Flaunders and Normandie Clodamyr King of Orleans and the estates of this realme were all the Duchie of Orleans Bourgongne Lionois Daulphiné and Prouence Thierri was King of Mets and to his realme were subiect the Country of Lorraine and all the Countries from Rheims vnto the Rhin and beyond it all Germany which was the auncient patrimony of the Kings of France Hee was receiued in this royall portion with his bretheren although hee were a bastard the which hath beene likewise practized by others in the first line And as euery one of these foure Kings called himselfe King of France so they also added the name of their principall Citty where they held their Court. Thus they called them by speciall title Kings of the Cittie where they had their residence And in truth euery one caried himselfe as King in the Countries vnder his obedience not acknowledging the elder but by mouth onely As the plurality of Masters is a plague in an estate so is it miraculous that the realme had not beene ruined by so many Kings especially amidst such monstrous confusions Horrible confusion among brethren which then reigned full of treacheries cruelties and parricides I tremble to enter into this labyrinth the which I will but passe ouer measuring the Readers sorrowe by my griefe in reading and writing these tragicall confusions But let vs obserue things by order After these foure brethren had peaceably made their diuisions and taken lawes of their owne accord in the yeare 515. according to the most approued calculation they marry their sister Clotilde to Almaric sonne to Alaric King of the Vuisigoths who had recouered a good part of Languedoc the which Clouis had taken from his father and by this marriage they yeeld vnto him the Cittie of Toulouse But this alliance was the cause of great diuisions and ruine Ambition and Couetousnes good Counsellers of state made euery one to conceiue as great a kingdome for himselfe as that of his father perswading them to attempt any thing to bee great Bourgongne was quietly returned into the possession of Gondebaults children Sigismond had the name of King as the elder and Gondemar a portion Clodomyr King of Orleans as nearest neighbour castes his eyes vpon this goodly Country although hee had no cause of pretension but onely conueniency Yet hee findes a colour to beginne this quarrell The rights pretended by his mother Clotilde issued from the house of Bourgongne and the zeale of Iustice to chastise Sigismond for that he had slaine his eldest sonne to please his second wife and her Children Clodomir takes and is taken He enters into Bourgongne with a mighty army seizeth on Sigismond his wife and children brings them to Orleans and there castes them all into a well Thus God punished the cruelty of Sigismond an vnkinde father by a cruell and disloyall hand Clodomir presumed that he had conquered all hauing slayne the King of Bourgongne But the Bourguignons incensed with this crueltie confirme Gondemar in his brothers seate and leauy an army to defend him against Clodomir The armies ioyne Clodomir puft vp with this first successe promysing vnto himselfe a second triumph thrusting himselfe rashely into his enemies troupes is slayne with a Lance and is knowne by his long haire the marke of Kings and Princes of the bloud as wee haue said The Bourguignons cut off his head pearch it on the top of a Lance and make shewe thereof to the French in derision who retire themselues after the death of their Generall But Childebert Clotaire his brethren returne into Bourgongne with a strong army force Gondemar to flie into Spaine leauing them free possession of 〈◊〉 reâ—â—me the which was their proiect rather then the reueÌ„ge of their brothers death 〈◊〉 was dâ—â—ided among the brethren as a coÌ„mon prey all the realme of Bourâ—â—â—â—â—â— is therin coÌ„â—rehended Thierri King of Metz had his part but the poore children 〈◊〉 are not only excluded Cruelty of brethren but two of them are barbarously slaine by the cruel commaundement of their vnnaturall Vncles 520. and they say that Clotaire slewe one of them with his owne hands Cruelâ—â—e of bretheren in the presence of Childebert the other was thrust into a monastery This confusion was followed by two others Thierri King of Metz making warre against them of Turinge called his brother Clotaire to his aide being repulâ—ed at the first by the force of that nationâ— aided by his brother he preuailes and the vanquished stands at the mercy of the conquering bretheren but behold they fall to quarrell for the spoile Thus the ende of a forein warre was the beginning of a ciuill dissention betwixt them Warre betwixt the bretheren They leauie forces with intent to ruine one another Childebert ioynes with his brother Thierri against Clotaire Such was the good gouernment of these bretheren as desire and ambition did counsell them They are in armes ready to murther one another As their armies stood in field ready to ioyne behold a goodly cleere day ouercast sodenly with such darkenesse that all breakes out into lightening thunder and violent stormes so as the armies were forced to leaue the place and by this aduertisement as it were from heauen An admirable reconcilement these Kings assembled to shed blould change their mindes and turne their furious hatred into brotherly concord Thus God the protector of this estate hath watched ouer it to preserue it euen when as they sought to ruine it and that men hastened to their owne destructions But from thence the vnited bretheren passe into Languedoc against Almariâ— King of the Visigoths their brother in lawe The cause of their quarrell came from their sister Clotilde maried to this Gothe as we haue said so as she which should be the vniting of their loues was the cause of their bloudy dissention She was a Christian and hee an Arrian This difference in religion was cause of the ill vsage shee receiued from her husband and his subiects These bretheren incensed by the complaint and calling of their sister enter into Almarics Country with their forces who hauing no meanes to resist seekes to saue himselfe but he is taken and brought before his brethren in lawe by whose commaundement he was slaine Thus Childebert and Thierri hauing spoyled the treasure and wasted the Country of their confederates returne into France accompained with their sister but shee died by the way inioying litle the fruite of her vnkinde impatience although shadowed with the cloake of inconsiderate zeale Thierri dies soone after leauing Theodebert his son heir both of his Realme and of his turbulent and ambitious humour A part of Bourgongne was giuen him with the title of a King the which he left to his sonne and as a chiefe legacie the hatred he did beare to his brother Clotaire King of Soissons As soone as he sees himselfe King by the decease of his father hee takes part with his Vncle Childebert King of Paris against
in a common-weale who hauing power in the soueraigne authoritie abuse the people with a shew of the common good an ordinarie cloake for such as fish in troubled waters We shall see by the vnruly euents of the contempt of royall authoritie the King being eyther a prisoner or sick in iudgement what a body is without a head a realme without a King well obeyed and a multitude gouerned by it selfe A subiect susceptible of all impressions but of bad rather then good though alwaies couered with a shew of good an instrument of all mischiefes in an Estate when as transported by violent and disordred passions couered with a shew of common good it is not restrained with the reynes of a lawfull authoritie I meane a multitude a dangerous beast with many heads doing commonly more harme then good We shall see heere what councellours of State the ambition and couetousnesse of great men be especially when women entermedle armed with the sâ—ew of publike authoritie and to conclude we shall confesse by a sound iudgement of this discourse that all things done in our age were done before A briefe preface for the greatnesse of the subiect yet necessary for that which is represented in these raignes the which we will note according to thir occurrents The raigne of Iohn Iohn the eldest sonne of Philip of Valois succeeded his father in the yeare 1350. and raigned fourteene yeares He had made a long apprentiship in managing the affaires of the Realme vnder his father Philip but he neither ruled better nor more happily His manners shall be known by his actions He had for sonnes by Ioane Countesse of Boulogne His children and the most remarkable personages in this raigne Charles Lewis Iohn Philip and one Daughter named Ioane Charles his eldest sonne was Dauâ—phin of Viennois in his fathers life and Duke of Normandy and after him King of France Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry and Philip called the hardy first he was Earle of Toâ—raine and after through his brothers fauour Duke of Burgongne and Earle of Flanders in the right of his wife Ioane was married to Charles King of Nauarre and Earle of Eureux Princes which shall play their partes vppon this Theater in euery scene of the Tragedy that I am to represent and for this reason they are to be obserued in the beginning This Charles King of Nauarre was sonne to Lewis Earle of Eureux and of Ioane daughter to King Lewis Hutin who by the sufferance of Philip the long her vncle Charles King oâ— Nauarâ—e the scourge of thâ—◠〈…〉 The humors of Câ—arles of Nauaare succeding to the Crowne remayned Queene of Nauarre and by this right Charles her sonne carried bâ—th the title and effect of the Realme with many other great inheritances A Prince of the blood royall both by father and mother and sonne in lawe to King Iohn hauing married Ioane his onely Daughter A man of a subtill spirit eloquent actiue vigilant but 〈◊〉 vnfaithful malicious reuengefull armed with the prerogatiue of his blood and the great meane he inioyed to be a pernitious instrument to trouble the King his Realme beyond all measure but in the end he shall receiue a due reward for his actions by a death worthy of his life After Iohns coronation at Rheims with his wife Ioane being returned to Paris he began his raigne by a famous act of an vnfortunate presage for he caused Raoul Earle of Eu and of Guines to be beheaded in prison vpon light accusations A mournful beginning of his raigne as hauing intelligence with the English and that he betrayed his affaires for that he had passed and repassed into France vpon his faith giuen during his imprisonment He was Constable of France Iohn aduanced Charles of Spaine to his place grand child to the King of Castile and son in Law to the Earle of Blois and so allied to the King and exceedingly beloued of him amongst all his greatest fauourits He shal be the first fruites of many miseries when as this raigne promised some rest vnder a King of age and experience fit to gouerne a Realme Fâ—r as Iohn was busye to institute the order of the Knights of the Starre in the ende growne so common as it remaines a badge for the Knight of the watch and his Archeâ—s vnto this day there chanced a great misfortune to this Constable Charles of Nauarre complained that the King detayned froÌ„ him the Counties of Champaigne and â—rie belonging to his mother by the same title that the kingdome of Nauarre did This was true but by reason of their neerenesse vnto Paris Charles of Nauarre discontented the Kings counsell had â—â—â—ted these Earledomes vnto the Crowne and giuen in exchange the Townes of Mante and Meulan with a pension answerable to the reuenues of the said Earledomes without any preiudice to the Nauarrois But he sought an occasion for a cause smothering some mischâ—uâ—u pretence in his hart the which he discouered by many effects Not dating to complaine directly of the king he quarrelled with the Constable as the chiefe of the Councel Charles of Sâ—aine Constable of FraÌ„ce slaine in his bed by the King of Nauarre of whom he was exceeding iealous for the priuate fauour the King did beare him Hauing taken Councel with his passioÌ„ he caused the Constable to be slaine in his bed at Aigle in Normandie but with so great a presumption as he himselfe came vnto theplace accompanied with his brother Philip of Nauarre Iohn Earle of Harcourt and his brethren and with many Gentlemen his followers This murther thus audaciously committed he retires himselfe easily to Eureux whereof he was Earle from whence he writes to the good Citties of the Realme auouching this murther as done by his command and iustifying it as lawfull and reasonable King Iohn found himselfe much wronged but not able then to redresse it An imagined pardon he promised to remit the fact so as he would aske pardon with the reuerence due to his royall maiesty The which Charles is content to doe but vpon good gages holding the Kings word insuffâ—cient to secure his person So as Iohn giues him Lewis his second sonne for hostage The Nauarrois comes to Paâ—is he presents himselfe to the Kings Couâ—cell and seeks to giue some reason for this murther yet the Councell condemnes him as guilty of high Treason decrees that he should be commited to prison Iames of Boâ—rbon Earle of March newly aduanced to the office of Constable laie hold on him and puts him in gard but all this was but for a shewe to maintaine the publike respect for presently the three Queenes go to the King Ione daughteâ— to Lewis Hutin his mother in law Blâ—nche widow to Phillip of Valois and Ione daughter to King Iohn Queene of Nauarre his wife Charles likewise came himselfe and falls vpon his knees before the King both he and they seeme to weepe and to sue for mercy of
with profit it is necessary to distinguish it in order There are three parts famous both for the subiect and successe The first shewes the confused and troublesome beginning of this raigne The order of this discourse vntill our Charles was sollemnely installed King and thereby acknowledged of all the French for vntill that day the greatest part called him Earle of Ponthiâ—ure or King of Bourges in mockerie and such as were more modest termed him Daulphin of Viennois The second putts him in possession of his royall authoritie shewing by what meanes he reduced the Citties subdued by the English to his obedience beginning with the Cittie of Paris and so proceeding to the rest of the Realme expelling the English from all but onely Calais The third shewes the ende of this raigne discouering the Kings domesticall discontents which hastened him to his graue after the happy euents of all his difficulties So this raigne continued thirty nine yeares variable in good and euill The beginning difficult the middest happy and the ende mournfull This is the Theater of mans life where ioye sorrow happinesse and misfortune play their parts diuersly both with great and small Charles the 7. was one and twentie yeares old when hee began to raigne and raigned 39. yeares for after the decease of his father Charles the 6. hee tooke vpon him the name of King of France notwithstanding the pretension of the English the 22. of October in the yeare Charles his raigne 1422. he died the thirteenth of Iuly .1461 He was married at aleuen yeares of age to Marie the daughter of Lewis of Duke Aniou and King of Sicile By this marriage hee had three Sonnes and fiue Daughters His sonnes names were Lewis Philip and Charles Lewis the eldest shall succed him to the Crowne Philip died very yong Charles liued somewhat longer but without any great successe His childeren hauing only the titles of the Dukedomes of Berry Normandie and Guienne His daughters were Radegonde Yoland Catherine Iane and Magdaleine The first died being betrothed to Sigismond Duke of Austria Yoland was married to Amedee Duke of Sauoie Catherine to that great Charles Duke of Bourgongne who shall be his owne ruine Iane to Iohn Duke of Bourbon and Magdalein to Gaston Earle of Foix and this was his race His manners and disposition His manners will appeere by his life he was of a tractable and gentle disposition capable of counceil but louing his ease too much and suffring himselfe to bee often carried away by his seruants And yet as God would vse him for the establishing of the French Monarchie so did he bring him vp in the schole of affliction to fortifie him against all difficulties assisting him with great worthie persons both for warre and councell by whose meanes he did raise vp this estate yet with great and confused combats and by a long and painfull patience But let vs proceede to that which hath chanced vnder his raigne most worthy of obseruation The miserable estate of this raigne vnto the Coronation of Charles the 7. during seauen yeares From the ende of the yeare 1422. vnto .29 in the moneth of Iune when as hee was solemnly installed King in the Cittie of Poitiers SVCH was the estate of Charles when his fathers death called him to the Crowne Wee haue seene after that the miseries of France had caused his mother Isabell to forget her owne bloud making him to bee reiected from the Crowne and Henry the 5. King of England substituted in his place yet he fainted not in these extreamities but did valiantly withstand the pretended desseignes by whose death God soone laid the foundation of this realmes restoring Yet after the death of King Henry the 5. Charles was incountred with infinite difficulties He had small meanes fewer friends and many mighty enemies He scarce enioyned the least part of his estate followed by intreatie and obeyed by halues euen of such as made profession to be most faithfull The Citties had diuers motions Diuersitie of humours in the Citties as priuate interest drew mens mindes to that partie which they held most profitable There were but too many which followed the fortune of the English being a Conquerour the corruption of man inclining commonly to the stronger But amidest these vncertaine humours of people The enemies of Charles he had enemies which incountred him with aduantages apparently victorious for Henry the 6. although he were very young yet did he exceed him in all things he had a realme hereditarie and absolute The King of England the best part of the French Monarchie the assistance of the Duke of Bedford his Vncle with many worthy men and great meanes To these enemies were ioyned some great men which fished in a troubled streame euery one imagining to haue a part of this garment building their desseignes vpon the Sepulcher of Charles and the alteration of the State Among the chiefest were Philip Duke of Bourgongne Amedee Duke of Sauoie Peter Duke of Brittaine with his Brother the Earle of Richemont Diuers instruments vnder that great engin of England but all these motions were to ruine France and to build their greatnesse vpon her ruines The Burguignon who had a great hand in the State was most interessed and most opposite to Charles being apparently the author of his fathers murther The Duke of Bourgongne Yet Philip a iudicious Prince so hated him whom necessitie commanded him to hate in this accident as if he should loue him in time not wedding himselfe absolutely to the English yet did he so worke for him in shew as making himselfe in effect the stronger he might counterpeise him if necessitie required and strike the last stroake for him to whom the French should incline Reason likewise taught him that the people would respect the lawfull heire of the Crowne louing their Prince naturally and in the end would reiect the Stranger as an vnlawfull Tenant who made himselfe daily insupportable by his imperious cariage Amedee Duke of Sauoye being on the Stage and farre from blowes kept the stakes and entertained Charles The Duke of Sauoye as if he should be an assured mediator in these quarrels to end them with more aduantage then any Christian Prince and so he nourished this diuision by a strict intelligence which he had with the Bourguignon As for the humour of the two Brethren of Brittaine the course of the Historie will soone shew it Thus Charles charged by many enemies The Duke of Britaine had few faithfull and confident friends and in that golden age so small meanes to entertaine his friends as he could hardly supply the ordinary charges of his traine selling and ingaging peece after peece of his inheritance So as he had nothing more assured then the equitie of his cause and his resolution in this great necessitie He had yet some good friends remaining in Scotland whom he bought dearely Charles aduanceth Scottishmen aduancing them to
