no more vpon anothers will King Iohn receiued by his sonne with great ioy And contrariwise what ioy was it for this wise sonne to enjoy his father so precious a gage of the authoritie order and obedience of a State and a great discharge for him of this painfull burthen Thus discoursing of what had bin done during his imprisonment and of what was to be done they arriue at Heâ—in whether not onely the whole countrie repaires 〈…〉 the Deputies of Paris and of all the prouinces of the Realme to congratulate their good Kings deliuerie where he disposeth of the gouernment of his house The King of Nauarre meetes him at Compiegne hauing fiâ—st sent back his hostages to shew that he relyed onely on his word put himselfe into his power Thus passeth the world after a storme comes a calme 1361. King Iohn made his entrie into Paris with this goodly traine being receiued with an incredible ioy of all his subiects The Kings reception into Paris The Parisiens going to kisse his hands offer him their hearts with a goodly cubberd of Plate worth a thousand markes for homage of their fidelitie and obedience The Parliament had surceased aboue a whole yeare Iohn for the first fruits of his recouered authoritie would honour the opening of the court with his presence being set in the seat of Iustice in the midst of all his officers to the incredible content of all men who beheld the cheerefull countenance of this Prince like the Sunne beames after a troubled skie Such was the returne of King Iohn into his realme after his imprisonment as the catastrophe of a Comedie in the which after mourning they reioyce This happened in the beginning of the yeare 1361. Some moneths were spent in these publike ioyes but they must seeke to get againe his hostages in the effecting whereof they found many difficulties for neither the priuate Lords whose homage he had bound to the King of England nor the countries whose Soueraignties he had yeelded by this accord would obey They argue with the King in councell and demand an acte shewing Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace that the King cannot dispose of the soueraigntie of his realme nor alienate the reuenues of the crowne Iohn on the other side fearing least Edward should reproche this vnto him as a practise betwixt him and his subiects made them sundry commandements to obey He went to Auignon to visit Pope Innocent who dyed at this time and Vrban the sixt succeeded in his place both Limosins To hansell Iohns recouered libertie and to ease his minde afflicted with long imprisonment Vrban exhorts him to vndertake the voyage of the holy land as generall of the action Iohn promiseth the Pope to goe with an armie Iohn not remembring the examples of Kings his Predecessors Lewis the 7. 9. nor apprehending the present burthen of his great affaires nor the danger of so mighty and watchfull an enemie who had so long and with so great paine kept him prisoner accepts the charge and makes a solemne promisse and to hasten the execution thereof he returnes into England Some saye the loue of the Countesse of Salisbury whose husband had the garde of the King being a prisoner was the principall motiue of his returne The which I cannot beleeue vpon the report of the English being vnlikely that his age his aflictions his great affaires and the voyage wherevnto he prepared should suffer this Prince to follow so vnseasonable a vanitie But whatsoeuer moued him therevnto he dyed there leauing his life in England where he had so long languished as a presage of his death Thus Iohn died in England in the yeare 1364. the 8. of Aprill Iohn dies in England His dispositioÌ„ leauing Charles his eldest sonne heire to the Crowne of France A good man he was but an vnfortunate Prince wise in ordinarie things but ill aduised in great affaires iust to all men but not warie how or whom he trusted in matters of consequence temperate in priuate but too violent in publick To conclude a good Prince but not considerate more fit to obey then to command Truely these heroicke vertues are the proper Iewels of Crownes and wisdome is a companion to the most excellent vertues especially in Princes who are aduanced vpon the Theater of manslife to gouerne the rest We haue noted that Bourgogne had beene giuen to Robert the grand-child of Hugh Capet for his portion A little before the deceasse of King Iohn Bourgogne annexed vnto the Crowne it was vnited to the Crowne of France by the death of Duke Philip a young man of the age of fifteene yeare sonne to that Iohn which dyed in the battaile of Poitiers He was betrothed to the heire of Flanders but both the Duchie and the Daughter were for another Philip the sonne of Iohn to whom the father gaue this new succession in recompence of the faithfull seruice he had done him the day of his taking and had continued it in prison CHARLES the 5. called the Wise the 52. King of France CHARLES THE V. KINGE OF FRANCE .52 THis Charles during the life of his father Iohn had giuen so many testimonies of his sufficiencie to gouerne well 1364. that he was held for King before he tooke the crowne Charles his raigne the which he receiued at Rheine
he would not accept of this gouernment without the good liking of the Duke of Berry so as all the punishment fell vpon Betizac his chiefe Treasurer who 〈◊〉 burnt at Beziers Betizac the Dukes treasurer burnt purging in the fire the extorsions he had committed vnder his maisterâ— authoritie At that time Charles King of Nauarre died so often blemished in the truth of this historie we haue noted how he had retired himselfe from Court into his realme of Nauarre As this retreat was vnto him a reprochfull banishment so this shamefull solitarinesse was a ciuill death But the Catastrophe of his tragicall life was a famous proofe that God doth often reuenge notable sinnes by notable punishments euen in this life He was much broken by the excesse of venery and all sorts of dissolutions the which he had exceedinglie vsed with his wonderfull tyrannie and crueltie As they did anoint him with medicines fit to warme and comfort his benummed members some say they had chafed him with Aqua-vitae The tragicall 〈◊〉 of the Nauarroâ— and wrapt him in a sheete but behold fire takes hold of this sheete with such violence as being vnable to quench it he was consumed by degrees liuing some daies as suruiuing his paine and that which encreased the horror of Gods iudgement his death made both great and small to reioyce and was receiued in France with as great content as the winning of a great and famous battaile Great robbing during the truce There was a generall truce betwixt the French and English so as the garrisons lying stâ—ll the Souldiars bred vp and nourished in armes fighting no more by order vnder their eâ—sâ—gnes sought now their prey by disorder vpon the labourer and marchant The countries of Rouergue Perigort Limosin Auuergne and La Marche had English garrisons who spoiled these countries and did runne vp into the neerest parts of Languedoc Velai Geuaudan Viuarez and Suenes where the villages are for the most part walled in to preuent these sodaine incursions There were many theeues amongst them Teste noire or Black-pate in the Castell of Ventador Amerigor Marcel at Roâ—h-Vandais who breaking the truce sought to be supported by the King of England but in the end they all fell into the hang-mans hands or perished miserably by some strange death an Image of our late confusions Libertie had bred vp these warriours with so great aboundance as the English passed the sea to make Turneys and to fight at Barriers as they vse at great Triumphes There was a Tilt set vp betwixt Calais and Saint Iaquelvuert where the Nobilitie made triall of their valour as in a Schoole of Fence To take away this troublesome aboundance they tooke occasions to make long voyages into Castille and Italie but in the end there was a very famous one offred against the miscreaâ—ts of Barbarie at the Geneuois request who suffred many discommodites in their traffick by these barbarous Affricans Charles granted them succours willingly and gaue the charge of this warre to Peter duke of Burbon assisted with the Earles of Auuergne and Foix the Lords of Coucy Guy of Tremouille A voyage into Affâ—â—â—ke by â—he Frenâ—h English together Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Philip of Arthois Earle of Eu Philip of Bar Harcourt Antoing Linge Pyquiny and many other great men from all parts of the Realme which ranne to so famous an action vnder so worthy a commander and at so great leysure more painfull then the toyle of warre to men that desired nothing but imployment Richard King of England to imitate Charles granted succours to the Geneuois vnder the command of the Earle of Salisburie accompanied with many Noble men and Engâ—â—sh Gentlemen moued with desire like vnto the French in the enterprise of this pleasing paine The Deputies of the Kings of France and England assembled to treate of a generall peace but not able to effect it they continue a truce for foure yeares with goodly pâ—ouisions against robberies for the safetie and quiet of their Estates Charles gaue free passage to the English by the Countries of Langâ—edâ—â— and Daulphiné to passe the Alpes safelie All come to Genes to the great ioy of the Geneuois Being shipt they land within fewe dayes in Barbarie Presently they beseege the Citty of Affricke So our histore termes it as bearing the name of all the vast and barbarous counâ—ry They call the Afâ—ricanic commanders Agadinquor of Oliferne and Brahadist of Thunes But our Argonautes found them which stayed their fuâ—y The Barbarians defended themselues with an obstinate resolution But their foâ—ce did them lesse harme then the ayre and diet beeing very contrary to theiâ— complexions so as our armie decreased dayly especially of men of accompt This siege conâ—inued six weekes with much losse no hope to preuaile The 〈◊〉 noated alwaâ—es to be â—aithlâ—sse The Geneuois hauing conceiued a hope of a sodaine victorie began to grow cold and slacke in furnishing of the armie The Duke of Bourbon foreseeing the difficulties which might grow in continuing obstinaâ—e at this siege fearing the winter and not trusting the Geneuois who are famous for that they haue no faith remembring the example of the King S. Lewis resolued to returne wiâ—hout any greater losse He trusseth vp his baggage bringes backe his troupes into France coÌ„tinuing the example to al such as are capable of reasoÌ„ how difficult it is for Christâ—ans to performe these strange attempts after the experience of many ages The â—rench and the English hauing liued louingly together in this voyage returned to their houses without doing of any memorable act but to haue endeauored to doe sometâ—ing worthy of memory to auoide idlenesse during so peacefull a time â—ritâ—aine did then conceiue and afterwards bring forth more preiudiciall effects then Bâ—rbary iâ— selâ—â— and the way was made by light occasions to horrible and monstrous efâ—ects to the great preiudicâ— both of the King and Realme for a notable tesâ—imonie to posterity what Councellors Enuye and ambition be in a state we like wretches seeke for peace and when God gâ—ues it we flie from it we maligne an other mans good and depâ—â—ue our selues of our owne But alas it were a small matter for a great personage to hurâ— himselfe by his owne passions if this poison did not spred abroad to the preiudice of â—he common weale We haue said that Iohn of Montfort remained peaceably Duke of Brittaine by the death of Charles of Blois and the agreement he made with his widow Hatred betwixt the duke of Briâ—â—â—ine the Constable Clisson whose eldest sonne Iohn of Brittâ—ine Earle of Ponthieure was redeemed from prison out of England by the constable Clisson who gaue him his daughter in marriage payed his â—ansome The constable was a Briâ—ton and so a subiect to Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine his ancient and capitall â—nimy and yet by this newe succession was become his Lord. Doubtlesse in this quality Clisson could not
men which chanced in the beginning of the yeare 1394 shal burne farther and kindle a greater fire betwixt the vncle and the Nephewe foâ— the space often yeares vntill the death of Philip Duke of Bourgongne leauing this hatred hereditary to his posterity There is no meanes which the Bourguignon doth not attempt to wrong his Nephewe of Orleans Certaine Augustin Fryars vndertake to cure the King by incisions in his head wheâ—by he was in great danger of his life These counterfets were brought forth publikely in their habits and beheaded but the scarres of these wounds will remaine in Lewis his â—ace who recommended them vnto the King The women are dealers in these actions The Duchesse of Bourgongne perswades Queene Isabel that Lewis his meaning was to kill the King her husband his children These impressions are confirmed by the graue and sweet discouâ—ses of the duke her husband who by degrees setled a hatred in the Queenes minde agaiâ—st her brother in-law Thus this faction is much fortified by the authority of Queene Isabel and by her with her husbands name whom she makes to speake what she pleaseth sometimes as her will directed him but not alwaâ—â—â— Yet this weake braine is the checker of all these courâ—ly pollicâ—es by the meanes oâ— women who are continually about his bedde or his chaire to distemper his braine with variety of newes springing from their wretched passions and this poore Prince is sometimes won sometimes lost and alwaies tormented wâ—th these imporâ—unâ— discoâ—râ—es Vâ—lenâ—ine to the Duke of Orleans an Iâ—aâ—â—an and daughter to Iohn Galeaz one of the cunningest and most subtill witts of her time which subtilty some held she increased by coniuring would not yeeld to the brauadoes of these two Princesses against whom she opposed her selfe not only by her husbands degree but also by a politike courage bred in her selfe visiting the sicke king with such ciuill entertainment as her greatest enemies could not finde any honest colour to deny her the dore So as the King did not onely willingly see her but did call for her and in his greatest fits did know her onely among all the rest refusing to take any thing but from the hands of his good Sister of Orleans The more the Kings loue kindled a iealousie in these two Princesses her enemies the more it raysed vp the mind of Valentine and by hir meanes of her husband who remeÌ„bring too hatefully the degree whereunto he was borne and the wrong done him in reiecting him yet hauing neither dexterity nor meanes to win many seruants he gaue the Duke of Bourgongne all aduantages being graue cold pleasing and modest so as by his wise teÌ„per he disolued the heate of the Duke of Orleans immoderate vehemencie who tyring himself with the shew of his greatnesse makes it known by effects that all the authority was in the Duke of Bourgongne for whosoeuer had neede of any publike helpe he must pasâ—e through his hands what busines soeuer chanced either within or without the realme the true rendez-uous was at his lodging Thus the Vncle made his Nephew towalke horses as they say although he chafed and stamped beyond all measure These diuisions troubled the whole court making them to neglect the affaires of state and what can we obserue more famous in so disordered an estate Al businesses are done in the Kings name yet without the King vnlesse the parties would haue him to countenance some great passion I do purposely omit all that which passed in this raigne touching the schisme of the Church and the house of Aniou in the realmes of Naples and Arragon not to breake off the course of my intent meaning to represent in due place all that concernes this forrain history Richard King of England sends his Ambassadors to Charles to congratulate his recouery offring him a generall peace and demanding his daughter in marriage The Kings relapse delayed the conclusion for a time Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France but soone after by the care of the Duke of Bourgongne who had a great interest in this alliance by reasoÌ„ of his country of Flanders it was concluded in the yeare 1395. Charles had some intermissions by meanes whereof he could ride Richard repayres to Calais and Charles to Ardres whether Richard came to ratifie the peace concluded betwixt their Ambassadors and to receiue his new spouse The Kings encountred one another with loue and kindnesse making shewes of great good will but it was a short ioy for either of them For as it seemed that the quiet of these two realmes had beene setled by this generall peace sealed by this marriage and seasoned with so many reciprocall shewes of cordial affection betwixt these two great Kings behold a great combustion in England which intangles both these Kings in this common calamity Richard being of himselfe effeminate carelesse voluptuous and idle grew more delicate by this profound rest built vpon the alliance of his enimy who alone might haue quickned him He is alwayes with his yong wife imbracing her dallying with her and attiâ—ing her with such contempt of his authority abassing himselfe too much to his subiects so as he grew contemptible vnto his enimies who presâ—med to attempt against his person The ordinary warres of England against France had caused many necessary impositions without any grudging of the subiects but when as necessity ceased by this generall peace the people require to bee relieued William More makes an oration vnto the king in the name of all the English in generall Richard hauing no meanes in these infinite exactions to supply the charges of his idle voluptuous life contemned his subiects request and in the ende pressed vpon the same matter by the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arondel in the name of them all he puts them vniustly to death The English madde with rage for the death of their deputies flie to such remedies as despaire giues to necessitie From this general discontent sprong a strange Tragedie against Richard for the English seeing themselues thus despised by their King they cast their eyes vpon Henry of Lancaster his cousine and hauing called a Parliament they put Richard into prison and crowne Henry of Lancaster in his place Richard King of England put from the Crowne Richard being forced in open assembly to resigne the Crowne and to condemne himselfe to perpetuall prison as hauing abused his royall authoritie and his subiects But this tâ—agicke change concernes the Histoâ—ie of England This may bâ—ieflie suffice for ours in the conference of our estate with theirs Charles did greatly grieue at this deiection of Richard his sonne in lawe from whom he expected great loue and quiet for his subiects But who seeth not the vanitie of this world both in great and small to feare a shower euen when the Sunne is hottest Hee sends for Isabell his daughter of twelue yeares old whom Richard had not yet toucht being content to behold her
violent death of Gyac of whome wee haue spoken hee had fauored Tremouille to plant him in the Kings good fauour But as Ambition hath neyther faith nor honestie Tremouille finding himselfe inward with the King retaynes all fauour for himselfe Newe troubles in Court by the Constable little esteeming both the Constable and the Princes Hee did onely associate vnto him in credit Prie and la Borde men of small accompt to vse them at his pleasure Iealousie mounts againe vpon the Stage the Princes Constable and cheefe officers of the Crowne in steede of taking counsell to pursue the good successe of Montargis they combine togither to worke their wills vpon Tremouille and his partisans as they had done vpon Gyac The plot was orderly layed 1427. Iames of Bourbon Earle of Clermont and Charâ—es of Bourbon Earle of Marche Princes of the Bloud become heads of this league against Tremouille and his companions The league is thus plotted Forasmuch as the King is gouerned by base people to the contempt of the Princes and officers of the Crowne and to the great oppression of the poore people the confederates meane to punish these Flaterers abusing the Kings name and authority and to approach neere vnto his maiestie to gouerne the affaires for the good of his seruice and the â—ase of France The execution must beginne with the seizure of Tremouille and continue with Prie and la Borde The Constable should take Tremouille and the Princes were to seize on the Citty of Bourges where Prie and la Borde were in the great Towre and so to punish them But this enterprise came to naught for Tremouille hauing intelligence of this desseine The King discontented with the Constable and the the Princes not only preserued himself but hauing perswaded the King that this complot was made against his owne person and authority it so troubled Charles as he came in person to Bourges and preuented the Princes entry and without any more disguising he was strangely incensed against the Constable as the author of these troubles and confusions forbidding the citties to receiue him The Constable notwithstanding smothered this disgrace and to shew the deuotion he had to the Kings seruice he goes to field gathers together a goodly troupe of Brittons and puts himselfe into Pontorson a Towne abandoned he fortifies it and mans it with a good garrison vnder the command of Monsieur de Rostrenan and Beaufort This doone he dismisseth his Brettons Pontorâ—on yeelds to the English The Earle of Warwicke watched all occasions to surprise the Towne when as behold these two gouernours minister a fit meanes for making a roade towarps Auranches they are both taken Warwicke marcheth presently to the walles of Pontorson with his army The Constable sends Bertrand of Dinan Marshall of Brittany speedily with great succours Yet the siege continues obstinately New supplies are sent them by the Duke of Brittaine the which were cut in peeces Pontorson beeing painefully parleed with in the ende yeelds to the English the besieged departing with bag and baggage But this was not the ende of this victory They threaten to enter iâ—to Brittaine the English armye increased both in number and courage by this happy successe and threatens Brittaine with fire and sword They prepare to enter Iohn Duke of Brittaine wearied with so many losses and fearing worse making no accompt of the succours of France to whom he was coldly affected takes part with the Duke of Bedford renounceth all other alliances promiseth to acknowledge the King of England for King of France The Britton leaues the allâ—â—nce of France and to take the oath of obedience such as his predecessors were accustomed to doe to the Kings of France Behold the great good which Brittaine brought to our country in her extremest afflictions after so many hopes and imbracings This yeare is painefull shamefull and confused but the forerunner of a worthy deliuerance Take courage then my countrimen in the remainders of this tempest We haue said that after that miserable battaile of Vernueil the towne of Mans yeelded to the English The inhabitants not able to beare the imperious command of the English resolue in the end to shake off that yoake For the effecting whereof they seize vpon a gate giuing intelligence thereof to the Lord of Oruall Mans surprised and the English cut in peeces brother to the Lord of Albret who happily arriues takes the Cittie and cuttes the English in peeces The Earle of Suffolke was within the Castell Talbot that renowmed Captaine was at Alençon he aduertiseth him of this surprise Talbot prepares his succours with such silence and flies thether with such speed as he arriues at Mans the third day after the surprize Our Frenchmen transported with ioy for so noble 2 conquest and fearing no enemy among so many enemies Man 's lost againe by the French Both politick and discontented slept securely in their beds after the French manner without feare or gard When as Talbot hauing entred the Citty by scaling surpriseth them in their beddes and killes them without resistance 1428. A notable example both to imitate and to flie to flie that through carelesnesse we suffer not our selues to be surprized like Swine It is the very terme wherewith the Historie doth blemish this brutish sloath To imitate not to hold any thing impossible when as resolution doth accompany him that hath any notable attempt in hand But this victorie stayes not at Mans the Earle of Suffolke with his braue Talbot goes to field they marche to Laual a Towne of importance vpon the confines of Aniou and Bretanie they take it easily by the onely terror of their victorious armes incountring no enemie to withstand them Domesticall confusions The whole Court was in confusion the Princes of the bloud and our Constable studie not to make warre against the English but against the Mignons It was their proiect as if the whole state depended vpon the Kings fauour who lost daily to the generall discontent of all the French So this yeare had nothing memorable but that our warriours had lost both iudgement courage and force that through their defects God might raise vp some extraordinarie meanes for the deliuerie of this Monarchie almost ruined Our Captaines then did some exploits taking Rochefort Bertan-court Ianuill Chasteau newf Puiset Toury Mompipeau Nogent le Retrou and Lude but what toyes were these in regarde of the stately triumphes of the English That which was most admirable this yeare amidst all these domesticall discontents Tournay yeelds to the French and all these ruines and desolations of the State which might well haue quailed the best affected those of the City of Tournay after long contentions in the end abandon both English and Bourguignon protesting sollemnly not to acknowledge any other King then Charles the 7. sonne to Charles the sixt as the true and lawfull King of Francâ— and by consequence their lawfull Lord yet they made a truce
libertie and the good cheere which Charles made her Vpon the report of her death Bernard Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the Townes of Cominges Duret Lile in Dodon Samathan and Lombres The Earle of Armaignac seizeth vpon the County of Commings and preparing to warre he leuies troupes in Arragon by Sâ—lezard a Captaine of that Countrie causing Iohn of Lescun a bastard of Armaignac to inuade the Kings teâ—ritories This excesse might haue proued verie preiudiciall when as Charles sends Lewis his sonne into Languedoc with a thousand horse to quench this mischiefe in the breeding Being arriued at Rouuergue all yeelds vnto him Euerie thing is opposite to the Earle of Armaignac The Earles of Perdriac and la Marche the chiefe supporters of his insolence leaue him in the plaine field Salezard doth likewise abandon him of such force is a royall maister against a bad cause The Earle of Amargnac seeing himselfe thus abandoned shuts himselfe into Lisle-Iordan 1443. to dispute his pretensions with more aduantage The Earle of Armaignac taken by the Daulphin but he thrust him selfe into the toyle for he was taken by Lewis and led prisoner to Carcassone These happy exploytes did greatly recommend the Daulphins iudgement and valour whom all men held worthy of a great commande Charles hauing commended him for so well doing would haue sent him backe against the Earle of Somerset who had raised a great armie on the frontiers of Normandy Brittain the which was like vnto a fire of straw for hauing taken la Guierche by force he left it as soone for money so retired with his army without any other exploit The heate of the English grewe more temperate touching the chiefe points of their affaires They stood vpon tearmes in the two first fruitlesse asseÌ„blies made for peace but nowe they seeke the King The Earle of Suffolke writes vnto him that he hath commandement from the King his Master not onely to renue the treaty of peace discontinued but also to finde meanes to marry him in France hee receiues a fauourable answer from Charles and vnder his safe conduct comes to him to Tours Charles continued still in an humor to loue peace and to seeke it but the Earle of Suffolke the Lord Rosse had no charge but to treat of a generall truce A generall truce the which they concluded for a yeere a halfe but this shall be a goodly occasion to send home the English After a shower comes a sun-shine and euen experience teacheth that after a great raine comes a long drought Now we shall see nothing but truces one after an other marriages and aliances during fower yeares which is a preparatiue to a ciuill peace for aboue a hundred yeares This truce being made they must now seeke warres else where so fruitefull is our vanity of change so as we cannot liue without suffering or doing harme to others The French impatient of rest when as they treated of this truce it was demaunded by the Ambassadors of both Kings what their men of warre should do This truce say they will be more chargeable vnto vs then warre for they must liue They haue not beene accustomed to work and yet they will make good cheere neither can the poore people endure any more Moreouer if they haue no worke they will fight with themselues we must therefore calme this storme and send them to such as loue vs not The French English sent to warre in Suizerland This was the cause of the war in Suizerland whereof Lewis was Generall leading both French and English vnder the same Ensignes Matago was Collonell of the English forces for the King of England vnder the Daulphins command He entred with his armie into the territory of Basill the country of Elsas betwxit Basill and Strasbourg one of the goodliest and most fertill prouinces of Germany they terrified Metz tooke Montbeliard filled all those countries with feare and combustion The motiues of this extraordinary enterprise may well be obserued by that which I haue said but these causes were farre fetcht and not to be imbraced by two Kings who but euen now tormented one an other especially by Charles who hauing suffred so many crosses should haue horror to cause others to feele the like without constraint yet he found a pin for all these holes Charles would haue his sonne take Montbeliard to be reuenged of the Gouernour for the wrong hee had done him spoiling his country as farre as Langres in his greatest necessity The motiues of this war in Suizerland He assayled the Suisses and namely them of Basill being fauourers of Eugenius against Felix his compettitor that is to say against that Amedee Duke of Sauoy who had so crossed him in his affaires whom he could neuer loue what shewe soeuer he made in pollicy And for that Germany that quarter nere vnto Suisserland supported Felix against Eugenius he therfore hated theÌ„ And to gratifie René King of Sicile who had a priuate quarrell against the citty of Metz he turned his forces against it But what meaning soeuer Charles had herein he imbraced this voluntary warre with an incredible affection as if it had bin to defend the hart of his Realme He himselfe came to Espinall hauing sent his army before to Metz he continued the siege fiue moneths vntill the Cittizens had paide two hundred thousand crownes for the charges of the warre and acquitted king René of a hundred thousand florins of gold which they had lent him in his necessity Lewis the Daulphin parting from Montbeliard ruines Portentru in disdaine of the Bishop a great sollicitor against Eugenius from thence he enters into the territories of Basill with this goodly and florishing army 1444. tyed togither with so many strings hee incountred foure thousand Suisses being resolute to defend their Countrie The greatest part of them were cut in peeces but they sold their liues deere for the Germain histories report that we lost aboue fiue thousand men although wee had the victorie The Emperour Frederic the 3. a Prince which otherwise loued peace vpon the complaints of the Citties lying alongest the Rhin The Suisses fight valiantly and are defeated caused them to arme so as Lewis returned into Lorraine fearing to be too far ingaged in an enemies Country whome he had incensed against reason yet Frederic sent his Ambassadors to Charles to renue their ancient allyances So this cloude of people-eaters passed falling vpon diuers quarters like a shower of haile in a field of ripe corne leauing nothing memorable but a notable example of rashenesse making a warre which was neither necessarie nor iust afflicting quiet peaceable people without any occasion Whilest that France EnglaÌ„d made Suiserland to weepe Henry the 6. King of England married with Marguerite of Aniou daughter to René Duke of Aniou and of Lorraine and King of Sicile and Naples The Earle of Suffollk fetched her froÌ„ Nancy
