by meanes of his brother whom hee held prâ—soner hee resolues to take it by force and in the meane time hee beseegeth Windsor by some Noblemen of his partie Iohn sleepes not hee makes a vertue of necessitie imploying all his meanes to leuie men and to keepe what remained But behold an accident which ends both his sute and his life One of his Captaines brings him certaine troupes to releeue Winchester where hee attended the siege but they were charged by Lewis his men Iohn seeing his people to perish some by the Sword and the rest drowned flying to saue themselues oppressed in his conscience not able to endure the reuenging furies of his Nephews bloud vniustly spilt hee falles to a despairing griefe King Iohn dies for griefe and shortlye after dyes suffering the punishment of his iniustice and crueltie Leauing a notable example and president to all men neuer to hope for good by doing euill although the offender growe obdurate by the delaye of punishment This was after eighteene yeares patience during the which Iohn raigned with much trouble a slaue to his furious passions the which is a cruell and insupportable commander The English châ—nge their opinion Thus the decree of Gods iust iudgement against Iohn the parricide was put in execution in the yeare 1217. But this death of Iohn did not settle Lewis in his new royaltie as it was expected The discontent of the English dyes with Iohn and the loue of their lawfull Prince reuiues in his Sonne Henry God limits the bounds of States which mans striuing cannot exceede The Sea is a large Ditche to deuide England from France the Pyrenei Spaine and the Alpes Italy if audatious Ambition and Couetousnesse would not attempt to force Nature The English pleased with his death that made them to languish cast their eye vpon their lawfull King The Pope interposeth his authoritie for Henry against Lewis Who desirous to preserue what hee had gotten prepares his forces when as the losse of his Fleete comming from France to England makes him to change his resolution yeelding to reason and time restoring another man his right and estate to keepe his owne at home the surer and safer The Englâ—sh receiue Henry the sonne of Iohn and dismisâ—e Lewis of France Thus Henry the third the Sonne of Iohn was receiued King of England and Lewis returned into France but Iohns posteritie shall bee reuenged of the Children of Lewis with more and greater blowes then hee had giuen Lewis being returned into France findes worke at home to imploye him in Warre which hee sought beyond the Seas The occasion was to make head against the Albâ—geios of whome wee will discourse in his life and not interrupt the course of this raigne It is now time to finish this tedious relation of Philips actions and to shew the conclusion of his life Avuergne vnitâ—d to the Crowne Hee did confiscate the Earledome of Avuergne and vnited it vnto the Crowne taking it from Guy being found guiltie of Rebellion this was his last acte All the remainder of his dayes were consecrated to make good lawes for the well gouerning of the Realme At Paris hee did institute the Prouost of Marchants and the Sheriffes for the politike gouernement thereof hee caused the Cittie to bee Paued Philips actions being before verye noysome by reason of the durt and mire Hee built the Halles and the Lovure beeing beautified since by Henry the second with a goodly Pauilion and the rest of the new Lodging Wherevnto King Henry the fourth that now raâ—gnes doth adde a Gallerie of admirable beautie if the necessitie of his affaires suffer him to Crowne the restauration of his Estate by the finishing of this great building Hee walled in Bois de Vincennes and replenished it with Deare and with diuers other sortes of wilde Beasts hee finished that admirable and sumptuous building of our Ladyes Church whereof the foundation was onely layde vnknowne by whome Hee made lawes against Vsurie Players Iuglers and Dycing houses 1219. An enemie to publicke disolutions and a friend to good order and iustice Hee releeued the people ouer-charged by reason of the Warres Hee restored vnto the Clergie all the reuenues hee had taken from them during his greatest affaires And thus hee imployed this last acte of his life to gouerne the Realme Landes vniteâ— to the Crown to the which hee had vnited a good parte of that which was alienated by Hughe Capet That is all Normandie a good part of Guienne the Earldomes of Aniou Touraine Maine Vermandois Cambresis Vallois Clermont Beaumont Avuergne Pontheiu Alancon Limosin Vandosme Damartin Mortaigne and Aumale Wee shall hereafter see how the rest of the Crowne landes returned according to the diuers meanes which GOD gaue by the good gouerment of our Kings Philip imployd his peaceable olde age in this sort when as God did summon him to leaue his Realme to take possession of a better Hee was verye sicke of a quartaine Ague which kept him long languishing in his bed giuing him meanes to meditate vpon his death and to prouide for the Estate of his Reaâ—me leauing a good guide whom hee had leasure and meanes to fashion yet could hee not make him the perfect heire of his Vertues and Happinesse Although Lewis his Sonne were not vicious yet had hee nothing excellent to make him apparent among other Kings He would not Crowne him in his life time beeing taught by the late and neighbour example of the ill gouernment of England betwixt the Father and the Sonne finding his forrces to faile him by the continuance of this Feauer hee made his Will Philips testâ—ment In the which hee delt bountifully with his Seruants according to their deserts hee gaue great Legacies towards the Christians Warre in the East and to the Templets who were then held in great reputation to bee verie necessarie for the garde of Christendome Hee gaue new rents to Hospitalls and to very many Churches And so hee died in peace the yeare 1223. the first of Iulie Hâ—s death in the age of fiftie and nine yeares beloued and lamented of his subiects Hee was fifteene yeares old when hee began to raigne and gouerned forty and foure yeares hee left two Sonnes His condâ—tions Lewis and Philip and one Daughter called Marguerite Vnhappie in his house and verye happy in his raigne· His minoritie was reasonable good but his age was verie reuerend Crowned with all the contents a mortall man could desire in this mortall life hauing left many testimonies of his Vertues to make his memorie deere and respected of his posteritie His estate peaceable his heire knowne and beloued of his subiects and of age and experience to gouerne himselfe and to force obedience A Prince rightly called Augustus whom wee may number among the greatest Hee was most Religious Wise Moderate Valiant Discreete and Happy a louer of Iustice of order and of pollicie friend to the people enemie to Disorders Dissolutions
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
made Duke of Amou ibid. A treatie betwixt the Emperour and Lewis fol. 368 The beginning of diuision betwixt Lewis and Ferdinand fol. 369 Gonsaâ—ue the great captaines vertues ibid. New broyles in Italie fol. 370 The Duke of Valentinois cruelty ibid. The exploits of the French in the kingdome of Naples fol. 371 The Valentinois fearefull to the potentates of Italie ibid. The Venetians oppose against him fol. 372 The King discontented with the Pope and his sonne fol. 373 A counterfeit peace with the Spaniard but not ratified fol. 374 The Duke of Atri defeated by the Spaniard fol. 375 A generall ouerthrowe of the French and the Duke of Nemours slaine fol. 376 The kings new armie for Naples fol. 377 The estate of the church and the death of Pope Alexander the 6. fol. 378 The Vrsins and Colonnois reconciled bandy against the Valentinois fol. 379 Iulius the 2. chosen Pope ibid. Borgia the Valentinois a prisoner fol. 380 A truce betweene France and Spaine the wars of Naples reuiued ibid. The Marquis of Mantoua general of the French giues ouer his charge of the army fol. 381 The realme of Naples wholly lost by the French fol. 382 Lewis makes peace with the Spaniard and Emperour against the Venetian fol. 383 The death of Fredericke of Naples fol. 384 Lewis seekes by all meanes to crosse the Emperor and his sonne Philip. fol. 385 Bâ—ntiuoll deliuers Bolonia to the Pope fol. 386 The death of Philip Archduke of Austria ibid. The death of Borgia duke of Valentinois ibid. An enteruiewe of the Kings of France and Arragon fol. 387 The Suisses forsake the Emperour and Maximilian is defeated fol. 388 King Lewis goes into Italie fol. 389 The Venetians excommunicated by the Pope and ouerthrowne at Agnadell by the French fol. 390.391 The Venetians begin to recouer their losses take Padua and surprize the Marquis of Mantoa fol. 392 Padua besieged againe by the Emperour fol. 393 The Venetians make warre against the Duke of Ferrara fol. 394 The Suisses forsake the alliaÌ„ce of the FreÌ„ch and ioyne with the pope fol 395 A French armie enters Italie and the pope seekes to expell them fol. 396 397 The Suisses retire and the Venetians make an attempt against Genoa fol. 398.399 Eight conclusions made by the French Church against the pope fol. 400 The siege of Bolonia fol. 401 The death of Charles of Amboyse Lord of Chaumont fol. 402 A Councel begins at Pisa and is transported to Millan fol. 403 Bolonia beseeged by the Spaniards where there happened a miracle fol. 404. Brâ—â—â—e taken by the Venetians and recouered by the French fol 405. The French Army in Italy getts the battaile of Rauenna where 〈◊〉 of Foâ—x is slaine fol. 406.407 Rauenna taken and sackt fol. 408. The French Army disordered they loose Milan fol. 409. Lodowick Sforze restored to the Duchy of Milan fol. 410. Nauar vsurped by the Arragonois fol. 411. A royall Army in the Duchy of Milan and Genoa taken fol. 413. The memorable valour of Robert de la Marke fol. 414. Terouenne and Tournay taken by the English fol. 415. Charles the Emperor affects to be Pope fol. 416. Queene Annâ— of France dies and Lâ—wis marries Mary of England fol. 417. The death of Lewis the 12. and his vertues fol. 418.419 Francis the fiâ—st of that name the â—8 King of France HEE goes with a Royall Army into the Duchie of Milan and takes Genoa fol. 421. His first passage ouer the Alpes fol. 422. The inconstant treachery of the Suisses with the battell of Marignan â—ol 423. Milan yeelds to the French fol. 424. A League against the King broken by the death of Ferdinand fol. 425. Brescia and Verona taken by the French and deliuered to the Venetians fol 426. Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchy fol. 427. Franâ—â— the Daulphin borne fol. 428. A peace concluded with the English and Spaniards fol. 429. Charles the 5. elected Emperor 1520. fâ—l 430. The beginning of Lutâ—ers doctrine fol. 431. Troubles in Spaine fâ—l 432. The Pope capitulates with the Emperour fol. 433. The King and the Emperor at open warre Tournay Meziers beseeged and Mouson taken fol 4â—4 4â—5 Mouson recouered Fontarabâ—e taken fâ—l 4â—6 The Emperor retreating dishonourably Hedin and Turney are recouered by the French fol. 4â—7 The Pope declares himselfe against France fol. 4â—9 An ominous signe to the French at Milan Ibid. Errors of the French Army fol 440. Lautrâ—ch odious to his Army fol. 441. Milan taken and sackt iâ—id Pope Leo his death with the altâ—râ—tions afterwards fol. 442 Adâ—ian the 6 created Pope and the war reuiued fol. 443. Milan and Pauia beseeged by the French and Nouarre taken fol. 444. Lâ—utrech forced to fight by the Suisses and is ouerthrowne fâ—l 445. Laude and Cremona taken from the French fol. 446. The Venâ—tians foâ—sake the French Genoa is taken by the Spaniards fol. 447. Fontarabie beeseeged by the Spaniard and â—eleeued by the French ibid. Wars in Picardy Douilans beseeged Teâ—igny slaine fol. 448. The English land in France take Hedin and returne fâ—l 449. Rhodes taken by the Turke ibid. The Castle of Milan yeelded fol. 450. A League betweene the Emperor and the Venetians fol. 451. The Duke of Bourbon reuolts and flies disguised fol. 452.453 The Milannois fâ—aude with the seege of their Towne fol. 454. The Castle of Cremona releeued Baionne beseeged ibid. Fontarabie taken from the French fol. 455. The valour of 〈◊〉 with the taking of Roy and Mont-didier by the English fol. 456. Pope Aâ—riaâ— diâ—s and Pope Clement the 7. chosen in his place ibid. Iohn de Medicis stratagems with the death of Prosâ—er Colonâ—â— fol. 457. The French charged and ouerthrowne by the Imperialls fol. 458. Briares taken by the Milannois and the Admirall defeated fol. 459. Marseilles beseeged by the Imperials froÌ„ whence they retreate in disorder fol. 460. King â—rancis goes into Italy and takes Milan ibiâ— The Esâ—ate of the Imperialls fol. 461. The Pope makes a League with the King who sends an Army into Naples fol. 462. A notable victory gotten by the Marquis of Salusses ibid. The death and worthy exploytes of Pontdormy fol. 463. The Imperiall and French Army approch ibid. Sadde fore-runners of an ouerthrow fol. 464. Battell of Pauia where the French King is taken prisoner fol. 465. The King of England offers all loue to the French King beeing a prisoner fol. 466. The Emperors vnreasonable demands with the Kings resonable offers fol. 467. King Francis carried prisoner into Castile ibid. King Francis released fol. 468. The Marquis of Pescara dies fol. 469. The miserable estate of Milan and Cremona taken by the Confederates fol. 470. Rome surprized and sackt by the Imperialls where the Duke of Bourbon is slaine fol. 471.472 A newe League against the Emperor fol. 473. Genoa Alexandria and Pauia taken by thâ— King and the Pope deliuered fol. 474. The King of England and France proclaime war against the
Countrie finding more safetie at Rome then in other citties of Italie retyred themselues thither and peopled the Cittie So by this occasion newe Rome the seat of the Popes iurisdiction succeeding the Emperours hath beene built within old Rome amidst the Pallaces walkes Basiliques Coliâ—ees Amphytheatres and other ancient buildings But aboue all the credit and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome by these new occurrents crept in by degrees vntil he aduanced hiâ—selfe aboue the Emperours Kings Princes of Christendome yet he of Constantinople held himselfe the Superior being in the proper seat of the Empire and in the light of the Imperiall Court Thus they fall to debate Contention for the Priemacie and the cause of their dissentions was the preheminence of their seas and the authoritie of the vniuesall Bishop This contention bred infinite confusions in the Church and in an vnseasonable time which inuited men to sacke and spoyle So as S. Gregorie Bishop of Rome a man of singular pâ—etâ—e learning hauing couragiously opposed himselfe against Iohn Bishop of Constantinople who affected this title of vniueâ—sall Bishop and detesting so vnreasonable and vnseasonable an ambition cries out Oh times oh manners the whole world is set on fire with warre Christians are euerie where massacred by Idolaters A worthie speech 〈◊〉 S. Gregorie Citties and Temples razedby Barbarians and yet the pastors of the Church as it were treading vnder foot the common calamitie of Gods people dare vsurpe names of vanitie and braue it with thâ—se prophane titles The reader curious to vnderstand the Estates of those times and to note the degrees and authoritie of this vniuersall Bâ—shop established in the Church may read the epistles of this good father great in name and in effect without troubling my selfe to â—et them downe in particular whose intention was to shew That who so taketh vpon him the authoritie and title of vniuersall Bishop in the Church and to haue any Soueraigne preheminence presumes aboue Iesus Christ the onely head of the sacred bodie of the Church Hee that takes on him the title 〈◊〉 vniuâ—rsâ—ll 〈◊〉 is the 〈◊〉 oâ— Antichrist and by consequence he doth affirme that he is the foâ—erâ—nner of Antichrist And yet after these graue and serious admonitions of Saint Gregorie the great within tenne yeares after Boniface the third obteined from Phocas the Emperour the title of vniuersall Bishop with authoritie ouer the vniuersall Church as Platina the Popeâ— Secretary doth reâ—ort To this quarrell for the Supremacie was added the controuersie for images which caused infinite confusions Dispute for Images the â—mperours and Bishops were banded one against another and by their dissentions the people were stirred vp to seditious reuolts the which aâ—ter many Tragicall euents were a meane to ruine the Empire of the East It was a popular custome to erect Images to those whome they would honour as hauing deserued well of the Common weale Christians desiring to honour the memorie of holy men began to set vp images euen for them also following this ciuill custome and did erect them in Temples as places consecrated to deuotion Some Bishops â—auored this new deuice in the Church and others did impugne it Epiphanius did teare a picture in peeces Images at the 〈◊〉 a politike 〈◊〉 and Serenus did beat downe an image the one in the Eâ—st the other in the West The Christians borne and bred in this ancient doctrine of the Apostles My children beware of Images maintainâ—d in the Catholike Church by succession from father to sonne could not digest this innouation no more could the Emperours Hence grew the dissention the greatest part of the Bishops holding the contrarie That it was a part of the seruice of God and a bond to retayne mens soules in deuotion with reuerence This contention grew in the time of the Emperour Philippicus called Bardanes who by an Edict caused them to be throwne downe in the yeare of grace 713. the which continued to 782. vnder Constantin the second called Copronimus an enemie to images who commaunded them to bee cast downe contraâ—y to the liking of his mother Irene who not onely maintained them with violence but also caused them to be confirmed by a Councel held at Nicee a Cittie in Bithinia seeing 〈◊〉 at Constantinople where shâ— had made the conuocation of this Ecclesiasticall Assembly the people were resolute to withstand them Hence grew an execrable Tragedie in the Imperiall Court Irene seing her sonne resolute against her deâ—ence oâ— Iâ—ages was so transported as hauing seized on him in his chamber she caused his eyes to be put out so as dying with greefe she vsurps the Empire Through this bad gouernment Tragicall crueltie of a mother against her soâ—ne confusion so increased in the East as in the end necessitie made the way for Charlemagne to take vpon him the dignitie and title of the Emperour of the West and to preserue prouinces in those parts from the disorders of the Grâ—â— Emperours as wee may see in the continuance of tâ—is Historie I am bound to obserue these so notable occurrents in those times as belonging to the subiect of my Historie to represent truely both the Estate of the Empire and of the Church when as Charlemagne vndertooke the gouernement of the Empire and vnited it happily to the French Monarchie The wise reader may verifie more plainly in the Originalls from whence I haue drawne this Inuentorie what I haue briefly set downe here touching the occurents of those ages wherein the Oracle of holy antiquitie was verified by the end of these straÌ„ge Tragedies The truth is lost by contending The first simplicitie of the Catholike Church being rich in her pouertie by the abundance of truth conteined since the golden age of the Apostles and their Dâ—sciples was changed into rich and stately pompe the Crownes of martirdome wherewith the fiâ—st Bishops of Rome had beene honoured into a triple Crowne Estate of the ancieÌ„t church which not onely hath and doth giue Lawes to the Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth but doth tread them vnder foot dispossesse them of their estates Insolencie of Popâ—s at this day and declares them incapable of rule when they obey him not and for a marke of this soueraigne authoritie hee makes them to kisse his feet in token of the homage of deuotion and spirituall reuerence as hauing power ouer soules to iudge of all men and all things soueraignly and not to bee iudged by any as the circumstances of our historie wil shew in diuerse places This was the Estate both of the Empire and of the Church vnto the death of Pepin the short the first King of the second race in the yeare 750. or thereabouts CHARLES the Great or CHARLEMAGNE the 24. King of France From the yeare 768. vnto the yeare 814. CHARLES THE GREAT KING OF FRANCE XXIIII 768. THE Estates of France assemble after the death of Pepin and by their consents and aduice
