all Authours 17. or 18. yeares except Ado who alloweth him but 13. Neverthelesse it seemeth that it was in his time that Pepin made warre upon Ratbod Duke of Frizeland who was as yet a Pagan and an Idolater so that he being overthrowne Pepin would not grant him any conditions of peace unlesse he would permit a Monke called Wilebros aliâs Clement a learned and vertuous man might freely give instructions to the Frizons in the Christian Religion which for the most part was generally approved and liked by the people but the Nobles and chiefe men remained and continued in their ancient errour together with their Prince Moreover that Pepin was a man accomplished and of singular parts yet contrary to the Lawes of Marriage he was so much taken with the fond love of a Gentlewoman called Alpaide that hee utterly loathed his wife Plectrude By reason whereof Lambert Bishop of Utrecht or as some report Liege a man of a holy life boldly undertooke to lay open his sinne unto him although he had restored him to his See Episcopall whereof Ebroin had deprived him Whereupon Alpaide was so much enraged that shee instigated her brother Dodon to kill him but he and his associates received a reward due for such a demerite and murther Pepin on the other part hearing that Norbert his Lieutenant of Maireship of France was deceased substituted his second sonne Grimoald in the place and caused him to marry Theudesinde Daughter of Ratbod Duke of Frizeland About five yeares after Drogon the sonne of Pepin Duke of Champagne dyed as Ado noteth Anno Dom. 708 but according to Sigebert 699 whose estates were by Pepin given to his sonne Thibault after that seeing the Swedes to rebell against Childebert under the conduct of Villarius he sent Anepos Bishop against them with a powerfull Army which overthrew them saith Ado. Childebert deceased An. Dom. 710 having reigned 17. yeares leaving issue Dagobert Clowis and Daniel That which is chiefly observable in this King was his dotage on Alpaide a faire beautifull Gentlewoman whom he loved beyond all respect of himselfe letting his Fame bleed to death wounded with a bad report for his incontinent life For that King that is addicted to the love of a woman hath all his senses so charmed that he understands nothing but his pleasure and is quite given over to follow his owne wicked desires For Est infoelicius quà m meretrice nihil A Whore may well compared be Unto a Garden of misery He that doth both touch and taste Her fruite doth unto death make haste And hee that endeavours to make a King see his owne vice does alwaies perish in the attempt resembles Virgils poore Gnat which the shepheard killed with clapping his hand against his face while he strove to wake him So Bishop Lambert that would have wak'd the King was by Alpaides plot and the Kings consent murdered Dagobert 2. the 18. King of France Anno 710. DAgobert the eldest sonne of Childebert began his Reigne Anno Dom. 710 according to Trithemius Ado and Aventine not as Sigebert would have it 716. There is not any memorable thing by Pepin done in his time found or read recommendable to posterity but onely the death of Grimoald Maire of the Palace of France which was Anno Dom. 714. in April who was miserably slaine by a Souldier a Frizelander in the Church of St. Lambert belonging to the See of Liege whither he went to visite his father Pepin then lying sicke in his bed whereof he dyed the same yeare about the midst of December having executed both the Maireships with great honour for the space of 27. yeares and a halfe after he had surrogated Thibault to his sonne Grimoald to be Maire He resigned the Mayery of Austrasie to a naturall sonne of his called Charles whom he had by his Concubine Alpaide already perceiving in him the signes of a great Generosity which enabled him for such a charge although hee were but yet very young Which gave an occasion to Plectrude the lawfull wife of Pepin cunningly to surprize him and to imprison him in the City of Cologne as well for the Novercall jealousie shee had of him as for having meanes also to ruine the estate of Austrasie as also of France being in the hands of her younger sonne Thibault assuring herselfe that the managing of businesses would passe well enough under his name But the Frenchmen not willing to be governed by a Woman being grieved also that the office of the Maire should be hereditary which formerly had beene by Election made an insurrection against Thibault whom they forced to flye into the Forrest Cocie After that they chose Ranfroy for Mayre The same yeare 714. Dagobert dyed having reigned 5. yeares This King was disswaded from the love of Alpaide by Lambert Bishop of Vtrect whom this cruell Dame in revenge caused to be slaine by her brother Dodon strucke after the acting this Murder with a disease of wormes the stench whereof he being not able to endure threw himselfe headlong into the River of Menze See here a punishment to affright the sinfull soule a King that had before lived in a most voluptuous manner that made a Whore the Center of all his thoughts thinking all happinesse to