their Cittie with exceding ioy the first day of August to the great greefe of the English who see themseues expelled out of the whole realme but they shall yet make a new attempt The oathe of fealtie was autentically made to Charles the All Guâ—enne swear vnto King 〈◊〉 7. both by the Cittizens of Burdeaux and by all the Estates of Burdelois to their naturall King and lawfull Prince renowncing the English The Nobilitie held vp their hands first in this oath namely the Lords of Esparre Montferrand Duras Rosan Pugeols Lansac Lisle Anglade amongest the which how many proued treachers The Archebishop also did take the same oth of homage and fealtie to the King with Gaston de Foix only Captall de Buch would not take the oath for his person but he submitted all his Lands to the obedience of the Crowne an error which shal be preiudiciall to the whole Prouince Thus all Guienne was made subiect to the Kings obedience except Bayonne for the reduction of which Towne being needlesse to keepe togither so great an armie euery Nobleman was commanded to returne to his howse and that the Earle of Dunois should contynue there to imploie the forces of the Country at this seege So the Princes of the bloud depart accompanied with twenty thousand men whom they dismisse euery one into his Countrie The Earle of Foix ioyned with the earle of Dunois they beseege Bayonne the seege was long painefull and dangerous Bayone yeelds vpon hard conditions the which might haue bene more easie and spedie by means of the armie which was redie But in truth the nigard spends more then the bountifull man in euery degree yet in the end Bayonne submits to the obedience of the Crowne vpon these conditions That the tounesmen of Bayonne should deliuer Iohn of Beaumont their Captaine into the Kings hands with their own persons and their goods to be at the Kings wil discretion and to repaire their disobedience to purchase the Kings fauour they should pay fortie thousand Crownes whereto they are referred by the earle of Foix generall of the army This accord was coÌ„firmed by the entrie of the said Earle into the Towne who tooke a sollemne othe in the Kings name Charles forgiues the inhabitants halfe their fine and confirmes halfe their priuiledges The three Estates of the Country of Burdelois send their deputies vnto the King who was then at Taâ—llebourg 1453. to confirme their othes and homages already taken by his Chancellor and the Kâ—ng lâ—kewise doth ratifie their priuileges and receyues them into fauour so as Guienne â—eemed to be reduced to the Kings obedience All Guienne reduced to obedience to the incredible content of the whole realme and so this yeare ended with an vniuersall ioy But seuen or eight moneths were scarse spent in this publike ioy such as the French might haue in euery corner of their country enioying peace the which they had not tasted these hundred yeares and which in outward appearance there was no hope to recouer the English and Bourguignons hauing taken such firme footing in all parâ—s when as behold a great surge which seemed to expose France to the mercie of a more horrible and dangerous storme For Talbot comes to the gates of Bourdeaux with goodly â—roupes of English Talbot enters 〈◊〉 with new Englâ—sh troupes where he was receiued and tooke the Seneshall of Guienne prisoner being gouernour of the Towne and Iohn de Foux deputie Maior of Bourdeaux and in a maneâ— the same day the Nobilitie which had giuen their faâ—th vnto the King noted befoâ—e by their speciall names deliuered all the chiefe places of the countrie to the English Fronsac Coloeuures Casâ—illon Chasteauneuf in Damedoc Cadillac Langen S. Macaire Libâ—rne and Saint Millâ—on Many townes yeeld to the English And after Talbot who came but to discouer there arriued the next day in safetie foure thousand fighting men from England with foure score ships laden with Meale and Salt meates to victuall the Towne The amazement of this losâ—e was as great as the ioy had beene of gaine Charles was then at Tours the Earle of Clermont sonne to Charles Duke of Bourbon was gouernour of Guienne He commands him to haue a care to the preseruation of the rest of Guienne and presently he sends six hundred men at armes vnder the command of three Marshals of France and the Lords of Orual and Rouhault who were then neere the King and sends for the rest of his forces with all speed The motiues oâ— the reuolt in Guiâ—nne But whilest that all prepare to repaire this losse may we not examine the motiue of this great and sodaine change Some new writers accuse the ill vsage of the French to this people newly conquered which made them to wish for the English being more milde and temperate Lords others blamed the negligence of our French vnfit to keepe that which they had so valiantly gotten But who is he that can finde this first cause truly noted hearing the whole History speake and representing the discontent of the French nation against the gouerment of the English And why did the King dismisse his armie but to ease his people euen with the preiudice of his owne affaires As for our negligence in keeping of that which we haue gotten with much paine it is too well knowne by memorable examples but seeing the affâ—ction of the people of Bourdelois had bin confirmed by many proofes in this voluntary obedience to what end had it serued to put them in fetters as a people vanquished by armes and force them to obedience But to find out the causes we must examine the effects L'Esparre Montâ—errand Duras Anglade Rosans and others specified in the register of the oath will bee found straight waies reuolted in these places Captal de Buche protested openly that he was not the Kings seruant so as he might without reproch carrie armes against him for the King of England his maister He might remaine peaceablie within the country inioying his houses being vnder the Kings protection and so make his traffick for the English at his pleasure Iohn King of Nauarre an Arragonois both by birth and humour was an enemy to Charâ—es for two respects as hauing maried the heiâ—e of Nauarre and with that mariage the quarrels hatred of that Charles which was Grandfather to his wife The King of Nauarre an enemie to K. Câ—arles who had so much troubled the raignes of Iohn and Charles the â— and as an Arragonois by reason of the quarrels of Naples against the house of Aniou These were two instruments to moue many mens mindes It could not otherwise be but the authoâ—itie and command of two hundred yeares had purchased England many seruants and such as had alwayes held the English party against France and were not reclaimed to the Kings obedience but by force could not beleeue that they had any such part in the Kings fauour hauing brought
nothing to his seruice but necessitie and constraint These men being wonne doe animate or rather force the people making themselues the strongest in places where there was no gards whereof they were not onely wearied but were plunged in the trust and assurance of a profound peace Who seeth not then but this made the way more easie for these disloyall treachers to surprize those Townes which they had deliuered to the English but from whence soeuer the mischiefe came 1454. this was the remedie Talbâ—t was the Kings prisoner as we haue said at the taking of Rouen Charles had shewed him all the fauour a man might hope for of so great a Monarche he gaue him his libertie without ransome and had honoured him with goodly presents yet he is become head of the English armie which were esteemed eight thousand fighting men and marcheth directly against the Kings armie which made hast to recouer what had beene lost and to preserue what remained Castillon was become English The Earle of Ponthieure with the Admirall and Marshalls of France besiege it attending the King who came posting to quench this fire Talbot makes hast from Bourdeaux with the choisest of his men bearing an assured victory in his conceâ—t and being ignorant that he went to seeke death At the first charge our men begin to wauer vpon the braue arriuall of Talbot but they gather themselues together againe with great resolution to stay the course of this streame Talbot on the other side incourageth his men as going to a banket and not to a battaile he beates out the heads of pipes of Wine to make his men drinke himselfe being drunke with presumption and making his Souldiers drunke with the vaine hope of victorie being mounted vpon a little Nagge but followed by six or seuen thousand men they come to fight The combate was fierce but the English are repulsed scattered and ouer-throwne There were two thousand slaine vpon the place and amongst the rest The English defeated and Talbot slaine Talbot was ouer throwne from his horse and slaine with his Sonne The Earle of Candal sonne to Captal de Buche Montferrand and Anglade are taken prisoners Esparre escapes for an other time In the end Castillon yeelds at discretion Saint Million and Liborne returne to the Kings obedience to the great content of the inhabitants being surprized to their griefe Charles did also warrant them from all losse in this reprise Cadillac Langon Villandras and S Maquaire shake off the English yoake at one instant and open their gates with their hearts The Kings armie goes from thence to Bourdeaux being full of Englishmen but fuller of feare seeing the English lothe to buy it so deare as Talbot had done so as they suffer the French to wander at their pleasure vp and downe the country of Medoc This victory was due to the presence of Charles who being arriued at Fronsâ—c the which was held a place inuincible by force it yeelds as vanquished The English haue their liues granted them with a white wand through the bounty of Charles Charles puâ—â— to death the French Captaines that reuolted He doth not so intreate the reuolted French for the Captaine of Cadillac being taken is beheaded for an exemplatie punishment From thence he comes to Bourdeaux the which was the chiefe place of his affaires but the multitude that came vnto his seruice was admirable they came from all parts knowing that the King was present so willingly do the French obey their Prince There were foure thousand English remaining in the Towne Bourdeaux bâ—â—sieged and as many of their faction being drawne together from diuers parts of the country the siege continued two moneths Charles had built vp Bulwarkes to stop the entrie and to incounter the English defences but there were no memorable assaults The sicknesse which increased in the Kings armie hastened the composition for the Citty the which he might haue forced but that he desired to spare the bloud of his subiects The composition was thus made That all the English should passe into England with their goods that the Cittizens of Bourdeaux should be all in the Kings protection taking a new oath And yeelded by composition neuer to rebell against him their Soueraigne Lord. And for that some of the country and of the Citty of Bourdeaux had drawne in the King of England contrary to their oath the King pardoning the greatest number he should chose twenty at his pleasure to banish them out of the Realme their goods remaining forfeited to the Crowne of this number were Captal de Buâ—he and Candal his sonne Duras Anglade Rosan and Esparre who in the end lost his head being found guiltie of a new treason a yeare after this pardon The Cittizens of Bourdeaux renue their oath of fidelitie with teares and receiue a great garrison to preuent all surprises they build two strong Castels to that end one towards the Sea called Castell Trompette an other towards the maine named Castell du Ha. The Earle of Clermont gouernour of Guienne remaines in the Citty to settle the Kings authority Charles carried this true commendation in the recouery of his losse to haue doubled his army by the good order which he caused to be carefully obserued and by his victorie in vanquishing his enemies not onely by force but by clemencie his subjects by loue and mildnesse So as both the treachery of these disloials and the rashnesse of his enemies with their new attempts were parts due to his victory so much the more admirable for that he doth vanquish when as he seemed vanquished he winnes when as in shew he was lost and forced as it were to warre for the desire he had of peace he reaped the â—ruites both of warre and peace The fruites of Charles his victorie in fighting valiantly and vsing the victorie modestlie to the eternall memorie of posteritie Charles returnes from Bourdeaux to Tours hauing happily finished so doubtfull an action But oh the inconstancie of this world England which had so much troubled vs takes occasion to trouble it selfe for the losses which they supposed to haue made of that which they had taken from vs and as affection is wayward and often blind so it sowes dissention vpon strange subiects Troubles in England The Dukes of Yorke Somerset and Glocester accuse one another and make factions within the realme Richard Duke of Yorke being of a branche of the bloud royall pretended the Crowne to belong more iustly vnto him then vnto Henry the 6. then raigning but contemned by reason of his great losses and of his naturall defects Somerset being fauoured by the King as the ringleader of his faction was pursued by Yorke and so cunningly as the Londoners hating him as the cause of all the losses in France put him in prison but in the end he was freed by the Kings authoritie This diuision burst out into open warre vnder the names of two factions Lancaster from whence
dissention had already ruined the one so might it easily ouerthrow the other accordâ—ng to the saying That by concord small things increase but by discorde great are ouerthrowne In trueth it is a hard matter for great men to entertaine friendship long and for the State it is necessarie to haue one soueraigne head ouer all who by his iudgement wisedom and credit may retaine the subiects in obedience So the Duke of Normandie begs helpe of the Britton being poore ouercome and abandoned now in his aduersity of all them that during his prosperity had grounded the anchor of their hope vpon his fortunes and had newly made their peace with the King The Duke of Brittanie receâ—ues him in his fauour sends an Ambassage to the King giuing him to vnderstand that for the honour of his bloud and respect of his Maiestie 1467. he had receiued him seeing him a fugitiue and vnprouided of necessarie meanes to entertaine his estate Therevpon Lewis makes answer that he could not dismember Normandie the goodliest flower of his Diadem from the Crowne of France whose demaines are inalienable The Duke replyes That to giue a portion to his brother grounded in part of the successiue right was an alienation of long time receiued in France seeing that many held it euen then by the same title But they commonly say it is in vaine to preach to them that care not to doe well Lewis could not yeeld to the preferment of his brother and the Brittons Ambassadors returned with no other answer but a bare confession that it was reasonable to giue him some portion and that he would consider of the quantitie thereof Thus Rouan wanting their Duke some fewe dayes Rouan returns to Lewis yeeldes the King obedience with small adoe who sodenly causeth many to bee executed of his brother Charles faction The Lord of Esternay taken by Charles of Melun great Maister in a Friars weed accompanied with an Augustine was beheaded yet some write that both were drowned in the riuer of Vre Lewis discontented with the Duke of Brittanie The King offended with the entertainment the Duke of Brittaine had giuen to his Brother and aduertised that Iohn Duke of Calabria was dead beyond the Mountaines he calls home the troupes he had giuen him to haue the greater forces to assaile the Britton for receiuing of his enemies and practising intelligences within his realme And euen then the Duke of Alencon promised to giue the Duke passage through his country if he would enter into Normandie Moreouer so many Ambassages from the King to the Duke and Earle of Charolois and from them to the King from the Earle to the Dukes and from them to the Earle were but to discouer their humours and vnder colour of faith to with-draw mens affections So the Duke of Brittaine not able to perswade the King to reason enters into Normandie takes Caen The Brittons forces in Normandie Bayeux and Auranches he burnes Meruille and some other places whilest that the King assembles the forces of Aniou Poictou and Normandie and the Earle of Charolois resolues to succour his confederates hauing supprest them of Liege and Gant And for that our Lewis hath beene so confusedly incombred amidest the combustions of those people let vs leaue France to learne briefly the cause the proceeding and the end of these warres The Liegeois hereditarie and capitall enemies to the house of Bourgongne seeing all tend to open wat betwixt the King and the Earle of Charolois The Liegeois allyed with the King seekes the Kings friendship and alliance and they obtaine it vpon condition to enter presently into the countries of Hainault and Namur belonging to the Duke of Bourgongne with all acts of hostilitie the King promising vnder his seale to succour them with two hundred men at armes euery one hauing three horses at the least and not to treate any accord or peace with the Duke without their consent and to comprehend them in it puft vp with this fauour and imagined succours they send a Herald to Philip being at Bruxels The Liegeois defie â—he Earle of Charolois with letters defying the Earle his sonne with fire and sword and thereon demand an answer The Duke hauing read these Letters deliuered them vnto the Herauld willing him to carry them to his sonne So he returnes to Liege but he is presently sent backe with other Letters defying the Duke himselfe and all his allyes And sodenly they breake into the Dukes countrie they spoile rauish burne and omitte no outrage that one enemie may doe to another Philip assembles the forces of his Countries and sends for the Dukes of Cleues and Gueldres the Earles of Nassau and Horne the Marquesse of Rothelin and others that were neighbours to Liege But this multitude finding the King to faile them of his promise and that they were not able to resist so great forces they shutte themselues vp within the walles of Liege Then at the first and false newes of the ouerthrow of the Earle of Charolois at Montlâ—heri as the passions of a disordred minde doe easilie make men to beleeue what he wisheth they take a subiect of new follie Those of Dinan especially The peoples light beleefe a people of Liege proud and arrogant to haue at sundrie times endured seuenteene sieges of Emperours and Kings yet neuer conquered make an image very like to the Earle of Charolois and attired with his armes they carry it in troupe neere to Bouâ—ines in the Countie of Namur they set vp a high gibbet in the sight of the Cittizens and there they hang this Image crying with open throate See there the Sonne of your Duke that false traytor the Earle of Charolois A horrible outrage committed by them of Dinan whome the King of France hath or will cause to be hanged as you see heere Hee termed himselfe the Sonne of your Duke he lyed he was a villaine bastard changed in his infancie with the Sonne of the Lord of Hainseberghe our Bishop Did he thinke to ruine the Noble house of France From these and such like insolent speeches they come to deedes armed against the subiects of Philip with fire and sword the instruments of their horrible outrages This was not all the father must receiue the like disgrace by his picture the which they carryed to the Dung-hill before Bouuines and setting it vpon a peece of wood See heere say they the Seate of the great Toade your Duke Those of Bouuines exhort these madde men to performe the duties of good subiects to the Duke before that matters grew more bitter Buâ— the beater of this good and holsome counsell returned without his head they send an innocent child with the like Letters hoping his tender age would mooue some respect and mollifie these cruell and vnnaturall minds but in despight of the Duke and of their neighbours they killed him most barbarouslie and tare him in peeces O insolent people which hast not yet learned That
home but the chance fel vpon Iohn Deymer being quartered at Tours who dying charged the Lord of S. Basill a yonger brother of Albret with this treason being nourished and bâ—eâ— vp in the house of Bourbon for which crime he lost his head at Poâ—â—iers the 7. of Aprill 1473. And to increase Lewis his crosses Parpignan a towne in the Countie of 〈◊〉 is by treason deliuered vp to the King of Arragon the ancient Lord Paâ—pignan deliuered by treason to the King of Aâ—â—agon where he enters with his sonne about the end of Aprill But the Kâ—ng had an armie ready the which he sends thither and besiegeth it hotly the French were yet maisters of the Castell by the faithfull valour of maister Iames of Fou issued out of the house of Bâ—ittanie he recouers it gâ—ues the gouernment to Tanneguy of Chastel Thus the troubles raised by the Earle of Armagnac and the King of Arragon were like to a fire of Straw Let vs obserue in the same course the apprehending of the Duke of Alancon so shall we see the carriage of our Lewis He is accused to haue offred the sale of his Duchie and other lands in Perche and Normandie 1473. to the Bourguignon and then to follow his fortune a crime which shall put him in minde of his condemnation pronounced at Venâ—â—sâ—e he was seized on by Tristan the Hermite Prouost of the Kings house a speedy execâ—tioner of his Maisters will and lead before the King The Duke of Alanson apprehended condemned to dye but pardoned by the King who sends him to the Louure at Paris where by a sentence giuen by the Chancellor of Oriole the 17. of Iuly 1474. he was condemned to loose his head reseruing notwithstanding the Kings good pleasure who in the end of the yeare 75. shall binde him vnto him the second time for his life Lewis hauing recouered Guienne reduced Lestore punished some and pacified Parpignan he assembles all his forces vpon the Marches of Brittanie to the nuÌ„ber of 50000. men ready to imploy them in that country But the duke by reason of the death of the Duke of Guienne being frustrate of the intelligences he had in France too weake to auoid this storme that threatned him Warre in Brittanie pacified sent vnto the King lodging at Pont de See Philip of Essars a gentlemaÌ„ of his house WilliaÌ„ of Soupleinuille a follower of the Lord of Lescut His maiestie giues eare to an accord The duke of Brittany being possessed of so wise valiant a maÌ„ as Lescut might much annoy him For in Brittany there was neither iudgmeÌ„t nor vertue but what proceeded from him so saies the History Moreouer he had alwaies during these partialities shewed himselfe a Frenchman and would neuer yeeld that any places of Normandie should be giuen to the English he must therefore be dealt with To thiâ— end the Kiâ—g commands Souplâ—inuille to giue him the demands in writing which his maister made as well for the Duke as for himselfe He doth it and obtaines them all fortie thousand Frankes pension for the Duke the which was paid two yeares For his maister The conditions of the peace six thousand Frankes pension the moitie of Guienne the two Seneshalships of Vannes and Bourdelois the Captainship of one of the Castles of Bourdeaux that of Blaie the 2. Castels of Bayonne of Dax of S. Seuer foure twenty thousand crownes in guilt payable in foure yeares the Kings order and the Countie of Comminges for Soupleinuille six thousand Crownes payable at like termes twelue thousand Franckes pension the Mairaltie of Bayonne the Bailywike of Montargis and other small preferments in Guienne for Phillip of Essars foure thousand Crownes in reward and twelue hundred Frankes pension the Baiâ—iwike of Meaux and to be maister of the waters and Forrests of France which things they should enioy during the life of Lewis who was alwayes well and faithfully serued by Lescut Now the Britton is satisfied and sequestred from the alliance of Bourgongne against whom Charles now turnes head but the season in the which the Duke of Bourgongne retired into Picardie caused a truce for one yeare ending the first of Aprill 1475. A truce which while the Bourguignon shall giue our French leaue to breath shall imbarke him in so many quarrels The causes of the King and Boâ—â—guâ—gâ—ons hatred against the Constable as in the end the most important shall swallow him vp A truce likewise concluded to the Constables great preiudice for both the King and the Duke hated him deadly as the motiue of these diuisions He had lately seized on Saint Quintin expelling the Lord of Curton and a hundred men at armes which he had in enteâ—tainment from the Kiâ—g Charles had likewise many causes of hiâ— dislike he was the instrument to take Amiens and S. Quentin for the King he sought to reduce him to that estate as to force hiâ— to marry his daughter with the Duke of Guienne but the câ—iefe â—round was that during the seege of Amiens by the Duke of Bourgongne the Constable had made a roade into Hainault spoiled the Country and burnt among other exploit the Castle of Seure belonging to Master Baldwin of Launai of whom the Duke made good accompt for reuenge whereof he passed into Picardie and Normandie as we haue seene Moreouer he had mighty enemies both with the King and Duke who all iointly conspired his destruction and animated their maisters with all their creditâ— So all this yeare of truce is spent chiefely in making marchandise of the Constables life Himbercourt Hugonnet Chancellor of Bourgongne had some priuate splene for in a conference held of late at Roye where the Constable was imployed for the King they grew so bitter in words as the Constable had giuen them the lie to whoÌ„ the Bourguignons modestly answered That they did not impute this iniurie done vnto them but to the King vpon whose word they were assembled and to their maister whose person they did represent to whome they would make report In the end at the instance of either part a day is held at Bouuines 14â—â— for the King there came the Lord of Curton Gouernour of Linosin They 〈◊〉 his death and Maister Iohn Heberge afterwards Bishop of of Eureux and for the Duke the two aboue named They pronounce tâ—e Constable an enimy and guilty to both Princes they promise and sweare one to an other that the first that may apprehend him shall put him to death within eight daies or deliuer him to his compagnion to doe his pleasure That he should be proclaimed by Trumpet an enimy to both parties with al those that should serue assist him and confiscate all his goods mouables and immouables The King promiseth to giue S. Quintin Han and Bohain to the Duke with all the money that might be found within the Realme appertaining to the Constable and all his lands holding of the Duke and at
King more â—euer subiects gaue with greater ioy to their Soueraigne then the French did to hâ—m â—haâ— glorious surname of Father of his people FRANCIS the first of that name 58. King of France FRANCES THE I. KING OF FRANCE .58 1515. HAppie is that Realme saith the wise man which fals not into a childs hands This was the first comfort which reuiued the hearts of the French oppressed with mourning and heauinesse for the death of their good King Lewis the twelfth The second was that they cast their eyes vppon a worthie successor a Prince well borne iudicious and of a generous spirit liberall courteous in the prime of his age and fit for gouernment affable to the people fauorable to the Clergie pleasing to the Nobilitie who doe naturally loue their Princes good countenance and that which all subiects admire in their Soueraine of an excellent beautie Thus capable was he of the royall dignitie Francis being then two and twentie yeares old before Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesme tooke vppon him the gouernment of this Monarchie as sonne to Charles Earle of Angoulesme sonne to Iohn Earle of Angoulesme who was the yongest sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans murthered by the Bourguignon at Paris in the time of Charles the sixth who was also the yongest sonne of King Charles the fiâ—t Hee was anointed at Rheims the fiue and twentith of Ianuary being attended on by the Dukes of Bourbon and Alanson the Earles of Montpensier Vendosme and Saint Paul the Prince of Roche-sur-Yon al of the house of Bourbon Then hauing made his entry into Paris a sollemne Tournie kept in Saint Anthonies street he confirmed all the ancient officers of the Crowne and to suppâ—ie those which were vacant hee creaâ—ed Charles Duke of Bourbon Constable of France being void by the death of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon Anthonie Prat Chancellor for then Steuen Poncher Bishoppe of Paris was keeper of the seale Charles of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme Gouernour of the I le of France making the said Countie a Duchie and a Peere of France the Lord of Lautree Gouernour of Guienne Palisse Marshall of France Boisi his gouernour in his youth Lord Steward and Superintendant of his house with whome he ioyned Fleuremonde Robertet His dessâ—â—ins Secretarie of State With this title of King of France he tooke vppon him that of the Duke of Milan not onely as descending of the house of Orleans the true heire of that Duchie but also as comprehended in the inuestiture made by the Emperour according to the treatie of Cambraye And for that hee succeeded equally both to the Crowne and the desire his Predecessor had to recouer that goodly estate of Milan he therfore to worke it with more facilitie renued the peace made betwixt the deceased King and the King of England sending home Mary the widoâ—e of Lewis with a dowrie of threescoore thousand Crownes a yeare· who afterwards married with the Duke of Suffolke Hee also confirmed the alliance this Crowne had with the Senat of Venice The Archduke Charles sent a very honorable Ambassage to the King whereof the Earle of Nassau was the cheefe to doe him homage for the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other Lands which held of this Crowne and the which gaue great hope of a future peace betwixt these two Princes both being yong but marked for great matters to treat a marriage betwixt the said Charles and Renèe the Queenes sister who was after wife to the Duke of â—errare And for that the sayd Earle was greatly fauoured by the Prince Charles the King desirous to gratifie him caused him to marrie with the daughter of the Prince of Orange bred vp in his Court. Charles was yet vnder age but so carefully instructed by that wise Lord of Chieures of the house of Croye whome the deceased King Lewis had made choise of to gouerne him in his youth for that Philippe the father of Charles had by his testament intreated Lewis to accept the charge of his sonne that euen in his yonger yeares hee made him capable to vnderstand the affaires presenting vnto him all pacquets that came causing him to make report thereof vnto his Councell and to determine all things in his presence He did foresee that after the death of Ferdinand his grandfather by the mother the French might crosse him in his passage from Fâ—anders into Spaine holding it dangerous to stand in the midest betwixt the Kings of France and England vnited togither and not to fortâ—fie himselfe with this common alliance Moreouer his subiects of the low Countries would haue no warres with the Realme of France The King likewise desired to take from him all motiues to gouerne himselfe hereafter by the councell of his two grandfathers They therefore agreedâ— That the marriage proceeding betwixt the Archduke and Rene the King should giue him six hundred thousand Crownes and the Duchie of Berry for euer to her and to heires vppon condition she should renounce all rights of inheritance both from father and mother namely to the Duchies of Milan and Brittanie That after the death of the Catholike King the King should ayd the Archduke with men and shippes to goe and receiue his Realmes of Spaine The Arragonois demaunded a continuance of the truce but the King meaning to put out that clause Not to molest the Duchie of Milan during the truce their parle was fruitlesse The Emperour who ioyned his desseins to the councels of Ferdinand opposed against the amitie of the French The Suisses were as forward as before As for the Pope Francis desired to be freed from all bond to him that he mightt resolue for the best according to the course of his affaires To build vpon these foundations he now imployes his Captaines men at armes and the prouisions which his Predecessor had first prepared and makes his armie march with speed to Lions whether his Maiestie comes in Iuly An armie â—o all in the Duchie of 〈◊〉 hauing left the Regencie of the Realme to Louise of Sauyoe his mother The Duke of Bourbon Constable led the foreward accompanied with his brother Francis newly created Duke of Castelleraud the Marshals of Palisse and Triuulce Charles of Tremouille Prince of Talmont sonne to Lewis Vicont of Touars the Earle of Sancerre the Baron of Beard the Lords of Bonniuet Imbercourt and Teligni Seneshall of Rouergue Peter of Naurrre whome the King had drawen to his seruice giuing him his libertie without ransome commaunded six thousand Gascons and the Lords of Lorges grandfather to the late Mongomeries Pirault of Margiron Richbourg Iorteil little Lainet Onatilleu Hercules of Daulphine and Captaine Commarque euery one commaunding fiue hundred foote making foure thousand and eight or nine thousand Lansquenets led by Charles Duke of Guelders The King led the battaile followed by the Duke of Vendosme Lorraine and Albania the Earle of Saint Paul Claude of Lorraine Earle of Guise brother to the Duke of Lorraine the
