Clotaire his other Vncle but by chaunce they were reconciled Theodebert impatient of rest seeking where to imploye his forces findes that the Dane a people of the North A good and a happy warre did scoure along the sea coast to the great hinderance of the French Marchants he marcheth against them being resolute to fight with them These forces were better imployed then against his brother so the successe was more happy for hee chased away the Danes hauing defeated a great number and purged the Ocean from pyrates This exployte wonne him great reputation in all places so as he is sought vnto by the Ostrogoths in Italie beeing pressed by Belisarius Lieutenant generall for the Emperour Iustinian and a very great captaine who had recouered Sicile Naples and Pouille from them and in the ende the Cittie of Rome the which he fortified As the Goths estate declined daylie in Italie Theodat their King reiected and Vitiges chosen in his place Theodebert comes into Italie puft vp with his victorie hee takes footing and makes head against Belisarius but forced with sicknesse he retires to his owne house leauing three chiefe Captaines for the guard of the places conquered In his absence the Goths are defeated and Vitiges slaine Totila succeedes him who hauing taken and sackt Rome did so restore the Gothes estate in Italie as he became fearefull to the Romaines But the chaunce turned against him his army was defeated and himselfe slaine and to increase the mischiefe those great Captaines left by Theodebert were slaine one after another so as the Gothes being chased out of Italie by Narses all Theodeberts great hopes vanished 522 yet he laboured to attempt some great enterprise against the Emperour Iustinian and drew much people to it Wâ—râ—e rashly vndertaken prouâ—s vnfortunate but hauing made this goodly shew and put himselfe and his friends to great expences he was forced to returne out of Italy without effecting of any thing leauing a goodly example to Princes not to attempt lightly an vnnecessary warre least they buy losse and shame at too high a rate In the end Theodebert who thought to haue vanquished the mightiest enemies was slaine by a wild Bull going a hunting and his great enterprises were interred with him in the same graue hauing hunted after vanity and found death at the end of his immortall desseignes Theodebert left Theobald heire of the great estates of Austrasia Bourgongne and Turinge the which hee did not long enioy dying without children Austrasia is now called Lorraine and almost without any memory that he had liued but onely that hee had by will leâ—t his Vncle Clotaire heire of all his goods whereby there sprung vp a new warre Childebert indured this testament impatiently aswell for that hee was excluded as also for that his brother was made more mighty by his nephews estate so couetousnesse and enuie giue him aduise to crosse him Clotaire had one bastard sonne called Granus a sufficient man but very wicked and audacious who for his insolencies was in disgrace with his father Childebert resolues to oppose this sonne against the father and to vse him in the execution of his malitious intent Thus abusing the absence of Clotaire who was busied in warre against the Saxons he goes to field with a great armie supposing to haue to doe but with young men and irresolute and the more to amaze them hee gaue it out that Clotaire was dead This report was coloured with such cunning and as men do often beleeue that which they feare that these young Princes seeing themselues ouercharged with great forces yeeld to a preiudiciall peace with their Vncle. This heart-burning seemed to extend further when as death surpriseth Childebert who dyes the yeare 549. without any children and leaues his enemy Clotaire for successor being vnable to cary his realme with him Clotaire returnes out of Saxonie being offended with his bastard Hee pursues him into Britanie whither hee was fled A horrible punishment of a rebellioâ—â— sonne and by a wonderfull accident guided by the Iustice of God the reuenger of the sonnes rebellion against the Father Clotaire findes his sonne with his wife in a pesants house where transported with furie he burnes them aliue yet not extinguishing the memorie of his rebellion to terrifie rebellious children by so memorable a president Thus there passed forty fiue yeares in the barbarous and vnhappy raignes of these foure soueraigne Maisters children to the great Clouis in the which there is nothing memorable but the remembrance of Gods iust iudgement against those that suffer themselues to bee transported by their passions for all these vitious raignes were vnhappy passed with much paine and ended with much misery represented to the perpetuall infamy of the vnkinde cruelties of their Kings CLOTAIRE the first the seuenth King of France CLOTAIRE KING OF FRANCE VII CLOTAIRE remained alone King of France by the death of his brethren 552. for their children were dead and Childebert the eldest dyed without issue Behold the frute of so great paines after their diuisions to build great Monarchies Clotaire raigned fiue yeares alone he had by two wiues fiue sonnes and one daughter that is Cherebert Chilperic Sigebert Gontran Gautier and Closinde not reckoning Granâ—s wâ—om he had by a Concubine His raigne was short and wretched He sought to extort the thirds of all Ecclesiasticall liuings for his priuate affaires but the Clergie opposed themselues against him so as his threats preuailed not In the beginning he subdued the Saxons subiects to the French but the Turingiens being vp in armes and he about to suppresse them the Saxons ioyne with them to withstand him with their common forces Yet these mutinous nations seeing themselues encountred by too strong a party craue pardon and promise him obedience Clotaire refusing to accept it forceth them to make defence the which they performed so desperately as they defeated the French and Clotaire with great difficulty saued himselfe It is an indiscretion for a Prince to thrust his subiects into despaire An example for Princes not to thrust their subiects into despaire but to imbrace all occasions wisely that may purchase a willing obedience and not to seeke it by extremities After this defeat he returnes into France and being at Compiegne hee desires to go a hunting Being old and decayed he heats himselfe falls into a quotidian and dies the yeare 567. He was much grieued in his sicknes for hauing liued too too ill but he protested that he hoped in the mercies of GOD. As our histories report Before that he ruled as King alone he erected the little realme of Yuetot 567 vpon this occasion On good Friday hee slewe Gawter of Yuetot his seruant in the Chappell whereas he heard seruice They report the cause diuersely The greatest part hold that the King had rauâ—shed his wife lodging in his house so as he that was beaten suffered the punishement Pope Eugenius displeased with this infamous murther
with it great contempt Notwithstanding this treating ended with a truce attending the conclusion of a generall peace In the meane time our Lewis applies himselfe to order his realme to reforme Iustice and the Court of Parliament especially for the tediousnes of suits one of the principall points for the which he hated it but without any diminution of the number of his officers nor of their authority Lewis seekes to reforme hiâ— Realme Moreouer he desired to bring into al the Câ—uÌ„tries of his obedience one custome one waight one measure to suppresse those horse leeches the practisioners the Marchants fraude He had wonderfully oppressed his people yea wittingly and neyther admonitions nor supplications could procure any releefe the motion must come from himselfe he is now whole addicted there vntâ— but sometimes a burning feuer tending to furie sometimes a cold palsey somtimes the trouble of the Emoroids sometimes his speech fayling sometimes some other fits or distemperature of minde diuerts him from this good humor To teach vs Hindred by his infirmities neuer to defer that vntill to morrow which we may presently performe for we ought to feare that God wil not giue vs the wil meanes to do wel when we haue once neglected it All these ordinary infirmities made him froward and vnpleasing to his household seruants causing him to take their seruices well ment in euill part And being one day at â—orges neere vnto Chinon about dinnertime troubled with his ordinary fits as he would haue drawne towards the windows they hindred him vpon his first recouery he chased away all those that had by force stayed his approch to the windows neyther would he euer after admit theÌ„ to his presence holding theÌ„selues happy to enioy their offices Lewis iealous of his authority euen in sicknesse His iudgement being troubled it made him thinke that this maner of proceeding did derogate froÌ„ his authority which he sought to maintaine aboue al things neither would he be disobeyed in any thing 1480. doubting least in the end they should controule him in the gouernment of his affaires as distract of his witts Vpon his amendement aâ—ter any infirmity he would stil knowe what expeditions and dispatches they had made He tooke the letters and made shewe to reade them although he had no knoweledge or very little Yet must they please him in all things being dangerous to offend him This first fitte continued about fifteene dayes Cardinal Baâ—â—â— set a libertie at the ende whereof he recouered both speech and iudgement He sets the Cardinall of Balue at liberty a prisoner since the yeare .1468 at the request and pursuite of Cardinall Saint Pierre ad Vincula Legaâ— in France being sent to mediate a peace betwixt Lewis and Maximilian and to sollicit them to succâ—r the Christâ—ans opressed vnder the Turkes persecutions whome the King sâ—tisfied â—ith hoâ—e and good words But being come to Peronne and hauing giuen Maximilian and the Flemings intelâ—igence of his arriuall they would not admit him so his voiage proued fruitlesse Neyther admâ—nitiâ—ns nor requests could euer mooue the King to deliuer Balue Lewis disâ—â—usts all men in his sicknes and nowe a scruâ—le drawes him to it seeking an absolution for that he had deteyned him so loâ—â— in 〈◊〉 And as he feales his strength and senses to decay so iealousie and distrâ—sâ— very inciâ—ent vnto him increased daylie and apprehending death he feares least 〈◊〉 oâ—ne subâ—eâ—â—s should hasten it by some new practises In this perturbation he remembers that Iohn Dâ—ke of â—ourbon had followed the Duke of Guienne in the warre of the common weale and that he might ioyne with the Duke of Brittain to raise vp newe trâ—ubles and so shorten hiâ— dayes He appoints certaine Commissioners ill affected to the house of Bourbon who not able directly to touch the Dukes person they sumoÌ„ his Chancellor his Atturney generall the Captaine of his gards and other principall Officers to appeere in person before the Court of Parliament at Paris Being examined and heard and finding nothing wherewith to charge them they were freed and death did soone after free the sayd Duke from feare he had conceyued of the Kings hatred He had imitated the Dâ—ke of Bourgongnes armie and by the aduice of des Cordes hâ—â— Lieutenant general iâ— Picardie newely imposed â—ifteene hundred thousand franâ—â— for the maintenance of ten thousand foote whereof the six thousand Suisses before mentioned were a part two thousand fiue hundred pioners and fifteene hundâ—ed men at armes of his ordinarie to fight on foote when as neede should requiâ—e caâ—sing a great number of carts to be made to inclose them in and tents to camâ—e in and therefore he called them soldiars of the campe And for that they complayned tâ—at the franke archers did greatly oppresse the poore people he did cassier al their companye When this newe campe was readie he went to see it ranged in battaile in a valleâ— neeâ—e to Pont de Larche in Normandie vnder the command of his sayd Lieutenant generall causing them to lie in campe a whole moneth togither to the ende he might see what quantity of vâ—ctualâ—s â—ere necessary for them and then he returned into Tâ—â—raine The Kings â—elapâ—e Being at â—ours behold a relapse which hee feared greatly He looseth â—is sâ—eech tâ—ey hoâ—d 〈◊〉 foâ— dead he remaines two houres couched on a pallet in a gâ—llery Beiâ—g soâ—ewhat recouered seeking to diuert his disease and to reuiue his spirits by the 〈…〉 he went to Argenton and then returned to Tours but 〈◊〉 langâ—â—shâ—â—g this disease foretelling his approching death Then he vndertooke the iourney of Saint Claude which many gentlemen had vowed being present at his 〈◊〉 Vpon his retuâ—ne newes come of the death of Marie of Bourgongne who going â—â—untinâ— mounted vpon a stirring hobbey The death of 〈…〉 was cast and after died of a cotidian hauing had by Maximilian Philip Arche Duke Margaret afterwards Queene of France and Francis that died young A vertuous Princes liberall respected and beloued of all her subiects This death was wonderfull pleasing vnto our Lewis in the midest of his affâ—ictions who not dreaming that he had one foote in the graue 〈◊〉 vnto Kinâ— Lâ—wis thinkes now to do his busines the betteâ— for sayd he the Emperour is miserable and of small credit in Germanie Maximilian young and of small experience and ill beloued of his subiects and moreouer the pupilles are in the Gantois keeping 148â— a people inclined to mutiny against the house of â—ourgongne Yet he repined much at the secret intelligences the Duke of Brittain had with the Engâ—ish and now a new subiect thrusts him on to this enterprise the which doubtlesse he had vndergone if his health would haue suffered him Francis Duke of Brittaine vnderstanding that they made excellent armes at Milan sent to buâ—e a great number and to the end they should not be discouered by the noyse and breed a new
assault although they could not mount but with Ladders the wall remayning yet aboue three yards high Those within mayntaine it valiantly and fighting the space of three houres in the ende they repulse our men with the losse of three hundred foote and some men at armes with a great number of hurt amongest others the Lord of Chastillon the master of the ordinance and Spineuse who being hurt with the artillery from the Towne died within fewe dayes after In the meane time the Cittizens amazed and fearing a more dangerous charge treated of their yeedling without the priuity of Marc Anthonie Colonne when as behold the enemy comes marching to their succour who campes at Meuâ—â—nach three miles from Rauenna fortifying themselues with a trench â—â—ch as the shortnesse of time would permit leauing an entry of about twentie fadome◠〈◊〉 raiseth the seege turnes the mouth of the Cannon towards the enemies and on Easter day the eleuenth of Aprill passeth Ronque leauing his rereward led by Yues d' Alegre vpon the riuers side towards Rauenna to succour the armie at neede to mâ—ke head against those that should issue out off the Towne to keepe the bridge which they had made vpon the riuer of Montone then disposing of his troupes he giues the â—â—ant-gard to the Dâ—ke of Ferrare the battaile to the Lord of Palisse and the Carâ—â—â—all of Saint Seuerin who great both in minde and body couered from the head to the foote with most shyning armes performed the office of a Captaine rather then of 〈◊〉 Gaston reserued to himselfe no priuate charge but would bee free to see and succour in all places the beauty of his armes his cassake his cheerefull countenance his eyes full of vigour and shyning for ioye made him very glorious The enemies seeing ouâ— French passe the riuer were ranged in battaile Fabrice Colonne led the foreward the Cardinall of Medicis Legat of the Councell of Lateran the battaile but a fatall signe in a peacefull habit Caruagial a Spanish Captaine the reereward So the two armies approching one to the other stood immouable aboue two houres the enemies being loath to abandon the compasse of their palissado The Spaniards artillery thunders and at the first volee ouerthrewe many French The battaile oâ— Rauenne wonne by the French The French answers but with a greater losse to their horse Peter of Nauarre hauing caused the foote to couch flat vpon their bellies Fabrice cries presseth and importunes to go to the battaile and not to suffer them to bee consumed by the Cannon The Nauarrâ—is contradicts presuming that the more the danger increased the more famous would the victory be which he expected But the Cannon had so scoured their men at armes and light horse as they could no longer keepe their rankes There might you see men and horse fall dead to the ground heads armes and legges flie into the 〈◊〉 when as Fabricio cries out Shall wee die shamefully heere by the obstinacie and malice of a villaine Shall this army bee consumed without the death of any one enemie must the honour of Spaine and Italie bee lost for the pleasure of a Nauarrois Speaking thus he presseth out of the trench with his companie all the horse-men followe him the foote rise and with fury charge the Lansquenets All the squadrons ioyne danger glory hope and hatred of nation against nation flesh them in the combate Fabricio Coloâ—ne is already taken by the Duke of Ferrares companie Alegri chargeth in flanke with his rereward The Viceroy of Naples and Caruagial are put to flight leading with them almost a whole squadron The light horse are disranked and the Marquis of Pâ—scara their Captaine prisoner being couered with wounds and bloud The Marquis of Padulle is lâ—kewise defeated with his squadron and taken prisoner The Italians foote sâ—râ—nke and began to turne their backes if the Spaniards had not speedâ—ly come to second them against the Lansquenets But all the hoâ—semen fled and the Spanish battallion reâ—â—red in order when as Gaston turning to charge them with a great troupe of horse not holding the victory absolute if those retired whole he went couragiously to assaile them But alas as they charge the hindermost they are enuironed by this battallion cut in peeces for the most part he throwen vnder his horse was slaine being thrust into the sâ—anke with a pike Doubtlesse a happy death for him hauing this content in his sâ—ule to die in so yong an age honored with so much glory Gaston of Foix slaine the which he had purchased in fewe monethes by so many and so notable victories but a fatall victory polluted with the death of so braue a Commander who but euen nowe began to make his naâ—â— and his valour knowen and by his fall carried with him the happinesse of the French and the strength of this army The Viconte of Lautrec his Cousin remayned almost dead by him maymed with twentie wounds but led afterwards to Ferrare and being carefully looked vnto hee escaped to do the King notable seruice Gaston being dead the Spaniards retire without trouble or let the rest of the army is broken and dispersed The baggage taken enseignes and artillery Prisoners of account Prisoners of marke Fabricio Colonne the Marquises of Pescara and Padulle Estelle and Bitonte the Earle of Monteleon Iohn of Cardone Peter of Nauarre manie Barons and Noblemen Spaniards Neapolitans and Italians and the Legat of the Councell of Lateran There were slaine according to the common estimation ten thousand a third of the French amongest which were Alegre and Viuerrois his sonne Raimonet of Saint Maur Molare and some other Gascoine Captaines Iacob Colonell of the Lansquenets a braue man The number of dead and commended to haue assisted much with his troupe for the wynning of this victory Two thirds of the enemies but almost al their chiefe Captaines and the brauest of their army a great number hurt and most of them that fled were stâ—pt and beaten downe by the Countrymen which lay in troupes by the way And for the last act of this Papal tragedie Rauenna is taken by assault and cruelly sackt and spoyled Imola 〈◊〉 taken and sâ—ckt Furli Cesena Rimini and all the forts of Romagnia followed the victoâ—â— fortune and the Legate of the Councel of Pisa receiues them al in the name of the said Councel The body of Gaston was carried to Milan with an honorable conuoy in a litter followed by the aboue named prisoners interred with a wonderfull mournefull pompe namely of the soldiars whose hearts he had so wonne as they protested that nothing was impossible vnto them vnder the leading of such a Commander And the King his Vncle receyuing these heauie tidings I would to God sayd he I were driuen out of Italy so as my Nephew de Foix and the other Noblemen liued I wish such victories to mine enemies If we vanquish once more after this sort wee shall bee vanquished Without doubt
their owne After this he attempted no more against them and the greatest part of Bourgongne returned to the children of Gondebault But in the end both Prouence and Bourgongne shall bee incorporated to the Crowne by diuerse accidents the which we will note in diuerse places Clouis cruell practisâ—s to become great Clouis suruiued fiue yeares after all these losses remaining commonly at Paris hauing no heroicke mind to attempt any great conquests yet of a cruell disposition which made him die with desire of other mens goods Hee imployed all his wits to put his kinsmen to death hauing some â—eignieuries included within the compasse of his great monarchie with an imagination â—o leaue his children a great estate vnited In this desseine he puts to death Chararic to haue Amyens Ragnachatre to become maister of Cambray and Sigâ—bert to haue no companion at Mets although he were acknowleged in all these places for soueraigne This rauishing of other mens goods was vnexcusable but his tragicall proceedings to haue it was more detestable I tremble to represent the horror of these execrable crimes you may reade them in the originall of Gregorie of Tourâ— The truth of the historie requires they should bee registred but reason would haue the memory of so dangerous examples buried in obliuion I desire to be dispensed withall if I discourse not of these monstrous enormities A modest tragedie goares not the scaffold with the bloud of Iphigenia being content to report by a messenger that she was slaine by her fathers coÌ„mand drawing a curteine to hide the blood But if any one will vrge me with the debt which a historie doth owe I will say that Clouis caused Chararic to be slaine hauing seized on him and his sonne and condemned them to monastery As they were cutting of their haire the sonne seeing his father weepe bitterly said These greene branches will grow againe meaning the haire they cut off for the stocke is not dead but God will suffer him to perish that causeth them to bee cut off Horrible murthers coÌ„mitted by Câ—ouis Clouis aduertised of this free speech They complaine for the losse of their haire sayes hee let their heads bee cut off And so they were both put to death To get Ragnachaire who had faithfully serued him both against Sâ—agrius and in all his other enterprises hee corrupted some of his domesticall seruants with promise of great rewards in token wherof he sent them bracelets of latten guilt These traitors bring him Ranachaire and his brother with their hands and feete bound Hee beholding them Outcasts saith hee of our race vnworthie of the blood of Merouee are you not ashamed to suffer your selues to be thus bound you are vnworthy to liue repay the dishonour you haue done to our blood with your bloods and so gaue to eyther of them great blowes with a Battell Axe which he held in his hand 514. and slue them both in the presence of his Captaines and Councell But when 〈…〉 Traytors demanded their reward and complained of his Bracelets Auant saâ—th 〈◊〉 Traytors is it not enough that I suffer you to liue I loue the treason but I hate Trâ—ytors But the last exceeds the rest Hee perswades the sonne of Sigibert to kill his â—â—ther This infamous parricide murthers him and returnes to Clouis to put him in possession of his treasures whom he had thus massacred who being in the chamber and â—ending downe into a Chest to draw forth bagges full of gold hee caused his braiâ—es to be beaten out and being the stronger seized on Mets making a good shew to the people as ignorant of this murther Thus Clouis liued thus he reigned and thus he dyed in the yeare of our Lord 514. of the age of 45. the thirtith yeare of his reigne in the flower of his enterprises The death of 〈◊〉 in the Citty of Paris A Prince whom we must put in ballance to counterpeise his vertues with his vices valiant politick colde wise temperate diligent in execution His vertues his 〈◊〉 of admirable authoritie and indued with excellent politicke vertues fit for an estate Contrarywise hee was extreamly couetous ambitious wilfull cruâ—â—l bloudy infinitely giuen to the world immortalizing his good hap in this mortall life by his many enterprises the which hee feared not to execute with the losse of other mens goods and liues We must not wonder if we read of confusions in the following reignes wherein we shall first see bloud for bloud and the robber robbed spoiled dispoâ—sessed according to the trueth of Oracles Woe to thee that robbest for thou shalt bee robbed that killest for thou shalt be killed the same measure thou measurest shall be measured to thee againe Vnder his reigne the Romane Empire vanished quite into the West Spaine Gaule Italy and Germany were seized on by strange nations retaining no markes of the Romaine name The East had yet some shewes of the Empire whereof Constantinople was the seate Leo Zeno Anastasius Emperours liued in those dayes with many enemies The estatâ— of the Church shame and losse The Pope of Rome thrust himselfe forward amiddest these confusions and ruines recouering that which the Emperours had lost Leo Hilarie Simplicius Foelix Gelasius liued in those times learned men The Councell was held againe at Chalcedone against Eutiches and Dioscorus The 6. raigne vnder the foure sonnes of CLOVIS Childebert Clodamir Clotaire Thierry Who raigned togither forty and two yeares as Kings of France yet with a particular title â—nder this generall but in the end Clotaire remayned King alone And therefore their raignes are distinguished To this Coniunction of foure brethren some giue the sixt degree in the number of Kings and Childebert as the eldest beares the title CHILDEBERT the 6. King of France CHILDEBET KING OF FRANCE VI CLOVIS his desseine was to rule alone in a great vnited Kingdome but he sees his resolutions frustrate for this vaste bodie compounded of many peeces is scarce vnited but it is disioyned againe yea in his life time and the rest is diuided into foure parts to his children according to the lawes of nature but to the visible preâ—udice of the Estate incompatible of so many maisters as the following â—â—â—course will shewe A lesson both for great and small and a notable president of the vaâ—ity of humane enterprises where the end is not alwaies answerable to the beginning They take great paines to settle a firme estate which shal be soone dismembred either by lawe or force and that shal be dispersed sodeinly which was gathered togither too hastily Let euery one consider what hee leaues to his Children 515 for the which there is no warrantable caution but a good title These foure sonnes diuide the realme into foure Kingdomes Childebert was King of Paris and vnder this realme was comprehended the Prouinces of Poictou Maine Touraine Champaigne Aniou Guyenne and Auuergne Clotaire King of Soissons and the dependances of this realme were Vermandois Picardie
sonnes Theodebert and Thierri Tragicall practises of â—wo women The first had for his portion the realme of Austrasia the second had Bourgongne Brunehault his mother suruiued him and kept at Metz with the eldest she presentenly styrred vp these two Princes ouer whome shee had great authority as their grandmother to pursue Clotaire for the shame and death of their father Behold sodenly an army of Austrasians and Bourguignons marcheth into France led by these two yong Princes Clotaire accustomed to these sports opposeth himselfe in person and gettes the victory with such successe as they say the course of the riuer of Aurance where the battaill was fought was stayed by the dead bodies of the conquered Fredegonde leapt for ioye of this second triumph Fredegonde dies with 〈◊〉 victory by reason of Brunehault who was her chiefe obiect but her ioye was presently conuerted into her owne funerall for shee died soone after to teach reuenging spirits that their hatreds which they would haue perpetuall are mortall and at the least wise ende with their deathes Thus Fredegonde died in her bed and was interred neare to Chilperic whom she had caused to be slaine so as in this peaceable death we may consider the patience of God which doth often attend those it reserues to his last iudgement But Brunehault who thought her selfe a conqueresse by the death of Fredegonde her capital enemy incenfeth Theodebert Thierri her grand-children anew against Clotaire They raise another army vnder the coÌ„duct of Beroald not willing any more to hazard their persons being taught by the successe of two great defeats Beroald is slaine in this battaile and yet the victory remaines to his men with great losse to the French so as it seemed the warre would grow more violent betwixt these Princes who nowe beganne to see a part of their reuenge against their Cousine Clotaire But the malice of Brunehault who had banded the Cousins must nowe diuide the brethren This old bitch euen in the fury of war fouÌ„d stil meanes to follow her beastly lechery then had she got a yong courtier called Protade for a stallion whom she entertained in vew and knowlege of the whole Court 599. and aduanced him beyond dutie or deâ—ert The dislike of this vnchast conuersation offensiue to the whole world doth in the end force Theodebert to find a meanes to withdrawe his mother from the view of the multitude who were eye witnesses of the filthinesse of this shamelesse old woman and of the ignominie of his house He supposed to send her away with pollicie perswading her she should doe best to retyre her selfe into some goodly monasterie there to lead a godly life and to seeke for rest be fitting her age This admonition caused her partly to leaue the Court and State of Theodebert but not to change her mind She retyres then from Metz Brunehault incenseth 〈◊〉 brother against the other and comes into Bourgongue to her other sonne full of choller and finding Thierri ill affected against his brother shee presently kindles the vnfortunate fire of dissention betwixt them which consumed them both and finally her selfe That posterities may note in this tragedie the examples of Gods iust iudgement who punisheth one sinne by another and the sinner by his owne sinne This lewd woman perswades Thierri that Theodebert was a bastard the sonne of a Gardiner and that he had lawfull cause to make warre against him as an vsurper of that which belonged vnto him by right Thierri being exceeding couetous embraceth this occasion prepares an armie against Theodebert and imployes this Protade in the principall charge who was a kindler of warre in the spirit of this yong Prince The cheefe Noblemen of Bourgongne infinitely grieued with these disorders not daring directly to charge Brunehault they set vpon her Minion kill him By this meanes they drawe Thierri to an accord with his brother Theodebert and so either of them sends backe his troupes Thus this fire seemed to be wholy quencht the which kindled soone after in an other place by the practises of the same woâ—k woman Thierri had remayned long vnmarried entertayning change of women by the counsell of this bitche who daily prouided him store of this stuffe but solicited by the continuall perswasions prayers of his Councel The husband against the 〈◊〉 he takes to wife Membergue the daughter of Dataric King of Spaine louing her with that honest affectioÌ„ that a man ought to loue his wife Brunehault iealous of this lawfull loue fearing to be dispossessed of her authoritie and credit if a lawfull wife possessed her husbands hart she workes by her charmes reducing Thierri to that extremitie that hee was not able to accompany with his wife and for a bait to his adulterie she furnisheth other women whome he might freely vse as shee loathed him of this poore Princesse causing him to send her home to her father Dataric as vnable to beare children who infinitly greeued with this disgrace done him in the person of his daughter resolues to reuenge Hee complaynes of this iniurie both to Clotaire and Theodebert whome he knew to be enemies to Thierri and all togither resolue to make warre against him Brunehault seeing this great storme ready to fall vpon Thierri she perswades him to compound with his brother Theodebert at what price soeuer whose humour she knew wel This accord was sold by Theodebert to Thierri at a deere rate for he had the CouÌ„tries of Champaigne Touraine Artois and many other places but it cost himselfe much dearer for by this composition all the armie was dispersed and euery one retyred home Thierri who by the aduise of his mother stood vpon his guard surpriseth his brother Theodebert with such aduantage that not onely he recouers all that he had giuen him but by the Councell of this Proserpina he embrewes his hands in his blood murthering him most barbarously The brother kills the brother Theodebert had but one onely daughter whome Thierri would take to wife to haue some honest pretext to seize vppon all his Estates But Brunehault who desired greatly to see him maister but not to haue a companion in this absolute authoritie disswades him from this marriage inferring to couer her hidden intent that it was not lawfull to marrie his neece Thierri blinded with passion who by a iust iudgement of God sought to die by poyson of this viper by whose meanes hee had done so much mischiefe replies that the daughter of Theodebert was none of his neece seeing that Theodebert was not his brother being begotten by another father reproching BruÌ„â—hault that he knew no more then she had taught him And that vpon this occasion shee had encouraged him to kill him And as they grew hot in wordes hee threatened to kill her Brunehault seeing her selfe taken by the â—ose 601 and measured by the same measure she had measured to others resolues to preuent Thierri and to murther him She herselâ—e
