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
to Peter of Bourbon Ioane the wife of Lewis Duke of Orleans after King of France the 12. of that name Charles his successor and Francis who died likewise in his infancy In the end Charles going to suppresse the practices of his sonne in Daulphiné and the neighbour Prouinces Lewis abandons the country and retyres to Philip Duke of Bourgongne at whose charge he was entertained six yeares Charles being deceased Philip of Bourgongne to perfect this good office ofhospitality to Lewis accompanied with Charles Earle of Charolois his sonne Iames of Bourgongne Earle of Estampes Adolfe Duke of Cleues the Lord of Rauestin his brother nephewes to the said Philip the Earles of Nassau and S. Pol and with many other Noblemen of the lowe countries conducted him into France with foure thousand horse well appointed chosen among a hundred thousand fighting men the which Philip had leauied vppon a brute that some Noblemen of the country would aduance Charles the younger brother of Lewis to the Crowne Iohn Duke of Bourbon the Duke of Orleans as well for his old age as for that he mourned for King Charles deceased came not from Paris Peter and Iames of Bourbon brethren the Earles of Armaignac Eu Vendosme Dunois GraÌ„dpré Philip of Sauoy with the greatest part of the Princes Noblemen and Officers of the Crowne go to meete him and conduct him to Rheims where he is solemnly annointed crowned by Iohn Iuuenall of Vrsins Archbishop of that place assisted by the Cardinal of Constance the Patriarke of Antioch the Popes Legat 4. Archbishops 17. Bishops 6. Abots the 15. of August 1461. being about 38. yeares of age Two daies after Philip did him homage for his Duchy of Bourgongne as Peere and Deane of the Peeres of France for the Earledom of Flanders as a peere of France and for the county of Artois all other lands he held of the crowne TheÌ„ made he a sumptuous stately entry into Paris with very ioyfull acclamations of the people as you may see at large in the Originalls He lesome admonitions of Philip to Lâ—wiâ— After mâ—â—y sports tourneies publike feasts Philip taking leaue of the King exhorts him to lay aside all hatred and splene conceiued against some of his fathers ancient seruants from â—hom he should draw as many good seruices as they had giueÌ„ testimonies of their loialties to their lawfull Master to liue in loue and vnity with his brother Charles and to aduance him according to the degree he held within the realme Lewis was no sooner installed but the Inhabitants of Rheims minister an occasioÌ„ to imploy the first fruits of his forces About S. Remy the collectors of imposts were slaine their contracts burnt in open street The King sends thither many souldiars disguised like mâ—rchants laboreâ—s who entring secretly at diuers gates become the stroÌ„ger and aâ—e preâ—ently followed by some troupes led by the Lord of Mouy who seize vpon the towne takes 80. or a 100. of the most culpable puts theÌ„ to death suppresseth the mutinie About the end of the yeare Lewis made a progresse into Touraine where the Earle of Charolois comÌ„ing fâ—oÌ„ the pilgrimage of S. Claude did visit him the King in regard of the kindnes he had receiued froÌ„ Philip giueshim the gouernmeÌ„t of Normandy â—uery Franck iâ— worth two shilliâ—gs The Duke of Aâ—â—nson inlarged with 36000. frankes yearly pensioÌ„ for the non paiment wherof there wil soone grow great dissentioÌ„s ciuil wars In sooth the words of a prince shold be held for Oracles neyther shold he be lesse iudicious then coÌ„nstant in his promises The Duke of Alencon was set at liberty whoÌ„ Charles the 7. had restrained But oh the vanity of man we shall him hereafter a prisoner condemned vnder his authoritie 1462. who now giues him both life and libertie Then the King gaue to his brother the Dukedome of Berry for his portion and assigned the Queene his Mothers dowrie who shall not long enioy it but dies in the yeare 1463. in the Countie of Xaintonge with the towne and gouerment of Rochell Chinon Pezenas and other places Then he went in pilgrimage to S. Sauueur of Redon in Brittanie where the Duke did homage for this said Duchie the Countie of Monfort and other places he held of the Crowne But deuotion did not so much draw Lewis into Brittanie as a desire to discouer the Dukes affection his country and his forces whom he held in iealousie the which shall easily draw the Duke into the vnion of malcontents as we shall soone see which will fall out happily for him to disappoint the King of the prey he haunted after in Brittanie Lewis in the meane time carelesse of Philips aduise not able well to endure the sight of his fathers spies whom he accused as the motiues of his disgrace changeth the gouernours of Prouinces and most of the Officers both for Iustice and warre he placeth new being chosen out of those that had beene companions of his fortune the which to agrauate they called a banishment imputing it to them that were displaced Moreouer he prohibited all Princes Noblemen and Gentlemen the sport of Hawking and Hunting vnder great and odious punishments no further then he should permit a second fire-brand of the following combustions Now the King of Arragon seeking to reduce his rebellious subiects of Barzellone to their duties by force ingageth the Countie of Roussillon to Lewis for three hundred thousand Crownes whereof he receiued fiftie thousand presently being followed with a goodly and mighty armie Lewis purchaseth the Countie of Roussillon to succour the said King vnder the command of Iames of Armaignac Duke of Nemours Henry King of Castill complaines by his Ambassadors of these succours giuen to his aduersarie which was a breach of the League betwixt France and Castill The King as well to end this quarrell as that which Blande the onely daughter and heire of the King of Nauarre wife to the said King of Arragon had with the King of Castill by reason of some places in Nauarre he goes to Bourdeaux and there concludes the mariage of Magdaleine of France his sister with Gaston the eldest sonne to the Earle of Foix and presumptiue heire of Nauarre who lay hurt at Libourne with a Lance at a Tourney whereof he dyed leauing a sonne and a daughter Francis Phoebus his successour who raigned but one yeare and Katherine who succeeded him and was married to Iohn of Albret then he goes to Bayonne where the King of Castill comes vnto him and ends all controuersies A dangerous and fatall enteruiew for these two great Princes the most strictly allied of all Christendom of ancient from King to King from realme to realme and man to man bound by great curses to maintaine this necessarie league the which neuer yet had any breach and they now conceiued a contempt disdaine one of an other The â—rench of the Castillians sumptuousnesse and pride
long Hayre by the which hee was hanged King Lewis then did alwayes say That Pride carried Ruine behinde him A Heart which knowes from whence the good comes which it inioyeth is alwayes an enemy to Pride So there is but a moment betwixt Glory and Ruine Great Trees are long in growing but are rooted â—p in an instant And it is true if the Duke of Biron had had a Brayne he had not lost his Head and had not brought it into the handes of his Princes Iustice whom hee had so much offended The Marshall Bâ—â—ons Virtues This Marshall had goodly parts communicable to fewe his Valour was admirable and happy in all his incounters of an inuincible Courage infatigable and neuer tired with any toyle continuing ordinâ—rily fifteeene dayes together on Horse-backe He was not inclined to Volâ—ptuousnesâ—e nor much to the loue of Women sober ynough the which began to quench that furious humour as Intemperancy greatnesse increased or that Rest did moderate his boyling passions He was extremely Vaine-glorious His Vanity Glory yea sometimes he would refuse his meate and content himselfe with little to feede his Fantasie with Glory and Vanity He was of a meane stature Blacke reasonable grosse hollow eyd and rough in speech and conuersation He was aduenturous in War Ambitious beyond all measure The excesse of his Ambition made him to braue it without iudgement He became so presumptuous as he thought that the King nor France could not subsist without him He was become ill-tounged speaking ill of all the Princes threatning the Parliaments and the Officers of Iust ce some with death and to dispossesse others of their places He was aduanced from the meanest to the highest degrees of Honours of a simple Souldiar hee became a Captaine then a Colonell afterwards Admirall and Marshall and in the ende Lieutenant of the Kings Armies and in his Heart he aspired to be Duke of Burgundy Son in Lawe to the Duke of Sauoy A comparison betwixt Silla and the Duke of Biron and Nephew to the King of Spaine If Sylla were Resolute Cruell and Bloudy he yeelded nothing to all men together If he were Valiant this man exceeded him by ten degrees and all the Romaine Princes together Their Actions and their ends were almost alike but that Sylla died after he had vanquished this before he could vanquish and in the middest of his Course did feele the Vengeance of Gods wrath His Credit and how hee was esteemed Howsoeuer he had wonne the Souldiars hearts to whom hee gaue all liberty he purchased credit with them that had neuer seene him for they that had seene and felt him wished him at the Indâ—es and made Strangers admire his valour the Constable of Castille in the Franche-County the Archduke at Amiens and the Marquis of Waranbon in Artois whom he made to pay forty thousand Crownes for his ransome with many Spaniards which he caused to be hanged sodainly for that they had called him Baron Moreouer the Kings exceeding fauours the prayses wherewith he did publikely honour him his admirable fortune his coÌ„ming to the restoring of the last ruines of the State like to an other Camillus to deliuer the Capitoll had made him not onely famous throughout all Europe fearefull to all the neighbours but necessary for France Behold a man that was happy full of content which held Fortune captiue withall her treasures he coÌ„manded the felicities of this world he had Glory Honour Riches those gifts which Fortune imparts to her darlings He was raised to the top of Fortunes wheele but he fell for he that gouerns the Helme and all her motions could no longer endure his insolency and vanity Sequitur superbos vltor a tergo Deus The causes of his ruine are infinite Shame followeâ— Pride the contempt of piety is the chieâ—e this ground taken away all vices abound and as the seruant said to King Atraeus O Prince follow the infallible way of Piety your Scepter shal be durable for wheras Faith Holines hath no place there is no happines the reason is for that without God we hold all things indifferent the Law folly Iustice frensie and Faith a fantasie we hold the words of vertue vice to be idle wheras the feare trust in God limits our passions insatiable desires so as gouerning our actions by a iust proportion we cannot erre â—e was oftentimes seen to iest at the Masse to laugh at theÌ„ of the Reformed Religion with whoÌ„ he had bin bred vp from his infancy â—or at the age of eight yeares the Lady of Brisambourg his Fathers sister being of the reformed Religion did so affect him for his actiue disposition as she demanded him of his Mother the which she granted froÌ„ that time she made him her onely heire Vntill the age of 16. yeares he was called Charles of Gontault for then he had an elder brother which died since at the Duke of Alançons voyage into Flanders bred vp at Brisambourg nere vnto S. Iean d' Angely where he was nothing giuen to his booke but wholy inclined to Armes for which consideration his Father the Marshall Biron a Martiall Man then a Catholike â—ooke him froÌ„ his Aunt led him for a while with him through the Countries of Xaintonge Aulins Angoulmois where he caused him to be instructed in the Catholike Religion but vpon false principles which he did learne of some Courtiars he did often mocke at all Religion The second cause of his ruine was the alteration of his Fortune After the death of his elder Brother his father caused him to be called Baron of Biron brought him to Court where at the first he had a quarrell with the Lord of Carency son to the Earle of la Vauguion the which was ended by a Combat of three against three Biron Loignac Ienissac of the one side slue Carency Estissac and la Bastie their quarrell grew for the heyer of Caumont which either of theÌ„ affected in mariage yet neither of theÌ„ had her The Duke of EspernoÌ„ got his pardoÌ„ the which was coÌ„firmed through the credit which his father had theÌ„ in Court Some say that being thus in troble he went disguised like a Carrier of Letters He went to a Mathematicien to know his Fortune vnto one la Brosse a great MathematiciaÌ„ whoÌ„ they â—eid to be skilful in casting of Natiuities to whom he shewed his Natiuity drawn by some other And disseÌ„bling it to be his he said it was a Gentlemans whom he serued that he desired to know what end that man should haue La Brosse hauing rectified this figure said vnto him That he was of a good house no elder then you are said he to the Baron asking him if it were his the Baron answered him I wil not tell you But tel me said he what his Life his meanes end shal be This good old man who was then in a little Garret which serued