and Councellors of the massacre as he made knowen by his speeches to some of his Court being enemies to iniustice and by letters written out of the Realme for whom he prepared a strange potion if the prouidence of God had not reserued them as scourges and ministers of that punishment hee meant to inflict vppon this Realme to the end that seeing him afterwards to cast theâ—e rods into the fire we should confesse That it is not now alone that hee sheweth him selfe the gardien and Protector of this Monarchie At that time Charles lay taken both hand and foot his cheefe seruants were dead disgraced and absent The motiues of new troubles did much disquiet him Hee did foresee infallible seeds of combustion in the coloured captiuitie of his brother and brother in Law in the imprisonment of the two Marshals in the exile of the Prince of Condé in whose fauour the Germains began to arme Hee sees his subiects cruelly armed one against another and the fire of diuision readie to wast the Realme His infirmitie had some intermission during winter but in the end after he had languished the moneths of February March and Aprill tormented with many pangs hee kept his bed Charles dies and the thirtith day of May hee slept his last sleepe in the Castle of Bois de Vincennes after great effusion of bloud which issued out by all the passages of his bodie the last two weekes of his sicknesse during the which he endured all the violent assaults and combats which the vigour of youth might suffer in the extreamest pangs of death His successour could not come so soone from Poland Catherine therefore to assure his authoritie during his absence had obteined on the nine and twentith day letters of Regencie from the King directed to the Gouernours of Prouinces and the better to fortifie this nomination to restraine the Princes of the bloud and to maintaine her selfe in the midest of confusion she causeth letters Patents to bee sealed by the Councellor of Birague her seruant and by this meanes doth abolish the fundamentalllawes the order of the Realme the priuileges of Princes the authoritie of the generall Estates and the prerogatiue of the Parliaments Charles was borne the seuen and twentith of Iune 1550. and began to raigne the fifth of December 1560. A Prince of a very actiue disposition His disposition inconstant in his thoughts violent in his enterprises impatient readie of conceite the which he did expresse in good termes a diligent obseruer of other mens natures cholerike secret a dissembler cruell and a blasphemer But let vs impute these vices and others not to his naturall inclination but to his gouernours and scholemasters amongst the which the historie doth especially note Martigues and Losses who with the consent of the mother corrupted this yong Prince and made him take the habit of Vices and infections wherein they daily plonged him They might haue pruned this yong plant better to haue brought forth better fruites At the beginning he was open courteoâ—◠〈◊〉 sober and little giuen to women His speech was pleasing hee loued 〈◊〉 and poetrie we reade yet good verses compiled by him in French But the 〈◊〉 of hunting transported him wonderfully and the bloud of wild beasts which 〈…〉 with singular delight made him with long continuance as it were greedy of 〈◊〉 bloud But let vs tremble in this death vnder the Iustice of Gods Iudgements 〈◊〉 suffered after so horrible a butchery committed and commanded 〈…〉 raigne him to bee surprised with a great debilitie in his latter dayes to 〈…〉 his owne bloud vomiting it out pittifully by all the conduicts of his body as a 〈◊〉 iudgement for him that barbarously shed it throughout all the Prouinces of the realme Doubtlesse God loues not the Prince that thirsts after his subiects bloud for the subiects bloud is the very bloud of their Prince HENRIE the third 62. King of France HENRY THE .3 KING OF FRANCE AND POLE. IT is a great comfort vnto mee sayd Charles some few houres bâ—fore his death that I leaue no heyres males lawfully begotten 1574. for lâ—auing him young he must indure many crosses and France hath need of a man But alas we shall now see one aduanced to the crowne whereâ—â—to the fundamentall lawe of State and honour doth call him installed with a confused beginning and afterwards by an Edict of pacification to reduce and reâ—eiâ—e his subiects happily in their obedience vnder a raigne as lasciuious and voâ—uptâ—â—us as the other had beene cruell and bloudie vntill that the house of Guise seeing the King baren and his successor confined in shewe beyond the riuer of Loire shall discouer their ambition and cause but in the end with the losse of the liues of two of the chiefe motiues of confusion the people to breake out into a blind vaine and â—reacherous rebellion beeing too readie to second the ambitious desseins of great men and to runne at randon vnder the libertie of a turbulent raigne and for the last scene of this tragedie they stâ—rre vp a monsterous monke traiterously to murther him and by his death to extinguish the name of Valois and vnwittingly to let the Crowne of France vpon the head of this Henry the first of the branch of Bourâ—ons whome wee shall see happily called from beyond the riuer of Loire miraculously to take the helme of this estate and valiantly to encounter the dangerous attempts of his enemies who had alreadie proclaymed a triumph before the victorie gotten â—isely to quench the fires of diuision kindled in his Realme and nowe to raigne mâ—st happilie and by the admirable fauour and blessing of heauen to gouerne his people in concord peace and loue This is the man whome France had neede of to pacifie the diuisions both of great and small to restore their generall and priuate ruines and vnder so gentle and milde a commande to preserue them frâ—m the proude Emperie of Strangers Doubtlesse France cannot bee gouerned but by a Frenchman as wee shall see hauing learned the beginning progresse and pittifull ende of this Prince vpon whome depended the estate of this great and mightie monarchie Postes flie with speede to carrie newes to the King of Poland of the death of his elder brother whilest the Queene mother attending his comming made a truce with them of Poitou to the end she might with lesse opposition furnish the warres of Normandie and to stay them of Languedoc and other neighbour Prouinces she perswaded the Duke of Alençon and the King of Nauarre to giue them aduertisment of the death of Charles and sollicited the gouernours to write vnto the newe King touching their zeale to his seruice and desire vnder her regencie to obserue the like fidelity to him as they had done to his Predecessors Matignon labored in the meane time to take Saint Lo and Carentan from certaine gentlemen Protestants whome the breach of faith to the Earle of Montgomery had made resolute in the
what is past they looke only to the present In crymes of State they coÌ„sider nothing but the puaâ—shment what they may expect herafter The most vertous actioÌ„s yeeld to the violence of the bad The acused hath serued the King it was his dutie hee hath beene recompenced He hath attempted against his seruice therein hee hath dâ—ne what he ought not Tâ—e oâ—â—enceâ— and the puniâ—hâ—eâ—t aâ—e Twyns at the same instant that hee hath offended hee drawes vppon him the rigour of the punishment If with Antipater he hath carried vpon his bodie the markes of vertue there is nothing now to be seene but signes of infidelâ—â—ie in his heart His merits haue mounted to the greatnes of the fiâ—it dignities in France his ill deseruings cast him downe with â—hame and shew him to be vnworthie of those excelleÌ„t degrees of honour Good seruice cannot enter into comparison with bad nor crymes in paraâ—eâ—l with meâ—its The offence which is greater then the seruice changeth the bond of recompence 〈◊〉 puniâ—hâ—ent He that heâ—pes to build a house deserues much of the owner but when he sets me to it all the remembrance of the good which he hath done vaniâ—heth away The accused hath had a good share in the restoâ—ing of the State but sence he would haue vndermyned it and râ—ined the foundations He hath practised to make it a prey to the enemie they can no more returne to that which he hath done they iudge what he would haue done and shall haue no other esteeme or reputation but as an Aâ—iston a Nabis or a Catelin He hath beene profitable to the State it is true But he hath offended against the Lawes of State Their preseruation is so necessarie as it were better to loose the most profitabâ—e members in an Estate then to suffer them to bee violated for in puting them to death it doth but decrease the number of valiant Men but in suffering them to liue you doe wrong vnto the Lâ—wes and thereby ruine the quiet of the State Hee hath done weâ—l fâ—r the preâ—eruation of the State it is tâ—ue But he that seekes to distroy what â—ee hath preserued makes himselâ—e an enemie and the remembrance of his well deseruing dies in the inâ—uâ—ie which he â—ould haue done to the whole bodie Hee hath begun well but he ended â—ll All actions are censured by the end If the heele that is to say Constancie and firmenes had not â—ailed in Achilles he had beene immoâ—tall It is not sufficient for a man to begin to do wel if he desists in the midest and conâ—inues not vnto the end who deserued better at Rome theâ— Manlius the only preseruer of the Capitolâ— against the Gaules and who was more seuerely punished then he whom they cast downe headlong from the Capitoll for his Factions and Mutinies If it were a cryme not to serue the Prince was it not execrable to hinder and to coÌ„â—pire against his seruice As the seruices done by the Accused cannot be compared with hâ—s offence so his qualitie cannot moderate his punishment Iustice hath no eyes to regard a Dukes Crowne a Maâ—shal of France his Staffe nor a blew RibaÌ„d Al tâ—ese are no prerogatiues but that he which attempts to trouble the State shall be held an enemie to the Maiestie of the Prince the publike good Great men are greatly punished Digniâ—ies agrauate the offence vpon him that is bound not to offend The greater the bond is the more execrable is the ingratitude There is no gentleman â—n France more bound vnto his Prince then the Accused If duties bonds hould no pâ—ace in the affections of subiects to their Prâ—nce to what Altar shall they goâ— to seeke assâ—rance of faith must not the King in these continuall dâ—ubts of disloyaltie trust thâ— gâ—rd of his person vnto Strangers as Lewis the XI did vnto the Scottisâ—men And findâ—ng nâ— Religion nor Conscience among Men trust vnto Beasts as Massinissa did God is offended when as respect of the qualitie with-houlds the course of Iustice and threaâ—ens that Estate with ruine wherein they suffer a wicked subiect to liue Achab felt the heauy hand of his wrath for that he saued the life of Benadad As this furious desire of soueraigne coÌ„mand troubles al the considerations of Nature Friendship Dutie So in punishing them we must neither regard the respects of bloud the remembrance of seruices nor the motions of friendshâ—p The offence is of too great a consequence to dissemble it He that doth not punish an euill allowes of it But they say it hath beene pardoned that we must not open a wound which hath beene closed vp Euill vnpunished it suffered Kings and Fortune do often pardon to punish them more seuerely that haue abused their pardon The Prisoner confesseth that he did not say al a pardon cannot extend A pardon extend â—ut to confession but to those things that haue bin mentioned confessed the greatest part of the offence hath remained in the wil of the repentant he hath coÌ„fessed but little There was a graet differeÌ„ce betwixt him that did pardon him that demanded pardon The King pardoned to the end he should not fall into a relaps of his former faultes and hee demanded pradon that he miâ—â—â— oâ—fend more safely It appeeres by his confession and by that which hee hath sayd in the face of the Court when as he was demanded why hee had not descouered his offence freely vnto the King wheÌ„ as he gaue him so great assurance to forget it He answered that he did not thinke La Fin had sayd any thing and that he kept his word hauing â—â—â—firmed it with great othes that if he had acquainted him with that which hee had diâ—couered to the King hee would haue cast himselfe at his Maiesties feete as readely as he did to craue pardon Their was then some-thing betwixt them that was not yet pardoned They which offend do often misreckon the time seeking to excuse their fauâ— The conference of Times discouers the continuance of Intents The pardon was in Ianuary and after September he writes that seeing it had pleased God to giue the Kâ—â—â— a Daulphin he would no more thinke of those vanities and La Fin addes that there was a billet of a contrary tennor that the negotiation was continued and that the King had no knowledge thereof from the prisoner The pardon should haue drawne him tâ— repentance and not to ingage him in newe trecheries the which could not bee remitted nor pardoned for that he had offended often without punnishment He must not continue his errors the last paies for all the precedent The Court allowes not of this pardon in a câ—ime that is beyond all pardon wherof the abolishment depends not of the King A Prince cannot be liberal of his subiects bloud who may not bee prodigall of his subiects bloud nor bring the helth of all in generall in danger for one in particular This reason mooued Alexander to put Philotas to death being
a list He that appreheÌ„ds death hath no desire to eate yet hee set him downe rose againe presently and according to his vsuall maner went vnto a window which looked into the Court of the Basâ—ille where hearing the cries and lamentations of a woman hee thought they were for him had this sad content to see they wept for him before his death Soone after the Chancellor goes towards him who crossing through the Court the Duke of Biron espied him cryed out that he was dead You come sayd he to pronounce my sentence I am condemned vniustly tell my kins-folkes that I die an innocent The Chancellor went on without any motion coÌ„manding that they should bring him into the Chappel The prisoner seeing him come a farre of cried out The Duke of Biâ—ons words to the Chancellor Oh my Lord Chancellor is there no pardon is there no mercy The Chancellor saluted him and puâ—ts on his hat The Duke of Biron continued bare and hauing abandoned all the powers of his Soule to greefe and passion hee tooke the aduantage to speake first and to speake all that a tounge ouer greeued might vtter reproching the Chancellor that hee had not had so great a desire to saue him as to condemne him After condemnation all discours is vaine Hee added thervnto certaine words the recording whereof is prohibited and the report punnishable But Princes regard not the rayling of subiects against their Maiesty the which returnes alwaies froÌ„ whence it came The Duke of Biron knowing not whom he should challenge most for his misfortune turned towards the Chancellor and shaking him by the arme sayd You haue iudged me God will absolue me Men condemned may speak any thing hee will lay open their Iniquities which haue shut their eyes because they would not see mine innocency you my Lord shall answere for this iniustice before him whether I do sommon you within a yeare and a day I go before by the iudgement of men but those that are the cause of my death shall come after by the iudgement of God All which was deliuered with such violence as hee cryed out and stormed both against the King and his Parliament They beare with all which proceeds from choller in a condemned man of his humor and quality But this excesse to adiorne a Chancellor to Heauen being 70. yeares old was held vnworthy the great courage of a Captaine blaspheming and brauing death and yet ignorant how they pleade in an other world He was not the first in the like extremities that haue adiourned their Iudges before the Throne of God Iohn Hus sayd in dying That those which had condemned him should answer a hundred yeares after before God and him and the Bohemians who preserued the Asshes of his bones and maintained his Doctrine coyned money with this adiournement But the Duke of Birons assignation was vaine for the Chancellor appeered not but hath bin more healthful since then before He found no means to enter into discours amidest the confusioÌ„ of so many words which were like vnto a violent streame Yet he interrupted him to tell him that he had need of Gods helpe that he should recommend himselfe vnto him He presently answered that hee had thought vpon God and implored his aide to giue him patience against their iniustice but neither he nor his Iudges had thought of it in condeÌ„ning him Passion transports the rounge Passion sayd the Chancellor makes you to speake many things without