This decree did greatly countenance the authoritie of Charles Martel being confirmed by such an assemblie and by so affectionate a consent but his vertues made him to be held as most worthie of so honorable a charge occasion made proofe of his vertuâ— and the successe was a foretelling that the Realme was appointed to his posteritie Soone after there fell out this notable occasion We haue made mention of Eudon the pretended Duke of Guienne Martel hauing vanquished him suffered him to enioy his liuing vnder the obedience oâ— the Crowne This accord pleased not Eudon who not able to bee reuenged of Martel practised such meanes as ambition and couetousnes did prescribe him The Sarazins a Turkish nation had passed out of Asia into Affrike and Spaine and had possessed those goodly and great Prouinces vnder the command of their King Abderame Eudon sollicits them to come into France and promiseth a free passage The Sarazins willingly imbrace the offer of so easie an entrie The Sarazins inuâ—de France with 400000 men and resolued to people France with a great Colonie of their nation They enter Guienne with an armie of foure hundred thousand fighting men A fearefull number at this day but plainely set downe by the common consent of all writers Charles Martel seing this great storme readie to fall vppon France resolues first to take away the cause of their comming and as Eudons discontent had drawne them in he labours to be reconciled vnto him He concludes a peace with Eudon taught by the horrible spoile of Guienne what it is to set such to worke In the end hee disposeth all things to stop the violence of so rauishing an enemie assembling all the forces he could to make a bodie able to incounter them but he armed himselfe cheefly with resolution and courage fit instruments in necessitie vnder the prouidence of the God of armes and victories The Sarazin was alreadie aduanced as far as Touraine within vew of Tours neere to the riuer of Loire where Martell resolued to attend him as well to ingage him in a Countrie far from retreat and to make Eudon and his men more resolute in whose Countrie it was to be tried as aâ—so to haue France readie in case of necessitie The Sarâ—zin musts â—â— the multitude of his men Abderame trusting in the multitude of his souldiars both of horse and foot resolues to compasse in the French and to this end had dispersed his battaillons euery one apart making shew of a great armie appointing his horse mingled with Camels and furnished with sundry newe kinds of armes to ioyne the battayllons one to another The order and countenance of this armie was fearefull to men neuer wonted to behold such an huge inundation of Sâ—angers Martel who fought more with courage and valour in a good cause Martel incoâ—rageth his 〈◊〉 then with numbers hauing assembled the bodie of his armie hee confirmes their resolutions before the combat wishing them to haue no hope but in God and in themselues shewing that they had their enemies before and the riuer of Loire behind that he had commanded them of Tours not to open the gates but to the Conqueror and had appointed troupes of horse vpon the wings of his armie to kill such as fled as enemies To conclude they had no other France but where they were in the which they must either conquer or die Eudon with his Guiennois made their armie apart not farre from Martel and with his consent The battailes being aranged and euery Commaunder hauing perswaded his men to do their best endeuours the Sarazin giues the charge supposing to compasse in the French easily as with a net but on al sides he finds meÌ„ couragious in their defence The incounter was great the combat furious In the heat of the conflict Eudon disbands violently chargeth the Sarazins campe being ful of women children baggage with a small gard forceth the defences enters it cuts in peeces kils all he encounters without difference of age or sexe 732. The Barbarien not accustomed to tâ—e readâ—nes of the French who encountred his sundrie Battaillons in grosse as they presented themselues turning after the manner of their discipline seing many of his men slâ—ine and for a second mischeefe hearing the cries and shrikings of women and children massacred in the campe began to bee amazed and to wauer Martel diâ—couering their countenance and that their battayllons grew thin cries out mainely to his â—ouldiars Courage my friends God hath set vp his banner hee fights for vs let vs charge these miscreants The souldiars incouraged at this voice and at the visible successe of their armes crie victory victory The Sarazin not knowing which way to turne him being charged on all sides breakes his battaillons abandons his rankes and casts away his armes All are dispersed the multitude oppresseth them Hereupon Martel and Eudon ioyne togither after the spoyle of the campe vppon this disorder they charge valiantly through these dismembred troupes as into a thicke haruest without any resistance all ouerflowes with bloud they are wearie with killing The remainder which fled is small the prisoners lesse all die by the sword or are beaten downe with battleaxes the victorious French inraged with the sight of these vanquished Barbarians seeking to dispossesse them their wiues and children of their habitations made them the subiects of their choller King Abderame is found dead in a heape of carcases A memorabâ—e dâ—â—eat of Abderame his death not wounded but smothered by the multitude that fled Histories assure there were slaine vpon the place three hundred seuentie fiue thousand men and of the French fifteene hundred amongst the which were many of the Nobilitie and men of account Thus God did ouerthrowe the greater number by the lesse and by his force the multitude was an incumber to the enemie But aboue all this deliuerance was remarkable for that God not onely freed France from the slauery of Infidels but also the rest of Europe the which this deluge had almost ouerflowne as it had done Asia and Affrike alreadie So thankes were giuen vnto God in all Christian Kingdoms and the name of Martel generally renowned as a cheefe instrument of the singular deliuerance of all Christendome After this defeat hee diuided the spoyles among the souldiars and the better to reward the Nobilitie he remitted them the tenthes and tithes for certaine yeares with the consent of the Clergie to whome he promised satâ—sfaction This memorable defeat was a seale of the new dignitie granted vnto Martel by the fauour of the French confirmed by his owne valour or rather by the bountie of God the essentiall cause of his happinesse This battaile was called the Battâ—il of Tours it happened in the yeare 730. but the end of this warre was the beginning of an other and almost from the same spring The battaile of Tours and by the same current We haue shewed Eudons deeds at the battaile
her peeces other estates might be built Not long after the death of Charlemagne it began to decline The foolish lenity of Lewis his sonne was the beginning the which was continued by the disordred confusions of his successors who in spight one of an other hastened the ruine of their house making the way by their vices and misfortunes This is the substance of all the Kings remaining in this second race the which wee cannot represent but in noting faithfully the order of those confused times during the which this barke hath beene in a manner guided without a Pilot and without helme by the wisdome of God who hath miraculously preserued it amidest so many tempests And therefore without any tedious discourse being intricate enough of it selfe I will labour to shew as in a table both the continuance of this race and the diuers motiues of eâ—â—nts to bring Hugh Capet vpon the stage and carefully to shew the estate of his posâ—â—rity as the chiefe end of my desseigne Lewis was surnamed the meeke or gentle as well for his deuotion wherevnto he was more giuen then to gouerne his estate as also for his great facilitie which was the cause of many miseries both to himselfe and his subâ—ects He began to raigne the yeare 815. and ruled 26. yeares Emperour of the West and King of France His father had not greatly imployed him in affaires obseruing his disposition and had marryed him with Irmengrade the daughter of Ingram Duke of Anger 's an officer of the Crowne of France hauing giuen him the Dâ—chie of Guienne for his maintenance By this wife Lewis had three sonnes Lothaire Pepin and Lewis who acted strange tragedies against their father To his second wife hee married Iudâ—th the daughter of Guelphe Duke of Sueâ—e by whom he had Charles surnamed the Bald who succeeded him in the Crowne of France Bernard the sonne of Pepin was King of Italy as Charlemagne had decreed Lewis more fitte to be a Monke then a King was so giuen to deuotion and of so soft a spirit as he made his authority contemptible both within and without the realme This disposition vnfit for a great command made the nations subiect to the Crowne to fall from their obedience Base facility the Saxons Normans Danes and Brittons And although Lewis did his best to preuent it yet could hee not preuaile but made himselfe wholy contemptible in attempting that which he could not effect and after his vaine striuing compounding of great controuersies with vnreasonable conditions Bernard a young man and ambitious was perswaded by the Bishops of Orleans and Milan to attempt against his Vncle Lewis and to seize vpon the realme of France which belonged not vnto him So his ambition cost him deere and that sodenly for being in field to go into France against his Vncle with an imaginarie fauour of the French to be proclaimed King it fell out contrary for both he and all his Councellors were taken by Lewis his subiects Lewis wonderfully moued with the presumption of this springall as we often see milde natures fall into extremities of choller when they are moued hauing both his Nephew and Councellors in his power A furious 〈◊〉 he despoiles him of his realme of Italy declares him and his vnworthy confines him to perpetuall prison and puts out his eyes the like he doth to all the Bishops and Noblemen he could get and after some fewe dayes patience he chops off their heads This act was held very strange proceeding from Lewis and committed against such persons it began to breed a generall diâ—ike the which was aggrauated by a domesticall dissention all which together caused a horrible Tragedie Lewis had indiscreetly giuen portions to his children making them companions of his regall authority After the decease of Bernard hee gaue Italy to Lothaire and did associate him in the Empire Lewis his indiscâ—etion to Pepin hee gaue Aquitaine to Lewis Bauaria and would haue them all beare the name of Kings Lewis good to all was too good to his second wife Iudith an ambitious woman who hauing one sonne by him called Charles had no other care but to make this sonne great to the preiudice of the rest not foreseeing that they were of power and could not patiently endure the iealousies of a mother in lawe nor the words of an old man being too much affected to the one of his children against the rest at the suggestion of a Mother in lawe an ordinary leuaine of bitter dissention in families of the second bedde Moreouer this imperious Germaine abusing the facilitie of her good husband played the Empresse and Queene ouer all to the discontent of the greatest who had no fauour with Lewis but by the fauour of his wife they did hate and contemne him as beeing vnworthy to raigne suffering himselfe so slauishly to be gouerned by a woman This was the generall motiue of their discontent but there were many other particularities which grewe dayly vpon diuers and sundrie occasions The Bishops were most of all incensed against Lewis by reason of the death of those men of the Church whome hee had so cruelly caused to be slaine with Bernard So Lothaire Tragicall rebellion of childâ—â—n Pepin and Lewis by the aduise of these malecontents resolue to seize â—â—on their Father Mother and young Brother to dispossesse them of all authority and â—â—en to gouerne the State after their owne appetities wherein they must vse force and a publicke consent Lothaire as ring-leader of this desseigne leuies a great army and calls a Nationall Councell of the French Church at Lions 829. supposing sooner to suppresse Lewis by this meanes then by a Parliament Lewis appeerâ— he receiues all complaints against himselfe and yeelds to the Censure of the Prelate which was to retire himselfe into a Monastery there to attend his deuotion and to resigne the Empire and the realme to his Children This was put in execution Abâ—se in the Clergy Lewis was conueied to Soissons to the monastery of Saint Medard his wife and sonne were confined to other places and the whole gouernment committed to Lothaire and his brethren â—hus Lewis so much addicted to Church-men as he purchased the name of deuout was ill intreated by them receiued a poore recompence for his so humble submission The name of a Councell venerable of it selfe did at the first retayne men supposing that this ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction did not extend but to admonition but seeing this tragicall attempt of the Children against the father there was no good man but stoode amazed at this presumption and pittied their poore King beeing brought to such calamity But all power remayned in the hands of the rebellious Children and the greatest of the Church were guilty of this outrage secking to maintaine their decree Lewis impâ—iâ—â—ed by his Children Thus this poore Prince to the generall greefe of his subiects continued in prison fiue yeares for he entred in the yeare 829. and came
which is decreed in heauen At this time William Duke of Normandie the sonne of Rhoâ— The Duke of Noâ—manâ—â—â— traâ—terously â—â—aine who had shewed himselfe so affectionate in the restoring of the King to his dignitie was traiterously massacred by the meanes of Arnoul Earle of Flanders his capitall enemy leauing one sonne named Richard a young man vnder gouernment This vnexpected and extraordinary death must needes breed great troubles in Normandie an estate which was but now beginning It did greatly import for the good of France to haue this Prouince in quiet Lewis was likewise particularly bound Troubles in Normanâ—ie for the good entertainment he had receiued of William in his greatest necessitie the which tyed him to his sonne These were goodly shewes to maâ—e him imbrace this cause so as hauing intelligence of this accident hee sends expresly to Richard and his Councell to assure him of his loue and succour and followes himâ—elfe presently to Rouan with a traine fiâ—te for his royall greatnesse being loth to bee the weakest after so strange an alteration where the most audacious do commonly fish in a troubled streame The colour of his comming was to comfort Richard with his councell and fauourable assistance but in effect it was to seize vpon his person and estate Hee sends for this young child to his lodging conducted by his gouernour the Knight Osmand he doth assure him with sweete words of his fatherly loue but when night came he would noâ— suffer him to depart detaining him three dayes with a carefull garde The people incensed by them that had the charge of the young Duke mutine and besiege the Kings lodging Hauing pacified this popular fury in deliuering them their Prince hee protests to haue no other intent but to preserue his estate And so in an open assembly of the Citty receiuing him to homage hauing giuen him a discharge of his lands and Seigneuries hee doth solemnly promise to reuenge the death of William against Arnoul Earle of Flanders and gets the consent of the Normans to lead their Duke with him to be instructed with his sonne Lothaire a young childe of the same age Hee brings him to Lâ—on whether Arnoul the murtherer of William repaires in shew to purge himselfe of the murther but in effect to perswade him so to seize on Richards person as he might enioy his estate Lewis being resolute in this determination a man disloyall by nature Lewis deales tâ—echeroâ—sly wâ—th the Duâ—e of Normandie and louing nothing but himselfe hee caused this poore young Prince to bee straightly garded but this Gouernour Osmond retires him cunningly out of Laon conducting him to Senlis to Hebert his fathers conâ—ident friend This is â—ee which imprisoned Charles the Simple contrary to his faith and now hee detests Lewis his Soueraigne Lord who seekes to doe the like vnto onâ— of his vassalls But we shall soone see the Iustice of God aboue all who will punish one by an other and shew himselfe an enemie and reuenger of all disloyaltie and misdemeanour both in seruant and maister and in all other as all are naturally subiâ—ct to this soueraigne lawe of integritie and faithfulnesse to all men Hugues the great Earle of Paris and Maior of the Pallace had won great credit with the Citties and men of warre but hee was more feared then loued of Lewis a treacherous and reuengefull Prince whome hee distrusted and opposed his authoritye against him Hebert was his confident friend So in this occurrent of this young Prince hee comes to Paris and winnes him to promise fauour vnto Richard or at the least to make him promise not to bee his enemie 942. The King likewise knowing how much his friendshâ—ppe did import in these 〈…〉 labours to winne him such was the strangnes of that age as the master must 〈…〉 the seruant the which hee obtayned vpon condition to giue him a good part 〈…〉 Herevpon the match was made that Hugues should accompany Lewis 〈…〉 warre of Normandy and should enter on the one side while the King came on the other promising to diuide their conquests according to their agrement But this succeeded not according to their meanings the two deceiuers were deceiued but the greatest bare the greatest burthen This complot of Lewis and Hugues could not be so secret but it came to the knowledge of Hebert who gaue intelligence to Richard and his gouernors Osmond and Bernard the Dane so as they assemble at Senlis and resolue to crosse this double dealing of Hugues with the like policy To this ende Hebert according to the familiarity he had with Hugues goes to conferre with him to put him in minde of his promise of the right of a yong Prince vniustly pursued by Lewis and of his treacherous and disloyall disposition who hauing vsed him to worke his will would in the end deceiue him beseeching him to stand firme in a good cause for his ancient and faithfull friends and not to fortifie their common enemy by the afflictions of an other but in defending the right vniustly set vpon prouide for his safety and profit Hugues who thought it best to haue two strings to his bowe distrusting Lewis in his heaâ—t more then any man lyuing doth easily grant Hebert to assist Richard against Lewis and doth confirme his promâ—se by oth Hebert hauing thus ingaged Hugues and yet distrusting him greatly whome he sees to play on both sides returnes to Senlis to Richard and his gouernors where they conclude that if Hugues ioyned with the King against Richard they would compound with the King to his cost The deceiuer is deceiued and so it happened The King goes to field with his army on the one side and Hugues on the other to inuade Normandy in diuers partes when as Bernard the Dâ—ne chiefe gouernor of the State for Richard and Osmond of his person came boldly vnto Lewis and sayd vnto him that he had no neede to attempt Normandy by force when as he might enioy it by a voluntary obedience for proofe whereof if it pleased him to come to Rouan he should be obeyed But withall he aduised him to take heed of Hugues his ancient enemy shewing him treacherously the countenance of a friend seruant least he were circumuented but rather to accept of al Normandie with Rouan the which offred it selfe vnto him to receiue peace from him yeeld him obedience as their Soueraine Lord. Lewis willingly giues eaâ—e to this aduice he comes presently to Rouan and is honorably receiued sending word to Hugues that seeing the Prouince obeyed there was no neede of further proceeding and hauing not imployed him in this voluntary conquest it was not reasonable he shoul participate in an other mans estate that the publike good and reason required him to leaue Richard as he was vnder the obedience of the Crowne without dismembring of his Estate Hugues who pretended a good part of this rich Country was greatly discontented with Lewis Hauing dismissed his
flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâ—â—â— his Nephew for the County of Flanders His meaning was to make a benefit of their common quarrell But it fell out otherwise by his prouidence who doth pull downe one raise vp an other alwaies iustly although the causes be vnknowne vnto vs. Robert defeates the King and his Nephews After this victory hee is receiued Earle of Flanders without any discontent of the King for the distressed pupills who relying no more on him fled for succor to Thierry Bishop of Liege who makes an accord That Robert the Frison should haue the Earledom of Flanders giue his Nephews some recompence After this peaceable possession of the Earledome of Flanders Philip fâ—rsâ—ks Baldwins Children at their neede In England Philip became a deere friend to Robert forgetting the good offices hee had receiued from his tutor measuring friendship by proffiâ— Such was tâ—eÌ„ the state of Flanders England had a greater change we haue sayd that Robert Duke of Normandy had instituted William his bastard sonne his heire and that hee had gotten possession of the Dâ—chie but behold a greater happinesse attends him Edward King of England hauing receiued much kindnesse from him and knowing him fit for the gouernment of the realme names him his heire by his testament by vertue whereof notwithstanding all the policy and force that Herould brother to the Queene could vse William is receiued King of England and crowned in a soâ—lemne assemble of the English homage is done vnto him as to their lawfull Lord this great dignity continued in his posterity Philip sees this new power impatiently Philip discontented at VVilliams aduancement to the crowne of England yet can he not preuent it but God hath prepared it as a rod to correct this realme by the three sonnes which William left to succeed in his Estates Robert William and Henry Ambition is the Leuaine of these warres it shewed it selfe soone after the birth of this new power growen to the Dukes of Normandy whose first breeding we haue seene in the second race by the increase of the realme of England Robert and Henry the sonnes of William come to the King at Constans vpon Oise As they play at Chesse with Lewis the sonne of King Philip there fell some contention among these yong Princes and from iniurious words they fell to blowes Lewis called Henry the sonne of a Bastard Henry struck at him with the Chesse-board and had slaine him if Robert had not staied him This blow being giuen Robert and Henry made all hast to saue themselues in Normandy The Leuaine of distention betwixt France and England where they incensed both heauen and earth with their complaints From this light beginning grew all the troubles which disquieted these two Estates during 400. yeares vpon diuers occasions Robert Henry being escaped the fathers so imbrace the quarrell for their children as they fall to armes Philip goes to field and takes Vernon depending of Normandie Robert goes out of Normandie and doth seize vpon Beauuois King William parts from England and lands in France with a great and mighty power The English enter into Guienne and inuades Xaintonge and Poitoâ— Behold the first check of a dangerous game Philip moued with these losses enters into Normandie with a great and mighty armie but he cures not one wound in making of another William on the other side runnes and spoiles all the Country euen vnto the gates of Paris where hee entred not then but his posteritie did after him Hee dies soone after but the quarrell suruiued in his children who augmented this hereditarie hatred in many sorts While they began to weaue this web Italy was in no better estate being full of horrible combustions and the cause was so much the more lamentable for that the mischiefe came from them Conâ—â—â—â—ons in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes from whom all good was to be expected We haue formerly spoken of the deuisions growne betwixt the Emperours and the Popes of Rome for their preheminences In all ancient times the Popes were subiect to be summoned before the Emperour who had authority to create them to depose them that were vnworthy of their charges to call Synods and to confirme all things which concerned the outward gouernment of the Church The Pope on the other side maintaines that all this authority was his The Popes vsurpation as vniuersall Bishop hauing power to bind and loose to iudge of all men and all causes as the soueraigne Iudge of the Church not to bee iudged by any man and so to dispose absolutely of all matters as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill as Monarch in the Church not only armed with power of excommunication to damne rebels and authority to remit sinnes but hauing also the temporall sword with soueraigne authority ouer Emperours Kings and Princes of the earth to place and diâ—place and to dispoâ—e of their estates Hereafter we shall find in euery raigne some memorable example of this soueraigne authority This raigne giues a very notable one After the death of the Emperour Conrade called Salique Henry the 3. of that name hauing happily gouerned the Empire left it to his sonne Henry the 4 yet very yong so as the Popes during this weakenesse of the Empire had meanes to fortifie themselues and so imbracing this occasion Gregory the 7. called Hildebrand did prohibite the Emperour all authority ouer the Clergie and forbad vpon paine of excommunication to haue any recourse vnto him for the collation of benefices or for any thing else that depended on the Church Henry moued with so great an affâ—ont Sâ—range confuâ—oâ—s betwixt the Emperoâ—r and the â—ope lets Gregory vnderstand that this his decree was contrarie to the ancient orders the vse of the Catholike Church Vpon this refusall he lets him know that hee will maintaine the rights of the Empire and complaines to the Clergie of Rome in an open assembly Gregorie calls an other wherein hee doth excommunicate Henry and all his adherents and sends forth his Bull into all parts wherby hee declares him excommunicate and degraded of the Empire and in his place causeth Rodolph Duke of Sueuia to be chosen Emperour Thus there growes two factions in Italy and in Germanie one for the Emperour and the other for the Pope behold two armies leuied of these factions ready to shed Christians bloud nine battailes were giuen vpon the quarrell of these preheminences In the end Rodolphe the new Emperour is taken and slaine by Godefroy of Bouillon who followed the Emperour Henry the fourth who after this victorie assembled a great Councell at Bresse where as Gregorie the seuenth is excommunicated and Clement Bishop of Râ—uenna appointed to succeed him they conduct him to Rome with an armie take the Citty after a long siege whereas the new Pope is sollemnlie installed and Henry the 4. Emperour restored