a people which had possessed a part of Thrace neere vnto Constantinople he was slaine in the conflict Hee had one sonne named Staurat who by reason should succeed him but Michel his brother in law seizeth on this poore young man and makes him a way and hauing corrupted the chiefe men with gifts hee vsurpes the Empire The Empire conâ—iâ—med to Charles and least that Charlemagne should crosse his desseignes he seekes to insinuate with him not onely ratifying what Nichâ—phorus had done for the diuision of the Empire but by a new contract doth acknowledge him Emperour of the West Thus the affaires of our Charles were daily confirmed but his minde toiled with these new losses and the painfull difficulties he had suffered throughout the whole course of his life required nothing but rest All his life time he held the Church in great reuerence Charles his care to â—â—le the Church had imployed his authority to beautifie it and bountifully bestowed his treasure to inrich it but this great plenty in so happy a peace made the Churchmen to liue loosely Charles well instructed in religion knowing how much it did import to haue doctrine and good manners to shine in them that should instruct others he doth call fiue Councels in diuers places of his dominions for the gouernment of the Church At Mayence at Rheims at Tours at Châ—alons and at Arles and by the aduise of these Ecclesiasticall assemblies A good instructiâ—n 〈◊〉 â—rinces to louâ— piety hee sets downe orderâ— for the reformation of the Church in a booke intituled Capitula Caroli magni which they read at this dayâ— for a venerable proofe of the piety of this great Prince A worthy president for Princes which seeke true honour by vertue whereof the care of piety is the chiefe foundation He held likewise a great Councell in the Citty of Francford â—These are the very words of the History of the Bishops of France Germanie and Italy the which hee himselfe would honour with his presence where by a generall consent The false Synode of the Greekes I 〈◊〉 the very words of the Originall vntruly called the seuenth was condemned and reiected by all the Bishops who subscribed to the condemnation 〈◊〉 there fell out a new accident which drew Charles againe to armes Adelphonse King of Nauarre surnamed the chaste by reason of his singular temperance did careâ—ulâ—y adâ—ertâ—se him New warre in Spaâ—nâ— crost by secret practises that there was now meanes vtterly to subdue the Sarazins in Spaine Charlemagne who desired infinitly to finish this worke so oft attempted without any great successe giues â—are to this aduise leuies an armie and marcheth into Spaine relying on the Spaniards fauour being Christians Adelphonse meant plainly but so did not the chiefe of his Court nor his associates who feared his forces no lesse then the Sarazins and euâ—n the most confident seruants of Adelphonse doubted to be dispossessed of their gouernmeÌ„ts by a new Maister So they crosâ—e Adelphonse in countermanding of Charles but the lots were cast his army is in field and he resolute to passe on He enters into Spaine where he finds so many difficulties as he returnes into France and so concludes all his enterprises imbraciâ—g againe the care of religion and of the Church as a subiect fit for the remainder of his dayes A happy concâ—usion of Charlemagnes life Hee was thâ—ee score and eight yeares old when he left the warres so he spent three whole yeares in his study reading the Bible and the bookes of Saint Augustin whom he loued aboue all the Doctors of the Church He resided at Paris â—o haue conference with the learned where hee had erected a goodly 〈◊〉 â—urnished â—ith learned men such as that time could afforde and enriched 〈◊〉 goodly priuileges Hee had an extraordinary care to haue the seruice of the Câ—urch suppâ—â—ed as a Nursery of the holy Ministery Thence grew so many Colledges of Chanoins with such sufficient reuenues 81â— Thus Charles spent three yeares happily in the onely care of his soule leaâ—â—ing a goodly example to Princes to moderate their greatnesse with pietie their enioying of temporall goods with the hope of eternall and to thinke of their departure out of this life in time He makes his 〈◊〉 Thus foretelling his death wherevnto he prepared himselfe by this exercise he made his will leauing Lewis his sonne sole heyre of his great Kingdoms and bequeaths to the Church great treasures as more at large is conteined in his will set downe in the Hâ—story His Testament was the messenger of his death for soone after he fell sicke He dyes and continued so but eight dayes dying happily vnto the Lord in the yeare of grace 814. of his age the 71. and of his raigne the 47. including 15. yeares of his Empire He was interred at Aix La Chapelle where hee was borne and his memory honoured with a goodly Epitaph set downe in the History The true 〈…〉 and Hee was one of the greatest Princes that euer liued His vertue is the patterne of Princes his good hap the subiect of their wishes The greatnesse of his Monarchie is admirable for he quietly enioyed all France Germanie the greatest part of Hungaâ—ie all Italy and a part of Spaine But his vertues were greater then his Monarchie his clemencie wisdome and valour his learning yea in the holy Scripture his vigilancie His vices magnanimitie and singular force be the theater of his immortall praises And yet his vertues were not without some blemish as the greatest are not commonly without some notable vice for hee was giuen to women adding Concubins to his lawfull wiues by whom hee had bastards I haue noted elsewhere the number of his wiues and children Lewis the weakest of them all remained alone the sole heire of this great Monarchie of France the Romaine Empire but not of his noble vertues We are now come to the top of this great building we shall see it decline and therein note the admirable prouidence of God who amidest the confusion of this estate hath alwayes preserued the Maiestie of this Crowne LEWIS the gentle the 25 King 815. and Emperour of the West LODOWICKE I. KING OF FRANCE XXV AS the vertues of Charlemagne had raised this estate to an admirable greatnesse so the small valour or rather the vices of his posterity caused the declining and if God had not preuented had beene the ruine thereof His intent was onely to change the race vnworthy to raigne but not the realme the which hee hath preserued vnto this day by his prouidence in the bosome of one country and in it his Church for the which he maintaines both the estates where it remaines and the whole world which cannot subsist but in regard of it Thus the French Monarchie being come to the heigth of her greatnesse The declining of this race the lawe imposed vpon all humaine things would haue it decline that of
no other respect but for the reuerence of Religion and the zeale of publick peace This famous acte happened at Venice in the yeare 1171. in the presence of the Ambassador of the Kings and Princes of the greatest States of Europe that were Mediators of this Accord From Venice Frederick went into the East with a goodly Armie according to his promise And the dissention was well pacified by his humilitie but not altogether suppressed in Italy for it reuiued afterwards as wee shall see in the continuance of this Historie Thus the Christians liued whilest their enemies preuailed dayly in Asia to the great and shamefull losse of all Christendome Such was the estate of the Church and Empire vnder the raigne of Lewis the 7. 1179. Lewis caused his sonne Philip to bee sollemnly Crowned at Rheims at the age of foureteene yeares in the yeare of Grace 1179. Hee betrothed him to Isabel the Daughter of Baldwin Earle of Hainault and hauing thus disposed of his affaires hee dyed the yeare following 1180. An vnwise Prince and vnhappy with all his pollicies Lewis dyes leauing a Leuin of great miseries to his posteritie Doubtlesse the greatest pollicie is to bee an honest man This assured peace caused the Vniuersitie of Paris to flourish as farre as those obscure times would permit Gratian Peter Lombard and Comesior Complaints against the abuses of the Church learned men liued in that age The inexcusable confusion which raigned in the Church was a iust subiect of complaint to the good as appeares by the writings of Peter of Blois Ihon de Saraburck Bishop of Chartres and Bernard Abbot of Cisteaâ—x great and worthy men Their Bookes liue after their deaths wherein the wise Reader may see an ample and free Commentary of this Text the which the Historiâ— suffers me not to dilate of PHILIP the 2. called Augustus or Gods Gift the 42. King of France PHILIPPE .2 KING OF FRANCE XXXXII. THe title of Augustus giuen to Philip is worthy of his person and raigne who not onely preserued the French Monarchie An excellent King and an excellent raigne amidst so many sorts of enemies and difficulties but enlarged it with many Prouinces diuided to diuers proprietaries by Hugh Capet and vnited them to the Crowne for this cause hee was also called Conquerour His dispositioÌ„ The beginning of his raigne was a presage of happinesse for there appeared in his face a great shew of a good disposition inclined to pietie iustice and modestie being strong quick vigilant valiant and actiue Hee did consecrate the first fruites of his raigne to purge the corruptions which raigned among the people Blasphemies Playes Dicing houses publicke dissolutions in infamous places Tauernes and Tippling houses Hee made goodly lawes which our age reads and scornes doing the contrary with all impuniâ—ie but whilest he raigned they were duly obserued The Iewes were mightily dispersed throughout the Realme who besides their obstinate supeâ—stition vsed excessiue Vsurie and were supported for some great benefit by the Pope and oâ—her Princes and States where as they haue liberty at this day to liue after their owne manner Philip expelled them The Iewes banished out of France although they obtained a returne for money yet in the end they were banished out of all the territories of the French obedience and so continue vnto this day This was a small apprentiship and an entrance of much more happy paine the which hee should vndergoe both within and without the Realme in great and troublesome affaires as a famous subiect worthy of his valour England Flanders and Asia prouided varietie and change of worke to imploy his raigne the which continued fortie foure yeares but the change of his intricate marriages troubled him more then all his affaires 1190. as the progresse of our discourse will shew In the beginning there was emulation who should be neerest to gouerne him Philip Earle of Flanders and the Duke of Guienne were competitors The one as Vnckle to the young Queene Isabell his wife Competitors for the gouerment of the state and named by his Father Lewis The other as his neerest Kinsman and both the one and the other had great meanes to preuaile but Richard was the stronger as well by the Kings fauour as by the forces of England of whence he was an Inâ—ant and well beloued of Henry his brother who then raigned Behold the King is imbarked against the Earle of Flanders by the aduise of his Councell The subiect of their quarrell was for Vermandois which the Earle enioyed the King demanded it being no longer his by the decease of Alix dead without children and therefore must returne to the Crowne From wordes they go to armes Their troupes being in field and ready to fight a peace was made with this condition That Count Philip should enioy Vermandois Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois during his life and after his decease it should returne to the Crowne But this peace continued not long among these Princes The King could not loue his Wife Isabel It seemes this was the cheefe cause of the dislike the King had against the Earle of Flanders her Vncle. In the end hee put her away in the yeare 1188. from which time Philip loued Richard Duke of Guienne But this good agreement continued not long by reason of another coÌ„trouersie betwixt him and the English Marguâ—rite the Daughter of Lewis the 7. sister to Philip marryed to Henry of England as wee haue said dyed then without Children Philip doth presently redemand his Sisterâ— dowâ—ie Henâ—y sonne to Hâ—nâ—y the 1. King of England dyes before the father which was the Countrie of Vexin The King of England is loth to leaue the possession so as they fall to Armes and the mischiefe increased by this occasion Henry first sonne to old Henry dyed Richard Duke of Guienne his brother who might haue compounded this quarrell being called to the Crowne embraceth the action with all eagernesse And to crosse Philip by an important diuersion like to olde Henry auoides the blowe in Normandie and enters Languedoc by Guienne into the Countie of Tholâ—usa renuing the old quarrel he had against Count Raimond Philip being assailed in two places is nothing amased Hauing leuied an Armie with all celeritie Warre with England hee enters the English pale Where he sodenly takes Chasteaucaux Busaâ—cais Argenton Leuroux Montrichard Montsorâ—au Vandosme with other Townes and passing on hee batters and takes Mans and hauing waded through the Riuer of Loire he presents himselfe before Tours which yeelds at the terror of his forces Philip of Frâ—nce and Ricâ—ard of England make â— peace Old Henry amazed at the sodaine valour of this yong Prince faints and oppressed with grieâ—e dyes at Chinon in the yeare 1190. leauing his Realme to his Sonne Richard but noâ— his Malâ—ce For presently after his Coronation hee concludes a peace wiâ—h â—hilip vpon a cause very honourable to them both The
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
challengeth the right of first fruites which giues the first yeares reuenues of all benefices to the pope and so continues vnto this day But as he gathers together this money with a wonderfull greedinesse behold he fals from his moyle and bruseth himselfe Vrban dies miserablie The worke of heauen answerable to his insolent ambition who soaring too high makes him fall lowe dying when his hatred was greatest to ruine his enemies He languished 27. dayes in his death bed dying by degrees suffring the paines which he caused his poore Cardinalls to indure not able with his death to wipe out the immortall hate of his detestable life disgraced by al writers Thus Vrban the sixt the first guidon of Schisme died in the eleuenth yeare of his Popedome In whose place Peter Thomaâ—el named Boniface the 9. is chosen Pope successor to Vrbans couetousnesse Pope Boniface exceeding couetous as his life and death doth witnesse Niem obserues a memorable act Boniface lying at the point of death some one to comfort him saide that he should do well A brutish custome as if to speake of death to a sicke body were to pronounce the sentence of a Iudge to deliuer him into the executioners hands I should do well said he if I had money and yet he had full howses hauing then but ten howres to liue So he dyed the tenth yeare of his Popedom not lamented of any but that he liued too long and by his impudent couetousnes opened the gate to all impunity of sinne Innocent the 7. succeeded in the place of Boniface no more innocent then the former verifiyng the beauty of their names by the bounty of their liues A sworne enemy to the vnion of the Church causing two Romaine Cittizens to be put to death as seditious for that they mooued him therein as Platina doth obserue Pope Innocent an enâ—mie to the vnion of the Church Pope Gregory the 12. a cunning dissembler He continued but two yeares into his place Angelo Corrier a Venecian called Gregory the 12. was aduanced a subtill and dissembling man coldly ambitious and faintly holy hauing no piety but in shewe so as for his crooked manners he was called Erroriâ—s for Gregorius that is to say a Deceiuer drawing men into error with his goodly shewe All this was done at Rome by the Italians in the meane time what doe our Popes â—ea at Auignon Clement the 7. making profession of the same authority which the Pope did at Rome was no better then the other although the history notes not so many priuate acts of his excesse In generall he was cruell in the beginning couetous during all the time of his Popedome He was exceeding ambitious and wilfull vnder colour of modestie and humilility The estate of Auignon vnder their Popes Benet 13. an ambitious dissembler He suruiued him but two years After the death of Clement the 7. they create a new Pope to oppose against him at Rome which was Peter de la Lune a Spaniard bornâ— but hauing liued long at Montpellier to study the law A man of sound iudgment learned actiue patienâ— in shew but in effect very ambitious a dissembler giuen to his owne will and tyed to his profit free from cruelty wherof he is not taxed giuing free scope to couetousnesse So great was the impudency of Marchandize in the Church sayes Niem and Platina set to the