any colour and against your owne Iudgement There is not any man hath better knowne your merits then my selfe and I would to God your offences had bin as much vnknowne as they haue bin dissembled The knowledge thereofwas so great and so perfect as your Iudges haue bin more troubled howe to moderate your paine then to haue you punnished they haue more labored to iustefie you then to condemne you Whilest the Chancellor was speaking the Duke of Biron turned towards Roissy Master of Requests asked him if he had also bin one of his Iudges Roissy answered My Lord I pray God to comfort you My father loued you so intirely replied the Duke of â—iroÌ„ that although you were one of them that had coÌ„demned me I would forgiue you And so returning to his discourse he addresâ— himselfe vnto the Chancellor who was saying some-thing vnto Voisin I see well sayd he what it is I am not the most wicked but I am the most vnfortunate Those which haue done worse then I would haue done are â—auored The Kings clemency is dead for me Hee doth not immitate the examples of Caesar nor Augustus or of those great Princes who not only pardoned them that would haue done ill but euen them that did ill who were euer sparing of their bloud yea of that which was least esteemed wherin can the King shew himself greater theÌ„ in pardoning Clemency is a Kingly vertue Euery one may giue death Clemency a royall vertue but it belongs onely to Soueraigns to giue life And cruell that he is doth he not knowe well that he hath pardoned me I had a bad desseigne he granted me grace I demand it againe you may easily aduertise him a â—â—st wil soone returne The Queene of England told me that if the Earle of Essâ—x would haue humbled himselfe and sued for grace shee would haue pardoned him Hee grewe obstinate and would neuer implore her mercy taking from her all meanes to shew the effects She like a generous Princesse desiryng to pardon him euen as she would that God should pardon her He was guilty I am innocent he sued for no pardon for his offence I craue it in mine Inoceney Is it possible the King should thinke no more of the seruices I haue done him doth hee not remember the conspiracy at Mantes and the danger hee had runne if I had had intelligence with the Conspirators who found nothing that did hinder the effects of their desseigne then my loyaltie nor a more ready meanes to attayne vnto it then in causing me to be slaine The Duâ—â— oâ— Birons repâ—ochâ—s There is no veine in my bodie which hath not bled for his seruice He shewes that he neuer loued me any longer then he thought himselfe to haue neede of me Hâ—th he forgotten the â—eege of Amiens where they haue seene me so often couered with fire and bullets and to be in so many dangers eyther to giue oâ— to receiue death Hee now quentcheth the torch in my bloud after that he hath vsed it My Father exposed himselfe to a thousand dangers and purchased death to â—et the Crowne vpon his head I haue receiued fiue and thirty wounds vpon my body to preserue it for him and for my reward hee takes my Head from my Shoulders Let him beware least the Iâ—stice of God fall vpon him He shall finde what profit my death will bring him it will nothing assure his affaires but impaire the reputation of his Iustice. Hee
enterprises were happy but in his age very vnfortunate Robert Earle of Artois by the decease of the Father and imprisonment of the Sonne remaines Tutor to the Children of his Father in Lawe Charles the Lame and Regent of the Realme of Naples Charles King of Naples â—yes but Peter of Arragon keepes Sicilia at that time lost for the French After the death of Charles of Aniou behold Peter of Arragon is assailed with a new partie Pope Martin the fourth doubled his excommunications against him as a capitall enemie of the Church and inuested Charles the youngest Sonne of Philip King of France in his Realme hee absolues the Arragonois from their othe of obedience and Proclaimes a holy Warre as against a sworne enemie of the Church For the execution of these threats Philip imployes all his meanes to raise a goodly Armie vowing to be no more circumuented by Peter of Arragon Iames King of Maiorica and Minorica ioynes with him an enemie to Peter Philip makes warre agâ—inst Peter of Aragon who had spoiled him of his Estate so as there were foure Kings in this Armie Philip King of France and his eldest Sonne Philip King of Nauarre Charles his Sonne inuested in the Realme of Arragon by the Pope and Iames King of Maiorica The Armie was faire and the Frenchmens courage great being very resolute to reuenge the massacre of the Sicilian Euen-song the ridiculous scorne of the combate and the imprisonment of Charles The Red scarfe the marke of the holy Warre Warre in Arragon against one excommunicated and their couragious resolution to bee reuenged of a cruell enemy who had shed bloud by treason appeares in these troupes brauely armed All this promised a great victorie to Philip who commanded his armie in person But the issue will shew that being a Conquerour he lost the fruites of his victorie and in the death of three great personages shall bee seene the vanitie of this world Philip enters the Countie of Rossillâ—n with a goodly Armie all obeyes him except the Cittie of Gennes neere to Perpignan the which hee besieged and it was well defended but in the end it was taken by the French Peter was come out of Sicilia to defend his Fathers inheritance hee fortifies all hee can against Philip and the difficultie of the passages seemed to fauour him but the resolution of the French surmounted the steepenesse of the Rockes The passages are forced Peters Armie is defeated and hee saues himselfe with difficultie by these inaccessible places The Armie enters the Countie of Emporias Peter of Arragon defeated Pierre 〈…〉 in one day Girone is besieged and as Peter comes to succour it the French incounter him and ouercomes him who hardly saues himselfe in Ville-franche extreamly amazed with this happy beginning of Philip. What followed hee that was accustomed to deceiue all the world by his inuentions and pollicies He dyes could not by any meanes deceiue Death transported with griefe sorrow impatiencie and dispaire hee dyes the fifteene of August in the same yeare with his enemie Charles The brute of Peters death makes Girone to yeeld presently 1286. being a very strong Citty and promiseth Philip an assured possession not onely of the realme of Arragon but also of Sicilia where in shew they could not resist when as behold other occurrents which mans reason could not preuent Philip assuring himselfe thus of the peaceable possession of the realme of Arragon minding to free himselfe of a needlesse charge he dismisseth the Galleys of Genoa and Pisa the which hee had hired and for that the plague was crept into his Campe he had dispersed his forces about the Citties of Giâ—onne and Perpignan whether he retired himselfe very sick with an intent to pacifie the whole Countrie hauing recouered his health and taken some breath Roger Admirall of Arragon of whom we haue spoken ignorant of Peters death was parted from Sicilia with an intent to bring him succours against the French Fleete Being arriued at Genoa a newter Cittie and of free accesse for both parties he is informed both of the death of his Maister and of the estate of Perpignan and being there of this new accidentâ— he takes a new aduise In steed of returning into Sicilia hee hiers the Galleys of Genoa and â—isa dismissed by Philip and resolues to enter the Port of Perpignan where he had intelligence that Philip remained without any great garde and the Port to bee without defence He arâ—iues so happily as without any opposition he giues a signall to the people of his arriuall Philip set vpon vnawares and 〈◊〉 danger who sodenly rise and kill the French in the houses streetes Philip lay sick in his bed and the French Souldiars had no thought of Roger. The King made a vertue of necessitie he incourageth his men with a sicke and feeble voice and they behaued themselues so valiantly as they expell Roger out of Perpignan and Philip held the Citty who was so distempred with this alarum as his sicknesse encreased dayly The death of Philip. and he died the 15. day of October hauing suruiued Peter but two moneths in the same yeare 1286. and in the same moneth dyed Pope Martin the 4. to shew vnto great Princes the incertaintie of their great desseignes Thus liued thus raigned and thus dyed Phillp the 3. surnamed the Hardie hauing raigned 15. yeares and liued fortie a great vndertaker leauing no memorable acte to his posteritie but a good example not to deale in other mens affaires Of his first wife Isabel he had Philip and Charles remaining His children Charles was Earle of Vallois of Alanson and of Perche Father to Philip of Vallois who in his course shall succeed to the crowne Philip his eldest Sonne was King of France of the same marriage he had one Daughter Marie who was Duchesse of Austria By his second wife Marie he had Lewis Earle of Eureux and Marguerite Queene of England The estate of the Empire after a long confusion of diuers Emperours and the interregne had some rest the Popes being busied in the warres of Sicilia Raoul of Auspourg a good and a wise Prince was chosen Emperour after these disorders imploying himselfe carefully to cure the wounds of Germanie and held the Empire from the yeare 1273. vnto 93. The estate of the Church appeares by that which hath beene spoken in this raigne This onely is particular That a Councell was held at Lions by Gregorie the 10. where it was Decreed That to auoide the tediousnesse of the Popes election the Cardinals should assemble at the Popes death and keepe the Conclaue neither going forth not conferring with any one vntill the Pope were chosen The which is practised at this day In those dayes dyed Thomas Aquinas a very subtill disputer Bonauenture Ihon Duns called Scott and Gabriel Biel famous men in those dayes suruiued him PHILIP the fourth called the Faire the 46 King of France PHILIPPE .4 KING OF
like a puppet vntill she came to age satiâ—fying his humor by some other wayes howsoeuer it were it proued to the dislike oâ— his subiects and scorne of neighbour nations Isabell being returned to her father shal be married to Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to this Lewis who is now in quarter and from her shall spring a goodly plant which in the end shall giue vs many Kings in their order to preserue this Monarchie But as if France had beene the store-house or rather the common Sanctuarie of all Christendome to whom the afflicted Christians might repaire in their greatest extremities It happened in those dayes that Sigismond King of Hongarie intreated Charles â—o succour him against the Turke the common enemie to the Christian name The King of Hongarie craues succoâ—â— of K. Câ—arleâ— who got footing in the Empire of the East For the schisme in the Church the confusion of the Empire and the dayly warres betwixt France and England had so mortified all Christians zâ—ale from all care to support the affaires of the East against the Turkes our sworne enemies as the way was made easie for the planting of themselues there to our ruine But all the fault was not in the Westerne Prouinces the Christians of the East were in horrible confusions and euen at Constantinople whereas the Paleologues had in some sort maintained the name of the Empire of the East since the bad gouernment of our French All the Lords of Greece vassalles to the Empire ioyning with the Despote of Bulgaria against the Emperour did striue to ruine one another This ciuill watte drew the Turke out of Asia where he was yet confined into Europe ouerthrew all the rest of the Empire and in the end shal burie the whole body of this great estate with the Christian name in the ignominie of our disordered passions as in a common sepulchre It sufficeth to note the motiue of this war which was to expell Raiazet of the race of the Otâ—omans who yet hold the Empire of the East being called in by Iohn Palcolog Emperoâ— but seeing so mighty an enemy entred within his dominions vnder a colour to succâ—â—â— him he sought to be freed from him by meanes of Christian Princes his friends The neerest was Sigismond King of Hongarie who had reason himselfe to sâ—are this oueâ—flowing deluge the which in the end hath ouer-runne Hungarie being at this day for the most part vnder the Turkes tyrannie But the euent was not answerable to his deâ—â—eigne Charles being solicited for succours granted them as freely as his infirmitie would suffer But the Duke of Bourgongne made the prouision the charge of the armie was giuen to his sonne Iohn Earle of Neuers being two and twentie yeares olde and married to the daughter of Albert of Bauiâ—re Earle of Hainault Holland and Zeland by whom he had then one sonne who shall succed him The armie was goodly beautified with the presence of many great personages as Phâ—lip of Eu Constable of France the Earles of La Marke Saint Pol and Bar The Frencâ— passe into Hongarie the Lords of Coussy Tremouille Vienne Bouciquault Roye Monterel S. Py Brezay to the number of a thousand Knights and Squiers Being ioyned to Sigismonds armie which consisted of many Hongariens Bohemiens and Germains they desired at any hand to haue the vangard to march in the face of an vnknowne enemie of whose discipline they were ignorant and to make proofe of their valour 1395. Against the aduise of Sigismond they cast themselues desperately into the midest of the Turkes auant coureuâ—s all the Christian armie being too farre behind to second them The French deâ—eated in Hongarie but it chanced that Baiazet followed by a farre greater troupe then theirs compassed them in easilie as with a Net so as after they had fought valiantly and made a great slaughter of Turkes not able to withstand so great a force they were all cut in peeces or taken prisoners Iohn of Bourgongne and all the aboue named Loâ—ds were either slaine or taken not one escaped the sword or slauerie Faiazet moued with the great losse of his men would haue slaine all the prisoners but the greedie desire of ransome was helpfull to some few of the Noblemen The historie of â—ermanie notes but fiue all the rest were murthered after their taking by the commandement and in the presence of this Barbarian who hauing resolued to kill Iohn of Bourgongne as the head of the armie was disswaded by an olde Turkea Necromaâ—cien who sayd vnto him Preserue this young man who shall kill more Christians then thine armie A Prince borne to the spoile and ruine of his countrie whereof he shall be shortly a more câ—uell scourge then the Tuâ—kes They spared him but he spared not the bloud of his cousine germaine to defile his incestuous hands and to prophane the bosome of France whâ—ch had so greatly honoured him Engâ—errand oâ— Coussy a great man in his time dyed in prison and Philip of Eu Constable of France by whose death the Earle of Sancerre was aduanced to this great dignitie but after him there shall be other Constables in this confused raigne This defeat chanced in the yeare 1396. before Nicopolis a Cittie in Misia neere to the which Traian vanquished the Danes This victory of the Turkes had proceeded farther by the terror it gaue to those countries but God gaue those Christians some time of breathing before the last stâ—oake the which came but too soone for the scorneâ—s of God yâ—t afâ—er this ouerthrow as Baiazet prepared to pursue his victorie against the Christians Tamberlan another scouâ—ge of mankinde ouerflowing Asia like a great deluge ouerthrew him and tooke him pâ—isoner and so God stayed the Ottomans force for that time but the Christians malice abusing the patience of God prouoked his wrath which being iustly kindled against them he suffered the Turkes to take Constantinople the capitall Cittie of the Easterne Empire as we shall see else where but let vs returne to France Charles had some truce with his infirmitie who notwithstanding this indisposition of his bâ—aâ—â—e was in reasonable good health of his body so as he had children during this time The Kings children during his infirmitie Before his sicknesse he had Isabell of whom we haue made mention and Lâ—wis the Dâ—ulphin Duke of Guienne But Iohn Duke of Touraine Charles Earle of Ponthieu Michelle Marie and Marguerite two sonnes and three daughters a goodly issue to keepe the Crowne from being an Orpheline were borne to him by Isabell of Bauiere duâ—ing the weakeâ—esse of his spirit And much happâ—nesse befell him After the taking of Bâ—iazet and the returne of Iohn of Bourgongne into France Happy successe â—or the Frâ—nch hauâ—ng payed his ransome the Lord of Bouciquault being sent to Genes to receiue it to the Kings obedience to whom they had willingly giuen themsâ—lues he made a voyage to Constantinople with a new armie more happy then