these butchers attending their misery Lewis King of France punisheth the rebells shut themselues into the great Tower of S. Donas Lewis doth first bury the body of this good Earle honourably the which had lien without sepulchre and then doth punish the murtherers and their complices rigourously But this is not all He must prouide for the Earledome remayning without a Lord by the death of Count Charles deceassed without children Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders There wanted no pretendants William of Ypre sonne to Philip of Flanders the second sonne of Robert the Frison King Henry of England who desired greatly to ioyne this goodly Country with his Normandy Stephen of Blois Earle of Montreuill and Bologne Baldwin Earle of Hainault and William the sonne of Robert called Court-house brother to the King of England but his sworne enemy hauing vsed his father ill and kept him prisoner Lewis was soueraigne Iudge of this controuersy Flanders depending on the crowne of France He assigned all the pretendants of the Citty of Arras signifiyng that his intent was to do him iustice but in effect he inclined to fauour adiudging the Earledome of Flanders to the last that is to William of Normandy to binde him with more strict bounds against his â—â—nsman On the other side the Flemings assemble at Ypre and chose William of Loâ— Lord of Ypre The King aduanceth with his forces to Ypre to preuent this popular election where he enters the stonger and forceth William to renownce it VVilliam of Normandy made Earle of Flanders From thence he goes to all other good Citties where by his authority he causeth William of Normandy to be receiued for lawfull Earle and puts him in solemne possession by a publike act But his fauour had ill bestowed this goodly inheritance of an vnworthy man whose fury depriued him presently Lewis hauing installed him He oppresseth his newe subiects returnes into France William insteed of winning his newe subiects by equity and mildnesse begins to oppresse them after a rigorous and imperious manner by infringing of their preuileges ostentations of his authority taxes subsidies newe impositions and by all other meanes which Princes that seeke to loose their Estates hold to torment their subiects He had so far exceeded as the Citties without any wauering resolue to prouide a better Earle and to this intent they seeke a head The memorie of their good Earle makes them to cast their eyes vpon him that hath most right to this inheritance as the neerest kinsman which is Thierri son to the Duke of Alsatia and of Gertrude daughter to Robert the Frison The Flemings intreat him to come into their country The Flemings chooâ—e them a new Earle promising him all assistance to conquer the State He comes and is receiued with an extraordinary ioy by all the people All the Citties assemble to acknowledge him by order and dismisse William of Normandy who seeing a flat repulse by this people thus freed repayres to Lewis for succour in this extremity Lewis fayles him not his army marcheth with great speed hee himselfe comes in person and is receiued into Arras from thence he adiornes Thierry to come and answer before him as his soueraigne by what warrant hee carries himselfe for Earle this sommons is made vnto him at Ypre whether he had retired himselfe Hauing condemned him by default Thierrithe new Earle of Flanders defeated he approcheth his army to Ypre to vexe the inhibâ—bitants Thierri sallies forth with a notable troupe of men they ioyne the fight is fierce but the check falles vpon Thierries forces who with much a doe saues himselfe in Alost William pursues him and approcheth the towne sommoning the Inhabitants to obey and to deliuer vp Thierri as an Vsurper VVilliam of Normandy stâ—â—â—e in Flanders But he was not aduised that one with a Crossebow shot an arrow at him and pierced him through the arme Behold hee is wounded and within two dayes he dies Thierri and the Flemings send presently to Lewis to beseech him to receiue them into fauour whereby he may be assured of theyr faithfull seruice Lewis consents and confirmes him and hauing caused him to take the oath of fidelity and receiued his homage after the manner of his Ancestors 1121. he returnes into France But Flanders continued not long in quiet as we shall see hereafter To these stirres of Flanders were added some garboyles in Bourbonois and Auuergne Archibauld Earle of Bourbon was deceassed leauing one sonne of the same name Troubles in Bourbonois but a young man and a brother called Haman who abusing the time in the weake minoritie of his Nephew would make himselfe Maister of Bourbonois pretending the Earledome to appertaine vnto him by the death of his elder brother to whom hee must succeed in order as the yongest of the house The mother and friends of Archibauld opposed against Hamon the right of representation inuiolable in France in great houses which is that the sonne of the eldest brother represeâ—ts the Father and without doubt succeeds in all his rights to enioy them as if he himselfe liued for that the Father reuiues in the Sonne Hamon building his chiefe interest vpon force would not admit any reason that made for his Nephew so as the matter was brought before the King who by the aduise of his Councell declares Archibauld the lawfull heire and puts Haman from his pretensions commanding him to leaue the possession of Bourbonois free to his Nephew 1123. This Archibauld did afterwards marrie his daughter Beatrix to Robert Earle of Clermont in Beauuoisis sonne to the King S. Lewis The stâ—â—ke of the house of Bourbon and of this marriage by the royall stemme is discended the most famous race of Bourbon the which at this day doth happily enioy the Crowne and realme of France But Haman who held some places in Burbonois would not leaue the possession refusing to obey the Kings commandement relying vpon the fauour of Eustache Earle of Auuergne who sought to free himselfe There was a priuate subiect of complaint against him hauing displaced the Bishop of Clermont against the Kings will These occasions drew the King into Bourbonois where hauing besieged Haman he ended this controuersie in fauour of Archibauld The affaires of Auuergne were more difficult by reason of William Duke of Guienne who imbraced the cause for the Earle of Auuergne pretending that he was his vassall This quarrell seemed to take a long course but it was pacified by this meanes Lewis had six sonnes Philip Lewis Henry another Philip Peter Robert and one Daughter Constance He had crowned his eldest sonne Philip who dyed by a strange accident going to take the aire on horseback Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident a Hog passed vnder the bellie of his horse the which being feared did shake this young King so violently as he threw him downe and so brused him as within few dayes after hee
Christians affaires in Asia declined still The Pope perswaded the Kings of France and England with many reasons The Christians â—stâ—â—â— in Asiâ— very miserable and the zeale of the common interest of Christendome made them resolue They became good friends with an intent to make a voyage together to the Holy Land to the incredible content of all their subâ—ects But whilest they prepare for this voyage let vs passe into Asia to visit the afflicted Christians After the fruitlesse returne of the Emperor Conrad and of Lewis King of France things went from bad to worse hauing caused the Christian forces to loose their reputation with the Turkes being growne proud with this vaine shew of Armes Baldwin dyes after the fruitlesse attempts of these great Princes Amaulry his Brother succeeds him who toyled himselfe in Egipt against Sultan Sarracon and Saladin his successor Hee was releeued by the comming of Fredericke Barbarousse who failed not to performe what he had promised to Pope Alexander But the Christians found small comfort in his comming The forces of the Empire which were great being dispersed by the death of the Emperour Amaulry likewise dyes who leaues one Sonne named Baldwin both yong and a Lepar so as hauing voluntarily resigned the charge finding himselfe vnfit he did inuest his Nephew Baldwin the sonne of William Long-sword Marquis of Monâ—errat and of Sibell his Sister and considering the weaknesse of his age he appoints Raimond Earle of Tripoli for his Tutor 1121. Hence sprung a horrible dissention among the Christians for Sibille by whom the right came to Baldwin her sonne after the death of Marquis William was married to Guy of Lusignan who was seized of the yong Infant Hee is now his Tutor by force the child dyes and Guy of a Tutor becomes a King The Christians in Asia at Ciuill warres not without great suspition of treacherie against the Infant and in the end they fall to warre Euery one doth strengthen himselfe for this goodly realme and they are incensed with greater fury then when they ioyntly made warre against the Infidels Guy seekes for succour of Saladin Sultan of Egipt who embraceth this occasion and runnes with a great Armie to besiege Tiberiades The Christians assemble and are defeated in a set battaile The Crosse is taken by Saladin and carried in triumph Then was Tripoly deliuered into his hands The Infidels make their profit by their dissentions and the Earle Raymond found dead in his bedd when as hee should haue raigned to teach all men how to trust Infidels Saladin passeth on he beeseegeth takes and sacks Ierusalem and in this amazement Ptolomais Azot Baruth and Ascalon yeeld vnto him These victorious conquests of Saladin were accompanied with great mildnesse to the people whome he had subdued that by this wise course the Miscreant might incounter the Christians disorders by a notable example of vertue Moreouer there happened another tragicall confusion Alexis a young man of fifteene yeares The Emperor of Greecâ— murthered by his Tutor sonne to Emanuell the Emperour issued from that Alexis of whom wee haue spoken in the beginning of this Easterne warre was cruelly slaine by his Tutor Andronicus and he himselfe afterward by Isaac and the people of Constantinople who had called him to the Empire Such was the sick estate of the East when as our Kings were solicited to go and visit it in the yeare 1190. Philip calles a Parliament at Paris to settle his estate they disswade him from the voyage but zeale transported him and made him fight with impossibilities So great efficacie this resolution had to go to this warre which seemed to be the gaine of their soules health as the Historie saith King Philip Ricâ—aâ—d King of England made a voâ—age to the East great charges were imposed vpon such as went not the voyage to pay the tenth of all their reuenues both spirituall and temporall called for this occasion the Saladins Tenths Richard King of England came with manie Dukes Marquises Earles Barons great Lords and an infinite number of young Gentlemen The Kings sweare a brotherly and inuiolable League The great 〈…〉 among Kings breeds contempt and hatred but the continuall and priuate entercourse by the way bred a familiaritie and this familiarity engendred a contempt and contempt hatred as the course of the History will shew A notable lesson for Kings and Princes to teach them how farre they should conuerse familiarlie Hauing crossed the Seas with some difficulties in the end they come into Syria The losse of the Crosse made them to besiege Acon the which they take very valiantlie after great losse of their men but the Crosse would not bee found As the Originall saieth The plague fell among their troupes euery one talkes of returning Philip speakes 〈…〉 indisposition Richard made some difficultie least that Philip in his â—bâ—ence should attempt some thing in his territories of France Philip hauing assured him by othe returnes and passing by Rome comes safe into France Hauing left the greatest part of his forces in the East vnder the command of Odo Duke of Bourgongne Richard remaining alone was better obeyed of the Armie and atchiued great and memorable exploits against Saladin being already amazed by the taking of Acon Richard King of Englandhis exploits in Asia 〈…〉 Gaza and Iaffa hauing repeopled them with Christian Colonies and vainquished Saladin in battaâ—le From thence he resolued to besiege Ierusalem but as hee was kept from this enterprise by reason of the Winter so was hee forced to leaue Asia vppon this occasion and returne into England During his voyage and Philips there had passed some vnkinde speeches by reason of Alix Sister to Philip and the wife of Richard who in great disdaine said That he had neuer toucht her that she should neuer come neere him blaming her as if shee had beene prodigall of her honour by a monstrous Incest with his Father Notwithstanding all shewes at their parting yet this did sticke in Philippes stomake 1061. who at his returne found his Sister Alix at Saint Germaine in Laie whether she was retired expecting his returne who failed not to seeke all means of reuenge Richard had left his brother Iohn in England to gouerne the State in his absence Philippe solicitts him and promiseth him all his meanes with his Sister Alix being vnworthely reiected for a gage of his loue Philippe stâ—rs vp Iohn against his brother Richard King of â—ngland But Elenor the mother of these Princes kept Iohn in awe from ioyning openly with Philip against his absent brother yet could she not restraine Iohn from giuing his word to Phillip who failes not to seaze couertly seing his faith plighted and the reuerence of the cause which held Richard from his house would not suffer him to worke openly So he takes Gisors by intelligence and all the other Townes of Vexin which were in controuersie These newes gaue Richard iust cause to resolue vpon
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
part the realme of Naples and the Earldome of Prouence and left one sonne named Charles who had two daughters Iane and Magdalene Iane by the death of her sister remayned sole heire of these two great Estats and was married to Andrewe the sonne of Charles King of Hongarie The subiect of our discourse will not suffer mee to speake of the other children Philip the yongest sonne of Charles the Lame had one sonne named Lewis Prince of Tarentum verie faier but of a violent and bold spirit Iane began to loath her husband and preferring the filthy loue of her Cosin before the honour of marriage Iane Queene of Naples kils her husband shee caused her husband Andrewe of Hongarie to be slaine cloaking this horrible and tragike acte with an impudent hipocrisie for she takes vpon her the habit of mourning after the death of her husband whome she her selfe had slaine and writes letters to Lewis King of Hongarie brother to Andrewe full of lamentations Lewis knowing the detestable dissembling of this mastiue The kingdom of Naplâ—s taken by Lewis king of Hongarie prepares his forces against these fayned teares and without any dissembling hee marcheth towards Italie with a mightie armie resolute to take an exemplary punishment of these wretched heads but Iane and Lewis flie into Prouence before the storme Lewis fauored by the reuenging iustice of God takes the Realme of Naples easilie with Charles Duke of Durazzo left for the gard thereof and Lewis Robert and Charles Princes of the bloud The first hee beheads the rest he sends into Hongarie to perpetuâ—ll 〈◊〉 and leauing Stephen Vayuoida gouernour of his newe conquest hee returnes 〈◊〉 to his realme In the meane time the hatred betwixt the two Princes growes violent Warre renued betwixt the two Kings both by forme of 〈◊〉 by open force Philip makes diligent search both in Normandie Picardie 〈◊〉 â—oâ— al the nobility which fauored Edwards faction He caused Oliuer of Clisson to loose his head whose sonne shal be Constable vnder Chales 6 with Bâ—con Persy and Geossroy of 〈◊〉 Knights of marke in whome he notes no other crimes but that they were Englishmen Geossroy of Harcourt was sommoned but in steed of appeering at Paris he retired 〈…〉 to London to kindle the fier in France Yet in these preparations for warre Edward gaue scope to his loues for in the beginning of this warre he instituted the order of the garter with this motto Hony soit qui maly pense in honor of the Countesse of Salisbury honoring in her the chastitie which he could neuer 〈…〉 by all his amorous practises He armes on both sides in Guienne and Normandie The Duke of Lancaster general of the army in Guienne takes Vilefranche of Agenots 〈…〉 S. Bâ—sâ—â—e with many other townes Castells In Guiennâ— to whome Philip opposeth his 〈◊〉 Iohn duke of Normandy who recouers Angoulesme Villefranche froÌ„ the English But the greatest burthen of the warre fell vpon Normandie whether Edward led the flower of all his Nobility landing in the Countrie of Cotantin with aboue a thousand saile At hâ—â— entrie he puts all to fier and sword takes the Towne of Carentan In Normandy by force kills al he 〈…〉 or disarmed spoiles burnes and razeth the Towne In the champian 〈…〉 puts all to the sword saying that he did offer those sacrifices to Bacon Persy his other seruants being vniustly massacred by Philip. The reason was for that the heads of these men stood vpon the cheefegate of Carentan Then he takes and spoiles S. Lo and after a great fight he becomes master of Caen with such a terror as Falaise Lisieux 〈◊〉 yelded vnto him without any resistance These townes being taken he marcheth into the I le of France to drawe Pâ—ilip to battaile proclaiming generally that he called him to fight in the view of all France 1346. at the great Theater of his chiefe cittie of Paris At the same time by the like practises Flanders rebelled by means of Iames of Arteuille who was more then a passionate partaker of Edwards So the disordred passion of this desperate seditious man was a trappe for his owne ruine For as he not onely laboured by all meanes to shake off the French yoake but also grew so audacious as to perswade the Flemmings to leaue their naturall obedience to their Earle and to receiue a new Lord such a one as the King of England should appoint the Flemmings much displeased with this insolent proposition of Arteuille Arteuille slaâ—n by the Flemingâ— as the bloud of a faithfull subiect can neuer denie his Prince they fall furiously vpon him in open assembly and without any further processe they kill him reuenging vpon him the mischiefes they had committed by his pernitious councels Thus in the end this Tribune receiued the guerdon due to such as abuse the furie of an inchanted multitude making them the instruments of their passions against their superiours This iust execution crossed Edwards desseins in Flanders and gaue the Earle meanes to repaire to Philip with his forces and to consecrate his life to him the which he lost in this voyage Philip slept not during these proceedings of Edwards he had gathered together one of the goodliâ—st armies that euer was seene in France consisting of French Lorraines Germaines and Geneuois he which he led towards Meulan where Edward said he attended to fight with him Edward retires vpon this alarum They imagined that he fled for feare but the issue will shew that the great God of armies had appointed his victorie in another place He retiers and Philip followes who in the end ouertakes him at a village called Arenes a remarkable name to shew that all the trust of humane forces and all the desseignes of mans pollicie are like vnto a quicksand Phâ—lips great armie hauing the aduantage of being at home presumed of an assured victorie Edward retired to get the riuer of Somme at Blanquetaque but he must fight for the passage Philip had already seized thereon by Gondemar of Fate with a thousand horse and 6000. foote the most part of them Crosbow men yet Edward resolued to passe or dye With this resolution he leapes into the water and cryes out He that loues me let him follow me At this speech they all plunge into the riuer without any stay so as presently the English recouer the banke Gondemar troubled at this gallant resolution The French defeated at â—lanque taque amazeth his men with his terrified countenance All giue way to the English who incountring our men in disorder charge the rereward but the retreat was neere at Abbeuille and S Riquiâ—r places vnder our obedience The losse was not so great as the disgrace yet was it a presage of a greater mischiefe which followed France These poore men arriue at Abbeuillâ— in a throng all distempered with the amazement of this shamefull and vnfortunate flight Philip exceedingly transported with this disgracefull
nineteene moneths a prisoner This young Prince inuironed with all these difficulties had yet one which exceeded the rest The King of Nâ—â—aâ—â—e set at liberty comes to Paâ—â—â— The Bishop of Laon the chiefe of his councel betraied him bâ—ing a priuate and passionate partaker of the Nauarrois Charles King of Nauarre is deliuered meaning to come to Paris and therefore he demands a safeâ—conduct from the Daulphin who grants it will he or no that is he puts a sword into the hands of his most malicious and â—urious enemie and lodgeth him in his owne house These were bitter pilles but he must digest them euen the Daulphin and all good men that did assist him But many of them lothe to allow of these confusions by their free conâ—ents retire themselues to their houses The Nauarrois hauing his pasport from the Daulphin not onely as a gage of the publike faithfulnesse but as a sentence against king Iohn being prisoner goes to Paris with a stateâ—â—â— traine where they all prepare for his entertainment The Bishop of Laon and the Prouost of Marchants with a great troupe of his Partisans meet him who went to lodge in the Abby of S. Germaine He lets the people vnderstand that he desires to speake publikly vnto them A scaffold is built the people throng in great troupes bringing both hearts and eares The Nauarrois a subtill and an eloquent man represents vnto them the wrong of his imprisonment and his interest to the Crowne he desires iustice might be done him according to his deâ—â—â—t and qualitie but aboue all he spares not to touch that string which should aduance him to the royaltie The people applaud him and giue charge to the Pâ—ouost of Marchants to make the Daulphin acquainted therewith The Bishop of Laon a traâ—tor to his maiestie the which he perfoâ—mes with a brauado The Bishop of Laon a treacheâ—ous seruant to his Maisteâ— answeâ—s for him being silent in this necessitie That the Daulphin should shew grace and fauour to the King of Nauarre as one good brother ought to another He makes the Daulphin so humble as he preuents the Nauarrois who kept his lodging but to preach to this seditious multitude and doth vâ—sit him first whom he doth scaâ—se meete at the doore with a colde welcome He requires audience of his demands They are read in councell which consisted for the most part of men corrupted Wheâ—e it was decreed That all which the King of Nauarre and his complices had done against the King and his realme should be forgotten as neuer done The 〈◊〉 yeelds to the 〈◊〉 his goods seized and in the Kings hands should be restored both to him and his with their honours which had beene beheaded by the commandement of King â—hon their bones should be gathered together and honourablie interred all acts of condemnation dâ—sâ—nulled and an actâ— of their iustiâ—â—cation autentically drawne to free them and theirs hereafter from all 〈◊〉 The demand of the King of Nauarres pretended title was remitted to another time But the Nauarrois brings in the king of England of whom the Daulphin demaÌ„ded a truâ—e the which he grants vpon condition New causes of warre That he might succour the King of Nauar Iohn of Montfort duke of Brittaine in their pretensions Thus the seeds of warre were sowen during the confused calamitie of this poore realme by the meanes of Charles of Nauarre At the same instant Edward makes rigorous demands of his prisoner Iohn on whom for all his good couÌ„tenance he meant to make a benefit by his captiuity He required homage of him for the realme of France as holding it of the realme of England and vpon this condition he would set him at libertie K. Iohn being of a couragious spirit though a prisoneâ— in his person answers him freely That he must not speake to him of that which he neither ought nor would do to alienate a right inalienable That he was resolued at what price soeuer The generous answer of King Iohn to Edwards demands to leaue it to his children as hee had receiued it from his Ancestors That affliction might well ingage his person but not the inuiolable right of the Crowne where he had the honour to be borne ouer the 〈…〉 prison nor death had any power especially in him who should alwaies hold his life well imployed sacrifiâ—ing it for the immortall preseruation of France This generous magnanimitie of King Iohn gaue as great occasion to pittie his calamity as the strange conditions of the English being victor ministred matter of griefe and 〈◊〉 to all true hearted Frenchmen but all this could neitheâ— temper the malice of the Nauarrois not the furious impudencie of this inchanted people Hâ—â—evpâ—n the Daulphin intreats the Parisiens to take pittie of his poore father who not able to auâ—id the ineuitable crosses of fortune common to all degrees The Parâ—sienâ— in 〈◊〉 to their King could well shewe 〈◊〉 in greatest afflictions But these brutish mindes will not be mooued by any 〈…〉 reasons so as after this poore Prince had vsed all the submissions necessity could 〈◊〉 to win the people in the end after the losse of his paines he sought to the other Citâ—â—◠〈◊〉 France Hauing left Lewis Duke of Aniou his brother at Paris to supply his place 〈◊〉 maintaine some shewe of authority The Daulphin â—olieâ—s the other Citties for the Kings liberty the effect wherof crept hourely into the Nauarrois power he went from Cittie to Cittie crauing aide of the French for the deliuerie of his father and the restoring of his Estate The hâ—story doth much honor the Prouince of Languedoc to haue made greate showes of 〈◊〉 to their King being prisoner for it obserues That the three Estatâ— of the Country assembled in one body at Tholouse vnder the authority of the Earle of Armagnac their gouernor did freely grant a great aide to the King for the performance whereof The loue and duty of them of Languedoâ— to their Kingâ— and of Champagne they would not only imploy their reuenewes but their most precious mouables yea their wiues iewells And to testifie their generall heauines they abandoned all sumptuous apparell and bankets especially all dances maskes plaies and other pleasures during the captiuity of their King Champagne followed this commendable example But examples did no more mooue the Parisâ—â—ns hearts then reason had done who answere the Daulphin â—oughly when hee intreats them most humbly that hee should call an other Parliament where they would aduise what was to be done Their intent was to take all authority from the Daulphin and to vâ—uâ—pe it themselues to dispose of the tresor of honors and dignities of peace and war and of the life and death of the Kings subiects at their pleasures Horrible â—â—solenciâ—s of the Parisiens against their Prince To this end they made this young Prince coÌ„temptible odious assembling together both without his priuity against his will in
King Iohn hauing long expected the time of his deliuerie parts from England with a strong garde and is conducted to Calis attending the money 〈◊〉 the first pawne of his libertie The Regent his sonne labours earnestly the 〈◊〉 of Paris did contribute willingly a hundred thousand Royals and after their example all other citties paied their portions Of such power is our head cittie both to 〈◊〉 good and euill so by this ende they made amends for all former errors The money is brought to S. Omer whether the Regent comes to see the deliuerie Edward returnes to Calis he is wonderfull kinde to Iohn The two Kings sweare a mutuâ—ll league of friendship and they sweare a league of friendship and comprehended Charles King of 〈◊〉 being absent in this peace his brother Philip vndertaking for him to the end that all quarrels might be troden vnder foote and all men liue in peace vnitie and concord So Iohn being set at libertie after a languishing imprisonment foure yeares take his 〈◊〉 of Edward with all the shewes of loue that might be betwixt brethren and 〈◊〉 friends Being parted f om Calis he findes his sonne Charles comming to meete him with a great and stately traine I cannot well expresse the ioy of this first encounter this good King imbracing his sonne as his redeemer with ioy mixt with teares and full of fatherly affection with the content of his sweete recouered libertie seeing himselfe in his 〈◊〉 armes who had giuen him so many testimonies of his faithfull loue in his necessitie 〈◊〉 in the middest of his subiects with his first authoritie depending no more vpon anothers will King Iohn receiued by his sonne with great ioy And contrariwise what ioy was it for this wise sonne to enjoy his father so precious a gage of the authoritie order and obedience of a State and a great discharge for him of this painfull burthen Thus discoursing of what had bin done during his imprisonment and of what was to be done they arriue at Heâ—in whether not onely the whole countrie repaires 〈…〉 the Deputies of Paris and of all the prouinces of the Realme to congratulate their good Kings deliuerie where he disposeth of the gouernment of his house The King of Nauarre meetes him at Compiegne hauing fiâ—st sent back his hostages to shew that he relyed onely on his word put himselfe into his power Thus passeth the world after a storme comes a calme 1361. King Iohn made his entrie into Paris with this goodly traine being receiued with an incredible ioy of all his subiects The Kings reception into Paris The Parisiens going to kisse his hands offer him their hearts with a goodly cubberd of Plate worth a thousand markes for homage of their fidelitie and obedience The Parliament had surceased aboue a whole yeare Iohn for the first fruits of his recouered authoritie would honour the opening of the court with his presence being set in the seat of Iustice in the midst of all his officers to the incredible content of all men who beheld the cheerefull countenance of this Prince like the Sunne beames after a troubled skie Such was the returne of King Iohn into his realme after his imprisonment as the catastrophe of a Comedie in the which after mourning they reioyce This happened in the beginning of the yeare 1361. Some moneths were spent in these publike ioyes but they must seeke to get againe his hostages in the effecting whereof they found many difficulties for neither the priuate Lords whose homage he had bound to the King of England nor the countries whose Soueraignties he had yeelded by this accord would obey They argue with the King in councell and demand an acte shewing Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace that the King cannot dispose of the soueraigntie of his realme nor alienate the reuenues of the crowne Iohn on the other side fearing least Edward should reproche this vnto him as a practise betwixt him and his subiects made them sundry commandements to obey He went to Auignon to visit Pope Innocent who dyed at this time and Vrban the sixt succeeded in his place both Limosins To hansell Iohns recouered libertie and to ease his minde afflicted with long imprisonment Vrban exhorts him to vndertake the voyage of the holy land as generall of the action Iohn promiseth the Pope to goe with an armie Iohn not remembring the examples of Kings his Predecessors Lewis the 7. 9. nor apprehending the present burthen of his great affaires nor the danger of so mighty and watchfull an enemie who had so long and with so great paine kept him prisoner accepts the charge and makes a solemne promisse and to hasten the execution thereof he returnes into England Some saye the loue of the Countesse of Salisbury whose husband had the garde of the King being a prisoner was the principall motiue of his returne The which I cannot beleeue vpon the report of the English being vnlikely that his age his aflictions his great affaires and the voyage wherevnto he prepared should suffer this Prince to follow so vnseasonable a vanitie But whatsoeuer moued him therevnto he dyed there leauing his life in England where he had so long languished as a presage of his death Thus Iohn died in England in the yeare 1364. the 8. of Aprill Iohn dies in England His dispositioÌ„ leauing Charles his eldest sonne heire to the Crowne of France A good man he was but an vnfortunate Prince wise in ordinarie things but ill aduised in great affaires iust to all men but not warie how or whom he trusted in matters of consequence temperate in priuate but too violent in publick To conclude a good Prince but not considerate more fit to obey then to command Truely these heroicke vertues are the proper Iewels of Crownes and wisdome is a companion to the most excellent vertues especially in Princes who are aduanced vpon the Theater of manslife to gouerne the rest We haue noted that Bourgogne had beene giuen to Robert the grand-child of Hugh Capet for his portion A little before the deceasse of King Iohn Bourgogne annexed vnto the Crowne it was vnited to the Crowne of France by the death of Duke Philip a young man of the age of fifteene yeare sonne to that Iohn which dyed in the battaile of Poitiers He was betrothed to the heire of Flanders but both the Duchie and the Daughter were for another Philip the sonne of Iohn to whom the father gaue this new succession in recompence of the faithfull seruice he had done him the day of his taking and had continued it in prison CHARLES the 5. called the Wise the 52. King of France CHARLES THE V. KINGE OF FRANCE .52 THis Charles during the life of his father Iohn had giuen so many testimonies of his sufficiencie to gouerne well 1364. that he was held for King before he tooke the crowne Charles his raigne the which he receiued at Rheine