view of all Christendome that the authority of the keyes and Apostolike learning was contemptible to the whole world Truely all diseases growe by degrees through surfeits taken vnaduisedly Disorders in the Church and bad humors which creepe insensibly into the body euen so in these miseries of the Church All was set to sale all sorts of benefices especially Cardinalls hats were for them that would giue most The reuenues impropriations and all things else were sold to him that offered most Sometimes one benefice was sold to many and all their money fell into good handes that had learned to receiue and not to restore againe The composition for all sorts of crimes whole Townes were sold by the authority of the Soueraigne pastor I write but a part of that which the Popes Secretaryes haue set downe at large and tremble to report the iudgment they make of these abhominable confusions To conclude all christendome tyred with these disorders commited by such as had the authority to order complained much to their Kings and princes who wishing a redresse exhorted the Popes of both seas Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. to leaue their priuate quarrells for the generall good of the Church Benedict makes great shewes to desire it That if he must needes yeeld he is ready to leaue the dignity wherwith the Church had honoured him yea his owne life these are his very wordes for the peace of Gods Church Gregory speakes more coldly yet hee promised the like but when it came to performance they were but shiftes delayes and other deuises to winne time and to retaine still their authority which neither of them would leaue In the ende at the great instance of Kings and Princes A counsell at Pisa to reforme the schisme of the Church the Colledges of Rome and Auignon agree to meet at Pisa to finde some meanes to determine of this reprochfull confusion Benedict yeelds but Gregory opposeth Notwithstanding his refusall all meet at Pisa. Thus all assembled whether the Emperour the Kings of France England Spaine Scotland Portugall Hongary Denmarke Sweden Pologne and Norway send their Ambassadors and the Churches of the east their deputies hauing debated the controuersie depending betwixt Gregorie and Benedict they depose them both Two Popes deposed Alexander the 5. chosen as nourishing a schisme in the Church and refusing to obey the Counsell whereas neither they noâ— their deputies had appeared In their place they choose Alexander the 5. a Candâ—ot held to be learned and veâ—tuous but he died within the first yeare of his Popedome So as the Colledge of Cardinalls retyring to Bologne created Iohn the 23. in his place But neither Gregory nor Benedict omitted any thing of their traine scorning the decree of the Councell So as for one Pope they had three Three Popes at one time the one at Rimini the other at Bologne and the third at Auignon and the last being worse then the first shall giue a reasonable good cause of further inquiry to Christian Princes in an other â—eason the which we will attend by order of the history and will returne into France to our Charles the 7. in the ioye of his Coronation which was to him and to all his subiects a happy fore-telling of the restoring of his Râ—alme but this excellent worke was not so soone ended We must now see by what degrees Charles recouered the possession of the Townes subdued by the English and how he expelled them out of this Realme The second parcell is set downe by vs in the front of this
army with a braue hardie resolutioÌ„ opened the passage by force but with great losse of hisforces the which fortified with newe troupes hee sends into high Misia and Selauonia chased Stephen King of Bossne out of Iaize the chiefe Citty dispossessed him of his Realme and in the end slewe him about the yeare 1463. A while after Matthias King of Hongarie recouered the sayd Citty and Realme ouerthrewe a great armie of Turkes spoiling the country of Sirme tooke many places in Croatia and Dalmatia and in the ende expelled Mahomet being come to beseege Iaize spoiled his campe and was master of all his baggage Scanderbeg expelled his country was retyred into Italy where shewing that the diuision of Christian Princes was the meanes to confirme the Turkes estate and that it was impossible to make him giue ouer this audacious and insatiable desire beeing at Lisse vpon the riuer of Drille hee was surprised with a feuer whereof hee died being threescore and three yeares old in the yeare 1467. Scanderbeg 〈◊〉 His vertues A Prince exceeding all men in valour of an wonderfull courage so as euen with vehemency his lippes did bleed at the beginning of euery charge Hee neuer refused battaile neuer turned his backe neuer was hurt but once lightly in the foote with an arrowe he neuer led aboue six thousand horse and three thousand foote and had slaine with his owne hand aboue two thousand barbarians striking with such force as he cut many in two peeces Mahumed being freed by the death of Scanderbeg vndertooke three warres at one instant Misithes of the race of the Paleologues had commission to go to Rhodes Acomath Bascha into Italy to conquer it with Rome and the Empire of the West and Mahumed himselfe goes into Asia Mesithes being often beaten was forced to returne with the remainders of his armie languishing and in pittifull estate Acomath lands in Calabria takes Otranto and so amazeth all Italie as the Pope neglecting all in regard of the safetie of his person resolues to leaue Rome Mahumed going into Asia died of the Collick neere vnto Nicomedia in the yeare 1471. A happy death for the Christians for Otranto besieged by the Italians aided by Matthias was yeelded by composition wiâ—h their liues and goods saued without attending fiue and twenty thousand Turkes which Acomath pursuing his victorie brought to their succours Thus Italie was deliâ—ered from imminent danger and the Pope assured we will now leaue the raigne of Baiazet second successor to Mahumed to continue our worke in the West CHARLES the eight the 56. King of France CHARLES 8 KING OF FRANCE .56 THis raigne will not hold vs long 1483. but after the Duke of Orleans league the motiue of fiue yeares warre in Brittanie ended A briefe rehearsall of Charles his raigne by the Kings marriage with Anne the eldest daughter to Francis Duke of Brittanie we shall be transported beyond the Alpes to take the possession which René King of Sicile and Charles Earle of Maine his brother had by their testaments left to Lewis the xi to the rights they pretended to the realme of Naples vpon the way wee shall see him entertained by Lewis Sforce in the Towne of Ast then hauing receiued the Forts of Florence with the Cittie of Pisa from Peter de Medicis he enters Rome notwithstanding the gainsaying of Pope Alexander hauing vsed therein the rights of a coÌ„querour he treats an accord with the said Pope receiues from him the title of Emperour of Constantinople with the institution of the realme of Naples and consequently causeth himselfe to bee crowned King of Sicile And to augment his honour hee makes his passage maugre the forces of all the Princes and Potentates of Italie at Fournoue and laden with glorie and spoiles returnes triumphantly to seeke some rest in France after his wearie toyles But alas when as in the greene and vigorous season of his life he shall meditate of a second voiage for the recouerie of his realme of Naples as easily lost as wonne and when as the Easterne partes liued in hope to haue the Christian church restoted by him oppressed now vnder the Turkish Traine Death vniust and vnseasonable according to man shal with himselfe cut off al his goodly desseins the which he had laid in the beginning of his florishing youth to carry him to the fruition of a better rest The iudicious reader may iudge if we haue reaped more honour profit in the getting then shame hurt in the losse of so many Estates lying farre from vs. Charles came to the Crowne at the age of 13. yeares Charles his disposition and education delicate weake sickly in his youth mild gratious deuout but wilful in his humors Lewis had bred him vp at Amboise attended on by few seruants not visited by any without any instruction but bare reading not willing to helpe nature by art Yet the weaknes thereof hath often times more need of a prop to support it a spurre to pricke it forward then of a bitt to restraine it Did he feare that learning should imparre his health or corrupt the good seeds which nature hap planted in his mind He was content that according to his fathers humour his sonne should learne this only senteÌ„ce in Latin He that cannot dissemble cannot rule But he did him wrong for he was inclined to the reading of French books he came no sooner to the crowne but they found in him a desire of knowledge which made him to haue a taste in the Latin tongue But as the aptest of his age was slipt away without profit so did hee salute the Muses but a farre off weake of bodie but of a good wit capable of counsell succeptible of the helpes requisite for the gouernment of a firme solide State His minoritie was the cause of a quarrell The Duke of Oâ—leans and Earle of Beauieu contend for the Regencie betwixt the Duke of Orleans a young Prince and neerest to the Crowne and the Earle of Beauieu for the Regencie which caused his Coronation to be differred vntill the next yeere after the which an assembly of States should determine of the administration of the King Realme The Princes of the bloud attending this sollemnitie hauing bin so often wronged by Oliuer le Daim Daniel his seruant Doyac who had wholy gouerned the deceased King did without the Kings priuitie whose young yeares witheld him from gouernmeÌ„t informed of their insolencies proud carriage vniust murthers thefts extortions other crimes which they had committed vnder â—he authoritie of Lewis the xi and by a decree of the Court make Daniel forfaite both bodie and goods and his master likewise some few dayes after Doyac whipped at the corner of euery street Oliuer and 〈◊〉 hâ—â—ged lost one of his eares vpon the pillerie at the Halles of Paris then hauing his tongue pearced with a whot iron he was conueied to Mont-Ferrant in Auuergne where he was borne
with ease pleasure and good cheere and let vs make an escape into the East to see how he had sped there if the Pope had as well vnited the Potentates of Italie 1459. to ioyne their common forces with our Charles as he now stirres them vp to crosse his new conquests Mahumet the 2. left two sonnes Baiazet the 2. of that name Zemin they name him diuersly Zemin Zizim Gemin Geme both resident in their gouernments when the father died Baiazet in Capadocia Zemin in Licaonia Their absence sets the Baschaes and Captaines of the Ianisaries at discord about the succession so as they fell from words to armes Herevpon the Ianisaries proclaime Baiazet Emperour being absent Isaac and Mesithes chiefe Captaines of the Turkish armie being then at Constantinople set Corchut the sonne of Baiazet in the throne of his ancestors they deliuer him the fortes and treasure that vnder colour of his nonage they might manage the affaires of the Empirâ— at their pleasure Baiazet posts thether and by great bribes doth pacific and winne the hearts of the Ianisaries and of their Captaines incensed against him through the malice of some Noblemen So Corchut being yet very yong yeelded him the Crowne willingly Zemin on the other side was called by his friends and partisans holding him to be a man of greater courage and more execution then his brother being more fit for his booke wherevnto he was more addicted then vnto armes Pyramet Caraman King of Cilicia Zemin thrise vanquished by his brother Baiazet and Caithbey Sultan of Egipt incite him to warre against his brother But he was vanquished in three battailes by Achamot Bascha and dispairing fled to the greaâ— Maister of Rhodes leauing his mother and two twins a sonne and a daughter in Carras whom Baiazet caused to be murthered Many Princes of Europe demanded Zemin as Lewis the eleuenth King of France and Matthias King of Hongarie hoping by his meanes to ruine Baiazet but this was a good pigeon in the Popes Doue-house Innocent they eyght would haue him hoping that Baiazet his brother would giue some notable summe of money to redeeme him or else to keepe him from any other that might vse him as an instrument to crosse his new Empire Alexander successor vnto Innocent a monstrous man in life monstrous in his election and monstrous in his death I haue horror to reade and more to report what writers doe testifie intreating the curious reader to see them rather in the Originalles themselues being forced to deliuer him to Charles the eyght Pope Alexander poâ—â—ons Zemin and â—o disapointed of his yearely pension of forty thousand Ducats which he receiued for the gard of him corrupted by the money of Baiazet he caused him to bee poisoned eyther greeued for the losse of his pension or enuying the glory of Charles or else fearing least if things should succeed happily for him against the Infidels hee should turne his thoughts and forces to reforme the abuses and corruptions which had long before crept into the Church A while after the flight of Zemin Baiazet caused Acomath to be strangled for that growne proud and fierce The Turke twise ouercome by the Sultan by reason of his wealth hee practised to ruine Baiazet and to transport the Empire to Zemin A happy death for the Christians of whom Acomath was an vniust and cruell oppressor Baiazet freed by the death of these two men he turned his forces against the Christians and subdued Valachia Then hee vanquished Caraman reducing his Principality into the forme of a Prouince After that hee marched with his army into Asia against the Sultan Caithbei who had succoured his Brother Zemin with Counsell men victualls and money The Sultan defeated the Turke in two great battailes the one was giuen neere to Adene in Cilicia the other neere to Tarsis in the which he tooke both the Commanders of the Turkish aâ—my prisoners Mesâ—thes Paleologue and Achomar Cherseogle sonne in lawe to Baiazet and slew about threescore and ten thousand Turkes This check made Baiazet to change his clymate and leauing Asia to passe into Europe where his aduersaries were not so strong He tooke Durazzo neere to Valone and wonne a great battaile vnder the command of Cadi-Bascha against the Sâ—lauonians Hongarians and Croatians who were ouerthowen in the large plaines of Croatia neere to Saue about the yeare 1493. But Iohn Castriot sonne to that 〈…〉 â—canderbeg recouered that which Baiazet had vsurped 1495. forcing him to accept of sâ—ch conditions as he propounded Moreouer Cerf-Vichin defeated him in battaile in Croâ—tia and expelled him the Country 〈…〉 those nations which lie betwixt Valonne and Constantinople being from the one tâ— the other about eighteene dayes iourney languished vnder the burthen of the 〈…〉 â—nie Albanois Sclauonians Greâ—s hoping for their deliuery by the meanes 〈◊〉 Charlâ—s But what could he do seeing those that should second the resolution oâ— thiâ— young Prince were the first to ouerthrowe his desseins by their secret practiseâ— Charles notwiâ—hstanding the death of Zemin sent the Archbishop of Durazzo into Grece an Albanois by birth hauing an enterprise vpon Sâ—utari with Constantin a Greeke afterwards gouernor of Montferrat who had intelligence within the Towne the Venetians haue no sooner knowledge of the death of Zemin but to gratifie Baiazet they â—ill haue the honor to giue him the first aduice for the effecting whereof they coÌ„mand that no ship should passe by night betwixt the two Castells which are at the entry of the gulfe of Venise This was the same night when as the Archebishop should depaâ—t with many swords bucklers and iauelins to arme those with whome hee had intelligence But he is taken shut vp in one of those Castells his instructioÌ„s are viewed wheâ—by the Venetians informed of the fact send to aduertise the Turkes in the places adioyniâ—g In truth our French had not yet learned to know him who guides our hands to â—â—ght our fingars to the battaile AtteÌ„ding a strange sodaine Catastrophe they must plaâ—t the bounds of their victory in the Realme of Naples Let vs now see the issue of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rney We haue left King Charles at Naples seeking his delights The Venetians discouer an enterprise against Scutari to the Turkes and his people hunting after proffit neglecting to expell the Arragonois out of those fewe places which held yet for them In the meane time the peoples loue and fauour who loue not the stranger but in their neede decreased The King had in his bounty freed the Realme of aboue two hundred thousand ducats by yeare yet matters were not managed with that order and iudgement that was requisite he heard not the petitions and complaints of suters but left the charge therof to such as ruled him whose incapacity and couetousnesse confounded all Causes of discontent in the Realme of Naples The Nobility were not regarded their seruices were not recompenced they had no accesse to the