fourscore thousand men whereof there should bee tenne thousand horse with artillerie requisite for the said Campe. And besides this treatie these two Kings had many causes of discontent Our King found himselfe grieuously wronged for that the Pope and the Emperour with theâ—â— partisans had newly made a League for the defence of Italie whereof they had declared Anthonie de Leue to bee generall The King of England had no lesse cause to complayne of the wrong he sayd the Court of Rome did him touching the matter of 〈◊〉 diuorce seâ—king to force him either to go to prison to Rome for to send then with expresse deputation men of great account that should stand to the Popes Iâ—dgement An insolent proceeding in like cases chanced among soueraine Princes seeing thâ—t such a businesse of that importance and touching the conscience so neere did well deserue that according to the vsuall custome they should send Iudgeâ— to the place it being reasonable that the persons should speake personally and 〈◊〉 by their Atturneyes and very vnreasonable that a Soueraine Prince leauing the 〈◊〉 and gouernment of his estates should goe and plead his cause at Rome Moreâ—â—er hee did complaine vnto the King of the exactions of the Romaine Church vppon the clergie and people of England and did instantly require that they two sâ—ould send their Ambassadors ioyntly togither to the Pope to summon him to appeare at the next Councell forto heare the extortions he did vnto Princes and Chrisâ—â—â—n people The King propounded like abuses The Pope had dissembled with him touching certaine tithes which hee had graunted him to leuie vppon the Clergie and the French Church complayned of him of the vndutifull and new exactions which vnder colour of pietie they made at Rome for the expedition of Bulls by meanes whereof all the treaâ—or was daily carried out of his Realme to the preiudice of the Clergie which grew poore the Churches were not restored nor the poore â—â—â—thed nor fedd their yeerely rents were excessiue no equalitie in them many officeâ—s newly created which were payd vpon the dispatch and expedition of Bulls ouer and aboue the iust price which they were wont in former time to pay the offices which fell voyd were sold to the great benefit and profit of Saint Peter entertaining many gromes Chamberlaines Protonotaries their seruants Gardâ—ners and others and for the repairing of Saint Peters Church a great summe of money was leuied the which they did afterwards imploy to make warre against the King Yet the King would neither wholly allow nor disallow of the King of Englands complaints but for that the Pope had sent him a promise by the Cardinall of Grandmont of an enterview at Nice or Auignon after the Emperours returne into Spaine he reqâ—ested the King of England to attend the issue of their parle These griefes of the French Church had beene presented vnto the King in thâ— assembly of the Estates of the Countrie and Duchie of Brittaine with many other things farre from that charitie which ought to be in the Church In the said Estates it was concluded The Duchie of Brittany incoâ—porate to the Crowne That Francis the Kings eldest sonne Daulphin of Viennois should be acknowledged Duke of Brittaine that the eldest sonne of France should hereafter carrie the titles of Daulphin of Viennois and Duke of Brittanie and the said Duchie should for euer be incorporate to the Crowne So the treatie made by the marriage betwixt King Charles the 8. and Anne Duchesse of Brittanie and others following were disanulled in regarde of the said Duchie As these things passed in England William of Bellay Lord of Langey promised the Germaine Princes in the Kings name That for the affection he bare to the preserâ—â—tion of the priuileges rights and customes of the Empire if the Emperour 〈◊〉 whom he desired to obserue inuiolably the alliances and treaties he had with 〈◊〉 would in that case imploy his forces to their oppression A treatie betwixt the King and the Princes of Germaâ—â—e he would succour them 〈◊〉 all his power so as neither his men nor money should not be imployed to the offâ—â—ce â—f any of his confederates namely of the Emperour but onely to defend the rights 〈◊〉 priuileges of the Empire A great desseine is alwayes shadowed with goodly sheweâ— Herevpon the Emperour came to Bologne to conferre againe with the Pope The Kings of France and England well informed of the Emperours bad disposition and especially the English of the Popes to him by reason of his preâ—ended diuorce they sent the Cardinals of Tournon Grandmont the Popes seruants that vnder coâ—ourâ—â— accompanie him at this enterview they might imploy their authorities that nothing might be done to the preiudice of their Maiesties The Kings of France and England complaine of the Pope or at the least they should giue iâ—â—elligence of their conclusions And the sayd Cardinals had commission to lay â—pen vnto the Pope the griefes and complaints of the two Kings and to summon him to make reparation if not they would take order for it So as his Holynesse might weâ—l perceiue that they two together were not to be contemned and to wish him to câ—nsider wisely of the support and profit he might draw from these two Kings and what disgrace otherwise in discontenting them especially the King of England whose cause the King did no lesse affect then his owne For sayd these two Princes if wee come to demand a generall councell and his Holinesse doth not grant it or delayes it we shall take his delay for a deniall and calling it without him we will easily 〈◊〉 the fact with other Princes who producing the like or greater complaints would in the end forbid their subiects to send or carrie any money to Rome If his Holinesse for so did our Francis protest will proceed by censures against me and my realme and that I be forced to go to Rome for an absolution I will passe the Alpes so well accompanied as his Holynesse shall be glad to grant it me The scandales of Rome haue already withdrawne most part of Germaine and the Cantons from the obedience of the Romaine Church It is to be feared that if these two mightie Kings seuer themselues for want of Iustice they shall finde many adherents and these two together with their open and secret allyes may make such an attempt as it will be hard to resist That if the holy father be disposed to moderate things especially towards the King of England there is hope that at the first enterview all may be ordered by mildnesse before they should proceed to greater bitternesse by a generall summons from both the Kings Thus the King spake vnto those Cardinals whom he sent to Rome But we haue elsewhere obserued that men of the Church do commonly prefer the Popes respect before the seruice of such as imploy them These flea the Eeâ—e by the taâ—â—e 1533 and in steed of following their instructions from point
treate with him So as hee begins to taste of some proposition of peace moued before Saint Disier by the Lord of Granuelle and his Confessor a Spanish Monke of the order of Saint Dominike and of the house of Gusmans A â—reatie of peace A day is appointed for the meeting of the Deputies at La Chaussee betwixt Challons and Vitry For the King there came the Admirall of Annebault and Chemans Keeper of the Seale of France â—or the Emperour Fernand of Gonzague and to know if the King of England would enter into it they sent the Cardinall of Bellay Raymond chiefe President of Rouan and Aubespine Secretarie of the State and Treasurer As the Emperour camped towards the riuer of Marne a league beneath Chalons and within two leagues of the French armie a riuer being betwixt both William Earle of Fursiemberg parted about midnight with a guide onely to view a â—oard which hee had in former times passed when as he came into France for the Kings seruice Being come to the foard he leaues his guide vpon a banke sounds it findes it easie and passeth the riuer But he discouered not some Gentlemen of the Kings house and part of the Admiralls company who had the gard that night who without giuing any alaâ—â—m put themselues betwixt the riuer him take him without resistance lead him to the Campe know him and send him to the Bastille at Paris from whence he shall not depart vntill he hath payed thirtie thousand Crownes for his ransome In the meane time the Emperour sees his armie ready to breake for hungar they cutt off his victuals behinde and on either side And if that goodly Captaine whom the Daulphin had sent to draw into Espernay the victuals thereabouts to breake the bridge vpon the riuer and to spoile the Corne Wine and other prouisions which could not be saued had carefully executed his commission the Emperour disappointed of the munition and victualls which he found in Espernay and hauing no meanes to passe the riuer had not in the end enioyed those commodities which he found in Chasteau Thiery an other Storehouse of the French campe whereby his troupes languishing for hungar recouered some strength In the end the Daulphin being come to campe at La Ferté vpon Iouarre and hauing sent a good number of men to Meaux to hinder the Emperours passage who deuising to make his retreat by Soissons he takes his way by Villiers-coste-Retz vnder hand reuiues the proposition of peace with the King The King knowing that a battaile could not be giuen in the heart of his realme so neere vnto his capitall Cittie without a verie doubtfull and dangerous consequence and the losse of men and in case he should vanquish the King of England and the Earle of â—ures would encounter him with as mightie an armie as his owne that by the losse of one and perchance two battailes his realme were in danger that winning them hee should get little especially vpon England being an Iland Moreouer the Marshall of Biez was almost forced to yeeld vp Montrueil to the English â—or want of victualls and succours the sufficiencie of the Lord of Verâ—ein gouernour of Boullen as we shall shortly see was not without cause suspected and without a conclusion with the Emperour hardly could these two important Townes be releeued The King therefore sent the Admirall of Annebault againe to the Emperour being in the Abbie of S. Iohn des Vignes in the suburbes of Soissons where in the end was concluded A peace concluded That Charles Duke of Orleans should within two yeares after marry with tâ—e Emperours daughter or his neece daughter to Ferdinand King of Roâ—aines and at the consummation of the said mariage the Emperour should inuest the said Duke of Orleans in the Duchie of Milan or in the Earledome of Flanders and the Low Countries at the choise of the said Emperour And in exchange this done the King promised to renounce all his rights pretended to the said Duchie and the Kingdome of Naples and to restore the Duke of Sauoy to the possession of his Countries when as the Duke his sonne should eniâ—y the said Duchie of Milan or the Earledome of Flanders and all things during the terme of two yeares as well on this as the other side the Alpes should remaine in the same estate as they were at the truâ—e made at Nice So the Emperour deliuered vnto the King on this side the mountaines Saint Desier Ligny Commercy and the King Yuoy Montmedy and Landrecy Steâ—â—â— was deliuered into the Duke of Lorrains hands and the fortifications razed On the other side the Alpes the Emperour had nothing to yeeld but Montdeuis and the King Alba Quieras Antignan Saint Damian Palezol Cresentin Verruë Montcal Barges Pont d' Esture Lans Vigon Saint Saluadour Saint Germaine and many other places which he possessed These treaties thus concluded and pâ—oclaimed beyond the Alpes the Duke of Anguien returned into France with as great glory and honour as a wise and valiant Prince could enioy and the Emperour retired his armie which the Earles of â—eux Bures lead ioyntly with that of England he dismissed his owne and parting from Soissons tooke his way to Bruxelles accompanied beyond the frontiers by the Duke of Orleans the Cardinals of Lorraine and Meudon the Earle of Laual la Hunauday others The Emperour is now out of the realme let vs also seeke to send the King of England beyond the seas Henry the 8. King of England according to the League he had with the Emperour landing at Calais with an armie of thirty thousand men fortified with ten thousand Lansequenets and three thousand Reistres which the Earle of Bures lead and the troupes of the Earle of Reux chiefe of the army of the Low countries for the Emperour he found Picardie very much vnfurnished of men the King had withdrawne his forces towards Champagne to oppose them against the Emperour and the Duke of Vendosme being weake in men had fiue places of importance to furnish Ardre Boullen Therouenne Montrueil Hedin all equally opposed to the inuasion of the English Henry therefore seeing no armie to withstand him making his accoumpt to carrie a legge or an arme of the body of this realme sent the Duke of Norfolke and the Earles of Reux and Buries to besiege Montrueil The King of England besiegeth Boullen Montrueil and himselfe went and camped before Boulen The Marshall of Biez was gouernour But when hee saw the enemy turne the point of his armie towards Montrueil he left the Lord of Veruein his sonne in lawe to command in Boullen from which he was disswaded by some to whom his sufficiencie was well knowne assisted by Philip Corse a Captaine very well experienced in armes the Lords of Lignon and Aix otherwise called Renty young and without experience with their regiments and halfe the company of a hundred men at armes of the sayd Marshall and he put himselfe into
sends Captaine Paulin hereafter Baron of the Garde into Prouence to bring fiue and twentie gallies out off the East seas into the Ocean by the straight of Gibraltar and eight or tenne Carracks of Genoa but they came so late as they serued to no vse most part of them perished at the mouth of Seine for want of expert Pilots By land hee raiseth a mightie armie vnder the commaund of the Marshal of Biez to campe before Boullen the riuer betwixt both attending his armie by sea and there building a good fort vpon the point of the Tower of Ordre to keepe the enemie within their walâ—s with the Canon and to cut off al meanes for the shipps to enter into the hauen to succour the Towne making account to goe afterwards in person to beseege Guines there to fortifie to keepe Calais and the land of Oye in subiection and by that meanes to famishe Boullen But man purposeth and God disposeth wee shall see both Boullen and Calais by other meanes and at diuers seasons reduced to the obedience of this Crowne According to these desseines the King sent Cont Reingraue the Colonnels Reichroc and Lodowike to fill vp their regiments of Lansqueneâ—s to the number of foure or fiue thousand a peece and to ioyne with tenne thousand men which he leuied in Gasconie and Languedoc This done his Maiestie tooke his way to Normandâ—e to embaâ—ke his armie at Newhauen and being at Touques about Midsomer he discouered his armie out of the Leuant seas then vpon the assurance which the Marshall of Biez hauing receiued the Lansquenets and sixe or seuen thousand pioners gaue him that by the midest of August the sort of Boullen would bee in defence he causeâ— hiâ— Nauie to set sayle wherein the Admirall of Annebault commaunded But behold a pittiful beginning As they come to weigh anchor in the Carraquon which was the goodliest ship of the westerne sea and the best sayler being of eight hundred tuâ—â—s burthen in the which the Admirall should fight fire takes the gunners roome and consumes it to ashes Many to auoyd the fury of the fire leaped into the sea the galleyes saued many and many were cast away the fire takes the artillery there were a hundred great peeces of brasse which sinking all that was before them behind or on the sids forced the other ships to giue roomer A hundred and fiftie great ships threescore baâ—ks Thâ— King of Franâ—â— hâ—s â—rmâ—e â—gainst England and fiue and twentie galleyes set sayle the 6. of Iuly and beâ—r their course towards the Iâ—le of Wight and the hauen of Portesmouth in England where the Eâ—glâ—sh had threescore ships well appointed for warre The Admirall resolued to fight with them made choise of thirtie ships 1544. to accompanie that wherein he would fight Bouâ—ieres coasting this squadron on the right wing with thirtie sixe shippes and the baron of Curton on the left with the like numbeâ— The aduantage of the place where the enemie lay defended on the one side by some sorts and on the other with rocks banks and sands couered with water which lie in thâ— midest of the way and make a narrowe and crooked entrie disswaded him To draw them to sea the gallies aduance skirmishing with their Canon and fighting they retyre towards their squadrons The calmnes of the sea without any wind or great current shewed it selfe fauourable to our men for the space of a whole houre in the morning hauing meanes to gouerne their gallies at pleasure and annoy the enemie who for want of winde lay open to the French artillerie So the Mary-rose one of the best ships of their fleete was sonke with the Canon and of fiue or six hundred men onely fiue and thirtie escaped the great Henry whâ—ch carried their Admirall had made the like end if the neere ships had not succoured it And greater losses threatned them when as the wind changed and became good for them preserued them from perill and serued them to charge our ships with full sayles which change was so sodaine as the English ships pursuing our gallies were readie to ouerrunne them if by a great assurance of the Commanders and experience of the â—aylers and rowers hauing no Canon in their poupeâ— they had not speedily turned their prowes who being without the reach of the Canon slacke their course seeking to draw the enemie out of the rocks and bankes as they had beene directed Some English pinaces these be shippes more long in forme then round more narrow then our gallies swift and easie to gouerne and which better command the currants in that sea followed with an incredible swiftnes and with their artillerie did wonderfully annoy our gallies when as the Prior of Gapua brother to Peter Strossy impatient of this brauadoe turnes his gallie against a Pinace which surpassing his companions was readie to grapple with one of our gallies in poupe and forceth him to retire to the bodie of their battaile And our Admirall hauing now put his ships in order and readie to giue the signe of battaile he sees the enemie retire from the chase and returne to their hold In this conflict they loose some slaues few souldiars and no men of account They must now prepare an other baite The King of England was at Portsmoth and the Admirall burning his Countrie and killing his men in his sight imagined that the indignation of this wrong the compassion of his subiects bloud spilt the sacke and burning of his Countrie would force him to send forth his ships to succour them being not aboue two Canon shot off or else the subiects wrongs being no way releeued by the presence of their Prince would breed some sedition and mutinie in the Countrie He therefore makes three sundrie landings to diuide the enemies â—orces The one by Strossay vpon a little fort furnished with artillerie which did beat our gallies in flanke and manned by the Countrimen who seeing the resolution of our men abandon their â—ort and flie to a wood neere by some behind were slaine and the houses about it burnt The Lord of Tais and the Baron of la Garde both Generals the first of the foot the other of the gallies land in another place they incounter some squadrons of foot who by couert wayes in the woods were gathered togither to fight at their aduantage they make head against our men and hurt some but the rest of the troupes marching in battaile make them abandon the place and flie to recouer their straights where they could not follow but in disorder Marsy and Pierrebon Captaines of galleis were hurt in their landing at an incounter of the English but to draw them in grosse to fight it was not possible and lesse meanes to charge them on their owne ground Neither Captaines nor souldiars wanted will but the danger was too apparent They must slip downe a narrow chanell where but foure shipps could go in front and the like number of the enemies ships
such obedience as hee required of his subiects and with this desseine he went to Antwerp to receiue money by imposition and borrowing This voiage is a cloake to delay our Ambassadors 1546. But in effect he ment to know the minds of theÌ„ of Antwerp that according to the course of affaires he might be more milde or sharpe in his answers And the sayd Ambassadors discouering his ordinarie delaies and dissimulations in the end tooke their leaue returning with no other assurance but if the King began no warre against him hee was not resolued to make any A word serues to a man of Iudgement What might the King conceiue of this cold entertainement but that the Emperour sought an oportunity to begin a new war with aduantage and if he had forced them to obedience whom hee threatned in Germanie he would bring al forces both Catholiks Protestants ioyntly against the frontiers of this realme To auoide a sodaine surprise hee giues the gouernment of Languedoc to the Duke of Anguien that of Piedmont to the Prince of Melphe lately created Marshal of France he sent to fortifie the weake places of Picardie hee made a fort aboue Maubert-Fontaine seauen leagues from Veruein and fiue from Mezieres at the going out of the wood and for that the frontier of Champagne lay most open to the Germains hee fortified Meziers and Mouzon built a fort vpon Meuze on this side the riuer within the realme betwixt Stenay and Dunle Chasteau the which hee called Villefranche he fortified the Castell of Saint Menehoult Saint Desier Chaumont in Bassigny Coiffy and Ligny and made Bourg in Bresse able to make head against a mighty army Thus the King prouided for his frontiers and places subiect to the enemies inuasions But the plague had so diminished the number of soldiars that were in the fort right against Boullen as of twentie enseigns not aboue eight or nine hundred men escaped this mortalitie A great plague in the â—ort before Boullen The soldiars notwithstanding are commended for their fidelity constancie and patience in the gard thereof The raine snowe and other iniuries of the aire the moistenes of their lodgings being but hoales in the ground coueâ—ed with a pentise of strawe and when a whole household was dead the ruines serued to bury their carcases had bred these diseases But the spring time hauing tempered the season and stayed the plague the Lords of Essé and Riou being refreshed and supplied with men returned to their ordinary skirmishes to the enemies losse The fort wanted victualls Senerpont Lieutenant to the Marshall of Biez was appointed for this execution Three hundred English horse come to hinder this victualing He meetes them the day after Easter day neere to the bridge of bricke beneath mount S. Stephen the skirmish begins on eyther side the Lord of Tais and the Conte Reingraue ariue either of them with sixe or seauen score gentlemen the alarume comes to Boullen the English supplie their men with seauen hundred horse and foure hundred harguebuziers Senerpont chargeth the horsemen before they had ioyned with their shot the Reingraue is hurt at the first charge and ouerthrowen and on the other side the Marshall of Calais beeing chiefe of the enterprise is slaine with a hundred or sixescore English about two hundred horse on eyther side and threescore and fifteene English prisoners all in cassaks of vellet garnished with gold and siluer A while after the Marshall of Biez parted from his campe for the same effect accoÌ„panied with fiftie men at armes the Reingraue with his regiment of foure thousand Lansquenets and two hundred French shot he incountred the Earle of Surrcy followed by six thousand English men with an intent to take from our men the meanes to refresh the fort with victualls and necessarie munition Here the combate was long and furious in the ende the English ouerthrowen retire to a little fort where they force them Seauen or eight hundred of their men are slaine Surrey saues himselfe by flight and leaueâ— seauen or eight score prisoners Boullen was but a Church-yard for the English a wasting for their treasor The King oâ— England considering how obstinate the King was in the recouerie of his Towne that moreouer the Emperour what league soeuer they had togither had his priuate desseins and regarded nothing but his owne interest he lettes the King vnderstand That he is resolued to haue hiâ— for his friend and to ende all controuersies So the Deputies for â—heiâ— maisters meete betwixt Ardres and Guynes For the King came the Amirall Annebault and Raymond the first President of Roâ—an for the English Dudely 〈◊〉 of England and afterwards Duke of Northumberland and finally after many câ—â—â—â—â—tations a peace was made with these conditions That the King within eight daies sâ—ould pay eight hundred thousand Crownes to the King of England as well for the arreriges of his pension as for many other expences made by the sayd King in the fortification of Boâ—lleâ— of the Countrie And in regard of the said sum the King of EnglaÌ„d should deliuer vnto the King Boullen and all the Countrie belonging vnto it with the ancient places or newly 〈◊〉 by him Mont-Lambert the Tower of Ordre Ambletueil Blacquenay and others with all the artillerie victuals and munition in the said places This yeare is famous by the death of Anguien In the moneth of February the snow was very great The death of the Duke of Anguien and the Court being at Roche-guion some yong Noblemen attending the Daulphin made a challeng some to defend a house others to assaile it â—ith snow bals But this pastime ended soone with a pittifull and fatall spectacle As the Duke came out of this house a cofer full of linnen cast out of the window falls vpon his head and within few houres sends him to rest in the graue with his ancestors leauing a suspition of some great men being enuious and iealous of his vertue reputation and fauour which he had gotten with the King the people and men of warre of whome he was more then any other of his age esteemed beloued and respected The beginning is likewise remarkable by the decease of Henry the eight King of England The death of the King of England leauing for his successor his sonne Edward eight yeares of age This death bred a great alteration and change in the health of our Francis they were almost of one age conformable in coÌ„plections And our King taking this for a presage or fortelling that his turne should soone follow after grew then more melancholy and silent then before He fals sicke of a feuer for the auoyding wherof hauing passed many places fit for the pleasure of hunting la Muette S. Germain in Laye Villepreux Dampierre neere vnto Cheureuse Limours and Rochefort he came to lodge at Rambouillet and as the pleasure he tooke both in hunting and hauking stayed him there sometime his feuer increased and grew to a
But hee will teach vs that the surest stroakes come from the head and if the olde Duke of Guise could by a gallant stratageme recouer a towne from the English most important for the Estate of this Crowne he in like sort by the like exploite will make himselfe the terror of all Picardie 1596 Hee departs from Bruxells and giues it out that hee will succor la Fere. For his first fruites he findes meanes to giue them some releefe of men and munition in March. Calais and Aâ—dres taken by the Spaniaâ—d Then in Aprill he causeth his army being very strong to turne head towards Calais beseegeth batters and takes both towne and Castell by assault against all the resistance of the beseeged and puts many French gentlemen to the sword being sent to supply the Castell The Senâ—shall of Montlimart commanding the French and Aluarez Osorio the Spaniards in la Fere hauing for the space of fiue monethes endured all the toyles of warre and seene the riuer within the towne to rise two or three foote by the labour of men La Fâ—re lost had the 22. of the sayd moneth by a good composition some-what recompenced this so notable a losse if the Cardinall had planted here the lymits of his victories But contynuing the prosperity of his armies whilest the Kings are weary and demand rest after so great toyle hee goes in the beginning of Maye and campes before Ardres a very strong towne and notwithstanding their great defence became Master thereof the 23. of the moneth and resolues to people these townes of his newe Conquest with straâ—ge Colonies and prepares to adde vnto them that of Hulst in Flanders In the meane time the two armies spend the rest of the Sommer in light roads one into an others Country Warre in Arthois In the beginning of September the Marshall of Biron enters Arthois takes the Casteâ—l of Imbercourt encounters with fiue Cornets of horse of the Marquis of Varambon followed by fiue or sixe hundred horse of combate chargeth them hee kills all that seeke to withstand the violence of his armes puts the rest in route takes the Marqâ—is prisoner afterwards had fortie thousand Crownes for his ransome filled the whole Country with feare then inuading the County of Saint Paul he tooke and spoyled the towne and some other places The Cardinall busied at the seege of Hulst hearing that the Marquis was taken hee sent the Duke of Arscot to commande in his place As hee enters into Arâ—as the French assaile it on the other side spoile the Country about it and laden with bootie the Marshall retires safely to the fronters oâ— Picardie Being discharged hee returnes to Bapaume spoiles Hebuterne Benuiller Courcelles and other places defeates such as would make resistance and carries away more spoile then at the first And seeing the Duke of Arscot incamped neere to Arras vnder the fauour of the Cannon intrenched carefully and loath to hazard any thing knowing that he was to deale with one of the happiest and most valiant warriors of Europe they fire all and reuenge as oportunitie would suffer them the Spaniards outrage in places lately taken they make a roade towards Bethune and Therouenne bring away many prisoners furnish their places with Cattell at the enemies cost and without any resistance go and campe in the plaine of Azincourt The Duke supplied with eight hundred â—oote ioyned to the regiment of Colonel Bourlote parts from Arras the 5. of October and goes and incampes at Saint Paul The Marshall leaues him there returnes into Arthois runnes vnto Douay spoiles all then returning into Picardie hee gaue the Duke of Arscot meanes to recouer the Castell of Himbercourt who content with this conquest dismisseth his army and disposed of his companies into garrisons Then by the meanes of the Duke of Bouillon the alliance was confirmed and sworne betwixt the King the Qâ—eene of England and the vnited Prouinces of the Lowe Countries For matters past there is no remedie and the Polititians hold that there is no Lawe more vnprofitable then that which tends to reforme what is past The King therefore to settle his affaires and to prouide for the future resolute not to suffer theâ—e newe Colonies of Dourlans Capelle Castelet Cambray Calais and Ardres and with the newe yeare to renue a deadly warre against the Spaniard which might not bee attempted without a mighty army An Assâ—mbly aâ— Rouâ—n in â—orme of a Parliament nor the army leuied without treasure the which he could not recoueâ— without the helpe of his subiects hee assembled in manner of a Parliament the greatest and most discreet of the three orders of his realme at Rouan the fourth of Nouember where the Inhabitants of their owne voluntariâ— free will 5596 spent foure hundred thousand Crownes to make his Maiestie an honorable reception where he receiued the gaâ—ter a badge of the order of England by the hands of the Earle of Shrewsburie His Maiestâ—e desired to deserue these two glorious titles of Deliuerer â—estorer of of his estate At his coming to the Crowne hee had found France not onely in a manner ruined but almost all lost for the French but by the grace of the Almightie by the prayers by the good counsell of his loyall Subiects who make no profession of armes by the sword of his Princes and of his braue and generous Nobilitie by his paines and labour he had preserued it from losse Let vs saue it now from ruine said our King speaking to the assembâ—ie Participate my deere subiects with mee in this second glorie as you haue done in the first I haue not called you as my Predecessors did to make you approue my will I haue caused you to assemble to haue your Counsells to beleeue them and to follow them finally to put my selfe into your hands A desire which seldome commaunds Kings that haue white haires and are Conquerors But the vehement loue I beare vnto my Subiects and the exeding desire I haue to adde these two goodly titles to that of King makes mee to find all easâ—y and honorable The sharpnes of winter had layd armes aside and the excessiue raine caused many inundations whereof amongst others followed that of the millers bridge at Paris which sinking on Saint Thomas night was the losse of three hundred persons slaine in the ruines of the building and drowned in the riuer Whilest they examine the resolutions taken in this honorable assemblie and that the King prepares for a mightie armie to chase the Spaniard out off Picardie behold the capitall Cittie of this Prouince strong of seat and well fortified where his Maiestie pretended to make his Arcenall and storehouse for the warre against the Sranger in Arthois and other Prouinces of the Low Countries was surprised in the day time the people being at sermon without force without defence by the practise of some factioâ—s and the carelesse basenesse of the Inhabitants who standing vpon their ancient