his sonne are contayned in this Empire for he died in the yeare 1â—78 Before his death hee prouided that Wenceslâ—s his sonne should succeed him in the Imperiall dignity At the first he married Blanche Countesse of Valois daughter to Charles Earle of Valois and sister to Philip of Valois King of France beeing very yong for she was but seauen yeares old when shee was betrothed vnto him hee had beene bred vp in the Court of France and learned the French humors he loued our crowne better then our Lawes A Prince wholy inclined to his owne particular making shewe to loue our Kings but vndâ—â—hand hee supported their enimies against them Thâ—s was the principall reason why his comming into France proued fruitelesse after so long a voyage and so great expences ministring a sufficient cause of iealousie to our Charles who gaue him the best entertainement he could to make him knowne that the sâ—ueraignty which he pretended to haue ouer France was but a dreame Yet hee suffered the Country of Daulphiné which they called the Empire as a member of the auncient Realme of Arles to bee wholy infranchised from that subiection to cut of all pretensions from his successors imbracing the commodity to settle his affaires euen by their meanes who he knew were not his friends This Emperour Charles the 4. did all he could both in Italy and Germany to apply vnto himselfe the â—ights of the Empire being wholy inclined to his owne profit The Emperours disposition for the which he vsed the name of Iustice good order being more learned in law then in doing right and hauing more knowledge then conscience It is he which made the Golden Bull both to rule the Election of the Emperour and the rights and dignity of the Empire The former confusions of the Empire had so dispensed all priuate gouernours of countries and citties as euery one played the Emperour in his gouernement These tyrannicall disorders were the cause of the Cantons in Suisserland Originall of the Cantons in Suisserland who since haue established a goodly commonweale consisting of thirteene Cantons who maintaine themselues with great order and force hauing the amity and alliance of the neighbour monarchs and an honourable place among the Estates of Christendome vnto this day Their particular history belongs not to our subiect it sufficeth to haue noted their beginning and the occasion of their common weale newly erected in the disorders of that age The church of Rome was in very poore estate first by the coÌ„tinual factions of the Guelphs â—helins and of it selfe by a distraction bred by an open schisme hauing two Popes Estate of the Church two chaâ—es two seas and a deadly hatred the which troubled al the Kings princes of chrisâ—endome some defending the Pope others the Antipope as his opposite We haue said that in the raigne of Philip of Valois the Pontificall Sea was translated from Rome to Auignon where it continued about 70. years Clement 6. hauing bought this citty for his successors being a pleasant and frutefull seate These quarrells continued with such violent passions had tyred mens minds like as a long processe doth weaâ—y the most obstinate pleaders The Popes beeing absent from Rome goueâ—ned the estate of Italy by three Cardinals their Legats but all went to ruine Gregorie 5. a Limosin being chosen Pope at Auignon went to Rome to redresse these confusions wherein there was small helpe Being receiued with an incredible ioy of the Romanes Diuision at Rome for the Election of a new Pope and of all Italy he returnes no more to Auignon but passeth the rest of his daies at Rome After his death the people with all vehemency require a Romane borne or an Italian for Pope but there was some difficulty in the election for the Colledge consisted for the most part of French Cardinalls who desired to haue one of their owne nation They were much diuided but the Cardinalls fearing the peoples fury armed with an intent to murther them if they did not choose one of their nation yeelded to the election of a Neapolitane named Bartholomew who was receiued and proclaymed by the name of Vâ—ban the sixt But within few dayes after the Malecontents retyred from Rome vnder colour to flie the plague to Fundy a towne in the Realme of Naples of the French faction by meanes of Queene Ioane An Antipope chosen when they did choose Clement the 7. a Limosin who retyred to Auignon and was opposite to Vrban the 6. with open deffyance one of an other which schisme continued vntill the Counsell of Coâ—stance each Pope with his faction Clement had for him the Kings of France Casâ—ile and Scotland Vrban had the Emperour the Kings of England and Hungary Clement held his seat at Auignon and Vrban at Rome In those dayes liued Bartholl Baldus Petrarch Boccatio Planudes a Greeke by nation Bonauenture and Iohn Wicliâ—e These hurliburlies touched the hearts opened the mouthes of many good men wonderfully grieued to see such diuision in the Church apparantly growne by the ambition of such as had greatest authority in the same Their writings lye open to their reasonable complaints which euery one may read without any further discourse CHARLES the sixt 53. King of France CHARLES VI. KINGE OF FRANCE .53 AS it is necessary to haue some direction to passe through a Laborinth so this crooked raigne hath need of some order to guide vs 1380. in the disorder of so many obscure confusions Necessarie obseruations for the vnderstanding of this raigne which we are to represent I will first obserue the most famous acts and worthiest personages of this raigne and then will I distinguish the subiect according to the occurrents This miserable raigne continued 42. yeares beginning in the yeare 1380. and ending in the yeare 1422. The seuerall dates Charles the 6. succeded hâ—â— father Charles the 5. at the age of 12. yeares being borne in the yeare 1368. he was crowned in the yeare 80. married in 84. dismissed his Tutors to raigne alone in 87. falles 〈◊〉 a phrensie in 93. and dyes in the yeare 1422. So being vnder age with his Tutors and of age in peâ—fect sense he raigned 13. yeares and liued in his phrensie 29. yeares Who sees noâ— then the iust calculation of 42. yeares in this raigne Châ—rles the 5. his father had three brethren Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry and Philip Duke of Bourgogne Queene Ioane daughter to Peter Duke of Bourbon The Kings Vncles wife to Câ—arles the fift and mother to Charles the sixt had one brother Iames Duke of Bourbon Thâ—se foure vncles shall plaie their parts vpon this stage in diuers occurrents but let vs adde â—he rest euery one shall haue his turne We haue said that Charles the wise left two sonnes this Charles the 6. whose raigne we now defer be and Lewis Duke of Orleance And our Charles had three sonnes Lewis Iohn and Charles and one
daughter to wife the which he did As he prepared for this voyage and a stately traine for his daughter A strange death in the midest of â—oy which might equall or surmount the Ambassage sent from Ladislaus newes comes of the death of Ladislaus a young man of twenty yeares of age and of a generous hope who was poisoned at Prague Whose death was the cause of many miseries as we shall hereafter shew Their ioy in France was changed to mourning and the wedding to a funerall to the great griefe of Charles But to put him in minde of necessary causes amidest these voluntarie afflictions It chanced that the mother of Ioane the Virgin to purge the blot of infamie in the death of her daughtâ—r being condemned as a Sorceresse by the Bishop of â—eauuais to please the English obtaines a reuocation of this sentence from the Pope and Charles confirmes it causing it to be solemnlie published to the content of all Frenchmen to whom the remembrance of this generous spirit shall be for euer pleasing In the meane time this iealousie which was grauen in the heart of Charles is fed by the dayly whisperings of his household flattereâ—s And now behold a strange accident A Captaine in whom he had great confidence assures him that they ment to poison him he beleeues it and plants this apprehension so firmely in his heart as he resolues neither to eate nor drinke The tragicall death of Chaâ—les not knowing whom to trust He continued obstinately for seauen dayes in this strange resolution the which in the end brought him to his graue for being obstinate in this humour not to eate notwithstanding all the perswasions of his Physitians and seruants the passages were so shrunke as when he would haue eaten it was then too late and feeling his forces to decay he prouided for his last will and dyed the 22. of Iuly at Meun vpon Yeure in Bâ—rry in the yeare 1461. hauing liued 59. yeares and raigned 39. leauing two sonnes Lewis and Charles the first shall raigne after his father and the second shall be the causer of new troubles in France but not such as haue raigned vnder our Charles the 7. A Prince who hath as much aduanced the French Monarchie as any King that euer commanded for finding the realme ruined he hath restored it his Predecessors had planted the English in the bowels of the Estate he expelled them bringing in a gentle peace after an intestine warre of a hundred yeares A fâ—iend to Iustice good order and the people His dispositioÌ„ resolute in great affaiâ—es capable of councell wise couragious happy in the execution of good councels and happy in seruants that haue faâ—thfully serued him to the end of the worke of restauration wherevnto God had appointed him But these great and heroike vertues were blemished by some vices which were more visible in his prosperitie His 〈◊〉 then in his aduersitie for affliction restrained him but his happy successe puft him vp and gaue scope to his humours making him suspitious and amourous to the pâ—eiudice of his affaires and dishonour of his person On the one side vngouerned lâ—ue to strange women making him to forget the lawfull loue of his wife and to loose both time and iudgment whereby he blemished his reputation both with subiects and strangeâ—s On the other side presumption of his good successe made him vnpleasing to his best seruants yea euen to his owne bloud and this froward humour causing him to discontent such as hee should haue trusted setled so wilfuâ—l and peeuish a iealousie in his heart as hauing troubled all his house in the ende it brought him to his graue after a most fearefull and tragicke manner leauing in his vertues an example to bee followed and in his vices to bee auoided with a visible proofe in his happy successe That God vseth the weake instruments to the end that he might be knowne the Author of the good worke they haue in hand that his grace seeming strong in their weakenesse the homage and honour of all good might be giuen to him for whosoeuer glories let him glory in the Lord. Charles had no sooner closed his eyes but Poasts flie to Geneppe in Brabant vnto Lewis to aduertise him of his death The originall notes it for exceeding speed that through the diligence of Charles of Aniou father in law to Charles Lewis was aduertitised of the death of his father the very same day he dyed This Poast was speedy yet slowe in regarde of the desire Lewis had to returne into France and to take possession of this goodly Crowne which attended him LEWIS the eleuenth the 55. King of France LVDOVICVS .11 KING OF FRANCE .55 · WAs it not then likely that this so happy a Catastrophe of the latter raigne of Charles should haue purchased Lewis as happy and peacefull a Crowne as his fathers had beene painfull and full of crosses But the heires of worldly possessions which we call the goods of Fortune and of the body doe not alwayes inherit the same humors and complexions of their Predecessors Charles was of a curteous disposition affable a friend to Iustice and capable of councel he leaues Lewis his eldest sonne a Pâ—ince in truth humble in words and shew wise in aduersitie painfull The disposition of Lewis the 11. a free entertainer of men of merit curious to know all men of a good capacity perfect in iudgement and very continent But these vertues were blemished with many vices ill tongued reuengefull cruell full of fraud dissemblâ—ng distrustfull variable a friend to base people and an enemie to great persons yet willing to repaire the wrongs he had done to many But let vs impute this alteration to the multitude of his forraine homebred foes who â—ad greatly altered the good seeds which nature had planted in him That which plunged him in a labyrinth of troubles afflictions during all the course of his life was that at his first comming to the Crowne he discountenanced most of the Princes Noblemen whom Charles had fauoured preferring meane men to their places changed in a manner all the ancient officers of the crowne casierd discharged the old coÌ„panies of men at armes whereby such as hated him did taxe him as an enimy to al valour vertue Lewis the Daulphin at the age of eleuen yeares was rashly ingaged by some Noblemen others of the realme in the war called the Praguery against Charles his father His wiueâ— who speedily suppressed it by his resolution as we haue seene Beeing come to the age of man he married with Marguerit daughter to the King of Scots and as hee fell rashly in loue so he reaped nothing but repentance After her death not able to beare the vnpleasing waywardnes of his father he retires into Daulphiné and takes to his second wife Charlotte daughter to the Duke of Sauoy by whoÌ„ he had Ioachim who dyed young His children Anne marryed
himselfe and that his oneâ—y hope must consisâ— in the mercy of God A hard sentence to a man that had so often commanded that euen in the last pangs they should not pronounce that cruell word of death the which he feared beyond the condition of man and preuented by all the remedies that might be inuented Yet behold he disposeth himselfe I haue said he hope that God will helpe me but withall hee addes yet happily I am not so sicke as you suppose Notwithstanding he felt the helpe of heauen for his speech was restored his vnderstanding good his memory perfect whereby he pronounced many prayers adding therevnto by his last Will Testament That de Cordes should giue ouer the enterprise they had concluded vpon Calais that they should suffer the Duke of Brittany to liue in peace without feare of suspect and likewise all the neighbors of the realme that vnder the shadow of a peace of fiue or sixe yeares the people might breath and the King his sonne grow in age Lewis dyes Finally on Saterday the 30. of August hee yeelds vp his soule quietly to God hauing liued 61. yeares and raigned three and twenty he made choise for his buriall at our Lady of Clery the place of his deuotion His dispositiâ—â— A cunning Prince wise painfull reuengefull vigilant industrious of a great memorie neuer hazarding that which by policie dissembling money or any other industrie he might obtaine vnquiet in his raigne vnquiet in his life and vnquiet in his death not able to resolue but in extremities Deuout but inclining to superstition A great oppresser of the people but to giue to the Churches to forraine pensioners and to purchase them deerely whom hee had fitte for his purpose as wee may easily perceiue by the discourse of his life Lewis was most continent He was continent beyond the ordinary of great and generous Princes and in truth greatly to be commended in that he had so vertuouslie conteined himselfe within the bounds of his professed vowe and neuer to haue knowne other women then his owne wife And if the 61. yeare the which hee alwayes apprehended as the fatall periode of his life for that none of his predecessors since Hugh Capet had passed that terme had not ended his life hee had reformed the State ordred iustice and releeued the people Happy in his death hauing changed a continuall toile into an eternall rest happy in that rest which wee hope for in heauen To haue left a Successor quiet of himselfe young but of great hope and chiefly for that he had seene the Church during his raigne freed from that long and inueterate three and twentie yeares Schisme which had so long turmoiled it Thus are we come to the end of this raigne but before we proceed we must succinctly vieâ— the Estate of the Church and Empire vnder his raigne seeing the course of our historie hath drawne vs on thereto without interruption Estate of the Church vnder Lewis Wee haue seene that by the renunciation of Foelix the 5. Nicholas the fift of that name remained in quiet possession of the Pontificall Sea The most memorable acts of his Papacie were the great Iubile which he did celebrate in the yeare 1450. where there was so great a concurse of people that aboue two hundred were smoothered going and comming out of the Churches besides an infinite number of people that perished in the riuer of Tyber through the fall of the bridge of Saint Ange. This Pope loued learning he gaue great pensions to learned men sent them into diuerse places to seeke out bookes which lay hidden in darkenesse by the negligence of the ancient or perished by the violence of the barbarous filling his Librarie at Vatican he caused many Greeke Authors to be translated into Latin He repaired many Churches and other buildings ruined at Rome inriching them with vessels of golde and siluer and crosses enriched with precious stones Finally grieued for the taking of Constantinople from the Christians he dyed of thought of a Feuer and the Gout or as some will say of poison the 25. of March 1455. Calixtus the 3. of that name a Spaniard of the age of 85. yeares before called Alphonsus Borgias Bishop of Valence and Cardinall of the foure Crownes succeeded by the consent of the whole Colledge commended for that in the first fruites of his Popedome he had according to a vowe he had made proclaimed a warre against Mahumet And to induce the Princes hee sent some notable Preachers in those dayes Iohn Capistran and Robert de la Lice friars to exhort Christians to relieue their breâ—hren detayned vnder the Turkes tyrannie and by ringing of the bell at noone day to inuite them to pray for those that fought for this quarrell yet blamed for that vnder colour of his Iâ—dulgences and pardons which were sold for fiue ducats a peece hee had gathered together and left to his successor a hundred and fifteene thousand ducats He died in Iuly 1458. Pius the 2. called Aeneas Siluius a Siennois a poore boy hauing atâ—eyned to much knowledge by his laborious studie obteyned the dignitie of Pope He had beene the Popes Secretarie at the Councell of Basâ—ll and by writing had iâ—pugned the authoritie of Eugenius the Scismatik and soone after was crowned Poet lauâ—eat by the Emperour Frederic the 3. and honoured by him with many Ambassages to diuerse Princes Nicholas the 5. made him Bishop of Triest and after of Sienne and Calixtus Cardinal But vppon his entrie to the Popedome he â—ought to suppresse two bookes which he had published for the approbation of the Councell of Basill and afterward laboured very ambâ—tiously to inlarge the Romaine sea for the encrease and preseruation whereof the historie saith he neither feared Kings nor Princes people The Ambitious proceeding of Pope Puis 2. nor Tirants A great enemie to King Lewis the XI whilest that he would not yeeld to the abolition of that Pragmatike Sanction who to crosse him in that yeere 64. did forbid to carâ—ie any money to Rome or to bring any bulls from thence renuing the same Edicts in the yeare 1478. But in the end he was so flattered by this Aeneas by his successor Sixtus the 4. as he renownced all the rights of the Pragmatick Sanction He had likewise proclaymed a voyage into Turkie by a Counsell assembled at Mantua But the Ambassadors of King Lewis and of René Duke of Aniou hauing laid open the rights which the house of Aniou had to the Realme of Naples and the wrong was done him vsurping it to the behoofe of Alphonso the bastard of Ferdinand whom this Pope had by his absolute authoritie put in possession of the Realme he grew so bitter against the French for Ferdinand as the sayd Ambassadors would not promise any thing in their masters name for this warre so as the assembly was dissolued the eight moneth without any good to Christendome An ambitious man austere to Princes a
great persecuter of the enemies of the Clergie curteous and officious to his friends busie for the enriching of the Church a great builder And finally as hee was readie to depart from Ancona to march in person against the Turke who was then entred Italie a Cotidian ague seized on him whereof hee dyed in the yeare 1464. Of him we reade thus much as Platina and Sabellicus doe report Preests are forbidden to marrie for a great reason but yet there is a greater for the which they should bee suffered In the second booke of the Councel and moreouer Paraduenture it should not be the worse if many Preests were married for many being Priests and married should bee saued the which in their barren Caelibat are damned Hee likewise would haue abolished some Nunneries of Saint Brigit and Saint Clare caâ—sed the Nunnes to come forth to the end saith Caelius secundus that vnder the habit of religion they should not hide their adulteries Paul the second borne at Venice before named Peter Barbo Cardinal of Saint Marc succeeded His first calling was marchandiseâ—punc but seeing an vnckle of his chosen Pope he applied himselfe somewhat to learning and was first created Arch-deacon of Boullen then Bishop of Ceruio after Cardinall and finally Pope The pride and pompe of Paulus the 2. A man of a good personage but arrogant proud so as Platina obserues that he first spake these wordes That the Pope carries within the circuite of his bosome all diuine and humane laws Exceeding all his Predecessors in attyre but aboue all in his mitre the which hee enriched with pearle and stones of an inestimable price shewing himselfe proudly vpon soâ—lemne dayes â—hus sumptuously attyred followed by his Cardinalls with scarlet hatâ—es the which hee did forbid all others to weare vpon greeuous â—â—nishments and mounted vppon mulets with footeclothes of the same colour grosse and dull witted louing neither learning â—or learned meÌ„ so as he declared them Heretiks that either in sport and earnest did pronâ—uÌ„ce this word Academy or Vniueâ—sity Couetous dissolute The Popes disposition voluptuous turbuleÌ„t giuen to coÌ„iuring the whole time of his raign he troubled Italie with combustions and homebred warres Finally they report little good of him but that he had beene pittifull to the poore and needy to haue preserued Rome from famine and reformed many Monasteries reducing them to a better discipline They say that hauing one day read certaine poesies made against him and his daughter he began to greeue and to blame the rigour of the law made by his predecessors who did forbid Priests to marrie so as seeing himselfe a scorne to the people hee resolued to giue Priests liberty to marry but an Apoplexie tooke him sodeinly out of this world the 25. of Iuly 1471. leauing a rich treasure In trueth They gather goods saith the Oracle and know not who shall enioy them Some impute this sodaine death to the Author of the Magicke arte the which he practised Sixtus the 4. borne at Sauonne and named Francis of Ruere Generall of the Grey Friars and Cardinall of S. Sixte Legat of Auignon was installed by the election of the Colledge in the Pontificall chaire Liberall and charitable to his owne beyond the bounds of true zeale for in their fauour he gaue Indulgences and pardons prodigally and granted many other things against all right and reason so saieth the Historie Amongst the rest he aduanced Peter of Ruere to a Cardinalship a monstrous man in his expences who in two moneths deuoured in vanities dissolution and loosenesse aboue two hundred thousand Crownes besides the debts wherewith he charged his heires He repaired many decayed Churches and Monasteries built new and gaue them great reuenews He restored the Abreuiataires which was a Colledge of learned men and studious in diuine and humane lawes Poets Orators Historiens c. first instituted by Pius the 2. then abolished by Paul the 2. his successor Then did he institute anew the Bullistes people fitter to get money then for any other thing and nine Notaries of the Apostolick treasure appointing them certaine reuenues which offices were sold in the beginning for fiue hundred crownes and since for two or three thousand crownes so well could they sell their marchandise Sixtus made many vniust warres against Ferdinand King of Naples for that against the Popes lâ—king he had succoured his sonne in law Hercules of Este Dâ—ke of Ferrare besieged by the Venetians Against the Venetians whom he did excoÌ„municate Against the Florentins excommunicated likewise with an interdiction of fire and water But by the intercession threats of the King the succours the Venetians gaue to the Florentinâ— against the Pope who had incensed Ferdinand King of Sicile Alphonsus Duke of Calabria and Frederick Duke of Vrbin Captaine generall for the Church to make warre against them he absolued them Then being sick of a Feuer hauing newes that a peace was made betwixt the Venetians and other Potentates of Italy hee dyed sodenly There flourished vnder him Iohn of Mont le Roy a great Mathematician Ralph Agricola Pomponius Lâ—tus Ambrose Calepin learned men in humanitie Let it suffice to haue noted such Popes as haue raigned vnder our Lewis and now let vs see that which concernes the Empire â—hat great Iohn Huniades a firme and â—ound rampier for the Christians against the Turkes The estate of the Empire had left two sonnes Ladislaus Matthias They had for an hereditarie enemy Vlrike Earle of Cilie neere kinsman and a fauorite to Ladislaus King of Hongarie and Bohemia sonne to Albert of Austria borne after his fathers death Ladislaus the eldest complaining one day to Vlriâ—e of the slanders wherewith he wrongfully charged him to King Ladislaus they passed from words to blowes so as he slue Vlrick for the which the King of Hungarie caused him to bee publickely beheaded and lead Mâ—tâ—hias the yonger prisoner to Prague in Bohemia to put him to death farre from the â—iew of the Nobility of Hongarie to whom the memory of Huniades was wonderfull deeâ—e and precious But as Ladislaus prepared for his mariage at Prague to be sonne in lawe tâ— Charles the 7. behold a blacke and deadly poison sodenly choaâ—es vp the ioy which that new alliance had concâ—iued After whose death there did arise great quarrels for the succession Some Noblemen of Hungarie wished the Emperour Fredericâ— the third for their Kiâ—g the greatest part preferred Matthias both for that he was of 〈◊〉 nation as for the happy memory of his father Iohn The election being made Matthias is set at libertie by George Boiebrac the new King of Bohemia hee demands the Crowne Frederick armes himselfe with a constitution which he had receiued from Elizabeth mother to Ladislaus deceased when he sent him her â—onne to bring vp Vpon refusall they go to armes but the Germaine Princes pacified this quarrell concluding Warre for the Crowne of Hongary That Matthias should pay
had greater occasions then euer Experience had made him wise He remembred the errors he had committed in his first iourney and obserued theÌ„ wel hoping if he might recouer his losses to prouide better for the gard of the Realme His intelligences from all parts called him He had a truce with the Castillian Reasons to drawe the King into Italy He had a new league with the Suisses The Emperour was discontented with the Venetians and sought his friendship beâ—â—g desirous to ioyne with him to seise vpon the states of Italie with their common force and expenses imitating the Castillian Pope Alexander labored to reconcile himselfe The Venetians deuised how to estrange themselues from Lodowike The Florentins had resolued to free themselues as soone as Charles should begin the warre And to this end they demanded the Lord of Aubigni for their generall with a hundred and fiftie Lances whereof they should pay a third part The Marquis of Mantoua was discharged from the Venetians pay and should bring to the King with the Vrsins the Vitelli and the Captaine of Rome brother to the Cardinall of S. Pierre fifteene hundred men at armes Italians He had the friendship of the Duke of Sauoye and the Marquises of Saluces and Montferrat Iohn Bentiuole promised to ioyne with his troupes as soone as he should passe the mountaines But he is diuerted by diuers meanes Some of his fauorits thrust him forward to this enterprise but with so huge a preparation both by sea â—and and so great prouision of money as it required a long time Hindred by diuers meanâ— Others entertayned 〈◊〉 his delights and loathed him with all difficulties and the Cardinal of S. Malo according to his vsuall manner lackt the prouisions of money Thus the time was â—â—st matters made fruitlesse which were almost brought to their perfection There â—ere no dispatches for the Lord of Aubigni no money for the Vrsins Vitellies Fregoses no man passeth into Italy So as all mens mindes growing cold the Fregoses make their peace with the Duke of Milan The Vitelli had passed to the Venetians pay if the Florentins had not entertayned them for a yeare The Florentins themselues counselled by Lodowike Sforce â—n the beginning of the yeare 1498 sent an Ambassage to Rome sigâ—iâ—â—ing although in doubtfull termes that if Pisa might be yeelded vnto them they â—ould ioyne themselues with the rest for the defence of Italy against the French A 〈◊〉 â—olicy but made frustrate by a Venetian shift The Venetians beeing labored to yeeld to the restitution of Pisa seeing there was no 〈◊〉 meanes to separate the Florentins from the French The Venâ—tiaâ—â— oppose against the Floâ—eâ—tiâ—s they couer their couetousnes with many colours they complaine that this counsell proceeds not of any care they haue to the coÌ„mon good but from the bad affection which some one carries to their estate â—or say they by their Ambassador at Rome the Florentins hoping to enioy the greatest port of Thuscany by the returne of the French into Italie the yeelding of Pisa were not able to diuert them from their naturall inclination to the house of France but contrariewise the more mightie they are the more meanes they shall haue to disturbe the quiet of Italy Why then haâ—e the Confederats by a common consent promised the Pisans to defend their libertie aâ—d nowe to violate both their honour and faith Is this the reward for the exceeding charge we haue so willingly maintayned when as all the other confederats were so vnwilling to disâ—â—rse any thing for the common good By what meanes was Italy preserued With what forces did they fight at Taro With what armes haue they recouered the Realme of Naples Wherewith haue they forced Nouarre to acknowledge her first Lord Can any one denie but tâ—â—sâ— actions did proceed from a sinceere affection to the good estate of Italy seeing wee were not the neerest vnto dangers neyther are the disorders growne by vs whereof wee suffer the paine Whilest these things were treated of at Rome among the Confederates The Caâ—teâ—â— of 〈◊〉 built by Câ—arles not without apparent signes of future diuision a newe humor carries away our Charles to his Castell which he caused to be built at Amboise a building of admirable worke charge hauing to that end brought the most rarest workemen that could be found 1498. from Naples and all other parts and for the beautifying thereof he had gathered together the goodliest plots that could bee found in France Italy Flanders and else-where not able to foresee that in steed of a proud and stately Palace he should end his life in a base and filthie gallerie Broken off by his death Hauing his minde inclined besides his building not onely to a second voyage beyond the Alpes but to reforme his life honouring the Queene his wiues bed with a chaste respect whereas many loose allurements had transported his youth To restraine the pompe and ambition of the Clergie To order Iustice giuing audience twise in the weeke to all complaints and free accesse to any that would desire iustice Doubtlesse Note O yee Princes The King sitting in his throne of Iustice saith the Wiseman disperseth all ill with his looke To reâ—orme his house to dispose of his treasure to ease his subiects restraining all taxes which had beene made vpon his subiects to twelue hundred thousand Frankes besides his reuenews a summe which his estates had graunted at his comming to the Crowne for the defence of the realme It chanced the 7. of Aprill going after dinner with the Queene into the Castle ditches he strooke his forehead against the doore of a gallerie whereas he meant to see a set at Tennis this blowe being a certaine aduertisement to driue him to the premeditation of his approching end the last pangs of death moued him presently with a godly and holy resolution but wisely conditioned according to mans weaknesse the which he testified by these words talking with Iohn of Beauucis Bishop of Anger 's his Confessor touching the faults he had committed in his younger age I hope saieth he neuer to commit mortall nor veniall sinne if I can auoide it Presently vpon this protestation he fell backward falling into an Apoplexie wherewith he had beene a little before troubled which closed his eyes with the sleepe of death about eleuen of the clock at night A notable example wherein wee read the pittifull estate of Princes when as death knocketh with an euen hand both at Kings Palaces and at poore mens cottages giuing them an end like to all other men and the inconstant loue of Courtiers Behold a King who commanded ouer so many Prouinces whom so many great Citties obeyed who had such numbers of sumptuous Castels at his pleasure and now building a house of a royall attempt giuing vp the ghost in a chamber neere to a gallerie stinking with the Vrine which euery one made as he passed through it laid vpon a poore