be contained within that circumference having lost his reason and being wholly governed by a petty-coat what a sad and fatall end did he meete withall For pleasure comes with a faire alluring face tempting to taste of her Circes Cup but when shee turnes her backe she hath a ragged ugly shape which offends the sight and brings the mind to sad repentance This King had highly sinned and now wormes began to be bold with him and eate his living flesh so that corruption did not follow after death but contrary to nature hee rotted and corrupted while he lived untill the worme of conscience tormented his soule a miserable death attending a bad life Clotharius the 4 19 King of France Anno 719. CLotharius the fourth sonne of Theodoric who was the fifteenth King of France was brother to the Kings Clovis the third and Childebert the second and Uncle to Dagobert the second and by the plots of Charles Martel upon the decease of Dagobert was made King For hee perceiving that the greatest part of the French had constituted King a certaine Daniel a man of the Royall blood whom they had drawne out of the Monastery and nominated him Chilperic the second he by force of Armes having valiantly fought it out in the field and victoriously overthrowne them as hereafter shall be mentioned made himselfe Master of all France and from thenceforth Charles Martel against his will was made King But he knowing that the French that could not containe themselves without a King and would not admit any to the Title but those of the Royall blood knowing also himselfe not so descended he caused this Clotharius to be Crowned King as the next of blood not that hee thought him worth such
a dignity as that of a Kingdome but for a gaining of authority by this faire pretext and for the transferring of the Crowne of France by little and little to his Children which afterwards came to passe For under the name of Clotharius Charles Martel did what he pleased which so fortunately succeeded daily that by this meanes he made a scaling-Ladder for his sonne Pepin to the Crowne So that Clotharius the fourth was made but an imaginary or titulary King who did not any thing worthy of memory because hee reigned not above two yeares or little longer and in the time of his reigne all France was in great Factions and Divisions by the reason of so many pretendants to the Office of Maire of the Palace also that Charles Martel had after him the entire government of the whole Kingdome and command of all insomuch that he was called Prince of the French-men great Master and Governonr of France And Clotharius had but the bare title of King which is a cause that Paulus Aemilius and other Historians have not inserted him into the Catalogue of the Kings of France The aforesaid Clotharius deceased about the yeare 719 and lyeth inhumed at Nancy This King having not the power of a King was like a Picture of Majesty for some years exposed to the publick view but afterwards death drew a Curtaine between him and the world and then he was soone forgotten whereas vertue doth give a second life to Princes while their name is preserved fresh in memory For Sola virtus expers Sepulchri Vertue alone can never dye But liveth still in memory And therfore that excellent monument better than any Marble stone cut into forme by Carvers Art is the statue of the mind not that of the body for Statuae huiusmodi relinquendae quae virtutis sint monumenta magis quà m staturae corporis That King doth need no Tombe cut out by Art Whose Fame doth live in every Subjects heart Daniel alias Chilperic 20. King of France Anno 719. DAniel whom some affirme to have beene the Sonne of Childebert and brother to Dagobert and others that he was onely of the blood Royall was taken out of the Monastery to bee made King and his former name was changed into Chilperic Anno Domini 715. In the beginning of his Reigne he entered into a confederacy with Ratbode Duke of Frizeland In the meane time Charles Martel escaped the imprisonment of his Step-mother Plectrude and as hee made all possible meanes and waies for the recovery of his right before that hee could effect any thing he was by Ratbode defeated neare the Meuse before that Rainfroy and Chilperic could come to charge him Neverthelesse Anno Domini 716. after as the Frenchmen went with a Convoy of an infinite treasure of monyes from the parts neare Cologne which Plectrude had given them Charles Martel set upon them with such a fury that he enforced them to forsake it neare unto Albis By the meanes whereof taking heart for this his first fortunate enterprize he overthrew Rainfroy and Chilperic Anno Domini 717. the 21 of March neare unto Vinciate who came with an intent of an ample revenge Charles by this victory assuring himselfe of the French desirous to reduce the rest of the Kingdome of Austracy entered by force into Cologne and forced Plectrude to surrender unto him all his Fathers Treasures And for the greater validity of his cause puts one forward whom some esteeme to have beene the Uncle of the last King Dagobert called Clotharius or Lotharius forcing him to