of Guienne and Daulphin of Viennois was betrothed to Katherine of Bourgongne daughter to Iohn Earle of Neuers sonne to Philip. To Iohn the Kings second sonne Duke of Touraine Iaqueline is promised the onely daughter of William of Bauiere Earle of Hainault and so his heire To Philip of Bourgongne son to the aboue named Iohn Michelle the Kings second daughter is promised for these marriages were all but future promises by reason of the yong age of the parties This was to ingage the faith to come and now present to satisfie the discontented Queene Isabel was double pleased both in her children and her race which by this meanes was transplanted into the royall bloud of France by her cousine who also carried the name of Bauiere But what as ambition cannot be tamed so in all these marriages there was more alliance then friendship and more dissembling then truth God must needes reconcile them at the last by a stronger conclusion Philip Duke of Bourgongne dies leauing his sonne Iohn the heire of his passions against Lewis Duke of Orleans in the yeare 1404. The beginning of the ciuill wars THus Philip Duke of Bourgongne raised vp with a new hope to maintaine him selfe against his enimie Lewis duke of Orleans as well by the ciment of this alliance as by the increase of power which his sonne Iohn brought him being his right arme the true Image of his great and haughty courage and a new firebrand of his ambition dies at this time when as hee dreamt least thereof for he died at Hal going to visit his Townes in Flanders and to crosse the practises of the Duke of Gueldres who was a principall support to the Duke of Orleans Marguerit his wife a companion in his ambition did not suruiue him a whole yeare who fearing to finde her husband too farre indebted renounced his moueable goods laying downe her purse and girdle vpon the place appointed according to the vsuall custome 1404. and so required an act from a publike notary Griefe for her husband did not hasten her death seeing that she feared her liuing should faile after him Pâ—ilip of Bouâ—goâ—gne his wiâ—e die Duke of Bâ—ittaine dies Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine who had kept such a stir vpon the Theater died 4. yeares before him yet more wise happy in one thing hauing mortified the hatred he bare to the Constable Clisson before his death So death doth sodainly stay mens desseines which else flie most violently How wretched are we to be thus blinde in these goodly examples But let vs returne to our discourse Philip left three sonnes Iohn Anthonie and Philip but Iohn Earle of Neuers his eldest sonne succeeded him in his great Seigneuries of Bourgongne and Flanders Iohn Duke of â—ourgongne here oâ— his fathers qâ—arel and the chiefe heire of his hatred and other vices He was equall to him in ambition malice dissembling policy but herein he did surmount him That his father Philip hauing for the space of ten or eleuen yeares crossed the desseines of Lewis his Nephew yet he carried himselfe with such a cunning temper as holding the helme and making him to carry the bable he made his vnlawfull gouernement supportable by his modesty reasonable by the order which had confirmed him in this authority But Iohn continues his practises with such violent fury as within three yeares hauing giuen the Duke of Orleans a thousand crosses and plonged France in a ciuill war he murthers his cousin germaine most cruelly defiles his country and his bloud and continues his furious desseâ—ne with so great presumption as countenancing this murther with a free confession seeking to maintaine it by reason he omitted no kind of mischiefe but brought in all disordered confusions as if France had beene the Rendezuous of al villanie impiety A text the comentary wherof may be read at large in the following discourse Behold the beginning of a ciuill war among the French both long and furious bredde by the ill councell of the princes of the blood abusing their authority A historie the more worthy the noting for that it serues vs to marke the fits and accidents of diseases wherewith wee haue beene afflicted to applie the vse thereof to our owne experience Aâ—ter the death of Philip all the gouernement of publike affaires was without all controuersie deliuered into the hands of the Duke of Orleans The Duke of 〈…〉 to the gouernement The King loued his oneâ—y Brother deerely and desired to grace him what he could The Queene to please her husband made shew to reioyce thereat hauing no more a Duchesse of Bourgongne to incense her reason gaue him this preheminence and the French obeyed him willingly as the lawful gardian of the French Monarchie All things fauoured this yong prince if he had not failed himselfe but this choler hatched in his brest hauing for so long a time swallowed vp so many indignities the immoderate heat of command so much desired and the ambition and couetousnesse of his wife Valentine all these pluckt from him the fruâ—t of these fauourable occasions to settle his greatnesse and gaue his enimy meanes to ruine him These errours were accompanied with indiscretion The Duke indiscret in his gouernement which commonly shakes the miserable The Dukes of Berry and Bourbon his vncles had fauoured him much during the Bourguignons raigne and their age had greatly countenanced his authority if he could haue vsed them rightly But this yong Prince was so pleased with the sweet of command as he was loath to impart it to any the which must needes dâ—scontent them although beeing wise they dissembled it yet this dislike incouraged the Bourguignon his enemie to attempt against him The couetousnes of Valentine prepared the way to these disorders Lewis was desirous to purchase the Duchie of Luxembourg his wife vrged him thereunto hourely wishing him to deuise some meanes to make the King to paye for it Vppon this aduice Lewis propounds in councell that for the Kings important affaires there must be a taxation made There neuer wants some pretext to colour these exactions but in effect it was for this purchase Iohn duke of Bourgongne opposeth for the good of the common weale On the one side it was a goodly meanes to shew both his loue to the people and his zeale to the kings seruice and and on the other a reasonable subiect to make the Duke of Orleans odious Yet this proposition passed in councell thrâ—ugh the absolute authority of the Dâ—ke of Orleaâ—s 1405 The Bourguignon imbraceth this occasion Thâ— Duâ—e of 〈◊〉 growes 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 by reâ—â—on oâ— an imposition flatters the Parisâ—ens to ioyne their loues to oppose theÌ„ against his enemy who could not be more odâ—ous then in this cause And euen then they greâ—e into such dislike of him as they could neuer loue him This was spred throughout the Râ—alme and the Dâ—ke of Bourgongne hauing protested
giues him the offiâ—â— of Loâ—d Steward and marâ—ies his eldest sonne to the sister of the Lord of Albert his Constable although Montagu were but of a meane calling The shew of his trayne exceeded Princes houses and made him odious to all in generall so as they accused him to haue robbed his Prince and the publike Treasure The Bourguignon beginnes with him in the reformation of the State The Princes of the bloud were easily drawne to allow of his proceeding Montagu put to death so as Montagu was taken examined condemned speedily beheaded Whether this were done by commissioners or iudicially as it was said to be iustified after his death it is not certaine This is a good lesson for meane men that growe rich by the publike treasure not to abuse their wealth by excessiue pompe to keepe their credit in Court and to flie the fury of great men vnder his protection that hath power of life and death arming themselues with a good conscience and vnreproueable in their charges But the Bourguignon had a farther reach then Montagu for vnder colour of the publike good he reuenged himselfe of him who else might haue crost his desseines Hâ—s meaning was not to reforme the State but to gouerne it absolutely Thus he seekes to vsurpe all and in the ruine of Montagu he will haue all men knowe that he hath power to hurt and helpe This first insolencie furthered his enemies beeing in a manner forsaken of all men euen of their owne bloud for Iohn Duâ—e of Berry carried away with the vent of this newe fauour had subiected himselfe to the Bouâ—guignon But finding himselfe contemned by him who tooke all to himselfe and reiected such as had serued him to â—ise Iohn resolues to ioyne with the house of Orleans and to oppose themselues against the Duke of Bourgongnes greatnesse This is the bâ—ginning of the tâ—o factions of Orleans and Bourgongne which troubled all France during this raigâ—e This league wherof the house of Orleans bare the name as the first and most interessed was concluded at Gyen in the yeare 1410. the tenth of March beeing defensiue and offensiue against the house of Bourgongne The chefe were Charles Duke of Orleans and his bretheren Iohn Duke of Berry Lewis Duke of Bourbon The League of Armagâ—aâ—s and Iohn Earle of Alencon Francis Earle of Clermont Bernard Lord of Armâ—gnâ—â— and Charles Lâ—rd of Albreâ— Constable of France with their friends and followeâ—s â—n gâ—eat numbers Of the Bourguignon faction were Iohn Duke of Bourgongne with his brethren Charles King of Nauarre sonne to that wicked of whom we haue made mention the Dukes of Lorraine Bourgâ—iâ—nons Brabant and Brittain the Marquis of â—ont the Earls of Neuers Vaudemont S. Pol. Ponthieure and many others This mournefull diuision continued vnto the yeare 1419. in the which Iohn was slaine but it endes not so During these eight yeares wee shal see diuers changes one in and an other out as they could enable themselues with the Kings authority which is the strongest battery of ciuill warres Now the Duke of Bourgongne is in quarter and plants his ordinance against the Orleanois as guilty of hightreason but shortly hee shal be dispossessed and they of Orleans shall take their turne The 〈…〉 Orleans complaines 1410. that they are not respected according to their 〈…〉 to be admitted to the priuileges due to Princes of the bloud The house of Oâ—lâ—anâ— coâ—plains of their wrongs and that â—he Dâ—ke 〈◊〉 â—oâ—râ—orgne should not command absoluâ—ly holding as they saied both the bodies aâ—d wâ—â—es of the King Queene and Daulphin in captiuitie They assemble in great â—roupes fiâ—st at Chartres and after to manage their affaires with greater shewe neer vnto tâ—e capitall Cittie of Paris they lodged at the Castell oâ— Wincester then called Bicâ—stre buâ— now ruined The Duke of Burgongne accuâ—ed the Duke of Orleans for practâ—siâ—g to take the Crowne from the King and Daulphin in forcing the King to what he plâ—asâ—d against them as against rebels and disturbeâ—s of the publicke quiet This fire câ—â—â—â—nued but seuen or eight moneths wherein there chanced no memorable accident buâ— only the death of Lewis the good Duke of Bourbon who died for greefe in the beâ—â—â—ning of thâ—s warre being accused as the motiue of these troubles Qâ—eene â—sâ—bell labored to reconcile these Princes but she preuayled not being suspected by the Orleans faction whom she had left without cause to ioyne with the Bourgâ—â—gâ—â—n Afâ—er some Edicts of confiscation not executed like Canon shot spent in the 〈◊〉 a peace was made by meanes of the Duke of Berry vpon condition that he and â—he Duke of Bourgongne should ioyntly haue the Daulphin in gard and the house of Orleans shâ—uâ—d be respected in their degree and that Peter of Essards a sworne enemy to theiâ— parâ—e and a most passionate seruant to the Duke of Bourgongne should be no more Prouost of marchants This was concluded at Wincester The peace of VVincâ—sâ—er whereoâ— it bears the name â—he twentith day of Nouember in the same yeare hauing contended this sommer abâ—ut Pâ—ris only to the hurt of the poore people discontented cheefely with the Gâ—sâ—oâ—s that came out of Armagnac who gaue their name to the troupes of the Orlean â—action called for this occasion Armagnacs wearing for their colours a white scarfe the which they haue vsed in our last troubles This first peace continued not long neither were al promises performed The Burgâ—â—gnon did eate the â—ake alone and yet he complayned first as hauing to doe with 〈◊〉 He sends the Lords of Croy and Douries to the Duke of Berry to disioyne him 〈◊〉 the Duke of Orleans his Nephew who hauing intelligence of their negotiation and pasâ—age caused them to be suâ—prised in Sologne and brought prisoners to Blois But 〈…〉 backe Douries and deteyned Croy as suspected to be guiltie of his fathers death and by conâ—â—â—uence punishable by the treatie of peace The King commands him to set 〈…〉 and he demands iustice of his fathers murtherers Here vpon they go al to 〈◊〉 They cauâ—e the King to summon him by his Edicts wherevnto Charles Duke of 〈◊〉 answers by a challenge to the Duke of Bourgongne as the murtherer of his father and â—he author of all the miseries which then rained in France Beginning of the sâ—cond Waâ—â—â— Thuâ— beâ—an this second warre the twentith of Iuly the yeare following 1411. 〈…〉 passions giuing the poore people scarce seuen monethes respit to breath in so many calamities which they suffered through their voluntary dâ—uisions The Orleâ—◠〈◊〉 assembles at Gâ—rgeau vpoÌ„ the riuer of Loire to resolue of the meanes to make 〈◊〉 against Iohn Duke of Bourgongne whome they challenge by a publike cartel as â—he murâ—heâ—er of a Prince of the bloud the Kings only brother and as vsurper of the â—â—â—all authoâ—iâ—y holding the persons and wills of the King and Daulphin Captiue Ioâ—n Duke of Bouâ—gongne had great aduantages the Kings
but we sought our owne decay The Constable Albret comanded â—he foreward that day and with him were the Dukes of Orleans Bourbon the Earles of Eu and of Richemont the Lord of Bouciquault Marshal of France the Lord of Dampierre Admiral The Battaile was led by the Duke of Bar and the Earles of Alenson Vaudemont Neuers Blamon Salines Grandpre and Roussy The Reerward by the Earles of Marle Dampmartin and Fouquembergue The King of England forced â—o fight Henry being denied pasâ—age by the Constable resolues to fight puâ—ting his trust in God and in his owne valour determining to vanquish or to die He made choise of a place of hard accesse and the better to fortifie his archers euery one had a sharpe stake planted before him The French ordered as before attended their enemies either looking who should begin the game Impatiencye forceth the weaker like desperate men the English Archers being in fight with such a furie as the French foreward cannot endure the violent fal of this furious storme the CoÌ„stable Albret was slaine fighting in the foremost ranke The Duke Anthony of Brabant brother to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne seeing this disorder leaues his troupe to redresse it but he was also slaine by the English bowe men And gets the victorie with his bâ—other Philip Earle of Neuers The battaile was likewise foâ—ced after a great fight The reerward fled and saued them selues in the neerest places of retreate So as the losse was not so great as the shame and ouerthrow They number ten thousand men slaine but their rashenes was inexcusable The head smarâ—ed for it and the Bourguignons brethreÌ„ had there an honorable tombe Charles Duke of Orleans Lewis of Bourbon the Eaâ—ls of Eu Richemont Vendosâ—e the strongest pillers of the Orlean faction with many Noblemen and Gentlemen were taken and led into England This deâ—eat chancâ—d the 20. of Ocâ—ober in the yeare The Battaile of Agincourt 1415. called the euill Battaile of Agincourt And as one mischief comes neuer alone the bodies at this defeat were scarce buried before Lewis the Daulphin dies This Lewis eldest Sonne to our Charles Sonne in Law Lewis the Daulpâ—in dies and a terror to the Bourguignon was little lamented of the people and lesse oâ— his father in Law who hated him to the death A Prince of little valour and much toâ—le more busied with himselfe then with the affaires he managed the which he made troublesome by his insufficiencie presumptioÌ„ to know much His disposition vnwilling to learne fâ—om others what he vnderstood not for the good of the State and his owne duty Iohn Duke of Touraine his brother succeded him in the first degree of the Prince of the bloud The Duke of Berry dies and the Earle of Armagnaâ— was made Constable in the place of Charles of Albret who shall minister good occasion to speake both of his life and death Iohn Duke of Berry brother to our Charles the 5. augmented these losses A wise Prince and louing Learning coÌ„mendable in al things but for his couetousnes the which made his vertues of lesse fame A blemish very il beeseming a generous and heroicke spirit These great losses should haue made the Bourguignon humble but he became more insolent making new practises to raise him selfe hauing no competitor Imbracing this ocasion he gatheâ—s togither what troupes he can with an intent to go to Paris The Queene and Constable of Armagnac vnwilling he shoud come armed comand him in the Kings name not to aproch The Parisiens were not then so well conceited of the Bourguignon being restrained by the court vnâ—uersitie but especially by the Kings authoâ—ity being present who spake whatsoeuer his wife the Constable would haue him being then alone in authority in the Kings Councell The Bourguignons troupes kept the field 1416. committing all kinde of insolencies and spoyles against whom the King made Edicts as against common theeues The Bourguignon renewes the warre giuing the people liberty to kill them But this did nothing mollify the heart of this reuengefull Prince borne for his Countries misery hauing no other intent but to afflict it wâ—th new calamityes To this ende as in the Kings sicknesse the Daulphin had the name and authority of the State he sought to winne the fauour of Iohn succeeding in the right of his brother deceased This occasion was offered but the issue was contrary to his desseine The misery of our France was such as the common duty of humanity moued forraine nations to pitty foreseeing our ruine if the warre betwixt France and England continued In this common desire The Emperor Sigismond comes into Francâ— the Emperour Sigismond by the consent of the Germans came into France His traine and the good worke he vndertooke deseâ—ued an imperiall Maiestie but the ende will shew hâ—s intent to be other then he protested Being arâ—iued in France to the great content of all the French he findes our Charles at his deuoâ—ion who receiued him with all the pompe he could giue to so great a Monarch making shewe of the great desire hee had to make a peace betwixt the French and the English for the generall good of both estates But this accord was but halfe made The Emperour hauing remained some time with Charles goes into England where he findes Henry of an other humour puft vp with the happy successe of his affaires the weakenesse of ours and in trueth the measure of our miseries was not yet full So Sigismond hauing perswaded Henry in vaine returnes into France Charles to honour him sends his sonne Iohn Duke of Touraine and Daulphin of Viennois into Picardie to meete him hauing married the daughter of the Earle of Hainault as great a friend to the Bourguignon as ill affected to the French The Emperour seeing his labour lost in seeking this reconciliation takes his shortest course into Germany leauing a reasonable subiect to the cleare-sighted The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Bourguignon to iudge that he had an other intent then to settle a peace in France by countenancing of the Bourguignon the instrument of her miseries for after this yong pâ—â—nce had spoken with the Emperour he is wholy changed in fauour of the Duke of Bourgongne and resolues to â—andy with him against the Duke of Orleans This foundation beeing laid by the Emperours pollicy it was fortified by the Earle of Hainault father-in-law to Iohn the Daulphin Nowe he imbraceth the greatest and most dangerous enemie of all true Frenchmen with a wonderfull affection But the subtill is taken in his own snate the end doth often bewray the intent As all things tended to a manifest change by meanes of this yong Prince inchaunted by his charmes hauing a spirit like vnto waxe apt to receiue any impressions from so subtill an artisan as the Bourguignon behold death cuts off all these hopes The Daulphin Iohn dies cast in the mould of