their owne After this he attempted no more against them and the greatest part of Bourgongne returned to the children of Gondebault But in the end both Prouence and Bourgongne shall bee incorporated to the Crowne by diuerse accidents the which we will note in diuerse places Clouis cruell practisâ—s to become great Clouis suruiued fiue yeares after all these losses remaining commonly at Paris hauing no heroicke mind to attempt any great conquests yet of a cruell disposition which made him die with desire of other mens goods Hee imployed all his wits to put his kinsmen to death hauing some â—eignieuries included within the compasse of his great monarchie with an imagination â—o leaue his children a great estate vnited In this desseine he puts to death Chararic to haue Amyens Ragnachatre to become maister of Cambray and Sigâ—bert to haue no companion at Mets although he were acknowleged in all these places for soueraigne This rauishing of other mens goods was vnexcusable but his tragicall proceedings to haue it was more detestable I tremble to represent the horror of these execrable crimes you may reade them in the originall of Gregorie of Tourâ— The truth of the historie requires they should bee registred but reason would haue the memory of so dangerous examples buried in obliuion I desire to be dispensed withall if I discourse not of these monstrous enormities A modest tragedie goares not the scaffold with the bloud of Iphigenia being content to report by a messenger that she was slaine by her fathers coÌ„mand drawing a curteine to hide the blood But if any one will vrge me with the debt which a historie doth owe I will say that Clouis caused Chararic to be slaine hauing seized on him and his sonne and condemned them to monastery As they were cutting of their haire the sonne seeing his father weepe bitterly said These greene branches will grow againe meaning the haire they cut off for the stocke is not dead but God will suffer him to perish that causeth them to bee cut off Horrible murthers coÌ„mitted by Câ—ouis Clouis aduertised of this free speech They complaine for the losse of their haire sayes hee let their heads bee cut off And so they were both put to death To get Ragnachaire who had faithfully serued him both against Sâ—agrius and in all his other enterprises hee corrupted some of his domesticall seruants with promise of great rewards in token wherof he sent them bracelets of latten guilt These traitors bring him Ranachaire and his brother with their hands and feete bound Hee beholding them Outcasts saith hee of our race vnworthie of the blood of Merouee are you not ashamed to suffer your selues to be thus bound you are vnworthy to liue repay the dishonour you haue done to our blood with your bloods and so gaue to eyther of them great blowes with a Battell Axe which he held in his hand 514. and slue them both in the presence of his Captaines and Councell But when 〈…〉 Traytors demanded their reward and complained of his Bracelets Auant saâ—th 〈◊〉 Traytors is it not enough that I suffer you to liue I loue the treason but I hate Trâ—ytors But the last exceeds the rest Hee perswades the sonne of Sigibert to kill his â—â—ther This infamous parricide murthers him and returnes to Clouis to put him in possession of his treasures whom he had thus massacred who being in the chamber and â—ending downe into a Chest to draw forth bagges full of gold hee caused his braiâ—es to be beaten out and being the stronger seized on Mets making a good shew to the people as ignorant of this murther Thus Clouis liued thus he reigned and thus he dyed in the yeare of our Lord 514. of the age of 45. the thirtith yeare of his reigne in the flower of his enterprises The death of 〈◊〉 in the Citty of Paris A Prince whom we must put in ballance to counterpeise his vertues with his vices valiant politick colde wise temperate diligent in execution His vertues his 〈◊〉 of admirable authoritie and indued with excellent politicke vertues fit for an estate Contrarywise hee was extreamly couetous ambitious wilfull cruâ—â—l bloudy infinitely giuen to the world immortalizing his good hap in this mortall life by his many enterprises the which hee feared not to execute with the losse of other mens goods and liues We must not wonder if we read of confusions in the following reignes wherein we shall first see bloud for bloud and the robber robbed spoiled dispoâ—sessed according to the trueth of Oracles Woe to thee that robbest for thou shalt bee robbed that killest for thou shalt be killed the same measure thou measurest shall be measured to thee againe Vnder his reigne the Romane Empire vanished quite into the West Spaine Gaule Italy and Germany were seized on by strange nations retaining no markes of the Romaine name The East had yet some shewes of the Empire whereof Constantinople was the seate Leo Zeno Anastasius Emperours liued in those dayes with many enemies The estatâ— of the Church shame and losse The Pope of Rome thrust himselfe forward amiddest these confusions and ruines recouering that which the Emperours had lost Leo Hilarie Simplicius Foelix Gelasius liued in those times learned men The Councell was held againe at Chalcedone against Eutiches and Dioscorus The 6. raigne vnder the foure sonnes of CLOVIS Childebert Clodamir Clotaire Thierry Who raigned togither forty and two yeares as Kings of France yet with a particular title â—nder this generall but in the end Clotaire remayned King alone And therefore their raignes are distinguished To this Coniunction of foure brethren some giue the sixt degree in the number of Kings and Childebert as the eldest beares the title CHILDEBERT the 6. King of France CHILDEBET KING OF FRANCE VI CLOVIS his desseine was to rule alone in a great vnited Kingdome but he sees his resolutions frustrate for this vaste bodie compounded of many peeces is scarce vnited but it is disioyned againe yea in his life time and the rest is diuided into foure parts to his children according to the lawes of nature but to the visible preâ—udice of the Estate incompatible of so many maisters as the following â—â—â—course will shewe A lesson both for great and small and a notable president of the vaâ—ity of humane enterprises where the end is not alwaies answerable to the beginning They take great paines to settle a firme estate which shal be soone dismembred either by lawe or force and that shal be dispersed sodeinly which was gathered togither too hastily Let euery one consider what hee leaues to his Children 515 for the which there is no warrantable caution but a good title These foure sonnes diuide the realme into foure Kingdomes Childebert was King of Paris and vnder this realme was comprehended the Prouinces of Poictou Maine Touraine Champaigne Aniou Guyenne and Auuergne Clotaire King of Soissons and the dependances of this realme were Vermandois Picardie
kills her son She therefore giues him a morsell mixte with a languishing poyson which caused him to consume of a bloudy flixe that as he had sâ—ilt the bloud of others so hee might die in bloud and that the same wretched counsell which had bin the sepulchre of his brother should likewise be his owne for a memorable example to posterity that God suffreth nothing vnpunished and doth often punish the wicked by themselues and by their owne practises Such was the tragicke ende of the troublesome life of Thierri But what shall become of Brunehault The Iustice of God goes slowly but he recompenceth the slownes with the grieuousnesse of the punishement Let vs then heare the continuance of our history Brunehault carries a good countenance after the death of Thierri She makes him a stately funerall like a â—ourney and of foure bastard sonnes which Thierri had left she chooseth him that pleaseth her best to install him King in his fathers place and in the meane time she continewes the gouernment of the reaâ—me and calles herselfe Regent To conclude she doth promise vnto herselfe in all her courses farre better successe then Fredegonde presuming that she exceeded her in iudgement and experience no man remayning to controule her actions but her discourses were vaine imaginations and her foolish hopes the snares of her owne ruine The Nobility of Bourgongne infinitely grieued with the horrible wickednes of this womaÌ„ resolute not to endure the new tiranny which she practâ—sed had recourse vnto Clotaire as to their true and lawful Lord. Brunehault playes the resolute she prepares to war sendes diuerse Ambassadors into Germanie the chiefe was Varnare Mayre of the Pallace of Austrasia a man of great authority both at home and with strangers Hauing sent him for succors to some Princes of Germany shee growes iealous of him without cause and sends a trustie seruant of hers named Albon to finde meanes to kill him Albon hauing read those deadly letters teares them but vnawares he lets fall the peeces of this letter the which are gathered vp and caried to Varnare who vpon this new accident takes a new aduise He resolues to crosse the practises of this murtheresse so well knowne and hatefull to all men who likewise would make away her best seruants who had beene too faithfull vnto her in the execution of her wicked desseines Varnare doth treate so politikely in Germany as hee with-drawes their hearts and forces from Brunehault and winnes them vnto Clotaire This Counterbattery thus made hee returnes into Bourgongne His returne bred an vnexpected change for she who had alwaies deceiued was deceiued in the end fell into the pittefall Varnare did not seeme to knowe what she had desseined whereby hee had meanes to countermine all Brunehaults policies with so wise a dissimulation by his great authority as he gaines all the chiefe men for Clotaire deliuers into his hands the children aforesaide pretended to be heires and by this means giues him an easie victory ouer Brunehaults troupes who yeelding vnto Clotaire deliuer vp this wicked woman the cause of all their miseryes So at length the Wolfe is taken vnawares Clotaire a victor was receiued by common consent of the Austrasiâ—ns and Bourguignons and by that meanes beeing absolute maister of that great inheritance of Clouis his grand-father beganne his reigne by a worthy act of memorable Iustice. Hauing in his power the chiefe motiue of all these mischiefes hee caused Brunehaults processe to be made by the greatest personages he could choose in all his dominions that in so notable an assembly the sentence might be