take upon him the title and name of King with him afterwards hee went to encounter Chilperic and Rainfroy who by the meanes of Eude Duke of Aquitan or Gaseogne were destitute of their Forces being by him defeated and overthrowne in Champagne insomuch that for safety Chilperic retired to the said Duke with all his Treasures Anno Domini 719. Clotharius the titulary King departed this life whereupon Charles Martel sent to demand King Chilperic of Eude that he might bee sent unto him by whom he was afterwards acknowledged as a King and entertained Eude into his amity and love Chilperic also a yeare after deceased Anno Dom. 720. having reigned five yeares and a halfe in a troublesome and turbulent Stare which was scarce settled in all the time of his Reigne Charles Martel with Clotharius or Lotharius who had tooke the name and title of King raising many perturbations in his Kingdome But Death at length drew his dayes to a period after his great and manifold troubles and lyeth interred at Noyon Theodoric 21. King of France Anno. 720. THeodoric was by Charles Martel substituted to Chilperic Anno Domini 720. and reigned onely titulary as others had done before him for the space of eighteene yeares Charles Martel left Aniou to Rainfroy upon condition that hee should resigne the office of Mayre and after that went to terrifie and chastise the Saxons who had rebelled at which time Ratbod Duke of Frizeland dyed A. D. 727. He brought the Almaines into such a servitude to the French that before that time they never performed Afterwards having enforced Plectrude to come to an agreement he marched into Aquitan against Eude where in the way hee by a generall Parliament made himselfe to bee stiled Prince of the French Whereupon Eude more enraged than vanquished incited the Saracens of Spaine by the meanes of Muguoce Lord of Lerdane his sonne in Law their servant whom Charles encountred before Tours and gave them an overthrow by the assistance of the said Eude who was enforced to take his part by reason of the insolencyes committed by the Saracens who had now come downe into his Countrey In this expedition hee gained the sirname of Martel for the Mortality he made of his enemies After the ending of this warre he went against the Burgundians to punish them for their rebellion and also those of Provence After that knowing the death of Eude he reduced Gnienne and Aquitaine into his obedience dis-inheriting Gaifer and Walde the sonnes of Eude who retiring themselves into Gothland and Septimany alias Languedoc recovered by the assistance of the Visigoths a part of Guienne in the meane time that Martel was in warres against Pepin the sonne of Ratbod whom he overthrew and forced the Frizons to become Christians After having sent backe his Vncle Childebrand against the Visigoths and Saracens who had possessed Avignon himselfe went to quell Burgundy now upon a revolt and by the aide of Luitprand King of the Lombards he went to drive Athin out of Narbon and out of all Languedoc and Provence all which he submitted to the Crowne of France and hee tooke away the Earledome of Marsiles from Count Morice who had delivered Avignon to the Saracens Theodoric dyed about they yeare 740. It was a usuall custome for great Warriers and Souldiers in those times to get some titular addition to their name as Alexander was called Ille magnus so Martel was so
the French tooke the townes of Niot S. John D' Angely and Rochelle leaving nothing of the Countrey of Guienne on this side the River Garonne unreduced to the obedience of the King Insomuch that all the Lords as well of Poicton as Lymosin and Perigort came to sweare him fealty and obedience Amaury also sonne to the Count of Montfort came to resigne into the hands of the King of France the right which his Father had left him in the Countries of Alby Languedoc Agenois Quercy and the County of Tholouze whom in recompence he made his Constable knowing him to be a man capable of such a charge The yeare following Richard Brother to the King of England besieged Rochelle but hearing of the comming of the French Army he passed over Dardonne with his forces and so into England to his brother The yeare following the King with the greatest part of his Nobility upon the encouragement of the Popes Legate addressed himselfe to goe against the Albigenses and Tholosans to encounter whom he led his Army and encamped on Witsun Eve before Avignon which he tooke passing further hee received the keyes of all the Townes Places and Castles of Languedoc as farre as within foure leagues of Tholouze where through the incommodity of the winter and maladies which much weakned his Army he retreated and wintered in France with an intent of returning thither the Spring following to accomplish his enterprize But his death prevented him at Montpensier in Avergne the twelfth day of November 1226. leaving Lewis Charles Alphonse and Robert his sonnes all very young and in their minority of yeares This King reigned but three yeares in whom Vice had struck no reproach nor Vertue had made him famous whereby it seemes that his minde