the greatest dignities of the realme· for he made Charles Steward Earle of Boucquam his Constable and Iames Earle Du-glas Marshall of France and to honour the Scottish-mens faith he gaue them the gard of his person an institution which continues vnto this day He institutes a gard of theÌ„ for his person He had likewise some friends in Spaine and Italie who succoured him in due time according to their meanes We haue shewed what Prouinces followed the partie of our Charles amongst the which Languedoâ— was a principall The importance of this countrie did much aduance his affaires This reason moued both the Bourguignon and the Sauoiard against this Prouince The instruments fit for this enterprise were Iohn of Châ—â—lons Prince of Orange and the Lord Bochebaron a Nobleman of Velay one of the 22. diocesses of Languedoc The first by the commodity of his neighbourhood did win Nismes Pontsaint Esprit Aiguesmortes and all the rest of base Languedoc vnto Beziers Warre in Languedoc except the Castell of Pezenas the tower of Villenefue by Auignon the castell of Egaliers now wholy ruined neere vnto Vzez This losse was somewhat repaired by the fidelitie of the inhabitants Aiguesmortes set vp their ensigne of libertie by the direction of the Baron of Vauuerbe and killes the garrison of Bourguignons which the Prince of Orange had placed there To this day they shew a great tub of Stone wherein they did salt the Bourguignons The example of this strong and important Citty A strange cruelty whereby they are called Bourguignons sallies to this day awaked the rest and euen vpon the approch of the Earle of Foix who came with a goodly armye all the Townes yeeâ—d vnto him except Nismes and Pont S. Esprit Townes of great importance in that countrye the one beeing the head of that Seneshauce the other a passage vpon the Rosne towardes Daulphiné But as the libertie of time made the seruant presume aboue the Master so it chanced that the Earle of Foix hauing tasted the sweet of command and transported with the common humour of men seeking to make their profit of the common confusions of France deteined the reuenues of Languedoc by his absolute authority imparting none to Charles being exceeding poore in this confused time This necessity was accompanied with a cruell warre stirâ—ed vp in Velay by the Lord of Roche-baron a partisan to the Dukes of Sauoy and Bourgongne who furnished him both with men and money for this rebellion for it was rather a horrible theuery then a warre These 〈◊〉 occasions drew Charles into Languedoc to confirme his authority and his voyage succeeded according to his intent for he chased the Prince of Orange out of Nismes and Pont S. Esprit he pacified the troubles of Velay and put the Earle of Foix from his gouernement giuing the place to Charles of Bourbon Earle of Clermont a Prince of the bloud to the great content of all the people Hauing thus happily prouided for his affaires he takes the way of Velay to returne into France beeing arriued at Espaly a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Puy he is aduertised of his fathers death Charles mouâ—rnes for the death of his father after Henry the 5. his Competitor He falles presently to teares and mourning yet he buries not his affaires in care His Councell aduiseth him to change his blacke roabes into Scarlet to set vp the banner of France in his name and to proclaime himselfe King for the first fruites of his coronation the which being performed at Puy to the peoples great ioye Charles goes to Poitiers where he caused himselfe to de crowned King and receiued the homage and oathes of the officers of the Crowne Princes Noblemen and gentlemen that were about him with such pompe as the strictnesse of time would permit Then he intituled himselfe King of France and made shew of more authority and greater pompe But on the other side the Duke of Bedford beganne to bandy more strongly against him Henry the 6. his pupill a yong infant was in England He caused him likewise to bee crowned King till the seauen yeares after he should be solemnely installed at Paris in the yeare 1430. He set his name vpon the money of France making a new stampe but without any other change then of his name So that hereafter two Kings two factions two armies shall contend for this goodâ—â— Crowne The heire being the weaker shall fight against a strong pretender Law â—â—uours the one and force the other but the Protector of this estate will giue a fauourable doome for the weaker The Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne hold a counsel aâ— Amiens that the honour of so memorable a preseruation of this monarchy apparently drawne out of the graue may be giuen to him who rules the deluge of our confusions by his miraculous prouidence Scarse had Charles receiued the first fruites of his royall authority when as the Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne his capitall enemies assemble at Amiens to crosse his new dignity in the breeding There shall be seaueh yeares of exceeding bad time but after this sharpe winter there will come a goodly spring when as all seemed lost and in the ende Sommer shall follow with a plentifull haruest of rest to this Realme whereof the lawfull heâ—e shall remaine in quiet possession and the pretender expelled with losse euen of that which he might haue ciuilly inioyed In this assembly at Amiens great plottes are layde against Charles whose ruine was their soueraigne end All is done at the charge of the English Peter Duke of Brittaine and Arthur Earle of Richmont his brother are there present Amedee Duke of Sauoâ— sends his Ambassadors A great league against King Charles consumed by alliances vnder an other colour but he casts the stone hides his arme The Dukes of Bedford Brittaine and Sauoy make a defensiue offensiue league agaiâ—â—â— Charles The soueraignty of the Crowne should remaine to the English the commoâ—â—ties to the Dukes They set the seale of marriages to this alliance Iohn Duke of â—edford marries with Anne the sister of Philip Duke of Bourgongne and Marguerit his other Sâ—ster takeâ— Arthur the Earle of Richemont Then they seeke the fruits of this alliance with the preiudice of Charles Euery man takes his quarter to torment him on all sideâ— The Bourguignon vndertakes Picardy where he settles Iohn of Luxembourg to expel the Daulphinois out of some places which they held there Henry of Lancaster Earle of Salisbury went into Champagne and Bry to clense the Country about Paris and to budâ—e Orleans The Earle of Warwick vndertooke Guienne to make war against those toâ—nes that held the Daulphins party Lewis Prince of Orange had charge to arme in Languedoc and Daulphiné Behold a great storme rising against the lawfull heire of this crâ—â—ne Amidst all these difficultyes Charles must needs be in great perplexitie but I reade with ioy that he whom God had chosen to
Perâ—inet Grasset for the â—â—urguignon and so the terrour of the warre came into Berry much troubling the quiet commerce of the Court for that the King most commonly was resident at Bourges or at Meâ—ng The like mishappe fell vpon La Hire at Vitry the which he yeelds to the Duke of Bourgongne by a composition very preiudiciall for the King and the Realme And at the same time Beaumont vpon Oyse surprised by the French was taken againe by the English with much bloud and sacke In like sort the fort of S. Michells Mont is besieged by the English The horrible estate of thâ—se times a true Image of ours and well defended by the French which caused the victory of Grauelle happily taken by the Baron of Colances from the English as it were to coole the heat of our continuall feuer with some little water In sooth the Estate of France was then most miserable There appeared nothing but a horrible face of confusion pouerty desolation solitarinesse and feare The leane and bare labourers in the countrye did terrifie euen theeues themselues who had nothing left them to spoile but the carkasses of these poore miserable creatures wandring vp and downe like ghosts drawne out off graâ—es The least farmes hamlets were fortified by these robbers English Bourguignons and French euery one striuing to do his worst There was no speech but of forts and contributions All men of warre were well agreed to spoyle the countriman and the naked Marchant euen the cattell accustomed to the Larume bell the signe of the enemies approch would run home of themselues without any guid by this accustomed misery This is the perfect description of those times taken out of the lamentations of our Ancestors set downe in the original Who seeth not here the image of our times during the confusions of our vnciuill warres But amiddest this horrible calamity God did comfort both the King and realme for about the ende of the yeare he gaue Charles a goodly Son by Queene Marie his wife a happie gage for the establishing of this realme Lewis the xi the eldest son of Charles borne whereof hee shal be a peaceable King He was borne at Bourges and there was honorably baptized in Saint Stephens Church and was named Lewis King of France after the decease of his father Charles wouâ—d haue Iohn of Alençon a Prince of his bloud and then his trustie friend to be his Godfather But alas both by this Godfather and this Godson shal growe a horrible câ—â—fusion euen when as Charles expected an ende of all his troubles Wherby wee may learne that there is nothing but vanity in worldly affaâ—â—es remarkable for great 〈◊〉 in that which seemeth most firme in mans life This was the flux and â—eflux of this yeare 1424. The beginning of the new yeare shewed a better countenance but these small gleames of good happe were soone ouercast by horrible losses which seemed to giue the last wound to this Monarchie and to alter the name if God had not stayed it with his mightie hand In laying a foundation whereon he shal build the meanes to restore it to her ancient beautie without any shew of the industrie or force of man when as all things seemed desperate But the prouidence of God creepes on insensibly by degrees to perfect his worke The losse of the Scottes was verie great in the vnfortunate battaile of Cullant To repaire this losse Charles sends into Scotland Renauld of Chartre his Chancellor and Archbishop of Rheims accompained with the Earle Du-glas Marshall of France And being reduced to a miserable want of mony New supplies come out of Sâ—â—tland hee ingageth the Duchie of Touraine vnto him A title which Du-glas shall not long inioy But whilest they make this leauying in Scotland and shal returne to his companies let vs consider the humor of the French and English during this medlie As the successe of the English was happy so their hearts swelled with pride and they exceeded dayly in Insolencie especially in great Citties where they braued it disdainfully as treading the name of Frenchmen vnder foote This contempt bred an extreame discontent euen in the most senselesse to see themselues thus intreated their kings suppressed and their Lawes abolished The French growe discontented with the insolencâ—â— of the English There were not two yeares past of this newe royaltie and yet disputable How farre say they will this English Empire exceede being augmented and fortified by the authoritie of manyyeares Shal it be either to transport new Colonies beyond the Seaes or to plant others heere and in the ende to extinguish the name of the originall French to the ende that no man shall dare to repine at the ruine of his Countrie reduced into the power of Strangers These imaginations were generally in all mens mindes but complaints in the mouths of fewe and that they whispered softely to their well assured friends but the time was not yet come although the bloud which cannot degenerate shewed many signes of hearts discontented with this seruitude both at Paris and especially at Rouen where the English gouernment was most heauie One Michell Lallier was the beginner of this liberty Some French men executed by the English and was put to death at Paris and a woman was burnt worthy to liue amidst the flames and to shine in the goodly light of our Historie The Nobility of Picardie was much discontented with this newe command Tournay began first to stirre for the Kings seruice So immouable is the French obedience to their Kings and so sweete and pleasing is their command It was a capitall crime to speake of the King of England but as the lawefull King Spies were set in all places to restraine the libertie of the French These executions were threatnings of worse if any should mutine Yet the Nobilitie of Picardie were so wearied with the English and Fourguignon yoake as they resolue to free themselues at what rate soeuer The heads of this resolution were the Lords of Longeual Saint Symon Mailly Maâ—court Recourt Blondel and many other gentlemen which had followed the Bourguignons partie These are named The original should not conceale the rest whome I could not specific without some Author Behold the first fruits of the French libertie These Enseigne bearers assemble at Roye they fortifie themselues for the King against the English and the Bourguâ—gnon Complâ—tâ— against the English and take diuers Townes in Picardie at a prefixed day Iohn of Lunembourg thunders against them that were suspected and some hee takes and hangs At these terrors some d awe backe and left this league Yet the greatest part remayned constant though with the apparent danger of their liues These were the pure and true sparkles of the French fidelity to their King but the day spring was not yet come which mounting to our horizon should in the ende shewe forth the goodly light of libertie to all France These
seruice Queene of Sicile his mother in lawe with Tanneguy of Chasâ—ell being very acceptable to these two bretheren Their comming did greatly aduance this businesse They preuailed so farre as the Duke of Brittaine the Earle of â—ichmont his brother were both ready to imbrace the Kings friendship and to doe him seruice so as the Duke of Bourgongne would yeeld vnto it and in the meane time to draw this businesse to some good end Richmont should go and treat with his maiesty vpon good hostages for his safety This condition was accepted by Charles and to loose no time the Lord of Albret and the bastard of Orleans were sent vnto him for hostages and the townes of Chinon Loches Lusignan Meung were giuen him for assurance vntill the end of the treaty and ample pasports made to go and come with all liberty This worke began this yeare in Nouember and shal end the next yeare with a notable successe But the Duke of Bourgongne imbraced an other notable occasion which shall more preiudice the English then this occurrent of Brittain We haue said that this leâ—ain was layde in the yeare 1423. by the marriage of Iaquâ—line Countesse of Hainault Holland Zeland a wife contended for by two husbands the Duke of Brabant cousin germaine and a deere friend to the Duke of Bourgongne and the Duke of Glocester brother to the Duke of Bedford and vncle to Henry the 6. King of England two great parties which shall diuide the Dukes of Bedford Bourgongne and shall be the meanes to reconcile the BourguignoÌ„ to Charles A notable processe of Iaqueline against her husband supported by the Bourguignon reduce him to the obedience of this crowne expell the English out of France and restore the realme But the prouidence of GOD which goes insensibly by degrees aboue mans conceipt must be distinctly considered About the ende of this yeare Iaqueline of Hainault comes out of England with the Duke of Glocester her second husband foâ—tified with an armie of fiue thousand English She caused the Nobility and the Citties to renue their othes both to her and the Duke of Glocester her lawfull husband All the Nobilitie obeyes this commandement except the Earle of Conuersan Iohn of Iumont Angilbert of Anghien and all Townes except Hals The Duke of Bourgongne greatly affected this quarrell The Duke of Bedford foreseeing the danger that might growe by the Bourguignons discontent labors to suppresse it in the breeding and to that ende he drawes them to Paris with their friends but in vaine The one striues to inioy his estats and the other to hinder him So as whilest the cause is disputed in the Court at Rome the armies prepare on eyther side to ende it by bloud and spoile The Glocestrian begins the Bourguignon followes So the end of this yeare is the beginning of a warre of foure whole yeares but it shal be ended in fauour of the Bourguignon This newe yeare shal be spent in the altercations of the Court and Brittaine The Brittoâ— made Constable of France The Earle of Richemont comes to Tours to Charles as he had promised to the Queene of Sicile but not able to resolue any thing without the consent of the Duke of Bourgongne as we haue sayed the King seeing it very necessary he should go to him doth sende to him with a very honorable Ambassage Iames of Bourbon Earle of Clermont and a Prince of his bloud the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishop of Puy The ende of their negotiation was double That the Duke of Bourgongne should like of the alliance betwixt the King and the Princes of Brittain Charles sends an ambassage to Philip of Bourgongne and that hee himselfe should bee reconciled vnto him to liue and continue good friends as they were neere in bloud The first was fully concluded with the Bourguignons consent the other was surseased The causes are specified for that Philip could not with honestie let slippe the death of his father where of Charles was the Authour this reconciliation could not bee well efâ—ected vnlesse that Charles did chase from him all such as had dipped their hands in this massacre eyther as fautors or as executioners They were specified by name Iohn Louuet President of Prouence Tanneguy of Chastel William d'Auaugour Iohn of Gyac son to that Lady of Gyac who perswaded Iohn Duke of Bourgongne to go to Charles at Monsâ—reau-faut Yonne where he was slaine But these were but colours for notwithstanding thâ—ir absence from Court yet the Bourguignon seemed to be nothing inclined to the Kings seruice In effect he stood watching the oportunitie to effect his desseins and so entertayned time to keepe the stakes as the whole course of the Historie will declare Charles imploying all his friends and meanes intreats Amedee Duke of Sauoyâ— to be a mediator of this accord In respect hereof he comes to Monuel in Cresse but in truâ—h this was but a shadow They all sought to get from Charles and so watched for oportunitie Yet the Bourguignon made all shewes of his seruice vowed to the King the establishment of France which he lamented infinitly to be fallen into the hands of Strangers He spared no cheere nor entertaynment for the Ambassadors and for a gage of sincere loue Philip giues his yongest Sister Anne in marriage to the Earle of Clermont but with an intent to winne a Prince of the bloud neere the King Thus the Bourguignon leueled alwayes at this marke did nothing but with an intent to maintaine his greatnesse at what price soeuer In the meane time the meaner smart for the follie of great men The Mignonâ— chased from Court At the returne of these Ambassadours the Court is in an vprore Charles greeues to chase away his seruants which could not be done but in contempt of his authority And yet the Ambassadors cryed out that without it they should not effect any thing and the more they stayed the execuâ—ion the more they hindered the Kings seruice d'Auaugour parted fâ—â—st with the good liking both of King and Court Gyac made his peace by the meadiation of the Queene of Sicile who had all power in this action The King was wonderfully discontented for the departure of Tanneguy of Chastel whome hee called Father A man beloued and of amiable conditions But there was no remedy Hee had giuen the chiefe stroake to Iohn of Bourgongne So likewise hee protested without any difficultie to retyer himselfe whethersoeuer his maister should command him Hee beseeched him to giue him an autenciall testimoniall that it was not for any fact of his 1425. but for the good of his seruice He obtaines it and a promise withall that his offices should be continued him Thus he retyers to Beaueaire in Languedoc and the office of Prouost of Paris remayned to him still with the fee and a good reputation with all men to haue beene a good seruant to the King and carefull of the publicke