irreprochable By their censures Brunehault was found culpable of infinite and horrible crimes and was condemned to die by a terrible and extraordinary punishement for she was tied to the tayle of a wild maâ—e and drawne through a stony and rough Country Brunehault put to a horrible death so as being torne into diuerse peeces she died at diuerse times most iustly as shee had cruelly caused many others to die A notable example to shewe that the greatest cannot auoid the soueraigne Iustice of God who punisheth in this world when it pleaseth him when he spareth them it is a signe that hee reserues the punishment to his last Iudgement 610 Thus died Brunehault onely commended in histories to haue built many temples giuen great reuenues for the mainteynance therof whilest that she wallowed in her pleasures Saint Gregorie hath set downe certaine letters of his to Brunehault wherein hee commends her highly for her piety and singular wisdome Clotaire seeing himselfe King of so great a monarchy after a long and horrible confusion of intestine warres imployed all his eare to pacifie the realme leauing notable examples to princes to cure the wounds of an Estate after ciuill warres by mildenes Hee doth publiquely proclaime pardon of all iniuries both generall and particular to abolish the memory to come making his example a lawe of perpetuall forgetfullnesse This moderation Mildnes a 〈◊〉 remedie to cuâ—e a decayed estate more victorious then any great and seuere chasticement wonne him the loue and obedience of his subiects and confirmed a true and no counterfiet concorde amongest the subiects themselues He gouerned them after their owne humours vsing his authority with mildenes And for that they had liued in the Court of Kings from whome they receiued aduancements and honours the which they could not do by their annuall offices as then the gouernments were hee erected perpetuall magistrates with such authority as it might well bee termed the true patterne of a royaltie The greatnes of the seruant is a blemish to the Master He then augmented the great authority of the Maires of the Palace who controlled Kings and in the end vsurped the royaltie whereas before they were but controllers of the Kings house and not of the realme A notable president for Princes in the settling of an estate not so to communicate their authority to their seruants whome they desire to gratifie as they may haue meanes to become maisters Clotaire layed the first stone in the chaunge which shall happen to his posterity He had one onely sonne whose name was Dagobert It was his greatest care to haue him well instructed committing him to Arnoul Bishop of Metz a learned man and of a good life and likewise to Sadragesille his gouernour But Dagobert discouered euen then his bad disposition intreating his gouernor Sadragesille vnworthily Wherewith Clotaire the King was wonderfully mooued against his sonne who shewed afterwards that this was but a preparatiue to that he would attempt against his owne father forceing him in his life time to giue him the realme of Austrasia for his portion This kinde of rebellion was the fruite of Clotaires too great lenity as also priuate quarells which bred great disorders in the Court. Thus wee see there is nothing absolutely perfect in this world Clotaire dies in the yeare of Chrst 631. hauing gouerned 44. yeares from
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
on by his wife Beatrex desirous to be called Queene like to her other sisters drawne headlong by the shewe of these goodly Crownes Câ—aâ—les Eâ—rle 〈…〉 Manâ—roy in Sicilâ—a suffereth himselfe to bee easily transported at the Popes intreaty Hee armes drawes vnto him a great nomber of French Nobility comes into Sicilia gâ—ues battell to Manfroy defeats and kills him making him to suffer the punishment of hâ—s cruell and wicked purchase the which he inioyed not full ten years For Charles Duke of Aniou became maister of these two Realmes in the yeare 1265. and Manfroy was confounded in his vniust desseigns After the death of Frederick the 2. the violent elections of Henry of Turinge and William of Holland feare retayning some and fury thrusting on others the Empire was in effect without an Emperor beeing without a guide by the furyes of ciuill confusions like to a great ship at sea beaten with the wind and waues without Sailes without Helme and without Pilot. 1257. Pope Vrbain pretending then that in the vacation of the Empire The Empire without an Emperâ—ur by 〈…〉 confuâ—ions the gouernment belonged to the Sea of Rome He created Charles of Aniou Vicar of the Empire and gaue him Tuscane vpon condition to succour the Sea of Rome against the Gibelins and Sueuians So at one instant Charles of Aniou was possessed of the two Realmes of Sicilia and Naples and the gouernment of the whole Empire Charles of Aniou Vâ—car oâ— the Empire King of Naplâ—s and Sicâ—lia But these two great dignities purchased by the Popes bountie must be countenanced by his vertues and this was the meanes Conradin the Sonne of Conrade was not dead as the Imposter Manfroy had giuen it out but hauing beene patient during these tempeâ—ts he had so well managed his hereditarie meanes as finding himselfe strong he sought to recouer his Realmes vsurped by Charles Duke of Aniou 〈◊〉 â—eeks to 〈◊〉 his realme Hauing incensed the Gibelins throughout all the Citties of Italie to drawe them to reuolt hee leuies a goodly Armie with the helpe of his friends and comes into Italie hauing in the meane time bred an alteration in Sicilia where many Citties were taken and Nocera in the Kingdome of Naples Conradin accompanied by many Noblemen which hunted after his doubtfull fortune but the chiefe were Frederick Duke of Austria and Henry the Sonne of the King of Castile Charles of Aniou besieged Nocera where Conradin resolued to charge him Hauing prouided for the siege he goes to encounter Conradin and hauing drawne him to fight by a stratagem hee defeates his Armie takes him prisoner Conradin defeâ—ted and with him Frederick of Austria and Henry of Castile with a great number of the Nobilitie This goodly and absolute victorie leading the Commanders prisoners in triumph should haue beene seasoned with the wise clemencie of our Lewis But Charles of Aniou his Brother had no portion with him in this excellent vertue whereby we haue seene that Philip their Grand-father in well vsing a victorie did purchase the name of Augustus and did consecrate it to the honourable memorie of his posteritie For Charles hauing these great Princes in his power by the Councell of Pope Clement the fourth Conradin beheaded cruelly by 〈◊〉 with many others beheaded the two first bathing the Scaffold with the bloud of twelue of the greatest Noblemen of the Armie and coopt vp Henry of Castile in a Cage of Iron to make him die hourely causing him to be carryed through all the Citties of Apulia and Beneuent in a most ignominious sort A reuenge which shall cost France deere at the Cicilian Euen-song But wee haue wandred enough in the confusions of Italie An ignominious reuenge Let vs now returne into France and to our Lewis Lewis beheld the tempestuous estate of Christendome a farre off which was the more incurable in Germanie and Italy for that the sick refused Phisicke and that darkenesse came from them whence light should haue proceeded Hee carried himselfe very coldly â—n the heate of these deuisions the which he could not redresse But seeing his realme in peace Lewis resâ—lues to goe into Asia and his authoritie firmely setled in the loue of his subiects and the amitie of his bretheren â—ore-seeing also that by the wisedome of his Mother hee might salue the inconuenience of his absence he resolued to succour the Christians afflicted by the miscreants both in Affricke and in the East Philip Augustus with the Emperouâ—s which had passed thether one after an other had nothing repaired their decayed Estate and the mischiefe came from the Christians themselues one opposite to another the which gaue great aduantage to their enemies as if they had purposâ—ly sought to fortifie them The Empire of the East was in a horrible confusion dismembred by home-bred deuisions The confused estate of the Easterne Empire which drew in the French and the Venetians One Alexis Ducas called Murzuphile hauing himselfe strangled another Alexis called the young and caused one Nicholas another Compeâ—â—tor in the Empire to bee slaine in the end hee is strangled himselfe The Theodâ—res Dâ—cas and Lascares being the greatest families contend for the Empire In the end Constantinople is taken by the French and Baldwin Earle of Flanders of whome wee haue spoken is chosen Emperour The Empire â—o the 〈◊〉 translâ—â—â—d vnto the French so as the Empire of Greece is transported to the French and deuided with the Venetians who at that time carried away the Isle of Canâ—â—e So as at one instant there were three Emperours in the East Baldwin Earle of Flanders at Constantinople Theodore Lascaris in Natolia in the Cittie of Nicea and the third was Alexis Coâ—â—nene at Trebisonde commanding ouer Cappadâ—cia and Colcida All this shall bee a prey to the enemies of Christendome 1258. But let vs returne to our Frenchmen Three Emperours at one instant in the East who leaue the certaine to runne after the vncertaine They scarse held this shadow of the Empire three score yeares Baldwin of Flanders was slaine Henrie his Brother dyed soone after Peter of Auxerre his Father in lawe succeeded rather in his miserie then in the Empire For going against Theodore Lascaris the other Emperour hee was taken and afflicted with the imprisonment of two yeares In the end he lost his head vpon a Scaffold leauing the shadow of the Empire to his Sonne Baldwin too young to gouerne a masse of affaires so confused So as by the aduise of Pope Gregorie Iohn of Breyne was giuen him for an assistant This Iohn of Breyne of whome wee haue spoken was a French Gentleman of meane calling who by his valour hauing taken the Cittie of Tyre became a Prince and after in the confusion of times as the most sufficient of these poore afflicted Christians was chosen King of Ierusalem the which was not yet in his possession So as finding himselfe too feeble for so waightie a burthen