was of a middle temper not so poore as to become impious or wicked nor so well bent and enclined to noble actions that hee would strive to get Fame by his owne vertue therefore he was onely famous in this That hee was Sonne to an excellent Father and Father to an excellent sonne In his reigne the Counsell of Lateran was assembled whither resorted all the chiefe Bishops of Christendome and Embassadours sent from Kings and Princes After Lewis had subdued the Albigeois and left Governour to suppresse any rebellion which should happen for the affection of conquerd people is treacherous who doe watch only an opportunity to revolt hee came to Mount Pensier in the yeare 1225. October the seventh and there resigned his life and Scepter leaving a faire progeny having foure sonnes who were flourishing Branches of the Royall stemme the eldest whereof was heire unto his Fathers Crowne but inherited more vertue than his Father gave him by naturall discent The Flemings were now much disquieted by an Imposture pretending that he was their Prince some were drawne to beleeve his claime untill by putting him to death the people were better satisfied and cleerely discerned that his right was meere fixion maintained by boldnesse as that Scene was wherein Parkin Werbecke in England plaid the same part S. Lewis 9. the 44. King of France Anno 1226. THis Lewis the 9. at the age of 12. yeares succeeded his Father An. Dom. 1226. Hee was consecrated at Rheims by the Arch-bishop of Sens in the absence of him of Rheims Blanch taking of possession of her sonne Lewis confirmed herselfe Regent of the Kingdome with the consent of the States whereupon the Princes in a rage proclaimed Philip Count of Bologne Unkle to the King by the Fathers side Regent of France which was a cause of great dissentions Shee brought through the sweetnesse of her words Robert Count of Dreux into the Kings obedience But the Duke of Bretagne and the Count of Champagne with the King of England were enforced to acknowledge the King on condition that the Breton should doe homage to the King for his Dutchy whereupon he was surnamed Mauclarke Hee having out-growne his minority Anno Dom. 1234. espoused Magaret the eldest Daughter of Raymund Berenger Count of Provence and after erected the Countrey of Artois into a County or Earledome which he gave to his brother Robert who was the first Earle thereof Hee made a voyage into the Holy Land where he tooke Damietta after hee had overthrowne the Mamelucks and from thence marching to beleaguer Massaure the plague grew amongst his Army which caused the Soldan of Aegypt to charge him so strongly that he was taken and most of his Army slaine neverthelesse hee was freed upon the re-delivery of Damietta About that time Blanch Mother to the King deceased which caused the King immediately to returne into France after he had composed all matters in Palestine Being returned hee studied to polish and embellish his Kingdome with good and holy Lawes Hee made an accord with the King of England who by that renounced all the right which hee pretended to the Kingdome of France and the Dutchy of Normandy About that time Charles brother to the King conquered both the Sicilyes whereof hee was crowned King An. Dom. 1266. The King Lewis made a second voyage for the recovery of the Holy Land together with the King of England Hee went first into Africke where he tooke Carthage and at the siege of Tunes hee departed this life Anno Domini 1270. Hee was canonized after his death for the holinesse of his life Hee founded the holy Chappell at the Palace at Paris wherein he placed many holy Reliques This King being asked by his Lords what Title of honour he would assume as the Roman Emperours and Kings of France in remembrance of their Acts and Victories had formerly done hee answered My greatest victory was obtained against the Devill when I was baptized in the Church of Poissi and therefore it shall be my greatest honour to be called Lewis of Poissi His familiar Letters wherein hee did not entitle himselfe King of France but Lewis of Poissi being blamed by a private friend hee said I am like a Twelfe-tide King chosen with a Beane and keeping his Feast in the Evening intimating thereby his Election to another Crowne in the Kingdome of Heaven which second Coronation should be in the Evening and end of his life Having caused a swearer and blasphemer to be branded on the lips with a hot Iron whereat the people murmur'd he said he would undergoe the same punishment conditionally that oaths and blasphemies might be no more used in his kingdom He sitting in Counsell or beginning any action would accordign to his Mothers instruction in his infancy blesse himselfe with the signe of the Crosse. And lastly he gave unto his son Philip these instructions at his death My Sonne love God with all thy heart with all thy strength and with all thy soule offend not God in any case suffer any torment rather than sinne Beare all adversity patiently acknowledging that God hath sent it unto thee deservedly Make thy Confession often to some Minister of the Church heare diligently the divine service sung in the