Adultery and Incest for satisfaction whereof they condemne them to loose their heads The King during the Processe was often sued vnto for their pardon But considering that in such Crimes it were impiety to shewe pitty that mildenesse was seuerity and clemency cruel and that the most holie and the most iust of his Predecessors reuoked a pardon which hee had giuen to a malefactor falling vpon that verse of the Prophet Dauid in his praier-booke Doe Iustice at all times Sayd that hee reâ—erâ—ed it to the Iustice of his Court of Parliament The Father desired to change the infamie of the punnishment into a death lesse shamefull but longer and more cruell the which the Emperor Opilius Macrinus vsed causing such as were condemned for crimes to be shut vp betwixt foure Walles Hee offered all his Lands to procure his Children that manner of punishment The executioÌ„ of the parties condemned This could not be for that by the doome of the Iudgement the execution was to be done at the Greue where it moued pitty and compassion in many lamenting the youth of the Brother the beauty of the Sister and the misery and blindnesse of them both The yeare ended in Peace as it had begunne in pleasures and sports there was no newe occasion offered but the passage of the Constable of Castille to go into England for the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace betwixt the Kings of England and Spaine The Constable of Castills passage The King aduertised of his passage by Bourdeaux sent to the Marshall d' Ornano to receyue him the which he did going to meet him with a great number of Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Country The Emperor Charles the 5. passing through France admired the great and goodly Traynes of Gouernors of Prouinces which came to receiue him commending them very much The Constable of Castille fuller of these Spanish fumes made no great account thereof and receiued these honours after a Spanish manner The Marshall d' Ornano entertayning him with the singularities of this Realme told him That heeshould see a Country yea a World in seeing Paris He answeâ—ed him That he had left behinde his backe the goodliest Citties of Christendome But they are not so Great nor so well peopled saide the Maâ—shall D' Ornano The People answered the Constable Adde nothing to the excellency of Citties although it helpes something for the strength of the State The Marshal asked him If he would not see the King He shewed by his answer Thas he was not greatly curious yet must hee see him with the respect that was due to that Maiesty Hee came to Paris with a great Trayne The King of Spaine spares no cost in such occasions and thinkes no expences more royall then those which makes his Golde to glister in the Eyes of strangers In like sort his Ministers and Ambassadors seeing themselues so well followed and serued take delight in shewing the greatnesse of their Maister and are not silent when they must publish his power Mendoza who neuer went out off his Lodging but on Horse-backe in Litter or in Carosse with all his Traine although it were but to go to the Church the which was very neere his Lodging hee neuer spake three words but two were for the greatnesse of his Maister saying often Mendozas speech That God was mighty in Heauen and the King of Spaine on Earth An other going out of Rome to accompany the Pope went with sixe Litters six Carosses euery one hauing six Horses two hundred Gromes and threescore Carts for baggage and all for a small iourney The Prince of Parmas Traine was admirable and royall shewing by his equipage the greatnesse of his Maister whom he serued The Constable of Câ—stille did not hide it neither in his Wordes nor in his Traine hee had alwayes some wordes of ostentation to shewe it The Constable comes to visit the King He went to the Lâ—vâ—re and did see the King in his Cabinet he entred with a good Grace but stately and proude the which was sodenly conuerted into great humility for approching neere vnto his Maiesty who was sitting in a Chayre he kneeled vpon one knee and continued so a little longer then hee thought The King tooke him vp imbraced him and shewed him a very good Countenance He spake much to assure him that the King of Spaine held nothing more deere then the preseruation of the Peace Hâ— lets him vnderstand his Masters affection to the Peace and vnlesse that time should greatly force his will hee had no other power but to continue it in this Resolution and to bring forth fruites of great Loue and Friendship the which is firme and constant betwixt equall powers Hee heard from the King words of the same affection then he tooke his leaue to go see the Queene Going downe to crosse the Court where he was attended by his people with forty Torches of white Waxe hee said to some of his Company That the King had receiued him with the Maiesty of a King He saâ—uâ—es the Queene â—nd the Daulphin and had imbraced him as his Kinsman Hauing done his duty vnto the Queene he demanded leaue to go and see the Daulphin The King caused him to be conducted the next day to S. Germaine Being arriued there the gaue notice to his Gouernesse that the Constable was there with a great Traine of Spaniards At that word of Spaniards the little Prince opened his eyes and makes them speak it againe They be Spaniards that come to see you Spaniards said the Prince ça ça giue me my sword Who so had not known that this word came from his own motioÌ„ would haue thought that they had printed in his fantasie the same opinion which King Charles the seuenth Lewis the eleuenth and Charles the eight had had in thier infancie of the English and Bourguignions And if the Spaniards had heard him the strangenes of such a word would haue caused them to apprehend new worke and to feare and beleeue that which the French souldiar saith that they must present Milan for the first tryall of this yong Eaglet The Constable admired his constant eye and his Phisiognomie and was amazed at so great a boldnesse in that age and so much Iudgement in that Infancie Monsieur the Daulpin told him tales in his language and according to his vnderstanding as Alexander did to the Ambassadors of Persia. All the Spaniards did meruaile and the more for that the dore was open for the least of the trayne They see about him a goodly companie of young Noblemen Alexander Monsieur the Prince of Longueuille and the three sonnes of the Duke of Espernon The Constable of Castille past on to goe into Flanders he came to Bruxelles and descended at the Archdukes Pallace where he was well receiued and from thence hee past into Flanders Although the subiect ought not to reckon the yeares of his Prince but to wish him a long and prosperous life yet we
Emperor fol. 475. King Francis challengeth the Emperor to the Combat fol. 476. Henry the eight King of England defies the Emperor and puts away his Wife ibid. The seege of Naples with the discommodities there of fol. 477. Phillipin Doria gets a victory at Sea and the successe thereof fol. 478 The reuolt of Andrew Doria with the great constancy of Lautrech fol. 479. Lautrech dies and the seege of Naples is raysed fol. 480. The French Army wholy ruined with the number that dyed at the seege of Naples fol. 481. Genoa recouered from the French fol. 482. A Peace concluded at Cambray betwixt the Emperor and the French King fol. 483. The Kings childrens ransome paid the Emperor returnes into Italy fol. 484. The Prince of Auranges slaine fol. 485. Causes of the Kings discontent fol. 486. A League of the Princes of Germany against the Emperor ibid. A League and interviewe betweene the Kings of England and France fol. 487. The Duchy of Britany incorporate to the Crown of France fol. 488. The Kings of England and France complaine of the Pope ibid. The Cardinalls meanes to winne the Pope fol. 489. The first motiue of the separation of the Church of England froÌ„ the Church of Rome fol. 490 The Pope excoÌ„municats the King of EnglaÌ„d ibid An entervew betwixt the Pope King fol. 492. The estate of England in 1534. fol 493. Charles the Emperors dissimulation fol. 494. The King discontent with the Duke of Sauoye conquers his Country fol. 495 Wars begin in Piemont fol. 496. The Emperors entry into Rome fol. 497. The Emperors protestation at Rome fol. 498. The Kings preparation for Warre with the treachery of the Marquis of Salusses fol. 499. Anthony de Lâ—ua forced to flie out off his Campe. fol. 500. The Emperors conceit of his passage into France fol. 502. Francis the Daulphin poysoned ibid. The Emperors passage into Prouence and the Kings order against him fol. 503 The defeate and taking of Monteian and Boisy fol. 504. The Earle of Nassaw in Picardy takes Guise and beseeges Peronne ibid. The Imperialls defeated fol. 506. Marseilles surprized by the Emperour in imagination fol. 507. The Daulphin comes to the Campe. fol. 508. Exploits in Piedmont fol. 509. The Imperialls retreat and burne Aix ibid. The cause of Warre betwixt 〈…〉 fol. 511. Pursute against the 〈…〉 〈◊〉 512 Hedin S. Paul and 〈…〉 S. Paul beseeged by the 〈…〉 Recouered by assault and 〈…〉 fol. 515. Therovenne victualed and the 〈…〉 and beaten Francis Marquis of Salusses slaine The Imperialls attempt 〈◊〉 and are 〈◊〉 fol. 518. Piedmont being like to be lost for waâ—t â—f money first the Daulphin and afterwaâ—d the King goes thither 〈◊〉 51â— An enteruiew at Nice with a Truce for ten yeaâ—s fol. 520. The Emperors passage through France fol. 521. The Kings Ambassadors surprized and murtâ—â—red â—ol 522. Ferdinands Army defeated by the Turke ibiâ— The Emperor goes to Algier without successe ibid. The reasons that moued the King to Waâ—â—â— fol. 523. Warre in Luxenbourg and in Rossillion with 〈◊〉 causes thereof â—â—l 524. Attempt of Rossillion fruitlesse fol. 526. War in Picardy and Piedmont 〈◊〉 A gallant stratageme of Monsieur de Lâ—ngâ—y fol. 527. A new French Army in Piedmont where Monsieur de Langey dyes fol. 528 The rebellion of the Rochellois and the Kings Clemency fol. 529. Exploytes in Picardy with the taking of Landrecy and other places by the French fol. 530. The Castle of Emery taken fol. 531. The Imperialls surprised at Bains fol. 532. The Imperialls charge the French in their lodging and are repulst fol. 5â—â— The King sends to succour the Duke of Cleues he yeelds to the Emperour fol. 534. Landrecie beseeged distrest and victualled fol. 535. A braue Retreat made by the French fol. 5â—6 Nice attempted by Barbarousse and taken but not the Castle Mont-deuis yeelded and the Capitulation bâ—â—ken â—ol 5â—7 The Imperialles desseigne the French preâ—â—preparations to fight with the sonnâ— of 〈◊〉 two Armies fol. 5â—8 5â—9 The battaile of Sâ—risoles which the Duke of Anguien winnes after hee had bin in grâ—at danger with the number of the dead and prisoners fol. 540.541 Effects following the victory 〈◊〉 542. Truce in Piedmont warre in Picardy â—ol 54â— Saint Desier beseeged after a furious assault yeelded fol. 544. The King of England takes Bullen and Montrueâ—l and defeates the French fol. 546.547 The French Kings Army against England fol. 548. The French consult to take the I le of wight and to fortefie it fol. 550. Death of the Duke of Orleance fol. 551. Discription and sack of the Land of Oye fol. 552. A great plauge in the forte before Bullen fol. 553. The death of the Duke of Anguien fol. 554. Of Henry the 8. King of England Ibiâ— Of Francis the 1. King of France Ibid. Henry the 2. of that name the 59. King of France THe Constable restored fol. 555. Henry the 2. crowned sends an Army into Scotland fol. 556. Cruelties coÌ„mitted by the rebells in Bordeaux La Vergnâ— drawne with foure horses Ibid. Trobles in England fol. 557. Peace with the English and warre with Italy fol. 559. A leauge betwixt the King and the Protestants of Germany fol. 560. The Kings Army enters into the Country of Metz. fol. 561. Metz yeelded to the French and beseeged againe by the Emperor fol. 562. The Imperialls spoile Picardy recouer Hedin retire from Metz. fol. 563. Terouenne and Hedin taken and sackt and the Duke of Arscot taken fol. 564. The two Armies meete fol. 565. The Arrierband of France defeated and warre beyond the Alpes fol. 566. Sienna in Italy beseeged fol. 567. The Emperor resignes his Kingdome to his sonne fol. 568. Valence and Ostia with other places recouered by the French fol. 569. The Battaile of S. Lawrence lost by the French Ibid. The Pope reconciles himselfe vnto the Spaniards fol. 570. A great Inundation at Rome Ibid. Calais recouered froÌ„ the English Anno. 1558. fo 571. Francis the Daulphin married to Mary Queene of Scotland Ibid. Persecution for religion certaine Councelors of the Parliament Imprisoned fol. 572. The death of Henry the 2. his children and dispotition fol. 573. Francis the 2. of that name the 60. King of France Factions and alterations in Court fol. 574. Anthony King of Nauar and the chiefe Officers of the Crowne disgraced in Court fol. 575. Anne de Bourg executed and a tumult at Amboyse fol. 576.577 The Protestants petition to the King fol. 579. An Assembly of Princes and Noble-men fol. 580. The King comes to Orleans and the Prince of Condo Imprisoned fol. 581. Commissioners to arraigne the Prince and condemne him fol. 582. The death of King Franciâ— the second fol. 583. Charles the 9. of that name the 61. King of France A Parliament held at Orleance put of to Ponthoise fol. 584.585 The Kings Coronation a conference at Poisy fol. 586. A Petition and Protestation made by the Protestants fol. 587. The King of Nauar forsakes the Protestants
turne not to the publique good wherevnto it is appointed as by the order shall be found most expedient And expecting an end of this great masse my intent was onely as may easily appeare by the Table of the third Race to set before your eyes as in one Mappe a Summarie of the ancient History very necessary for the vniting and resemblance of that which hath happeneâ— in our time But the iudgement of my learned friends hath made mee to take a new course that the length of so tedious a paiment might not bee troublesome vnto you in giuing you the whole Historie vnto this day fashioned of this meane and base stature whereof I now offer you this first part as a Patterne of the whole peece imbarking my selfe from the maine land in this tempestuous Sea which must needs bee fearfull vnto mee both by the feeling of mine owne weaknesse and the apprehension of diuerse iudgements as the Ebbing and Flowing of the Ocean I durst not hazard all this small modell at one voyage Goe forth my first parcell and seeke thy fortune learne by the Chapmen how the market goes that by thy successe I may resolue with lesse danger to Ship the rest the which in the meane time shall attend in a safe Harbor the winde of your fauourable contents A PLOT OR DISSEINE OF THE WHOLE HISTORIE MY meaning is to represent in this discourse what is most remarkable in the Historie of France and with a simple faithfull and liuely breuitie to report all thâ—t hath succeeded in the French Monarchie worthâ—e of memorie to make our Frenchmen see a modell of this great building reducing it to the first foundation according to the proportion of the subiect and the order of times the certaine light of truth and by the changes of the greatest and most famous foâ—reine States to the end that this our Inuentorie may serue the learned for a memoriall and learners for a direction The enterprise is not small although the worke be little but as it must bee valued by the fruit so the proofe will appeare to such as shall vouchsafe to reade what my desire was able to performe And for a ground of this goodly and excelent Historie so worthy of knowledge we must set downe in generall termes what shal be handled in particular throughout the whole discourse and lay before your eyes as in a table by the most cleere and soundest proofes that may be drawne from likelyhoods of so obscure antiquitie the beginning and continnuance with the greatest apparance of truth the increase with the diuers euents and successe of this sâ—ate such as now it is It were to seeke truth in vanitie following the common error to search for the originall of the FRENCH in the ruines and ashes of Troy or in the fennes of Meotides for in the most auncient Histories of the Trojans there is no mention of FRANCVS or FRANCION sonnes of Hector who had but one sonne named Astianax slayne at three yeares of age in the sacke of Troy There is also no likelyhood to find the stemme of our FRENCH nation in the sennes of Meotides where they were first called SICAMBRES hauing built a Citty by imagination named SICAMBRA And that they issued from thence in great troups There is no more proofe that they are come from these marishes then from the desarts of Affricke It appeares the SICAMBRIANS were a different people from the FRENCH and that the wales of SICAMBRIA are yet to build But the newe presumption of a certaine writer is yet more admirable who comâ—s froÌ„ far to aduertise the FRENCH of their originall the which he findes beyond the Moonne and with so great an assurance as he setts downe namâ— by name the kings of the house of SICAMBRIA and of FRANCE their râ—ce maâ—ners deeds aduentures and that in so good ernâ—st as reporting a thing but of yesterday or as being a Counsellor to these supposed kings seeming with reason to reprehend such as wâ—ll not take his word for present payment vnder the authoritie of certaine old Registers produced by him wherin he names these kings one after one like in presumption to the Castilians the inuentors of the fabulous Historie of Amadis or the deuisors of the ofspring of the Panim Gods or of the Romanâ— of the Rose hauing forged names at their pleasure leauing therefore all these Diuinations and Fopperies let vs search as neere as wee may what is most likely by the traces of Truth vntill it may guide vs to the firme land not plunging our selues any further in the boggs and vnknowne desarts of an imagined Antiquitie The French are come out of Germâ—nie What then doubtlesse we shall no where find a more certaine originall of our FRENCH Nation then in Germany This is most apparant FRANCONIE beares yet the name of the old Inhabitants and the markes of their auncient possession The Cities of the one and the other side of the Rhine are full of their Antiquities We can no way doubt by these markes but they haue inhabited in those parts and it is likely they were dispersed betwixt the Riuers of Rhine and Danubius vnto the Ocean Whether the had their beginning there or came from any other part it auailes not to dispute seeing the search is altogether vnprofitable for that in deed it is impossible Of the name of Frenchmen The originall of the name is verie difficult being wholly vnknowne to the first Antiquitie for we reade not in any auntient Histories of the name of French-men among the nations of Germany yet carefully obserued by the most auntient But who sees not the change of auntient names to new Alemaigne is now called Germanie Heluetia Suisse Brittaine England without seeking vnnecessary proofes in so apparant a matter The FRENCH therefore being an auncient people of Germany haue changed their name with the whole country vpon diuers subiects but when how by whome and wherefore it cannot be certainely defined but by coniectures more easie to be refuted then mainteined It appeares only that FRANCE is a Germane word which signifieth Free and that their auncestors eyther hauing shakt of the yoke of the Romane seruitude and recouered their auntient libertie or remayning free amongst so many neighbours subiect to that great Empire were called French-men in token of their libertie There are learned men which write that FRANCE was the name of a Communalty of diuers people assembled and vnited together to preserue their libertyes hauing taken that name as a marke of their generous resolution and not of any certain Nation Although Tully a witnesse aboue all exception notes the name of FRANCONS among the nations of Germany which had offered obedience to the Romanes whilest their commonweale florished before the Empire began which shewes that we cannot talke of so obscure Antiquitie but doubtfully so as it is bootlesse to pronounce Oracles vpon a subiect so disputable Truely to referre the first memories of theire name to the Empire of
condemned him to repaire the fault vpon payne of excomunication Clotaire for satisfaction ordeynes that from thenceforth the Lords of Yuetot should bee free from all homage seruice and obedience due to the King for the land of Yuetot in the Country of Normandy And so this small seigneury hath continued long with the title and prerogatiue of a Realme vntill that this title of a realme was chaunged into a Principality the which the house of Bellay doth now inioye This was the life and raigne of Clotaire the first of that name vitious and vnfortunate followed with a confused and horrible tragedy in his children whom we must marke distinctly in the front of this tumultuous reigne therby to tread more safely the blinde maze of these obscure gouernments Clotaire the first of that name had foure sonnes Cherebert King of France Chilperic King of Soissons Gontran King of Orleans or Bourgongne Sigebert King of Metz or Austrasie All which reigned togither fifteene yeares but in this eight raigne they giue the ranke and name of King to Cherebert as to the eldest although each of them called himselfe King of France and commanded absolutely ouer the Countries vnder their obedience CHEREBERT the eight King of France CHEREBERT KING OF FRANCE VIII WE haue seene the Strange gouernment of the foure sonnes of great Clouis let vs now view the rest of thiâ— table in the children of Cloâ—aâ—re who suruiuing his bâ—ethren their children obteined the realme alone but presently to be diuided into 4. parts Of 5. sons lawfully begotten 4. suruiued him Cherebert the eldest Chilperic Sâ—gebert Gontran His bodie was scarce interred when as the fire of diuision kindled among the brethren about the diuiding of the Realme Chilperic a craftie and proud man Dâ—uision of 〈…〉 finds meanes to seize on his fathers treasure and labours to become maister of the Cittie of Paris But not able to effect it he was forced by his brethren supported by the chief Noblemen of the Court to come to a diuision euery one according to hiâ— order Cherebert as the eldest of the house of France hath Paris for his part Gontran Orleans and Bourgongne Chilperic Soissons Sigibert Metz or Austrasia euery portion with his dependances After this diuision of parts their wills were so diuided as it is wonderfull the realme had not beene vtterly ruined amidst these horrible confusions in so feeble beginnings Prouence by consent of the brethren was giuen to Contran King of Orleans and Bourgongne But notwithstanding this accord Sigebert King of one part of Bourgongne and of Austrasia contends for it with his brother and sowes diuision amoâ—g the Prouensaâ—ls doubtfull to whome they should yeeld obedience in this contention Iâ— had beene woon and lost by Clouis as wee haue shewed but soone after the death of Clouis Thierri the Ostrogothe who had woon it looseth it againe through the inclination of the Prouensalls who willingly come to the antient obedience of the Crowne of France And the Emperour Iustin the second liking it better in the Frenchmens hands then in the Ostrogoths leaues them that which he cannot take for them In this respect he added his consent by his deed onely After the death of Cherebert his brethren contend for his spoyâ—e with irreconciliable hatred Gontran was the most temperate and tractable desiring that this discord â—or parts might bee determined by the French Clergie as iudges competent and without passion Horrible confusiâ—ns 〈◊〉 brethâ—en But his aduise was not allowed Chilperic and Sigebert ambitious and turbulent men would carrie it by force yet was it agreed by common consent that none of them should enter Paris before this Question were decided touching their portions But there fell out other accidents vppon this theater whereas cunning malice impudencie and furie haue caused both men and women to play a long and traâ—â—ke Scene being the Authors and enders of these miseries I tremble at those confusions By their wiues whereas Brunnehault and Fredegond two renowmed women in our France for their notable wickednesse shall appeare in diuerse scenes of this tragedie Brunehault was daughter to Anathagilde King of Visâ—goths the wiâ—e of Sigebert King of Metz or of Austrasia Fredegonde first was concubine and after wife to Chilperic King of Soissons By the pollicies and impudencie of these furious heads it cannot bee spoken how much miserie France suffered during their raignes But let 〈…〉 euery thing in order if any order may bee found in the most horrible Chaos of infernall confusions Sigebert was much troubled in his territories of Germanie to 〈◊〉 them against the Hunnes Chilperic embracing this occasion against â—is brother enters his countrie One brothâ—r makes wâ—rre 〈…〉 another with a great armie takes from him the Cittie of Rheims This surprise awakes Sigebert and for that he would not loose the principall to keepe the accessâ—â—ie he leaues Germanie and speeds into France wonderfulty greeued with the wrong he had receiâ—ed from his brother pursuing his reuenge with such vehemencie that hee takes Soissons the capitall cittie of his Realme with his sonne Theodebert forcing him to 〈◊〉 with Fredegond to Tournay being ashamed of his cowardly desseine Thus Sigebert comes a CoÌ„queror to Paris where he is receiued by common consent and so all the citties belonging vnto Cherebert yeeld him obedience But as he thought himselfe a peaceable King mounted to the toppe of his desires hauing nothing to crosse him but wallowing in his delights behold two yong souldiours suborned by â—redegonde came to his Court enter freely into the hall and approch so neere him and with such oportunity as eyther of them stabs him with his dagger 578. and he falles downe dead in the place These murtherers were sodenly torne in peeces Sigebert â—laine so as they could not be knowne nor declare by whose commandement they had committed this murther yet was it generally thought that this was the practise of Fredegonde to free her husband and to make the way more easie for her affaires by the death of this brother who crossed her most In truth the death of Sigebert changed the countenance of the Court euery one runnes after Chilpericks fortune who was receiued King of France in the place of his elder brother and he entertaines all those with sauour that offer him seruice CHILPERIC the first the ninth King of France CHILPERIC KING OF FRANCE IX THus Chilperic began to reigne in the yeare 578. and raigned 14. yeares at Paris and Soissons while that Childebert the sonne of Sigebert reigned in Austrasia 578. and Gontran at Orleans and Bourgongne He found Brunhault the widow of Sigebert at Paris a woman of a subtile and audacious spirit so as fearing least shee should animate his sonne against him hee confined her to Rouan whether he likewise sent his sonne Merouâ—e to take possession of the Citty but in steed of taking the Citty hee was surprized by the beauty of Brunehault who could
Caroloman but hee is not numbred among the Kings Charles the Grosse raigned nine yeares Eudes or Odon eleuen yeares Behold the 22. yeares of this minoritie The 28. raigne vnder LEWIS and CAROLOMON LEWES .3 KING OF FRANCE XXVIII CAROLOMAN KING OF FRANCE XXVIII THey talke diuersly of these Kings who in deed were no lawfull Kings but guides to a lawfull King A confused and obscure age which hath leâ—â— such famous persons in doubt But wee may say in their excuse that men being weary of these confusions haue willingly left them doubtfull to hide the infamie of their times or else no man durst set Pen to Paper to represent the shamefull courses of those miseries Lewis and Caroloman tooke either of them a part to gouerne Lewis the countrie on the other side of Loire and Caroloman that on this side They had the Normans and Boson King of Arles for common enemies Lewis defeated by the NormaÌ„s and â—yes for griefe and as continuall thornes in their sides in diuers places and vpon diuers occurrents for the ending whereof they besiege Boson in Vienne and resolue to take it but presently the Normans come to his succour Caroloman continues the siege and Lewis goes to incounter the Normans But oh the vanity of humaine conceptions the Regents are frustrate of their hopes for Lewis looseth his Armie and afterwards his life through griefe of his defeat Carolomon on the other side takes Vienne but not Boson who saues himselfe in the Mountaines of Viuarez And contrarywise hee that hoped to haue his greatest enemy in his power was surprised by death vnlooked for and extraordinarie 885. hauing ended his â—eege and become sole Regent by the death of his brother But the manner of his death is diuersly obserued some write that running in iest after a gentlewoman he was crusht vnder a gate whether his horse had violently carried him Others say that hee was slaine by a boare going a hunting or that being at the chase he fell downe and brake his necke But all this notes that the manner of his death was violent and extraordinarie Caroloma◠〈◊〉 a violent death So the Regencie of these two bastards gotten by sute against the Law was both short and vnfortunate Lewis succeeded to these two brethren Men dispute with much vncertaintie what he was to Caroloman either brother or sonne but all agree he was an idle person It is likely hee was the nearest kinsman hauing seized on the authoritie after the death of these two Regents but in effect the French had the power in their owne hands It chanced as they were readie to free themselues off this Lewis that he died and so they called Charles the grosse King of Bauiere first Prince of the bloud to this great dignitie CHARLES called the grosse or great 29. King and Emperour An Example from a tragicall change to a worthie person CHARLES THE GROSE KING OF FRANCE XXIX CHarles called the grosse began to raigne the yeare 88â— and raigned nine yeares 885. His entrance was goodly but his end tragically fowle Hee was installed in the Regencie with the same ceremonies that the other two forenamed for he was crowned King with promise to restore the Crowne to the lawfull heire and to gouerne according to the will of the States Hee was sonne to Lewis called Germanicus sonne to Lewis the gentle as wee haue said This neerenesse of bloud gaue him an interest and the Imperiall dignitie power and meanes to gouerne the Realme well So the eyes of the French were fixed on him as the man which should restore their decayed estate Great hopes oâ— Charleâ— his good gouernment after so many disorders and confusions His entrance was reasonable happie as at the first euery thing seemes goodly being respected of all his subiects He went into Italie and expelled the Sarazins which threatned Rome but being returned into France hee found a new taske for the Normans a Northerne people gathered togither not onely from Denmarke but â—lso from Sweden and other neighbour Countries as the word of Norman doth shew signifying men of North were dispersed in diuerse parts vpon the sea coast of the Realme of France and had cheefly set footing in the Countries of Arthois â—herouenne and other low Countries and in Neustria one of his greatest and neerest Prouinces taking their oportunitie by the troubles so long continued among the brethren Neustria new calleâ— Normanâ—ie Chaâ—les defeated by the Noâ—mans yâ—lds to a preiâ—diciall peace Charles marcheth with his armie against them but at the first incounter he was beaten This checke although the losse were small stroke a greater terror and in the end caused an apparent impossibilitie to recouer that Prouince from so great forces so as he was aduised to enter into treatie with them and to make them of enemies friends leaâ—ing them that which he could not take from them The which hee did absolutely of his owne authoritie being very great vnited in these two dignities without the priuitie of his Estates So Charles yeelded Neustria to the Normans vppon condition they should do homage to the Crowne of France Then gaue they their name to the Countrie which they had conquered ratified by this sollemne title and called it Normandie He likewise lost Frâ—seland and gaue Gisele in marriage being the daughter of Lothaire his Cousin to Sigefrid or Geffrâ—y one of the cheefe of the Normans thinking thereby to stoppe this storme But therby he wrought his owne ruine for this grant was found so woÌ„derfully strange that the French not only greeued that the Regent had done it without their aduice but also that in yeelding this goodly countrie to the Normans he had dismembred the inheritance of the Crowne which is inalienable by the law of State And although necessitie might inferre some consideration for Charles his excuse yet the French for this respect conceâ—â—ed so great a hatred against him Charlâ—s extreamly hated as they could not rest vntill they had degraded him And as one mischeefe neuer comes alone Charles finding himselfe thus disdayned fell sicke This corporall sicknes was accompanied wâ—â—h a distemperature of the mind farre more dangerous by an extreame iealousie hee had conceiued against his Queene Richarde daughter to the King of Scots suspectâ—ing her to haue beene too prodigall of her honour These two infirmities of bodie and mind made charles altogither vnfit for his charge which consists more in action then in contemplatiue authoritie and in a season when as occasions were ministred on all sides This difficultie and disabilitie to serue effectually in the regencie of the Realme and Empire vnited in one person of whome all men expected much and they discontent of the ill gouernment which the French and Germains depending of this Crowne pretended in quitting Normandie made both the one and the other to enter into strange alterations against Charles At the first his great authoritie kept the boldest in awe and his sicknes did excuse