Constable of Armagnâ—c should besiâ—ge Senlis and the better to countâ—nance his armes the King himselfe goes with the armie The Towne beeing preâ—â— they take a day to yeeld The siege of Senâ—â—s if by the 17. of Aprill they be not releeued Iohn of Luxembourg whome the Bourguignon had left in Picardy for the surety of those places gathers together what troupes hee can and comes at the day prefixed at which time the townsemen made a great sally vppon the Kâ—ngs Câ—mpe fyring their tents aâ—d pauillions The Constable moued with this affront cuts of the heads of fowre of their hostages and they kill six and forty of his men that were prisoners In the meane time Iohn of Luxembourg approcheth towards Creill meaning to fight 〈◊〉 the Constâ—ble vrging him by sundry skirmishes hauing sent Charlot Daillâ— towards Dampmartin with a good troupe to stoppe the passage The Constable fearing tâ—e euent of a battaile being loth to hazard the King worâ—d not ioyne but desirous to finde some honest colour to auoide the fight hee send 〈◊〉 trumpet The Constable retires with dishoâ—oâ—r to know who commanded these troâ—pes And vnderstanding it was 〈◊〉 Luxembourg hee answered in a brauery Seeing it is neither the Duke of â—ourgongne nor his sonne they aâ—e not for vs let vs go to Paris So he retuâ—â—es wâ—thout fighting whether the cheeâ—e of his affaires drew him not fore seeing the mischeefe which attended him by reason of this retreat being to preiudiciall to his honor for the Parisiens who hated him and yet feared him for the reputation of his vallour beganne nowe to contemne him nothing in this retreat a kinde of couardise as hauing refused to incounter Iohn of Luxembourg who had so brauely offered him the battaile The brute of this shamefull departure was publeshed by the Bourguignon faction to their masters aduantage 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 They imbrace this occasioÌ„ being â—oth the peoples heat shold growe cold by any better successe obseruing likewise that the King Daulphin Counstable Chancellor and all the cheefe of that partie were at Paris to be all surpâ—ised together The Duke of Bourgongne was vpon his returne from Sauois but he depaâ—ted not with out good instructions from the Empire But leauing the Bourguignons aâ—my in field let vs note the estate of that great Citty of Paris Perrinet Clerc a smith The 〈…〉 Iohn Thiebert a brother Perrin Bourdichon a Cooper such were they whome the Bourguignon had made his Colenells at Paris hauing practised all their frends with great secrecie and ingaged many they aduertise the Seignor of Lisâ—e Adam who was gouernour of Ponthoise for the Bourguignon of their enterprise the which was to deliuer him a gate and a good troupe of the Inhabitants within the hart of the Cittie so as they might haue soldiars to second there attempt Lisâ—e Adam accepts thereof and the euent was answerable to the desseine for these vnder-takers assigne him Saint Germains gate Perrinet hath the Keyes Lisle Adam presents himselfe at midnight being the houre appointed with eight hundred armed men He finds the gate open and Berrinet attending him Then he putts his men in battaile least he should be taken in disorder Perrinet shutts the gate and casts the Keyes into the ditch and then without any noise he marcheth with this troupe to the lesser Chastelet where he had left a squadron of fower hundred men vnder the great vault to lie more couerâ—lâ—e Lisâ—e Adam hauing wined his troupe with the Cittizens so as the one might assist the other he sends forth diuers troupes to giue the alarum in diuers quarters of the Cittie with charge to moue the people to armes Euery troupe marcheth spedely to his quarter as he is commanded crying out with a terrible voice in the dead of the night Rise good people peacâ— peace God saue the King and the good Duke of â—ourgongne At this noâ—â—e all rise some to hide themselues others to arme so as in short time a great multitude being armed wandeâ— vp and downe the streets readie to fight Their Captaines appoint them what houses of the Armâ—gnaâ—s they should force Thâ— Kiâ—â— tâ—ken The fiâ—st â—roupe must seaze vpon the King but before all was ready the alarâ—m was generall Such as had most interest are soonest vp Tannâ—guy of Chastell Prouost of Paris a very trustie seruant to the Daulphin wrapps him in a sheet and carries him into the Battaile The 〈…〉 himâ—â—â—â—e A good Leuiane which shall one day raise the dow and the hand of him that kneds it Some others also retired themselues thether which shall serue in thâ—s Scene Iohn Louuet Robâ—rt Masson the Vicont of Narbone Bouâ—i-quaut The Constable â—rmagâ—â—c in a disgused weed saues himselfe in a neighbours house But all this troupe flies to the Kings lodging at Saint Pol. These tribunes cause this poore sicke Prince to rise with out any respect they force him to promise what they â—lease and to ride through the Citty crying God saue the King and peace thinking by his presence to increase their troupe and to countenance their confusion This done euery troupe seekes his quarter and manie are taken The Chancelâ—o◠〈◊〉 The chancellor of Marle is surprised in his lodging and Raimonet De la Guerre whome were good supportters of the Armagnac faction many presidents Councellors and masters of the Accowmpâ—s were taken with out any respect of persons The Cardinalls of Bar and Saint Marc the Archâ—bishop of Rheims the Bishops of Senlis Bayeux Constanâ—â— were carried away and imprisoned all the prisons are filled with honorable persons But what is become of the Daulplin and Constable they serch they hunt in all places yet finding nothing they commande by sound of trompet that euery man should presently vpon paine of death discouer the Armagnacs The Daulphin was safe but the Constable discouered by his host is taken carried away by one of these Tribuneâ— and imprisoned hee was in danger as he past through the streets riding behind him that had him in gard Thus was the night spent vntill day yet without any murther and it seemes this was by commandement This happened in the yeare 1418. the 25. of May a pleasant day The Constable taken the forerunner of a mournfull winter The Daulphin hauing escaped this danger miraculously by the good aduice of Tannegâ—y of Chastell he resolues to do his best in retyring himselfe else where and not to hazard his person with this furious and murtherous people By the faithfull meanes of this good seruant he goes forth secretly in the night and slipps into Melun leaping from place to place like a bird that flies from bough to bough From Melun he goes to Nemours whether hee sends for his most â—â—ustâ—e seruants of whose helpes he had neuer greater neede The Marshall of Rieux comes vnto him with many of the Nobility they consult of the meanes to recouer Paris before it be supplied with soldiars So they
〈◊〉 in the King if he heard thereof he caused them to be trussed vp in packes of silke with cotton These armes passing vpon moyles through Aâ—uergne The Duke of 〈◊〉 armes 〈◊〉 Doyac Gouerâ—or â—f the Country had some intelligence and aduertiseth the King thereof who dâ—clâ—reâ— them forfeited to the benefit of Doyac This buying of armes made Lewis to gâ—pe more then euer after Brittain but he defâ—r the execution to practise the Gouernors of Gand by the Lord of Cordes and treats tâ—e mâ—rrâ—age of the Daulphin his son with Marguerit the daughteâ— of Maximilian and 〈◊〉 lately deceased The late suâ—prise of Aire by de Cordes amazed the Flemings and 〈◊〉 made theÌ„ willing to seeke an agrement with the King To this end Maximiâ—â—â—n they togither send a great Ambassage to Arras managed for the Arche-duke bâ— the Lords of Bâ—rgues and Launoye â—iâ—h some Secretarâ—es and for the Comonalties bâ— the Abbots of S. Bâ—rtin and Saint Peter of Gand. â—he King appoints his Lieutenant generâ—ll in Picardie to heare theÌ„ with la Vacquâ—rie lately created first President of the 〈◊〉 of Paris and other graue peâ—sonâ—ges A peace is concluded by meanes of 〈…〉 marriage in fauor whereof they giue as a portion to the sayd Marguerit the 〈◊〉 of Arthois Bourgongne the Lands and Seigneuries of Mâ—sconois Auxerrois Châ—rolois Salins Bar Sens and Noyon to enioye them for euer A peace betwixt the King and Maximilian And in case that young 〈◊〉 Earle of Flanders should die Marguerite should succeed him in all the Lordships that belonged to her deceased mother the souerainty of Flanders remayning to the King By meanes hereof the Artesiâ—ns that haâ— beene confined returned to Arras and the Citty recouered her ancient name Thus Marguerite was conducted into France by the Lady of Rauastein the bastard dâ—â—ghter of â—hilip Duke of Bourgongne and receiued by the Duke Duchesse of Bourbon who lâ—d her to Amboise the place of the Daulphins abâ—ade where the marriage â—as solâ—emnly celebrated Eâ—ward King of England was wonderfully inceâ—sed at this maâ—riage seing himâ—elfe depriued of hâ—â— peâ—sion The Dâ—ulphins mâ—rriage with Maâ—guerite and fearing least this disgrace should bâ—eed him great contempt yea a rebellioÌ„ of his subiects seing the effects of that which he would not beleeue Moreouer he did finde the King had newly planted strong defences betwixt them two and his conquests did stretch very neere vnto him He concâ—â—â—ed so great a griefe vpon all these considerations as soone after he died partly for 〈◊〉 and partly of an Apoplexie Soonâ— after the death of Edward Lewis recâ—â—â—es letters frâ—m the Duke of Glocester Edward of England dies who by the murther of his two Nephewes tâ—e sonnes of Edward his brother had vsuâ—ped the Crowne of England and was called Richard This Richard sought the Kings friendship but Lewis abhoring so barbarous a câ—uelâ—ie would not vouchsaâ—e to answere his letters nor to heare his message But he enioyed not long this tirannous vsurpation Troubles it England Richard murthers his two Nephews vsurpes the Crowne God raised vp that Earle of Ricâ—emont whome we haue seene so long prisoner in Brittain who with some little money froÌ„ the King and 3. thousand men leuied in the Duchie of Normandy passed into Walles ioyned with his father in law the Lord Stanley with 26. thousand English with which forces he encouÌ„tred Richard fought with him and slewe him in the field then waâ— câ—owned King of England At the same time William of Marche brother to him whom tâ—ey commonly caâ—led the Boare of Ardenne to install his sonne in the Bishoprike of Lâ—ege leaues a great number of foote and horse and beseegeth Lewis brother to the Duke of Bourbon being Bishop there The Bishop craues succors froÌ„ the Arche-duke of Austria and the Prince of Orange his brother in lawe who not able to come in time anâ—â—â—est by some secret partisans of la Marche he goes forth in armes to fight with his enemy was slaine whereby la Marche entred into Leige but soone after he was surprised by the Lord of Montaigni aided with some troupes froÌ„ the Archduke sodenly beheaded 1483. Our Lewis is now well satisfied touching the affaires of Flanders there remained nothing but a reuenge of Brittaine The last act of Lewis his life But oh how doth suspition feare distrust and finally death breake off his great desseins He is now at Plessis neere Tours priuate solitarie and shewing himselfe to few He feares a decay of his estate and yet is become vnable to gouerne a great Estate The opening of a doore feares him his owne shadow amazeth him death terrifies him but the worst is his conscience troubles him Hee puts his most trustie seruants from him hee doubts his neerest kinsmen hee abhors them he suspects them suspects al the world Those whom he doubts most hee dismisseth His disposition in his declining age with a couple of his gard to guide them pensiue sad dreaming froward peeuish and cholerick euery thing displeaseth him all is vnseasonable all offends him he knowes not what is fittest for him either life or death and yet would he liue raigne He knowes that he hath many enemies and hath offended many that the greatest of the Princes loue him not that the meaner sort murmured and that the people hated him for he hath ouercharged them yea more then any of his Predecessors and hath not meanes to ease them and although he hath a will yet it is now too late Oh what a greeuous testimonie is the conscience of our misdeeds fewe enter at Plessis Consciencia mille â—â—â—tes but his houshold seruants and the Archers of his gard whereof there are fouâ—e hundred daily in gard at the gate No Nobleman lodgeth there none come there but his sonne in law Peter afterwards Duke of Bourbon by the death of Iohn his brother and few of his followers and yet he thinkes still that some one enters in to offer vâ—olence to his person or that by loue or force they will pull his scepter from him He causeth his sonne to bee straitly garded and will not suffer many to see him least hee should be made the head of a faction His daughter hath no accâ—sse to him His son in law no credit His sonne in Law returnes from the Daulphins marriage Lewis with a deuise makes the Captaine of his gard to search such as are entred with the Duke to see if they were not secretly armed He commands him to hold the Counsell then he dissolues it for in his abseÌ„ce they would make Monopoles Who did euer see a mind more distract more vnquiet and fuller of cares Hee distrusts his sonne his daughter his sonne in law and generally all those that may commaund The Castle gate is safely garded but they may leape ouer the walls they must bee planted with gadds of iron with many points and so thicke as no man might