Emperour Albert and this King made an accord betweene them for the conservation of their kingdomes against all men A while after the Pope being much moved against the King sent a Bull into France by the Arch-bishop of Narbona interdicting the King which Bull was burnt in the Court of the Palace At that time the Flemings slew all the French Garrisons whereupon the King being enraged sent his Army to Courtrac which was by them defeated Whilest the King sent the Lords Tarra a Colonian and Nogareth with 2000. Horse into Italy they put the Pope in such a terrour that he dyed The King also tooke such a revenge upon the Flemings neare to the Mount of Poville that hee overthrew 36000. of them After that the King having suppressed the Knights Templars and causing James de Moulay or Beavieu Generall of that Order deceased at Fontainebleau An. Dom. 1314 and lyes inhumed at St. Denis This King being perswaded to take revenge on a Bishop who had underhand strooke fire to kindle the tindar of contention betweene him and the Pope he said That it was more noble in a Prince to save than kill to pardon than to persecute and to forgive and remit rather than to revenge for saith he It must be of necessity that all things which angry men doe must needs be full of blindnesse and necessity because it is no easie matter for a man troubled with envy to have the use of Reason and whatsoever is without Reason is without Art It behooveth us therefore to take reason as our guide in all our actions and to remove these passions of envy and revenge for they ought not to rest in a wise mans breast Yet he was much affronted by Pope Boniface cōmanding him by his Bull to succour the Tartar which the King engaged in many affaires refusing to doe the Bishop sent by the Pope told him That if the King would not obey the Pope he would deprive him of his Realme But afterward two Gentlemen imployed by the King seized on the Pope in his Palace-Hall at Anagma and carryed him to Rome where he grew mad and dyed Thirty five dayes after hee was taken and had this Epitaph made by common Fame in his disgrace Hee entred his Topedome like a Foxe hee reigned like a Lyon and dyed like a Dogge Lewis the 10. the 47. King of France surnamed Hutin Anno. 1315. THis Lewis the tenth already by his Mother King of Navarre Count of Brye and Champagne succeeded his Father Anno Domini 1315. His Kingdome from the beginning was marvellously troubled with mutinies and popular seditions and for that cause he was surnamed Hutin which in old language imports mutiny and quarrells Enguran De Marigny Count of Longue Ville was accused before the King by Charles of Valois the Kings Vncle for having ill governed the Finances charged the people with many impositions and taxes and infinite confusions also for having taken money of the Flemings to grant them a peace to the disadvantage of the King wherefore he was hanged upon the Gallowes of Paris which himselfe had caused to be built Afterwards the King caused himselfe to bee annoynted and Crowned at Rheimes upon the Feast of the Assumption of the B. Virgin then he led his Army against the Flemings whom he forced to raise and forsake the siege of L'Isle And at his returne he seated the Court of Parliament at Paris to the end that the pleaders should not be anymore incommodated by so often removing it The yeare following the Count of Flanders came to visite the King at Pontoise to treat of a peace with him In the interim Lewis Count of Navers his sonne would sieze upon Flanders if the Flemings would have beene content therewith which was a cause that his Father returned after that hee had promised the King to ratifie to the Flemings that which he had treated with him Vpon this the King was surprised with a Malady at Bois De Vincennes whereof he died the fifteenth of Iune in the eighteenth moneth of his reigne leaving his second wife Clemence great with Childe who was delivered of a sonne the foureteenth of November who was baptised Iohn who lived above eight dayes there remaining none of his Line but Ioane whom he had by his first wife the daughter of Robert Duke of Burgundy by whom Eudes Duke of Burgundy her Vncle would lay claime to the Crowne but Philip the Tall brother to the late King Lewis opposing the Lawes and Customes of France in right of his Neece caused the Crowne to be adjudged unto him Lewis the tenth surnamed Hutin had two Wives Marguerite daughter of Robert Duke of Burgundy by whom he had a daughter named Ioane who was married after to Philip Count of Evreux sonne to Lewis of France brother to the late Philip the Faire and by this meanes the Kingdome of Navarre entered into the families of the Counts of Evreux and Clemence sister to Carlobert King of Hungary whom at his decease he left with Child of a sonne who was called Iohn and although he dyed an infant without having beene crowned hee hath not beene heretofore ranked in the Catalogue of the Kings of France Neverthelesse seeing that he was truely legitimate and sole heire to King Lewis Hutin he deserved the title Royall