Barons Noblemen and Gentlemen to come and take the oath of fealty They runne on all hands onely the Earle of â—landers that Arnould which had beene the firebrand of those warres in Normandy playes the mutine Hugh hauing called him to doe homage and noted his contumacy goes to field with his forces to compell him thereunto Hauing seized on the greatest part of his country He forceth the Earle of Flanders to his obedience the Earle flies to humility and by the mediation of Richard Duke of Normandy whom he had so much wronged in his youth he makes his peace with Hugh yeelding him the homage which hee had denied with promise to obey him Hauing thus fortified the authority of his Soueraigne commaund hee passed vnto the gouernment of the realme and to make this voluntary obedience so well begun more pleasing to his newe subiects he calls an assembly of the cheefe of the Realme and giues them all to vnderstand that his desire was to haue their aduice for the well gouerning of the State Necessity spake and his proceeding did winne the most violent Hugh doth institute the Pecres of France Hauing renued their homages he sets downe the order of the twelue Pecres of France and protests vnto them all that he will not doe any thing of importance eyther in peace or waâ—re without their aduice So as in yeelding he did aduance himselfe with a wise and victorious modesty By the most ancient institution the chiefe charge ouer armes belonged to the Mayor of the Pallace to the which Martell added the authority of Duke of France But these two great changes gaue a sufficient testimony how much this great authority did import to counteâ— ballance and cheeke the soueraigne authority of Kings and Hugues himselfe was both a witnesse and iudge of that which he had done in the execution of this charge beeing in a manner royall He therefore resolues to suppresse it He â—uppresseth the Mayor or the Pallace and to bury it in an honourable tombe Hee sees many Competitors and takes thereby an occasion to discouer his intent declaring to the greatest of his nobility how happy he was in his raigne hauing the choise of so many persons worthy of this great dignity but finding himselfe bound to al he knew not to whome he was most indebted and was so affected vnto them all as he could not saye to whome hee wished best And therefore to satisfie all his good friendes hee had bethought himselfe of an expedient That his sonne whome nature had giuen him and France had nourished and brought vp for her seruice should be the person to content all his friendes in the execution of this charge which should be in title of a royalty All the Noblemen which would haue endured it oâ— an other impatiently imbraced this speech willingly the which preuented all iealousie and cured the cheefe sore So with one consent it was decreed That Robert sonne to Hugh Capet Crowning his sonne Robert King should bee his Lieutenant generall and to that end should bee anointed and crowned King as hee was at Rheims in the yeare 990 three yeares after his fathers election A wiâ—e Prince and of a temperate disposition a well seasoned plant for the fruitfull continuance of this latter raigne of whome it is sayd That hee was a sonne without frowardnes Roberts vertues a companion without iealousie and a King without ambition So Hugues effected 3. things by this wise proceeding Hee tooke away the breeding of future dangers by restrayning of so great a power he suppressed all iealousie and assured his owne estate in the person of his sonne But in burying thus honorablie the name and apparent shew of this dignitie he confirmed an other to reape the same frute for it is a resolued maxime That in a royaltie the first mouer of an estate must be fortified with some neere instruments with whom he may communicat some beames of his authoritie to impart them to other inferiour motions according to their order The Constable in old time had no commaund but ouer the horse either as great master or as generall vnder the charge of the Maior The Constable succeeds the Maior as the name doth signifie Hugh amplified this dignitie and in suppressing the name of Maior hee gaue that authoritie to the other for the which the maiâ—altie had beene in old time instituted reseruing the frute and preseruâ—ng France both from danger and feare of so great power which might aduance the seruant aboue the master yet this authoritie of Constable is very great soueraigne ouer armes vnder the Kings good pleasure to order the men of warre to take knowledge of their faults The authoritie of the Constable and either to punish or to pardon offences at his pleasure to order battailes to dispose of all things that concerne the souldiar and finally he keepes the kings sword for which the Constable doth him homage Moreouer vnder this dignitie Hugh appointed Marshals to execute the Constables commaunds as his cheefe hands and so by these two goodly institutions Marshals A proclamation to call all gentlemen togither that hold lâ—â—d of the Crowne for martiall affaires Hugh decrees that the elder should raigne alone amongst his brethren He suppresseth the Maior of the Pallais 〈◊〉 the charge ouer armes continued in great credit vnder the great light of the royall Maiestie Hee likewise fortified by new decrees the royall homages of Ban and Arrierban instituted by Charlemagne and to conclude hee made all those militarie orders wherein France surpasseth all other nations to be reduced to their ancient institution and right vse And as good lawes spring from bad manners so Hugh hauing carefully obserued the errours of former raignes endeuoured to redresse them and to preuent the like inconueniences The most dangerous error had beene the multiplicitie of many soueraigne masters one King being sufficient for a whole Realme as one Sunne is for all the world He therefore decrees That hereafter the title of King should not be giuen but to the eldest who should haue some raigne power and commaund ouer his brethren and they should respect him as their Lord and father hauing no portions but his good fauour As for the lands which their elder should assigne vnto them for their portions they should hold them of the Crowne to do homage and to be augmented diminished at the Kings good pleasure The aduancements of Kings bastards had much interessed the State hauing beene allowed and apportioned with the lawfull children yea euen raised to the royall throne as we haue seene Therefore Hugh decreed That hereafter bastards should not onely be reiected from the Crowne but also from the surname of France the which before was allowed them To him likewise are due the goodly ordinances of Iustice and of the treasor wherein without doubt France excels so as they be well executed according to the institutions of the golden age Thus by these wise decrees
of Vallois Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. who dying without Children the lawe calles the children of Lewis Duke of Orleans The house of Oâ—leâ—ns called to the crowne the sonne of Charles the 6. to raigne one after an other Charles Duke of Orleans and Iohn Duke of Angoulesme for Lewis the sonne of Charles raâ—gned vnder the name of Lewis the 12. who dying without issue male the lawe takes the other branche of Iohn of Angoulesme so as it sets the Crowne vpon the head of Francis the 1. his onely sonne and from Francis the 1. to Henry the 2. his sonne and so in order to Francis the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. his children successiuely from brother to b other This direct line ending in Henry the 3. the last King of the house of Vallois the law calles the second sonne of S. Lewis named Robert who giues the royall branche to Bourbon Out of the which is issued Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name King of France and of Nauarre now raigning but we will set downe his genealogie distinctly in the end of the royall race of Vallois It sufficeth to haue noted the order of the following raignes returning to the course of our Historie Thus S. Lewis the 9. liued and thus he dyed the honor of vertue in our Kings leauing Philip his eldest Sonne for his successor PHILIP the third called the Hardie the 45 King of France PHILIPPE .3 KING OF FRANCE XXXXV THE authoritie of Lewis was so great as neither his absence not his death could alter any thing in the estaâ—e of France 1270. Being dead Philip his eldest Sonne was procâ—aimed King in the Armie and as much as the time would permit was recâ—iued with a generall applause of all men as hee in whom the Fathers vertue and authoritie was yet liuing The Armie in the meane time is fortified with the Fleetes of England and of Sicilia so as the Barbarians seeing the whole Countrie in Armes and on fire they demand a truce and obtaine it vpon condition That they should suffer the Christians which were dispersed in diuers parts of Affricke to liue in peace But that which did most presse Philip was his returne into France Queene Isabel dyes So as hee gathers his troupes together the remainder of the plague and of the vnciuill vsage of that barbarous Countrie and parts from Affricke into Sicilia where his losses encrease for his Wife Isabell dyes there And his Vncle Alphonsus with his Wife the Countesse of Tholouse dye soone after at Bologne without any Children so as according to the contract of marriâ—â—e the Earledome of Tholouse should be incorporate to the Crowne Another sinister accident chanced to Richard the Sonne of Henry King of England to the end the English might likewise reckon their gaines in this voyage for being arriued at Viterbo a Ciâ—tie of the Popes walking in Saint Lawrence Church Richard sonne to Henry King of England slaine traiterouslie suspecting no enemie behold this Guy of Montford the Sonne of Simon of whom wee haue spoken kills him in the presence of all his followers and drawing his Sword hee makes his way to the Church doore where finding a Horse ready he flies into Tuscane whereat neither the Pope Philip nor Charles were any thing moued This murther thus neglected shall bleed hereafter But these were not all the occurrents which Philip had in his returne home Pope Clement the 4. borne in Langâ—edoc being dead the Cardinals loth to yeeld one vnto another disagree in the election of a new Pope and continued in this contention two yeares nine moneths and one day as Platina reporteth Great contention for the election of a new Pope Our Philip and Charles his Vncle intreate the Colledge of Cardinalls to make an end of so scandalous a discention The respect of their admonition was not frutelesse For the Cardinals resolue that not any one of the Colledge that had assisted at this tedious controuersie should be Pope Thibaud of Plaisance Archedeacon of Leege being absent in the voyage of the East was chosen and called Gregorie the tenth In the end Philip returnes into France to the great content of his Subiects Hauing interred the dead his Father Wife Vncle Ante and Cousine hee disposed of the affaires of Iustice according to the instructions and example of his Father Saint Lewis famous amongst all our Kings And then hee married with Mary the Daughter of Henry Duke of Brabant hauing three Sonnes by Isabell his first Wife Lewis eldest sonne to Philip poisoned Lewis Philip and Charles But here wee shall not finde the happinesse of our Saint Lewis for this second marriage was blemished with a sadde and foule suspect Lewis the eldest Sonne of King Philip dyed with apparent signes of poison This mischiefe encreaseth by the iealousie is had of Queene Marie his Mother in Lawe and Peter de la Broche chiefe Chamberlaine to the King and principall Intendant of his Treasure being the Queenes fauorite is accused for this fact and being prisoner he confesseth the crime and accuseth the Queene as hauing poisoned Lewis by her command Moreouer as one mischiefe commeth not alone La Broche is found guiltie of Treason by his owne Letters giuing intelligence to the King of Castile of the estate of France being then no friend to this Crowne This crime alone was sufficient for his death being hanged leauing Mary in trouble by his accusation and by the strange euent a notable example of the inconstancie of the Court and the vanitiâ— of the world Marie denies the fact by othe The King desirous to bee satisfied proceedes strangely For want of common proofe hee resolues to learne the trueth by a Sorceresse to whom hee sends a Bishop and an Abbot This Witche remained in Holland and was Subiect to the Duke of Brabant the Queenes Father The Bishop and Abbot at their returne faâ—e not to absolue the Queene by her report but they free her not from the generall iealousie of the French nor in the Kings conceit who after this accusation did neuer enioy any rest in his house These were the beginnings of the raigne of Philip whose progresse and end shall bee nothing better His Vncle Charles King of Sicilia shall crosse his life with many toyles and end it with perplexitie But let vs obserue euery thing in order As by the decease of Alphonsus and Ioane his Wife being dead without Children the Countie of Tholouse came to the Crowne The Countie of Tholouse annexed to the Crowne so Philip failed not to take possession thereof as one of the most important peeces of his Estate but hee found some alterations there through the priuate quarrels of his Subiects The Earle of Foix hauing a notable quarrell with Girard of Casebonne had taken his house from him by force Girard fled to the King for Iustice but the Earle trusting to his Fortes and the
part the realme of Naples and the Earldome of Prouence and left one sonne named Charles who had two daughters Iane and Magdalene Iane by the death of her sister remayned sole heire of these two great Estats and was married to Andrewe the sonne of Charles King of Hongarie The subiect of our discourse will not suffer mee to speake of the other children Philip the yongest sonne of Charles the Lame had one sonne named Lewis Prince of Tarentum verie faier but of a violent and bold spirit Iane began to loath her husband and preferring the filthy loue of her Cosin before the honour of marriage Iane Queene of Naples kils her husband shee caused her husband Andrewe of Hongarie to be slaine cloaking this horrible and tragike acte with an impudent hipocrisie for she takes vpon her the habit of mourning after the death of her husband whome she her selfe had slaine and writes letters to Lewis King of Hongarie brother to Andrewe full of lamentations Lewis knowing the detestable dissembling of this mastiue The kingdom of Naplâ—s taken by Lewis king of Hongarie prepares his forces against these fayned teares and without any dissembling hee marcheth towards Italie with a mightie armie resolute to take an exemplary punishment of these wretched heads but Iane and Lewis flie into Prouence before the storme Lewis fauored by the reuenging iustice of God takes the Realme of Naples easilie with Charles Duke of Durazzo left for the gard thereof and Lewis Robert and Charles Princes of the bloud The first hee beheads the rest he sends into Hongarie to perpetuâ—ll 〈◊〉 and leauing Stephen Vayuoida gouernour of his newe conquest hee returnes 〈◊〉 to his realme In the meane time the hatred betwixt the two Princes growes violent Warre renued betwixt the two Kings both by forme of 〈◊〉 by open force Philip makes diligent search both in Normandie Picardie 〈◊〉 â—oâ— al the nobility which fauored Edwards faction He caused Oliuer of Clisson to loose his head whose sonne shal be Constable vnder Chales 6 with Bâ—con Persy and Geossroy of 〈◊〉 Knights of marke in whome he notes no other crimes but that they were Englishmen Geossroy of Harcourt was sommoned but in steed of appeering at Paris he retired 〈…〉 to London to kindle the fier in France Yet in these preparations for warre Edward gaue scope to his loues for in the beginning of this warre he instituted the order of the garter with this motto Hony soit qui maly pense in honor of the Countesse of Salisbury honoring in her the chastitie which he could neuer 〈…〉 by all his amorous practises He armes on both sides in Guienne and Normandie The Duke of Lancaster general of the army in Guienne takes Vilefranche of Agenots 〈…〉 S. Bâ—sâ—â—e with many other townes Castells In Guiennâ— to whome Philip opposeth his 〈◊〉 Iohn duke of Normandy who recouers Angoulesme Villefranche froÌ„ the English But the greatest burthen of the warre fell vpon Normandie whether Edward led the flower of all his Nobility landing in the Countrie of Cotantin with aboue a thousand saile At hâ—â— entrie he puts all to fier and sword takes the Towne of Carentan In Normandy by force kills al he 〈…〉 or disarmed spoiles burnes and razeth the Towne In the champian 〈…〉 puts all to the sword saying that he did offer those sacrifices to Bacon Persy his other seruants being vniustly massacred by Philip. The reason was for that the heads of these men stood vpon the cheefegate of Carentan Then he takes and spoiles S. Lo and after a great fight he becomes master of Caen with such a terror as Falaise Lisieux 〈◊〉 yelded vnto him without any resistance These townes being taken he marcheth into the I le of France to drawe Pâ—ilip to battaile proclaiming generally that he called him to fight in the view of all France 1346. at the great Theater of his chiefe cittie of Paris At the same time by the like practises Flanders rebelled by means of Iames of Arteuille who was more then a passionate partaker of Edwards So the disordred passion of this desperate seditious man was a trappe for his owne ruine For as he not onely laboured by all meanes to shake off the French yoake but also grew so audacious as to perswade the Flemmings to leaue their naturall obedience to their Earle and to receiue a new Lord such a one as the King of England should appoint the Flemmings much displeased with this insolent proposition of Arteuille Arteuille slaâ—n by the Flemingâ— as the bloud of a faithfull subiect can neuer denie his Prince they fall furiously vpon him in open assembly and without any further processe they kill him reuenging vpon him the mischiefes they had committed by his pernitious councels Thus in the end this Tribune receiued the guerdon due to such as abuse the furie of an inchanted multitude making them the instruments of their passions against their superiours This iust execution crossed Edwards desseins in Flanders and gaue the Earle meanes to repaire to Philip with his forces and to consecrate his life to him the which he lost in this voyage Philip slept not during these proceedings of Edwards he had gathered together one of the goodliâ—st armies that euer was seene in France consisting of French Lorraines Germaines and Geneuois he which he led towards Meulan where Edward said he attended to fight with him Edward retires vpon this alarum They imagined that he fled for feare but the issue will shew that the great God of armies had appointed his victorie in another place He retiers and Philip followes who in the end ouertakes him at a village called Arenes a remarkable name to shew that all the trust of humane forces and all the desseignes of mans pollicie are like vnto a quicksand Phâ—lips great armie hauing the aduantage of being at home presumed of an assured victorie Edward retired to get the riuer of Somme at Blanquetaque but he must fight for the passage Philip had already seized thereon by Gondemar of Fate with a thousand horse and 6000. foote the most part of them Crosbow men yet Edward resolued to passe or dye With this resolution he leapes into the water and cryes out He that loues me let him follow me At this speech they all plunge into the riuer without any stay so as presently the English recouer the banke Gondemar troubled at this gallant resolution The French defeated at â—lanque taque amazeth his men with his terrified countenance All giue way to the English who incountring our men in disorder charge the rereward but the retreat was neere at Abbeuille and S Riquiâ—r places vnder our obedience The losse was not so great as the disgrace yet was it a presage of a greater mischiefe which followed France These poore men arriue at Abbeuillâ— in a throng all distempered with the amazement of this shamefull and vnfortunate flight Philip exceedingly transported with this disgracefull
England Warre in Guienne where the Princes of Wales commanded was then in Guienne to gouerne the Countrie vnder his Fathers authoritie Edward sends him two thousand hoâ—se and 8000. English Archers with commission to assemble all he can in the Country of Guienne vnder his obedience where hee was followed by a great number of the Nobilitie and houses of marke The cheefest were Captal de Buch and the Lord of Grail some thinke that out of these two houses vnited the race of Candale is issued with the Lords of Esparre of Mueidan of Montferrat of Duras and of Segur All prepares for a great hurliburlie Iohn hauing leuied a goodlie armie turnes head to the place King Iohn marcheth against the Prince of Wales whether the greatest burthen of the warre did call him Hauing therefore lefte sufficient forces in Normandie to make head against the Duke of Glocester he matcheth towards Poitou whether the Prince of Wâ—lâ—s was nowe come Pope Clement the 6. a Limosin resident at Auignon sends the Cardinal of Peregort his legate to these two Princes being ready to fight to calme this storme But the preparatioÌ„ of Iohns great fâ—rces was the chiefe motiue to make Edward willing to giue ouer who began to stay and to thinke of his retreate and of reasonable composition by the Legats â—eaâ—es â—â—â—6 who goes from one to another to make this accord Iohn demanded That Edwâ—rd should giue him fower hostages and as one vanquished should remaine at his mercy and dâ—screâ—iâ—n Edward was content to yeeld vp all that he had taken from him but without any blemish to his honour whereof he said he was accomptable to God and his country Iohn would not accept of this offer notwithstanding all the intreaties and perswasions the Legate could vse finding himselfe farre stronger then his enemie 〈◊〉 forceth Eâ—warâ— to defend hiâ—selfe saying it was his aduantage to prescribe him lawes But his Fathers experience so deerely bought should haue taught him wit and not so willingly to runne into a mischiefe Oh miserable France which aâ—t neuer wise but too late This King shuts his eyes to Presidents stops his eares to all admonitions of reason seeking his own ruine wilfully The errour of King Iohn as if the time had beene too short for his perdition He desired at any hand to fight presently to whip this yong warriour hauing forgotten that he◠〈◊〉 plaâ—d his prize at Câ—essy and learned not to be rash in a matter of so great consequence but what followed The onely meanes to preserue the vanquished is to hope for no helpe So Edward seeing himsâ—lâ—e reduced to this extremity either to loose his honour or his life he resolues to imploy his life couragiously to saue his honour vertuously the euent fauored his resoluâ—ion Iohn had all aduantages ouer Edward both of number force shewe country and conceit the which is commonly a consideration of no small importance in worldly affaires and withall the choise of all his horsemen esteemed then the bâ—st in Europe with the greatest and wisest Captaines of his whole Realme Being wel aduertised of the number and estate of the English armie The order of the French armie which consisted for the most paâ—â— of foote-men his meaning was to draw him to baâ—â—ell presuming easily to defeat this troupe of English bowmen with so great a number of Lances and battell axes well armed So as putting all hope of victory in his horse he makes the forme of his battell according to this desâ—einâ— But he had forgotten that neither horse not horseman â—aues the man in the day of battel He resolues therefore to charge onely with his horse and to giue his Nobility the honour of the victory the which he held confidently in his hands before the battell Vpon this proiect he arrangeth his foote apart in one baâ—aâ—lion and deuides his horse into three squadrons whereof he giues the first to his Coâ—â—â—â—ble some name the Duke of Athenes the stemme of the house of Tremoâ—â—ile and som◠〈◊〉 thaâ— he was of the house of Bâ—emâ— accompanied with two Marshalls of â—â—ance Arnould of Enâ—reghan and Iohn of Clermont The second was giuen to Charles his eldest sonne and the third with his sonne Philip hee reserues to himselfe In this confidence of his horsemen he bethiâ—kes himselfe of a new stratagem out of euery squadron he choseth a hundred horse and so made one body of three hundred meaning therewith to breake the first â—ankes of the enemies army which for the most part were foote The Prince of Wâ—les prest by necessity had another dâ—sseine Standing vpon his defence he resolues to incourage himselfe and by courage to animate his army with an obstinate resoluâ—ion to fight desperately agaynst so great and strong an enemy and so to gouerne his forces as the combate might proue difficult to the enemie â—he Engâ—ish Army whom hee sees ready to charge He lodgeth his armie in a place of aduantage fâ—r the dâ—â—â—nce against the horâ—e hauing both behind them and on their flankes Vines Busâ—â—s Hedgerowes and vnderwoods all of hard appâ—oach for the horse But hee adds industry and makes the place more inaccessible causing the souldiers to cast vp great tâ—â—nches with wonderfull expedition Hauing prouided for his campe he doth place his Arâ—hâ—rs vpon the approches so politikely as they might succour the horse and be reliâ—ued by thâ—m and likewiâ—e resiâ—t the enemy when they should be charged But aboue all her labors to animate hâ—s Soâ—â—diars so as the courage of his small troupe did equall the◠〈◊〉 of the greater in 〈◊〉 firme resolution eyther to vanquish or to die together to maintaine their honours and good fortunes in this order the English attend the French army confidently whom they see preparing to fight Whilest that Edward prouides thus for his defence there befell a great contention in the French armie the which swaies much in this dayes fight A diuision in the French armie very preiudiciall For comming to make choise of a hundred horse out of euery battaillon there were some discontented the places being giuen rather by fauour then merit so as such as were left behind finding themselues grieued as with a repulse were more ready to double their despight then their courages to fight Impressions which import much in these great occurrents when the minde must still be present with that we doe and not be distracted with any other affections but they are now ready to fight Behold this troupe of 300. horse departs The French charge the 〈◊〉 commanded by Eustache of Ribemont The trumpets sound to battaile they all runne to the easiest approche of the English trenches to drawe forth their footemen and to prouoke them to fight This was another â—rrour of Iohns that being stronger then Edwards beseeging him in the Vines and cutting off his victuals in few dayes he might haue vanquished him without blowes But ouer-weening impatiencie and hast drew