aboue named ordinances by an Edict The Rector fearing a check keepes all the Schollers within their lodgings and reuokes the commandement he had giuen Iohn Standon a Doctor of Diuinitie a Brabanson and one of the chiefe authors of this counsell was banished the realme Thomas Warnet of Cambraie who preaching had barkt out some thing against the kings authority preuented this decree and â—anished himself Lewis his title to the Duchie of Milan Bâ—ing thus content in minde quiet within his realme his thoughts â—oâ—red beyond the Alpes and now he takes vpon him the title of Duke of Milan He was 〈◊〉 vpon the right of succession Valentine besides her dowry which was the 〈◊〉 and Country of Ast with a great summe of money had obtaymed this clause 〈◊〉 in her contract of marriage That for want of heires male of Galeas Valentine 〈…〉 the Duchie or she being dead her next descendants 〈◊〉 â—â—uention was of no force but the Imperiall seat was then vacant and the 〈…〉 it The Popes pretending the Empire being without an Emperour that the administration belongs to them And seing that by the death of Philip Maria Visconte the masculine line of Iohn Galeas failed who then should succeed in this goodly estate many contended for it the Emperour Frederick mayntained that it should be vnited to the Empire considering the line specified in the Institution made to Iohn Galeas by Wenceslaus King of the Romains was extinct Alphonso King of Arragon Naples armed himselfe with the testament of Philip by the which hee was made his heâ—re But in worldly affaires the strongest most often carries it Francis Sforce one of Philips Captaines sonne to Sforce Attendule an Aduenturer a braue and actiue spiâ—â— had married Blanche bastard daughter to the sayd Philip and hauing no man at 〈◊〉 â—â—stant that might resist his violence hee did so cunningly winne all the greatest 〈◊〉 of Milan as by their support suffrance he soone seized on the state the which 〈◊〉 easily effect hauing all the forces at his command no competitor For 〈◊〉 Lewis Duke of Orleans nor his Children had any meane to recouer this Duâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Francis by reason of the great warres which followed in France by the 〈◊〉 of the sayd Lewis and of the Duke of Bourgongne slaine likewise at Monterea◠〈◊〉 â—â—wis the 6. and 7. Charles sonne to the sayd Lewis taken at the bâ—ttâ—â—lâ— of Azâ—â—â—â— â—â—guishing twentie fiue yeares a prisoner in England and deliuered by Philip 〈◊〉 â—ourgundy could neuer obtaine any aide from Lewis the eleuenth beeing 〈◊〉 by homebred warres from the beginning of his raigne Moreouer Lewis did alwaies make accompt to settle his authority by the suppression of his neerest bloud And for this cause our Lewis his sonne in lawe sonne to the sayd Charles had no whit the more credit with his father in lawe for the recouery of his inheritance And the â—word which hee did vnsheath against Charles the eight his brother in lawe of whome hee pretended the Regencie and after in the warres of Brittaine tooke from him all meanes to attempt this enterprise vntill such time that the King hauing left him in Ast to crosse the attempts of Lodowike Sforce the seized vpon Nouarre but with a â—â—â—â—lesse euent Nowe is he seated vpon the royall throne of his Ancestors peaceable within himself and peaceable with his neighbors Triuulce doth not cease to lay open vnto him 〈◊〉 to expell Lodowike To make the way easie Pope Alexanders friendship 〈…〉 Florentins and other Potentats of Italy was very requisite Hee seeke 〈◊〉 Ambassadors and findes that the death of Charles the eight had bred an alâ—â—â— in their dispositions The Pope conceyuing that the peace of Italy was the 〈◊〉 of his priuate estate did easily alowe of newe troubles The Venetians beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 by the Kings decease from the feare they had of him for the iâ—â—â—gnities 〈◊〉 had receyued did not beleeue that a newe King would so vehemently imbrace 〈…〉 of his Predecessor and foreseeing that also that if S force were once quiet he would oppose him selfe against them for the affaires of Pisa whereof he did â—olâ—â—â— but coldly the restitution vnto the Florentins by the Popes meanes The Florentins had not yet so much estranged their affection from the French but there was good meanes to recouer it Being thus affected they all send their Ambassadors to the King The Popes affection The Pope who 〈◊〉 to nothing more then the temporall aduancement of Caesar Borgia his sonne 〈◊〉 then Cardinall did willingly imbrace this occasion to plant him in the Kings 〈◊〉 sauour and by some especiall bond to purchase his masters loue He knew well 〈◊〉 Lewis would willingly put away Ioane his wife to marrie with Anne the widowe of Charles and euen then hee resolued to exchange spirituall graces for temporall commodities He then agrees with the King for thirty thousand Ducats and drawes a promise from him 1499. He Capitulates with the king to aide him presently after the conquest of Milan to reduce to the obedience of the Apostolike sea the Townes possessed by the Gouernours of Romagna And for his sonne Caesar a company of a hundred Lances twenty thousand Frankes pension a wife in France to his liking and Valence in Daulphine with the title of a Duchie Then he committed the matter of diuorce to Ferdinand Bishop of Sept his Nuncio in France to Philip Cardinall of Luxembourg and to Lewis Bishop of Albi some name George of Amboise Arch-bishop of Rouan who vpon report of the protestation made by Lewis to a Notarie the day of his marriage That his meaning was not to contract any marriage and that the sollemnitie which he did celebrate was onely to please the King whom hee knew to be cruell against those by whom he thought himselfe to bee wronged And moreouer If by chance Lewis eyther by the expresse commandement of his father in law or after of his brother in law did lye with his wife hee did interpose secret witnesses that should depose of his abstinencie And besides the Physitians and Philosophers hauing iudged her incapable of issue they declared the sayd marriage voyde and gaue him liberty to marry with Anne who marrying elsewhere should haue diuided the Duchie of Brittanie from the Crowne of France The Venetians sent to congratulate his comming to the Crowne The Venetians and by way of excuse gaue him to vnderstand that the controuersies they had with King Charles proceeded onely of distrust and iealousie wherof he had giuen them cause seeing that not content with the realme of Naples he had cast his desseâ—gnes vpon all Italie The Florentiâ—es The Florentins did not forget their ancient customes in like cases to the Crowne of France but especially to put him in minde of their deseruings to the deceased King solliciâ—â—d therevnto by Lodowick Sforce to the end that when the two commonweales of Venice and Florence should come to treate of the affaires
of age should obscure the fame of his first exployts he returnes in the beginning of the new yeare laden with ladders and seeks to surprise it but in vaine Cooled by the seege of Faâ—nze Pollicie not succeeding he returnes to force and by the taking of Russy and other places of the countrie he makes the enterprise easie A new breach is made and new asâ—auâ—ts giuen the first without effect the second gaue hope of victorie but the violence of the Canon which battred in flanke the incouÌ„tring of a deepe large trench the death of Ferdinand Farnese with many other men of worth and the number of the wounded makes them to leaue the assault But at length he carries it The losse the Fauentines had receiued in this assault and the dispaire of succours cooled this first heate feare making theÌ„ apprehend hard conditions if force reduced them into the victors power they treated to yeeld their liues and goods saued vpon condition that Astor their Lord Facuze yeelded should with his libertie choose what retreat he pleased enioying the reuenewes of his patrimonie But poore Astor oh Burgia who soeuer shall read the detestible life and horrible death of thy father will alwaies iâ—dge thee a right and worthie sonne of such a father being yong and verie beautifull was with goodly shewes and honorable demonstrations of loue reteyned in the Valentinois Court 1501. and soone after conducted to Rome where some one sayeth the Originall The pittiful death of the Lord of Faâ—â—s murthered by Borgia naming no man but noting the vilain with his fingar hauing taken his pleasure of him and glutted his lust they caused him to be secretly murthered with his bastard brother and the Pope with the approbation of the Colledge giues to his sonne Borgia the inuesting and title of Duke of Romagnia This estate seemed to him imperfect without the adiunction of the territory of Bologne But the Kings expresse commandement not to attempt any thing against the estate of Iohn Bentiuole whome he had taken into his protection caused the Valentinois to content himselfe for that time with a transaction from Bentiuole to haue passage and victualls through his country a tribute of nine thousand ducats yeerely a certaine number of horse and foote and Castel-bologne a place vnder the iurisdiction of Bologne and so he transported his forces into Tuscane Marke here a notable example of a childe to his father One of the sonnes of the L.G. Montpensier going to Pozzuolo to visit the sepulcher of his father suffred himselfe to be so much ouerruled with passion that after he had washed all parts of the monument with his lamentable teares he fainted and fell downe dead vpon the Sepulcher of his father who had as little sence of those his latest forrowes as he had feeling of so great a fault to giue such libertie to the rage of nature The Florentins are mightely perplexed they had greatly mooued the King by their bad order in the recouery of Pisa The Florentiâ—s in gâ—eat perplexity as we haue heard before but there springs vp newe motiues of discontent The exceeding charge they had beene at and were still forced to beare for the warres of Pisa the iealousie of the Popes forces and of his Borgia made them slacke in paying the King the money which the Duke of Milan had lent them and the debt which hee pretended to bee due vnto him by reason of the pay made by his maiesty to the Suisses which he had sent against Pisa whom hee had maintayned with his owne money vpon refusall which the Florentins had made them vnder colour that they would retire into their Country before their time perfixed and the King who sought to empty their cofers to the ende he might gouerne them more absolutly demanded it very earnestly Moreouer they grewe more weake by their owne ciuill discords which troubled them in the popular gouernment wherein many of the Cittizens being suspected eyther as friends to the Medicis or desiring an other kind of gouernment matters were managed with more confusion then counsell and to increase their crosses the King did presse them for the aides and summes of money promised for the voâ—age of Naples pretending That he had performed the conâ—entions they had made togither whereto they were bound seeing that by their owne fault they had hindred the recouery therefore hee was no more bound to protect them And in truth Iulian de Medicis beseeching him in person and at the Popes perswasion The Fâ—oâ—entins freed by a fayned transaction with Borgâ—â— to restore him and his breâ—heren into their estates vpon promises of a great summe of money hee most willingly opened both eare and heart to these offers All these considerations drewe the Valentinois into Tuscane with seauen hundred men at armes fiue thousand choise foote which Bentiuole gaue him the French companies lodging apart to attend the Kings army which began to march But he knew that the King would not bee pleased with this entry in Hostile manner into the Florentins Country and that otherwise his army was both weake of men and munition to force any Towne The Florentins also knowing themselues naked both of horse and foote others then of the Country oppressed with iealousie feare and diuisions hee makes this accord with them That there should bee a confederacie betwixt the common-weale of Florence and the Duke of Valentinois with a prohibition not to aide the rebelles on eyther side and that the Florentins should entertayne him for three yeares at their charge with three hundred men at armes and six and thirty thousand Ducats yearely which men at armes hee should send to them when soeuer they had neede eyther for themselues or any other and should not oppose themselues against him for the defence of the Lord of Plombin who was in their protection But this composition was onely to disarme the Valentinois and to send him packing And hee well informed of the policie staying in the same County spoyled it in reâ—enge both by fire and sacke most like to an open enemy tyring them with demandes which partly they refused partly differred hoping that the Kings authority should free them from these bonds which necessity of the time and Borgias force had extorted from them The King indeed held the rodde but stayed his arme he was pleased the Valentinois should terrifie them but not tyranise ouer them For although hee would willingly haue seene some other forme of gouernment at Florence yet an alteration then would haue beene very preiudicial vnto him the King being loath to see the Valentinois aduanced to any other authoritie or by any other forces then his Maiesties So The warres of Naples reâ—â—ued by the commaundement of Lewis he leaues Florence and enters the territorie of Plombin taking Surgeretâ—e Scarline and the Islands of Elbe and Pianosa where leauing a sufficient garrison as well to guard the places as to molest them of Plombin
about Barlette for want of water and many other reasons they resolued a part of the armie should remaine thereabouts to maintaine a kind of seege and the other should seeke to recouer the rest of the realme After this Counsell the Viceroy seized vppon all Apulia except Tarentum Otrante and Gallipoli and then hee returned to Baâ—lette The Lord of Aubigni entring Calabria with the other part of the armie tooke and sackt the Towne of Cosenze with some other places But our proâ—perâ—ty lasts not long we commonly sleepe in the midest of our course This happie beginning made ouâ— Lewis more carelesse then the cause required the which if hee had coâ—tinued hee might eâ—sily haue expelled the enâ—mie before hee had beene supplied out of all the state of Naples but hee tooke his way for France aâ—ter he had treated a new with the Pope and receiued the Valentinois into fauour againe vpon condition To aid him in the warres of Naples when need should require and a promise from the King To giue the Valentinois three hundred Lances to helpe him to conquer Bologne for the Church and to suppresse the Vrsins Baillon and Vitellozze against whom the King was wonderfully incensed for the outrages they had done to the Florentines and for that they had shewed themselues too slacke in the execution of his Maiesties commaundements especially Vitellozze who had refused to yeeld the Florentines the artillerie which he had taken from Aretze This reconciliation made the Valentinois fearefull to all Italie The Valenâ—inâ—â—s fearâ—full to the Potenâ—aâ—s of Itaâ—â—â— And doubtlesse whosoeuer is neighbour to a cruell and inexorable man hath need to stand vppon his gard Moreouer a wicked man hauing so firme and strong supports in the Kings counsell where the Cardinall of Amboise ruled all how could hee but dayly presume to comit new insolencies The Venetians were wonderfull iealous of Borgias greatnesse increasing dayly 1503. shewing the King by their Ambassador how much it did derogate from the beautie of the house of France and the glorious surname of most Christian King to fauour a Tyrant borne for the ruine of people and the desolation of Prouinces disloyall cruell thirsting for humane bloud by whome so many gentlemen and Noblemen had beene so treacherously slaine who sometimes by the sword The Venetians oppose against him sometimes by poyson glutted his crueltie vpon his allies his kinsmen his brethren vpon them whose age euen the barbarous Turkes would haue respected But the King did not build so much vppon the Popes fâ—iendship as hee doubted his hatred Moreouer he thought being firmely vnited to him no man should dare to attempt any thing against the authoritie of his Crowne in the estates of Milan and Naples The Kings answere was That he neither would nor ought to hinder the Pope from disposing at his pleasure of places belonging to the Church The Venetians therefore foâ—bearing to crosse the prosperitie of the Valentinois A League against the Valentinois for his Maiesties respect behold many small brookes ioyned togither make a great streame The Vrsins the Duke of Grauine Vitellozzi Iohn Paul Baillon Liuerot of Ferme Hermes for Iohn Bentiuole his father Anthony of Venafre for the Sienois with many other heads make an offensiue and defensiue League by meanes whereof and by the surprise of the Castle of Saint Leon Guidobalde recouered all his duchie of Vrbin They go to field with seuen hundred men at armes and nine thousand foote but they displease the King arming themselues with his authoritie hoping it may be that he would not be discontented to haue the Valentinois molested by another The Valentinois flies to the King and speedily prouides for conuenient remedies first hee pacifieth Cardinall Vrsin by the meanes of Iulius his brother and by diuers policies did so cunninly practise fiâ—st one then another of the confederates conâ—used and troubled with the Kings succors which the King gaue commaundement to the Lord of Chaumont to send to Borgia with expresse charge to countenance his affaires by all meanes that the first which was taken in the snare was Paul Vrsin whom he held to be a fit instrument to dispose of his companions and to draw them innocently into danger But what did these poore Commanders capitulating with a wicked wretch Fatal to the â—uthors whose sweet wordes was a snare for their death and who must shortly serue as an instrument of Gods wrath against them Truely whilest they imploy the forces which they had leuied to suppresse him in his fauour for the taking of some places and that they suffer themselues to be lulled more a sleep with his goodly shewes and sweete speeches he prepares for their ruine After they had by his commaundement taken the Towne and Castle of Sinigalle hee comes thither the next day with all his companies in order hee causeth then to bee taken prisoners strips their troupes The violent death of Vitellozze and Liueâ—ot and to make the last day of this yeare famous hee strangles Vitellozze and Liuerot of Ferme The first must follow the miserable course of his house all his other brethren and according to the order of their ages being dead of violent deaths Iohn was slaine with a cannon before Osâ—â—e vnder Pope Innocent Camille with a stone before Circelle Paul was beheaded at Florence And Liuerot felt in his person the treason whereby he had in a banket treacherously murthered Iohn Frangiane his vnkle with many Cittizens of Ferme to vsurpe the Seigneurie thereof Now we shall see a yeare full of memorable famous accidents begun with the Popes impâ—etie The notable cruelnes of the Valentinois treacherie but he was ignoraÌ„t what should presently befall his own person and state Being aduertised of his sonnes exploits at Sinigalle hee cals the Cardinall of Vrsin to the Vatican who trusting in his faith whom all the world knew to be faithles was lately come to Rome Being arriued he is taken prisoner and with him Rainold Vrsin Archb. of FloreÌ„ce the Protonotaire Vrsin and the Abbot of Aluiane brother to Barthelmew Iames of S. Croix a Romain-gentlemaÌ„ whom some few dayes after hee caused to bee deliuered vppon a good caution The Cardinal poysoned The Duke of â—â—â—uine and Paul Vrsin strangled but the Cardinall ended his dayes there by prison and the Valentinois hearing that the Cardinal was prisoner he caused the Duke of Grauine Paul Vrsin to be strangled TheÌ„ he approched to Siene meaning to seize thereon vnder colour to expel Pandolâ—o Petruâ—â—io as an enemie and disâ—urber of the quiet of Tuscane promising that when he had chased him he would presently returne with all his troupes to Rome without indomaging their territories The Steâ—ois thinking it no reason that the whole Citty should incurre so great danger to maintayne the power of one priuate Cittizen and Pandolfe desyring rather to accept that with euery maÌ„s good liking which in the end the peoples hatred the peril
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
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
the fiue no otherwise but for the defence of his owne estates As for the Castells of Lugan and Lugarne strong passages and of great importance for the surety of the Duchie of Milan they desyred rather to raze them then to take three hundred thousand Ducats for the restitution thereof Let vs nowe lay out all armes aside for a certaine space and giue our warriours time to take their breath and returne againe shortly to warre by the ambitious factions of two most great and mighty Princes This yeare in Febuary was borne Francis 1â—17 Daulphin and successor to this Crowne if his end had not beene violently forced The Daâ—â—pâ—in Francis borne Laurence of Medicis did present him at the Font for the Pope â—is Vncle. A Christening celebrated with iousts skirmishes incounters besieging and taking of places and other such stately shewes as the memory of man hath not obâ—erued greater And the King to make a more stricter league with the Pope he caused the said Laurence to marry with Magdaleine daughter to Iohn Earle of Auuergne and Auraguez and of Ioane sister to Francis of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme who died at Verceil when as King Charles the eight returned from Naples Of this marriage came Katherin of Medicis whom we shall see Queene of France and Mother to the three last Kings of the name of Valois At the same time the King sent Gaston of Breze Prince of Fonquarmont brother to the great Seneshall of Normandie with two thousand French foote to succour Christierne King of Denmarke against the rebels of Sueden who after they had wonne a battaile for the King being abandoned in the end by the Danes in a combate vpon the Ice where those Northerne Nations are more expert then ours were ouerthrowne and the most part slaine such as could escape the sword returned without pay without armes and without clothes 1518. The yeare following the last of March Henry the Kings second sonne was borne who by the death of the Daulphin his brother shall succeed his father Henry King of England was his God-father and gaue him his name During this surcease of armes among Christian Princes the Pope motioned but saith the Originall rather in sâ—ew then with any good intent Estate of the East a generall warre of all Christendome against Selim Prince of the Turkes Baiazet as we haue sayd in his latter age studied to install Acomath his eldest sonne in the throne of the Turkish Empire Selim the younger brother through fauour of the Ianisaries and Souldiers of his fathers gard forced him to yeeld the gouernement vnto him Selim was no sooner in possession but as they say hee poisoned his father and murthered his bretheren Acomath and Corcut and in the end all that discended from the line of the Ottomans Then passing from one warre to an other he vanquâ—shed the Aduliâ—ns ouerthrew the Sophi of Persia in battaile tooke â—â—om him Tauris the chiefe seate oâ— his Empire and the greatest part of Persia rooted out the Sultans of Egipt and the Mammelius tooke Caire and seized vpon all Egipt and Syria So as hauing in few yeares almost doubled his Empire and taken away the hinâ—â—rance of so mightie Princes who were iealous of his Monarchie Christian Princes did not without cause feare the happy course of his victories Hongarie was weake of men and in the hands of a Pupill King gouerned by Prelates and Barons of the realme diuided amongst themselues Italie dismembred by former warres â—eared least the part alities of these Princes should cause Selim to turne his eyes towards it The â—ope and all the Couâ—t of Rome making shew to preuent this imminent danger thought it expediâ—nt to make a great prouision of money by a voluntarie contribution of Princes and a generall taxe ouer all Christendome That the Emperour accompanied with the horse of Polonia and Hongarie and an armie of Reistres and Lâ—â—squenets fit for so great an enterprise should assaile Constantinople and the King of France with the forces of his Realme the Venetians Suisses and Potentates of Itaâ—ie should inuade Greece being full of Christians and ready to rebell vpon the first approach of forâ—aine â—oâ—ces The Kings of Spaine Portugall and England should passe the straight of Gallipoli with two hundred saile and hauing taken the Castell at the enâ—rie thereof they should approach neere to Constantinople That the Pope should follow the same course with a hundred great Galleys These were goodly plottes in conceit This counteâ—feit shewe to send an armie into Turkie was but a deuice to fill the Popes coffers which was made emptie by the former warres especially by that of Vrbin To treate of these propositions Leo published in the Consistorie a generall Truce for fiue yeares amongst all Christian Princes and vpon rigorous censures to them that should breake it Appointing for Legats the Cardinall of Saint Sixte to the Emperour the Cardinall of Saint Marie in Portico to the King the Cardinall Giles to the King of Spaine and the Cardinall Laurence Campege to the King of England hee proclaymed his Bulls of pardon to all such as should contribute a certaine summe for so woâ—thie an expedition All Princes accept of this truce and shewe themselues verie willing to so honorable in action But the meanes howe in so short a time to make a firme Vnion among so many Potentats who had beene long at deadly warre Euery one studies of his priuate interest and finding the danger to concerne one more then an other they care for themselues and manage these affaires carelesly more with shewe then deuotion This negligence of the publicke state and greedinesse of priuate men was the more confirmed by the death of Selim who leauing his Empire to his sonne Soliman young of age but of a milder spirit and not so enclyned to warre A peace concluded with the English then all things seemed to incline to peace and loue betwixt so many great warriors The Kings of France and England renued their friendship by a defensiue League betwixt them vppon promise of a marriage betwixt the Daulphin King Francis eldest sonne and the onely daughter of Henry King of England both very young which contract many accidents might hinder before they came to sufficiencie And Henry yeelded Tournay for foure hundred thousand Crownes the one halfe for the charge in buâ—â—ding the Citadell and for the artillery powder and munition which the King of England should leaue in the place the other halfe for the expenses in conquering thereof and for other pensions that were due vnto him Thus often times the looser paies the shott On the other side the Kings eldest daughter being dead And with 〈◊〉 Spaniards whome they had appointed to bee wife to the King of Spaine a peace betwixt these two Kings was reconfirmed according to the first Capitulation with promise of the yonger An alliance which eyther Prince did confirme with great outward shewes of friendshippe King Francis wearing the order