transported with ioy as he falls into a quotidian with a Catarre amidst all his iollitie the which carried him within three dayes after to the graue being the first of December This death did greatly impaire the Emperours affaires in Italy and bred new gouernments new Councels and a new estate of affaires in the Duchie of Milan The Cardinals of Medicis and Sion Alterations after this death went to assist at the election of a new Pope The imperialls reteined fifteene hundred Suisses and dismissed the rest The Lansequenets likewise departed The Florentine companies returned into Tuscanie Guy of Rangon lead part of those of the Church to Modena the other remained with the Marquis of Mantoua in the Duchie of Milan And the Duke of Ferrara making his profit of this occasion recouered with the liking of the inhabitants Bondene Final the mountaine of Modene and Garfagnane he tooke Lugo Bagnacaual and other Townes of Romagnia Likewise Francis Maria being expelled his Duchie of Vrbin by Leo 1522. and called home by the people recouered it in few dayes Our Commanders slept not but the chance was turned The Admirall of Bonnaue with three hundred Launces Frederic of â—ossoâ—e and Marc Anthonie Colonnet leading fiue thousand French and Italians Paâ—ma beseeged in vaine went to beseege Parma the which after many distresses incident to the Townes beseeged was pâ—eserued by the wise resolution and singular direction of Francis Guiciardin gouernour thereof In the meane time the Cardinalls at Rome did striue for Saint Peters chaire The Cardinall of Medicis for the reputation of his greatnesse for his reuenues and glory gotten in the Conquest of Milan had alreadie gotten the voices of fiâ—teene Cardinals But the rest could not endure two Popes togither of one familie which might haue beene a President to vsurpe a right of succession in the Popedome The most ancient Cardinals opposed themselues against his nomination euery man pretending that dignitie for himselfe which an other sought so greedily During their controuersies Cardinall Adrian Bishop of Derthuse borne at Trect and somet me scholemaster to the Emperour Charles was put in the election not with any intent to install him in the place of the deceassed but onely to spend that morning and by delayes coole the heat of the most violent sutors But the Cardinall of Saint Sixte hauing by a long 〈◊〉 amplified his vertues and knowledge some yeelded vnto him it may bee the Eâ—perour would haue beene displeased if they had reiected his election others followed them so as all the Cardinals agreeing A new Pope called Adrian the sixth by a common consent hee was created Pope when as he least dreamed of it being absent a stranger vnknowne hauing neuer seene Italie and without thought or hope euer to see it Being loth to change his name he was called Adrian the sixth But what shall this poore Fleming get to runne so far to sit in a chaire so much enuied He came from Spaine where the Emperour had made him gouernour in his absence to seeke his death at Rome He shall bee little esteemed during his Popedome and they will bee glad to send him speedily after his Predecessor The winter passed and our souldiars scattered their harnesse to arme againe The warre â—â—uiued the one sort to preserue their Conquests and the other to recouer their losses To this end the King sent Renè bastard of Sauoie Earle of Villars Lord Steward of France the Maâ—shall of Saint Chabannes Galeas of Saint Seuerin maister of his horse and the Lord of Montmorency newly created Marshall of France to make a leuie of sixteene thousand Suisses for to succour Lautrec And to crosse him the Emperour by meanes of the King of Englands money estranged from the loue of France sent Ierâ—sme Adorne to make a leuie of sixe thousand Lansquenets to put into Milan with Francâ—s Sforce Adorne coming to Trent vnderstood that the Milanois had alreadie entertained foure thousand foote with the which hee retired to Milan whilest the other sixe thousand did arme In the meane time there wanted no practises at Milan by Ierosme Moron and his partisans to kindle the peoples hatred against the French It is not alone in our late troubles that wee haue tried with what efficacie seditious sermons touch the peoples hearts Andrew Barbato an Augustine by profession preaching with a great concurse of people did wonderfully incourage them to defend their religion goods families liues and Countrie A vehement Preacher and gratious to the people leads them as hee pleaseth and it is the ordinarie mask of the wise men of this world to settle their affaires It is no lesse honour to preserue then to get Tenne thousand Suisses were alreadie come and Prosper Colonne to keepe the French from entring into Milan by the Castle and to furnish it with victuall and munition hee caused to bee made after the manner of the ancient Romaines without the sayd Castle betwixt the gates that go to Verceil and Come two trenches distant twentie paces one from another about a mile long and at the end of either of the sayd trenches a Caualier or Mount verie high and well furnished to indammage the ennemie with Cannon if hee approched on that side so as the succours could not enter nor the beseeged go forth Lautrec hauing by chance surprised and defeated the troupe of Lewis of Conzague repayred his Companies and the Venetians assembled theirs about Cremona who being ioyned with the Suisses passed the riuer of Adde the fiâ—st of March and Iohn de Medicis with them who perswaded by the Kings great and certaine entertainment was newly drawen to his seruice They march like men resolued to assaâ—â—e the rampaâ— but the trenches stay them the third day Marc Anthony Colonne and Camille bastard sonne to Iohn Iaques of Triuulce Milan beseeged walking togither in a house and deuising to make a mount to shoot from with their artillerie betwixt the enemies two trenches a voâ—ce of Cannon shot from the Towne did beate downe the sayd house and buried them in the ruines thereof Thus Lautrec despayring to take Milan by assault conuertâ—th all his thoughts to vanquish it in time by famine he wasts the Countrie stops the victual breaks the miâ—s and cuts off theiâ— water But not to fall into their hands whome they feare they dread not death The peoples hatred against the French and the desire of their new Duke whome they expected makes them to endure all distresses patiently Francis Sforce comes to Trent with six thousand Lansquenets who by the taking of the Castle of Croare hauing opened the passage of Po arriued without any let at Pauia The way was dâ—fficult from Pauia to Milan for at the first brute of their approch Lautrec went to lodge at Cassin and the Venetians at Binasque vpon the way to Pauia There fâ—ll out an accident which helpt Sforce The Marshall of Foix came out of France with money and some troupes of footmen Lautrec sent
he wished him to appoint the field he would bring the armes the King protesting that if hereafter the Emperour shall write or speake any thing preiudiciall to his honour the shame of the delay should redound vppon himselfe seeing that the combat is the end of all writing Without doubt this proceeding had beene more seemely for Knights then for such Princes and no enterprises are commendable but so farre forth as they agree with the dignitie of their persons and States And for that Granuelle refused to take vppon him this charge the King dismissing him Henry King of England deâ—yâ—s thâ— Empâ—rouâ— puâ—s away his wiâ—e did accompany him with an Herald to present this writing vnto the Emperour Within few dayes after Henry King of England sent him the like defie and did put away Catherine his wife daughter to Ferdinand and Elizabeth Kings of Spaine whom he had married being widow to Arthur his elder brother A diuorce which Pope Clement graunted vppon promise that Henry should for his safetie maintaine him agard of foure thousand foote Lautrecs successe in the Realme of Naples In the meane time Lautrecs forces preuailed in the Realme of Naples with such applause of the people as whether for affection of the French or hatred of the Spaniard almost all the Townes sent to offer their keyes and gates Peter of Nauarre had chased the Prince of Melphe out of Aquile and reduced all Abruzze to the Kings obedience the whole estate of Naples was readie to set vp the banners of France when as the Prince of Orange hauing assembled within Troye and thereabouts fiue thousand Germaines fiue thousand Spaniards and fifteene hundred Italians he made Lautrec to vnite his forces which were dispersed and to turne head to the enemie with an intent to fight with him He wanted the siâ—ews of warre the Kings assignations failed so as he could not long maintaine the burthen of the warre The adauntage of men victuals and the field did inuite him hee must therefore attempt some great matter He goes to field with three thousand French whereof the Lord of Burie was Colonell foure thousand Gascons vnder the command of Peter of Nauarre and the Lord of Candale eight thousand Germaines commanded by the Earle of Vaudemont three thousand Suisses vnder the charge of the Earle of Tende with ten thousand Italians and approched neere the enemie but there was no meanes to draw him out of his fort Many dayes were spent in skirmishes and courses In one of them three hundred horses comming out of their battaillons which marched after the artillerie were charged by Moriac and Pomperant it is that faithfull Achates to the Duke of Bourbon whom the King had drawen to his seruice and honoured with a company of fiftie men at armes for the good seruice he had done him at his taking of Pauia hauing freed him from some souldiars that had inuironed him in and not knowne him were wholy defeated and their enseignes and guidons carried away Lautrec offered battaile yet well pleased not to fight in the absence of Horatio Baillon who brought thirteene enseignes of foote whome Iohn de Medicis had long before trayned in the exercise of armes But behold a heauie signe of a fatall desaster the winds were so violent and the skie so troubled as all the tents in the French campe were ouerthrâ—wne many men slaine Baillon arriues the enemie packs vp the baggage stops the bells of his moyles and marcheth through the woods directly to Naples without sound of drumme or trumpet It had beene a goodly thing to pursue these runawaies The French Captaines flewe after them in their hearts but Lautrec sayd I will haue them at my mercie and without losse of my men But the spirit of man is ignorant of future destinies The emeny retyres Don Hugues de Moncado and other chiefe seruants to the Emperour did so hate the Prince of Orange as without doubt they had shut the gates of Naples against him the which had giueÌ„ the French a great aduantage But the soueraigne Iudge of armes had otherwise decreed The Prince of Orange being dislodged Lautrec sent some troupes of French horâ—e and foote with the blacke bands which were those of Baillon to go before Melfe which might cut off the victualls from the army lying before Naples the Prince thereof defended it with three thousand men who by their continuall â—allies had much indomaged our troupes They made a small breach with two Cannons and the Gascons burning with heat offer themselues to the assault the blacke bands follow them without any commandement or direction from their Captaines A volley of shot makes them retire kiâ—â—es many Gascons and some threescore of the black bands At night they renue the batterie and make a second attempt but with like successe yet at length they carrie it The next day they haue a supplie of artillery wherewith they make two great baâ—â—eries The pesants which were in great numbers within Melphe mutine for feare they are in deed more fit to amaze then to serue at neede Melphe taken The â—oldiars terrefied with this tumult abandon the defenses and recouer the Castell they enter the Towne spoile it and kill of soldiars and Inhabitants six or seauen thousand they take the Castell by composition and the Prince with his wife and children prisoners Barleta Trant Venouse Ascoli with all the places there abouts except Mansfredonia yeeld to the victors fortune who prepared a great masse of victualls for the seege of Naples the Venetians 〈◊〉 hauing fortified the armie with about two thousand men Capoua Acerre Nolâ— Auerse and all places there abouts hauing voluntarilie opened their gates made the way easie for Lautrec who campes before the walles of Naples in the ende of Aprill the Imperialls were resolued onely to defend Naples and Caiette It was a great matter to haue chased the enemie out of the field and to keepe them coopt vp within the capitall Cittie But alas what shall become of so great a multitude of men our French must learne once more to their cost that all their strange enterprises attempted farre off haue beene mournfull graues vnto them The issues of death belong to the eternall God Lautrec imploies all his witts in the seege of Naples but who can hope for any happie successe The Cittie was full of men of defence Naples beseeged and the meane to famish it verie vncertaine for the galleies of Phillipin Nephew to Andrew Dorie being vnable to stoppe vp the port some shippes fraught with meale stoale in those of Venise came not the enemies light horse which were many cut off the victualls from our men the ordinarie grossenesse of the aire the continuall rayne the discomodities of the soldiars who for the most part lay open filled the campe full of diseases The discomodities of the sâ—ege the Kings â—lowe prouision and the negligence of the Treasorers were the cause that no money could passe the mountaynes