endure all vnder their wise and faithfull gouernor rather then to fall into the hands of strangers whose gripes they had formerly felt If they were fiercely beseeged by the English and Bourguignons Compiegne releâ—ued by the French so were they as well succored by the French vnder the happie commande of the Earle of Vendosme gouernor of Beauuais and the Marshall of Boussac who hauing valiantly forced the first bastions enter the Towne hauing victualled it they issue forth with great resolution so as they take all the other forts to their enemies great losse So Huntington and Luxembourg retyre with disgrace leauing not onely that Country free The Bourguignon chased from Compiegne but their victualls artillerie munition habillements of warre in their lodgings of Venete and Royaulieu sauing themselues with some difficultie at Pont l'Euâ—sque through the fauour of Noyon The Bourguignon was so amazed as hee retyred into Arthois hauing as bad successe by force as by policie Our French forces being maisters of the field they recouer all the Bourguignons conquests Choysy Gournay Bertueil Garmigny Ressons Pont Remy Pont Saint Maxence Longueil Saint Mary la Boyssiere Ireligny Verdueil and other places where hee had gathered togither all the corne and cattell of the Countrie the which was restored to the poore people to their great content The Bourguignons pride thus taken downe after so many victorious hopes was a principall part of this victorie But hee resolues to haue his reuenge of this affront Being come to Arras hee gathers togither all the forces he can and from thence hee goes to Pâ—ronne to attend the bodie of his armie His intent was to recouer what hee had lâ—st in his last warre oâ— Compiegne meaning to begin at Garmigny which did greatly anoye all that Country He â—ends a troupe of 6â—â— men before vnder the conduct of Thomas Tirâ—ell an English man Girard of Brimeâ— Goueâ—nor of Roye augments this troupe with a hundred of his men In this order they go to the seege of Garmigny as to a marriage but Pothon who had his spies in al places and had put himselfe into Garmigny at the brute of this seege slept not Hauing therfore sent to discouer the enemies countenance hee learns that these â—icards beeâ—ng neere to Bouchoire did hunt after hates whereof there are great storie in those parts and that this troupe was wholy in disorder runing vp and downe with great 〈◊〉 Pothon imbraceth this occasion sodenly and hauâ—ng drawen his men to â—ield hee surpriseth these hunters The Bourguignons deâ—eated beeing dispersed and out of breath 〈◊〉 bâ—comes a hunter o◠〈◊〉 peace hee defeats them kills them and in the ende cryes that they take the runneawayes The Comander is taken with most of their bâ—st mâ—n Anthonie of Vienne and the Lord of Hailly beeing greatly lamented by the â—ourguignon were first led to Garmigny and then to Compiegne in great tâ—iâ—mph The newes heereof did greatly trouble the â—ouâ—guignon especially when as the Earle of Veâ—â—â—sme went with the French army to braue 〈◊〉 at the gates of â—oye offring him battaile He made shewe to accept thereof but â—auing called a Councell he framed a reasonable excuse that his soldiars were not willing he should fight in the ende of the yeare Wâ—th these affâ—onts the yeare ends and with the death of a sonne which hee had by his 〈…〉 use whome hee loued deerely his spirits were so oppâ—â—â—sed with sâ—rrowe for this 〈◊〉 as this Prince being too paâ—â—ionate had speeches vnworthy the grauitie of his person and the greatnesse of his bloud euen weeping and wâ—â—shing for death Doubtlesse it often falls out that he which is too much puft vp in prosperity The Bourgâ—â—gnon daunted in aduersitie is easily daunted in aduersity A goodly lesson 〈…〉 men who 〈◊〉 learne but by great examples that their grâ—atnesse 〈…〉 from the common condâ—tion of mankind that they are men 〈…〉 O man 〈◊〉 soeuer thou beest behold good remedies 〈…〉 to be dronke with prosâ—erity nor drowned 〈…〉 haue nothing memorable but an entry to the 〈…〉 of Paris 〈◊〉 shall giue exâ—mple to all the rest of the realme 〈…〉 parties was necâ—â—sary for the making of an accord The Duke of 〈…〉 do much but 〈…〉 desseins had traâ—â—ported him beyond the cloud◠〈…〉 disgraces did 〈…〉 who expected much 〈…〉 by the effects but that 〈…〉 in their 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 â—riendship The Ducâ—eâ—â— of Bedford dies which till then was very necessarie but 〈…〉 although in this occurâ—ent theâ—r leaâ—ue was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 weeps for his wife the other â—or his sister The beginning of this 〈◊〉 wâ—s noted 〈◊〉 the taking of Montargis from the French through the notable 〈…〉 a wâ—man 〈◊〉 taken whâ—â—aue entrance to the English and who presently 〈◊〉 the fruits 〈◊〉 treacherie But let vs attend the yeare following where wee shall see a 〈◊〉 change in this mâ—serable Towne At the same time in recompence of 〈◊〉 Chaâ—tres returnes to the Kings obedience The meanes is woâ—thâ—e obseruation 〈◊〉 â—ut in practâ—se in our times in many places A Carter 〈◊〉 at Chartâ—es 〈◊〉 brother resident in Couâ—t with a Treasoâ—er Chaâ—les â—eelds to the King The familiarity this Carter haâ— to go and come into the Towne made him both desire and to lay the plot of so 〈◊〉 an enterprise Neere vnto the gate there was an olde ruined house in the whâ—ch there was a 〈◊〉 vault halfe â—illed vp with rubbish heere they lodge a hundre◠〈◊〉 on the other side they conuay a thousand men secretly in the night into a house 〈◊〉 vnto the Towne The Carter comes at the breake of day with his Cart vnto the 〈◊〉 where he ouerthrows it of purpose faining that a wheele was slipt 1431. While the gard labours to helpe him the Ambush issues forth out of these ruines and surpriseth the Port and the rest second them with such speed as the Cittie is wonne This had beene done without any effusion of bloud if the Bishop had not animated the inhabitants to fight against their King where hee himselfe was slaine with some of the Câ—ttizens About this time René Duke of Bar brother to Lewis Duke of Aniou and King of Sicile A quarrell betwixt the Duke of â—ar and the Earle of Vaudâ—mont who shall make himselfe famous in the following raigne receiued a great check He had a notable quarrel against the Earle of Vaudemont pretending the Earldome from words they go to blowes René fortifies himselfe with the forces of France Vaudemont with those of Bourgongne René being farre stronger in shew besiegeth the Towne of Vaudemont and when as the Earle with the helpe of his friends would haue raised the siege René drawes him to fight defying him and promising to himselfe an assured victory But God the soueraigne Iudge of these factions gaue it to the Earle and René remained prisoner in the hands of the Duke of Bourgongne to whom he paied a great ransome
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
sayd Philibert But the Kings deputies not able to drawe any reason from Charles Vncle to his Maiestie he must seeke that by force which he could not get by a friendly and amiable composition The Kings first stratagem was to bring a part of Rence de Ceres company into Geneua to succour them against Charles who besieged it The second was to stirre vp the Bernois allyes and neighbours to Geneua who taking the Towne into their protection went to field with tenne or twelue thousand men made the Duke retire 1535. spoiled him of a good part of the lands that were vnder his obedience chased away the Bishop of Lauzanna and ioyning it to their Iurisdiction they remaine still in possession thereof The Emperour returned then from his victorie of Tunis against Barberousse and seeming dâ—sirous to make a more stricter League with the King hee offred him a pension of a hundred thousand Crownes a yeare out of the Duchie of Milan for any one of his Children whome hee should name hee treated the marriages of the Daulphin with the Infant of Portugall Daughter to Queene Eleonor and of the Duke of Angoulesme with such a one as the King should well like of it seemed that he ment the Infant of Spaine to the ende that by these newe bonds of coniunction tying their friendshippes more firmely they might ioyntly participate sayd hee in the honour and profit of the mightie conquests which they should make vpon Grece All this was but cunning The Emperour was tired and his forces were â—asâ—ed by the toyles of warre and the great heat they had endured And the King being readie with a fresh and mighty armie The Emperours dissimulation threatned the Duchies of Sauoy and Milan he must therefore busie him with some baâ—te and at the least stay the exploits of his forces The death of Francis Sfoâ—ce presents a newe occasion By this death the Emperour pretends to bee freed of that bloud The death of Francis Sforce and that he might dispose of this Duchie at his pleasure The captaines promise to hold their places of the Emperour The Emperour giues hope not onely to dispose of the sayd Duchie to the Kings liking but also to conclude of a generall warre against the Turke in the which he offâ—ed to impart with the King the good or euill that should growe thereby and of the faith aâ—d reunion of the Church namely for the reducing of Germanie and England to the generall beleefe of Christians and of a generall peace in Christendome In the meane time he prepared for waâ—re hee caused Cont Nassau to make a great Leuie in Germanie and called backe Ferdinand Gonsague into Italie with his Spaniards which remained in Sicile Thus all the negotiations and practises of these two great Princes gaue sufficient signes of open war there wanted nothing but a lawfull occasion for either of them to blame his companion and to lay vpon him the causes of the first inuasion The Emperour required moreouer that for the quiet of Italie the King should desist from the action of Genes That excluding the Duke of Orleans from the estate and Duchie of Milan the which the King demanded for his second sonne according to the treatie made with the Pope at Marseilles the Duke of Angoulesme for that hee was farthest from the Crowne should be inuested That the King should send him the sayd Duke of Orleans to assist him at the conquest of Alger which he pretended The King desired greatly to maintayne true friendship with him and to vnite it by as strong alliances as the Emperour offred that the greatnesse of the one might not breed any iealousie in the other As for the action of Genes hee was content to surcease that controuersie vntill it might bee decided by good and lawefull meanes to renownce for euer his pretensions to Naples and to cause the sayd Duke of Orleans to yeeld vp his quarrell to Florence and Vrbin with such security as the Emperour should require so as his second sonne might be inuested in Milan He promised the Pope which was Alexander Farnese vnder the name of Paul the 3. successor of Clement 7. summoning all Princes to that ende to imploye his forces to make Germanie and England obey the sentence decree of the Church and to imploy himselfe in fauour of the sayd Emperour to the states and Princes of the Empire that they should ioyntly receiue his brother Ferdinand for the true and lawfull King of the Romains Hee offred to succour the Emperour in his holy warre with a certaine number of galleys and men entertayned promising to accompanie him the yeare following in the voâ—age of Constantinople with all his forces But to exclude the Duke of Orleans from the enheritance of his Ancestors which his eldest brother did willingly yeeld vnto him in fauour of his marrâ—age to install his youngest sonne was it not to sowe dissention and cause of warre 1536. betwixt them whom he desired to breed vp in peace and brotherly loue And to what end did the Emperour demand the Duke of Orleans but rather to hold him in manner of an hostage then to make any shew of loue or trust On the other side to giue hope that hee would compound with the King touching Milâ—n and to vrge this clause vehemently That all should bee managed without the Popes priuitie who no doubt would seeke all meanes to crosse it sayd the Emperour if he should vnderstand they had treated without imparting it vnto him and notwithstanding to giue intelligence to the Court of Rome by Andrew Dorie and to assure him that although hee gaue eare to the Kings ministers yet would he not conclude any thing without the aduise and consent of his Holinesse was not this a corrupt proceeding seeking to breed a iealousie and distrust betwixt the Pope and his Maiestie The King wearied with these long dissimulations and delayes without effect sent the Lord of Beauuâ—is vnto Venice to make a new League with the Senate and the King of England â—ent the Bishop of Winchester to the same effect The Emperour had some intelligence thereof and to crosse the Kings desseins he sent Du Prat a Gentleman of his house to make a new leuie of Lâ—nsquenets and Andâ—ew Dorie to Genes to prepare his armie by sea but vnder colour of his enterprise of Alger Who would not then iudge but in steed of a confirmation of peace and loue all things tended to open warre Nothing could detaine these inuincible warriours but that the Empeour after so great a dissipation of his forces could not so sodenly repaire his armie and the King making a scruple to be the first assailant would not incurre the blame to haâ—e broken the treatie of Cambray But without breach thereof many motiues of discontent had long incensed him against the Duke of Sauoy Causes of the Kings dislike with the duke of Sauoy The Iewels which the Duke had engaged to borrow money for the
his men in safetie when as Burie and Montluc seeing him returne backe charge him behind and finding very small resistance kill fiue or six hundred of his soldiars charge home to the artillery and baggage kill fifteene hundred seruants hang some prisoners especially ministers that followed the troups But the bootie qualifying the victors heate The battaile of Ver and the sâ—cond defeat of Duras gaue leasure to the first that fled to set wings to their feete and by a sodaine flight to prolong their liues for some dayes for the most part of them which escaped were taken againe and led to Agen and there hanged on a gibet set vp expresly which they called the Consistorie Battailes are variable and he is no marchant that wins alwaies saith the Prouerb Reuenged vpon Laumoâ—niere Duras gathers togither some remainders of this shipwracke and aduertised that Laumosinere a Captain sent by Sansac to ouerthrow him quite did atteÌ„d him at Embornet with fiue hundred men he marcheth directly against his enemie surpriseth him at the breake of day cuts in peeces both the captaine his souldiars reseruing 3. only to carrie newes vnto Sansac and by this foule slaughter reuengeth the disgrace which hee had lately receiued then most of his troupes being gone some to Rochell some elswhere and hauing no man of commaund remayning but his eldest sonne Bordet Puâ—h and his brother with about fortie Carbines and eighteene hundred souldiars halfe disarmed his horsemen being gone before and ioyned with Rochefoucault he recouered Orleans and there died vpon the conclusion of the peace Through the absence of Duras the Protestants estate in Guyenne was very lamentable their bodies and goods left to the discretion of their enemies Piles a gentleman of Gasconie hearing of the outrages which Burie and Montluc committed without controule Explâ—â—â— Pilesâ— parts from Orleans he came with the troupes which Grandmont brought out of Gasconie surmounting a world of difficulties in the end he recouers his house neere vnto Bergerac and notwithstaÌ„ding the garrison which the Duke of Montpensier had left there he opens the prisons and sets all them at libertie that were committed for matter of religion and then retyres to his house This new and bold attempt puts the Country into armes all rise against Piles who forced to yeeld to violence withdrawes himselfe being followed by fifteene horse and fifteene hargubuziers on foot at Montagnac he surpriseth a Cornet of sixe score light horse commaunded by Montcassin hee kils their leader with foureteene others and puts the rest in rout and by meanes of the horse which hee recouered there of good souldiars he made profitable men at armes Riuiere Piles had left la Riuieré about Bergerac a yong gentleman who weddâ—ng the practise of armes to the studie of the lawes from which he was newly returned became as soone a braue Captaine as a resolute souldiar for his first stratageme hauing sodenly trouped togither some twentie souldiars and a good number of pesants with staues he surpriseth S. Foy vpon Dordonne by scalado cuts the corps de gard in peeces that was set in the market place and commanding in the streets many and sundry things as if he had beene followed by seuen or eight