Hugues hauing receiued the Popes oath and the Cardinals Cibo and Rodolphe his cousins for hostages of his saftie capitulating with him in tearmes of a Conqueror he forced the Pope to promise To retire the army of the League out off the Estate of Milan and not to giue any succours to the Confederats for foure moneths Tiâ—es for punishments are noted in the Counsell of Gods diuine prouidence who ment to giue two notable stroakes with one stone as we shall shortly see This truce â—as wonderfully commodious for the Emperours affaires Milan had beene vanquisâ—ed at length Genes oppressed by the Confederates armie at Sea cryed out for â—read and the small store of victualls which came by land did but keepe them in breath for some few dayes But behold two great effects diuerted by the comming of â—eâ—rge Fronsperg who knowing the extremity of Gaspar his sonne Collonell of the Lansquâ—nets which were within Milan hauing stirred the Germains with hope to inrich themselues with the spoile of Italy he led a good number of horse Milan releeued by Lansquenets and foureteene thousand Lansquenets who receiuing euery man a crowne followed him to the succour of Milan The Marquis of Salusses and the Duke of Vrbin aduertised of these succours abandon the seege of Milan with an intent to cut off their victualls and to charge them at the passage of some riuer But the Dukes accustomed delayes had giueÌ„ Fronsperg leisure to assure himselfe of the field so as the league could no way annoy him but by light skirmishes Iohn de Medicis diâ—â— in one of the which Iohn de Medicis hauing his thigh broken with a faucon shot he retyred to Mantoue and there died within fewe daies This death was an absolute victory to the aduerse party for he was yong wise and a valiant Captaine Laude and Cremone did cut off the victuals from Milan the Duke of Bourbon being freed froÌ„ the seege hauing no more meanes to mainteine his army after he had by strapadoes other tortures wrested some money fâ—oÌ„ the Cittizens to pay his Spaniards he left Anthonie de Leue in the Cittie entred the territories of the Church with an intent to possesse Plaâ—sance To preuent him the Marquis of Salusses â—leauiâ—g the Duke of Vrbin in field put him selfe into it so as the Duke of Bourbon seeing the Towne well manned and the Venetian armie to follow him left Plaisance and by the Duke of Ferrares aduice whom the Emperour had wonne vnto him being ioyned with Fronspreg he marched directly towards Rome The Pope to be reuenged of the outrage receiued by the Colonnes called the Eaâ—le of Vaudemâ—nt brother to the Duke of Lorraine issued from the house of Aniou a hoâ—â—e greatly desired by the ancient partisans thereof to the realme of Naples The Earle accompanied with Rance de Cere about ten thousand foote and some â—orse entring iâ—to the Realme The warre of Naples had taken Aquile Salerne and many other places chased Don Hugues de Moncade and raised the seege of Freselon which the Imperials had beseeged when as the Viceroy of Naples required of the Pope in the Emperours name a surceasse from armes The Pope had no money to maintaine so long and so heauie a burthen of the warre there were greater difficulties in the enterpâ—ise of Naples then he expected the King did not seeme willing to make warre out of Italie as he had promised in the articles of their Capitulation neither did he furnish besides his part of fortie thousand Crownes a moneth for the common warre the twentie thousand which hee ought euery moneth for the expedition of Naples the French galâ—ies were so ill furnished both with men and munition as they remayned fruitles at Sauonne not attempting any thing the succors of the King of England were farre off and vncertaine the tedious and variable proceeding of the Duke of Vrbin did vexe him the approch and threats of the Imperiall armie at the gates of Rome did amaze him All these considerations made him conclude a truce with the Viceroy for eight moneths whereby either partie called backe his men spedily deliuered vp the places taken and caused the armie at sea to retire This was an other meanes to â—ull the Pope a sleepe a little before his ruine For threescore thousand Ducats which Pope Clement had giuen in regard of this truce were not sufficient to satisfie two pays due to the Duke of Bourbons Lansquenets the Germains and Spaniards gaped greedely after the sacke of Rome which had beene long promised them The truce did nothing stay them from shewing all acts of hospitalitie they spoyled the Countries of Bologna and Romagnia and then camped before Rome the next day the Duke of Bourbon causing a furious assault to be giuen marching in the head of his troupes with a ladder in his hand he was slaine wâ—th a harguebus The Duke of Bourbon slaine Philibert of Chalon Prince of Orenges who marched besids him to conceale it from the souldiars caused â—is bodie to be couered with a cloke and foâ—lowing the charge hotly he forced the subuâ—bs and the Cittie The victors entring put about foure thousand men to the sword It is to be supposed the slaughter had been greater if the death of their generall had been knowne they spoyle friend and so indifferently Prelats Temples Monasteries and â—elikes They ransome both secular and religious men They sacke the Cardinals Pallaces except such as had redeemed their goods Rome sackâ— and such as were fled into their houses with exceeding summes of money And which is worse many being spoyled by the Spaniards were fleeced againe by the Lansquenets being seasoned for the most part with Luthers doctrine and by consequence passionate enemies to the sea of Rome To conclude Rome is subiect to all the insolencies of a conquered Towne which they meane to ruine The Pope beseeged in his Castle of S. Angelo sent for the Viceroy of Naples hoping that hee would make him some better composition But comming to Rome hee sound the Imperials nothing pleased with his gouernment A hard capitulation for the Pope who had chosen the Prince of Auranges for their generall with whome the Pope voyde of all hope of succors agreed the 6. of Iune To pay vnto the army foure hundred thousand ducats a forth part presently the rest at sundrie termes 1527. to remaine prisoner with thirteene Cardinalls that did accempanie him vntill the first hundred and fiftie thousand were payed and then to go to Naples or to Caâ—ete to attend how the Emperour would dispose of them To giue in hosâ—age for assurance of the money the Archebishops of Siponte and Pisa the Bishoppes of Pistoâ—e and Verona Iames Salâ—â—ati Simon Ricasoli and Laurence brother to the Cardinal Rodolphe To deliuer into the Emperours hands to hold so long as he pleased the Castell of Saint Ange the forts of Ostia Ciuitauecchia and Ciuita Castâ—llana with the Citties of Plaisance Parma
beseeged And the King relying vpon the assurance he had of the Marshall of Biez aduanced hoping that the Bulwarks and the Courtynes of the fort had beene in such defence as he might haue imployed his armie elsewhere But there are two reasons which diuert him The one priuate which was the death of the Duke of Orleans his yongest sonne who supprised with a Quotidian feuer Death of the Duke of Orleance which they held to be pestilentious died the eight of September in the Abby of Forest-montier betwixt Abbeuille and Montrueil being three and twentie yeares old leauing a second greefe to the father to haue lost two sonnes at such times as they grew capable to ease his decaying age and without doubt the the waywardnes which made this Prince melancholike and difficult will hasten the course of his life to bring him to his graue The other was publike the Prince of Melphe being sent to visit the fort hauing considered the time of the foundation and the terme it required to come to the perfection reported that winter would bee well passed before it should bee made fit for seruice without the assistance of an armie So the King seeing his hopes lost and the season spent for the effecting of his desseins he retyred towards Amiens to the Abby of Saint Fuscien Skirmishes before Boullen In the meane time the neernes of the Kings Campe at Monâ—-Lambert did inuite both nations daily to make great skirmishes One day amonst the rest the Duke of Aumale seing our men withstand a charge of the enemies but faintly and were readie to be ouerthrown making a count hee should bee seconded by his troupe hee fals vppon a company of English which went to charge our French vpon the flanke at the first approch stayes them but being stroken with a launce betwixt the nose and the eye it breaks in peeces and left the tronchion halfe a foot within his head without doubt we may admire the generositie of this yong Nobleman who for so rough a charge lost neither stirops nor vnderstanding to free himselfe from those which had compassed him in and his admirable patience in induring the paine when they came to draw forth the three square head as constantly as if they had pulled but a haire from his head Winter approched and the King considering that his enterprise vpon Guines was â—râ—strate aduertised moreouer that the English made a new leauie in Germanie of ten thousand Lansquenets and foure thousand horse with this supply to come and raise the siege at Boullen he fortified all the approches in the countrie of Tierache and aboâ—t Aubenton Veruein and Guise to stop their passage He sent the Marshall of Biez to inuade ruine and burne the land of Oye for that Calais Guines and Hames which the English held vpon the maine land had no other reliefe but out of that Countie and to dispose of the affaires as occasion should serue he marched towards la Fere vpon Oize The land of Oye containes about foure leagues in length and three in breadth a marish very fertill in pastures Description and â—ark of the land of Oye hauing on the one side the sea and at the one end towards the sea Calais at the other end Grauelin of the land of Flanders towards the land and alongst the bankes of the Marish is the Towne of Guines and the Castle of Hames and at the end towards Arthois stands Ardres For the safetie of this land the English had made great trenches towards the firme land the which were commonly full of water and fortified with Rampars and to flanke them fortes and bastions well manned to defend the entrie into the countrie The affection which euery one bare vnto the Kings seruice made them to passe the channels which flowed into the countrie directly against the fortes They assaile them force them and put all to the sword they finde Two thousand English come to their succours the French men at aâ—â—es charge and defeate them and kill the most part the rest cast themselues into the trenches where the horsemen could not follow foure score or a hundred of our horse with manie men at armes test fâ—ed by their deaths or wounds the furie of this incounter The English were strong both in high and base Boullen and in the Tower of Ordre this Tower was built by Iulius Caesar the second time he passed into England to haue a Lampe vpon the top of it to direct his ships if they should be diuided by any stoâ—me at Sea as in his first voyage and the retiring of our troupes made them to enterprise vpon our â—orte wâ—ich was made on the other side of the water right against base Boullen Seuen or eight thousand choise men come an houre before day and mount sodenly to the top of the rampar where they might easily enter in many places without any ladders Thibault â—ouhault Lord of Riou Lieutenant for the King within the fort finding his succours farâ—e off saies the originall watched in the night and rested the day If the enemy charged furiously he repels him with no lesse assâ—rance kils all them that mounted ouertâ—rowes the rest puts them in route so as by this gallant repulse he was afterwards freed from the attempts of the English We must now plant strong barres against the Lansquenets which come to succour the King of England A leuie of Lansquâ—nets â—or the English mâ—de fruitleâ—â—e They were lodged at Fleurines a great village in the countrâ—e of Liege 〈◊〉 leagues from Mezieres Mezieres was of great importance if the enemy had surprised it And the Emperor fearing that this great swarme of men finding his countries vnfurnished of souldiars would doe some harme had hindred their passage through his teâ—â—itories This refusall might haue made the Germaines to haue sought a passage by force through the realme So the King to crosse them sent Laâ—gey into Mezacres with a thousand foot and the horsmen of Bourgongne and part of Champagne he sent Longueuall his Lieutenant into Champagne to muster the Legion of the country manneâ— the pâ—ssages where he thought the enemie would attempt He sent the Duke of Angâ—ien into Guise with three hundred men at armes and a number of foote In the end the Lansquenets hauing staied 3. weekes at Fleurines doubtfull where they should make their passage the day of their pay being come and the money yet in England they turne their enseignes returne home the same way leading with them the King of Englands Treasurers for assurance of their entertainment Our Francis is now freed of a great care By the death of the Duke of Orleans the chiefe conditions of peace made with the Emperour were voide so to enter into new treaties his Maiestie sent from Folambray neere to Coussy the Admirall Annebault and the Chancellor Oliuier â—he Emperour was at Bruges and determined to send an armie against the Protestants and commonalties of Germanie who yeelded him no
such obedience as hee required of his subiects and with this desseine he went to Antwerp to receiue money by imposition and borrowing This voiage is a cloake to delay our Ambassadors 1546. But in effect he ment to know the minds of theÌ„ of Antwerp that according to the course of affaires he might be more milde or sharpe in his answers And the sayd Ambassadors discouering his ordinarie delaies and dissimulations in the end tooke their leaue returning with no other assurance but if the King began no warre against him hee was not resolued to make any A word serues to a man of Iudgement What might the King conceiue of this cold entertainement but that the Emperour sought an oportunity to begin a new war with aduantage and if he had forced them to obedience whom hee threatned in Germanie he would bring al forces both Catholiks Protestants ioyntly against the frontiers of this realme To auoide a sodaine surprise hee giues the gouernment of Languedoc to the Duke of Anguien that of Piedmont to the Prince of Melphe lately created Marshal of France he sent to fortifie the weake places of Picardie hee made a fort aboue Maubert-Fontaine seauen leagues from Veruein and fiue from Mezieres at the going out of the wood and for that the frontier of Champagne lay most open to the Germains hee fortified Meziers and Mouzon built a fort vpon Meuze on this side the riuer within the realme betwixt Stenay and Dunle Chasteau the which hee called Villefranche he fortified the Castell of Saint Menehoult Saint Desier Chaumont in Bassigny Coiffy and Ligny and made Bourg in Bresse able to make head against a mighty army Thus the King prouided for his frontiers and places subiect to the enemies inuasions But the plague had so diminished the number of soldiars that were in the fort right against Boullen as of twentie enseigns not aboue eight or nine hundred men escaped this mortalitie A great plague in the â—ort before Boullen The soldiars notwithstanding are commended for their fidelity constancie and patience in the gard thereof The raine snowe and other iniuries of the aire the moistenes of their lodgings being but hoales in the ground coueâ—ed with a pentise of strawe and when a whole household was dead the ruines serued to bury their carcases had bred these diseases But the spring time hauing tempered the season and stayed the plague the Lords of Essé and Riou being refreshed and supplied with men returned to their ordinary skirmishes to the enemies losse The fort wanted victualls Senerpont Lieutenant to the Marshall of Biez was appointed for this execution Three hundred English horse come to hinder this victualing He meetes them the day after Easter day neere to the bridge of bricke beneath mount S. Stephen the skirmish begins on eyther side the Lord of Tais and the Conte Reingraue ariue either of them with sixe or seauen score gentlemen the alarume comes to Boullen the English supplie their men with seauen hundred horse and foure hundred harguebuziers Senerpont chargeth the horsemen before they had ioyned with their shot the Reingraue is hurt at the first charge and ouerthrowen and on the other side the Marshall of Calais beeing chiefe of the enterprise is slaine with a hundred or sixescore English about two hundred horse on eyther side and threescore and fifteene English prisoners all in cassaks of vellet garnished with gold and siluer A while after the Marshall of Biez parted from his campe for the same effect accoÌ„panied with fiftie men at armes the Reingraue with his regiment of foure thousand Lansquenets and two hundred French shot he incountred the Earle of Surrcy followed by six thousand English men with an intent to take from our men the meanes to refresh the fort with victualls and necessarie munition Here the combate was long and furious in the ende the English ouerthrowen retire to a little fort where they force them Seauen or eight hundred of their men are slaine Surrey saues himselfe by flight and leaueâ— seauen or eight score prisoners Boullen was but a Church-yard for the English a wasting for their treasor The King oâ— England considering how obstinate the King was in the recouerie of his Towne that moreouer the Emperour what league soeuer they had togither had his priuate desseins and regarded nothing but his owne interest he lettes the King vnderstand That he is resolued to haue hiâ— for his friend and to ende all controuersies So the Deputies for â—heiâ— maisters meete betwixt Ardres and Guynes For the King came the Amirall Annebault and Raymond the first President of Roâ—an for the English Dudely 〈◊〉 of England and afterwards Duke of Northumberland and finally after many câ—â—â—â—â—tations a peace was made with these conditions That the King within eight daies sâ—ould pay eight hundred thousand Crownes to the King of England as well for the arreriges of his pension as for many other expences made by the sayd King in the fortification of Boâ—lleâ— of the Countrie And in regard of the said sum the King of EnglaÌ„d should deliuer vnto the King Boullen and all the Countrie belonging vnto it with the ancient places or newly 〈◊〉 by him Mont-Lambert the Tower of Ordre Ambletueil Blacquenay and others with all the artillerie victuals and munition in the said places This yeare is famous by the death of Anguien In the moneth of February the snow was very great The death of the Duke of Anguien and the Court being at Roche-guion some yong Noblemen attending the Daulphin made a challeng some to defend a house others to assaile it â—ith snow bals But this pastime ended soone with a pittifull and fatall spectacle As the Duke came out of this house a cofer full of linnen cast out of the window falls vpon his head and within few houres sends him to rest in the graue with his ancestors leauing a suspition of some great men being enuious and iealous of his vertue reputation and fauour which he had gotten with the King the people and men of warre of whome he was more then any other of his age esteemed beloued and respected The beginning is likewise remarkable by the decease of Henry the eight King of England The death of the King of England leauing for his successor his sonne Edward eight yeares of age This death bred a great alteration and change in the health of our Francis they were almost of one age conformable in coÌ„plections And our King taking this for a presage or fortelling that his turne should soone follow after grew then more melancholy and silent then before He fals sicke of a feuer for the auoyding wherof hauing passed many places fit for the pleasure of hunting la Muette S. Germain in Laye Villepreux Dampierre neere vnto Cheureuse Limours and Rochefort he came to lodge at Rambouillet and as the pleasure he tooke both in hunting and hauking stayed him there sometime his feuer increased and grew to a
riuer Malicorne threatens the Duchesse to bring the Cannon to force her to yeeld the Casteel and the Protestants that were in it But the generous resolution of this Duchesse and the death of the Duke of Guise stayed the execution of his threats At Aurillac Bresons according to the CoÌ„mission he had from the Duke of Guise to seise vpon the forts of high Auuergne enters into Aurillac murthers eight men spoiles the Towne that of Argentat with some Castells rauisheth wiues maydens making his 〈◊〉 to roote out all the Protestants in the Country if the Edâ—ct of pacification had not forced to surcease Montare comes to Moulins with like Commission 1562. 1563. expelled out of the Towne whom he doubted then giuing a libertie to his troupes spoiled the houses and farmes there abouts he caused six men to be hanged and fiue others to be drowned returning from Orleans with three marchants of Dauphiné At Moulins and suffred the hangman to execute those without any forme of processe whom the multitude deliuered vnto him to bee put to death Thirteene yong men of Issoudun were beaten downe in the water the 8. of May at S. Lisaine a village two leagues from the Towne and the 9. of Iuly following Sarzay seized vpon Issoudun armed the Catholike Inhabitants At Issoudun drew malefactors out of prison and filled it with Protestants who for the most part died being smothered vnder the ruines of a Tower of sixteene that escaped ten saued themselues at Bourges Vntill the Edict of Peace he spoiled both the towne and Country ransomming â—ome deliuering others to the hangman which had not means to redeeme theÌ„selues he rauished wiues mayds and to conclude exposed these poore creatures to all the insolencies of soldiars The 3. of Aprill .1562 those of Mans became masters of the towne But violence neuer continued long At Mans. and soldiars led by a Commander of small credit and little authority did neuer see their armes prosper These men are no soner armed but they imploy themselues to the beating downe of images sacking of Churches and from the towne they run to the villages nere The commons assemble kill such as they meete and res kue the bootie In the end an apple of diâ—cord diuides them of the Towne the Castle the insolencies of the Captaines and souldiars amaze the Protestants the Duke of Montpensier prepares to assaile them of three Captaines which command within the Towne two haue intelligence with him This being discouered the towne being also ill furnished La Mothe Tibergeaâ— drawes forth tumultuously eight hundred men carrying armes leading them through many difficulties into Alançon who then tooke sundrie parties some not practised in armes remained there others put themselues into the troupes of the Conte Montgomery others of the Duke of Bouillon and the other two Captaines submitted to those to whom they had giuen their words Thus the Catholikes haue their turne they were driuen out of the towne and now they reenter and full of spleene they spoile the protestants houses both within the towne and abroad eight leagues compasse without respect of kindred kill spoile and ransome men women and children Some women of state some simple people seruants chambermaides some retired to their farmes or to their friends in the country remaine at the deuotion of fiue hundred Harguebusiers leuied for the gard of the towne and country there abouts who forbeare no kind of reuenge rigour The prisons are filled they forbid by any means to sollicite for theÌ„ the accused are not admitted to except against any witnesse and for the last act of this Tragedie aboue two hundred persons of al qualities sexes purge by their mournful deathes the insolencies of these first furies The absent were executed in picture their goods confiscate that were dead carrying armes Cruelties committed in Mans. their children degraded from al offices and declared incapable to succeed In villages nere farther of aboue six scoore persons yeelded their throats to the reuenging swords of them whome the change of armes had now giuen the aduantage One Captaine Champagne to glut the pikerils in a poole which he had doth gorge them with aboue fifty persons Bois-Iardin his Lieutenant fills two trenches nere vnto his house with fiftie or threscore carcases La Ferté Bernard Sablé Maine Loire Castle Memers Belesme and Martigue had the fields there about white with the bones of the slaine whose flesh was deuoured with birds and beasts The Images ouerthrowne at Vendosme the altars beaten downe At Vendosme yea the monumeÌ„ts of the house of Vendosme too insolently broken might not these stirre vp some reuenge You beat downe say the Catholiks the images and destroy the reliks of the dead but we will beate downe as many lyuing images as shall fall into our hands The Monkes of Saint Calais second them and of many Protestants which held their Abby they massacre fiue and twentie or thirtie Some troupes which kept the fields kill the first that passe stoane them and cast them into wells The Lord of Congnee ioyning with some gentlemen comes to charge them kills the murtherers and except a feâ—e which fled betimes puts them all to the sword then hee dischargeth the rest of his fury vpon the Priests and Monkes 1562. and causeth two of the most 〈…〉 to be hanged in their Church yea where the alarum had rung to assaile the Pâ—â—â—â—stants Those of Anger 's become the stronger yet without any offence to their feâ—loâ— ciâ—izens At Anger 's and make an agreement with themselues To liue peaceablie one with an oâ—her â—nder the Kings obedience with obseruation of the Edict of Ianuary This modesty contâ—â—ued from the 5. of Aprill to the 22. Then they loose all patience ouerthrowing the images and relikes of S. Samson The Catholikes rest patient but they could well chooâ—e â—â—e time of their aduantage It chanced that the Prince of Condê required a suppâ—â— of men and money from the Protestants of Anger 's Many Gentlemen and souldiars march and by this meanes make their party weake Puygaillard a Gascon Captaine sent by the Duke of Montpensier enters the Castles the 5. of May and the next dâ—y wins a part of the Towne then to lull the Protestants asleepe and to haue them in the ende at his deuotion he graunts them feee liberty of religion But two dayes â—fter vnder colour of disarming them they enter their houses A receiuer of subsidâ—es and some others barre vp their gates They sound the alarum their houses are spoiled and the prisons filled with men and women and after the eleuenth of the said month vnto the end of the yeare aboue foure score men were executed after diuers manners Many women of all qualities were put into sacks drawne through the dirt and their bodies cast into the riuer their daughters rauished and some making strong resistance were stâ—bbed with their daggers And the Duke of
company of Italians who were come to charge him behind in his retreat The tower of Moric Castle of la Graue Talmonde and the Castle of Chise beeing taken againe by Puigaillard recompenced the losse of Luson and the conquests of Puigaillard were at the same time crost by Puuiault Gouernour of Marans by the death of Captaine Dante who scoured all Poictou by the route of theiâ— companie and wounding in a manner of all the members thereof and by the ouerthrow of Chaumont and Goulenes issued out off Angoulesme with two Cornets of horse by the death also of Guitiniere Gouernour of Saint lean d'Angely the ouerthrowe of young Riuiere Puâ—taillé the route of his men and the losse of two Enseignes But the death of Captaine Herbelete commanding a company of French and two of Italians and the defeate of his troupes by Coignees issued out of Angoulsâ—â—e 〈…〉 held for the Princes made the mid-may famous a season when as the second 〈…〉 peace was reuiued Time brings many changes nowe it fauours the Protestants reuiues 〈…〉 The Protestants fortified fortifies their hopes and the Catholikes are newe â—o beginne the King 〈…〉 with this variable continuance of warre it drewe his subiects from his 〈◊〉 ruined his Prouinces wasted his treasure and consumed his forces The Queene Mother sence the battell of Meaux did still nourish in her brest a fire of reuenge Sâ—e was wonderfully discontented that the Protestants in the beginning of the first 〈…〉 had so violently opposed against her desire to rule by the mutuall ruine 〈…〉 and the other But there was paine and perill to suppresse the heads of the 〈◊〉 many murtherers and many poisoners offred themselues but the 〈…〉 drewe backe when it came to the effect Moreouer the Princes grewe in age and iudgement they framed themselues to affaires they began to knowe the friendâ— and enemies of the Common-weale And on the other side many Noblemen of eyther parrie labored to temper the humors both of such as were best affected to the publike quiet and of those 〈…〉 these inciuill confusions made a way for their ambitious deâ—â—emes 〈…〉 â—iron and Teligny chiefe deputies the one for the King the other for the Princes â—â—bour about a peace Let vs see what course the Princes tooke sence the 〈◊〉 â—f Montcontour vntiâ—l the peace A small ball of snowe rowled from a high 〈◊〉 growes great in a shoâ—t time and becomes able to endure a great force 〈…〉 Councell whereby the Princes resolued to retire farre from the Conquerâ—â—rs army did much auayle them for they assured their men fortified themselues 〈…〉 troupes and consumed their enemies in the taking and retaking of places which they had possessed The Princes voâ—â—ge aâ—ter the battaile But still the poore people suffer for great mens follyes Agenois and Querâ—y serues nowe as a good retreat for the Protestants They find there a faâ— a fruitfull Country where by the spoile of the contrarie party they refresh their persons and make a newe bodie There is nothing but inroads spoiles and robbings of the enemie but there was violent warre about Tholouse and horrible fires in their houses which belonged to the Court of Parliament They haue beene saied the Protestants verie violent to burne them of our religion beheaded Captaine Rapin who carrieâ— tâ—â—m the Edict of peace from the King and to commit many other insolencies whereof opportunitie nowe cryes for vengeance Doubtlesse the iustice of God doth 〈◊〉 send a wâ—shed encounter to bee reuenged of an indignitie receiued The Marsâ—aâ—l of Danuille la Valette and some other Commanders of qualitie made some 〈◊〉 with diuers variable euents but not strrying farre from their walles for feare of surprise Carmain Oriaâ— la Faye Lesbos Montestruc and generally all they beseege except Saint Felix from whence the Gasâ—ons were repulsed in the assault with the losse of fiâ—â—ie men and the Vicount of Montclar hurt whereof he died at Chastres is forced and the garrisons cut in peeces During the armies aboade in Albigeois the Prince notwithstand the crosses of Escars Pompadour la Vauguion and others commanding three thousand men being fortified with fiue or six hundred horse brought from Rochelâ—e by Beaudiné and Renty send Piles into the Countie of Roussillon where he did spoile and greatly anoy the Spaniard whilest the Kings deputies conferred nere vnto Carcassonne with Teligny Beauuais and la Chassetiere who going afterwards to his maiestie concluded what we shall see in briefe Languâ—doe Viuarez and Daulphiné hauing fortified the army with about three thousand harguebuzies most of them mounted at the Countrie mens charge in steede of those which Moubrun had through fauour of the fort which hee built vpon Rosne right against Pusin led away to refresh themselues in their Countrie hauiâ—g surmounted the difficulties of the mountaines and the Admirall being freed fâ—om a grieuous sicknes which had brought him to deaths dore at S. Estienne in Forest the army comes into Bourgongne where being fortified with fifteene hundred light horse come from la Charité and the neighbour garrisons vnder the command of Briquemault they incounter a good occasion to aduance the peace It seemed to the Protestants a matter of some difficulty to obtaine a peace vnlesse they approched neere vnto Paris and to that ende the Admirall had suffered almost all his footemen to furnish themselues with horses and aduanced by great iourneys into the heart of France whilest his troupes were fresh and lusty and free from diseases But he had before him the Marshall of Cosse the Kings Lieutenant in the absence of the Duke of Aniou who to hinder the Pâ—inces approch to Paris seekes meanes to fight with them They incamped at Renéle Duke a place not very strong of situation from whence they thought to dislodge them with their Canon whereof the Princes were vnfurnished and by diuers vollâ—es of shot to make them leaue certaine passages which they held The Marshall la Valette Strossy and la Chastre come with al speede charge and recharge them and at the first they force them from a passage Incouâ—ter at Renelâ— Dâ—â— Briquemault Marshall of the Campe Montgomery and Ienlis endure the shocke they kill hurt take many and by this firme resolution make it knowne that their lodgings are not to be forced So the Marshall sounds a retreat and the Princes to whom all stay was preiudicial being strengthned with newe companies drawne out off Sancerre la Charité Antrain Vezelai and other places of their partie and furnished with some artillery they turned head towards Paris But a truce of ten dayes stayed all exploits of war betwixt them Truce in the armies and the Marshall While the Barron of la Garde Puigaillard Reniere Puitaille chiefe enemies to the Protestants laboured to become Masters in Guyenne the neighbour country To that ende after they had ouercome the troupes of horse and foote led by la Noue Soubize and Puuiault and by a shamefull chafe shut their companies