his presence to enioye the Mothers affections to haâ—e authority within the realme Finally the second of December after two monethes seege the King signed their capitulation Saint Iean yeeded That they should depart with their goods armes horses and Enseignes â—isplayed and of foure monethes should carrie no armes for the pretended reformed reâ—â—gion But as this seege is famous for that it was valiantly followed and defended so is it lâ—kewise famous by the breach of faith giuen by his Maiestie At their going forth they spoile them of their armes apparell and money the Duke of Aumale and the Marshâ—â—l of Vielleuille are notable to make good the Kings promise nay the Duke of Aâ—ioâ—s presence can not restrayne their insolencies They robbe their baggage they take away their horses they spoile their men And to encrease their villanies the regiment of Sarricu being lodged at Saint Iulian hate a League off comes ouerthwart beats kills murthers and casts them into the riuer and happie is he that can escape in his shirt to recouer Angoulesme where Piles and some others holding them selues by reason of this treacherous and vnwoâ—thie vsage contrarie to the Lawe of armes freed from the conditions wherevnto they were bound by the capitulation The composition â—roâ—en went to the Princes to vnderstand their pleasures The historie obserues aboue ten thousand men of warre lost before Saint Iean fiue thoâ—sand Cannon shot spent fiue and twentie or thirtie Commissaries of the artilâ—erie slaine in their charge many shronke away and in the end the Campe was diminished eighteene or twenty thousand men The army tired with labour and prest with want of victualls and other discâ—mmâ—dities dislodging from Saint Iean d' Angely gaue the Princes leysure to determâ—â—e of their voyage and the King retyring to Anger 's assigned the Princes deputies tâ—â—tâ—er to begin the yeare following by the countinuance of a treatie of peace begunne in the moneth of Nouember A treatâ—e of Peace Beauuais la Nocle and Teligny come thether in February and returne with no other answere to the Protestants 1570. but a libertie to liue within the Realme fâ—ee fâ—â—m seaâ—ch in their houses and for their safetie two Townes which Biron shâ—uld naâ—e vnto them in the which they might do what pleased them without their impugning the Kings authoritie nor the quiet of the Realme his Maiestie oâ—fring to restore them to their charges except such as had beene dismissed by the 〈◊〉 of Iustice and the money growing by the sale thereof receiued by the Kâ—ngs commandement but forbibidding all exercise of religion but the Catholike Apâ—stolike and Romish banishing all ministers out of the Realme and 〈◊〉 them to disarme to send backe presently their forraine forces and to yeelde 〈…〉 Townes possessed by the violence and force of armes In the meane time postâ—s flie into England and Germanie and to diuert or staie the succours and strengths wâ—ich the Protestants might expect from thence the brute flies that a peace is made in France The Princes and Admirall thinking they were but deuises to hinder their affaires Enterprise vpon â—â—urges fatall to the vndertakers euery one prepares againe to put on harnes their forces were dispersed into diuers Prouinces those about Bourges had an enterprise vpon the Towne by the practise of a souldiar who by treacherie makes them to loose thirtie men at the entrie and as many prisoners So hee that thinkes to take is often taken himselfe The reduction of Poictâ—u had likewise brought Marans and the Castell of Beauuâ—iâ— â—poâ— the sea to the Kings obedience 1570. Angoulesme and Rochell only remained to the Protestantâ— They had lost Lusignan but Blaye Taillebourg the Isles of Xaintonge Marennes and â—rouage were yet at their deuotion To trie Rochelle the King threatens them by his letters and by promises he seeks to winne the Gouernours of Flâ—ye and Taâ—llebourg Pardailâ—an and Romegou They answere saith the Historie the King wisely and Lansac couragiously War in Poictou You cannot be more greeued said Pardillan to attempt to force mee in this placâ— then I shall be for the â—hame losse and confusion which I shall cause you to receiue or anâ— other that shall attempt it Româ—gou speakes in the same sence The effect was more to be feared then words yet Lansac attemped nothing against them The Islands had mâ—ch annoyed the seege of S. Iean d' Angâ—ly and the Lansquenets escaped from Montcontour were dispersed there The Earle of Lude Puigaillard and la Riuiere Puitaillé gouernours the one of Angeâ—s the other of Marans with eight Cornets of horse and tweâ—tie enseigns of foote force the said Islands and make such a slaughter as there remained not aboue three hundred fighting men La Noue the Princes Lieutenant in Guienne studied to recouer Brouage a place of greaâ— importance for the Rochelois when as the Baron of la Garde attempting vppon Tonne-Charente made both their enterprises to proue vaine Rochelle is now blockt in on al sides Ludeand Puigaillard had an armie in Poictou la Riuiere-Puitaillé the elder held Marans and other places there abouts the yonger commaunded in Brouâ—ge Landâ—reau Viceadmirall held Olone The Brittons and Bourdelois cut off the Rochelois victuals by sea La Garde then Generall of their galleyes did runne often times euen into their hauen but to presse them on all sides hee would gladly haue beene maister of Tonne-Charente La Noue had vndertaken the defence thereof who vnderstanding the Barons practise so planted his shot as at his enemies first landing he slue their commaunders and many others gaue libertie to the slaues and became master of the galley and if heate had not too soone transported them the rest commiâ—g to enter into Charente and resolute to land they could not haue escaped death or prison This galley did afterwards serue Româ—gou to beate the Catholikes in many places And if La Garde preuailed nothing by force his pollicies were of as small effect So as he lost his time men and money and did nothing of moment Contrariwise the defeat of some troupes at Nouaille by the hargubuziers of la Noue vnder the leading of Scipio an Italian Ingener In Guyenne Xaintonge Angâ—ulmoiâ— and the recouerie of Marans by la Noue vppon Chaperon Gouernour of the place after the death of the elder Puitaillé lately diceased was the cause of the winning of tenne or twelue other places thereabouts and gaue the Rochelois meanes to enlarge themselues The spoile of Olone did enrich them furnished them with fortie good vessels with some armes and Canon and a good number of prisoners and diminished their enemies strength of about foure hundred fighting men This reuiuing caused Puigaillard and Fernacques to make enterprises vppon Langon and Gué of Nelugre and by the recouery of Luson to molest Marans and Rochell againe if that la Noue had not speedily taken this Fort from them that came to seize on it and slue Sforce a valiant Gentleman the head of a
lookes bigge the Clergie reioyceth the Preachers tongues are fire-brands of sedition they speake in derâ—sion of the King in their Pulpits before time the Pulpits of trueth are now beâ—â—â—me the Chaires of Iuglers they make the King a Saul and the Duke of Guise a â—auid Saul slew his thousand but Dauid his ten thousand They publish generally in their Sermons that the King had leuied the Riestres to oppose them against the Dukes holy enterpriâ—es and to expose Paris as a prey but by the Dâ—kes valour and constancie religion had now triumphed ouer heresie The 〈◊〉 sends vnto the Duke a Sword grauen with flames The King of Spaine and thâ— Dâ—ke of Sauoye conceiue great hopes The Duke of Parma salutes him and Amongst all the Princes of Europe saith he Henry of Lorraine alone deserues to command in warre â—hey make bonfires in all places and sing the wondrous workes of the Duke of Guise to the Kings diâ—grace The people of Paris especially possessed with the praises of the house of Guise the disorders of the King the dissolutnes leachery anâ—â—yâ—ocrisie of the Court vnder a shew of penance leane to the party which they hold most certaine they disdaine the present estate apprehend what is to come and thinke to loose nothing by the change Henry of Lorraine discouers all this and thinkes to make his profit of so goodly an 〈◊〉 He knowes moreouer that Ioubert and Miron haue giuen their opiniâ—◠〈◊〉 the Kings disabilitie to haue children Hee makes himselfe more pleasing to the people who feare the succession of a Huguenot Prince hee entertaynes them 〈◊〉 great familiarity but with an humour aspiring vnto tyrannie Hee sees the mâ—iestâ—e of his Soueraigne disgraced his enemies retired to Rochelle England readâ—e to bee inuaded by a proud Armie from Spaine hee giues eare to the counsell of the Arche leaguers encreased to the number of sixteene by reason of the sâ—â—teene quarters of Paris He is crafty aduised foreseeing The disposition of the Duke of Guise generous and valiâ—â—t but variable corrupt a dissembler secret and patient Hee will by no meanes vse his owne name in any thing yet will hee effect that by another which hee atteâ—â—tâ— or takes in hand He aduertiseth the Cardinall of Bourbon who goes but as he as led that this goodly oportunity must not be lost 1588 But the secrets of his 〈◊〉 contrary to his outward shewes This assembly at Nancy tended only to force the King to make his will and to 〈◊〉 the regencie to them It was therefore conculded That the King should be 〈◊〉 to ioyne his forces effectually with the League To displace such from their offices aâ— should be named To bring in the inquisition of Spaine and to publish the Councell of Trent but with a moderation of such things as derogate from the priuileges of the French Church To consent to the restitution of the goods sold by the Clergie for the charges of the warre To giue them Townes to bee manned and fortified as the time and necessity required To forâ—â—it the Huguenots bodies goods and to entertayne an army vpon the frontiers of Lâ—rraâ—ne against the Germains who threatned reuenge for the insolencies committed in the Countie of Montbelliard But to subiect the Kings authority to the desseins practises of the league