Austria Earle of Flanders of Artois and of Charrolois the fift at day of Iuly 1499. the saide Lorde Chancellour being then in the Cittie of Arras in the Bishoppes pallace And for that such great actes and ceremonies which haue bin vsed and obserued therein to the honour exaltation profit and aduantage of the King and his Crowne are worthie of perpetuall memorie I haue beene so bolde at his instance to couch in writing all that I could see and vnderstand touching this present act and busines and especially since the nine and twentie of Iune last past vntill the fift of Iuly next ensuing And to come to the matter certaine and true it is that the Lord Chancellor departed the same day at after dinner from Dourlent in the countrie of Picardy to goe for the Cittie of Arras where he arriued before night being all the way accompanied with the Lordes de Rauestain and de la Gruture with Charles de la Vernada Knight of the same place Master Christopher de Cremona Counsellers of state and ordinarie Masters of Requests of the Kings house Master Ralfe de Launoy Baily of Amiens Master Francis d'Estain Hugh de Baigel Almaury de Quinqui ville Nicholas de Foix Philip d'Estas Richard Nepueu Peter de la Vernada common Counsellers Macé Toustain the Kings Proctor generall in his Priuie Counsell John Bourdelot the Kings Proctor generall in his Courte of Parliament at Paris Antony le Viste Register of the Chauncery of France Dreux Budé John de Villebresme Ralfe Guyot Philip Maillart Notaries and Secretaries to his Maiestie and to me And as the Lord Chauncellor came with this traine within a mile and halfe of the Cittie of Arras riding in gallant order hauing before him the Gentleman Vsher of the priuie Councell carrying vpon his shoulder in open sight his mace grauen and imbossed with the Kings Armes after the Gentleman Vsher followed next the Clarke of the Signet who carried the Scale as the vse is when the Lord Chauncellor rideth his circuits into the Countrey on either side of this Clarke of the Signet marched one of the two kinges of Armes of our Lord the King enrobed with their coates of Armes to wit Mont-ioye the chiefe king of Armes of France and Normandie here came to meete the Lorde Chancellor the Bishop of Cambray Thomas de Pleures Knight Chancellor to the Archduke the Lorde Earle of Nassau the Lorde of Fiennes and diuers others both Knightes and Squiers most of them of the Archdukes Councell The Bishop addressing himselfe towards the Chancellor signified vnto him that the Lordes of his companie were sent by the Archduke his Master to informe him that the saide Lorde Archduke was most ioyfull of his ariuall and likewise of that of all the other Lords in traine with him that they were al the welcōmest men that might be with other faire speeches gentle greetings sweete salutations all this nobilitie doing great reuerence and honour to the L. Chancellor and giuing princely entertainement to all the Nobles of his troupe for the which the L. Chancellor returned most honorable thankes to the Archduke and to the other Lordes who were come thither in his behalfe And soone after they on both sides tooke their way to goe vnto the Cittie As the whole company arriued at the entrance of the Suburbes the Chancellor was met by the Archduke himselfe who to receiue him the more honorablie and to meete him by the way was departed on horsebacke from the Abbey of Saint Vas in the Cittie of Arras and had passed cleane through the greatest streete thereof And so soone as the Archduke accompanied with a great number both of Knightes of his order with Squiers and other officers of his household who were marshalled on euery side to make way and place for the Chancellor and those of his traine to passe perceiued the Chancellor hee put his hand to his hatte and vncouering his head hastened on his Mule to march towards the Lorde Chancellor whom hee embraced holding still his hat in hand and there gaue him the gentle welcome demaunding him in this manner How dooth my Lorde the King To whom the Chancellor answered very well God bee thanked as hee intended to declare vnto him more amply The like great entertainement gaue this Archduke to the Lordes of Rauestain and la Gruture saluting graciously the Masters of Requests and the other of the Kings Counsaile who were there present After many friendly speeches and countenances past betweene the Archduke the Chancellor and the Lorde Rauestain the Archduke holding still his hatte in his hand and would not bee couered except the Chancellor would also put on the Archduke and the Chancellor roade on their way to enter into the Cittie the Chancellor still holding the right hand and the Gentleman Vsher to the Kings Councel bearing vp his mace in open sight and the Clarke of the Signet hauing the Kinges seale vpon his backe as the custome is when the Chancellor rideth thorough the Kingdome and the two Kinges of Armes in their order nor was there any other there on the behalfe of the Archduke or Chancellor which thing was and hath been greatly noted as well by the Archdukes people and officers as by the other Cittisens and Countrie whereof there was no small number both within the Cittie and without thither flocked to beholde this their magnificent entrance Thus the Archduke conducted along the Lorde Chancellor still parling vnto him vncouering his head oftentimes and by no meanes would not put on againe except the Chancellor were couered as soone as hee and thus did hee bring him along vnto the verie porch of the cloyster of the great Church whence the Archduke would by all force carrie him into the