and to bee inserted to the number of Kings seeing that dying hee was with solemnity and Regall pompe carryed to St. Denis the Princes his Vncles and kinred being present at his Funeralls where hee was proclaimed although dead King of France and Navarre In the meane time that Clemence was with Child immediately upon the decease of Lewis Hutin it was ordered by the Court of Parliament that Mounsieur Philip of France Count of Poitiers should be Regent of the Kingdome untill the fruit of the Queene if it were Male should attaine to the maturity of eighteene yeares and therefore hee he bore in his Armes the Title of Philip Sonne of the King of France and Navarre Regent of the Kingdomes of France and Navarre And so the Regency was given to the next Prince of Blood so that hee were the nearest to succeed the Crowne After the death of the said Iohn who lived but eight daies or at the most but 20 daies as some do write there was some dispute amongst the Princes of the kingdome some maintaining the right to bee ill grounded upon Ioane daughter to the late Lewis Hutin and others resting upon the Iustice of the Salique Law which yet was never violated in France and ordayneth that there being never an heire Male of a King the next of Blood of the Male side shall come to the Crowne and excludes the daughters and the descendents from them although they be Males But in the end the Parliament of the Paires and Counsell of France adjudged that Philip the Tall Vncle to the late Iohn was the true and lawfull heire to the Crowne which was the first debate and difference of the Salique Law The King
reigned but an yeare and an halfe thereby to make good the position of Philosophy Nullum violentum est aeternum for his government was violent and therefore could not long continue Enguerand accused by Charles Earle of Valois and made odious to the people by his oppression of them whereof they are onely sensible was made a Sacrifice and Hanged but after his execution the Earle of Valois fell into a languishing Consumption King Lewis Hutin dyed suddainly so that the people began to imagine that Enguerands unjust death was thus revenged on these Princes which change of their opinion shewes that it was rightly spoken what the people saies a foole speakes Therefore it is observeable that good Subjects may be unjustly afflicted that the people blinded by passion and discerning not the truth will undeservedly speake well and ill of the same Action and the same man And lastly that great men loving not to come to accompt may abuse their authority Philip 5. the 48. King of France Anno 1317. THis Philip the 5 surnamed The Tall the controversie of the right to the Crowne being not yet determined betweene him and his Neece Daughter to Lewis Hutin whom Eudes her Unkle upheld and maintained her right marched with 〈◊〉 Army every where compleate to Rheimes where hee made himselfe to be annointed King by the Arch-bishop of that See on the Feast of the Epiphany Anno Dom. 1317 and after returned to Paris Whither hee summoned Robert Count of Artois whom he forced to renounce the right which he pretended to that County whereof hee had Vi Armis by force and Armes taken possession to the prejudice of Mahaut his Wives Mother In the meane time Lewis Count of Neuers Sonne of Robert Count of Flanders entertained the Flemings to his utmost endeavours in a revolt against the King who because hee came not to render homage for the Counties which hee held in France was cited to answer for himselfe before the King and fayling in his appearance all his possessions were seized for the King In the end the said Lewis Count of Nevers came and submitted himselfe to the King and recovered his Countries After upon perswasion of the Popes Legate there was a peace concluded betweene the King and the Count of Flanders the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1320 insomuch that the said Count did homage for his Lands to the King of France and accorded that Lewis the sonne of Lewis of Nevers should marry Madam Marguerite the second Daughter of France upon condition that he should succeede to the County of Flanders after his Grandfather and Father About the same time the Marriage of Isabelle the third Daughter to the King with Guy the Dolphin of Vienna was treated who not long after succeeded his Father John in Dauphine The Eldest Daughter was before marryed to Odo Duke of Burgundy After that the King quitted all the actions against his Subjects which some of his Councell in abuse of his good nature had put upon and against them And as he was deliberating to have but one sort of weights and measures in one and the same species and also a certaine rate and value of monies a malady intercepted his designes by which hee ended his dayes the third of January An. Dom. 1322. He was a Prince of a tractable disposition and therefore easily corrupted inclined more to ill than good The chiefest thing worthy remembrance in his Reigne was that his bad servants presuming on his gentle Nature layd heavy taxations on the people who thereupon maintained and thus hee suffering