a Germaine but aboue all Gonsalue grieued for Dom Hugues of Cardone and Roderike Maurice slaine with a Cannon shot There small good haps were crossed by the taking of the fort of Euandre Aquâ—â—e and al other places of Abruzze the which drewe all Calabria to the Spanish obedience The King in the meane time sent seuen thousand foote The Kings new army for Naples and eight hundred men at armes commanded with the Title of Generall by the Lord of Tremouille who then by common consent was held one of the chief for martiall affaires but surprised by sicknes at Parma he gaue the charge therof to Francis of Gonzague Marquis of Mantoâ—a and eight thousand Suisses to the which the Florentines did adde 2. hundred Lance â—â—e Duke of Ferrare the Bolognois and Gonzague a hundred men at armes and the Siennois a hundred more the which being ioyned with those troupes that were in Caâ—ete made about the number of a thousand eight hundred lances French and Italian and aboue eighteene thousand foote besides the army at sea wherein were great forces For the passage of this army by land the King desired to bee satisfied of the Popes intention and of the Valentinois for the Pope who made an ordinary trafficke of other mens losse and calamity signified that as a common father aâ—d hee to both parties he would remaine a newter suffering either of them to leaâ—y troupes indifferently in the territories of the Church he granted free passage to the said armie And the Valentinois offered the king to ioine vnto his army 500. men at armes and two thousand foote but some letters intercepted from the Valentinois to Gonsalue discouered the very botome of his thoughts capitulating that Gonsalue hauing taken Caiete and consequently all the realme of Naples the Valentinois should seize vpon Pisa and then ioyning their forces they should inuade Tuscane But as the Pope and his Borgia would serue two maisters The estate of the Church and the King pressing them vehemently to declare their mindes plainly behold a strange Catastrophe of the Popes Tragedy The Pope and Borgia had before time poysoned the Cardinalls of Saint Angelo of Capoua of Modena Vrsin and many other rich personages whome commonly by their death they disrobed of their goods They had likewise sworne the death of Adrian Cardinall of Cornete They were to suppe coolely in an arbour in a garden belonging vnto Adrian for the effecting of their desseing the Valentinois had sent before some flagons of poysoned wine whereof hee gaue the charge to a grome that was ignorant of the busiâ—es with expresse commandement that no man should touch them It chanced that the Pope comming before the cloath was layed distempered with heate and thirst called for wine The taster thinking this flagon had beene especially recommended for the Popes owne mouth and his sonnes filled of this wine to the Pope And as he was drinking the Duke of Valentinois comes to whome beeing desirous to drinke they gaue of the same flagon Thus Pope Alexander the 6. died the next day the 18. of August whose immoderate ambition The death of Pope Alexander His disposition vnrestrained arrogancie detestable treachery horrible crueltie vnmeasurable couetousnesse selling both holy and profane things had infected all the world verifying in his person That the wicked man labours to bring forth outrage but he shall bring forth that which shall deceiue him hee hath made a pit and is fallen into it And The eternall God searcheth out murthers and remembers them The Valentinois through the vigor of his youth and speedie counter poysons beeing put into the belly of a moyle newly killed prolonged his dayes to feale many deathes in his soule not dying so soone He had often foreseene al accidents that might happeÌ„ vnto him by the death of his father prouided remedies for theÌ„ all but he reckoned without his host not supposing to see his father dead himself at the same instant in extreame danger of death And whereas hee did alwayes presume after his fathers decease partly by the feare of his forces partly with the fauour of the Spanish Cardinalls which were eleuen to cause a Pope to be chosen at his pleasure hee is nowe forced to apply his Counsells to the present necessity And imagyning that he should hardly at one instant withstand the hatred of the Colonnois and Vrsins if they were ioyntly handed against him he resolued to trust them rather whom he had onely wronged in their estates So restoring to them their lands and possessions hee presently reconciles himselfe with the Colonnois and others of their faction who by the comming of Prosper Colonne to Rome had already fiâ—led all the Câ—tty with iealousies and tumults some fearing least this reconcilâ—ation should drawe the Valentinois to the Spanish party others apprehending the comming of the French army Moreouer the Vrsins assembled all their partisans and thirsting after the Valentinois bloud sought to reuenge the outrages which all their famimely had sustayned So as in hatred of the deceased Pope and his sonne they burne all the shoppes and houses of some Spanish marchants and courtiars at Mont-Iordan All the other Parons in the dominions of the Church by their meanes returne to their lands and goods The Vitelli returne to Citta of Castello Iohn Paul Baillon chased from before Perouâ—e at the first seege returnes and by a furious assault takes it The Towne of Plâ—mbin receiues her first Lord. The Duke of Vrbin the Lords of Pesere Camerin and Siâ—igalle are reestablished in their possessions The Venetians assemble many men at Rauenne and giue cause of suspect to inuade Romagnia which onely remayned vnder the Valentinois command desyring rather to serue one onely a mighty Lord then to haue a particular Lord in euery Towne Notwithstanding all these disgraces yet both the French and the Spaniard made great instance to entertayne him or to winne him to their party the French for that he might beeing armed crosse their passage into Italie if hee discouered himselfe in fauour of the Spaniard and molest them in the estate of Naples the Spaniard for that they desired to make vse of his forces and to get by his meanes the suffrages of the Spanish Cardinalls for the election of a future Pope But the French armie approched Rome and the King might hurt or helpe him more then the Spaniard both within Rome and in his other Estates He therefore passed this accord the first of September the Cardinall of Saint Seuerin and the Lord of Trans Ambassador vndertaking for the King To aide the King with his forces in the warre of Naples and in any other enterprise against all men except the Church And the sayd Agents bound his maiesty as well to protect the person of the Valentinois as all the estates which he possessed and to aide him to recouer those which he had lost The Cardinall of Amboise vp on the first newes of Alexanders death postes thether
But he knew morâ—ouer that being diuided from his maiesty his Councells could not succeed happily in the ende they treaâ— a new amity league togither and to make the king the better aâ—â—ected he giues a Cardâ—â—â—ls hat The Pope and King are reconciled to eyther of the forenamed Bishops and power vnto the King to dispose of all benefices wiâ—â—in the Duchy of Milan The more the King confirmed himselfe in the Popes alliance the more he loaâ—hed that of Maximilian and of Philip his sonne the passage which hee pretended into Italie with a mighty army to receiue his imperiall Crowne and to cause â—is sonne to bee chosen King of the Romans being greatly suspect vnto the King anâ— tâ—e greatnesse of Philip who by capitulation had sent his Father in-law Ferdinand back into Arragon hauing already so apparently estranged the Kings loue from him as he gaue Clâ—ude his daughter in marriage to Francis Earle of Angoulesme the next heyre to this Croâ—ne after the Kings discease without heyres males at the sute suppâ—ication of all the Parliaments of his Realme The which serued for an excuse to Philip. And the more to dâ—uert Maximilians passage into Italy the King sent men to succour the Duke of â—uâ—â—dres a great enimy to Philips prosperity and to molest his Prouinces of the Lovv-â—â—â—nâ—râ—es in his absence As these things passed the Pope burniâ—g with desire The Kinâ— seekes bâ— alâ— meaneâ— to 〈…〉 sonne 〈◊〉 to restore vnto the obedience of the Church all such placeâ— as had beene taken away intreâ—ted the King according to their agreement to ayde him in the recouery of Perouâ—e and Bologne This request was very pleasing vnto the King it was a meanes to tye the Pope whom they had in some â—ealousie in Court to haue beene prâ—uy to some practâ—se which Octauian Fregose had made to dispossesse the King of the Seâ—gneury of Genes Moreouer Bentiuole Lord of Bologne seemed more affâ—cted to Maximilian then to him and Iohn Paul Baillon the vsurper of Perouze was in diâ—grace with the King hauing refused to ioyne with his army when it was vpon the Garillan Notwithstanding the protestation which the Venetians made vnto the Kâ—ng The Popes expâ—oâ—â—s To take armes for the defence of Bologne if the Pope did not first make theÌ„ grant of the rights of Faenze belonging to the Church did somewhat diuert â—im referring the execution to another time Yet the Pope being vehement and pereÌ„â—tory by nature goes out ofâ— Rome with fiue hundred men at armes and giues notice of his comming to the Boloâ—nois commanding them to prepare to receiue him and to logde 500. French Lâ—nces in their country whereof he had yet no assurance Then Baillon fearing his comming goes to meete the pope and deliuers him the forts of Perouze and Perousin In the end by the perswasion of the Cardinal of Amboise the King commanded Charles of Amboise Lord of Chaumont 1506. to assist the Pope in person with fiue hundred Lances and three thousand foote amongst the which were Gâ—ston of Foix the Kings nephew and Duke of Nemours Peter of Foix Lord of Lautrâ—c his cousin the Lord of Palisse and others Bentiuole and his children amazed at this sodaâ—ne aâ—riuall Bentiuol compounds with the Pope anâ— deliuers vp Bologne beseech Chaumont to be a mediator and to procure them some tollerable conditions who dealing with the Pope obteined leaue to depart safelie out of Bologne to remaine in what part he pleased of the Duchie of Milan to sell and carry away all their mouables and to enioy the reuenues they possessed by any iust title without any molestation Thus Bologne returned to the obedience of the Church and the Pope hauing giuen the Duke of Nemours a sword inriched with precious stones amongst the which there was one Diamond of inestimable value eight thousand Ducats to Chaumont and ten thousand for his men he conuerted all his thoughts to annoy the Venetians The death of Philip Archduke of Austria At this time dyed Philip the Archduke of a Feuer within few dayes in the Cittie of Bourges young of yeares strong and healthfull of body leauing an heire the fatall scourge of the French Monarchie who within few yeares sâ—all mount vpon the Theater of our Historie to acte many and diuers tragicall parts And the Duke of Valentinois to finish the last acte of his Tragedie hauing slipt downe with a corde from the forte of Medina de'l Campo and sought for refuge with Iohn of Albret King of Nauarre The Duke of Valentinois slaine brother to his wife was in the end slaine before Viane fighting for his brother in law Too honorable a death for such a tyrant Chaumont was no sooner returned but there sprung vp a new occasion to imploy his â—orces Rebellion at Genes the Genouois taking occasion not of any desire they had to rebell but onely of ciuill discords betwixt the people and the Nobles the which do often transport men beyond their fiâ—st resolutions did sacke the Noblemens houses and did tumultuouslie create a new Magistracy of eight popular men whom to authorise them the more they named Tribunes of the people they sâ—ized by force on Spetie and some other Townes lying vpon the Easterne riuer The Lord of Rauastein being absent flies speedily to Genes with a hundred and fiftie horse and sâ—uen hundred foote The King had sent vnto thâ—m Michel Riccio a Doctor banished from Naples to perswade them to seeke rather the mildnesse of his mercie then to trye the rigour of his forces But a mutinous peopâ—e is like vnto a wilde horse which runnes furiously vntill some downefall stay him â—or in steed of giuing care to his counsell they go to besiege Monaco lying vpon the sea in a commodious place and of great importance for the Câ—ttie of Genes they create Paul de Noue a Dier of Silke Duke of Gâ—â—â—s beate downe the Kings armes and set vp Maximilians they take Castellat a Castell built abâ—ue Genes in the mountaine and â—gainst their faith cut the French mens throates that were in Garrison So the King imputing that to the Genouois as a rebellion which they had done by ciuill discord marched himselfe in person followed by eyght hundred Lances eighteene hundred light horse twelue thousand foote and an armie at sea consisting of eight Gallies The King goes with his armie against the â—ebels at Genes eight Galleons and many Foâ—sts and Brigantins he raiseâ—h the siege at Monaco takes the Bastion which they had built in the top of the mountaine forceth the Genouois to yeeld to his mercy disarmes theiâ— the 29. day of Aprill enters into Genoua â—n câ—mpleat aâ—mour with his sword in his hand vnder a Canopie accompanied with all his companies of men at aâ—mes and Archers of his garde who at the pittifull crye of the people demanding mercy of his Maiestie he grants them pardon paying a hundred thousand Ducats in ready money and two hundred
from them that it should be easie for the Emperour assisted with the armes of Arragou and Naples The Emperoâ—r affects to be Pope to make himselfe Pope the which he had alwaies desired since the death of his wife being installed in S. Peters chaire he should renounce the Imperial Crowne in fauour of the said Archduke Moreouer the bad affection of the irreconciliable Suisses was apparent The flight of the hostages had newly incensed them who threatned Bourgogne or Daulphinè The Pope desired greatly the whole extirpation of the Counsell of Pisa especially for matters decreed either by the authoritie of the sayd Councell or against the Popes authoritie the which not reuoked must needs breed great confusions Yet could he not obteine this abolition before the King did ratifie it Three Cardinals were therefore appointed to redresse these disorders But the greatest difficultie was about the abolition of Ceâ—sures which the King said they had incurred thinking it a thing vnworthie of the Apostolike sea to graunt if the King did not demand it the which his Maiestie would not yeeld vnto whereby both his person and his realme had beene taxed of schisme In the end the King ouerruled by the earnest sute both of the Queene and his subiects wearied with so many crosses resolues to yeeld to the Popes will hoping heâ—eafter by this meanes to find him fauorable And therefore at the eight session of the Councell of Lateran which was in the end of the yeare the Kings agents in his name and by his command renounced the pettie Councell of Pisa adheâ—ing to the Councell of Lateran and so obteined full reâ—iâ—sion of all things committed against the Romaine Church Amidst so many forraine vexations which infiâ—itely troubled the Kings mind there chanceth a home-bred affliction The death of Queene Anie the death of the Qâ—eene his wife A Princesse indued with most verâ—ues incident to an honorable Ladie and for this cause greatly lamented of the whole realme This death was the accomplishmeÌ„t of the marriage betwixt Francis Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesnie and Claude the Kings eldest daughter the the which had bin deferred till then for that the Qâ—eene loued not Lowise of Sâ—uoâ—e mother to the said Francis affected more to haue Charles of Austria afterwards Emperour for her sonne in law The Realme being reduced to the obedience of the Church of Rome the Pope to whome the Kings greatnesse was commonly fearefull begins now to feare least his power should bee too much suppressed and that the enemies of France should hereafter ioine their forces to the preiudice of the Romain Court. To balance â—hing in such sort as he might subsist in the middest and that the meanes which ayded â—â—e of his intentions should not hurt an other considering that the irreconciliable hatred of the Suisses might force the King to resigne his rights of the Duchie of Milan to the Emperour and Catholike King in regard of the marriage which they pretended a very preiudiciall thing to the common libertie of Italie and holding it also dangerous to haue the King to recouer it hee perswaded the Suisses that their extreame hatred might force the King to take a course no lesse hurtfull to the libertie of their common weale considering the little loue with Maximilian and Ferdinand did beare them then to the Church and all Italie Moreouer to make the Kâ—gs descent into Italie more difficult at all euents 1514 he labours an accord betwixt the Emperour and the Senate of Venice who being resolute either to haue a firme peace concluded or open warre would by no meanes giue care to any truce for that had beene to settle the Emperours affaires and busines in those Townes which hee inioyed The Popes perswasions were fruitlesse with the Suisses the Emperour and Venetians made him Iudge of their controuersies but without decision for either partie hee onely commands them to surcease from armes vntill the pronunciation of his sentence The Catholike King could not more firmely assure the realme of Nauarre then by a peace Our Lewis he proloÌ„g the truce for a yeare adding to the former articles one that was secret That during the truce the King might not molest the estate of Milan That which the Pope could not get of the Suisses hee obteyned of the King of England Henry discontent that his father in law had againe deceiued him by the prolongation of a truce without his consent grew daily more vnwilling to make warre in France The Pope desiring by some kindnesse to win the Kings loue and fearing daily that Lewis oppressed with enemies would allie himselfe both by a peace and consanguinitie with Maximilian and Ferdinand he sent the Cardinall of Yorke to perswade his King That remembring what correspondencie of faith he had found in the Emperour the Catholike King and the Suisses and contenting himselfe with his happie passage and returne hee should ceasse any more to afflict France with his forces The Cardinall finding Henry disposed to peace whome the Duke of Longueuille a prisoner taken in the warre had alreadie moued and Lewis desiring it with all hâ—s heart hauing sent the Generall of Normandie but more vnder colour to treat of the deliuerie of the Duke of Longueuille and his companions in prison they made an agreement betwixt the two Kings in the beginning of August for their liues and a peace after their death vppon condition A peace with the English That the King of England should enioy Tournay and the King of France should pay him sixe hundred thousand Crownes That they should bee bound to defend the estats one of another with tenne thousand foote if the warre were by land and sixe thousand if it were by sea That the King of France should furnish the King of England with twelue hundred Launces at need and the King of England with tenne thousand foote but at his charge that should haue neede This peace was confirmed by the marriage of Lewis with Mary sister to Henry Lewis King of France marries Mary of England But the Pope was not perswaded so great a hatred might so sodainly bee conuerted into amitie and alliance For as hee had made the first motion so did hee expect to bee made acquainted with the conclusion wherein hee made accoumpt to reserue this clause That the King should not inuade the Duchie of Milan for a time The Emperour and Catholike King were exceeding iealous yet the last assured hiâ— selfe to receiue two contents The one that the Archduke his grandchild â—as out of hope to giue his sister in marriage to Lewis The other that Lewis beiâ—g in possibilitie to haue heires males the succession of Francis Earle of Angoâ—lâ—sme should remaine doubtfull whome hee hated exceedingly seing him greatly inclyned to restore the Realme of Nauarre to the ancient estate The Suisses reioyced not for any affection they beare vnto the King but foreseeing that Lewis hauing truce with the Arragonois and peace with the