then our own experience Open warrâ— Thus harme growes both froÌ„ the enimy which assailes the friend that desends so as we may truely say that in ciuil wars the cure is often times more hurtful then the disease The Nauarrois finding himselfe too weake alone calls in the English to the sack of France without a head and almost without a soule Edward aduertised from the Nauarrois by sundry messengers of the Estate of Frante Regents happy successe condemned himselfe as hauing failed his owne good fortune taking the King of Nauarrs complaint in no better part who saied Edward repents an opportunity neglected that he had not bin assisted as the cause required applying all his wit to the ruine of his Country holding it againe to take from his owne bloud so blind are passionate Councells He â—uâ—on Edward sends new forces to the Nauarrois who fortefied with these succors and with his goodly promises begins the war more fiercely then beforce He takes the Castel of Melun with halfe the Citty by the meanes of Queene Blancke whilest that the Kings soldiars fight for the rest he burnes the Abbie of Lis al other places alongest the forest of 〈◊〉 and Gastenois Then crossing the Isle of France to anoy the Parisiens and to strike a terror by his forces he taks S. Germaine in Laie Creil vpon Oise Poissy and many other places with great booties many prisoners runing daily to the gâ—ts of Paris The exploits of the Nauarrois Hauing stayed some daies at Mont he goes to meete with the succors from England taking Castres vnder Montlhery as they passe the which he spoiles sacks and burnes led by Captal de 〈◊〉 in Medoc a Country in Bourdelois a great and a mighty Lord who resignes them to his brother Philip of Nauarre With these forces he takes Clermont in Beauuoisin On the other side Rebert Knowles a valiant English Captaine with a troupe of theeues rather then souldiers runs vp the riuer of Loire into the country of Auxerre spoyling sacking burning and carrying away both men and beasts into his forts bringing the country to a miserable desolation This was rather a robbing then a warre as commonly ciuill warres be the which with more reasoÌ„ they may call vnciuill The desolate estate of France The cattel taken houses burnt men being dead or beggered the land remained desolate vntilled and vnsowne So as there fell so great a famine as halfe the people died for hunger lamentable troups of poore families wandred vp and downe creeping into townes like desperate folkes to beg bread of them which had it not The Parisiens seeing that this alteration did nothing repaire their estates grew mad as the common sort values no friendship but for their profit The Parisiens mutiny againe they abated much of the loue and respect which in the beginning of their reduction they did beare vnto the Regent who was not onely troubled to incounter armed men in field but also with mens humors growne bitter by affliction especially in Paris a sea subiect to the ebbing and flowing of mens sundry humors and affections The Nauarrois who was still watchfull to imbrace all occasions to annoy the Regent seekes meanes to nourish the seedes of his ancient credit with the Parisiens by some of his faction The Nauarrois makes new practises in Paris giuing them to vnderstand by diuers writings spred abroad that he lamented to see France vndermined with this desolation whereof the Regent was the original cause He sounded forth the vaine name of liberty and reformation of State vexing the Regent more by his practises theÌ„ by open force although he were supported by the succours of England The Regent was thus perplexed with many difficulties finding himselfe as it were besieged not only within the walls but also within the humours of this great citty being ignorant howe to counterbalance force with mildnesse in the perplexity of so many miseries and the diuersity of such contrary humors wherein he sees himselfe ingaged Amidst all these difficulties the wisedome and courage of this Prince is very considerable for he seemed to the people of a resolute countenance and in the managing of affaires he had alwaies a care to their reliefe so as they could not but loue him for his amiable sweet behauiour yet for the maintenance of his authority being come within the citty he caused some notable executions to be done The Daulphin executes some within Paris of certaine desperate seditious men and committed others to prison This was done with the peoples liking incensed against the Nauarrois but seeing themselues to fallout of one mischiefe into another the Parisiens began to returne to their old waywardnesse The Regent hauing worke for both hands incounters his enemie in field by force and in the Citty by eloquence He pacifies the Parisiens being discontented causing the people to assemble at the Creue sitting vpon that crosse which we see at this day his tongue preuailed more then his souldiers armes wherof we obserue no great successe but his eloquence was so happy as the people regarded it as an Oracle giuing him the title of wise hauing ioyned a wise carriage to his admirable eloquence as appeares in those goodly discourses Three yeares passed thus during the imprisonment of our King Iohn whom it is now time to visit in England Edward had caused Iohn to be conducted from London to the Castle of Windsore with his sonne Philip. Conditions for the Kings deliuery not granted There he propounded vnto him new conditions of peace not so rigorous as the former but yet so hard as beeing deliuered to the Regent and by him to the Estates then assembled at Paris all the Kings good subiects though very desirous to redeeme him did not allowe thereof for that they did import the honour of the King and realme too much making too preiudiciall a breach in the soueraignty The extremityes were notable in the Kings languishing being a prisoner and the present war The resolution of the Parliament but least they should suffer al to run to ruine in so great a suspence of affaires the Estates resolue to comfort the King by aduice to attend an other time for his liberty and to labour by all meanes to maintaine the warres The Prouinces did their best endeauours to furnish money for this necessity and euen Paris promised to maintaine 600. Lances 400. Archers and a thousand Corselets that is 1000. foote armed with Brigandines a kind of armour then much vsed Preparation to defend the Realme The Nobilitye notwithstanding their priuileges offered to contribute towards the charges and restored the orders for martial affaires in a manner forgotten through the indulgency of our kings 1359. The clergie shewed a notable zeale and all those officers which had managed the publike treasor made a great extraordinary summe of mony by meanes whereof they were discharged froÌ„ further accoÌ„pts and the realme
euent answered the proiect and by an admirable meanes the which ruined Peter through his owne folly This tyrant growne proud by the wishfull successe of the English forces makes no regard to satisfie the Prince of Wales for the charges of this warre although the successe were for his good but busying himselfe to take reuenge of such as had risen against 〈◊〉 he contemned such as had succoured him yea treading all pietie vnder foote he allyed himselfe with the King of Belle-marine a Sarasin and marrying his daughter he abiured the Christian Religion holding the neighbourhood of so mighty a King Peter forsakerâ— by the English is taken prisoner to be more certaine and profitable then all the forces of England But it fell out contrary to his conceipt for Henry assisted by the constable Guesâ—lin and the French forces hauing won fiue battels against Peter in the ende he was quite defeated and taken prisoner Hauing him in his power Peter King of Castile beheaded at the Castilians suâ—e wonderfully incensed against this Tyrant he caused his head to be cut off reaping the fruites of his impiety the which made him to forsake the true religion of his vanity trusting to a rotten planke with the losse of his conscience and of his exceeding cruelty hauing murthered his wife tiranised ouer his subiects and spoyled his brother of his estate against all right An excellent lesson for all men especially for great Princes not to dally with God who punisheth haynous crimes with haynous punishments euen in this life attending the euerlasting paine in the life to come Charles King of Nauarre was much perplexed seeing himselfe betwixt two armies for desiring to be a neuter and to please both he knew not how to gouerne himselfe He seeks to intertaine both Charles and Edward although he were more ingaged to the English and could not well trust his brother in law hauing greatly offended him The King of Nauarres dissembling So hee lets the English army to passe through his dominions when it marched into Castile to succour Peter and suffered himselfe to be taken prisoner by Oliuer of Mauny a Gentleman of Britaine who led him into Castile to make the English thinke he had bin forced and the French that hee did willingly imploy himselfe for them beeing in their troupes A miserable hypocrisie which of a maister makes himselfe a slaue who might haue bin one of the chiefe of the army without this wretched dissembling The good and wise King taught by the example of his father Iohn that an Eele is lost by ouergriping it desiâ—ed onely to pacifie his brother in lawe although he were well acquainted with his bad disposition and the practises he continued with England So he gaue him a safe conduct to come vnto him and restored vnto him Mantes and Meulan and the free possession of his lands in Normandy but this prince fraught with malice could not be reclaimed neither by the Kings prosperity noâ— by his clemency for not trusting him hee retires to his realme of Nauarre where he continues his old practises with the English Th◠〈…〉 King Charles hee helps the Britton with men out of Normandie and attempted against the Kings person seeking to poyson him by Iaquet Rue and Peter of Tertre his domesticall seruants who were executed and the Nauarrois places seized on as guilty of high treason Thus Charles was forced to fight against his owne bloud and to haue the malice of his kinsmen and allies No small combate for a great Prince We haue discoursed at large of the valour and happy successe both of Edward the 3. King of England and of Edward his sonne Prince of Wales But as humane things are not durable so there chanced a great accident vpon his returne from the war of Castile which brought them both to the graue The Prince of Wales finding himselfe threatned with a dâ—opsey passed from Bourdeaux into England to take the ayre of his natiue country but hee died soone after his ariuall the 46. yeare of his age A Prince of great hope not onely lamented of his friends but coÌ„meÌ„ded of his enimies Edward the father The death of both Edwards seeing his right arme as it were cut off died for griefe leauing Richard the son of his son Edward in his place who was receiued without any questioÌ„ made by his vncles as the first by right of succession Richard not to degenerate from the example of his grandfather and father The English second passage through France being crowned King vndertakes a warre in France whether he sends a goodly army vnder the coÌ„maund of the Duke of Clarence his vncle who hauing landed at Calais passeth the Riuer of Somme at Clery neere vnto Peronne bending towards Soisson he crosseth the Riuer of Oise Ain Then marching towards Chaalons he passeth Marne and shewing himselfe before Troyes in Champagne he spoyles the country and so goeth ouer Seine betwixt Ville-neufue and Sousey and bending towards Beausse and Gastinois he crosseth into Brittaine there 〈◊〉 the war in fauour of Iohn of Montport spoyling the country with a strange desolatioÌ„ On the other side there lands an other army at Bourdeaux the which hauing entred the country fortified such places as held for the English to nourish the seeds of this new warre 1380 In the country of Geuaudan a dioces in that large Prouince of Languedoc there was a Castle neere to Mande named Randon whereas the English maintayned a strong garnison a retreat for theeues which did infinite harme in the country The country hauing sued vnto the King to free them of this incombrance he graunted them Guesâ—lin the Constable a man of great reputation but the army should be defrayed at their charges He comes into Languedoc 〈◊〉 Randon and brings them to the last extremity but as the beseeged not able to hold out were entered into composition behold the Constable sick to the death yeeldâ— vp the ghost At the same instant the place was yelded vnto the King so aâ— in signe that the honour of this prize was due to Guesâ—lin the Captaines carried the keyes of the castle vpon his herse The death of the Constable 〈◊〉 Thus died 〈◊〉 leauing an honourable testimony of his valour and loyalty and to Charles an 〈◊〉 sorrow for his death who honoured him with a notable obsequie causing his body to be interred with the Kings at S. Denis at the foot of his own tombe was that of Guesâ—lin with a burning Lampe maintained by foundation called The Lampe of Guâ—selin vnto this day King Charles had g uen all Bourgogne to his brother Philip for his portion according to the will of his father Iohn as we haue said and had married him with Margueret the rich heyre of Flanders Being in possession of Bourgogne there happened another occasion in Flanders which won him great credit with those people whom he should comand after the death of Lewis his father in law
of S Treille whom commonly they call Zintrailles the Bastard of Orleans with other braue and fortunate Captaines which shal be famous in the couâ—se of our History But the Realme was stâ—angely diuided into these factions The Kings authoritye and the Capitall Citty were for the Queene and the Bourguignon Picardy Bourgongne and many Townes in Bry Champagne and Beausse obeyâ— them absolutely after these massacres Only Sens in Bourgongne held out the which they could not pull from the Daulphin The Prince of Orange of the Bourguignon faction makes warre for him in Daulphine and Languedoc to crosse the affaires of our Charles The Bouâ—gâ—â—gnons estate who notwithstanding had the greatest part of the country at his deuotion with the friendship of Auignon and of the Earledom of Venaisoin or of Venesse The English possessed all Normandy and a great part of Guienne but Rochell Foitiers S. Iohn d' Angely Angoulesme Fontenay and some other Townes acknowledged the Daulphin All Aniou was his Auuergne Berry Bourbonois Forrest and Lionois obeyed him so as they are deceiued which thinke that he onely held the citty of Bourges in those dayes vnder colour that his enemies called him King of Bourges because he made his chiefe residence there when as his mother called her selfe Regent He likewise tooke vpon him the name of Regent A name which fortified his title with great authority and did countenance his affaires in those difficulties and confusions The Queene and the Bourâ—â—â—â—â—on seeke vnto the Dauphin The Queene and the Bourguignon laboured by all meanes to winne him they sent him his wife honourablie attended with all her iewells promising him his place with respect and obedience but theyr meaning was to bee ridde of him not able to know how to conforme him to their humours In keeping himâ—â—lfe farre from them hee preserued his head for the Crowne the which attended him â—419 he preuented the ambitious desseines of his enimie and made himselfe to bee more respected throughout the Realme At these horrible massacres his Captaines roused vp their spirits Bocquiaux â—â—â—zed of Compiegne Pierre-Fons vpon Soissons for him who molesting Picardy and the Iâ—e of France with their dayly roads held Paris in iealousie He himselfe had part of the honour in the execution of these conquests not leauing all to his seruants for hee leaped out of Aniou into Touraine besieged and tooke the Citty of Tours The Duke of Brittaine seeing the happy successe of the Daulphins affaires The Duke of Brittaine leaues the English and ioynes with the Daulphin leaues the English and ioynes with the Daulphin as the strongest part Behold the estate of our Daulphin who growes constant and resolute amidst these tempests And what was the estate of our Bourguignon In the beginning his partisans were al fire and flame for the zeale of his seruice but finding not what they expected at his hands nor any successe in his affaires but rather the discommodities of Paris and other places vnder his obedience to increase this heat abated dayly â—â—ding by experience that the cause of these warres was light beeing but humors and priuate quarrells very preiudiciall to the State the which the English â—â—d sappe vndermine and ruine seizing dayly vppon whole Prouinces without any difficulty Thus Henries victories were plaine demonstrations to the most passionate to discouer the Bourguignons dissembling for who sees not but his end was to gouerne to the ruine of France In the end euery one comming to his right witts fiâ—des that of a Frenchman he is become an Englishman The folly or fury of a faction could not mortifie the feeling of lawfull obedience vnder which they were borne To â—hat end saies the common sort of these cleere-sighted shall we vndoe our selues The people grow in dislike with 〈◊〉 Bourguignon for the passions of the Duke of Bourgongne opposing himselfe against the lawfull heire of the Crowne Thus the Bourguignon sees the affections of his partakers to growe dayly colde A worme which tormented him hourely hauing grounded his chiefe hopes vppon their constancies who promised to stande firmely to him at all euents Doubtlesse whatsoeuer the Giants of States haue imagined setting one hill vpon another the Pirenees vppon the Alpes with all the Appâ—nin to scale the throne of the French Monarchy promising vnto themselues euents according to the mouldes of their imaginations yet cannot the French yeeld to any strangers command no more then to change nature and become a stranger But to increase the Bouguignons heartes griefe his chiefest instrument not onely failes him but is ready to turne violently against him For what hath he not attempted to winne the loue of this multitude at Paris and of the greatest Cittyes of the Realme making them beleeue that he burnt with zâ—ale of their good and the publike weale the onely ende of all his desseines feeding them with these goodly and popular promises of exemption of charges and impositions But they begin all to mutine seeing he spake one thing and did thinke another and oppressed them more then those whom he had condemned as the causes of publike oppressions for whatsoeuer he imagined yet had he neede of money For howe could hee else make warre how could he entertaine his great traine his partisans and his reputation among Strangers And where should he raise it but vppon such as obeied him to seeke it at such as could resist were to mistake and to make his reckoning alone in vaine Moreouer this people whome he had so much countenanced making themselues maisters by his power to become by their meanes maister of his enemies would be generally obeyed and why not of the Bourguignon seeing hee had opposed himselfe and prescribed a lawe to a sonne of France If the Bourguignon doth worse then he hath done shall not the people reduce him vnto reason He hath promised exemptions of subsidies and they are more grieuous then before We haue preuailed say they against a Constable against a Chauncellour of France yea ouer the King Queene making them to yeeld her brother and most â—â—usty seruants and shall wee not suppresâ—e some few gallants seruants to the Duke of Bourgongne This was the Parisiens ordinary discourse and their Tribunes who were not so well entertained as before begin mutinie They resolue to seize vpon some of the Bourguignons fauorites and to punish them who had perswaded him to renue the impositions contrary to his promise These men the concealing of whose names notes the basenesse of their qualities The Parisiens mutine against the Bourguignon faction hauing intelligence of this search fled into the Bastille and the people followe after as if they would ouerthrow it A great multitude begins to vndertake it had preuailed iâ— the Bourguignon had not instantly come much discontented who seeing himselfe inuironed with so great a troupe of armed men fearing the losse of his head hee was forced to deliuer his seruants to the people who
good Iohn Louuet President of Prouence disputed his departure with some bitternesse and obstinacie What iniustice is it saith hee to condemne a man without hearing What breach to vse the Kings seruants thus for an others pleasure But not onely the Bourguignon and the Britton hated him to the death but also the Court and people did detest him A man of a high minde cunning obstinate reuengefull cruell Great men hated him as crossing their affaires with the King abusing his tractable disposition and meane men as the horse-leech and the spunge of the publicke treasure and a man without mercie The Bourguignon hated him as the first motor of his Fathers murther and the Britton as hauing giuen counsell to the Earle of Ponthiure to take him prisoner at Chantonceaux Hauing gotten great welth and impouerished the King and the Realme hee had matched his Daughters in good houses The one with the Earle of Dunois a bastard of Orleans the other with the Lord of Ioyeuse The respect of this alliance saued his life He was safely conducted to Auignon and from thence hee retyres into Prouence without any other fame then to haue gouerned the King ill His daughter of Ioyeuze died with thought for her fathers disgrace Gyac returnes into grace more then before hauing purchased the fauour of the Queene of Sicile But hee shall soone pay for these imaginations of his happinesse not onely succeeding the President in his misfortune but also loosing his life after an ignominious sort These men thus chased away the Constable of Richmont went for his brother Iohn Duke of Britaine The Duke of Brittain comes to King Charles who came to Charles to Saumur he tooke the othe of fidelitie offring him all seruice The Burguignon speakes not yet one word for the King onely he forbeares to make warre against him hauing a plausible excuse for his not leading any more men to the Duke of Bedford being busied for the Brabantine against the Glocestrian in the warre of Haynault and Holland So this accident bred some ease to Charles but no â—eleefe During these confusions in Court Mans was lost and after it the rest of Mayne obeyed the Earle of Salisburie But the Constable of Richemont being freed from those domesticall crosses which might hinder his credit with the King would make proofe of his valour The Britton armes against the English in arming the Brittons against the English And as in the beginning all is good at this first command all Brittaine riseth and runnes to this warre But these troupes being raised and not yet ioyned to frame the body of an armie behold the Earle of Warwicke marcheth sodenly with a goodly armie gathered out of all the garrisons of Normandie the inhabitants of Townes and the Nobilitie of the Countrie with great speed who besiegeth and taketh Pontorson a towne vpon the conâ—ins of Normandie Brittaine neere Saint Michels mont This prickt forward the Constable to whome this scorne belonged After that Warwicke was retired hauing left a garrison in his conquest The Constables â—ll successe behold the Constable comes to Pontorson with his Brittons he beseegeth it beats it and takes it by force making a great slaughter of the English This successe gaue him courage to passe on the Towne of Saint Iames of Beuueron did much disquiet that Countrie Hee attempts it hoping to be succored with men aâ—d mony from France But hauing words alone without effects his Brittons being for the most part voluntaries slippe away dayly notwithstanding any preuention of the Constables who resolued before this warlicke multitude had abandoned him to make profit of his presence and to giue a generall assault The neerenesse of Auranches where the Earle of Suffolke with Scales famous captaines among the English 〈◊〉 with goodly troupes gaue him occasion of feare least they should change â—is men in the heate of the assault To this ende he sends forth two thousand men ouâ— oâ— the body of his army to meete with these imagined English The Comanders hauing discouered euen to the gates of Auranches 142â— and found nothing they resolue to returne to the army not giuing the Constable any other aduertisment The Brittons being at the assault seeing those men come suppose them to be English and fearing to be coopt in hauing an enemy both before and behinde they resolue to leaue their ladders and retyer to their Campe. Their retreat was very difficult by reason of a poole with a narrowe Causey which they had wonne with great labor and paine The beseeged seeing the Brittons forsake the walls sally forth couragiously after them recouer the quarter abandoned where there was a point that flanked the poole in the which they plant threscore archers There were eight or nyne hundered Brittons shut vp betwixt the walles and the poole so as from this recouered point they might choose them one after one The 〈◊〉 deâ—eâ—â—ed â—y thâ—◠〈◊〉 erâ—or The rest of the English garrison issuing forth the Towne furiously put these amazed Brittons to the sword who are eyther gauled with English arrowes like beasts in a toyle or with a disperate courage leape into the people Thus lesse then fiue hundered men ouerthrewe aboue eight thousand The Campe was abandoned and spoyled eighteene ensignes lost with the banner of Brittain Many prisoners were taken after the English had beene wearied with killing The principall that were slaine were the Lords of Molac Coitiuy la Motte many captaines of marke The artillery enginâ— and all the rest of the munition remayned for a pawne This vnseasonable alarum greatly troubled the Constable who was now become all the hope of the French as if hee carried all France vpon his shouldiars like an other Atlas To repaire this ridiculous disgrace he raiseth newe forces in Brittain with all speed he ioynes vnto him the troupes of Ambrose of Lore to be assisted with his valour and hauing giuen them their pay hee causeth them to march into Anton where hee takes â—a la Flesche Galerande Ramâ—fort Malicorne Richmont sâ—irs vp new troubles in Court and so reuiues the hearts of his men after so notable a losse and kept his enemy in awe From thence he goes to Court where there were other desseings then to fight with the English A man fitter to braue it in a counsell of State then to dispute a battaile or the seege of a Towne He came to Court to be the author of many confusions during thâ—s yeare and on the other side his brother the Duke of Brittain before it passe shall leaue the party of France and reconcile himselfe vnto the English that the honour of our deliuerance might bee giuen to God the gardian of this Monarchie and not to these Princes of Brittaine to whome Charles was too much affected in buying their friendship so deere being euen then vnprofitable when as hee had greatest neede yet in their season alâ— these instruments worke to restore our decayed estate But these were
the Countrie in great disorder The best soldiars were guilty of these insolencies for want of pay Rodrigo de Villandrade an Arragonois who had faithfully serued the King was in disgrace and banished with his troupe but being ioyned with Pothon in Gasconie and hauing taken some places from the English he made his peace with Charles This confusion was not alone in one Countrie but generally diâ—persed throughout the Realme A troupe of 2000. horse led by Anthonie of Chabannes Blanchfort Gualter of Bron â—loquet and other renowned Captaines The robberies oâ— soldiars parting from Normandie passe through the Countries of Vimeu and Ponthieu by Dorlens Oruille Braâ— Cappy Liâ—ons in Sauters and enter into Cambresy from thence they lodge at Solames towards Hainault with infinit spoile eating and ransoming all after a hostile manner Iohn of Croy the Bayliffe of Hainault sent troupes against them but they were deâ—feated They were called the shauers or fleaers In the ende through Charles his many commands they come into Champagne where hauing remained sometime they were imployed to take Chasteau-Landon Charny and Nemours and from thence they were led to Monstereau-faut yonne where there was a meruailous seege being well assayled and well defended but in the ende the Towne was taken by force and the Castell by composition Charles was at Bray and the Daulphin commanded at this seege He made faire warâ—es with the English The Daulpâ—in intreats the English courteously who thanking him before the King his father yeelded him these first fruits of his authoritie in the viewe of the whole army who honored him afterwards as the Sun rising whence greâ—e the iealousies we shall hereafter speake of Tâ—e Mignons of Court which were then in quarter gaue a great occasioÌ„ Christopher of Harcourt Lord of Chaumont and Martin Gouge Bishop of Clermont Factions in Fâ—anders The Duke of Bourgongâ—e in danger of his life at Bruges men that had no good in them but to do ill The Duke of Bourgongne had much trouble this yeare the English had sowed great diuisions in his chiefest Citties Bruges stirred vp strange mutynies against him whereas he was in danger of his life Lisle Adam chiefe Captaine of his gard is slaine A popular man whom wee haue seene to coÌ„mand the Parisiens twise once against the King and an other time for the King he presumed in like sort to gouerne them of Bruges but they teare him in peeces as the Gantois had in former times massacred Arteuille their Tribune A multitude is a dangerous thorne which cannot be handled without pricking Gant followed the example of Bruges but in the end all was pacified with the losse of the most seditious to the content of the same people who deuowre him they did adore After these seditions Philip returnes to waâ—re he beseegeth Crotoy a place very important for the free trafficke of his Countries but after great paines and charge it proued all vaine He is vnfortunate in war A man vnfortunate in war but in Councell he commanded mens minds with an Imperious grauity But a midest the generall shall I omit this particular obseruation profitable for the example That great Captaine la Hire passing neere vnto Clermont a Towne then subiect to the English was there honorably receiued by the Lord of Anfemont gouernor of the Towne 1437. Two strange surprizes and for that he trusted la Hire much he suffred him to enter with his men into the rauelin to eate a banket la Hire imbracing this occasion makes him his prisoner and takes the place Anfemont had his reuenge in time by meanes of the Lord of Mouy he enters Beauuais where la Hire was gouernor goes vnto him to the Tenise Court takes him and leads him away prisoner in vewe of all the Inhabitants and makes him to yeeld both his ransome and Clermont againe notwithstanding Charles his letters to the Bourguignon but in the ende they are good friends Thus discurtesie is alwaies requited with the like leauing a long repentance for him that is the author of the iniurie how braue and cunning soeuer he bee God punishing iniquitie in due season when as men thinke least of it and by meanes least apparent The warres had wonderfully vnpeopled France Famine and pestilence followe war but this scourge was not sufficient The whole Countrie lying wast not able to be tilled by reason of the daylie incursions and ordinarie spoiles of both parties there fell a great famine That which was vsually worth but fiue pence was sold for fiue shillings and six pence or more The people being famished sought bred where they might finde it being forced from their houses by raging hungar they disperse themselues in the fields and Townes in the one to finde some fruite among the trees and in the bushes ro some herbes or rootes in the other to get some morcell of bread or some garbage to fill the panch with any thing they could meete withall So their bodies filled with bad meates were likewise filled with bad humors falling into diuers languishing diseases In the ende all turned to a plague so horrible as al these poore creatures famished weakned with diseases were like vnto drie wood in a great flame Thus one plague bred an other and that miserable plant of warre brought forth two branches of miserie to our wretched Countrie famine and pestilence A lamentable spectacle in Paris These afflictions dispersed throughout the Realme raigned chiefely at Paris the sollemne Rendezâ—ous of this languishing people There was nothing to bee seene but lamentable troupes of people pale and leane of all sexes and ages eyther running in the fields or vp and downe the streets or layed vpon dunghills or dead in the market places a most horrible spectacle to behold There died threescore thousand persons in Paris All the principall men abandoned the Cittie except Adam of Cambray the first President Ambrose of Lore the Prouost of Paris and the President of the Accounts whome God preserued in this contagion to eternize their commendable memories for euer hauing succored the publicke in necessity without whose couragious resolution the Cittie had easily fallen into the hands of the English who watched for all occasions and made daylie incursions from Mante euen vnto the gates The Champian Countrie being abandoned wolues left the forests without feare and hauing made their pray vpon the remainder of this miserable people they came to the gates of Townes euen into the streets This horrible spectacle hath beene seene at Paris in the Theater of the world in the most populous Cittie of all others So one miserie drewe on an other and these afflictions continued two whole yeares vnto the yeare 1439. whilest the contention of Antipopes increased the fire of Schismes in Christendome as we shall shewe in due place Amedee or Amé Duke of Sauoie carried himselfe as we haue sayed during the calalamities of France The Duke of Sauoie becomes a monke in the ende of