his Authority to be abus'd by them shew'd that although hee were great and tall of stature yet hee had but little wit and understanding A Benedicting Priest and Monke pretentending a voyage to the East committed many outrages in the East with a multitude of people by them assembled and called themselves Shepheards untill they were defeated in Languedoc This Philip would have made one weight and measure throughout his Realme but it proved but an Eutopian conceite not to be maintained by Authority or Reason The Jewes which were formerly expelled and driven out of the Kingdome were now againe admitted but after they endeavoured to bring in an Artificiall Plague into the Kingdome by using the helpe of Lepers some were grievously punished and the rest banished out of France Lastly this Kings five yeares Reigne was Rasa Tabula a blanke Table wherein Fame hath written no Royall action Charles 4. surnamed the Faire the 49. King of France Anno 1322. CHarles the 4 Count of Marche brother to Philip the Tall and to Lewis Hutin came by the same Law to the Crowne as his brother Philip had done who left no issue Male to inherit He was crowned the twelfth of February Anno Dom. 1322. He was severe in Justice giving every man his right desirous that all should be guided and governed by the Lawes and Authority of Magistrates Following that Norme he caused Jordan of L'Isle a great Lord to be attached who upon accusations of infinite enormities was attainted and convicted wherefore hee was hanged although hee had marryed the Neece of Pope John 22 and as others are of opinion his Step-mother About that time deceased Lewis Duke of Nevers the eldest son of Robert Count of Flanders who dyed immediately after By which occasion Robert the younger sonne of the said Robert Count of Flanders entred into a difference with his Nephew Lewis sonne of the Count of Nevers Hereupon the cause was pleaded in the Court of Parliament which proved of no validity to the good of the Nephew Then began the Warres betweene the English and French Anno Dom. 1324 upon the occasion that the Lord of Montpesac would to the Kings prejudice fortifie a Castle in Gascogne upon the borders of France Whereupon the King sent Charles of Valois his Unkle who so happily acquitted himselfe of his charge that hee recovered into the Kings powers all the Townes and strong holds in Burgundy which are beyond the River Garonne except Bourdeaux Bayonne and S. Senes Afterwards having obtained a Truce of the English he dyed in December An. Dom. 1325 as also the King deceased at Bois de Vincennes the first of March leaving Madame Joane de Eureux his wife great with Child who afterwards in the Moneth of April 1328. was delivered of a Daughter called Blanche Hee was the first King that ever permitted to the Pope the Decimations of the Churches of France This King reigned sixe yeares being wise temperate and just three chiefe vertues in a Prince but unhappy in his progeny Assoone as he was annointed he held a great Sessions in Paris to heare complaints and caused many Gentlemen to be punished in which number was one Jourdain of Lisle a Gascon who being Nephew to Pope John the 22 had beene pardoned for eighteene capitall crimes and yet still grew more impious former mercy making him presume more of pardon untill at last he was taken and brought to Paris
your Majesty for giving me a dispatching denyall rather than feeding delayes with which Answer the King was so contented that he had his Office immediatly granted A Noble-man seeing this King ride a Hunting on a very little Horse said he had gotten a goodly stout Horse for though he seemed but weake and little yet he must needes be very strong because he carryed him with all his Counsell Thereby taxing the King preferring the wisedome of his owne conceite before all other Counsell Hee demanding what present he might bestow on the English Embassadors that might not cost him much was answered That he might present them with his Musitians that so they might not cost him much as formerly they had done Before the joyning of a Battaile this King said hastily unto a Noble-man that he had no affiance in his service who for proofe thereof having desired to exchange Armes and Ensignes with the King charged bravely on the enemy and being supposed to be the King was slaine wherein the King with weeping teares sayd he had lost his life to expresse his love and loyalty Being informed that the Saracens were misreckned 10000 Francks in the payment of 200000 thousand pounds for a ransome he would not embarke or set saile untill the aforesaid Francks were paid such was his fidelity to those Infidells This King having appoynted a Bishop to goe take a Muster of the Souldiers in Paris a great Noble-man desired a Commission to reforme the Bishops Church saying that employment was as fit for him as the other was for the Bishop When this King was Daulphin of France he taking great pleasure in hunting often resorted to a poore Forresters Cottage where he did use to eate Radishes he comming to be King the Forrester perswaded by his Wife in hope of reward