hundred men he slue Rezat one of Monlucs Captaines his Lieutenant his Prouost with foure score of his souldiars and became absolute master of the place Burie and Montluc chasing at this disgrace receiued by an apprentise in warre lodge many troupes betwixt Bergerac and S. Foy But la Riuiere hauing forced through the troupe of Captaine Sale and a squadron ofhorse made his retreat passed the riuer of Dordonne in safetie and went with his troupe to ioyne with Captaine Piles Vpon the way behold a band of souldiars incounter him being farre from his men and as hee inquired newes of Piles they ouerthrow hurt and take him But passing ouer a bridge he casts himselfe into the water recouers the contrary banke and so saues himselfe at Hymet a Towne of Agenois whereas Piles prepared for the surprise of Mucidan the which Montluc thinking to take from him about the end of Ianuary .1563 by meanes of the Seneshall of Perigord he left the vndertaker confounded in his desseine and his troupes put to flight This successe giues courage to Piles he attempts against Bergerac Bergerac 〈◊〉 and at the second charge enters it the 12. of March puting 3. gards to the sword all such as could not in time recouer the Castle The next day a Towre being mined hauing smothered them that were within it the Castle vnfurnished of munition yeelds at the victorâ—â—ncretion who puts them all to the sword A cruell and more then inciuill warre Whâ—t worse vsage could we expect of strangers and barbarous people whose inhumanitie wee willingly abhorre and doe wee not tremble at the effusion of our Countrimens bloud In the quarters of Angoulmois and Coignac the Seigneur of Martron by mary murthers Angoulmâ—iâ— ransomings and robberies rauishing of wiues and maides and other oppressions which the war doth vsually bring forth reuenged the excesse the Protestants had committed in beating downe the images at Angoulesme In Xanitonge Conte Rochefoucault maintayned their affaires but the taking of Poitiers before described Xaintonge and the defeat of Duras caused the Protestants to be spoyled at Xaintes by Captaine Mogeret and the exercise of their religion to be abolished at Rochel and the neighbour Islands Toulouse by the Duke of Montpensier But alas all these disorders and bloudie confusions doe not counteruaile the horrible furies of Tholouse and other places of the Parliament of Languedoc Tholouse is one of the greatest and best peopled Citties of the Realme and at that time the Protestants numbred aboue fiâ—e and twentie thousand persons of their religion of all qualities ages and sexes After the publication of the Edict of Ianuary matters passed with great moderation vntill Aprill A little sparkle doth soone kindle a fire of sedition and a small cause thrusts the seditious into furie especially if the Magistrate ordeyned rather to restraine the blodie minded doth countenance their insolencies The buriall of a dead bodie was the Prologue to a horrible Tragedie whereof the first act was played in the suburbs of S. Michel S. Sâ—eeuen and S. Saluador and so passed the wals and put all the Câ—ttie into a mournfull confusion The Parliament did winke at it but the Capitouls being more modest imployed their authoritie to quench these first flames which must needs put all their state in coÌ„bustion foure of the most seditious being hanged two whipt did make some satisfaction for the bloud and death of such as were wounded slaine and cast into wels This puâ—sute makes the people mad The Protestants to warrant their liues and to saue themselues by some good Capitulation seize on a gate vpon the Towne house The Parliament stormes cals in the Nobilitie aâ—â—embles the commons giues authoritie to their furious
vnto him to haue had intelligence with Chastillon Admirall of France and with William of Nassau Prince of Orange touching the Low Countries This as some say was discouered by Don Iohn his vncle bastard brother vnto the King who being inexorable against them that had offended came vnto the Princes chamber in the night whereas hee found two pistols behind his beds head and some papers which did auerre the intelligences he had with his enemies The King first gaue him a gard afterwards he put him in prison and in the end to death But first he propounded to his Councell of conscience what punishment a Kings sonne deserued that had entred into League against his Estates and had conspired against his fathers life and whether hee might call him in question His Councell layed before him two remedies both iust possible the one of Grace and Pardon the other of Iustice and punâ—shment and the difference betwixt the mercie of a father and the seueritie of a King saying that if by his clemencie he did pardon them which loued him not hee could not but pardon that creature which he should most affect They desired him to imitate the Emperour Charlemagne who imputed the fiâ—st conspiracie of his sonne Pepin against him to lightnes of youth and for the second hee confiâ—ed him iâ—to a Monasterie protesting that hee was a father not a King nor a Iudge against his Soâ—ne The King answered that by the law of Nature he loued his sonne more then him elfe but by the law of God the good and safetie of his subiects went before it Moreouer he demaunded of them if knowing the miseries which the impunitie or dissimulation of his sonnes offences would breed he might with safetie of conscience pardon him and not bee guiltie of those miseries Hereat his Diuines shronke in their shoulders and with teares in their eyes sayd that the health of his people ought to bee deerer vnto him then that of his Sonne and that hee ought to pardon offences but such crimes as abhominable monsters must be supprest Hereupon the King committed his Son to the Censure of the Inquisitors commaunding them not to respect his authoritie no more then the meanest within his Kingdome and to regard the qualitie of his son as if he were a King borne making no distinction therof froÌ„ the partie accused vntil they found that the excesse of his offence would no more admit of this consideration remembring that they carried in their soules a liuely Image of the King which had iudged Angels and should without distinction iudge Kings and the Sonnes of Kings like vnto other men referring all vnto their consciences and discharging his owne The Inquisitors for the practises which hee had with the enemies of his religion The Iudgâ—menâ— oâ— the Inquisitors declared him an Heretike and for that he had conspired against his fathers life condemned him to die The King was his accuser and the Inquisitors his Iudges but the Iudgement was signed by the King which done they presented many kinds of death in picture vnto the Prince to make choise of the easiest In the end hee demaunded if there were no pittie in his father to pardon him no fauour in his Councell for a Prince of Spanie nor no wisedome to excuse the follies of his youth when as they told him that his death was determined and might not be reuoked and that all the fauour was in the choise of the mildest death He sayd that they might put him to what death they pleased tâ—hat there was no choise of any death seeing they could not giue him that which Caesar held to be the best These last words A vnloked foâ— death best deliuered with passion were followed with a thousand curses against his Fortune against the inhumanitie of his Faâ—her and the crueltie of the Inqusition repeating verie often these wordes O miserable sonne of a more miserable father Hee had some dayes of respit giuen him to prepare himselfe for death One morning foure slaues entred into his chamber who awaking him put him in mind of his last houre and gaue him small time to prepare vnto God Hee start vp sodainly and fled to the bed post but two of them held his armes and one his feet The deaâ—h of the Prince of Spaine Death of the Queene of Spaine and the fourth strangled him with a cord of silke Many hold that hee died of letting bloud his feete being in warme water The death of the Queene of Spaine foure moneths after made the world to suspect other causes of his death The King was also vnfortunate in his enterprises against Flanders and England hauing prepared a great fleet which perished in the narrow Seas almosâ— without any fight Hee is blamed for his crueltie against the Indians whome hee abandoned to the slaughter like vnto brute beasts Hee had foure wiues aâ—ter that of Portugal He married with Marie Queene of England by whome hee had no children His third was Elizabeth of France surnamed by the Spaniards the Queene of Peace by whome hee had two daughters the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia now Archduchesse and the Infanta Catherina Michelle who was Duchesse of Sauoy The fourth was Anna of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and his owne proper Neece by whome hee had three Sonnes and one daughter of the which there now remaines the Prince Charles Laurence surnamed at his comming to the Crowne Philip the third Hee affected the Empire as much as might be and not able to attaine vnto it hee sought the title of Emperour of Spaine The King of Spaines ambition yea hee was resolued to go to the Indies to take vpon him the title of Emperour of Amerâ—â—a After all his ambitious proiects vppon Affricke his attempts against Ireland and his intelligences with the Turkes Barbarians and Persians whome he hath sought to diuide and to make vse of euen against Christian Princes but chiefly and especially against France yet in the end hee was forced to confesâ—e That all the power and pompe of this world was meere vanitie He raigned aboue fortie yeares and was buried with his Ancestors as he had ordayned We haue said that hee drew a writing out of a little Cabinet and deliuered it vnto his sonne Some writers say that it was a translation into Spanish of the Instruction which the King S. Lewis gaue vnto his Sonne Philip the hardie Others say it was the Instruction which followes Instruction oâ— the King of Spâ—inâ— to the Prince his Sonne My sonne I haue beene alwaies sollicitous and carefull to leaue you your Estates peacefull and quiet but neither the many yeares which I haue liued nor the assistance of Princes my Allyes could euer purchase it I confesse I haue spent in lesse then 33. yeares fiue hundred nintie and foure millions of ducats all which haue bred mee nothing but cares and troubles It is true I haue conquered Portugal but as France did hardly escape me so may
from all priuileges Wherevpon there was great debate especially for the facultie of Physicke But it was answered that they should not bee admitted to teache and as for Humanitie and professions of Faculties they should bee admitted as the rest And although the difficulties were great and the conditions in some cases more beneficiall then in the first treaties of Peace yet the common quiet of all France beaten and almost ouerthrowne with the tragicke violence of Schismes and Diuisions hath made all to be held Necessary that was Iust and Iust whaâ—soeuer was Profitable Although it were to be wished that there were but one exercise of Râ—ligion for that in this Vnitie consists all Truth But seeing the restauration of the Church is the worke of God as well as the building of it wee must bee content with that which may bee and leaue the triumph and conquests of Soules to his eternall VVisedom who alone makes and frames the heart as he pleaseth Our consâ—ieâ—ces sâ—ould be free and giues the signe vnto so many Soules that are gone astray to make them enter into saluation being impossible for man to impose any necessitie to things which God hath left in Libertie as the Conscience the which should be as free in Estates as in our Thoughts The Church hath alwayes detested Heresies but they neuer imployed the rigour of their iudgements but against the Arche Heretikes and but when they had shewed themselues obstinate in their errors their punishments were more Shamefull then Cruell more Medicinall then Mortall desiring rather to see their faces blush for shame theâ— redde with bloud Neuer Prince well aduised did put his Subiects to death to force beleefe destroyed his Prouinces by warre to instrâ—ct their Consciences by the sword knowing well that Religion is an acte of Vnion of Concord and of Instruction and VVarre is nothing but Sedition and Destruction And those which in this world haue troubled both Heauen and Earth to force their Subiects Consciences vnto one Religion haue in the end beene constrained and forced to suffer them to liue free and in rest reiecting and refusing the aduise of those bad Physitians who applyed nothing but Antimonie and letting of bloud to all Diseases By these reasons the King in whose person God hath done so many Miracles and powred forth a Sea of blessings seeing that the continuance of the VVarre had produced no other fruites but the ruine of Iustice and Pietie Pieâ—ate Iustiâ—ia Pâ—incipes diâ—fâ—unt which be the two vertues which doe canonize Princes the two Pillars vpon whose firmenesse great Clouis was assured of the continuance of this Estate hee doth now confirme the Edict of Pacification of the troubles for matters of Religion and willes that which hee may leasâ— hee should incurre the note of such as seeke to correct things that are incorrigible and shew that the sore is greater then the remedy that some things haue taken such deepe roote as they cannot bee pulled vp Time Trueth and Reason haue prooued that this Edict was most Iust most Necessarie and most Profitable Yet the Court of Parliament could not allowe of this â—raternitie and Communication of Offices saying That they should not bee transported with the ambition of Honours The Court of Parliament opposeth against the Edict but content themselues with the tranquillitie oâ— Conscience that it is not conuenient in one estate to haue great Offices executed by men of diuers Religions being a thing vniust to haue the New intreated as well as the Ancient They found a great difference betwixt this Edict and the Precedent and refused to establish it The King sent for the chiefe of them and spake vnto them in this manner You see mee in my Cabinet where I come to speake vnto you The Kingâ— speech to the Court of Parliament not attired in any Royall ornaments nor with Cloake or Rapier as my Predecessors nor as a Prince that comes from receiuing of Ambassadors but apparrelled like a Father of a Familie in his Dublet and Hose to speake familiarly to his Children That which I haue to say vnto you is to desire you to establish the Edict which I haue granted to them of the Religion That which I haue done is for the good of the Peace I haue made it without I desire to settle it within my Realme You ought to obey mee if there were no consideration but my qualitie and the bonde whereby all my Subiects are tyed vnto mee and you especially of my Court of Parliament I haue restored some to their houses from whence they were expelled and others to their credit which was lost If obedience was due to my Predecessors there is as much or more deuotion due vnto me who haue setled the State God hath made choise of mee to put mee in possession of the Realme which is mine owne both by succession and acquisition The Iudges of my Parliament should not sitte in their seates but for mee I will not bragge but I dare boldly say that I haue no example to imitate but of my selfe I know there haue beene factions in the Parliament that they haue stirred vp seditious Preachers But I will take good order for such people and will not attend your pleasures In former times they haue punished them with great seueritie that haue preached lesse seditiously then they doe now It is the course they tooke to make the Barricadoes and by degrees to murther the deceased King I will cutte vp all these Factions by the rootes and will shorten all them that shall nourish them I haue leaped ouer Towne Walles I will easily passe ouer Barricadoes They should not obiect vnto mee the Catholicke Religion nor the respect of the Holy Sea I know the dutie which I owe the one as the Most Christian King and the Honour of the name which I carry and the other as the first Sonne of the Church Those which thinke themselues to bee in good termes with the Pope are deceiued I am more then they When I shall vndertake it I will make you all to be declared Heretikes for disobeying of me The Maiestie of Kings is alwayes wronged by the contempt of their decrees but the offence is alwayes greater when it comes from them that should see them to bee obserued Those which deny the execution of my Edicts desire Warre I will Proclaime it to morrow against them of the Religion A Prince giues no reason of his Edict but I will not make it my selfe I will send them I haue made the Edict I will haue it obserued my will should serue for reason the which is neuer demanded of the Prince in an obedient State Their wills should bee put in execution and not interpreted And yet I say vnto you that Necessitie and Profit hath drawne me vnto it I haue done it by the aduice of all my Councell who haue found it good and necessarie for the estate of my affaires and the good of my seruice to