oâ— Itaâ—ie sent vnto him some to reconcile themselues others to reioyce this victory Tâ—e Pope did not forget hiâ— ordinary practises to stay the course of the Kings victory and finding the King very obedient to the Sea of Rome they concluded a mutuall league for the defence of the Estates of Italy of the Pope the Church of Iulian and Laurence de Medicis and the Estate of Florence By this accord the King gaue the Dâ—chy of Nemours to Iulian who had married a sister to the Kiâ—gs mother· which Duchy after the death of Iulian the King did giue to Philip of Sauoy who tooke to wife one of the daughters of René Duke of Alanson to whome the Duke of Nemours now lyuing in Grand-child And the Pope deliuered Parma and Plaisance to the King These Articles were confirmed by an enterviewe betwixt the Pope and the King at Bologne in the beginning of December where they treated of manye things touching the Realme of Naples which the King resolued to inuade for the recouery wâ—ereof the Pope promised him his fauour after the death of Ferdinand which euery man thought to be neere or at the least when as the truce were ended He promised alsâ— tâ— giue him power to leauy the tenth part of the reuenues of the Clergie within hiâ— Realme and the collation of benefices the which before belonged vnto the Colleâ—â— and Chapters of Churches and for the Kings sake he made Adrian of Goufieres brother to the Lord Steward Cardinall And the King to gratifie the Pope granted aâ— abolition of the Pragmaticall Sanction making new conuentions in steed thereâ—â— whereunto the French Church and the Vniuersities opposed The Venetians sent foure Ambassadors to the King the chiefe and most honorable persons of their Senate Anthony Grimani Dominic Treuisan George Cornare and Andrew Gritti to congratâ—late his victory and to beseech him to make them partakers of the fruits thereof that by his ayde they might recouer their townes according to their agreement At their request the King gaue commission to the Bastard of Sauoy and to Thâ—odore Triuulce to ioyne with Aluiane with six hundred lances and six thousand foot led bâ— Peter of Nauarre Then leauing the Duke of Bourbon his Lieutenant generall in the Duchy of Milan he returned into France abouâ— Candlemas whether the desseines of Henry King of England did call him Henry discontent that the King had taken the yong King of Scotland into his protection and to that end had sent Iohn Steward Duke of Albania both to gouerne his person and his Realme which Iohn had punished eyther with death or banishment all such as he found to sauour the English and euen the mother of the yong King sister to the sayd Henry for reuenge whereof he thrust the Suisses to new attempts against the king Bâ—t returning to their first sincerity they ioyne in league with this Crowne binding theâ—â—eâ—ueâ— To giue vnto the King for euer in Italy or out of Italy and against all men except the Pope the Emperour such numbers of men as he should require vnder his pay The King did also coâ—firme their ancient pensions promising to pay within a certain time the summe due by the treatie of Dijon and three hundred thousand crownes more yeelding vnto him the townes and vallies which they held belonging to the Duchy of Mâ—â—an but the fiue Cantons which did enioy them hauing refused to ratifie this accord the King began to pay vnto the other eight that part and portioÌ„ of money which was â—ue vnto them who accepted thereof but with an expresâ—e condition That they sâ—ould not be bound to march vnder his pay against the other fiue Cantons A meanes to draâ— the others to the alliance of France Man hath alwaies his mind bent to seeke meanes to anâ—oye his neighbour A new league against the King The 〈◊〉 prosperity makes the Emperour with the kings of England and Arragon to 〈…〉 to crosse him The Emperour alwaies desiâ—ous of innouatiâ—ns could not 〈…〉 owne forces hold the townes he had taken from the Venetians and the English reâ—embring the fruitlesse promises which Ferdinand his father in law had made â—im the which he respected not where he might gaine stood â—aueâ—ng betwixt the disâ—â—â—st he had of his father-in law and the hatred he bare to our Francis but this treaty is soâ—â—â—nly brâ—keÌ„ by the death of Ferdinand who died in the moneth of Ianuary Ferdinand dies A prince eâ—â—elling in counsell many vertueâ— so as if the promises had bin accompanied with 〈◊〉 eâ—fects he might well haue bin numbred amongst the most perfect Tâ—â—s death seemed to make the Kings enterprise vpon Naples moâ—e easie purposiâ—â— to send the Dâ—ke of Bourbon for the execution thereof Many reasons moued him therâ—vnto There was some reuolt in the Realme after the decease of Ferdinand The Archâ—â—ke Charles was young and could not come in time to succâ—â—r it the Popes 〈…〉 aâ—de hiâ— much yet the king trusted to him who deceiued him in the 〈…〉 the â—orld but aboue al the priuate interest of this Croâ—ne to whome the 〈◊〉 of Charles heâ—re to so many realmes by the death of the Catholike king and 〈…〉 of the Empireâ— should bee wonderfully suspect But the desâ—eâ—nes of 〈◊〉 â—â—ancis are crossed by tâ—e Emperours landing with ten thousand Germaines and 〈◊〉 â—oureteene thâ—usand Suisses and fiue thousand horse The Empâ—rours voyagâ— into Lombardy to succour 〈◊〉 ioynâ—ly beâ—eeged by the French and Venetians which made them retire to Milan to the Duke of Bourbon 1516. So Maximilian passing the riuers of Mincie Oglie and Adde without any let had all the countrie betwixt Oglie Po and Adde at his command except Cremona and Creme the one kept by the French the other by the Venetians Then hauing taken Laude by composition he sends to summon the Milanois with threats That if within three dayes they did not expell the French armie hee would intreate them more rigorouslie then Frederick Barbarosse one of his predecessors had done who not content to haue burnt Milan vnto Ashes did sowe Salt there in memorie of his wrath and of their rebellion The inhabitants began to rise and our men grew amazed when as Albert Peter leading thirteene thousand Suisses and Grisons arriuing confirmes them he made them to change their resolution to burne their suburbes and to resolue vpon defence The Cardinall of Sion and many others banished from Milan followed the Emperour feeding him with hope that at the first brute of his approch the Cittizens would set vp his Ensignes Marc Anthonie Colonne likewise followed his armie with two hundred men at armes at the Popes charge a manifest signe of his Councels and dissemblings But Maximilian seeing no shew from the Towne the chiefe of the Gibelin faction being expelled by the Constable of Bourbon as adherent to the Emperour remembring the treacherie of the Suisses to Lodowick Sforce and fearing least through the ancient hatred of that nation to the
her Vncle who in the end of their parlee at the Kings request creaâ—ed foure Cardinals the Cardinall of Veneur Bishop of Lisieux and chiefe Almnâ—◠〈◊〉 King one borne of those three notable houses Chastillon Chambre and 〈◊〉 This done the Pope imbarked for Rome the 20. of Nouember and the King to 〈…〉 way to Auignon Here the King resolued in his priuie Counsell vpon a request made vnto him as well by Christopher sonne to the Duke of Wirtemberg both in â—is owne name and 〈◊〉 fathers spoiled of their estates seuenteene yeares since by the Emperour Charlâ—s aâ—d Ferdinand his brother as also by Lewis and William Dukes of Bauiere his Vncleâ— The mother of Christopher was Daughter of a sister to Maximilian Grand-fâ—ther to the sayd Emperour and King of Romaines and the consummation of the marrâ—â—ge of Eleonor their sister with his Maiestie gaue the Father and the sonne hope that tâ—e King in fauour of this alliance interposing his authoritie for them that were pâ—â—led should eyther procure restitution of Ferdinand for these Dukes or refusing Iustâ—ce to purchase him the hatred of all Germanie which in the end might by open foâ—ce dâ—sposesse him of the Duchie of Wirtemberg and of the name of King of the Romaines The King did greatly desire to see these Dukes restored to their estates and to that end would willingly haue opened his purse to weaken the Emperours and 〈◊〉 bâ—others forces and by the same meanes to confirme the amities which he had pâ—rchâ—sed in Germanie and to procure new requiting the Emperour who â—ought by aâ—l meanes to take from the King his ancient alliances But hee sought to 〈…〉 protection of these afflicted Princes in such sort as no man might iustly châ—â—â—eâ—ge him to haue broken the treatie of Cambray Hee therefore sent the Lord of 〈◊〉 with commission to do â—or these Dukes whatsoeuer were in his power not 〈◊〉 contradicting the conuentions and to conclude the consignation of a hundred 〈◊〉 Crownes into the hands of the Dukes of Bauiere with a sufficient bâ—â—d to his Maiestie reseruing notwithstanding this clause That his money should not be 〈◊〉 to the inuasion of any one but onely for the defence of the ancient customes and 〈…〉 the Empire The publike and priuate perswasions of Langey were of such efficacie as that ancient and great League of Sueue which had continued three score and ten yeares to the benefit of the house of Austria was disanulled But for that the â—eintegration of these Dukes could not bee made but by armes they couered iâ—â—ith this expedient That the Duke of Wirtemberg should sell the Countie of Montbeliard whereof he was Lord vnto the King for six score thousand Crownes vpon condition that he might redeeme it which money he might imploy to his vse either in peace or war without any â—reach on the Kings part to the articles of Cambray So the Landgraue of Hessen chiefe of this present League and the Dukes of Bauiere and Wirtemberg with their allies went sodenly to field with an armie before the Emperor or his brother could crosse their attempts restoring them that were spoiled to the possession of their Duchie and soone after 1534. they repayed the Kings money within thirtie or fortie thousand Crownes for the which the Dukes of Bauiere were answerable and the Countie of Montbelliard was restored vnto them Let vs now see what catastrophe the Popes rashe censure giuen against Henry King of Eâ—gland shall cause Henry was wonderfully incensed against the Apostolick Sea Estate of England by reason of the iniustice he said was done him in that they had refused to send him coÌ„mâ—ssioners to tâ—ke knowledge of his cause and of the contempt done to his authoritie in that they would disdainfully force him to abandon his realme and appeare personally at Rome Notwithstanding by the perswasions of Iohn du Bellay Bishop of Paris whom the King had sent vnto him presently after his enterview with the Pope hee granted that in case the Pope would surcease from the sayd sentence vntill he had sent Iudges to be heard that he would likewise surcease from his intention to withdraw himselfe wholy from the obedience of Rome The Bishop offers himselfe to go to Rome to that end Henry intreates him and assures him that hauing obtained his demand he will giue him authoritie presently to confirme what he had yeelded vnto The matter was not yet desperate but the Consistorie of Rome gaâ—e so short a time to haue an answer from the King of England as the Poste came short two dayes at his returne The terme expired they proceed hastily to the confiâ—mation of the curses and censures Troubles through the Popes rash hasty procâ—eding notwithstanding the Bâ—shops instance to obtaine six dayes delay seeing the King of England had wauered six yeares before he fell Two dayes were scarse past after the prefixed time but the poste arâ—iuing with authoritie and declarations from England did greatly amaze those hastie Cardinals who afterwards could finde no meanes to amend that which they had marred The matter saieth the Originall was so hasted as that which could not bee finished in three consistories was done in one This indignitie done to the King of England and the small respect they had to his Maiestie caused both him and his reaâ—me to shake off the yoake of the Romaine obedience declaring himselfe immediatly vnder God supreame head of the Church of England In the meane time the King not able to get by Iustice a reparation of the vnworthy death of his Ambassador at Milan hee studied to haue his reuenge by armes To this end following the example of the Romaines he erected in euery Prouince of his realme a Legion of sixe thousand foote vnder the command of six Gentlemen who for euery thousand should haue two Lieutenants and vnder euery Ensigne fiue hundred men who in time of peace should once a yeare make a generall muster and the Captaines should know their names and surnames with the dwellings of euery one to haue them ready at all commands Then he sent William Earle of Fustemberg into Germanie to make a leauie of twentie Ensignes of Lansquenets and demanded passage of the Duke of Sauoy through his Countrie to bee reuenged of the wrong done him by the Dâ—ke of Milan The Sauoisien refuseth it which causeth our Francis to demand the portion of Louyse of Sauoye his mother sister to the sayd Duke children to Philip Duke of Sauoy Philip had to his first wife a daughter of Bourbon New motiâ—â—â— of warre in Sauoy by whom he had Philibert Duke of Sauoy and Lowyse the Kings mother Then he had to his second wife a Daughter of Ponthieure by whom hee had Charles who is now in question and the Earle of Geneua afterwards Duke of Nemours Philibert was dead without children and therefore the King challenged a good portion in the succession of Sauoy his mother comming of the first venter and sole heire to the
Bishop carried the spirituall sword in his hand to draw it for vnlawfull things at the fiâ—st impression of his fantasie To crosse the Pope the King forbids expresly to carry or send any gold or siluer to Rome for any dispatches Bulles Annats Dispensations or any other thing commaunding the Metropolitaines of the Realme to prouide according to the ancient priuileges and liberties of the French Church And for that Gonzague beseeged Parma to giue both the Emperour and the Court of Rome a blowe hee commâ—unded Charles of Cosse Marshall and Lord of Brissac his Lieutenant generall in Piedmont by the death of the Prince of Melphe to fortifye and furnish Miranâ—oâ—e Brissac sends some Souldiars Gonzague surpriseth them and puts them secretly to death and sodaynly doth belegar Mirandola War in Italy Warre is nowe begunne on all sides and for light occasions hee that seekes a quarrell wants no apparent shewes to colour it Both these Princes expected some worthye occasion But let vs raise vp our thoughts and say That GOD had not powred 〈◊〉 all his iudgements against Christendome being full of excesse and worthy of 〈◊〉 puâ—â—ishment 1551. The King sends newe forces into Piedmont and commands the Marshal to 〈◊〉 Parma and Mirandola He effects it and by the taking of Quiers S. Damain 〈…〉 places he forceth Gonzague to abandon the country of Parmesan to succour Montâ—errat and to defend the estate of Milan On the other side Mary Queene of Hongary and Gouernesse of the Lowe Countries for the Emperour armed in fauour of her brother both by sea and land And vnderstanding that for a greater confirmation of loue the Marshall S. Andre earned in the Kings name the order of France to young Edward King of England she caused certaine ships to lie betwixt Calais and Douer to seize on him in his passage Buâ—â—o preuent her policy the Marshall caused some Flemish ships to be stayed which lay at anchor in the road of Diepe vntill they were assured of his arriuall in England And Mary likewise seized vpon all the French ships that were within her gouernement Thus hart burning grew on all sides which burst out into open warre euery one calls home his Ambassadors and assures the places neerest to the enemie the King especially of Lorraine hauing some iealousie of Christienne the Dowager and neere allied to the Emperour who to free her selfe from that imputation did put her selfe with her Sâ—n Charles into the Kings protection who caused him to be brought vp with the Daulphin Francis and afterwards he married one of his Maiesties daughters Before we proceed to open acts of hostility the King excused himselfe vnto the Pope by the Lord of Termes for that which he did in sauour of Octauian Farnesâ— and by the Abbot of Bellosanne he protested against the decrees of the Assembly which was held at Trent the which considering the Popes and the Emperours spleene against France he could not hold to be a lawfull and holy generall Councell Not that I pretend said he to withdraw my selfe from the obedience of the Church but onely to auoide the surprises of such as vnder colour of reformation seeke to disgrace both my person and realme And in trueth he confirmed sufficiently this last clause by the rigorous ordinances which he published against those which had their cause common with the Protestants of Germany touching matters of religion whereby fires were a new kindled against them in many parts of the Realme and yet the King treated priuately with the Protestant Princes of Germany and generally with all the Electors and free Citties of the Empire Who sawe their liberties and freedomes in a manner ruined if they did not oppose some mighty aduersary against the Emperour who by maine force might stay the course of his vnmeasured couetousnesse The Emperour contrary to his oath detained Iohn Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgraue of Hesse in miserable captiuity A league betwixt the King and the Proteâ—â—â—nts of Germany He had vanquished most of the other Princes in war and fearing least the French should in the ende demaund the right vsurped in old time by the Saxons ouer the heires of Charlemaigne when the Empire was hereditary he pretended to transport the Imperiall Crowne into his house for euer and now he thought to haue a fit oportunity He had suppressed his enemies in Germany he had a Pope at his deuotion he was armed The most part of the Cardinalls who assisted at the Councell were either naturall Spaniards or of the Spanish faction and by consequence might easily by a decree of this councell giue authority to what hee intended With this disseine he had caused his son Prince Philip to come out off Spaine who died King of Spaine in the yeare 1598. to haue him declared his successor or at least his associate in the Empire oppressing the people of Germany by insolent and tyrannicall exactions The Electors not accustomed to seruitude and lesse to the slauery of Spaine not able with their own forces to shake off the yoake which they see ready to be layd vpon them they repaire vnto the King shewe him the wrongs and outrages done vnto them they pretended the ouerthrow of the holy Empire and the abolishment of the rights and priuileges of the Electors Commonalties and Lords of the same they beseech him that in regard of the auncient league betwixt the Empire and the crowne of France he would take their iust cause in hand and maintaine the common liberty of Germanie The King resolues to enter into League with them 1552. and graunts the succours which they demanded They giue him this honorable title Defender of the Germains The King makes a league with the 〈◊〉 of Germany against the Emperour protector of the nation and of the holy Empire He armes thirtie thousand men and desirous to countenance his forces with his owne presence he appoints Queene Katherine his wife Regent in France he makes many goodly Edicts for the gouernment of the state for the ordring of his men at armes and for the obseruation of military discipline hee reformes the abuses of Commanders suppresseth the insolencie of souldiars a commendâ—ble institution in comparison of that which hath beene seene in the raignes of his children and giues the Rendezuous â—or his armie at Vitry Hee was accompanied with â—â—thonie Duke of V ndosme whom we shall shortly see King of Nauarre by the decease of Henry of Albret his father in Lawe Iohn Duke of Anguien Lewis Prince of Conde all bretheren Lewis Duke of Montpensier Charles Prince of Roche-sur-yon al of the royall familie of Bourbon the Dukes of Neuors Nemours Guise Aumale Elbeuf The Kings armie the Lords of Rohan Rochefoucault Chastillon d' Andelot and others in great numbers in very good order The Câ—nstable of Montmorencie was made generall of the armie a house which sâ—aâ— hereafter be made a Duchie and Peere of France Claude of Loâ—râ—ine Duke of 〈◊〉 a yonger brother