presented to the King a faire Radish which his Majesty accepted and rewarded the Forrester with a thousand Crownes Afterward a Courtier presented the King with a faire goodly Horse expecting a greater reward because he had beene so bountifull to the Forrester But the King contrary to his expectation gave the Courtier his Radish wrapped up in white paper the Courtier returning to his lodging opening the packet found nothing but a Radish whereupon he informed the King of the mistake as he supposed The King said I have paide thee well for thy horse for the present which I gave thee cost mee a thousand Crownes thus the poore mans good affection was wel rewarded and the Courtiers audaciousnesse slightly regarded This Lewis sends an Embassadour to the Emperour to excuse him for not sending an army promised by treaty entreating him not to make a greement with the Duke of Burgogne but that he should confiscate all the Dukes Signonories that held of the Emperour as hee would doe those that held of the Crowne of France The Emperour answered that they must not divide the Beares skinne before the Beast be dead This King commming to an interview of the King of Castile unto whom hee was formerly strickly allyed conceived a contempt and disdaine each of other The French of the Castilians sumptuousnesse and pride in their words countenance and apparrell The Castilians of the plainnesse of the French attire So as from that day these Kings did never love and the French did ever since hate the Spaniard Charles 8. the 56. King of France Anno 1483. CHARLES the 8. at the age of 13. yeares came to the Crowne under the Regency of Madam de Beavieu his owne Sister and of the Duke of Bourbon her Husband whereupon the Duke of Orleance the nearest to the Crowne and had married his other Sister as in an indignity conceived convocated and summoned all the Statesmen to Tours In the meane time the Duke of Orleance seeing that Madam of Beavieu managed all the affaires of the kingdome retired himselfe into Bretagne whereupon the King made Warre against him and recovered a Battaile against him at St. Albins the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange being taken Prisoners After this the Duke of Bretagne deceased leaving his sole Daughter Anne Inheretrix who notwithstanding that she had made a promise to Maximilian King of the Romans was after marryed to the King for which cause the King of England made a preparation for Warre against him in the behalfe of Maximilian but it was concluded that the King should send backe the Princesse Marguerite with her Dowry of the Countries of Artois and Burgundy After having surrendred the County of Roussillon to the Spaniard by the perswasion of his Confessour he went upon the recovery of the succession which Renatus the late King of Sicily and Charles the Count of Maine his brother had left unto him by Will for the rights which they pretended to the kingdome of Naples In his journey hee was Regally entertained by Ludovicus Ssorza surnamed the Moore in the Towne of Ast and after having proceeded into Tuscany by Peter de Medicis who delivered into his command the Fortresses of Florence and the City of Pisa From thence hee went to Rome where nolens volens he entered Alexander 6. being then Pope who working his peace with him gave him the Title of Emperour of Constantinople and invested him to the kingdome of Naples whither the King having made his entrance the 12. of May Anno Dom. 1495 hee was crowned King of Sicily Whereupon the Monarchs and Potentates of Italy being amazed intended him an Ambuscade in his returne at Fournoue but the King passing another way escaped the plot and came safe into France where having intelligence of the losse of Naples and intending a second voyage thither for the recovery of his losses dyed of an Apoplexy as hee was seeing a Game at Tennis in the Castle of Amboise the seventh of April Anno Domini 1498. This King among other facetious sayings gave the Florentine Embassadours this merry Answer denoting their unfaithfulnesse in these two Italian Verses Concortesia e fede poca Va a Florence vender loca To Florence he went of his Goose to make sale Without any faith or courtesie at all which Verses were formerly made on this occasion A Countrey Pesant sold a fat Goose to a faire Dame of Florence for the fond satisfaction of Venery but afterward on colder thoughts growing wiser this piece of leatherne ignorance contrary to his former agreement without either fidelity or courtesie demanded the price of his Goose in the presence of her Husband and made her for the former sawce of the Goose pay him againe And with this Italian Proverb which had this wanton Originall the King answered the unfaithfull Embassadours of Florence His Queene Anne having received tidings of his Death said Gods will be done I doubt not but I shall be as great as I was before intimating thereby her hopes to be Queene of France afterwards verified by her Marriage with King Lewis the twelfth Friar Jerosine Savonarola living at Florence foretold in his Sermons that this King should come into