what â—as it but by this means to aspire to the Crowne To haue him ruine them he loued and that were alied vnto him in bloud what was it but to make a bush of a forest and a desert of a goodly kingdome And this word of Inquisition is it not hatefull vnt◠〈◊〉 men It was necessary for the Spaniards who had no better meanes to plant and maintaine Christianity But the tediousnes and manner of their proceeding is horrible the malice and Calumniation of their spies and informers abhominable their pâ—isons vnder ground fearefull their rackes and tortures intolâ—erable the yellow gowne without sleeues painted all ouer with deuills the Miter and Corde and for the last act of this pittifull Tragedie the fire haue made it detestable to the Flemings and execrable to the French As for the reception of the Councell of Trent the â—oueraigne Courts of this realme haue neuer so aduised our King for the preiudice they should do vnto the Crowne and the pruileges of the French Church To require redemption of the Clergie goods and to haue the King force them that were beneficed to redeeme them was it not to haue him make warre for the Church and the Clergie should giue the alarme and shadow themselues vnder the temporality whilest that the Nobility should go to fight and the people languish The League had obtayned some townes of assurance and the Parliaments labored to put downe the Huguenots To conclude the King had not refused the chiefe of the League any demande that he might lawfully graunt and had yeelded them many things which he might by his authority refuse Besides the motions of the Kings apprehensions the first beginning of his misâ—â—â— iâ— that almost all his councellors of state are corrupted The Kings Councell corrupted they conceale the truth they fit themselues to his humors they are fearefull weake and inconstant 〈…〉 that Prince is miserable saied anâ— Emperour from whome they 〈…〉 They perswade him the Duke of Guises partie is strong that the Townes anâ— Pâ—ouinces looke onely after him if hee enters not into it hee must be subiect both to League and Huguenot Yet he meanes to be master ouer both but hee takes nâ—t the safest course Hee becomes the head of the Guisards party and talking of nothing but of the voyage of Poitou thinks to winne the peoples loue and to stoppe the mâ—â—muring of the League Deaâ—h of the â—rince of Conde The Prince of Condes death made the enterprise easie A great debility of the stomacke a difficulty of breathing a great costiuenes a continuall vomiting with an alteration and extreame paine surprised him the third of May halfe an houre after supper and the second day of his sicknesse a suffocation of all his vitall â—pirites sent him from the bedde vnto the graue Hee was a Prince indeed with aâ—l the qualities fit for a great Captaine vnder whose magnanimity the Protestants conceiued great hopes The bodie was opened and the iudgement of Physitians was diuers The botome of his bellie was pale and burnt his bowells oueâ—flowed with a reddish water the stomacke aboue the orifice perced through with a round hoâ—e the vitall parts being vlcered made some suspect poyson others held that it was the remaynder of the potion he swalowed in the yeare 1572. which making an impression in the bowells had by little and little weakened the stomake of the paine wherof as alâ—o of his side by reason of the blowe he receiued at the battaile of Coutras with a Lance he had complayned many weekes before his death The schoole of Montpellier did subscribe to this last opinion Iâ— the meane time the King doth
Antwerp against the opinion of all the world in the yeare 1585. hee should shake hands with warre Doubtlesse this Prince should haue ended his labours by this great seruice done to King Phillip his master as the most glorious tryumph which Spaine had of long time seene Thus the Duke of Parmaes troupes by land were weakened and those he had imbarked were fought withall some taken and the rest sunke by the Hollanders So Sfondrate came to consume his troupes in France Thus France escaped at this time the proud threats of her ancient enemies Rouan pressed with as great necessity as before brought corne out of Villars stoore-houses at his owne price whereby he got an infinit treasure The King weâ—ghing well the toyle his Nobâ—â—ity had endured dismissed some and reteyned the most resolute and to hinder the Parmesan from attempting any thing Death of the Marshall of 〈◊〉 hee sent the Marshall of Biron to followe him at the heeles Who loath to remaine idle beseegeth battereth and takes Espernay But Espernay must be the fatall place to ende his labours and by his death breake off some other desseins which his Maiesty had who to stoppe the entry of another army of Strangers which King Phillip at the intreaty of the chiefe of the League nothing sorry for the Duke of Parmaes disgrace whose pride they could not beare determined to send vnder the conduct oâ— the yong Duke of Parma assisted by the Duke of Feria vntill the comming of the Arch-Duke Ernest brother to the Emperour Rodolphus gaue order for the most vrgent affaires of his realme The Kingâ— proceeding hee diuided his forces into the most conuenient places to set vpon the League where they had greatest strength and labored to effect some intelligences hee had within Paris But the periode of his happinesse was not yet come During these practises the Duke of Mayenne surpriseth Ponteau de mer. and to get more bagges of double pistolets The Duke of Mayennes he treats againe with the Agents of Spaine touching the assembly of their Estates to make the Crowne electiue against the fundamentall Lawe of the realme But he had his desseine a part and the greatest part of the Parliament was tired with this hideous confusion vnder the which their scarlet roabes could not appeere so beautifull as vnder a stately Royalty and the chiefe of the third Estate inclyning vnto peace The Duke of Nemours abhorred these tedious furies of the League The Duke of Nemours for his part layed the foundation of a petrie Monarchie at Lions but he built it vpon the sand He was nowe instâ—lled in the Towne which Maugâ—ron had sold him treacherously considering the shewe hee had made of faithfull seruice to the King and the towne and Castells of Vienne in Daulphinè the which he had receiued to the preiudice of the truce which was then betwixt them of Lions and Daulphiné Being assured of these good places hee goes to field but with more brute then fruite for hee did not fortifie his party but by the taking of Saint Marcellin and Eschelles places of weake resistance 1552. and doubtlesse Belliere won more honour in the defence then the Duke did in the conquest of the last The Colonnel Alphonso and Les Diguieres vpon assurance of the truce were farre off the one in Prouence the other in Languedoc where both opposed themselues against the forces of the League This breach recalled them soone into Daulphiné where with their ioynt forces they recouer that which the Duke had taken not daring to oppose himselfe In the end Les Diguieres hauing thrust the Duke of Nemours out of Daulphiné Les Diguieres who by fauour of the forces of Sauoye thought to settle himselfe there enters into Piedmont in the moneth of September fortifies Briqueras batters and takes the Towne and Castell of Cauours chargeth the Dukes men at Vigon forceth and defeats them The Duke of Sauoye posts to Turin aâ—d seekes to take the fort begun at Briqueras by scalado Hee is repulst with dishonour and losse They charge him in his retreat but some feare of an ambush made them retire And Les Diguieres hauing left the Lord of Poët to commaund in Piedmont returnes to Grenoble whether the affaires of the Prouince did call him On the other side seing the armes of Spaine had preuailed so little on the land they must trie if some enterprise by sea would repaire their former losses The Gouernour of Fontarabye had long practised vpon Bayonne with a Physician named Blancpignon Bayonne attempted by the Spaniards who had intelligence with a Spaniard that had liued long in the Towne and vnder borrowed tearmes of arte did by letters negotiate the surprise of Bayonne and the rooting out of all the Kings officers and seruants Their treason was so well aduanced as a fâ—eet of ships with an armie at land was readie for the execution when as by Gods permission La Hilliere Gouernour of Bayonne surprised the Lacquay comming from Fontarabie with letters of credit to the Traitors who being taken and beheaded afterwards discouered soone the whole practise but the Spaniard chose rather to die then to write those letters hee was required to giue direction to the attempters and to lay a plot for his companions In October the Duke of Bouillon followed with foure hundred horse two hundred harguebusiers before the Towne of Beaumont defeated Amblise great Marshall of Lorraine and Lieutenant generall to the Duke Defeat of Amblâ—se accompanied with eight hundred horse aod two thousand foote he â—lue the Commaunder and aboue seuen hundred others tooke their artillerie their enseignes and their Cornets sent home foure hundred Lansquenets with white wands and lost not one man of marke A small fish called Remora stayes a great shippe so a paultrie hens roust ruines the League in Languodoc and Quercy Duke of Ioyâ—uze The Duke of Ioyeuze brother to him who died at Coutras hauing spoyled the Countrie about Montauban with six hundred masters and foure thousand foot French and Lansquenets in the end became master of Monbequin Mombartier Monbeton and tooke Barte by composition but in reuenge of foure score souldiars hee had lost before it contrary to his faith hee put most of them that yeelded to the sword A treacherie which caused his brothers death and for the which the vengeance of God shall soone confound this man The fort of Saint Maurice came in like â—ort into his power and then hee beseeged Villemur The Lord of the place called Reniers commaunded about two hundred and fiftie souldiars whome the Lord of Themines Seneshall of Quercy a wise and valiant gentleman releeued sodenly with sixe and â—ortie men as well cuirasses as harguebusiers led by the Seigneur of Pedoue and then being ioyned with the Duke of Espernon he caused Ioyeuze to raise the seege recouered Mauzac and some other smal places thereabouts But whilest his troupes sleepe at their ease after the order and manner of