charged them defeated them and followed them aboue a League hee slue seuen or eight hundred men tooke about fiue hundred prisoners and amongst the rest the Duke himselfe with seuen enseignes The Kings armie consisted of about seuen thousand horsemen fiue and twentie thousand foot with a hundred peeces of artillerie great and small desiring nothing more then to make his valour admirable by the issue of some happie battaile The Emperour on the other side sought to temper this heat and to wast this great power at the seege of some place oâ— importance The King to sound the Emperours resolution aduanceth neere to Valentiennes he wearieth his enemie with daily skirmishes gals him to the quicke and gets the aduantage But the Emperour apprehends it not the King finding him loth to hazard any thing sent the Marshall of Saint Andrew to spoile the Countâ—e of Saint Paul then in the end of October he puts part of his forces into garrison the rest hee dismisseth and sendeth away Now our armes are layed aside vntill the â—ext spring At the spring the King diuided his forces into three armies The first was commaunded by the Prince of la Roche-sur-yon being compounded of tenne thousand foote three hundred men at armes and fiue or sixe hundred argoletiers The Constable had the charge of the second conteining fiue and twentie enseigns of French as many Suissee two regiments of Lansquenets two thousand horse some of them light horse and some argoletiers with some English and Scotish horsemen The third led by the Duke of Neuers had twentie enseignes of English and Scots two regiments of Lansquenets three hundred men at armes eight hundred light horse and shott on horsebacke with two hundred Reisters pistoliers and all three breathed nothing but reuenge and desire to â—equite those confusions in Picardie New exploits The Prince enters into Arthois hee spoyles burnes and defeats two Comets of horse he kills two hundred vpon the place and sends their colours to the King The Constable takes Mariembourg fortifies Rocroy ruines the forts of Trelon Glaion Simâ—y and others built within two yeares The Duke batters and takes the castells of Oâ—â—mont and Beaurin by composition ruines and burnes a great number of villages then hauing by the taking of some strong places seated vpon the Meuze opened the passage of the riuer he enters Liege and takes Agimont and Bouuines by assault putting almost al the Inhabitants to death eyther by tâ—e sword or by the â—aÌ„d of Iustice for that they presumed to stand against an army royal for their outragious speeches and to increase their punishment he burnt the Towne he assured himselfe of Castelthiery and Valuin being abandoned he tooke spoiled Dinan but he preserued the female sexe from the violence of the Germains being fled into a Church Emanuâ—l Philâ—bert Duke of Sauoie by the death of his father Charles lately deceased assembled his army with an inteÌ„t sayd he to fight with the French if they aduanced We must trie this braue resolution The King passeth the riuer of Sambre the 25. of Iuly being followed by the Duke of Neuers he enters the Country of Hainalt spoiling burning and making all desolate seeking to drawe the enemie to fight Some troupes charge euen vnto the suburbs of Niuelle the fiâ—st towne of Brabant and for a noate of their passage they fire the sayd suburbes and villages there abouts so as many pleasant dwellings were consumed vnto ashes The Duke of Sauoye flies the listes and the army marching towards â—ains one of the chiefe Townes of Hainault lefte no thing behind it but tears sighes desolation fire smoake and ashes and to conclude a mournefull scaffold whereon two great Princes played a horrible tragedie being cruelly incensed one against an other The Castells and pleasant dwellings of the gentlemen of the Country yea Bains it selfe and Mariemont that stately house and others belonging to Mary Queene of Hongarte sister to the Emperour Tragny that goodly and proud Castell Reux Bauets with an iâ—finit number of others were in reuenge of that goodly place of â—olembray reduced to that estate as they might well say here was Bains here was Marâ—emont here were Tragny Reux and Bauets In the end the French hauing spoiled the whole Country drewe the Emperour to fight the two armies incounter about the midest of August neere vnto Renty The two armies mâ—ete the Imperiall foreward chargeth the Duke of Guise his troupes but to their confusion he deâ—eats them with the helpe of those succors that came speedely vnto him he kills eight or nine hundred men and strikes such a terror into the rest of the Imperiall army as they retire hastely into their campe as hauing no more desire to fight So the winter aâ—proching and want of forrage troubling the men at armes the King dismissed the â—uisses and his Nobility then leauing the Duke of Vendosme generall of the rest of the army he tooke from the enemy all meanes to endomage the realme but by sacking bâ—rning of the Country about Hesdin The 23. day of March Pope Iulius the 3. died Marcel Ceruin borne in Tuscane succeeded him but soone after his election death burieâ— botâ— his name and memorie Iohn Peter Caraffe a Neapolitaine called Cardinall Theaâ—m the câ—iefe author oâ— the Iesuists sect held the Romain sea and called himselfe Paul the 4 We shal this yeare quench the fires of the yeare past but it shall kindle new câ—mbâ—stions both on this side and beyond the Alpes So as no affection to the publicke good but the onely indisposition of the aire hath made vs till nowe surceale oâ—r armes Philip sonne to the Emperour Charles had the yeare past married with Mary Qâ—eene of England by the decease of Edward 6. and whilest that England did flame 〈…〉 by reason of the burning fires against such as had shaken off the yoake of â—â—e Romish obedience they did solicit our two warriors to pacifie their mutuall 〈◊〉 by some firme and durable peace Cardinall Poole an Englishman was imployed the 〈◊〉 but without effect for the soare not was yet ripe The courses of the Imperialls made the French to attempt vpon Castell Cambrose yet making faâ—re warres with the Spaniards and to victuall Marâ—embourg at diuers times 1555. while on the other side Francis of Cleues Duke of Neuers with the Admirall of Chastillon gouernour in the absence of the Duke of Vendosme who was gone to take possession of his new estates fallen to him in the right of his wife by the death of Henry of Albret and shall here after bee King of Nauarre and Soueraigne of Bearne gaue order for the defence of the fronter But behold one of the tricks of our ordinarie confidence Fifteene hundred of the Arrierban and foure hundred foote with some garrisons of Picardie returned home laden with spoile The Arâ—ier-ban of France defeated Without Scoutes saieth the Originall without order without feare of the enemie and without courage Haulsimont
some running into Piedmont had charged the Kings baggage returning from Poland To reuenge these insolencies the king sends the Prince Daulphin to beseege Poussin eighteene thousaÌ„d men beseege it on either side of the riuer of Rhone Pâ—ustâ— beseeged in the beginning of October foureteene great Cannons batter it and make a breach Rochegude and Pierregourde defend it with a wonderfull slaughter of the enemie and so terrefied the rest of the army as all were 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 vp their baggage but â—odenly the wall shaken with tâ—e 〈◊〉 and oâ—ercharged with earth cast vp for the trenches within the Towne falles downe to the 〈◊〉 So the Towne lying open and the ruines noâ— to be repayred during the seege the place being too straight Saint Romain after many inroadâ— and sharpe skirmishes 〈◊〉 into it and iudging that in the ende it would be forced hee drewe out off it men women and children and puttâ—ng them into Priuas in safety hee abandoned and left 〈◊〉 to the beseegers mercie who entring by heapes spoile sacke burne and make the place desolate and by the taking thereof they recouer a part of Viuarais Grane â—oziol and Roinac beeing vnable to endure the Cannon made easie the approches of Lâ—ron But let vs vewe the estate of Languedoc The Qâ—eene Mother and those of Guise 〈◊〉 of Languâ—doc desired infinitly to dispossesse the Marshall dâ— Anâ—ilâ—e of his gouernment for hee crossed their aduancement with all his power and stayed them from proceeding as gladly they would against his elder brother being a prisoner But yet if hee â—ad not fortified his estate with the Protestants partie wâ—o were then strong in Languedoc hardly could hee subsist amongest so many and so mightie enemies He therefore in open assemblie of the estates at Montpelier ioynes himselfe with them according to the declarations lately published by the Prince of Condé and the people of Languedoc hee sets downe the causes of this his newe and forced taking of armes The Vicont of Turene his sisters sonne doth likewise publish his of the same substance Thoré and Meru bretheren and the Earle of Ventadour brother in Lawe to the sayd Marshall ioyne with him The Duke of Alenson seemes to sauour it but the euent will shewe whether it were fraudulent or with a sincere inteâ—â— This reuolte amazed the Court and to stoppe the course thereof the Queene mother doth presently by gratious letters inuite the Marshall to some agreement But giâ—ing the Protestants but a simple libertie of conscience shee debarres them of the publike exercise of their religion The Marshall protests of his affection to the common good of this Realme and assures the like desire to bee in his associats but with all hee shewes that the Councellors who by that horrible and infamous massacre the 24. of August had caused the deceased King to breake the last Edict of pacification gouerning at this day the helme of the affaires it was very difficult to establish a firme peace the which may no way subsist vnlesse the exercise of both religions may be indifferently allowed within the realme So this treatie of peace remayning fruitelesse the Qâ—eene mother changeth â—er countenance and labors by diuers practises but in vaine the alliance being yet too fâ—esh to sowe diuision betwixt the Marshall and his associats and yet by sundrie massacres continues this pretended parle of a generall peace in France But it could not be concluded with such conditions as the King required That all his Townes should fiâ—st bee yeelded vnto him without exceptions and then would he graunt his subiects peace The Prince Daulphin hauing leâ—t the commande of the Kings armie to the Marshall of Belâ—egarde Liuron honored with a second seege hee comes in the midest of December to campe before Liuron Roesses a gentleman of Daulphiné commanded there with about foure hundâ—ed men but full of resolution and great valour in a hillie place strong of situation but then of no fame amongest the other Townes of Daulphiné Foureteene companies of the Kings gards eleauen Enseignes of Suisses twelue Ensâ—ignes of Harguebuziers and Daulphinois nine Enseignes of Piedmont three hundred men of the olde bandes foure companies of men at armes and eight Corners oâ— Reistres beseege it on all parts Two and twenty great peeces of batterie planted in tâ—ree parts do batter it and aâ—ter eleauen hundred Cannon shot make a breach of sixe hâ—ndred paces The Marshall was not satisfied with this ruine hee will haue all battered downe and with a generall ouâ—rthrowe fiâ—l vp the trench They make a greater breach with a newe battery of foureteene hundred Canon shot He recouers the trench and maâ—â— defences for his men All this doth nothing amaze the beseeged but contrariwise to shewe that they haue force to defend themselues and that they mâ—st haue great dexterity and resolution to take them they tie to the ende of a Pike a horse shooe a paire of mittens and a cat they lift vp the pike as if they would say Marshal this cat is not taken without mittens Such was the estate of Liuron when as the King so iourning at Auignon beeing in penury for money to supplie his excessiue charge and prodigallity Charles Cardinall of Lorraine labouring the marriage of Henry with Lowyse of Lorraine daughter to the Earle of Vaudemont his kinswoman Cardinall of Lorraine dies and to furnish this excessiue and stâ—tely pompe aduising the King to sell for a hundred thousand crownes in benefices waâ— surprised with a feuer and falling from a feuer into a frensie he died the 23. of December in the midest of a cruell tempest and violent whirlewind which vncouered the houses and loosened the barres of iron in the Carthusiens Couent in the suburbes of Auignon Some impute this death to the smelling of a certaine precious purse which was giuen him full of rare peeces of gold with the Queene Mothers priuity whom the foresayd treaty of marriage which the Cardinall did practise made remember the crosses she had suffered after the marriage of Francis the â— her eldest sonne foreseeing that this newe alliance tended but to restore the house of Guise to the same authority they had enioyed vnder the raigne of the said Francis Others did attribute it to the blowes the Cardinall had giuen himselfe vnder colour of deuotion in the company of them 〈◊〉 beat themselues in the sharpest time of winter Others applied â—t to â—â—e iust iudgement of God vpon this Prelate who drawing all his greatnesse and all 〈◊〉 meanes from the Clergy of France would yet perswade the King to so 〈…〉 alienation of goods appointed for the vse of the Church whatsoeuer it were Nâ—twithstanding the strict familiarity which the Queene mother had with the 〈◊〉 yet did she giue this testimony of him after his death That the 23. of 〈◊〉 most wicked man was dead And the people both farre and neere said 〈…〉 storme in the ayre noted that this man hauing by cuâ—sed 〈…〉 his house
erected to a Duchie in the yeare 1329. Lewis Duke of Bourbon and Mary the daughter of Iohn the 18. Earle of Hainault had Peter Duke of Bourbon and Iames Earle of Ponthieu Constable of France Peter had by Isabell the daughter of Charles Earle of Valois Peter Lewis Lewis and Iames. Lewis surnamed the good Duke of Bourbon had by Anne Countesse of Auuergne Lewis Earle of Clermont who died without children Iohn Iames. Iohn Duke of Bourbon had by Bonne Duchesse of Auuergne and Countesse of Montpensur Charles Iohn and Lewis Earle of Montpensier father to Gilbert of whome issued Charles the last Duke of Bourbon Câ—â—â—les Charles Duke of Bourbon had of Agnes the daughter of Iohn Duke of Bourgongne Iohn and Peter Iohn the second of that name married Ioane of France daughter to Charles the 7. and dying without lawfull heyres of his body the name and armes of Duke went to Peter his yonger brother Peter the second of that name Peter Duke of Bourbon had of Anne of France the daughter of Lewis the eleuenth one onely daughter Susanne the generall heire of Bourbon Châ—â—les the last Duke of Bourbon who was wife to the aboue named Charles the youngest sonne of Gilbert who likewise was the youngest sonne of Lewis aboue named Earle of Montpersur and brother to Charles Duke of Bourbon But no children growing from this marriage the branch of the eldest sonne of Lewis created Duke of Bourbon ended in this Charles Duke of Bourbon and Constable of France who died at the seege of Rome and the Duchie of Bourbonoâ—s beeing incorporate to the crowne Iames the yonâ—est son of Lewâ—s duke of Bourbon Iohn we must seeke the line of Iames of Pontieu they also giue him the titles of Earle of Charolois and la Marche Constable of France the yongest sonne of Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon Iames had by Ioue the daughter of the Earle of S. Paul Iohn his successor Earle of la Marche Iohn had of Katherine the onely daughter and heire of Iohn Earle of Vendosme issued from the Dukes of Normandy and Earles of Aniou Iames King of Naples who leauing none but daughters Lewis Earle of Vendosme transported his right of inheritance to Lewis his yongest brother Lewis had no children by Iane of Roussy his first wife the daughter of Ralfe Earle of Montfort and of Anne of Montmorency but of Iane the daughter of Guy Lord of Guare and of Anne heire of Lauall and Vitry in Brittany or of Mary the daughter of Engerard Lord of Coucy and of Isabel his wife the daughter of Edward King of England according to some opinions By his second marriage he had Iohn his successor and Earle of Vendâ—sme Iohn the second of that name Iohn the second had of Iane of Beauieu or of Isabel of Beauuais Frâ—nciâ— daughter to the Lord of Pressigni Francis his successor and Earle chiefe of the Nobility le ts them vnderstand the deceassed Kings will touching 〈◊〉 by a generall or nationall Councell whereof he protests to followe the instruction I giue leaue said he to all such as would leaue me so to doe Yet I am