Bishops Pallace in the which the Lorde Chancellor hath alwaies been lodged nor coulde the entreaties and requests which the Chancellor made vnto him to content himselfe that hee had done so much vnto him for the honour of his King preuaile any thing at all Vpon these enterparlies the Archduke departing from the Chancellor withdrew himselfe into the Cittie of Arras to his lodging in Saint Vas his Abbey and the Lorde Chancellor into the Bishops pallace accompanied with the Earle of Nassau and other great personages of the Archdukes house and afterward euerie one of the Chancellors trayne retyred themselues into such lodgings as the herbingers had appoynted for them After many goings and commings to and fro which by the Lorde Bishoppe Thomas de Pleures the Countie Nassau the Lord of Mont-labais and other of the Archdukes officers during all the dayes of Munday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday following being the first second third and fourth of Iuly were made to the Chauncellour into his lodging to treate and conclude vpon some poynts and articles propounded by the Kinges Proctor generall in his Courte of Parliament The said matters comming to an issue upon thursdaye request was made by the Archdukes officers to the Lorde Chancellor that
he would prepare himselfe to receiue the Homage which the saide Archduke was bound to doe to the King by reason of his Peere-dome and Earledome of Flanders and likewise for his Countries of Artois and Charrolois and other territories helde of the King our Soueraigne because of his Crowne and for this purpose to assigne a daye and hower to the Archduke to the end hee might come to him to doe his Homage To whom the Chauncellor gaue this aunswere that vpon the morrowe which was Friday and the fift daye of the moneth were it about nine or ten a clocke in the morning hee shoulde bee readie to take it the which both daye and houre were accepted by those the Archdukes officers For this purpose the Lord Chauncellor gaue commaundement to prouide and set in order a place in the second great hall of his lodging the which should bee hanged rounde about with rich Tapistries and therein another little place to be mounted higher then the rest by two steppes where should bee set a chayre of estate costly trimmed and couered with flower de luces euery where embrodered in golde on the which hee would bee seated during the dooing of this Homage and gaue them the wordes which were to bee pronounced touching this Homage which was all done accordingly Fryday being come about the hower of ten a clocke in the morning the Chancellor being in his chamber accompanied with the Masters of Requestes of the Kings house those of his Counsell the Baylie of Amiens and all the rest aboue named worde was brought him by Master Thomas de Pleures and by others the Archdukes officers how the Archduke was departed from his lodging and was comming towards him to doe his Homage and that hee shoulde dispose and seate himselfe in place conuenient to receiue the same To whome the Chauncellor replied that so soone as hee shoulde appeare in the place appoynted for the receite thereof he was and woulde bee readie Two seuerall times beside this came there other his officers both of his Chamberlains and Secretaries to tell him the first time how the Archduke was arriued in the first hall which ioyned to the second albeit the Chancellor moued not a whit therefore And at the second time for that those officers affirmed their Lorde the Archduke was entered into the second hall as true it was and also for that the Lorde de la Gruture and Master Robert de Framezelles the Kings Chamberlaine who with the Lorde de Rauestain had accompanied the Archduke from his lodging into the said second great hall came to certifie the Chauncellour how the Archduke was alreadie in the proper place appoynted and prouided for the saide Homage then the Chancellor attyred in a robe of Crymson Veluet and with his hat on his head came onely foorth of his chamber which ioyned close to the great hall in manner as followeth You must then knowe the Lord Chancellor had before him the Gentleman Vsher of the priuie Counsell carying his Mace aloft in open sight who so soone as hee was come foorth of the Chamber and entered into the second great hall because therein was alreadie so great a number of people thronging one on another as wel of the Archdukes officers as of others that a man coulde hardly turne himselfe beganne with a loude voyce to crye out in these wordes three or foure times Roome Roome make Roome my masters giue place there before After the saide Vsher marched the two kings of Armes of our King enrobed with our Kinges coates of Armes then followed the Chauncellour and after him the Masters of Requestes of the priuie Counsell and then the Notaries and Secretaries of the King our Lorde with whom I was And for that the Lorde Chancellor gaue me commaund before his departure out of his chamber that I should take vp some place fit to beholde the saide Homage and to heare as well the wordes of him as of the Archduke which should be vttered and spoken by them both and to set downe the same in writing as I might best deuise I was not negligent to doe it And you must knowe as the Chancellor approached the chayre wherein hee was to sitte downe the Archduke who stoode hard by it attending the comming of the saide Lorde Chancellor put off his bonnet incontinent and thus bespake the Chancellor My Lorde GOD giue you good morrowe and with that bowed his head very low but the Chancellor without speaking any worde at all put onely