excuses of his long delay and to crosse the Duke of Bourgongne hee giues his Cousin of Orleans towards the payement of his ransome a hundred and fiftie thousand frankes a very great some in those dayes the which was not giuen for nothing in so great a necessity of the Kings affaires Lewis of Luxembourg and the widowe of Iohn of Luxembourg partisans to the Bourguignon do homage to Charles and yeeld the Towne of Marle vnto him these be fruits no doubt of the victorie at Pontoise In the meane time the Princes assemble at Neuers the Dukes of Bourgongne Bourbon and Alençon with the Earle of Vendosme The Duke of Brittain sent his Ambassador not able to come himselfe for that he was not yet in the Kings good fauour There were for the most part priuate discontents The Princes admonitions to the King and their demands tending to euery mans priuate interest As not to be maintayned in their degrees to be called to Councelles respected in their aduises honored in their charges payed their pensions and eased in their lands But the zeale of the publike good shadowed all with a shewe of Iustice peace order and releefe of the people That it was fit the King should proceede more speedily in the treaty of peace with the English the which had beene too coldly followed That he should supplie his Parliaments with good and sufficient men and thereby prouide for the offices and not for the persons that by their faithfull diligence suites might be shortned and speedie â—ustice administred without delay or respect of eyther of the parties That he should prouide for the ease of the subiect ouercharged rule the soldiars preuent robberies ransomings and extortions the which were daylie committed vnder too apparent an excuse that the soldiar was not payed That he should giue honors without respect of forepassed diuisions and declare alâ— his subiects capable of Offices and dignities indifferently not remembring what was past That he should haue a competent number of graue men in his great Councell worthy of that charge not to coÌ„mit the gouernment of the affaires of the Realme to two or three as had beene done in former times These are the chiefe points of their demands drawen word by word out of the Originall Charles was nothing pleased with these Assemblies made both in his absence and without his priuitie whereby many inconueniences must ensue all being done without his authority But being taught by his owne experience he digested this kinde of affront quietly being loath to alter any thing at such a season when as he had no neede of newe enemies and hauing eyther excused what had beene done or contented euery priuate person he proceeded to the principall which was the establishment of the affaires of the Realme The disorders of men of warre were insupportable the which must be reformed but that which troubled the King was the seege of Tartas remarkable by this circumstance Tartas is a Towne in Gasconie belonging to the house of Albret This Towne was beseeged by Captall de Buch a great Nobleman of that Countrie and of the English faction It was concluded for the extreame necessitie of the Country that there should be a surceasse of armes and lâ—bertie of free trafficke in that Prouince vntill midsomer following vpon condition that if the King did not succour the Towne by that day it should yeeld to the English or else the French should remayne in free possession without any controuersie And for assurance of this treaty the eldest sonne of the Lord of Albret should remayne in hostage The matter was of great waight being not onely a question of the losse of a place of great importance but of the Kings reputation who leauing his subiects was in danger to be abandoned by them so to loose all Gascoâ—â—e where the English had gotten many paâ—tisans Charles prouiding carefully for his affaires giues two blowes with one stone wherewith he strooke both the theeues and the English He armed with exceeding speede hauing drawen togither foure thousand horse eâ—ght thousand archers and eight thousand other foote An infinit numbeâ— of great personages and voluntarie Noblemen posted to this iourney as to a solemne assignation whereon depended the quiet and honour of France The Daulphin did accompany him in this voiage Charles of Aniou Earâ—e of Maine the Constable of Richmont the Earles of Marche Eu Castres Foix Lomaigne the eldest son of the Lord of Aâ—maignac the Lords of Albert Gaure Cominge Estrac Tartas Tancaruille and Montgascon the eldest son to the Earle of Boulongne Auuergne Philip of Culant Admiâ—aâ— of France with an infinit number of gallant Nobility Thus Charles parting from Parâ—â— comes first to Saumur whither Iohn Duke of Brittaine sent his Ambassadors to offer him homage and men Shame to haue so often lest him in al his extremities would not suffer him to see the King although the Constable were a good mediator for him He restored to the King the forts of â—ssars Palluau which annoyed al the CouÌ„try of Poâ—â—tou and Charles gaue them in gard to the Constable from thence he passed into Poiâ—tou and prouids that Marueil and Saint Hermine should no more trouble the people he then comes into Xaintonge which had beene much tormented by the Lord of Pons who humbled himselfe vnto the King promising to liue in peace Taillebourg was taken by force and the theeues punished Bretueil was taken and razed Thus Charles spent this yeare against theeues who had surprised some Townes The next yeare was haâ—pilie imployed against the English our open enemies making a great breach in Gasâ—â—nie and there abouts where the English had gotten deepest footing by the ancient and lawfull possession of his Ancestors In the ende by this breach the whole Prouince remained his but the prouidence of God imparts his blessings by degrees 1442. Hauing thus pacified Poitou and Xaintonge he comes to Limoges and so to Tholouse which was the Rendez-uous of all his troupes Being arriued hee giues notice to them of Tartâ—s that they should continue firme and that they should be releeued by the prefixed day but as he labors on the one side to settle his affaires so the English on the other side seeke to ouerthrowe them Behold Talbot comes out of England into Normandie with two thousand men and the Duke of Yorke hauing leuied men in the Countrie it selfe and places of their obedience goes to field with foure thousand men With these forces he thinks to take all that Charles held in that Prouince where he had left the Earle of Dunois and the Vidame of Chartres for the gard of those places but this enterprise had small successe Talbot beseegeth Couches and at the same instant the Earle of Dunois Galardon a place holding for the English to cause a diuersion Talbot hauing taken Couches the Earle leaues Galardon hauing no reason to hazard his small troupe against so great forces and putts them into garrison
in doing well How farre better and more honourable had it beene for Charles to haue beene beloued and respected by his sonne Lewis who bâ—ing growne great and hauing giuen many testimonies of his iudgement and valour might well haue eased him in his greatest affaires as Robert did Hugh Capet being associate in the same raigne to be honoured and serued by the Princes of his bloud especially of this his trustie friend who had giuen him so many proofes of his loyaltie in his greatest affaires and receiued likewise from him such firme gages of his loue and to â—cape the fruites of this so much desired peace with his subiects the which he had 〈◊〉 for all his subiects But if â—e afflicts others he hath a good share himselfe He makes hâ—s Sonne to flie and to beg his bread in a strange countrie he causeth a poore Pâ—iâ—ce of hâ—s bloud to languish in prison and he himselfe feeles in his soule a continuall torment of greefe a fier of choller and a torture of iealousie trusting no man but liuing in continuall feare and was this man at rest A strange torment he hath brought peace to all men and cannot inioy it himselfe he hath bread and cannot eate it But what read I in the Originall of the manners of our Charles This King Charles saieth Monstrelet after his reconcilement with Philip Duke of Bourgongne His loues was of a good life and deuoute but when he had recouered his realme he changed his manners and polluted his life in maintaining dishonest women in his Court leauing the companie of a good and loyall wife suffring more honour and reuerence to be done to those women by the greatest of his Court then to the Queene they being more richly attired then the Queene her selfe the which was an ill president in such a person yet he gouerned his realme very nobly and wisely was indued with goodly vertues maintaining iustice throughout his whole realme Monstreleâ— and the historie of S. Denis excuse the loue of faire Agnes and here they accuse Charles My duâ—ie is to coate euery part faithfully in this my Inuentorie in the which there is nothing of mine owne but the bare report whereby it appeares that vertues are mixt with vices and that it is more easie to beare aduersitie then prosperitie Let the example of Dauid be confronted with this Wine causeth drunkennesse and water tempers Sometimes age is more weake and imperfect then youth to the end the whole honour of any good that is in man may be ascribed to God who is the Author thereof â—oy and griefe iealousie and loue be they not contrary affections and yet behold they are both in one subiect distracting him diuersly Inconstant nature of man who is a slaue to sinne by the meanes of sinne which receiues the motions of diuers windes from North South East and West both soure and sweete It will be now time after all this to shew the end of our Charles but we may not omit some notable things which chanced in this season during the ebbing and flowing of these seuen variable yeares Lewis the Daulphin was resident at Geneppe in Brabant and married with the daughter of Sauoy by whom he had a sonne The Duke of Sauoy with his wife who was daughter to the King of Cypres came to visit Charles and to pacifiâ— him with hope that he should soone see his sonne with this new gage of loue but all this did but ease and not cure Charles his infirmitie We haue said before Troubles in England that Henry the sixt King of England was put in prison by the Duke of Yorke who pretended the Crowne to appertaine vnto him by a iuster title then vnto Henry He makes an accord with the Duke of Yorke to free himselfe from this captiuitie That Henry should inioy the Crowne during his life but after his decease it should come to the Duke of Yorke and to his heires after him and so the Prince of Wales sonne to King Henry should be excluded from the succession of England By this accord Henry was released but Yoland his wife daughter to King René of Sicile shewes her selfe more resolute then her husband who hauing prouided for her affaires disauowes this accord as preiudiciall to her sonne and against the lawes which allow of no forced contract made by a prisoner and so she armes to maintaine her sonne the lawfull heire of the Crowne The Duke of Yorke likewise leuies an army to frustrate the Queenes desseines At that time the Queene did winne both the victorie and the heads of the Duke of Yorke of his second soone and of the Earle of Salisburie his chiefe partisan whom she tooke prisoners in the battaile and caused to be beheaded but she shall haue her turne In the meane time these troubles ministâ—ed an occasion vnto Charles to attempt against the English although transported with these home-bred discontents he had a troublesome enemie within himselfe without seeking one beyond the seas This was done by the councell and aduice of the Constable of Richmont who fearing the Kings humour and loth to deale in thâ—se discontents laboured to diuert him giuing him a better subiect to exercise his spirit It was also happy for the Constable that he was faâ—re off being likely that iealousie would haue brought him first in question whom Charles loued not much for the crosses he had receiued by him in the beginning The cause which had drawâ—e Richmont from Court was honourable for him for by â—he dâ—â—th of Peteâ— Duke of Brittanie his Nephew he was called to the Duchie Being Duke he would not leaue the office of Constable notwithstanding all the intreaties of his subiects being desirous to honour that charge in his age the which had honoured him in his youth although he inioyed the Dukedome but three yeaâ—es dying with the goâ—d opinion of all France hauing assisted it much both with his councell and valour This aduise to attempt against England giuen by the Constable Enterprise against England was executed by the Normans vnder the command of Peter of Brezay Seneshall of Normandie accompanied with a good number of the Nobilitie of Normandie and foure thousand fighting men these might do some great exploit in a countrie diuided and troubled but God hath appointed the limits of Kingdomes and that great ditch of the sea is sufficient to distinguish these two Monarchies who haue inough to content them without attempting against their neighbour To conclude this armie lands in England and takes Sandwich the which they presently spoile leaue and so returne to Honnefleu from whence they imbarked carrying away store of prisoners and spoile Their speedie returne was chieflie to saue their liues and goods which had beene in great danger if they had ingaged themselues farther for any rich spoile Charles was intreated by Ladislaus King of Hongarie sonne to that great Iohn Huniades one of the strongest Champions against the Turke â—o graunt him Magdalâ—ine his
Prouost of Marchants calles the Captaines of the quarters and chiefe of the Cittie to councell he commands them in the night to make fires at all the corners of the streets and to watch in armes euery man in his quarter The people stands vpon their garde ready to attempt some great action The King himselfe goes the round Paris in danger to be surprized he findes the gate of the Basâ—â—lle towards the fields open and the artillerie cloyed But oh the prouidence of God misfortune is good for some thing These vnexpected fires disappoint the conspirators practises they hinder the approch and entry of the enemie and saue the Cittie Moreouer Gisors is belegard the garrison abandons it But that which imports more the widow of the great Seneshall of Brezai gouerned by the Bishop of Bayeux then resident at Rouan with some other Partisans Rouan yeelded to the Confederates giues Iohn Duke of Bourbon entrie into the Castle and so into the Cittie The Cittie desiring long to haue a Duke remaining in the country consents to this change and sweares to the said Duke for the Duke of Berry In a manner all the Townes and places of the Prouince follow the example of their capitall Cittie The Bourguignons armie was now reduced to extreame necessitie of victuals and money so as all the Noblemen dreamed onely of a retrait And yet an admirable thing the price of victuals was not risen in the Cittie So many stormes caused Lewis to demand a second enteruiew The peace of Constans and the conditions before that the yeelding vp of Rouan should be knowne to the Earle He grants the Duchie of Normandie to his Brother restores the Townes vpon Somme to the Earle to the Britton his Countie of Montfort with promise to deâ—sâ—aâ—e his charges he giues the office of Constable to the Earle of S. Paul he promiseth vnto Iohn Duke of Calabria men and money to recouer his realme of Naples to pay what had beene promised for the marriage of his Sister to the Duke of Bourbon with the exâ—cutâ—on of other clauses conteined in the contract to restore vnto all otheâ—s theâ—r goods offices and dignities which they had enioyed vnder his father Charles He â—rants vnto the Princes that not any one should be bound to come in person at his summons but sâ—ould discharge their homage and duties in sending such forces as they were bound to furnish at nâ—ed To conclude all the publick good is turned to priuate interest The Earle of Charolois accepts these conditions so willingly as discoursing with the King the vehement desire he had to see the execution of this treatie carries him into the trench of the Bulwarke of franke-Archers by the which they entred the Cittie The Bouâ—guigâ—ons hauing lost him crie out that he was stayed The chiefe assembâ—e togâ—ther they tremble they condemne their Earle of rashnesse alleaging the inconueence happened to his grandfather at Montereau in the presence of Charles the 7. and they begin to talke of their safetie but as they walked into the field on horse-back behold they discouer about fiftie of the Kings horse conducting the Earle to his quaâ—ter Loyaltie in King Lewâ—â— So euery one reuiued his spirits and iointly commend the Kings loyaltâ—e Two dayes alter the treatie of peace was read and â—worne on either side at 〈◊〉 Vincennes Charles the Kings brother did homage for the Duchie of Normanâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Earle of Charolois for the Townes and land in Picardie and likewise the rest that 〈◊〉 homages to doe The Earle of S. Paul tooke his oath for the office of Constable 〈◊〉 rest for the most part receiue their goods and honours So the Duke of Normanâ—â—â— was conducted vnto Rouan by the Duke of Brittanie The Earle of Charolois tooke his way to Amiens and receiued homage of the inhabitants as also of other places that were restored vnto him by the peace Then he entred into the countrie of Liege that rebelled of late dayes against his father vpon the first brute of the ouerthrow of the Earle his sonne at Montlehery without attending the trueth He pacified the Countrie and returned into Brabâ—nt This was called the peace of Conflans which was but counterfeit the 28. of October 1465. the which the Burguignon had not so easily yeelded vnto if he had receiued sooner that refreshing of men and money which Philiâ— sent him by the Lord of Sauenze It was an act of great import for Lewis to disperse these Princes so cunningly he did well foresee Lewis a cunniâ—â— artisan of diuision that the Charolois being farre from them and busied in his owne Countries would hardly turne head in the Winter season Moreouer he knew well the meanes as he was an excellent plotter of partialities how to diuide the Dukes of Normandie and of Brittanie And in trueth they were scarce arriued in their new Duchie but all the Noblemen Gentlemen and Captaines expected some preferment from Charles Duke of Normandie so greatly aduanced by this peace and moreouer the Duke of Brittanie who had beene farthest ingaged in the charge was little amended by the treatie they all by a generall discontent shew a notable subiect of distrust of their new Duke The Duke of â—rittanâ—e discontented with 〈◊〉 Duke of Noâ—mandie so as there is spred abroad a still rumour That the Brittons would carry Charles into Brittanie Vpon this bruite the Dukes seruants and the Inhabitants troupe together they runne by heapes to Saint Katherins Mouaâ—e where Charles remained yet attending the preparatiues of his entrie they lead him into the Cittie without any other assistance but the Clergie in their ornaments The Duke of Brittanie fearing the mutinie of this people retires vnto his Countrie and in his way hee takes some Townes in Normandie wherein he leaueth diuerse garrisons Lewis imbraceth this occasion and vpon this diuision marcheth against his brother treates with the Duke of Brittanie at Argenton to win him from the alliance of the Duke of Normandie Lewis sets vpon his bâ—other he takes from him by the Duke of Bourbon newly reconciled Eâ—reux Vernon Louuiers Pont de Larche and other places and by Charles of Melun â—isâ—rs Cournay Chailly and consequently all base Normandie Caen held with some other places being in the hands of Lescut a trustie seruant to both the Dukes Charles abandoned by all men and set vpon by so mighty an armie resolues to retire into Flanders and seekes to the Earle of Charolois whom this dâ—uâ—sion did much greeue for he desired aboue all things to see a Duke in Normandie the which should gentlie weaken the King But the time was vnseasonable being busied against the Liegeois Yet for a proofe of his good hap he labours to put some troupes gathered vp in Picardie into Diepe but Lewis preuents him and compounds with the Gouernour Herevpon the two Dukes reconcile themselues The Dukes of Noâ—mandie â—riâ—tanie are reconciled considering but too late that as their
passe them and moreouer the ditch at Plessis compassed in with great barres with â—â—ure engins of irâ—n at the corners Canoniers and foâ—tie croâ—bow-men were appointed to stand teâ—ne a day and night sentiâ—ell in the ditch with commission to shoote at any one that should approch in the night vntill the opening of the gate in the morning Doubtlesse the iustâ—ce of God would that those cages of iron and those of wood couered with plates of iron bâ—th within and without those shakles bolts manacles cheines tyed to a great bowle waightie beyond humaine force where hee had often times imprisoned many yea and of honour for very fâ—â—uolous causes should noâ— be so many toâ—tures to his conscience at the last point of his death and as he had giuen them eight foote in bredth and it may be so much in height to stretch out themselues so he now retires himselfe into a little coâ—ner of the Castle and like an other Vâ—rillus theâ—â—ere fatall to their first deuiser the Bishop of Verdun remained foureteene yeares shut vp in the first that was made To conclude no diâ—patch came to Court during this lamentable estate The King had but one or two about him men of no credit who knew well that after his death the best that could chance vnto them was to be shamefully chased away But a great confusion attends them shoâ—tly These men made no report vnto him of any thing that happened but onely that which concerned the Estate and the realme labouring to mainteine loue with all men As for his person euery day a new grome of his chamber euery day new seruants Yet knowes hee not whome to trust Strâ—nge distemperatures One onely amongst the rest gets some credit but forced It is his Phisâ—ion Iames Cottier a Bourguignon he giues him 10000. crownes monethly and what offices or what lands he will demand be it from himselfe or his friends and for a nephew of his the Bishopricke of Amiens and as a man would say his Crowne and his scepter so as he will prolong his life An odious impudent and audâ—câ—ous Physition who to continue his credit sayed vnto the King I know wel that one of thâ—se mornings you will send me away with the rest but swearing a great otheâ— you shal not liue eight dayes after A strange hart-breaking â—â—wis braued by his Phisition to be braued by a rascall â—hereas to many great Princes did yeeld him voluntary obedience But oh vanitie to thinke that the deuice of man can adde one minute to mans life Lewis had neede to haue been put in mind of this Oracle I haue said you are Gods and all the children of the Lord but you shall die like men and you that are the principall shall fall like other men At that time liued Francis borne at Paul in Calabria a deuout Hermit His disordâ—red â—â—ale without learning but of an austere life and holy reputation founder of the fâ—iars Minimeâ— The King sent for him by a Steward of his house in the company of the Prince of Tarentum sonne to the King of Naples at the first sight hee kneeles vnto him and desires 〈◊〉 to prolong his dayes In truth we haue often zeale but not according to knowâ—edâ—e But Put no confidence in the chiefe of the peopâ—e nor in any of the sonnes of man who haue no power to deliuer thee O how happie is he whome the mightie God of Iacob 〈◊〉 and whose trust is in the Eternall In the meane time Lewis deâ—lines His Inuention to make beleeue that he lâ—ued 〈◊〉 and death fâ—lâ—owes him at the heeles yet will hee not haue men to thinke so and on it s no inuention to diuert this opinion both within and without the realme Within he attyres himselfe richly contrary to his custome and shewes him selfe but onely in his Court and gallerie he makes seuere lawes to be feared sends away officers dischargeth men at armes cuts off pensions and takes some quite away To conclude hee passeth â—is time to make and marre men Without the realme he payeâ— that dutie in England which he owes in all other places where he will haue them thinke that he is sound and aliue he sends men vnder colour to buy something Into Spaine Naples and Germanie some horses in Sicile some good mules but especially of some good officer of the Countrie and payed double for them In Brittanie gray-hounds and spanieâ—ls In the kingdome of Valence little water-dogges In Denmarke and Sueden haukeâ— In Barberie little Lions of the bignes of foxes To conclude the more he feared the decay of his dignitie toward his latter end the more he sought to be feared and takes away all occasions to thinke that his end approched Feeling his end drawe neere hee seâ—t for the Daulphin his sonne whome he had not seene in many yeares causing him to be nourished apart least the colour of his presence should haue bred some faction as there had rashly risen in his yong age against Charles the 7. his father And experience hauing taught him how dangerous a sodaine alteration was he commaunded him expresly not to displace any Officer and especially to maintaine Oliuer le Daim in the offices and goods hee had gotten in his seruice Lâ—wâ—â— hiâ— admonitiâ—nâ— to the Daâ—â—â—hin his sonne as hauing assisted him well in his sicknes But as this man was hastilie too highly exalted so must he and some others of like sort be shortly supprest and Iohn Doyac gouernour of Auuergne from whome he had receiued good and notable seruices to call mâ—ister Guyot Pot and the Lord of Bouchage to Counsell to follow Philippe of Cordes for armes Not to beleeue his mother especially in the goueâ—nment of his State Who as a Sauoâ—sien hee had foâ—nâ— by experience to fauour the Bourguignon and generally to confirme all those in their dignities whome he had aduanced And to ease the people whome he had oppressed by the necessitie of the warres Few dayes after the King had spoken to the Daulphin his sonne his ordinarie infirmitie takes him sodenly lost his speech with a great debility of his forces Hauing recouered â—udging himselfe but a dead man he sent the Duke of Bourbon to the king his son so theÌ„ he called him giuing him the charge gouernmeÌ„t of his said son Then he sent the Chancellor with the seale part of the archers of his gard Captaines al his hounds hauks other things all such as came tâ— see him he sent them to Amboise Yet was he not so wel resolued for his death but he had some hope to escape namely by the means of his Hermit a multitude of reliks which were brought from Rheims from Paris from Rome the holy oyle The Diuineâ— tell Lewis that he must die the rodds of Moises Aaron the holy Crosse were it true or false such like vntill the diuines had taken counsell to let him vnderstand that he deceiued
place of his named Baux The King gaue money to repaire the losses Amongst his chiefe champions the Emperour lost Anthonie de Leue Marc Busthein another Captaine of Lansquenets his kinsman the Count Horne Baptista Castalde and many other men of accoumpt Let vs apply here that holy Oracle speaking of Senacherib King of the Assirians Thy bragging hath come vnto mine ears I will put my ring into thy nostrils and my bitt into thy mouth and will make thee returne the way thou camest And Thus sayed the Eternall touching the King of the Assirians he shall not enter into this Cittie neither shall â—e shoot an arrow therein he shal not present himselfe before it with shield nor cast c. Behold the Earle of Prouence in imagination who had lately threatned the Prouinces of this Realme with fire and sword and swallowed vp the Crowne thereof by presumption ashamed and confounded in his retreat hauing lost halfe of his troupes turmoyled by the pesants who vsing the armes of his sicke men and of those that were dead seize vppon the passages and straights beat downe the bridges vpon the riuers which were then very violent charge them in front in flanke and behind and the light horsmen led by the Earle of Tende Bonneual Langey and Iohn Paul de Cere follow them so close as they had no meanes to forrage leauing the waies from Aix to Freius couered with dead carcases and men languishing harnes lances pikes harguebuses and all other armes pel mel on a heape The King resolued to march after them and wheresoeuer he should ouertake them to giue them battale and so passe into Italie where at that instant he had a mightie armie in field But he is diuerted from his desseine by letters from the Marshall of La-Marke Hee had no more meanes to hold Peronne long the walls were beaten downe in many places famine pressed the beseeged they wanted harguebusiers and poâ—der So the King caused some part of his men at armes to march speedily and tenne thousand French foote Of the Earle of Nassau resolute to follow after by great marches to raise the seege or to recouer the Towne before the enemie should fortifie it and furnish it with victuals God would preserue him from this toyle and giue him lâ—isure to take breath The Imperials being alwayes repulsed with losse of many and sundry assaults the myne wherin they had long labored prouing fruitlesse besides the death of Phillip of Boâ—linâ—illiers Earle of Dammartin ouerwhelmed in the ruines thereof in a countermine he made to blow vp the enemies myne whose death was reuenged with the slaughter of three hundred Lansquenets and twentie of their men at armes at the last assault giuen by the Tower that was vndermyned and the Towne being releeued with fiue hundred shot euery one carrying ten pounds of powder entring by meanes of a General alarum giuen by the Duke of Guise with two hundred horse and al the trompets he could recouer they dislodged in the night about the middest of September continuing their burning as they had begun France by the grace of God is now free from enemies But nothing is now perfectly happie There are crosse newes which trouble the Court. The English Ambassadors that were neere the King ill affected to his Maiestie and without doubt no faithfull seruants to their master giue him intelligence That the Emperour seeing that hee could neither by spoyle or any other meanes prouoke the King to battaile made shew of a retreat to draw him to poursue him and so to fight or else retyre to take a geeater leape and to inuade Prouence sodenly when as the French forces should bee farthest off That the Emperour himselfe the better to colour his departure gaue out that famine and mortalitie had diminished his forces of one third part and the rest had runne the like danger if he did not retired yet notwithstanding he had no such want of victuals as was supposed and since his comming out of Italie had not lost aboue two thousand men That since the taking of Montiean and Boisy no man durst giue any alarume to the Emperours Campe nor yet follow it at their dislodging These impostures and false impressions had wrought such effects with the King of England as Pomeray being sent from the King to three ends To satisfie him of the truth touching the enterprise of Prouence To procure his liking of the marriage of Magdaleine a daughter of France with the King of Scots and to learne the King of Englands intention vppon the motion before made touching the marriage of the Duke of Orleans with Marte of England daughter to the said King hee had much a doe to alter him any thing from the opinion hee had conceiued But the marriage of Scotland did so incense the King of England as hauing layed open vnto Pomeray his greefes and the causes of his discontent vpon this article hee sent him backe without any conclusion being loath to haue his neighbour so highly allyed The cause of warre betwixt England and France There comes an other matter of greater importance the Country of Tarenâ—aise in Sauoy had lately shaken off the French yoake To reduce it to his obedience the King sent the the Earle of Saint Paul Duke of Esâ—outeuille by his wife with French troupes of horse and foote and the Earle of â—â—rstemberg with his companie of Lansquenets to whome for the purging of their offence the Country was abandoned to the spoile with the Towne of Conâ—â—ans Beeing thus punished they afterwards performed the dutie of subiects and the Duke returned into France with much honour and glory Let vs now discharge our promise and conclude the yeare with the exploits of the assembly made at Mirandole by the Italian Captaines pensioners to the King Their first desseine was vpon Genes and to this effect they came speedily and closely hoping eyther by surprise or by the partisans of Caesar Fregose to become masters of the Towne but a Luquois of the troupes of Cont Guy stealing away in the night had discouered the enterprise to the Cittizens So the Earle retyring his campe halfe a League from Genes betwixt two mountaynes hee suddenly caused many ladders to bee made which prouing too short made the successe fruitlesse These Captaines had no Cannon to make any batterie moreouer Turin being beseeged required their presence They therefore turne head The Imperialls aduertised of the Earles approch abandon the seege and leaue the field at the deuotion of this newe army The Lord of Annebault seeing the Campe disâ—odged sallies out after them and in passing takes the Tower vpon the bridge of Pau by composition the taking whereof the Emperour had so highly commended and the Lord of Burie tooke Groillan the come and wine that was found there serued to refresh Turin The Towne of Quiers was taxed by the Imperialls at fiue and twentie thousand Crownes but whilest the soldiars were busie to force the Inhabitants to pay this