sorry they are no better Frenchmen for their owne good and safety I haue friends enough 〈◊〉 out them to mainteine my authority God hath neuer left mee and will not nowe abandon mee He hath not begun this so miraculous a worke to leaue it vnperfect 〈◊〉 for my sake alone but for his owne names sake and for so many soules affâ—â—cted in this Realme whome I desire and promise by the faith of a King to releeue so 〈◊〉 as God shall giue mee the meanes But how grieuous is this to mee that am your lawfull King and who leaue you in the liberty of your religion to see you go about to force mee to yours by vnlawfull meanes and without former instruction This declaration reteyned them that were least scrupulous in their duties and his promise not to alter any thing in religion might haue shaken many of the League To crosse him the Duke of Mayenne publisheth an Edict of the 5. of August iâ—â—is name and the Councells of the holy vnion established at Paris attending a generall Assembly of the Estates of the Realme to vnite said he all Frenchmen that were good Christians for the defence and preseruation of the Catholike Apostolike Romish Church and the mainteynance of the royall Estaâ—e in the absence of their lawfull King Charles the 10. of that name For whose liberty he inuited them all to armes But he desired no more the liberty of his pretended King then our Henry did to force religâ—on the support whereof serues them for a goodly cloake Some Parlements growe iealous of these sodaine changes in the State and seeme to entertaine the people in doubt and feare of the subuersion of their religion Violent decrees That of Bourdeaux commaunds all men vnder their Iurisdiction by a decree of the 19. of August to obserue inuiolablie the Edict of vnion to the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Church and declarations were thereupon made That of Tholouse is more violent They decree that yeerely the first day of August they should make processions and publike prayers for the benefits they had receiued that day in the miraculous and fearefull death of Henry the third whereby Paris was deliuered and other Townes oâ— the Realme forbidding all persons to acknowledge Henry of Bourbon the pretended King of Nauarre for King declaring him incapable euer to succeede to the Crowne of France by reason said the decree of the notorious and manifest crimes conteyned at large in the bull of excommunicatioÌ„ of Pope Sxtus the 5. Without doubt the authority of the Soueraigne court is much blemished in pronouncing a decree which they must reuoake by a contrary sentence Thus the League kindled anewe the fires which the seege of Paris had somewhat quenched The King raiseth hiâ—â—eâ—ge from Paris the Kings troupes decreased hourely sicknesse diminished their numbers and the Duke of Mayennes increased The King therefore diuides his armye into three one vnder the commaund of the Duke of Longueuille into Picardy the other into Champagne vnder the Marshall d' Aumont and he is aduised to passe himselfe into Normaâ—dy with twelue hundred horse three thousand French foote and two regiments of Suisses as well to receiue succours out off England as to assure some places passages fit for his desseines but with direction to ioyne at neede In his passage he causeth the Kings body to bee conducted and left at Compiegne and reduceth to his obedience His conquests Meulan Gisors and Clermont he receiues from Captaine Roulet both the place and the hearts of the inhabitants of Pont de l' Arche foure leagues from Rouan a passage very commodious for the trafficke betwixt Rouan and Paris He visits Deepe confirmes the towne of Caen forceth Neufâ—hastel to yeeld hauing by Hallot and Guitry his Lieutenants ouercome the
and some others were lightly hurt In this battaile they obserue three chiefe things The first the Kings firme resolution to giue battaile with an assured confidence that the sinceriity of his intent and the equity of his cause should bee fauored with the assistance of heauen The second that at the very instant of the fight it seemed that the earth did bring forth armed men for his seruice for on the eue and the day of battaile there came aboue sixe hundred horses vnto him vnexpected The third that of two thousand French Gentlemen only twelue hundred did fight twelue hundred put to rout an army of foure thousand horse fresh well mounted well armed and twelue thousand foote Without doubt the Eternall God of armes doth neuer forget the right of Princes Conquests after the victory against their rebellious subiects and a braue resolution with a wiâ—e commaunde giues a happie ende to battailes This victory purchased Vernon and Mante vnto the King two principall bridges vpon the riuer of Seixe And the heauens seemed to poure more blessings vpon our Henry and to make his way easie to an absolute Royaltie An other 〈…〉 of the League for the Earle of Rendan chiefe of the League in Auuergne was the same daie of the battaile of Yury shamefully chased from the seege of Iosstre slaine in battaille his troupes cut in peeces and his artillery taken by the Lords of Curton Rostignat and Chasseron As they had abused the Mantois with a vaine assurance of his death whome they durst not looke vpon nor incounter so with the like practises they must delude the Parisâ—â—ns The Duke of Mayenne his sister of Montpensier and the other heads of the League deceiued of hopes published by printed bookes That at the first assault at Dreux the Bearnois had lost aboue fiue hundred men that their wounds had made a greater number vnfit for their armes That the Marshall of Biron was wounded vnto death That in an other encounter neere vnto Poisâ—y the Vnion had gotten a great victory That in the battaile of Yury the combate had beene long and the losse almost equall That if the Bearnois bee not dead hee is little better But such as glad to haue saâ—ed themselues came to Paris marred all in verifying the Contrary making the people to hang downe their heads and to wish for peace by a still and mournefull muttering The fire brands of hell in their pulpits made the losse farre lesse then it was giuing them an assured hoped of speedie and newe succors from Spaine for the restoring of their Estate and the destruction of the Maheustres so they then called such as did fight vnder the Kings Enseigns To that ende the Duke of Mayenne went into Flanders to the Duke of Parma that is to say hee went to ruine his honour and reputation for being a master at home among his owne countryemen hee went to make himselfe a seruant and slaue to an ambitious proud man who hath often made him attend at his gate and lacquay after him before hee could receiue an answere of any matter of small importance to the great griefe an disdaine of the French Gentlemen that did accompanie him Doubtlesse it was necessary the Duke should trie the insolency of strangers the better to know the courtesie of the French and submit his armes and person to the King his soueragine and lawfull Lord the means whereby hereafter hee shall abolish the memory of things past Aduersity makes the wilfull more obstinate The Court of Parliament at Rouen for execution of the former decree puts to death the seauenth of Aprill some prisoners the Kings seruants and three daies after they declare all those persons guilty of high treason to God and man that followed the King of Nauarre so speake the decree and would not yeeld to King Charles the tenth of that name 1590 ioyne with the Vnion and carrie armes vnder the â—uke of Mayenne â—â—â—lest these threaten by their decree and the Duke goes to beg releefe the King being at Manta laboured to reduce the Parisiens to reason by mildnes But these trumpeâ—â— of sedition imputing this delay to want of courage perswaded the people that shortly their sworne enemie should haue worke inough and that at length he should beemined that a little patience would giue them a great victorie that they must not yeeldâ— any article whatsoeuer making impudent allusions to the name of his familie who is now seated in the throne of this monarchie These insolent exclamations brought the King about Paris Paris is accustomed to liue from hand to mouth Seege of Paris the benefit of the Hales the Place Maubert and other market places is the cause that the most part of housholds doe not knowe what prouision meanes And the cheefe of the League had so setled this former beleefe in the Citizens minds as of a hundred fourescore and nineteene had neglected to prouide for things necessarie to endure the toyle of a seege So as the taking of Mante Poissy Pont-charenton Corbeil Melun Montreau vpon Seine and Logny vpon Marne brought Parts in few moneths to extreame necessitie Compiegne Creil and Beaumont stopt the 〈◊〉 of Oise Erronious decision of Sorbonne But the ordinarie cries of the Preachers the practises of the cheefe and the Ladies of the League and the erronious decision of the facultie of Sorbonne giuen the seuenth of May in the thâ—rd generall congregation held to that end in the great hall of the sayd College prohibiting all Catholikes according to the law of God sayd they to receiue for King an heretike or fauorer of heretikes relaps excommunicate although he do afterwards obteine by an outward iudgement absolution of his crimes and Censures if there remaine any doubt of dissembling treacherie or suâ—uersion of the Catholike religion Condemning all them for heretikes forsakers of religion and peâ—â—icious to the church that should suffer any such to come to the crowne Al these made the multitude more obstinate against the extreamest miseries which the rigour of a long and painful â—eege may cause Besides this decision they had yet stronger restraints to bridle mens tongues actions that fauoured the flowre de Liz in their hearts The sixteene set spies to obserue the speeches and countenances of such as they suspect that is to say of such as wish for peace and haue not lost the remembrance of the true Princes of France And if any one chance to say It were good to â—reate of a peace He is a politike hee is a Roialist that is to say an heretike and enemie to the Church They spoyle imprison yea put to death such as doe not applaud this horrible tyrannie 〈◊〉 of the Paâ—â—siâ—ns The Duke of Nemours in the Duke his brothers absence commaunded at Paris and for his cheefe Councellors he had the Popes Legat the Ambassador of Spaine the Archbishop of Lion the Bishops of Paris Rennes Plaisance Senlis and others â—anigarole Bishop of
by the Dukes commandement The Earle of Brandix who seemed also to haue desired to fight sâ—nt word to Diguâ—eres General of the army This challenge of the Eaâ—le of Brandix was held very â—ash that if he had any mind to see the Combat betwixt D. Philipin and Crequy his sonne in Law hee should not returne without his part of the sport but hee should find one to exchange a thrust with him Hereuppon Crequy was taken prisoner going to succour Charbonniers During his imprisonment the quarrel grew to that point as if hee had beene at libertie it had beene then ended at Tuâ—in After that the treatie of peace had sent him home into Daulphiné D. Philippin sent to challenge him at Grenoble and they met neere vnto the fort of Barrault where the appellant was thrust through the thighe This combat One writes that he was thrust through the bodie and that he begged his life of Crequy which had beene sufficient to haue ended this quarrell was the cause of an other for it was told the Duke that Crequy had â—anted that hee had of the bloud of Saâ—â—ie Wherewith hee was offended and gaue D. Philippin to vnderstand that he would esteeme him no more as he had done nor euer see him more if he were not reuenged of those words Whereupon another challenge was sent the which was accepted as cheerefully as the fiâ—st The prohibition which the King had made of single combats The second Combat vppon paines not onely preiudiciall to their Estates but shamefull to their reputations would not suffer them to fight in Daulphiné that the example of the Gouernours Sonne in Law should not draw others to the contempt of the Law It was therefore resolued that they should fight in the Duke of Sauoies Countrie vnder Saint Andrew a place belonging vnto the Countesse of Antremont The conditioâ—s of the Combat vpon the banke of the riuer of Rhosâ—e on foot and in their shirts which is the most couragious kind of Combat That they should fight with rapier and dagger That the Baron of Attignac should second D. Philippin and la Buisse should second Crequy That none but they should come into the field and they should not part the Combaters vntill that one of their deaths had ended the Combate That there should be twelue Gentlemen on Daulphiné and as many on that of Sauoy who should be ready to receiue the body of the vanquished or to resist any violence that should be offered vnto the victor That the twelue of Sauoy should bee so farre from the place of Combat as they of Daulphiné might passe the water and come at the same instant to the place of fight It was long disputed whither the Seconds should fight for la Buisse sayd that he would not be one vnles he might giue or take and that he which goes in such occasions to be a simple Spectator wants affectioÌ„ or courage But the Combatants thought it good that the SecoÌ„ds should not medle with the decision of their fortunes The day appointed being come all came vnto the place De Morges passed the Rhosne and scoured vp and downe the fields to see if there were no ambush nor greater assemblie then was set downe in the Accord The Seconds visited the armies of the two ChampioÌ„s searched them if they had any Charmes or Inchantments about them La Buisse did importune D. Philippin much to part saying that he had a desire either to driue it off til night or to deferre the tryal vntil the next day The difficulties which D. Philâ—ppin sound in the Conditions stayed them two or three houres He tolde D. Philippin by the way al the braueries he could of Crequies valour to the end he might appalle him and seeing Crequy a farre off in the medow he cryed vnto him he is ours but Philippin carrying an Eye without trouble and a Heart without feare sayd vnto him why haue you so bad an opinion of mee Not so replyed La Buisse I know you are braue and Generous but you haue to do with one of the most furious men at armes in France and that makes me to foretell your losse La Buisse forgot nothing in this action that might shew the office of a friend And it is well knowne that if Crequi had not returned La Buisse would haue stayed to haue slaine D. Philipin and D. Attignac or to haue beene slaine by them Du Belier his Brother knowing his humor and that he had too much Courage and Honour to returne without his Fâ—iend was vpon the banke of Rhosne attending the issue of the Combat meaning to passe through the riuer on horseback Râ—solution of two brethren and to haue had his part of the Glory or Perill of this action When as D. Philippin entred the field he had his iudgement so cleere as obseruing his enemies gard and the aduantage which he had turning his backe to the Sunne he sayd Monsieur de la Buisse diuide the Sun and seeking himselfe to make the partition he thrust at Crequy with such violence as the lookers on dâ—ubted of the issue of the combate The second Combat betwixt D. Philippin Bastard of Sauoye and Crequy the 2. of Iune 1599. Attignac demands D. Philippin life seeing him still in his danger This first fury did but thrust Crequy out of the Medow and Philippin out of Breath Crequy beeing resolued to thrust not according vnto the iudgement of Choller but of occasion attended vâ—tâ—ll this fury were past thrusting him into the body with such force as he ouerthrewe â—im and nayled him to the ground He willed him to aske his life of him but he was not in case to humble himselfe to that demand neither was it in Crequeys power to 〈◊〉 it him for his wounds were mortall and all those that were of his side cried to him Dispatch him neither did Attignacs request preuaile any thing Crequy repassed the Rhosne with the twelue gentlemen which came to fetch him leauing D. Philippin vpon the place The Duke repented him of the commandement which he had giuen or it may be his Religion by the aduice of his Confessor councelled him to reuoke a commandement in the execution whereof there was hazard of two Liues and the losse of two Soules He sent a post to forbid them to fight but he arriued two houres to late Crequy thanked God for his victory and would not suffer his friends to vse their accustomed congratulations intreating theÌ„ to speake no more of it although the glory were great to haue vanguished his enemy in a Forraine Country D. Philippin was carried to his Lodging The Religious of Pierre-Chastel refused to bury him according to the Holy CoÌ„stitutions of the Church gouernmeÌ„t which holds theÌ„ that die in this sort Desperate and Murtherers of themselues and makes the paine to continue afâ—er Death that the shame which followes them to the graue might diuert them from this lâ—berty As the Kings enemies at