to take counsell of his Conscience to euaporate those bad humors which did choake him The night past so quietly as many thought it would be but a Thunderclap which made a great noise did little harme that the King would rest satisfied to haue discouered the Treason and taken al meanes from the Traytors to hurt him not being conuenient to discouer all the conspirators He coÌ„manded the Count of Soissons to go to the Duke of Biron to do what he could to dissolue the hardnes of his Heart to draw the trueth froÌ„ him he goes vnto him he coniures adiures him to think of that which he thought least of to humble himselfe and to feare the Lions pawe the indignation of a King The Duke of Biron answered That the King could not complaine but of the good seruices he had done him that he had great reason to coÌ„plaine that he suspected his Loyalty hauing giuen him so many proofs The Couâ—t of Soissons hauing obserued his humor what litle frute might be drawne from his obdurate Heart by any more perswasions who beleeued that the King had sent him to draw something from him he left him Early the next morning the King walking in the little Garden he sent for the Duke of Biron and talked long with him thinking to reclaime him to giue him meanes to free himselfe froÌ„ the mischiefe into the which he did run headlong by his wilfulnes He continued long bare-headed liâ—ting his eies vp to heauen beating his Breast making great protestations to maintaine his innocency There appeared choller in the Kings countenance by the Duke of Birâ—â—â— behauiour there seemed fire in his words From thence the Duke went to dinner by the way he met one with a Letter which aduised him to retire himselfe he shewed it to the Captaine of his Gard who â—ished that he had beene stabd with a Dagger so as he had not come He mocked at all them which foretold his fall and seemed alwayes hardy and bold in his answers The King heard his braueries coldly Dissimulation a new vertue in Princes but not able to apply himselfe to dissemble which is held a new vertue in Princes he still cast out some words of the bad estate into the which his wilfulnes would bring him The King was much troubled in minde before he could resolue the Lords of Villeroy Sillery and Geure went and came often before they could vnderstand wherunto it tended Many thought it was to shorten the course of Iustice In great accidents Iustice it without formâ—â—â—y in so apparent a crime and begin with the execution dealing with the Duke of Biron as Alexander did with Parmenio for Princes are Masters of the Lawes they haue one forme of Iustice for great men and another for those whose quality requires not so great respect In these accidents there is no difference whether bloud be drawn before or after dinner Necessity teacheth the disorder and the Profit doth recompence the example so as the Estate be preserued by the death of him that is preuented But the King will none of that He proceedes with more Courage and Generosity These examples of Execution had beene blamed in his Predecessors he will haue his Subiects and all the World to know that he hath power and authority sufficient to roote out by the forme of Iustice not the Authors of such a Conspiracie for they be Deuils but the Complices and the instruments how terrible so euer He will haue the Solemnities and lawfull Ceremonies obserued and that they be iudged by the rigour of the Lawes The resolution was taken to apprehend him in like sort to seize vpon the Count of Aunergne The King would not haue them taken in the Castle but in their Lodgings The Duke of Biron who had some doubt thereof and who was prepared for that which he could not fore-see nor preuent thought that hee needed not to feare any thing in the Kings Chamber and that all the danger were at the going forth and therefore he prouided himselfe of a short Sword The Duke of Biron carried a short Sword with the which he presumed to make his passage They gaue the King to vnderstand that if he were apprehended in any other place it must needes be bloudy that to auoide an inconuenience it was good to passe ouer respects that were more Vaine then necessary The King walking in the Gallery called for Vitry and Pralin and gaue them order how he would haue his commandments executed and then he called for his supper The Duke of Biron supt at Montignys Lodging where he spake more proudly and vainly then euer of his owne Merits and of the friends he had gotten in Suisse Then he fel to coÌ„mend the deceassed King of Spaine He praiseth the King of Spaine his Piety Iustice and Liberality Montigny stayed him sodainly saying That the greatest commendation they could giue vnto his memory was to haue put his owne Sonne to death for that he had attempted to trouble his Estates This speech brake off the Duke of Birons discourse who answered but with his eyes and thought of it with some little amazement After Supper the Count of Auuergne and the Duke of Biron came to the King who walked in the Garden They were well accompanied intending to haue gone with a lesse Trayne It was sayd the Dukes Horses were sadled ready to be gone and that he had asked leaue in the Morning The King hauing done walking inuited the Duke of Biron to play they entred into the Queenes ChaÌ„ber The Count of Avuergne passing by the Duke at the entry of the Doore sayd vnto him in his Eare He plâ—ies at Primero with the Queene We are vndonne There played at Primero the Queene the Duke of Biron vpon whom all the mischeefe must fall and two others The King played at Chesse and in playing did acte the part of Vlisses going and comming to giue order to his affayres It appeared that his Spirit was troubled with a waighty action He entred into his Cabinet being perplexed with two contrary Passions doubtfull wherevnto he should yeeld The Loue which he had borne to the Duke of Biron the knowledge he had of his Valour and the remembrance of his seruices made him to reiect all thoughts of Iustice and to intreat him as Licurgus had done him that put out his Eye On the other side feare of trouble in his Estate and the apprehension of the execâ—able effects of so vnnaturall a Conspiracy accused his Clemency of cruelty which preferred the priuate before the publike He praied vnto God to assist him with his holy Spirit to pacifiâ— the Combat which he felt in his soule and to fortefie him with a holy resolution to that which should be for the good of his People ouer whom he coÌ„manded by his onely Grace His praier being ended all difficulties which troubled him were dispersed and he fully resolued to deliuer the
to aduance Death and to haue no other consolation but in the oneâ—y desire of an impossible thing He spent the first dayes of his Imprisonment without eating or sleeping These violent motions of Chollor and the heat of his bloud put him into a Feauer and Griefe carried fuming passions vnto his Braine which increased his sicknesse in the which as in all other diseasses the feare of Death the payne of his Body and the alteration of his Life did much augment the greefe of his Prison Hee was â—â—mewhat afâ—rayd least vnder colour of remedy they should giue him Poyson to cure all his griefes and therefore hee would haue them take a taste of euery thing although there were no other assurance of his life but what his owne Coâ—science could giue vnto him His Captiuity depriued him not of the liberty of speaking The fire of his Courage was not smothered vnder the Ashes of this affliction What saide hee and what saide he not Cholâ—er thrust forth a steeme of Words in the which theâ—e was not a droppe of Reason Sometimes hee saide That if they dâ—sired to put him to death His wâ—rds in Prison they should dispatch him that they should not bragge they had made hâ—m to feare death that they should speedily drinke themselues drunke with the bloud which remained of thirty and â—iue Woundes which hee had receiued for the seruice of France They feared that Solitarinesse Fasting Melancholy and change oâ— the place would trouble his Braine and thrust him inâ—o some furious passion To pacifie the discontent of his first imprisonment they perswaded him to submit himselfe to the mercy of God and gaue him hope of the Kings pardon The Archbishop of Bourges went to see him he disswaded him from many bad Maximes of Conscience and satisfied him of many poynts which hee held against the purity and integrity of a iust Confession He desired to speake with Villerâ—y and Sillery who went to see him by the Kings commandment In the beginning of his imprisonment he taâ—ked of notâ—ing but of Iustice but knowing his fault he had no hope but in the Kings Mercy Some one published an admonition at Paris beseeching the King to change the punishment of death into perpetual Imprisonment his Imprisonment into Banishment and his Banishment into an honourable seruitude to make War against the Turke That if by his offences he did not merit to serue the State which hee sought to ruine yet he might serue the Generall Estate of Christendome This Councell was dangerous for who could assure the King that â—e would make War in Hungary and what caution could be sufficient for France Heâ— had beene more dangerous without it then with in A bâ—rning firebrand casts more flame and smoake without a Câ—imney then with in it Hee added moreouer that he should forbid him the carrying of Armes and tie him from the War but if he should haue made his house his Prison who should haue kâ—pt him iâ— he â—ad desseignes oâ— reuenge in Prison what would he haue done at Liberty Many which respect no more the Lawes of Honour then of Iustice would haue repayred vnto him to bring in inâ—uâ—table mischiefs â—here was an intent to saue him The Iron worke was forged in Bresse The refusall of fiue hundred Câ—ownes for the Petardier hindred the execution As soone as he was a Priâ—oner euery one saâ—de he was a dead Man and seeing himselfe so carefully garded hee sayde â—hat they did not put Birds of his sort into a Cage to suffer them to escape Hee made that Iudgement of himselfe which the Admirall did of the Earles of Egmont and Horne when he heard they were Prisones when they once come to accuse and imprison a Mâ—n of courage and faction it is more dangerous to absolue him then to condemne him Letters to the Court of Parliament to mâ—ke his Proceâ—â—e The Kâ—ng sent his Letters to the Parliament to proceed in the Criminall and extraordinary Processe of the Duke of Biron according to the formes which are to bee obserued in Crimes of so great importance against persons of his quality all other afâ—ayres set aside The Commissioners appointed for the King were Achilles de Harlay first President in the Court of Parliament at Paris Nicholas Potier second Presiâ—ent and Councellor of State to his Maiesty CoÌ„missioners â—ppoinâ—ed Stephen Fleury and Phillibert of Thuâ—in Councellors of the Parliament good Iudges but not to bee moued in Crimes of State Informatioâ—s were taken at the Basâ—ille The Prisoner made some Ceremonies to answer but beeing entred into discourse hee gaue the CoÌ„missioners matter ynough to worke on confessing in a mâ—nner all From his answers alone they might haue framed his Condemnation saying ynough to make him loose as many Liues as hee had Yeares Hee had so ill gouerned his Iudgement in his Prosperity as it did him no seruice during his Imprisonment yeelding sometimes vnto Griefe sometimes vnto Chollor and alwayes to Indiscretion speaking as much to Râ—ine himselfe as to Diâ—charge him Hee was Confronted with the Witnesses Face to Face but when aâ— hee did see la Fin hee fell into an extreame shaking The first President asked the Prisoner If hee would except any thing against La Fin He answered That he held him for a Gentleman of Honour his Friend and his Kinsman But when hee had heard his Deposition hee cried out against him as the most execrable Man in the World appealing to all the Powers of Heauen and Earth to iustifie his Innocency La Fin grieued that he should hold him for a Slanderer a name common to all wicked Men sayd vnto him That he was sorry they were in a place where the one was allowed to speake all and the other was forced to heare all Hee maintained all he had saide against him and spake more playnely of his Conspiracy He is amazed to â—â—ee â—â—nazé whom he held to be dead then in his Deposition The Prisoner said That if Renaze were there he would auerre the contrary He was brought before him wherat he was much amazed to see him whom he held to be dead and who was out of his remembrance as in an other World Hee then beleeued that the Duke of Sauoy had set him at Liberty to ruine him he felt hâ—s Conscience toucht when as all things conspired to his Condemnation An admirable iudgement of Gods secret Iustâ—ce in this escape of Renaze Mens intentions produce contrary effects Hee was detayned prisoner at Quiers in Piedmont to the end he should not discouer this practise he escapes from his Gard and comes to fortefie his Maisters Deposition who else had beene but one witnesse He had many Friends but not to iustifie his Innocency as Plato sayth That many â—riends is a signe of Wisedome and want of them shewes the contrary There were none that durst preâ—ume to sue for his Liberty or Pardon The Kâ—ng had made this attempt so Detestable and Odious to all the Princes and
beginning of the yeare did so freeze the Riuer of Danowe as the one passed ouer on drie foote to the other and skirmishing some-times vpon the Ice A Captaine of the garrison of Pesâ—a hauing intelligence that some of the chiefe of Buda were gone forth with many women to the Bathes which are neere vnto Buda he past the Riuer with threescore shot and surprised them in such sort as hee died the water of the Bath with their bloud not sparing any but a little Chiâ—de sonne to one of the chiefe of Buda The women were so amâ—zed as they flâ—d nâ—ked vnto the Towne the feare of death was more powrefull in them then shame The Turkes had the aduantage this yeare both by Lande and Sea they recoâ—ered what they had lost in Hungary and disapointed the enterprises of the Sea Army of Spaine the which were more grounded vpon the words and assurances of the King of Fez to deliuer Algier vnto them then vpon consideration of their forces Cigale went out of Constantinople with fifty sayle to obserue and followe them in their course Cigale goes forth of Constantinople In the end D. Iohn of Cardona was no happier then the Prince Doria It had bin a miracle if the Affricains had intreated the Spaniards better then the Portugalls One may say of theÌ„ as was sayd of the Romaines What may a man hope for of Rome which hath ruined Alba from whence it is issued What may one expect of the Kings of Fez if for the desire of raigne the Sonne hath not spared the Father Whilest that Muleasses was with the Emperour Charles the fift to treate of his Protection Amides his Sonne made himselfe master of the Realme The olde father returning with forces to enter into Thunis was taken in a passage where his Sonne had layed an Ambuscadoe and with him two of his Children which done this barbarous wretch pulled out the eyes of them all three Many thought that this Armie had had no desseigne the Treasons of France beeing discouered they had neede of it in Flanders many wondred to see the Spaniards seeke after new Conquests when as the affaires of the Lowe Countries were in so badde Estate Ostende was not yet readie to yeelde Graue beseeged Count Maurice had beseeged Graue to drawe the Arch-duke from Ostende if he might There were in Graue fiueteene hundred souldiars besides the Inhabitants The Archduke commanded the Admirall of Arragon to succour the beseeged with all speed who gathered togither what troupes he could and made many attempts vpon Count Maurices trenches the beseeged fallying forth of the Towne at the same times but finding that all his enterprises were in vaine hee made his retreat in the night sending his baggage away before and after that hee had stayed some dayes at Venlâ— the Inhabitants refusing to receiue the garrison which he would haue giuen them hee marched towards Vâ—recht hauing lost all hope to rayse the seege of Graue The Admirals retreat considering that a great part of his troupes were slipt away especially the Italians which yeelded themselues vnto Count Maurice some continued and serued him others tooke Pasports from him and returned into their Countrie The seege of Graue continued still with all violence the Walls and Rampers were so battered as they scarse durst shew themselues and the beseeged being beaten from their fortifications seeing all things readie to giue a generall Assault they made a composition to yeeld the nineteenth of September vpon certaine conditions The Count Maurice vsed the souldiars with all humilitie suffering them to carrie away their Armes Enseignes and all other Moouables The best troupes of the Admirals Army were mutined pretending that there was thre millions of Liuers due vnto them demanding their pay in a very vnseasonable time A mutiny in the Admâ—ralls Army seazing vppon the Castell of Hoochstraten at such time as the Archduke thought to succour Graue He held this as a reuolt infidelitie and intelligence with the Enemie for which cause hee proclaymed them guiltie of high Treason permitting all men to Kill them without feare of punishment promising tenne Crownes in recompence for euery souldiars head a hundred for an Officers two hundred for a Captains fiue hundred for that of the Electo The Mutinados published a declaration with iniurious tearmes and reproaches saying that the Archdukes would pay them with Prescriptions and Banishments a kind of pay and entertainment that doth neyther feede the Belly A Proâ—estation of the mutâ—â—â—â—â— nor couer the Backe that in demanding that which was due vnto them they had done but as others had done in the like occasions forced by necessity being no Cameleons to liue of the aire That to condemne theÌ„ to die which had no feare of death which had meanes not only to defend themselues but also to offend was absurd That their heads beeing set to sayle at ten Crownes a peece they did hope to defend them so well as their Highnesses should see but fewe of them Thus the Mutiners complayned but in the ende they found that all complaints were vaine against their Superiors The Arch-duke was ingaged in a second Warre against his owne troupes the which was no lesse trouble-some vnâ—o him then the enemy his discontent was much augmented by the defeate of the Gaileies of Spaine that came into Flanders This yeare their were eight Galleies rigged at Siuille vnder the Commande of Frederic Spinola there were 400. men in euery Galley besides the slaues The Galleies oâ— Spaine commâ—nded by Spinola and 800. men which they tooke in at Lisbonne These Galleies went toward the Coast of England being sent by the King of Spaine to ioyne with others which the Arch-duke had to hinder the trafficke of England Holland and Zeland and to keepe Osâ—end from alâ—â—eleefe Two of them the Trinity and the Occasion were sonke by Sir Richard â—uson vpon the Coast of Portugalle about the Cape of Sicambre these Galleies were discouered the 3. of October by two Shippes of Warre of the Sates who had them in chase The same day Sir Robert Mansel discouered them beeing a thwarte Calis gâ—uing aduice vnto the States shippes which lay vpon the Coast of Flanders by discharging of his Cannon The States shippes finding them aboue the pointe of Douer pursued them and fought with them they flying as fast as they could to recouer some of their Portes in Flanders but they were so ill intreated as foure of their Galleies were sonke the other 4. which remayned were so hotly pursued as two of them were cast away vpon the Coast neere vnto Nieuport and an other neere Dunkerke and the eight wherein Spinola was ranne a shoare at Calais and was saued with great difficulty where the Galley slaues being set at Liberty euery one went where he pleased and Spinola with his Gentlemen and the rest that he could saue went to the Arch-duke to Bruxellâ—s The Admirall of Arragon hauing fayled in the releefe of