Asse like vnto the Patriarke of Constantinople not on foote as S. Hillarye entred into Rome but on Horsebacke followed by two hundred Horse The Prelats of Germany are dispensed of the condition which Chrisostome desired in a good Bishop not to ride on Horse-backe not allowing Bishops to ride vpon Asles or Moyles nor to be followed by many seruants The Election was made in the Cathedrall Church of Mentz whereas all the people were assembled not to giue any voyce A new Elâ—ctioÌ„ but to see the liberty of Suffrages and the Order and Ceremony of this action The Chanoins began it calling vpon the Holy Ghost to giude their resolutions 〈…〉 of the house of Câ—ombuâ—g chosen Archbishop of Mentz the 7 of Feb. 1604. The went into the Chapter and came not forth vntill two of the clocke in the Afternoone where by plurality of voyces the Election was concluded in fauour of one of the House of Crombourg The Bishop of Wirtzbourg led him before the great Altar where he was set wiping away the teares of Ioy whilest that the Clergy gaue thankes for this Election This done the Chapter gaue him a little note in his hand with the which he went towards the Castle beeing followed by the Popes Nuntio the Emperors Ambassador the Bishop of Wirtzbourg and many Noblemen that were there assembled to honour the election of the first Prelate of Germany Being come vnto the Castle gate he founde it shut and the Gouernour asked him what he would As soone as he had seene the note from the Chapter he did his duty to him and presently all the Gates were opened and the Artillery discharged This forme of Election which is done with Order Liberty and knowledge of Merits is more profitable vnto the Church then all that which is done by the authoritie of Princes who many times commit great charges to men vnknowne and of small merit or by the tumultuary opinions of people The death of the Duchesse of Baâ— who haue nothing to do in it Seeing that our way to returne into France is to passe by the territoryes of the Duke of Lorraine we shall find all there in teares and mourning for the death of the Lady Katherine of Bourbon Duchesse of Bar and the Kings onely Sister shee had beene tormented with a continuall Feauer and there were some signes of beeing with child All the Phisitions sayd shee was not with child one onely maintayned the contrary and she beleeued his opinion for that he was of the Religion neither would she take any thing but from his hands for that we beleeue that easily which we desire She grewe in choller against them which imputed her dissease to any other cause saying That they neither desired her contentment nor her Husbands She thought she could not endure too much to become a Mother This beleefe that shee had a childe in her body made her to bring forth death reiecting all kindes of remedies to preserue her frute If the Phisition which had ministred to her as a Woman with childe had not fled to Metz and from thence to Sedan all his Phisicke could not haue kept him from death The profession of Phisitions hath this Priuilege The priuilege of Phisitions that the Sunne sees their practise and the Earth hides their faults The Duke of Lorraine did her no lesse honour after her death then he had witnessed it in her life Hee sent vnto the King an Inuentory of her Iewells Hee caused the body to be conducted vnto the frontier of France in a Carosso well appointed couered with blacke Veluet and drawne with foure Horses The funerall Pompe of the Duchesse of Bar. The foure Bailifes of Lorraine carried the foure corners of the Cloth which couered the Coffin threescore Gentlemen marched before with the Gards The Earle of Chaligny and some Noblemen of the Country went after it There were twelue Suisses which marched on either side It was receiued vpon the frontier by those whom the King had appoinâ—ed The Inhabitants of Troyes would haue receiued it with a Canopy but Tinteuille thought it not fit neither would the King haue taken it well She was much lameÌ„ted by the Duke of Bar who could not haue beene Husband to a better Wife nor she Wife to a better Husband The fift yeare of their Marriage was with as great respect and loue as the first The affections of this Prince and this Princesse A marriage of great content were in such harmony that besids the diuersity of Relâ—igion you would haue sayd they were but one Soule not in two bodies but in one called by two names for they spake with one mouth and thought with one heart And iâ— there be any content in dying amidst the contents of this world this Princesse protested that she had neuer content in this world more perfect then in Lorraine The Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Bar desired as well to see her satisfied for doubts of relligion They coniured her in the extremity of her sicknes to thinke of her Soules helth After fiue yeares instances made by the King the Pope granted a dispensation of the marriage but she sayd vnto them that she would die as she had liued She was no more forced in the exercise of her Relligion at Nancy then at Nerac True it is that she went to receiue the Communion without the Towne and had preaching and Praiers in her house but for her selfe onely and her followers without the which shee had bin much honored of the Lorrains and at that time more then before the Pope hauing granted a dispenâ—atioÌ„ of the marriage When the newes of her death was brought vnto the King the chiefe of his Councell came presently to apply some remedy to this wound He found that they came to that end The Kings sorrow for the death of his â—ister therfore he coÌ„manded them to leaue him alone that he would resolue with God He caused the Dores and Windowes of his Cabinet to bee shut casting him else vpon his bed to weepe more freely and to ease his greefe in the liberty of his sigthes All the Court did morne and the Ambassadors presented themselues in that habit vnto the King to condole this death in the behalfe of their Maisters The Popes Noncio was some-what troubled in this complement would not mourne at an accident for the which those of his profession could not weepe The King said that he would not tie him to it against his liking but he would be glad not to see him vntil his time of mourning were past Some other would not haue spoken so mildely we knowe that Princes haue showne strange effects of their choller against Ambassadors The Duke of Muscouy caused an Ambassadorâ— Hat to be nâ—yled to his head that haue failed in the honor and respect of these complements The Noncio being better aduised resolued to apply himselfe to the time and to do as the rest thinking
diuers Prouinces and many men â—ol 2â— His cruell pracâ—ises to become great ibid. Horrible murther committed by Clouis ibid. The death of Clouis fol. â—1 His vertues and his vice ibid. The Estate of the Churâ—h ibid. The 6. raigne vnder the â—oure sonnes of Clouis Childebert Clodamir Clotaire Thierry Who raigned together 42. yeares as Kings of France but with particular titles vnder this generall but the eldest beares the name Childebert the 6. King of France HOrrible confusion among brethren fol. 23 Clodamir takes and is taken Crueltie of brethren ibid. Warre betwixt brethren fol. 24 A happie reconâ—ilement ibid. A good and happie warre ibid. Warre rashly vndertaken prooues vnfortunate fol. 25. Austrasia now called Lorraine ibid. A horrible punishment of a rebellious Sonne ibid. Clotaire 1. the 7. King of France PRinces ought not to thrust their subiects into despaire fol. 26 Cherebert 8. King of France DIuision of portions breâ—ds a diuision of harts fol. 28. Horrible confusions betwixt brethren and by their wiues One makes warre against another ibid. Sigâ—bert â—laine fol. 29 Chilperic 1. the 9. King of France THe father kils his sonne through the practises of a woman fol. 30 The husband puts away one wife and kils another ibid. He oppresseth his subiects and the punishment of his crimes ibid. Impietie the spring of all euill fol. 31 Clotaire 2. the 10. King of France THe efficacie of the law of State fol. 31 Notable subtiltie of a woman fol. 32 An imaginarie King ibid. A King in his cradle a Conqueror fol. 33 Tragicall practises of two women ibid. â—redâ—gonde dies with her victorie ibid. Brunâ—hault incenseth one brother against another â—ol 34. The husband against the wife ibid. The brother kils the brother ibid. Brunâ—hault murthers her sonne fol. 35 She is put to a horrible death ibid. Mildnesse fit to repaire a decayed estate fol. 36 The greatnesse of the seruant is a blemish to the master ibid. Too great facilitie hurtfull to an estate ibid. Dagobert 1. the 11. King of France HE forceth his subiects to obedience fol. 37 The Iewes banished France ibid. He was blamed for his adulterie ibid. Hee did great exploits of armes vnder the conduct of Pepin fol. 38 He preferred his younger sonne before the elder ibid. Clouis 2. the 12. King of France THe manners of the idle King fol. 38 The Maior of the Pallace gouernes the whole State â—ol 39 The brethrens portions and their good agreement ibid. The â—eligious life of Queene Baudour ibid. Clouis carefull to releeue the poore ibid. Clotaire 3. the 13. King of France CLotaire a cruell and a wicked King oppressed his subiects fol. 40 Childeric or Chilperic 2. the 14. King of France HE takes his brother and makes him a Monk fol. 41. He growes prowd and cruell The French hate him ibid. He is murthered by his subiects his Queene being with child fol. 42 Thierry 1. the 15. King of France OF a Monke he is made a King fol 42 He is taken prisoner by his subiect iâ—â—d A trecherous murther fâ—l 43 Ebroin Maior of the Pallace growes cruell and â—euengefull hee is murthered by a French Gâ—â—tleman ibâ—d Pepin Maior of the Pallace gouernes with gâ—eaâ— credit ibid. Clouis 3. the 16. King of France HE raigned foure yeares and died without memorie fol. 44 Childebert 2. the 17. King of France HE raigned 17. yeares and did nothing worthy to be spoken of fol. 45 Dagobert 2. the 18. King of France PEpin commanded in a manner absolutely 44. yeares â—ol 46 Princes must looke to whom they commit the charge of affaires ibid. Pepins behauiour during his Maioraltie fol. 47 He was incontinent Charles Martell his bastard ibid. Charles Martell chosen Mayor of the Pallace fol. 48. A second victorie to vse it well ibid. Chilperic 3. the 19. King of France A Prince of no valour simple and voluptuous fol. 49. Thierry 2. the 20. King of France CHarles Martâ—ll chosen Prince of the French â—ol 50. Multiplicitie of Masters a ruine to an Estate ibid. The Sarazens inuade France with 400000. men fol. 50. Martel encounters them and encourageth his men ibid. A memorable defeat of Abdâ—rame the Sarazen and his death fol. 52 The fidelitie of the Viennois to the Fâ—ench fol. 53. The courage of a Bishop ibid. New attempts of the League ibid. A new armie of Sarazens in France ibid. Languedoc seuerely punished by Martell fol. 54 Martel forceth the â—risons to be christened ibid. Childeric 5. the 21 King of France the last of that race THe disposition children and death of Martel fâ—â— 55 Pepin armes against the Sarazens and prescribes them a Law â—â—l 56 He repaires the ruines of the Sarazens ibid. The estate of the Church ibid. Pepin meanes to make himselfe King ibid. The Pope dispenced the French from their oath of obedience to Childeric fol. 57 Pepin the short the 23. King of France and the fiâ—st of the second race PEpin chosen King by the Parliament and Childeric reiected â—ol 60 Soueraigne causes of this change fol. 61 The estate of this second race ibid. Instruction for great men ibid. Pepin striues to win the French by good deeds ib. The Saxons rebell and are subdued ibid. Pepin prouides for the affaires of Italy â—oâ— 62 His wiâ—dome in vndertaking a warre ibid. Astolpho breaks his faith and besiegeth Rome ibid. Pepin confirmes his authoritie by a Parliament fol. 63 He makes a forraine warre to auoide a ciuill ibid. Ieffâ—râ—y of Guienne slaine by his seruant fol. 64 Pepin resignes the crowne to Charles ibid. His children his death and his Manners ibid. The estate of the Empire ibid. Italie made desolate by the Gothes and by the Lombards fâ—l 65 They are expelled by the French ibid. The beginning of Mahomets sect in the East ibid. The estate of the Church at Rome â—ol 66 Contention for Primacie A worthy speech of S. Gregory Dispute for Images At the first but a politicke inuention ibid. Estate of the ancient church Insolencie of Popes at this day â—ol 67 Charles the Great or Charlemaigne the 24. King of France PEpins children diuide the Realme fol. 68 Charles the patterne of a great King ibid. His manners his studies and his armes ibid. The successe of his raigne fol. 69 Carolomans iealousie against his brother ibid. Troubles at Rome 〈◊〉 deeds in 〈◊〉 of his 〈…〉 fol. 70 The Lâ—mbards dissimulation and his presumption in hanging of the Popes Secretaries ibid. Rebellion in Guienne by Hurault ibid. Instruction for Princes fol. 71 Caroloman dies ibid. Charlemagnes wiues and his children ibid. Carolomans widowe ioynes with the Lombards against him 〈◊〉 deeds 〈…〉 â—ntill he 〈◊〉 Empeâ—â—â— ibid. Didier king of the Lombards makes warre against the Pope fol. 72 Charles opposeth himselfe against the Lombard ibid. Charles makes warre with the aduice of his estates and deâ—eates the Lombard twise ibid. He takes Verona and is entertained at Rome fol. 73 Pauia taken and Didier in it ibid. A memorable warre in Germanie and