Asse like vnto the Patriarke of Constantinople not on foote as S. Hillarye entred into Rome but on Horsebacke followed by two hundred Horse The Prelats of Germany are dispensed of the condition which Chrisostome desired in a good Bishop not to ride on Horse-backe not allowing Bishops to ride vpon Asles or Moyles nor to be followed by many seruants The Election was made in the Cathedrall Church of Mentz whereas all the people were assembled not to giue any voyce A new Elâ—ctioÌ„ but to see the liberty of Suffrages and the Order and Ceremony of this action The Chanoins began it calling vpon the Holy Ghost to giude their resolutions 〈…〉 of the house of Câ—ombuâ—g chosen Archbishop of Mentz the 7 of Feb. 1604. The went into the Chapter and came not forth vntill two of the clocke in the Afternoone where by plurality of voyces the Election was concluded in fauour of one of the House of Crombourg The Bishop of Wirtzbourg led him before the great Altar where he was set wiping away the teares of Ioy whilest that the Clergy gaue thankes for this Election This done the Chapter gaue him a little note in his hand with the which he went towards the Castle beeing followed by the Popes Nuntio the Emperors Ambassador the Bishop of Wirtzbourg and many Noblemen that were there assembled to honour the election of the first Prelate of Germany Being come vnto the Castle gate he founde it shut and the Gouernour asked him what he would As soone as he had seene the note from the Chapter he did his duty to him and presently all the Gates were opened and the Artillery discharged This forme of Election which is done with Order Liberty and knowledge of Merits is more profitable vnto the Church then all that which is done by the authoritie of Princes who many times commit great charges to men vnknowne and of small merit or by the tumultuary opinions of people The death of the Duchesse of Baâ— who haue nothing to do in it Seeing that our way to returne into France is to passe by the territoryes of the Duke of Lorraine we shall find all there in teares and mourning for the death of the Lady Katherine of Bourbon Duchesse of Bar and the Kings onely Sister shee had beene tormented with a continuall Feauer and there were some signes of beeing with child All the Phisitions sayd shee was not with child one onely maintayned the contrary and she beleeued his opinion for that he was of the Religion neither would she take any thing but from his hands for that we beleeue that easily which we desire She grewe in choller against them which imputed her dissease to any other cause saying That they neither desired her contentment nor her Husbands She thought she could not endure too much to become a Mother This beleefe that shee had a childe in her body made her to bring forth death reiecting all kindes of remedies to preserue her frute If the Phisition which had ministred to her as a Woman with childe had not fled to Metz and from thence to Sedan all his Phisicke could not haue kept him from death The profession of Phisitions hath this Priuilege The priuilege of Phisitions that the Sunne sees their practise and the Earth hides their faults The Duke of Lorraine did her no lesse honour after her death then he had witnessed it in her life Hee sent vnto the King an Inuentory of her Iewells Hee caused the body to be conducted vnto the frontier of France in a Carosso well appointed couered with blacke Veluet and drawne with foure Horses The funerall Pompe of the Duchesse of Bar. The foure Bailifes of Lorraine carried the foure corners of the Cloth which couered the Coffin threescore Gentlemen marched before with the Gards The Earle of Chaligny and some Noblemen of the Country went after it There were twelue Suisses which marched on either side It was receiued vpon the frontier by those whom the King had appoinâ—ed The Inhabitants of Troyes would haue receiued it with a Canopy but Tinteuille thought it not fit neither would the King haue taken it well She was much lameÌ„ted by the Duke of Bar who could not haue beene Husband to a better Wife nor she Wife to a better Husband The fift yeare of their Marriage was with as great respect and loue as the first The affections of this Prince and this Princesse A marriage of great content were in such harmony that besids the diuersity of Relâ—igion you would haue sayd they were but one Soule not in two bodies but in one called by two names for they spake with one mouth and thought with one heart And iâ— there be any content in dying amidst the contents of this world this Princesse protested that she had neuer content in this world more perfect then in Lorraine The Duke of Lorraine and the Duke of Bar desired as well to see her satisfied for doubts of relligion They coniured her in the extremity of her sicknes to thinke of her Soules helth After fiue yeares instances made by the King the Pope granted a dispensation of the marriage but she sayd vnto them that she would die as she had liued She was no more forced in the exercise of her Relligion at Nancy then at Nerac True it is that she went to receiue the Communion without the Towne and had preaching and Praiers in her house but for her selfe onely and her followers without the which shee had bin much honored of the Lorrains and at that time more then before the Pope hauing granted a dispenâ—atioÌ„ of the marriage When the newes of her death was brought vnto the King the chiefe of his Councell came presently to apply some remedy to this wound He found that they came to that end The Kings sorrow for the death of his â—ister therfore he coÌ„manded them to leaue him alone that he would resolue with God He caused the Dores and Windowes of his Cabinet to bee shut casting him else vpon his bed to weepe more freely and to ease his greefe in the liberty of his sigthes All the Court did morne and the Ambassadors presented themselues in that habit vnto the King to condole this death in the behalfe of their Maisters The Popes Noncio was some-what troubled in this complement would not mourne at an accident for the which those of his profession could not weepe The King said that he would not tie him to it against his liking but he would be glad not to see him vntil his time of mourning were past Some other would not haue spoken so mildely we knowe that Princes haue showne strange effects of their choller against Ambassadors The Duke of Muscouy caused an Ambassadorâ— Hat to be nâ—yled to his head that haue failed in the honor and respect of these complements The Noncio being better aduised resolued to apply himselfe to the time and to do as the rest thinking
of the Gantois fed by Lewis his policie fol. 274.275 The Gantois ouerthrowne and Adolfe Duke of Guelders slaine fol. 276 Maximillian and Marie maried fol. 277 The politique liberalitie of Lewis fol. 278 The disposition of Edward King of England fol. 279. Is fed by Lewis his dilatorie hopes ibid. He neglects Marie of Burgogne ibid. Affects greatly the alliance with France ibid. A trecherous attempt at Florence against the house of Medicis fol. 280 The mutinie appeased and the murtherer hanged ibid. The battell of Guingaste where many were slain and the French left the field fol. 281 Lâ—wis seeking to reforme his Realme is hindered by infirmities yet is iealous of his authority eueÌ„ in sicknesse ibid. The death of Mary of Burgogne pleasing to Lewis fol. 282. Edward the fourth King of England dies fol. 283 Râ—â—hard murthers his two nephewes vsurpes the Crowne ibid. Lewis his disposition in his declining age fol. 284 His inuentions to make beleeue he liued still fol. 285. His death and disposition â—â—l 286 The Estate of the Church vnder Lewis â—â—l 286.287 The Estate of the Empire fol. 288.289 The Turkes ouerthrowne twice in Asia winne the third battell fol. 290 Scanderbeg his death and vertues ibid. Charles the 8. the 56. King of France A Breefe rehersall of his raigne fol. 291 His disposition and education fol. 292 Contention betweene the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Beau-ieu for the Regency ibid. Landais gouerns the Duke of Brittaine insolentlie ibid. King Charles his coronation fol. 293 The Duke of Orleans being put from the RegeÌ„cy discontented leaues the Court. fo â—94 The Duke of Brittaine being troubled is forced to deliuer Landais who is hanged fo 295 Charles seekes to diuide the Brittons from their Duke and makes a secret treaty with the Nobility fol. 296 The Brittons reconciled to their Duke and Rieux reuoults from the French fol. 298 Ancenis Casteaubriant Vennes taken for the Brittons fol. 299 Diuision in the Brittish Army fol. 300 The Battle of St. Albin where the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Dunois are takeÌ„ prisoners fol. 301 Diuers Townes in Brittany yeelded to the FreÌ„ch fol. 302 The Duke of Brittane after a peace made with the King dyes fol. 303 The pittifull estate of Brittaine fol 304 Anne of Brittaine succored by the English and Spanish foo 305 The Marshall of Riux and the English beseedge Brest and Conquett fol. 306 Maximillian made Arbitrator betweene king Charles and Anne of Brittaine fol. 307 Nantes and Guingam taken by the French fol. 308 A finall peace in Brittaine by Charles his mariage with Anne fol. 309 The practises of the English vpon Brittaine ibid. Arras betrayed to Maximillian fol. 310 Motiues for the voyage of Naples with the waÌ„ts for the voyage â—oâ— 31â— Lodowick Sâ—orza vsurps Milan and surpriseth the Castle fol. 312 The estate of Italy in 1490. fol. 31â— The peace of Italy ruined by Peter of Medicis â—ol 314 A league betweene the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan fâ—l 3â—5 Charles his right to Naples and Scicilia ibid. He could not be diswaded by his counsell from the enterprise of Italy fol. 316 His voyage to Naples vndertaken without money fol. 31â— Lodowicks perswations to Charles with the death of Iohn Galeat Duke of Milan fâ—l 318 The â—lorentines and Peter de Medicis offer king Charles their citty withall other his demaunds â—ol 319 Peter de Medicis and his bretheren expelled â—lâ—rence fol. 32â— King Charles enters Florence ibid. The Pope perplexed hauing many enimies sends to the King fol. â—â—â— The walles of Rome and of the Castle St. Angelo fall alone at the kings entrance â—ol 322 Alphonso frighted with horrible visions for his cruelties crownes his Sonne and â—lyes fol. 323 Vpon the first entry of the French into the kingdome of Naples Capna Auerse Nola Naples yeelds fol. 324 Zemin being thrice ouerthrowne by Baiaâ—et â—lyes and is poysoned by Pope Alexander fol. 326 The Venetians discouer to the Turke an enterprise vpon Scrutaâ—y fol. 327 A league concluded against the French fol. 328 King Charles takes order for Naples and goes towards Rome and the Pope â—lyeâ— fol. 3â—9 Sauanoccllas predictions fol. 330 Milan and the whole Dutchy ready to reuolt against Lodowickâ— fol. 331 A foule reuenge by the Suisses repaired by a notable peece of seruice fol. 332 The Battle of Fornone where the King is in great danger fol. 3â—3 The Army of the league ouerthrowne fol. 334 Ferdinand defeated by Aubigny enters Naples and the most part of the kingdome reuolts from the French fol. 336 Caiette sackt by the French ibid. The Marquesse of Pescara slayne fol. â—37 The newe Castle at Naples compounds with Ferdinand ibid. Twentie thousand Suisses at Verceil for the king fol. 339 The Suisses practise to seize vpon the King ibid. The Venetians propositions to the King fol. 340 The beginning of the Poxe ibid. The treachery and couetousnesse of Entraques fol. 341 A newe French fleete in the kingdome of Naples fol. 343 Ferdinands lansquenets defeated by the French fol. 343 A truce betwixt the kings of France and Castile ibid. Charles greatly affects the enterprise of Italie but is disswaded by the Cardinall of S. Malo fol. 344 The last act of this tragedy and the French defeated fol. 345 A dishonorable coÌ„position made by the French fol. 346 The Earle of Mountpensier dies with most of his troupes ibid. King Ferdinand dies fol. 347 The Duke of Orleans refuseth to make warre against the Duke of Millan in his owne name ibid. The Duke of Millan perplexed is succoured by the Venetians fol. 348 Reasons to draw the King into Italie fol. 349 The castle of Amboyse built by Charles ibid. His death and disposition fol. 350 Lewis the 12 the 57. king of France THe happines of his raigne fol. 351 The genealogie of Lewis the 12. fol. 352 Lewis his title to the Dutchie of Millan ibid. The Pope capitulates with the King fol. 354 The Venetians and Florentines congratulate his comming to the crowne ibid. Borgia comes to court and commits a treacherous murther ibid. King Lewis associats with the Venetians fol. 355 Millan mutines against Lodowicke and hee flies shamefully fol. 356 Millan beeing yielded Lewis makes his entrie fol. 357 Vitelli besiegeth Pisa is taken and beheaded at Florence ibid. Our Ladies Bridge at Paris falls fol. 358 The estate of the East ibid. Millan and the Suisses reuolt and Sforza recouers it againe fol. 359 Lâ—dowicke Sâ—orza taken fol. 360 Millan pardoned by the King fol. 361 The potentates of Italy reconciled to the King fol. 362 The exploits of Câ—sar Borgia fol. 363 The pittifull death of the Lord of Faenza murthered by Borgia fol. 364 The warres of Naples reuiued fol. 365 The realme of Naples diuided betwixt the Kings of France and Arragon ibid. Fredericke king of Naples simplicitie fol. 366 The lamentable taking of Capua with the souldiers insolencies fol. 367 The capitulation of Fredericke who of king of Naples is
and reiecting the chiefe causer thereof vpon the want of paiement Without doubt it is a great error in a Kings Officers especially in an army to conuert the money appointed for the paiement of an armie to other vses Iâ— was at the passage of the riuer of Adde that the last act of this tragedie must be played for the defence whereof Lautree sent the Lord of Pont-dormy with his Compâ—â—â—e that of Octauian Fregose led by Count Hugues of â—epolâ— a Bolonois a thousand or tâ—elue hundred foote and two faulcons But it pleased God at this time to satisfie the Popes couetousnesse with the spoile of our men that might execute the iust iudgement of his Vengeance soone after vpon his person The enemie beates backe our gardes and puttes them to flight killes some and amongest others Gratian of Lucâ— and Chardon neighbours to the forrest of Orleans who commanded either of them a regâ—ment of fiue hundred men They passe Adde at Vauci and force Lautrec to retire to Cassâ—n and so towards Milan with his whole army The passage of Adde recouered Prosper Colonnes reputation who for the retreat before Parma and his ordinarie tediousnesse was ill reputed of as well at Rome as in his army Contrariwise Lautrec wanting neyther valour nor braue resolution but Vigilance and happinesse purchased contempt of his men and hatred of the Milanois whome he did the more exasperate in causing Christopher Paluoisin to bee publikely beheaded a man of great Nobility great authoritie great age and a long time deteyned a prysoner Colonne aduertised of the retreat of the French to Milan lodged at Marignan and his Suisses in the Abbie of Cleruaut doubtfull whether hee should passe on to Milan being fortyfied with so many men or turne to Pauie beeing destitute of soldiars Being thus irresolute there appeeres vnto the Marquis of Mantoua an aged man Lautrec odious to his army meane in shewe and apparell who being brought before Colonne and the other Captaines assures them that he is sent from the parishioners of Saint Cir of Milan to let them vnderstand that at the first approach of their armie all the people of Milan are resolued to take armes against the French by the sound of the belles of euerie parish wishing them to set forward with speede without giuing the French leysure to bethinke themselues And so he vanished away not knowne to any man The Commanders gaue credit to this intelligence A notable aduenture The 23. of Nouember the Marquis of Pescara with his Spanish bands presents himselfe at the port of Rome at sunne setting and presently chargeth the Venetians appointed to gard the suburbes with a bastion which they had newely begunne hee puts them to flight making no resistance and the Suisses likewise that were lodged by them killes â—ome and hurts others before our men had any knowledge of their arriuall Theodore Triuulce who beeing sicke and disarmed came to this alarum vpon a little moyle was taken The Gibelins seizing on the part brought in the Marquis of Fescara and Mantoua the Cardinall of Medicis Colonne and a part of the army Milan taken and sackt the victors not able to conceiue by what happinesse and meanes they had so easily obteyned so notable a victorie the which was confirmed by the sacke of the Cittie which continued fifteene dayes We cannot but blame our Commanders herein of negligence and too great confidence in not discouering the enemies remooue that day and beleeue that they would not assault the Rampars without their artillerie the which could not 〈◊〉 the wayes being broken with continuall raine Lautrec troubled with the feare and the darknesse of the night not able to discouer in so short a time the estate of the enemy confusedly lodged â—ome in the Cittie others in the Suburbs Abandoned by Lautrec he left Mascaron a Gentleman of Gasconie within the Castell with fiftie men at armes and six hundred French foote and retired his armie to Come wheâ—e leauing Iohn of Chabannes Lord of Vandenesse brother to the Marshall of Chabannes with fiftie men at armes and fiue hundred foote he repassed the riuer of Adde at Lecâ—â—e and tooke the way of Bergamo to put his men at armes into Garrison in the Venetians Countrie and other places which held yet for the French It is an vsuall thing to yeeld vnto the Conqueror Laude Pauia Plaisance Alexandria Cremona hold for the Empire and the Duke of Milan Ianot of Herbouuille Lord of Bunou held yet the Castell of Cremona Lautrec sent his brother Lescut thether who since the retreat of Parma had ioyned with the armie with part of his forces to recouer it Who being repulsed Lautrec brought all his troupes which were but fiâ—e hundred men at armes foure thousand Suisses a few other footemen foure hundred men at armes Venetians and six thousand foote As all things were readie for the assaâ—â—t the enemie being amazed demanded a composition the which they obteined with their liues and baggage Cremona recouered A small comfort for men halfe discouraged Frederic of Bossole came from Parma with his forces by Lautrecs commandement He â—ad no sooner passed the Po but Vittelli seizeth thereon with a most pleasing consent of all the people All these victories were glorious to the enemy but the treacherie of one blemished their former reputation Come spoiled contrary to the capitulation Come besieged battered ten or twelue dayes despairing of succour and defence had yeelded vpon condition that as well the French companies as those of the Towne should haue their liues and goods saued depart with their Launces vpon their thighes and be safely conducted into the Venetians country and yet when the French would depart the Spaniards entred and spoiled both the Souldiars and the Cittizens Vandenesse accusing the Marquis of Pescara to haue broken his faith challenged him to the combate If you will mainteine answered he that this sacke is happened by my commandement or permission I say you haue lyed But before the quarrell could be ended Vandenesse was slaine at Romagnen at the retreate of the Admirall of Bonniuet whom the end of the warres of Nauarre had drawne beyond the Alpes At the same instant those of the League sent the Bishop of Verule to the Suisses to withdraw their affections from this Crowne But displeased that their men had marched against the King and complaining of the Cardinall of Sion the Pope and all his officers who had perswaded them to breake the conditions of their alliance they put this Bishop in hold at Bellinsone and called home the troupes they had in Italy On times the victor is partaker of the discommodities of warre they made preparation to assaile Cremona and Genes But their desseins are broken by the death of pope Leo who hauing newes of the taking of Milan Death of Pope Leo. but especially of Parma and Plaisance for the recouerie whereof to the Church he had chiefly mooued this warre he was so wonderfully