Roâ—hell was in the meane time belegard soâ—ldiars arriued hourely giuing terrible threats against the Towne who began to crie tâ— the Admirall for succours In other Townes they heard secret murmurings â—hich terrified the most cleere sighted among the Protestants These aduertisements sound continually in the Admirals eares But he continues alwayes like vnto himselfe constant in the midest of all motions and grew resolute against all such as laboured to call him from Court eyther by mouth or writing As for the house of Guiâ—e sayd hee whereof they will put me in feare the King hath taken order making vs to sweare before him to continue friends and as for them of the religion the marriage of Madam Marguerit whom his Maiestie giues not to the King of Nauarre alone but as it were to all those of the party to ioyne himselfe vnto them by an indissoluble vnion is the finishing of their quiet and safetie To conclude he will be no more troubled touching the Kings ill meaning nor the Qâ—eene Mothers the Duke of Anious the Guisiens nor any others And that which setles the Admirall the more in his conceit he finds the King after the death of Sigismond King of Poland to affect the pursute of that Crowne in fauour of his brother Negotiation of Poland Charles was cleere sighted in affaires of State he was young yet of a quick and ready wit and if bloudie and furious councels had not peruerted him without doubt he might haue brought forth better fruites and this Monarchie â—ad beene freed from the miseries which haue since ruined it His brother had great credit generally in France his mildnesse made him pleasing to his Mother and his liberalitie to the people He desired rather to see him command farre off then neere And the Admirall who knew the Duke of Aniou to be an irreconciliable enemie to tâ—e Protestants supposed that the King would by his absence settle a firme peace that Henry being confined in Poland his adherents would grow more milde that the house of Guise disapointed of this support would feare the Kings lookes the which sometimes appeared terrible and that Charles would soone discharge the Queene â—is Mother from the gouernment of affaires and take it wholy vnto himselfe as already he made some shewes of his intent The Admirall seeing Iohn of Monluc Bishop of Valence a man of iudgment and practised in negotiations departed for this Ambassage hee fed himselfe with new hopes And contrarywise Monluc foreseeing the iminent storme was very glad to be neither a councellor nor a witnesse of the miseries that were like to fall vpon the Protestants And indeed he had before councelled many of the principalls amongst them not to medle in this imaginary warre of Flanders but to retyre in time to theyr houses and not to trust ouermuch in the goodly shewes of Court considering the enuie of the great and the ill will of the people of Paris But thus God confounds the iudgment and blinds the vnderstanding of such as he reserues for an example to their posterity O France my haire stands vpright and I tremble 1972. to enâ—er into the relation of so inhumaine a tragedie And shall wee neuer bee satisfied to heare the lamentable and contiâ—uall slaughter of our countrymen what man would not be troubled what minde would not be oppressed with heauinesse and griefe to see so much bloud vnprofitably spilt in our Citties which should be carefully preserued for the defence of our country against strangers and common enemies yet let vs passe this dangerous passage the course of times inuites vs to proceed A great number of Noblemen both Catholikes and Protestants repaired from all parts to the solemnizing of this marriage Those of Guise come bringing with them a large traine of persons of all qualities faithfull vnto them The water which moues by little and little the birdes which houer aboue it and the ayre colder then of custome foretell a storme to come So the common murmurings the stirring of the quarter maisters and other Captaines of Paris the Kings gards dispersed through the Citty the ordinary threates against the Protestants were certaine testimonies That this marriage should be seasoned more with bloud then water The day appointed comes the Cardinall of Bourbon marries the parties vpon a hiâ—h scaffold The marriage solemnisâ—d built before the doore of our Ladyes Church at Paris Foure dayes are spent in playes feasts dancing and maskes which finished the King protests to the Admirall that he â—â—ll answer and satisfie the Protestants requests Euery one of their Churches had their Deputies in Court for many affaires wherein the Admâ—rals authority was very necessaâ—y They ought a great summe of money to the Germaines due for their entertainment in former warres for the payment whereof the King had suffered them to taxe themselues to the fift part of their estates The Commâ—ssioners and Receiuers prest the collection being desirous to make an end of that businesse the day of payment being past Hereon the Admirall treated with the Priuie Councell on Fâ—iday the two twentith of August where the Duke of Aniou in the Kings absence was president At the rising of the Councel the Admirall hauing attended on the King who went to play at Tenis he retyred himselfe to his lodging at dinner time being accompanied with fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen and reading a petition when as being about a hundred paces from the Louure a Harguebuse shotte from the window of a lodging neere by belonging to Villemur sometimes Schoolemaister to the Duke of Guise The Admiral huâ—t carryes away the forefinger of the right hand and wounds him in the left arme They breake downe the doore of the lodging they finde the Harguebuse but not him that discharged it This was Maureuel vnder a counterfet name of Bolland of the Kings gardes a fitte man for such murthers who mounting vpon a Genet of Spaine which was prouided ready for him fled by Saint Anthonies gate to a place of safetie The King played and vpon the first report of this hurt Shall I neuer haue quiet said he shall I dayly see new troubles And casting his Racket to the ground he retyred to the Louure and sweares with an execration to the King of Nauarre and the Pâ—ince of Condé who were come vnto him to complaine of this outrage to take such exemplary iustice of the offendor his fautors and adherents as the Admirall and his friends should haue cause to rest satisfied Hee presently commands to purâ—ue him that shotte but they go slowly after him hee appoints three of the Parliament to make infoâ—mations against the culpable Thran Morsan and Viole hee leaues onely two gates open with greaâ— gardes vnder colour to search for such as were priuie with this outrage putting the whole Citty into armes The Qâ—eene Mother seemes to â—ee discontented They doe great wrong vnto the King cryes she if hee should suffer this crime vnpunished they would in the end
and Councellors of the massacre as he made knowen by his speeches to some of his Court being enemies to iniustice and by letters written out of the Realme for whom he prepared a strange potion if the prouidence of God had not reserued them as scourges and ministers of that punishment hee meant to inflict vppon this Realme to the end that seeing him afterwards to cast theâ—e rods into the fire we should confesse That it is not now alone that hee sheweth him selfe the gardien and Protector of this Monarchie At that time Charles lay taken both hand and foot his cheefe seruants were dead disgraced and absent The motiues of new troubles did much disquiet him Hee did foresee infallible seeds of combustion in the coloured captiuitie of his brother and brother in Law in the imprisonment of the two Marshals in the exile of the Prince of Condé in whose fauour the Germains began to arme Hee sees his subiects cruelly armed one against another and the fire of diuision readie to wast the Realme His infirmitie had some intermission during winter but in the end after he had languished the moneths of February March and Aprill tormented with many pangs hee kept his bed Charles dies and the thirtith day of May hee slept his last sleepe in the Castle of Bois de Vincennes after great effusion of bloud which issued out by all the passages of his bodie the last two weekes of his sicknesse during the which he endured all the violent assaults and combats which the vigour of youth might suffer in the extreamest pangs of death His successour could not come so soone from Poland Catherine therefore to assure his authoritie during his absence had obteined on the nine and twentith day letters of Regencie from the King directed to the Gouernours of Prouinces and the better to fortifie this nomination to restraine the Princes of the bloud and to maintaine her selfe in the midest of confusion she causeth letters Patents to bee sealed by the Councellor of Birague her seruant and by this meanes doth abolish the fundamentalllawes the order of the Realme the priuileges of Princes the authoritie of the generall Estates and the prerogatiue of the Parliaments Charles was borne the seuen and twentith of Iune 1550. and began to raigne the fifth of December 1560. A Prince of a very actiue disposition His disposition inconstant in his thoughts violent in his enterprises impatient readie of conceite the which he did expresse in good termes a diligent obseruer of other mens natures cholerike secret a dissembler cruell and a blasphemer But let vs impute these vices and others not to his naturall inclination but to his gouernours and scholemasters amongst the which the historie doth especially note Martigues and Losses who with the consent of the mother corrupted this yong Prince and made him take the habit of Vices and infections wherein they daily plonged him They might haue pruned this yong plant better to haue brought forth better fruites At the beginning he was open courteoâ—◠〈◊〉 sober and little giuen to women His speech was pleasing hee loued 〈◊〉 and poetrie we reade yet good verses compiled by him in French But the 〈◊〉 of hunting transported him wonderfully and the bloud of wild beasts which 〈…〉 with singular delight made him with long continuance as it were greedy of 〈◊〉 bloud But let vs tremble in this death vnder the Iustice of Gods Iudgements 〈◊〉 suffered after so horrible a butchery committed and commanded 〈…〉 raigne him to bee surprised with a great debilitie in his latter dayes to 〈…〉 his owne bloud vomiting it out pittifully by all the conduicts of his body as a 〈◊〉 iudgement for him that barbarously shed it throughout all the Prouinces of the realme Doubtlesse God loues not the Prince that thirsts after his subiects bloud for the subiects bloud is the very bloud of their Prince HENRIE the third 62. King of France HENRY THE .3 KING OF FRANCE AND POLE. IT is a great comfort vnto mee sayd Charles some few houres bâ—fore his death that I leaue no heyres males lawfully begotten 1574. for lâ—auing him young he must indure many crosses and France hath need of a man But alas we shall now see one aduanced to the crowne whereâ—â—to the fundamentall lawe of State and honour doth call him installed with a confused beginning and afterwards by an Edict of pacification to reduce and reâ—eiâ—e his subiects happily in their obedience vnder a raigne as lasciuious and voâ—uptâ—â—us as the other had beene cruell and bloudie vntill that the house of Guise seeing the King baren and his successor confined in shewe beyond the riuer of Loire shall discouer their ambition and cause but in the end with the losse of the liues of two of the chiefe motiues of confusion the people to breake out into a blind vaine and â—reacherous rebellion beeing too readie to second the ambitious desseins of great men and to runne at randon vnder the libertie of a turbulent raigne and for the last scene of this tragedie they stâ—rre vp a monsterous monke traiterously to murther him and by his death to extinguish the name of Valois and vnwittingly to let the Crowne of France vpon the head of this Henry the first of the branch of Bourâ—ons whome wee shall see happily called from beyond the riuer of Loire miraculously to take the helme of this estate and valiantly to encounter the dangerous attempts of his enemies who had alreadie proclaymed a triumph before the victorie gotten â—isely to quench the fires of diuision kindled in his Realme and nowe to raigne mâ—st happilie and by the admirable fauour and blessing of heauen to gouerne his people in concord peace and loue This is the man whome France had neede of to pacifie the diuisions both of great and small to restore their generall and priuate ruines and vnder so gentle and milde a commande to preserue them frâ—m the proude Emperie of Strangers Doubtlesse France cannot bee gouerned but by a Frenchman as wee shall see hauing learned the beginning progresse and pittifull ende of this Prince vpon whome depended the estate of this great and mightie monarchie Postes flie with speede to carrie newes to the King of Poland of the death of his elder brother whilest the Queene mother attending his comming made a truce with them of Poitou to the end she might with lesse opposition furnish the warres of Normandie and to stay them of Languedoc and other neighbour Prouinces she perswaded the Duke of Alençon and the King of Nauarre to giue them aduertisment of the death of Charles and sollicited the gouernours to write vnto the newe King touching their zeale to his seruice and desire vnder her regencie to obserue the like fidelity to him as they had done to his Predecessors Matignon labored in the meane time to take Saint Lo and Carentan from certaine gentlemen Protestants whome the breach of faith to the Earle of Montgomery had made resolute in the
tyme in curling of his haire The battaile of Coâ—tras The nine teenth of October accompanied with the Prince of Condé the Conte Soissons his brother the Viconte of Turenne and other good commanders hee takes his lodging at Coutras to passe the riuer of Drougne at a ford The Duke supposing to haue him at his deuotion betwixt two riâ—ers giues the rendezuous to all his forces the next day betwixt Roche-Chalais and Coutras and there made choise of his place of battaile to his best aduantage halfe a League from Coutras The King of Nauarre and his souldiars had swet more in skiâ—mishes then in tenis-Courts and did take more pleasure in the dust of their enemies chase then in feasts The inequalitie of the number doth not amaze them Hee marcheth before resolues his men to fight makes them to fall on their knees and pray to God puts his horsemen into foure squadrons his owne that of the Prince the Earles and the Viconts The souldiars inflame their courages by mutuall skirmishes and reprochfull speeches from words they goe to blowes The King of Nauarres artillerie thunders fiâ—st at eight of the clocke and at the first volle sweepes away seuen Captaines of the regiment of Picardie The Dukes answeares him but without effect The ignorance or malice of the Canâ—oniers hauing planted it so low as it fell vpon a little â—ill betwixt both armies The Dukes horsemen led by Lauerdin and Captaine Mercoeur giue the charge and at the first encounter force through the King of Nauarres squadron and passing on the Vicont stayes him and beates him backe The Duke presuming by this first good happe to obteine a totall victorie ouer thâ—ee cheefe heads of the house of Bourbon aduanceth resolutely flancked with two hedges of armed men to charge with the Lance. The foure commaunders march euery one in the head of his troupe first easily the pace then the trott and after in their full carier They charge and breake them This conflict which consisted for the most part of Leaguers Defeat was almost as soon dissolued as it was resolued on it began at nine of the clocke and at tenne not any of the Dukes men had any offensiue armes some aâ—e ouerthrowne some taken and some seeke their safetie in flight The victors poursue them thâ—ee Leagues and strewe the fields with men horses and armes The Duke is compassed in by a squadron of men at armes A voyce reuiues the memorie of the slaughter made at Saint Eloy and of the Companie of Pueilhes at the brute whereof he is slaine presently Death of the Duke oâ— Ioyeâ—se without any respect of his qualitie His brother Saint Sauueur Bresay who carried the white Cornet Roussay the yonger brother of Pâ—ennes guidon to the Duke the Earles of Suze Ganuelo d' Aubiâ—oux the Lords of Fumel Neufui the elder brother of Perigord yong Rochefefort Croisete Gurat Saint Fort guidon to Saint Luc du Bordet his enseigne de Vaux Lieutenant to Bellegarde gouernour of Xaintonge Montigni enseigne Tiercelin master of the Campe Pluuiault la Brangerie Campelis the yonger la Vallade Bacullard with many other Caâ—taines and a great number of men of account and qualitie with about halfe of the armie made the battaile of Coutras famous by their deaths as the most memorable of all that haue been giuen for religions cause in France Many rich prisoners and a very rich spoyle All his Cornets taken his cannon carried away and his baggage seized on At their returne from the pursute thankes were giuen to God vpon the place of battaile died with bloud and couered with carcases But that which honoured the King most in the midest of this so commendable a moderation of his victory hee shewed himselfe no lesse milde and courteous to the prysoners and the wounded then wise and valiant in heate of the fight He caused the dead to be buried cured the wounded sent home almost all the prisoners without ransome gratified most of the Commanders caused the enseignes to bee deliuered to Montigny aboue the rest commended him to haue behaued himselfe valiantly in the battayle whereby hee began to purchase fauour with the King of Nauarre and afterwardes gotte great reputation with him for his valour and fidelity when as hee vnited both Crownes into one The Prince of Condé at the first charge had a blowe with a Lance on the side and beeing ingaged vnder his horse it did so preiudice his health as the griefe thereof did soone hasten him to his ende This is the greatest losse of the Protestants army in this coâ—bate in the which there was a very small number slaine and not one of account The King of Nauarre is nowe freed from the snares that were layed for him nowe hee aduanceth towards the spring of the riuer of Loire and giues aduice of his desseine to the army of strangers which then was in Hurepois about the Lands of the Lord of Chastillon The King camped vpon Loire betwixt Cosne and Neufui and by aduice of the Duke of Neuers hee cloyes the passages with trees stoanes and other hindâ—ances where the horses should passe The second cause next to God of the ruine of this army to whom they thought the King at his entry would haue presented a blanke to prescribe what they pleased The Duke of Guise followed them at the heeles and the Duke of Mayenne on the one side and yet both of them could not keepe them from surprising of some small Townes to refresh their army But when as they see themselues frustrate of all hope to ioyne with the King of Nauarre or to passe the riuer of Loire that they must eyther retire or march forward to meete with the King of Nauarre or ingage themselues farther within the realme to seeke bread for themselues and forrage for their horses or else march on the left hand and wander into vnknowne Countries they growe amazed they mutine they faint Some Frenchmen attempt la Charité but their enterprise succeeds not The Germaine aâ—my in Beausse In the ende they leade the army into Beausse where they should finde meate both for man and horâ—e The seauen and twentith of October they lodged at Vimorry and places there abouts neere to Montargis To take from them this lodging the Dukes of Guise and Mayenne taking aduantage of the passages of the riuer of Loing come at supper time with fifteene hundred horse and fiue thousand foote and charge the Baron Donneau beeing lodged in Vimorry with seauen or eight Cornets of Reistres Charged at Vimorry but they had almost verified the saying of the King of the Epirots vanquisher of the Romaine army We are vndone if we get such an other victorie for three hundred horses of baggage the Barons two Cammells and the death of fifty souldiars with a hundred seruants was not sufficient to recompence the bloud of fortie braue and gallant Gentlemen and two hundred good souldiars slaine vpon the place by the Reisâ—res who
allowe thereof This was to recouer some life after a long numâ—es and fainting and to returne to the way of obedience But the Legat of Rome a pensioner of Spaine and the cheeâ—e of the League hoping to draw the affaires to another course calling from all parts the Deputies of Townes confederate to assist at the Estates at Paris they sought all meanes to mortifie these motiues of charitie to their countrie which reuiued in the most modest And the better to aduance their desseins they publish a certaine writing in forme of a Bull commaunding and giuing authoritie to the Cardinall of Plaisance to assist and to confirme the future election of a new King This doth sufficiently discouer that which hitherto they haue concealed and kept secret couering with the pretext of religion their wicked and damnable conspiracie which opened the gate to the ouerthrowe and ruine of all order and humaine societie instituted by God especially of this most famous and flourishing monarchie whereof the fundamentall law consists cheefly in the order of the lawfull succession of our Kings The Court of Parliament being remoued from Paris to Chaalons A sentence against Clement the 8. Bull. by a decree of the eighteenth of Nouember confirming the request of the Kings Proctor generall allowed of his appeale from the grant of the said Bull and authoritie conteined therein the publication and execution thereof and whatsoeuer was therein conteined They decreed that Phillip of the title of Saint Onuphre Cardinal of Plaisance should bee cyted to plead against the sayd appeale They exhorted all men not to suffer themselues to bee infected with the poyson and witchcraft of such rebells and seâ—â—tious persons but to continue in their duties like good and naturall Frenchmen and to retâ—ine still the obedience and loue they owe vnto their King and Countrie not adhering to the practises of such as vnder the colour of religion would inuade and trouble the State and bring in the barbarous Spaniards and other vsurpers They did expresly inhibit and forbid the keeping of the sayd Bull to publish it to aide or fauour the sayd rebells or to transport themselues into any townes or places that might bee assigned for the sayd pretended election vpon paine for the Nobles to be degraded of their Nobility and they and their posterity to be declared infamous and base and for the Clergie to loose the possession of their benefices and to bee punished as all other offenders guilty of treason troublers of the publike peace traitors to their Country without hope to obtaine pardon remission or abolition And all townes not to receiue the sayd rebells and seditious to make the sayd assemblie to lodge entertayne or harbour them Moreouer they decreed that the place where that resolution had beene taken togither with the towne of the sayd assemblie should be quite razed without hope to be reedified for a perpetuall memory of their treachery and treason Commanding all persons to set vpon such as should transport themselues to the sayd towne to assist at this assembly And to the Proctor generall to informe against the Authors and procurers of such monopoles and conspracies made against the Estate This decree was but laughed at by the heads of the League and did nothing daunt their priuate hopes Euery one makes his faction apart Euery one desired to set in his masters chaire and not one would bee a seruant or Companion The Dukes of Guise Mayenne Nemours and Sauoy the Marquis of Pont sought by sundry practises to get the voices of the pretended Estares The instructions found in the cofers of the Baron of Tenissey after his defeate by Vaugrenan who commanded for the King in Saint Iohn de Laune in Bourgongne did sufficiently discouer the high proiects which certaine bad Councellors made this yong Prince to conceiue But aboue all the Duke of Mayenne The Popes â—ulls disanuled supposing that after the death of the Duke of Parma whom he feared as very opposite to his authority this occurrent would giue him meanes to recouer his credit began to play the King within Paris hoping the Estats would prefer him before the yonger or at the least the title of Lieutenant generall to the King of Spaine could not escape him in the Conquest of the realme For the first fruits of his absolute power he forceth the Presidents and Councellors remayning at Paris to receiue Rosne one of his most trusty friends with the title of Marshall of the Crowne gouernor of the Isle of France dignities fit for a Nobleman of a better house quality And to bridle the Parisiens who demaÌ„ded peace he caused on Christmas Eue going vp to the pallace the Citty being in armes the foresayd decree against the Popes Bul to be openly burnt then by a publâ—ke declaration he inuited al the Catholikes of the realme to vnite themselues to forsake the obedience which they shewed to a Prince whose prosession perseuerance made him incapable appointed the conuocation of the Estats on the 17. of Ianuary following at Paris There ioyntly to seeke without passion saâ—ed he or respect of any mans interest the remedies which they should thinke in their coÌ„science to be most profitable for the preseruation of religion and the Estate But what Estates Like vnto those of Troyes where they disinherited Charles the 7. the true and lawfull heire of the Crowne as excomunicate Estates chosen almâ—st of all the scomme of the people of the most matinous and seditious corrupted by money and all pretending some priuate profit in change and innouation A â—arliament compounded of men which eyther enioyed the benefice the office or the house of their neighbour or that had stolne his goods or detayned his reuenues or to conclude that feared by a peace to be toucht for some committed Crimes bankerouts infamous and wicked Estats where there appeeres not one Prince of the bloud no Chancellor no Marshalls of France no Presidents of Soueraine Courts none of the Kings Proctors generall in his Parliaments fewe men of reputation knowne to haue loued the peoples good and their owne honours No men of marke and account without whome they could not assemble nor hold any iust and lawfull Estates Fâ—nally a Parâ—â—â—ment where they see none but passionate strangers gaping after France geeedie of the bloud and welth thereof ambitious and reuenging women corrupt Preestes licentious and full of vaine hopes No Noblemen of worth 1593 but three or foure who alreadie had resolued to abandon that faction all the rest were beggarly louing warre and trouble during the which they eate the good mans bread not able to maintayne their owne traynes in time of peace An Italian Legat and vassall to a strange Prince who in this quality neyther can nor ought to haue any place sent to hinder the liberty of voices and to authorise such as had promised him to do wonders for the affaires of Rome and Spaine A Cardinall of Peluè a Frenchman by
thereof for the obtayning wherof he had vsed the intercession of the most Christian King of France of the Duke and Seigneury of Venise of the Duke of Florence and other great Princes as well Italians as Germains and euen of the Emperour himselfe but he could neuer obtaine this fauour although hee offred great summes of money equalling in a manner the value of the said Duchie wherewith he grew so discontented as dying he aduised his nephew the Bastard to seeke by al meanes to maintaine himselfe in the said Duchie by aâ—mes procuring him the fauour of Princes his Allyes Confederats Neighbours and Friends There was much expected from the Dukes of Guise and Mayenne of the house of Lorraine by reason of the famous Princesse their mother who was daughter to the Duke of Ferrara and to Madam Renée daughter to Lewis the 12. King of France but the pietie of the most Christian King and the modestie of thoâ—e Princes would not suffer them to attempt any thing against the Church Caesâ—r prepareâ— to armes Yet Caesar although hee were base takes vppon him the title of Duke hee fortifies himselfe leuies men and prepares for a braue defence Hereupon Pope Clement the eight holds a Conclaue and resolues with his Cardinals that the said Caesar should bee called to Rome to yeeld his obedience and in the meane time nothing should bee attempted but all should remaine in peace Caesar refuseth to obey and seekes the fauour of his vnckles friends So as many inclined in the beginning to giue him succours and there were great controuersies among the Doctors vpon this point of Law Qui filij sint legitimi Some affirming that bastards may succeed being once aduowed to be of the bloud Others sayd that they could in no sort inherit although they were aduowed In the end all inclyned to the Holy Sea considering the coÌ„ditions of the institution made to the fiâ—st of the familie by the Church Yet Caesar fainted not but scornes all that was â—â—tempted against him The Pope excommunicates him and all his adherents Neither doth that dismay him but he giues them battaile neere to Boulognia where many were â—â—aine but more of the Popes side then of his He seekes by offer of monâ—y to pacifie the Pope and Cardinalls but he preuailes nothing His friends by little and little grew cold and dealt no more but by secret Intelligences He sees the danger whereinto hee was readie to fall not onely to loose what hee demaunded but also his fathers inheritance which was not called into question So as in the end hee resolues to submit himselfe and to obteine as profitable a Peace as he could After much consultation in the end a conclusion was made at Faenza conteining sundrie articles Thus ended the warre of Ferrara whereuppon his Holines resolued to go thither After hee had visited the holy places of Rome hee departs accompanied with seuen and twentie Cardinals foure and thirtie Bishopps and fiue â—undred Knights and gentlemen hee fell sicke at Camerate whereuppon processions were made in Rome and the prisons set open Hee past by Lauretto and visited our Ladies Chappell The Duke of Vrbin receiued and conducted him through his Countrie where the Dukes Caesar and Alexander d' Esté with the Earle of Mirande came to kisse his feete The Popâ—s Entry into Ferrara After that the Cardinall Aldobrandin his nephew had â—eceiued the homage of the Cittie and Duchie of Ferrara his Holines made his entrie with great solemnitie whereas he continued all that Summer The King of Spaine before his death had concluded a marriage betwixt his Sonne and Margaret daughter to the Archduke of Austria of Gratze yongest sister to Marie who being promised him to wife died before the espousals Albert the Archduke had commaundement to go and receiue the said Margaret at Gratze to conduct her into Spaine but being readie to depart and hauing sent the Admirall of Arragon Captaine Generall of his armie into the Countrie of the Duke of Iuilliers and Cleues hee receiued newes of the death of the King of Spaine Notwithstanding hee went on his iourney The Archduke Alâ—ert meets with Margaret of Austria and met with the Princesse Margaret of Austria not farre from the same place whereas the Emperour Charles the fift and Ferdinand his brother would haue a memoriall left of their happie enteruiewe comming from diuers parts the which is represented in a table This Princesse was accompanied by her mother being of the house of Bauiere and fiue hundred gentâ—â—men of high Hungarie where the Archduke her father hath most commonly his cheeâ—e aboade The nine and twentith of October they came to Trent and so entring the territories of the Venetians two Senators were sent by the Seigneurie to receiue the sayd future Queene with great honour They pâ—sse throuâ—h the Veâ—etiâ—nâ— Countâ—y in a Village named Delce situated vpon the banke of the riuer of Athesis called by the Italians L' Adice whereas they passed by an artificial bridge newly made by commaundement of the Seigneurie There were in the future Queenes and the Archdukes traynes about 2000. horse and three thousand fiue hundred men all which were defrayed ten dayes togither by the State of Venice Being past Verona they entred into the Duke of Mantouas Countrie There is a small â—owne câ—llâ—d Ostia The Duke of Mantoua vppon the bankes of Po thither Vincentio Gonzague Dâ—ke of Mantoua came in post with ten Noblemen to salute the Qâ—eene There were boates prepared to passe the riuer being all very richly appointed among the rest there was one Nuptial barke into the which the future Queene with her mother the Archduke the Noblemen and Ladies entred it was diuided into Parlours Chambers and Cabinets hanged with cloth of siâ—uer Being entred the Qâ—eene found the table layd and furnished with all exquisite seruices of meate from thence they were carried doâ—ne the riuer to Ferrara where the Pope had remayned since the composition made at Faence with Caesar Duke of Estè The Pope and the Lâ—gats The Pope being assured of the sayd Queenes arriuall he presently sent the Cardinalls Aldobrandin and Saiâ—t Clement his Legats with a great number of Prelâ—ts and gentlemen to meet her They mâ—t the Qâ—eene three miles off euen as shee landed and receiâ—ed her very honorably in the name of the Holy Apostolike Sea and of the Holy â—ather presenting her a very rich Carrosâ—e the iâ—oÌ„ worke being al guilt drawne by â— white horses in the which she entred Ferrara with her Mother the Archduke Without the Cittie gate the Duke of Sessa Ambassador for the Catholike King attended her and presented vnto her in the name of the sayd King a litter couered with cloth of siluer guilt with two white Moyles with rich harnesses and the Muâ—etiers in the same liuerie The Duke of 〈◊〉 Ambassaâ—or oâ— Spâ—iâ—e and withall a Carrosse with sixe pied horses and two Coachmen in cloth of gold At