his hand to his hat hee had on his head not dooing it off at all then sat him downe in his chayre and forthwith one of the kinges of Armes as order was giuen him b the Chauncellor cryed with a loude voyce three times Peace Silence keepe Silence there After this the Archduke bare headed presented himselfe to the Lorde Chancellor to doe his Homage saying My Lord I am come to you to doe the Homage which I am bound to doe to my Lorde the King touching my Peere-dome and Countries of Flanders Artois and Charrolois the which I holde of my Lorde the King by the right of his Crowne Then the Lorde Chauncellour sitting in his chayre his hat vpon his head demanded him whether hee had any girdle dagger or other weapon to whome the Archduke lifting vp the laps of his cote which was vngirded replied hee had none So soone as hee had so saide the Chauncellor put both his two hands betweene his owne and holding them so fast ioyned together the Archduke would haue bowed himselfe downe making shew to fall on his knees which the Chauncellor woulde not permit him to do but in lifting him vp againe by his two hands which hee held fast as wee saide before spake these wordes Your good will suffiseth Then the Chauncellor began with him in this manner holding still his handes fast closed within his the saide Archduke standing all this while bare headed and forcing himselfe to fall vpon his knees You become the vassal of the King your Soueraign Lord and you doe him faith and liege Homage by reason of your Peere-dome and Earledome of Flanders and also of the Earledomes of Arthois and of Charrolois and of all other the landes which you holde which are of his demaynes and held of the King in right of his Crowne you promise to serue him vntill death inclusiuely towardes and againste all those who may liue and dye excepting none to procure his good and to auoyde his hurt and to carrie and acquire your selfe towards him as towards your Soueraine Lord. Whereunto the Archduke made this answere By my faith so I promise and so will I performe it This done and saide the Lorde Chauncellour vsed these wordes vnto him And I receiue you excepting the right of the King in other thinges and others in all Afterward hee turned his cheeke to him on the which the Lord Chauncellor kist him When the Archduke requested and demanded at the Chancellors handes letters testimoniall of the receite of the said homage which the Chancellor commanded me to dispatch and giue him Then the Chancellor rose vp from his chaire and vncouering his head did his reuerence to the Archduke with these tearmes My Lord I did euen nowe supply the office of a King representing his person and at this present I am but Guy of Rochefort your most humble seruant alwayes ready to serue you towardes the King my Soueraigne Lord and Master in whatsoeuer it shall please you to commaund me whereof the Archduke gaue him many harty thāks with these curteous words my Lorde Chancellor I thanke you and beseech you euermore that you will in all mine affaires towardes my Lorde the King thinke vpon me and haue me in remembrance Witnes my manual seale put hereunto the first day of August 1499. Sic Signatum AMYS A true Copy taken forth of the Royall Recordes registred in the Court of Parliament of Paris thus signed DV TJLLEL TO THE WORTHIE AND FAVOROR OF ALL VERTVES MASTER RICHARD SONDS SONNE and heire to the right Worshipfull Michael Sondes Esquier SIr the duetie I owe vnto you proceeding of so many infinit curtisies in all bountiful measure receiued as well in your forraine trauailes as in your home aboad haue of long time been a continuall spurre to my weake forces to finde some defence against that threatning monster ingratitude finding wayward fortune still waspishe in her wonted manner euen loath to affoord me a good looke am constrained lest I should be of you and the worlde condemned to take this poore occasion to shew mine affectionate mind not meaning thereby to make this a shew of a satisfaction for so great a debt but onely in part in cutte off the consuming interest and to confesse vnto you in the witnesse of the world a further duetie to bee accomplished And knowing in parte the earnest desire you haue alwaies had to see into forraine States and acquaint your selfe with the diuers manners of nations I finding here a wandering stranger by chance whom I perceiued fit to informe you of somewhat worthy the inquirie hauing now procured him a poore English weede I am bold to commend him vnto you hoping you wil not deny him your friendly patronage nor me your wonted fauour Yours wholly deuoted Richard Sergier
His Maiesty knoweth too well that hee cannot purchase the grace of God if being aduanced by him into a more eminent than they in all maner of vertuous actions Hee sheweth already by the diligence which he vseth in feats of armes that as he is far gone in the iourny of his age and ther remaining for him so many things to be done in the world the honour and labour whereof it seemeth that God hath reserued for him he wil imitate the birds of the more northen nations where the day hauing but one hower of length they flie more couragiously more swiftly then any other of the aire For he hath in a small time reduced into his obedience the most of the people of his kingdome and sheweth them by the mild dealing he vseth towards them that he hath conquered them not for his owne particular good but to bring them into their greater ease and securitie Alreadie his Maiesty doeth meditate nothing els but to make of his court the cabinet of the most excellent rarest thinges of the earth and that