the Duke of Guise and the Admirall This apparent meanes to confirme a publike concord did please the Admirall beleeuing this marriage should be the ground of a most happie peace and the Queene of Nauarre feares least delay should alter the Kings good meaning But the accomplishment of the marriage was hindred by some leâ—â—s The Pope made some dâ—fficulty to dispence therewith as well by-reason of the consanguinity of the parties the one being petie Nephewe the other grand-childe of Francis the 1. King of France as also for the difference of their religions The Qâ—eene of Nauarre likewise made some scruple of this disparity of religion of the ceremonies and of the place of the sollemnitie She would not haue the marriage celebrated after the manner of the Catholike Church and feared the Citty of Paris as most affected to their religion and of long time an enemie to the house of Nauarre Contrariewise the King would haue Paris to be the Theater Pretexts for the lowe Countrie warres where this notable act should be sollemnly celebrated in the vewe of the Capitall Cittie of his Realme without changing any thing in forme of royall mariages In the end the respect of ciuill reason preuayled As â—or the motiues of this warre pretended in the Lowe Country they were goodly in shâ—w for besids this hereditarie hatred of the French against the Spaniard beeing reuiued by the outrages and warres made in France by Charles and Phâ—â—ip his sonne the remembrance whereof was yet fresh they renued the ancient quarrells of many possessions in the Lowe Countries depending of this Crowne Moreouer they pretended newe causes which seemed lawfull to breake the allyance betwixt the two Kings That his Maiestie had most certaine intelligence of poyson giuen by Philip to his wife the Sister of our Charles vpon some discontents and filthie iealousies These reasons had a shewe of truth and the Admirall to the end the French who cannot liue long togither in mutuall concord and that by a long vse of warre breathed nothing but warre should not seeke some newe seeds of ciuill diuision held it good to diuert this vehement heate against some stranger and nation a faâ—â—e off Many necessarie considerations fortified this ciuill Councell The forces of the Prince of Orange and his bretheren who spoiled by the Spaniard of many rich possessions both in the Lowe Countries and in the Countrie of Bourgongne had long time sought to recouer it by armes The credit and fauour of the Lowe Countrie men in Germany by reasoÌ„ of the exceeding crueltie of the Duke of Alba Lodâ—wike of Nassau brother to the sayd Prince a man of great courage and resolution prest it forward and his presence was a spurre to the Admirall Moreouer to the end it should seeme this warre was managed with the Kings consent his Maiestie did suffer the Prince of Auranges fleete to ride about Rochelle annoying the Spaniards and Portugalls which sailed vpon that coast the trafficke of the Lowe Countries and for the Comte Lodowike to sell the bootie hee had taken from the enemie freely and publikely at Rochell So the Admirall a wydower by reason of Charlotte of Laual deceased in the second troubles after he had espoused the Contesse of Antremont in Sauoye at Rochelle The Admiral comes to Court and giuen his daughter Louyse to the Lord of Teligny to wife he comes to Court relying vpon the Kings assurances so often confirmed by messengers and especially by the Marshall of Cossé whome the King had sent to accompanie him presuming the Admirall would giue more credit to the Marshalls words by reason of their familiarity The King receiued him with all demonstrations of loue those of Guise leaue him the place not to yeeld any thing vnto him but to returne soone after with greater authoritie and to take from him all iealousies distrusts which were giuen him froÌ„ al parts the King at the first doth recoÌ„pence the losses which the Admiral had sustained during the former warres by the gift of a hundred thousand frankes and grauâ—ts him for one whole yeare the reuenues which his brother the Cardinall of Chasâ—â—â—ha enioyed being lately deceased in England He giues him a place in the priuy Councel doth ofte times conferre with him touching the warres of Flanders and mâ—kes shâ—we to be gouerned therein by his aduice and Councell he honours him with that plaâ—sible name of father and treats with him so familiarly as the Countries tooke this familiarity for a seale of his Masters affection to the Admirall and the people begâ—n nowe to murmure that Charles not onely fauoâ—ed the Huguenots but would shortly himselfe become a Huguenot A Cunning bayte to free the Admirall from suâ—pition by the aduertisments wich had beene giuen him to the Contrary Hee could nowe tast no admonitions his spirit was so transported with the Kings Countenance and words Doubtlesse the wisdome of man failes euen in the wisest when it pleaseth him that giues it to weaken the strongest spirits and by a iudgement incomprehensible to man to cast a vayle before his eyes and to make him vnable to conceiue the iustice and horror of the iudgement which hee meanes to display For the better aduancing the enterprise of the Lowe Countries the Admirall thought it fit the King should make a peace with Elizabeth Queene of England They might treate it with a very honest colour to the preiudice of the Spaniards Elizabeth was not married and Henry Duke of Aniou had no wife the dignitie of so high an alliance was honorable for the Duke and the qualitie of a Kings Brother was not to bee contemned by the Queene hauing also in his yong age purchased great glorie and reputation Peace â—â—th the English This charge is giuen to the Marshall of Montmorency Bâ—t the issue did shewe that besids this negotiation of peace their meaning was to abuse both the Admirall and all others whome it was expedient to â—buse for the execution of the Councell of Saint Cloud and by the same practise to send the Marshall farâ—e from Court least by his ordinary conueâ—sing with the King hauing a good iudgement and smelling out the complots of this pitifull Tragedie hee should discouer them to the Admirall his Cousin and by meanes of this newe peace the English in the midest oâ— this indignity should bee restrayned from attempting of any thing in fauour of the Protestants as it chanced During this time the Admirall retires to Chastillon and in the meane season they prepare a fleete at Bourdeaux and Brouage vnder the Commande of Strossy Landereau and the Bâ—ron of la Garde The pretext was the warre of Flanders yet had they expresse Commission to attempt vpon Rochell and by open or secret practises to get it in their owne powre The Admirall hauing sounded the fourd vpon his assurance to the Queene of Nâ—uarre of the Kings singular affection to her and to all her house The Queene of Nauarre comâ—s to Court in
buried the which the greatest â—earcâ— of his enemies could neuer discouer They therefore make the forme of a man dragg it through the Cittie and then cause it to be hanged Moreouer the King commands by his letâ—ers pattents That those of the pretended religion should be maintained in safetie in their houses bodies goods and libertie of consciences And to excuse what was past they cast abroad many libels defaming the memory of the Admirall and his followers They giue new charges to the Ambassadors being in Germanie Polanâ— England Suisserland and other forraine Countries to iustifie the actions of the King and of the Catholikes to the confusion and shame of the Admirall and his paâ—tie But all these proceedings were meanes to discouer the iniquitie of their perâ—â—tiâ—us Councels For the intent of this declaration in fauour of the Protestants was presently discouered by the tenor of the letters which the Duke of Guise did write vnto his wife the day that Briquemault was executed The King said he hath decreed in Councel vtterly to roote out this seditious vermine But few would be taken and the practises against the Prince of Auranges and others being discouered by this letter vanished into smoâ—ke In the meanetime they continued their attempts against Rochell and Essars being chosen cheefe of the warre for the Rochelois hauing taken one of the Baron oâ— la Gards galleys who had approched too neere vnder colour of bringing a letter to the whole bodie of the Towne caused Biron to publish the Kings letters pattents giuen the sixth of the moneth and to make open warre to the Rochelois Bâ—t Charles waâ— not willingly drawne to aâ—mes hee sees well that hee had kindled a fire which hee â—hould not queâ—ch when hee would Hee now tries the last stratageme La Noue sent home by the Duke of Alba after the taking of Monts in Hainault had great credâ—t amâ—â—g the Protestants as one of the cheefest Captaines which remained The King sollicits him to bee a meanes to bring the Rochelois to composition The impossâ—biliâ—â—e of the thing ansâ—eres hee and my conscience will not suffer mee to aduise the Rochelois to offer their throtâ—s to them that will cut them Yet the Kings authoritie makes him tâ— accept of tâ—is charge but râ—ther with an intent to serue the Rochellois and to retire himselfe from Court then to hurt them of his religion After hee had giuen an account of his Ambassage to Biron who was then at Saint Iean d' Angâ—li hee returnes to Rochâ—ll where hee performed his dutie so well and carefully as they acknowledge him for one of the cheefe Instruments of the preseruation theâ—eof during the seege Then appered there a new starre in heauen hauing the forme of a Lozenge of foure points A Comet and continued beginning the ninth of Nouember the espace of nine moneths immouable by the saying of the Astronomers the first three weekeâ— resembling that which serued as a guide to the wise men that came out of the East to worship Iesus Christ in Bethlem An other repealâ— of the 〈◊〉 Protestants The nineteenth of the said moneth the King by an other Edict called home all his subiects to their houses vpon paine of losse of their goods and sollicited the Protestant Suisses to chase away such as were fled to them for succour But the Ambassadors instance was of no force the taking of Sommiers by the Marshal of d' Anuille from the Protestants the perswasions of Gourdes to drawe into the bâ—sâ—me of the Cathoâ—ike Câ—urch Monbrun Mirabel and Les Diguieres who euen then made shew of a most valiant most wise and most happy Captaine for their party and shall hereafter haue a good share in our History the assurance hee gaue them Tâ—at the King was resâ—lued to suffer but one religion within his realme with all the preparations for the destâ—â—ction of them in diuers Prouinces tooke from them all desire to returne Seeing then that no Edicts can draw them home to their houses and that Rochell â—â—â—câ—rre and other places being threatned prepare for defence they must at the least take from the Protestants such refuges as they haue within the realme To shut vp Rochell Biron enters into the Country of Onis in the beginning of December with â—euen Cornets of horse and eighteene Enseignes of foote Those of Sancerre runne yet â—t libertie but the opinion of their chiefe Commanders that they would attempt some other thing and the vaine presumption they had of the situation of their hilly place made them the more negligent both to furnish it with victuals and to repaire the necessarie fortifications to endure a siege against the which they should haue foreseene the small hope of succours and the constant resolution of the assaylants Let vs consider of these circumstances and prepare our selues to see the greatest reâ—oâ—uâ—ion of men lead by Captaines to whom the necessitie of the time gaue more credit then their beginning gaue them authority Martignon Pilard Marâ—inat La â—eur Chaillou Montaubâ—n Buisson Paquelon La Minee and Doriual commanded there â—uer sixe hundred and fifty men and for Colennel they had Andrew Ionneau Bayliffe of the Towne A hundred and fifty strong labourers in the Vines wrought great effects â—ith their slings which were called the Pâ—stols of Sancerre for seruices vpon the wall in assaults scalladoes and â—allies In Ianuary La Chastre Lieutenant for the King in the gouernment of Berry and generall of this armie came before it with about fiue hundred horse 1573. and fiue thousand 〈◊〉 sixteene enseignes of Pioners Siege of Sancerre and a great number of pesants gathered together at the first he offers a reasonable composition to the besieged if they will accept it As the beginning of the Generall was courteous so was the proceeding of the bâ—sieged inciuill disdainfull and contrary to the lawe of nations They reteyne the â—â—rum and make no answer To make his approches La Chastre builds a fort withâ—â—â—â—ure hundred paces of the Towne towards Pontenay another vpon the way of â— â—â—â—â—â—ult a palissadoe in the field of S. Ladre intrenched the approches and wayes â—bâ—ut the Towne planted ten peeces of Artillery in the field of Saint Ladre and sixe â—thers at Orme au Loup it is a â—igh mountaine vpon the South side of Sancerre which commands the Towne he shootes against the walls and houses at randon and spends in two moneths aboue six thousand Canon shot and yet the besieged lost not aboue fiue and twentie men giues an assault but with the losse of many that were slaine and a great number hurt The 18. of March La Chastre by a second battery in three diuers places beates downe the defences both of Towers and wall makes a breach of about three hundred paces gâ—ues a generall assault presents a scalado on an other side mines and sappes on the third that the Sancerrois wearied with so many difficulties might shriâ—ke vnder thâ—ir burthen But well assayled and
hath knowne in many ages But we shall see in the end most of their tongues â—olde for money and others who making profession to come into the Pulpit to instruct the people shall baâ—ely controull these goodly Orators and by a contrary language suborne the peoples affections subuert their senses and as it were with little â—inkes of golde drawe them after them tyed by the nose tongue and eares The feasts maskes stately marriages sumptuous pastimes and the new impositions to maintaine them lead the first dance of rebellion The Q eene Mother Motiuâ—s of 〈…〉 against the King and those of Guise seeing the King drowned in these delights of Court did willingly entertaine him in that humor that eyther busying himselfe to number his Beads or to tread the measures of a dance they might holde the reynes of gouernment and dispose of affaires without controule But hee knew well the ambition of these men Hee was iealous of his royall authority and in the middest of his delights and pleasures their presence was suspect vnto him Hee was more pleased with the familiaritie of meane men whom hee had aduanced to exceeding greatnesse and 〈◊〉 hee set some mignion in Sentinell to watch if they should attempt any thing 〈◊〉 â—is royaâ—l dignitye Those of Guise are not idle they watch for occasions theâ— receiue such as are malecontents they practise men of their owne humours and dispositions and fitte for theâ—r desseignes and can cunningly promise cure and helpe for those vlcers and sores which the people of France shew them on all sides These first discontents of subiects oppressed with insupportable charges 1581. and the impatiencie of the Clergie who see their enemies to enioy a firme and solide peace which did newly strengthen and close vp that old wound which had lately imbrued all France made them easily to reuiue the league of Peronne and vnder two goodlee pretexts religion and the ease of the people to discouer the desseignes which they had long before conceiued All encounters made the way easie both within and without within their hearts disposed to reuolt without the Spaniards greatnesse who had now inuaded the realme of Portugall and by this vsurpation had a great meanes to disperse his Indian golde in France And the Duke of Aniou made warre for the Estates of Flanders and other vnited Prouinces which had called him to free them from the tyrannie and domination of the Spaniards But these discourses belong to the Spanish Portugall 1582. 1583. and Flemish Histories and may not enter into this volume which inuites vs to an end The last Edict had as the former accorded some Townes vnto the Protestants for hostages and sureties of his word Prolongation of Townes granted to the Protestants during the terme of sixe yeares Now the King summons them to deliuer them seeing the time prefixed was almost expired But the peace had beene so often broken as so short a time could not quench the firebrands of warre nor giue a full execution to the Edict To content them the King grants a prolongation for the reteining of these Townes for some yeares New motiues of rebellion This grant serues the Princes of the League for a new motiue of troubles and disobedience They giue it out generally That the King fauoures heretikes that hee will bring in heresie They consider not that hee could not but by force the euent whereof was doubtfull recouer the sayd places being strong and peopled with numbers of Protestants The King of Nauarre sees a farre off that the heauens are ouercast and foresees that this storme doth threaten his Estate with a horrible tempest The King of Nauarre solicited to ioyne with the league they solicite him to ioyne with this party they make him goodly offers in shew but all was but to lull him a sleepe or to cast vpon him all the causes of the future miseries and to make him more odious and detestable Hee giues the King intelligence thereof and puts him in minde of the aduertisements hee gaue him in the yeare 1576. vpon the treaties of the League in Spaine 1584. and at Rome Hee sees this mine is ready to breake and that it is now time to thinke of his affaires Hee assures himselfe of the amities of England Denmarke and Germanie The Duke of Aniou dyes But sodenly there falles a new accident which breakes vp all the bankes that restrained the ouerflowing of the League The Duke of Aniou whether his ryot in the Lowe Countries or griefe to see his desseignes ouerthrowne or the wicked practises of Salcedo drawne in peeces since by foure horses or some other secret attempt against his life had shortened his dayes hee dyes at Chasteau-Thyerry Whatsoeuer it were such as were imployed to see this man tortured and to discouer the secret intentions of his masters were afterwards vnworthily intreated and ransomed by the chiefe of the League This death aduanced the King of Nauarre one degree The King suffers the Court of Parliament to receiue the Roses in May that were presented vnto him according to the custome of the Princes and Peeres of France in qualitie of the first Prince of the bloud and first Peere of France Most part of the realme cast their eyes vpon him as the Sunne rising This on the one side doth amaze the Authors of the League and on the other side it presseth them to trie their fortunes now whilest the King remaines alone of his line without hope of issue and the King of Nauarre farre off as it were exiled and in shew excluded from euer passing the Loire They assemble the heads of their house at S. Denis and presently make the seeds of their councels to appeare in Picardie The proceedings of the league Champagne Bourgongne They make the townes to abhor the Huguenots yoake which say they the King of Nauar prepares for them They talke not of the King but with contempt they cast forth libels and shamelesse Pasquils they disgrace him in companies as a Sardanapalus and idle Chilperie drâ—â—ke with prodigâ—lities and dissoluâ—â—es and for a third Crowne his deuise shewing that he attended the last in heauen they were ready to shaue his crowne like vnto a Mâ—nke into a Cloister The people being corrupted and drawne from their obedience by the disorders of the Court suffer the poison of audacious mutinies to creepe into their hearts But let vs in few words see the conception the deliuerie and the growing of tâ—is league in Paris which shall cast forth store of branches into all the quarters of the Realme Rocheblond a Cittizen of Paris a turbulent and factious man the first Tribune of this league incouraged by some great men and supported by the chiefe ministers thereof ioynes with Preuost the Curat of S. Seuerin Bucher Curat of S Benoist and Launâ—y a Chanon of Soâ—ssons sometimes a Minister but fled from Sedan for adulterie These foure Archeleaguers hauing banded all their wittes to
this bee withdrawne from me I would to God I had followed the aduice of my deceased father of famous memorie or at the least that you would beleeue and follow mine I should then beare my crosses more lightly should die with more content leauing you in this vallie of miseries Behold then what I leaue you for an euerlasting testament aboue so many Kingdomes and Seigneuries to represent vnto you as in a glasse after what manner you shall gouerne your selfe after my death Bee alwayes very watchfull of the change of Kingdomes to make your profit thereby according to occurrents Haue an eye ouer those that are most â—amiliar with you in Councel You haue two meanes to maintaine your Realmes of Spaine the one is the present gouernment the other the nauigation of the Indies As for the gouernment you must either relie vppon the Nobilitie or vppon the Clergie If you leane vnto Churchmen keepe the other in awe as I haue done but if you fortifie your selfe with the Nobilitie shorten the reuenues of the Clergie as much as you may If you seeke to entertaine their friendships equally they will wast you disquiet your realmes wherof you shall neuer see a finall end If you will make vse of the Nobilitie my aduice is that you keepe good correspondencie with the Low Countries for that they be friends to the French Consideration of forraâ—ne Princes English and some Princes of Germanie Italie Poland Sueden Denmarke and Scotland can little helpe you therein The King of Scotland is poore Denmarke drawes his reuenues from forraine nations Sueden is alwaies in faction and besides ill situated The Polonians are alwaies masters of their Kings Although Italie bee rich yet is it farre off and the Princes are of diuers humors Contrariwise the Low Countries are rich in men and shipping constant in trauell diligent in seeking out hardie to begin and attempt and willing to suffer It is true I haue giuen them to your Sister but what is that There are a thousand â—uasions whereof you may make vse in time The cheefe are that you alwaies mainteine your selfe Tutor vnto her children and that they alter nothing in matters of Religion for these two points taken away you are wholy wiped of those Countries Hold good correspondencie with the Popes giue them bountifully bee courteous vnto them entertaine their most familiar Câ—rdinalls and labour to haue credit in their Conclaue Keepe the friendship of the Bishops of Germanie Aduice touchâ—ng the Pope but let not their pencions be any more distributed by the Emperour Make them to know you they wil serue you the more willingly will receiue your presents with more content Draw not any neere vnto you that are of base condition respecting the Nobilitie and the Commons equally for to speake the truth their pride is great they are mightie in riches and whatsoeuer they desire must bee done they will bee a burthen vnto you and in the end they will become your masters Serue your selfe then of the Nobles of the cheefest families and aduance them to Preferments of great Reuenues The common sort are not so needfull for that they may procure you a thousand discontents which will consume you Beleeue not any of them if they bee not of qualitie free your selfe from English spies and discharge you of French pensions Serue your selfe boldly with some of the Noblemen of the Low Countries whome you shall haue alwaies bound vnto you by fealty As for the nauigation of the East and West Indies therein consistes the power of Spaine and the bridle of the Italians from the which you cannot exclude France nor England for that their Power is great their Marriners and Saylers many the Sea large their Marchants too rich their Subiects too greedie of money and their Seruants too faithfull I haue excluded the lowe Countries but I feare that in time mens humors may change and therefore you must do two things change your officers at the West-Indies often those which you call home make them oâ— your counsell for the Indies Councell touching the Indies so in my opinion you shall neuer bee deceiued but both the one and the other wil make knowne vnto you the profit and seeke for more honour Do you not see how the English seeke to depriue you of that commodity as hee is mighty at Sea in men and shippes as for the French I do not feare them So fortifie yourselfe with them of the Lowe Countrie although they be partly Heretikes and would continue so vpon condition that they may freely sell their Marchandise in Spaine and Italie paying the King his customes and other rights and obtayning pasport to sayle to the East and West-Indies putting in Caution heere and taking an oth that at their returne they should come and discharge in Spaine vpon paine of punishment if they did otherwise I thinke they will not refuse nor deny to obserue it And by this meanes the riches of the Indies and Spaine shal be common and shall haue free commerce with the Low Countries whereby both France and England shal bee disapointed My Sonne I could set before your eyes greater desseines for the conquering of Kingdomes but you shall finde in my Cabynet the aduertisementes and discourses which haue beene giuen mee Commaund Christopher de Mora to deliuer you the Key presently least those secrets fall into some others mans hands I haue caused some breefes of these memorialls to bee burnt the seauenth of September I doubt all are not supprest bee carefull to enquire for them I haue this day added If you can reconcile Antonio de Perez drawe him if you may into Italie or at the least that hee promise to serue you in some other of your Kingdomes but suffer him not to returne into Spaine nor to go into the Lowe Countries Touching your marriage the instructions are in the custodie of Secretary Lâ—o. Reade this often it is all of my owne hand writing Bee watchfull alwaies ouer your most secret Councellors accustome your selfe to ciphers discontent not your Secretaries let them alwaies bee imployed bee it about matters of importance or otherwise trie them rather by your enemies then by your friendes If you discouer your secrets to any familiar friend keepe alwaies the most important within your owne bosome A peace being proclaimed in France the King applies his thoughts to reforme all disorders and to administer Iustice to all his Subiects And for the better assurance of the publicke tranquiâ—lity hee did as his Predecessors had done in the like occasions prohibiting by the aduice of his Princes Officers of his Crowne and Lords of his Councell the carriage and vse of Harguebuses Petronells Pistolls Pistolets After the Peace in the yeare 1559. and in the yeare 1569. The carrying of armes forbidden the 4. of August 15â—â— published in the Couâ—t of Parliamenâ— 13. and other Weapons vpon confiscation of Armes and Horse and two hundred Crownes fine for the first offence and
a peace but desired warre and to entertayne it not only in Flanders but throughout all Europe whilest that the Turke most cruelly inuades and vsurps all he can vpon the Christians imbracing the occasion whilest that Christian Princes are troubled with the seditions of their subiects and by this meanes doth inlarge the limits of his most cruell Empire But aboue all the sayd Hollanders haue of late done a great and intollerable wrong refusing to heare the Ambassadors sent vnto them from the Emperour and the Princes of Germanie and yet the Emperour hath not forgotten the desire he had to seeke a Peace but hath sent a new Ambassage vnto them whereof the issue is yet vncertaine and yet the sayd Hollanders omitt not to do all kind of hostilities against their lawfull Princesse being growne proud by some happie successe in their opinions when as the Spaniards were busied in the warres of France Moreouer a Peace being made with the French they haue vsed all the policie they could to hinder the Conclusion And being required by the King of France to inclyne to a peace they haue not onely refused the treatie but haue also renewed the warre by their meanes who holding the Estate in their power haue no other care but to thrust all the world into combustion To them this inconuenience is to be imputed if no frute of peace hath beene imparted to any of the Belgick Prouinces In former times they pretended for their excuse that they could not giue eare to any peace whilest that Spaniards and strangers commaunded of whome they would not depend for that they could not trust them But the deceased King by his clemency had taken from them this pretext sending vnto them the Archdukes Ernest and Albert whose care and singular desire was only to imploy themselues for the publike good the which was knowne vnto all the world for that either of them did labour for a peace with great care and diligence offering to be mediators for them to recouer their Princes fauour Contrariwise they had contemned them and would not vse so great a benefit So as the poore people being opprest with tyrannie and reduced to dispaire contemne or cannot comprehend the things which are for their quiet and tranquilitie yea their Princes whome the King had appointed for them were contemned by them wheras the States of other Prouinces had exhorted them to acknowledge Her returning her Ambassadors which shee had sent vnto them not vouchsafing Her any answere The which may iustly bee held too vnworthie for that all the world wil so conceiue that no man ought to haue society nor confederation with them which make warre against God their Prince and their Countrie That vnto this day they haue had free libertie to trafficke the which hath produced no other frute but to make them more bitter for that they abuse the Entries Excises Imposts and Customes to imploy them for the mayntenance of the Warre whereof they haue raysed a great commoditie And as for the Archduchesse shee hath imployed all meanes by her Councell and with the intention of the King her brother to haue her Subiects liue in Peace and submit themselues vnto their duties Seeing then these people cannot be reclaymed by mildnesse nor any benefits shee as a Soueraigne Princesse by the aduice of her Councells namely of Cardinall Andrew forbids all her subiects to haue any more trafficke or commerce with the said Hollanders and Zelanders and that nothing bee vented vnto them by her subiects neither by Land nor Sea directly reuoking all letters and pasports concerning the Nauigation and fishing and also all other pattents for negâ—â—â—ation vnlesse within one moneth they resolue to harken vnto a Peace Which doing shee promiseth them all Clemency and Fauour although they haue so often refused it vnto this daie This Edict of the Infantaes was scarce proclaymed The answer of the vnited Prouinces to the Infantaes Proclamation when as the Estates made an o the contrary vnto it after this manner That it is easie to see what the Spaniards pretended as well by this Edict as by the other stratagems of thâ—ir Councells which tends to no other ende but to ouerthrowe all the liberty not onely of Flanders but of all other Nations will challenge vnto themselues a right and power not onely ouer Bodies and Goods but â—â—so vpon Soules and Consciences wherevnto tended those great late enterprises not â—nely by secret conspiracies and suborning of the subiects of France and England against their Princes but also the Spaniards haue sought by maine armes both by Land and Sea to inuade the sayd Realmes whereof being frustrate they haue attempted against the Princes of Germaine the Electors of the holie Empire to vexe them taking their Townes and Castells and spoyling their Countries making all desolate by Rapin Rauishing and Murthers without any respect of sexe or quality of persons hauing massacred Princes and Earles And they threaten neuer to lay aside armes vntill they haue reduced all them to the ancient Ceremonies that were fallen from the Romish Church So as they change Religion freely and the administration of the Common-weale by force and violence in Emperiall Townes and Citties Yea and they shewe by their proceeding and publish it euery where that they wish the Princes Electors and other Estates of the Empire would defend themselues by Warre taking armes so should they more comodiously effâ—ct what they pretended That in the same shop this present Councell hath beene forged by the which the King of Spaine hath forbiden all vse of trafficke and hath vsed the Marchants and Marriners most cruelly whome they haue taken seized vpon the Shippes stolne the Goods and Marchandise that was in them and violated his promises in diuers sortes whereof the Infanta following his example hath commanded the like should bee done in Flanders It is for that they are greeued that wee haue expelled the tiranie which did hang ouer our heads by meanes of vnion that is amongest vs and by our Courage Goods Meanes and Forces haue withstood their attemptes and made frustrate their fraudes relying chiefely vpon the fauour of God and then being aided by the Queene of England and other Kings and Princes The which we haue resolued to do and to endeauor with all our powers not onely to defend our limits from iniury but also to reuenge the wrongs which haue beene done vs not doubting but God will assist our endeauors with his fauour beeing so necessary and inspire the hearts of Kings and Princes with this good intention to prouide for their affaires and maintaine their Dignities against the wicked practises of them that seeke to supplant them In so doing they hope vndoubtedly that within short time the Spanish forces being expelled out of the limits of the Empire and aboue all out of Flanders a generall peace shal be confirmed as it is most desired with as great assurance as euer was And for as much as to perfect this