therein shall be found the most vertuous honest and best accomplished men of this world Vertue shall be in esteem if euer it were he pretendeth so soon as he shal haue satisfied those vnto whom his people miserable as it is hath for their follies past constrained to promise recompences quite to abolish or so to moderate the taxes that his poore subiectes shal haue cause for euer to pray vnto the Almightie for him and his memorie therefore may be sacred to all posteritie He is not ignorant how by the too great excesse of the saide taxes his people remaineth in languishing sort the nobilitie who followeth him is made poor because the Pezant cannot nor dare not till the lands of the nobility of others for fear of the said taxes by means wherof the groūd should ly barren without tillage the Nobilitie which hath no other riches but of the glebe soyl can no longer follow and serue him nor the people of the country or husbandman the verie forge of all commodities of the kingdome succour him any longer Yee then of the Nobility if there bee any of this qualitie who wil against the deuoir of his profession weare the skarfe of the League in steed of our white collour of the flowres de Luce of France what honor think you to leaue to your children to say that you haue fostered and nourished this mostrous Hydra the league which hath brought foorth vnto vs our children so many mischiefs and miseries See you that you stop vp the light and brightnes of your races vnder the sinders of your rebellion Take ye take ye the collour of your brethren and permit not that your noble race remaine vilanized stayned and spotted with treason towads your selues and towardes you countrie And you good people whose prosperity is so much different from that in which our deceased kings and fathers left you behould the surface of our poore country aunciently adorned with your goodly buildings I cānot speak this without teares nowe desert rugged and without tillage Where is this liberty promised you by the league Alas As said I thinke Theophrastus ' to the Greekes They haue put in too much vinegre where is this abolition of taxes Alas they are six fold as many as they were before Where is this restablishment of religion Alas they haue beaten downe to the grounde and profaned your churches the priests themselues taking armes haue run into a thousande villainies Consider that there is in Fraunce neither iustice nor publik force but from your king which may sauegard ye from iniury Perceaue ye not how you empouerish your selues daly and that these hunger-starued gouernors whose rebellion ye nourish will stifle you one of these daies to haue your bloud will flea you to haue your skins seeing that amongst them the richest hath nought to liue vpon if it be not vpon your substance nor any commoditie which they forge not alreadie vpon your battered Anuile Liue liue vnder your king and vnder his lawes chace far from you these hireling-preachers of sedition this miserable fierers and destroyers of our countrie it is not religion but rebellion they preach away with them The Duke de Maine acknowledgeth alreadie that he hath bene deceiued and abused by them All the world knoweth it and there is hope seeing that the Crowne as said Titus Vespatians son called for his vertue and goodnesse the delight and darling of the worlde is a gift of God bestowed on him whome hee pleaseth by his onlie hand and pure will that the said Duke of Maine will reknowledge his Maiestie for his King and will repose more confidence in him than in any other prince liuing Well hee knoweth that the Maximees of Spaine are first to make a hande of them who aide them in the Conquest of their prouinces saying iustlie that they cānot credit the faith of them who haue failed in that which they owe to their owne countrie and when all that were not so neuer was there man who followed them but is dead miserably The said Duke of Maine hath done but too much for his part when hee had had place but to reuenge the death of his brethrē wherunto K. Henry the 4. was neuer consenting If he passe further he remaneth for euer most culpable and blameworthy Let him not then let slip this good occasion whilest the time is that he may come in and yeeld himself to his king with honor making shew of the common pretext of religion of no other thing to haue mooued him to take armes and let him call to minde how hee hath to deale with a kinge of France who shal neuer be without successor to reuenge all iniuries that his maiesty may one day come to an accord with the K. of Spaine and so then by that meane this Duke may remaine oppressed and of small esteeme Let him confesse that euery Christian ought to leuell onely at the saluation of his soule the which he can neuer obtain at Gods hands nor any good for his children but in restoring vnto his kinge that which he detained vniustly from his kingdome against the dutie of a subtect a vassall and an officer to the crowne FINIS A COPIE OF SPECIALL RECORD OF THE Homage done by Philip Archduke of Austria Earle of Flanders c. to the most Christian King of France Lewes the twelft of that name in the yeare 1499. Iohn Amys Notary and Secretary to the King our Soueraigne For somuch as it hath pleased the Noble and puissant L. Monsieur Guy of Rochefort Knight Lord of Pleuuot and of Labergemant Chauncellour of Fraunce as well of his fauour to preferre mee as to commaund and inioyne me to take a copy of the receipte of an Homage done to the King our gracious Lorde in his person by the most high most puissant Prince the Lord Philip sonne to the King of Romains Arch-duke of