seeke to preserue his owne then to vsurpe an other mans Estate for an other The King sent for him to the Estates at Roan but the necessity of his affaires would not suffer him to go He sayd that he was not fit for this age and that he was like vnto the Adamant which serues not for all seas In the end of his last yeare he complained vnto his friends of the shortnesse of his life saying that hee was not to liue aboue ten or twelue yeares when as hee liued not twelue dayes His Physitions disagreed vpon the cause of his greefe hee had beene long troubled with the Emoroyds the which had so emptied his Bodie as there was no bloud found in him when he was opened His lights were much altered And for that his Physition sayd vnto him that his greefe was the Goute hee replied Is it possible that any one should die of the Goute without a feuer I see well what it is seeing men vnderstand nothâ—ng wee must haue recourse vnto God The third day of his sicknesse his Body was called to the Earth and his soule to Heauen He withstood the terrors of death with as great a courage as when it was presented vnto him at the Estates of Blois Foure or fiue houres before his decease a Capuchin came to visite him and to comfort him exhorting him to free this last passage couragiously and to let him know that the issue of this life is equall Death disrobing man of his titles and dignities as Stage-plaiers do their attire Aequat omnes 〈…〉 paris nasâ—mur pâ—res mâ—rimâ—r Sence Epis. 92 hee called him simply by his name when as he vnderstood this new manner of complement that they called him Peter de Pinac without any other ceremonie hee lifted vp his head and eyes to say vnto him that spake vnto him what art thou They found that this speech did somewhat amaze him and that hee did take it as a watch-worde of his departure which was about midnight The Duke of Biron did see him in his sicknesse and assisted at his funerall No man lyuing did better iudge of the nature of men by the consideration of their visages hee did diuine the Marshall Birons fortune by his countenance and the proportion of his visage for hauing considered it some-what curiously hee sayd vnto his Sister after his departure Hee hath the worst Phisiognâ—mie that euer I obserued in my life as of a man that would perish miserably The Arch-bishoppe of Lion had profited so little by the troubles as had hee liued longer necessity had forced him to feele great discomodities his Sisters Estate was ingaged the fruites of his benefices were seized on and yet his table was as sumptuous A Double 〈◊〉 the fiâ—t part of a 〈◊〉 as in the best daies of his prosperitie The League had cost him fifty thousand Crownes the Doublons of Spaine had left him nothing but Doubles Those which haue red the publike actions of this Prelate may iudge of his Doctrine but no man can represent the grace and force of his action but those which haue seene them He had in him a concurrence of all things necessary for an eloquent discours A graue pleasing countenance a goodly personage a facility of words The Duke Ioyeuze returnes to the Capuchins and an action that did charme his Auditors The Duke Ioyeuze Marshall of France beeing at Paris in March hauing heard Father Laurence sermons in Saint Germain L'Auxerrois beeing mooued in conscience after that he had taken his leaue of the Ladies and some of his friends he returned againe to the Capuchins where being receiued by the Fathers hee diâ— a hard penance and submitted him selfe to all the duties of a religious man All men were amazed to see him returne the second time to his Couent beeing plonged in shewe vppe to eares in the delights of the world but his Conscience tied him to returne by the bond of his vowe perswading him that it were better not to vowe then not to keepe a vowe made freely and without constraint or impression in his maiority The first motiue of being a Capuchin came into his heart by inspiration when as the deceased King Henry the 3. went on foote in procession to Chartres to haue issue Motiue whiche became a Capuchin if it pleased God He was then called Earle of Bouchages hee made choise of this order among all others the better to do his penance And the rather for that he vnderstood that he was dedicated by his deceased Father to be of the Church When hee was first a Nouice hee applied his studie with so great a courage as he was blamed for his great diligence wearing the haire continually Hee had his shoulders all torne with woundes In this Estate hee continued vntill the hottest of the late miserable Warres· when as after the death of his Father his yonger Brother who was a Knight of Malta and Grand Prior of Languedoc was called Duke of Ioyeuze for the Duke oâ— Ioyeuze or other in Lawe to King Henry the 3. deceased his eldest brother who was slaine at the battaile of Coutras with S. Sauueur his yongest brother died without Childâ—en â—he sayd Duke of Ioyeuze beeing acknowledged by them of Tholouze Narbone and others of the League for their head he made an enterprise vpoÌ„ the Towne of Villemur in Lauragâ—â—s where hauing planted the seege for that it was held by the Royalists euen as hee thought to haue forced the Towne the Lords of Themines Chambaut and Missillac came to releeue it The second oâ— Ioyeuze drowned at Villâ—mur who charged him with such aduantage as they put all his Army to route so as the sayd Duke retyring to the passage of a riuer he was drowned with many others By this meanes the house of Ioyeuze was reduced to the Cardinall of Ioyeuze his brother and to the Earle of Bouehage a Capuchin whom then they called Father Angelo The Tholousains and Nobility of their party beeing much amazed had recourse vnto the Cardinall whome they intreated often to take the charge of leading them the which hee would neuer accept And in the end at their instant sute that in raysing his house hee would â—uccor them by the meanes of the Earle of Bouchages his brother who was tâ—en more then capable of such a charge but he was a Capuchin This difficulty was propounded to the Councell of the diuines who concluded that by reason of the vrgent necessity they should withdrawe him from thence the which was propounded vnto himâ—elfe and he refused it But after they had layed before him the example of his owne Father who being Grand Prior of Langueâ—oc was yet dispenced withall to marâ—y to raise his house the which remained onely in him and whereof God had approued his blessing by the effect so many braue Noblemen beeing borne of that marriage He leâ—ues the 〈◊〉 habit by the â—opâ—s dispensation and leaue of his Generall He
incountred by the States and beaten neere vnto Dunkerke The King aâ— Males-herbes with the Marquis of Verâ—nucil Nothing did hinder the Kings exercises and sports at Blots and Males-herbes where hee spent his time with the Marquise of Vernucil in the meane time his good seruants watched both within and without the Realme for the good of his affaires all laboured in diuers actions but with one will and to one end to make the State as flourâ—shing as it had beene and the Maiestie of the Prince to be respected as it is Sacred and Holy Out of this number of good Seruants Officers of the Crowne death tooke away Phillippe de Hurault Earle of Chiuerny and Chancellor of France The death of the Chancelloâ— Chiuerny He had beene at the first Controuler of King Henry the 3. house being Duke of Aniou and King of Poland and by him made keeper of the Seales in the life of the Cardinall of â—iraque and after his death Chancellor and by him dismissed to his house at the States of Blois when as the Seales were giuen to Montheleu Aduocate in the Court of Parliament In this change he made triall that Princes Officers are in his hands as Counters be in an Auditors who raiseth them to the greatest and highest number and sodenly brings them downe to the lowest And although it be not spoken why the King commanded him to retire yet assoone as they saw him disgraced the friends of his fortune and the seruants of his fauours abandoned him He continued a while like an old cast ship which lyes in the harbrough and serues to no vse Hee returned to his charge and serued the King stoutly in the most troublesome and dangerous time of his affaires Complaints against the Chancellor Afterwards he had many crosses There were so great complaints exhibited against him in the Assembly at Roan as he was in danger to haue lost the keeping of the Seales or not to haue a Cardinals Hat demanded of the Pope for him Hee did not affect the second and the first hee preuented considering that they could not take away any thing nor diminish his great Dignities but with Shame and Disgrace Pompone de Belieure Chancellor of France Pompone de Belieure succeeded him after his death he restored the Seales the sacred instruments of Soueraigne Iustice to their honour All corrupt practises which made friends to the preiudice of the Common-weale were banished There is no other fauour then that of Iustice no other expedition but in publike and by order Nothing is setled extraordinarily but by the Kings expresse commandement or for the good of his seruice which may not bee deferred vnto the Sealing day and that in the view of all the Officers of the Chancerie Nothing is presented which hath not beene examined and held iust by the Maisters of Requests that were present The King hauing receiued newes of the Chancellors death he commanded Villâ—roy to dispatch his Letters before he demanded the place which done he presented himselfe to take his oth betwixt his Maiesties hands kneeling vpon a Cushion of Vehâ—eti the which the Chancellor and Constable onely doe and no other Officers of the Crowne His Maiestie would not binde him but to doe what hee had alwayes done for the good of his seruice and of his Crowne To conclude hee was not preferred to this high dignitie before any one that exceeded him in ranke of seruice or in merit and experience hauing vndergone the chiefe charges within the realme and happily performed abroad important and weighty Ambassages for the King About this time Iohn de Schomberg Archbishop and Elector of Treues dyed and in his place was chosen Lothaire Death of Iohn de Schomberg of the noble family of the Meternits a man of great experience and singular learning and aboue all a great louer of peace and quietnesse a worthie vertue in Princes and Prelats Death of the yong Princesse of Conâ—é This yeare also tooke away some Princesses in France amongst others Madamoiselle the onely daughter of the Prince of Condé the which hee had by his first Wife the Princesse of Neuers and Marquis of Lisle Her obsequies were made at Saint Germain des Prez with great shew as it was fit for a Princesse of the bloud Loâ—se de Budos the Constables wife died also a little before the Duchesse of Beaufort hauing left one Sonne and one Daughter whereby the famous house of Montmorency is renued the which was like to fall to the Distaffe The Marquise of Belle-Ile widow to the Maâ—quis the eldest Son to the Duke Marshall of Raiz The Marquise of Belle Ile becomâ—s a Feuâ—llantine at Tâ—oloâ—se a yonger daughter of the house of Longueuille hauing passed fiue yeares of her widowhood brought vp her Son in al vertue and pietie departed secretly out of Brittanie not aduertising any one of her kindred and went to professe her selfe a Nunne in the Monasterie of the Feuillantines at Tholouse Her Brother and her Husbands brethren posted after to diuert her but she was already in the Couent and resolued to end her dayes there A generous resolution of a Ladie issued from that noble house of Longueuille which holds one of the first places in France It is Soueraigne of the Countie of Neufchastel in Suisse and allyed to the house of Bourbon in diuers branches Execution of the Edict of Pacification The Commissioners which were imployed for the execution of the Edict of pacification found some difficulties in those places whereas the Bishops and Pastors of the Catholike Church had neither Temple nor place of retreat yet the Masse was restored to those places where it had beene banished fifteene or twentie yeares and the Preaching appointed onely in those places that were allowed by the Edict They found in all places rough and violent Spirits very hard to be dealt withall which inuented vaine quarrels when as they wanted iust cause of complaint The Commissioners exhort either partie as well to Concord as to Pietie and alwayes to containe their wills within the bounds of Obedience and not of Rebellion and to forget the factious names of Papists and Huguenots the which haue beene no lesse fatall to France then those of Guelphes and Gibellins in Italie They aduised the Preachers to take heed that their discourses were not streames of sedition as they are sometimes of Eloquence for they that make profession to teach the word of God may do as much harme in fauouring a Sedition as they shall gather profit of his Ministerie when hee shall preach Peace The Commissioners did admonish the Magistrates and cheefe of Iustice to preuent the first motiues of sedition which getting credit with the simple is the cause of great disorders So the Edict was executed throughout the realme and the most sauage began to liue louingly togither burying the remembrance of things past Things done cannot be recalled We must grow wise hereafter by the consideration of
search and dâ—sguising of presumptions and circumstances Slander is the cause of false iudgment Who doubts but the complaints malicious teares of this Woman were false directions sufficieÌ„t inductions to circumuent the wisedome of the best Iudges who in the middest of the â—ight that is to say in the darknesse of hidden Crimes haue followed the ordinary formes of Iustice. It was with reason that a Grecke Author discoursing of the criminall processe of Orestes who to reuenge the death of his Father slue Clitemnestra his Mother sayd that when he was brought before the Parliament of Arriopage Minerua Goddesse of Wisedome was Precident in Iudgment The Ancients by such fictions would teach vs that in the iudgement of Criminall causes if a Celestiall power doth not assist there doth many times inconueniences happen but the fault must then be imputed to the accuser who giues the first cause by an information framed expresly to afflict and condemne an â—nnocent Appian in his History reports of Iulius Caesar that seeyng a mutiny in his Campe he coÌ„manded the authors theâ—eof to be apprehended A souldiar was brought before him as one of these mutines yet it was presently auerred that he was none Caesar caused him that brought him to be seuerly punished iudging that although hee did it not maliciously yet he deserued punishment for that he had drawne an innocent Souldiar in danger of his life We reade that Martian hauing found a dead body in the night Martian condemned vpon suspition through piety which was theÌ„ greatly recommended among Christians seeking to bury him was taken led before the Iustice condemned vpoÌ„ suspition but at the same instant when as they carrâ—ed him to exâ—cution it chanced happily that the Murtherer was taken and executed hauing confessed the fact to the great happines of Martian who was deliuered and within few yeares after chosen Emperour As also the Ecclesiasticall History doth teach vs that S. Athanasius was accused to haue slaine Arsâ—nius and was ready to bee condemned if by good happe Arsenius had not beene found beeing hidden by the enemyes of Athanasius A late Writer curious in the search of the singularities of the History of Venice reports an Aduentuâ—e somewhat like vnto this Fuscarus sonne to the Duke of Venice had a capitall quarrell with an other Venetian Gentleman called Hermolaus Donat. This Gentleman was found dead and the author of this murther not knowne Fuscarus vpon suspition of their quarrell was called in question condemned and sent into exile where he died for griefe to see himselfe banished from his Country Within three moneths after his death a theefe was executed who amongst other crimes confessed that it was he and not Fuscarus which had slaine that Venetian Gentleman In such and the like inconueniences were it reason to giue absolute impunity to him that was the Calumniator be it that malice or indiscretion hath drawne him to this slander Scipio said that a Generall of an army must be well aduised what he doth for in matters of Warre there is no meanes to erre twise the first fault being sufficient to ruine an Army Euen so in Iustice it must be very exact when there is any question of a capitall accusation for seeing that the life depends thereon there is no meanes to erre twise the first being irreparable It is an approued distinction of all those that haue treated of the punishment of false accusations whether an Informer be induced to accuse slaundrously and wickedly or by indiscretion and without mallice The one differs from the other so haue they diuers effects the one hath some excuse the other is punished seuerely The punishment of false accusations the one Ciuilly the other Criminally for where there is mallice and slander the Law of God doth punish the Calumniator with the like paine Lege Taltonis and at Rome the Calumniator in crimes that were not capital was beaten with a hot iron and branded in the forehead for a signe and perpetuall marke of his slander And the Emperour Maâ—rinus did punish those accusers which did faile in their proofes with death Plynye speaking of such men called them abhominable sacrifices which should be offred vp to the publike quiet And the good Emperour Traian did so detest Calumniators as hee caused them to be put into a ship without sayle or tackling abandoning them to the mercy of that mercilesse element which would haue no pittie of them no more then they had had of many poore innocents But as for the Slander which proceeds from indiscretion without malice the seueritie in truth should not be so great yet is it fit there should be some punishment No seuere or capitall punishment but at the least pecuniarie and ciuil of domages and fiâ—e If she were not excusable as a Mother forced to accuse by extreme greefe without malice what racke what punishment what torments were sâ—fficient to punish her which hath drawne an innocent man in question and in danger to bee broken vppon the wheele The Poets faine that the Goddesse Câ—râ—s by the supposition of Tantalus did eate Pelops shoulder This Goddesse finding her own error although vnaduisedly condeÌ„ned her selfe to make Pelops a new shoulder of Iuorie You are the cauâ—e of the cruell torments which the playntife hath suffered vpon the râ—cke but you say it was by indiscretion and without malice At the least by an award of domages and fine make some Pecuniarie recompence to releeue the miserie of this poore man and to helpe him to finish the remainder of his dayes languishing after so many torments And if this woman represents vnto you the pittie and greefe of a Mother imagine I pray you the miserable sigthes of this innocent in the midest of the cruelty of the most violent tortures hauing no other feeling but his paine and greefe In one houre a thousand deaths without dying a bodie tormented stretched halfe torne in peeces his sinewes dryed and strayned his members broken and his whole bodie in a pittifull estate being bound and miserably racâ—t And to speake truth it had bin a great happines for this poore man to haue died for what remaynes is no more a perfect body but peeces displaced and disioyned members broken lame and feeble hauing his bodie reduced to that miserable estate as hereafter he shall hardly by his labour get a liuing for himselfe his Wife and fiue Children It is the clamor and sigthes of these poore yong Infants whose crie pierceth vp to heauen and their complaints come vnto you to moue you vnto pittie He in the meane time seeing himselfe miserable in his body and his family reduced to beggerie liues and dyes altogether It is a paine which still encreaseth a Greefe which euer doubles and a Death which hath neuer end That great Painter Apelles meaning to paint Slander The picture of slander set him forth in a mourning weed hauing two Wiues one of either side Ignorance and Suspition 1599.
his last hope vppon Bouuens to whome hee sends the countersigne without the which he was bound not to yeeld it This token was but counterfet D' Hostel played an other part he made this his colour to haue meanes to enter into the Cittadell A Countersigne carried to Bouuens and to giue this countersigne to Bouuens for his warrant and thereby to assure him that if he had meanes to hold good a moneth hee should disclame the signing of the ratification and make a shew of disobedience and hee should bee releeued D' Hostel went into the Cittadell and found that miserie would not suffer them to vant of resistance as they had done that things were no more in the Estate that Bouuens had represented them and that their neccessities were so extreame as there was no meanes to suffer them any longer beeing prest without by the Kings Army and within by cold and hunger which made the Duke more tractable to yeeld that which hee could not hold sending the ratification in the beginning of March and at the same time the Cittadell was deliuered into the Kings power Diuers opinions of the Peace The generall censures of this Peace were diuers The King was pleased that the pofit was apparent and assured for his Estates hauing for one Marquisate more Earles and Marquises then there are Gentlemen in the Marquisate of Saluces inlarging his frontiers aboue thirty Leagues and so restrayned the Dukes Estate on this side the Mountaines as hee hath left two third partes lost eight hundred Gentlemen and a fort which hee himselfe writing vnto Bovuens esteemed more then all the Marquisate with Prouinces as fertill as any bee in France It is true that the Honour to keepe that which was the cause of the Warre remayned to the Duke and by this meanes of a Peace hee hath no more neede of Spaniards nor of the Count of Fuentes Comodiâ—ies which the Duke got by the Peace who did him alwaise some Spanish affront and is free from all feare of the French who keâ—t Piedmont in awe while they had a retreate there The Duke who neuer went out of the gates of Thurin without six Companies of Horse and entertayned Garrisons which cost him more then the reuenues of the Countries exchanged may nowe sleepe and goe and come in safety This Moneth of March Louyse of Lorraine Dowager of France Widow to Henry the 3. The death of Queene Loâ—yse King of France and of Poland died her death was better known by the losse of such a light then by the mourning of her Heires or the Honour of her Funeralls for the Duke of Merâ—ure her Brother to whom she left her goods and the execution of her will was then in Hungary The Duchesse of Mercure attended on her vntill she died and layed her Body in the Couent of Saint Claire vntill shee might bee enterred with greater pompe She desired to bee layed in one Tombe with the King whose Body attendes vntill that the piety of the lyuing may remember the condition of the dead the which giues cause of amazement that the Earth which neuer fayles for the life of Princes should now want for their interment She was Daughter to Nicholas Earle of Vandemont Death of the Princesse of Coâ—â—e A most vertuous Princesse shewing in al her actions a singular piety and modestie The same yeare also Madam Francis of Orleans Princesse of Conde Mother to the Count of Soissons died in her house of Grenelles at Paris the Funerall Pompe was celebrated in the Abbey of Saint Germain de pres The Princesse of Conty dies About the end of this yeare the Princesse of Conty died of a great and languishing sickenesse as shee went to her house at Fonnestable in Perche to change the aire by the aduice of her Phisitions but shee changed her life The Duchesse â—â— Esquilâ—on leauing one onely Daughter the which the Count of Soissons married Afterwards the Duchesse of Eguillon died being Daughter to the Duke of Neuers deceased who left great cause of mourning to the Duke of Esquillon eldest Son to the Duke of Maine and the rather for that she died in child-bed the Child also with her The King in 40. daies had conquered all Sauoy with in 40. after hee married treated of a Peace made the Qâ—eene in case to be a Mother went in post from Lions and came to Paris which bare his long absence impatiently His returne gaue the world to vnderstand how quiet constant the affaires of France were that a King which went a 100. Leagues with 12. only in his traine was well assured of his subiects and feared not his neighbours The Qâ—een followed by smal iorneyes came to Fontainbleau where she stayd not long but came to Paris abouâ— S. Germains Faier her first lodging was at Gondies house her fiâ—st Gentleman of Honour beeing in the suburbes of S. Germaine The next was at Zameâ—s superintendant of her house then she came to the Lovure The Parisiens prepared themselues besought the King to giue them leaue to make her a stately entry but his Maiesty would haue the charges of this entry reserued for a more durable worke The Queene comes to Paris All the Princesses of the bloud with the chiefe Ladies of the Court and Citty presented themselues to kisse her hands and to do their duties vnto her Maiesty She made much of all that the King fauored and resolued to loue what hee Loued framing her will in such sort vnto his as she held his will for an vnwritten Lawe This yeare the Pope granted a Iubile and pardons to all the French that should goe vâ—sit the Church of Saint Croix in Orleans doing the workes of Christian charity An infinit number of people went thither from al parts of France the King and Queene went thether with the fiâ—st and gaue meanes to helpe to build this Church which had beene ruined during the furie of the fiâ—st ciuill warres The King layed the first stone of this building An act worthie of a Christian King the true successor of the pietie of S. Lewis his Predecessor But whilst he gaines pardons his enemies watch to surprise the best places of his Realme He was disarmed vnder the assurance of the Peace The armie of strangers was still whole togither and became fearefull to all Italie All the Princes were troubled therat and althovgh they bee not well vnited togither yet when there is any question of common danger they haue good correspondency At Rome they sayd it was for Geneua and that the Marquis of Aix was gone to intreate the Pope to fauour him with his blessing and to fortifie him with his meanes An enterprisâ— vpon Maâ—seilles Many other discourses were made touching this army but time discouered that it was entertayned for Marsâ—illes There is nothing â—o holy but money will violate nor so strong but it will force The Count of Fuentes vpon promise of great
hope the which finding no solide bodie runne after the shaddowes of his imagination and flattered him so pleasingly as he thought not to die saying that they could not supplie his place if hee were dead Noting among all them that thought themselues most capable great Wants and Imperfections Yet in all these extremities he had nothing that lulled him so much asleepe as his owne prayses Sometimes hee would say Is it possible that the King should bee so vaine as to make him to apprehend death and to thinke to terrifie him therewith But hee conceiued of things according to his imagination the which was not answerable to the truth On Munday the Chauncellor returned to the Pallace to determine on his sentence The Iudgement of the processe They continued vntill two of clocke in the afternoone in giuing of their opinions They were drawne from one principle of truth as manie Lines are from one Center did concurre all in one resolution conformable to the conclusions of the Kings Atturnie generall That it was iust necessarie and profitable to quench these burning flames of Ambition in the bloud of the Duke of Biron if they would not see all the realme in combustion A whole day and a good part of the night would haue beene spent if euery one had giuen a reason of his opinion Those of the great Chamber onely and the Presidents of the Inquests spake what they would The Iudges opinions This subiect is like vnto a great thicke forest they know not what Tree to choose It is so full and so rich as aboundaÌ„ce of reasons troubles the choise And these were the cheefe There was a concurrence of a great Cryme a great Merit All France was a witnes of the one and of the other the truth was apparent Principall reasons of their opinions The proofes which are required to discouer a â—ecret cryme are here made perfect Proofe by mouth the prisoners answere Proofe by writings letters and instructions Proofe by the Deposition of witnesses against whom he hath obiected no exception which might impugne that which they sayd maintained But these 3. sorts of proofes we see that monstrous attempt against the Kings person verified that furious CoÌ„spiracie to trouble his Estate to make it a prey to his enemies both the one and the other doth make the prisoner guiltie of high Treason in the first and second degree Hee confesseth that hee would haue done ill that his intent was written and imparted to others and yet he neuer did ill That it neuer past his thought That thoughts are not to bee punished as he sayd That the desire to sleaâ—e makes not a theefe In treason the intent is unishable It is true but the guilt of treason is so detestable as the intent how farre so euer from the execution is punished and reputed for the effect Repentance which followes after and changeth the desseine may well serue for the offence but it helpes nothing for the punishment A Gentleman hauing attempted to kâ—ll King Francis the first repented and reuealed it in his confession yet being accused by his Confessor he lost his head As the respect of the image of God grauen in the Maiesty of Kings frees them from all Lawes made by men so the dignitiâ— of their persons doth warrant them from al enterprises conspiracies of humaine mâ—lice the which dares not once thinke to put them in practise against their Images much lesâ—e against their Persons The proofe of an intent although it were not resolued nor determined goes not vnpunished which passeth often times vnto things without life To Howses Images Ashes yea and to the memorie it selfe This cryme troubleth the dead thirtie or fortie yeares after their funerals for that it is not extinct in dying and the which is contrary to common sence and naturall humanitie they punish the Child the Wife and the Familie for the Fathers offence being a contagious Leprosie and hereditarie to all his race The Father cannot excuse his Sonne And the Senator Fulutus was commended to haue put his Sonne to death for that he had beene one of Catelins conâ—â—iracie Let him then plead no more that he hath done no euil it sufficeth that hey ould haue done it Lawes are not made for bad actions onely but for Councells also and resolutions His intent began the cryme occasion had ended it if hee had not beene preuented If he had done no other euill but to giue eare to the promises and perswasions of the enemies he were guiltie For in matters of State the subiect cannot dispose of any point of his will without the permission of his Prince We must not stay tiâ—â—enimous beasts haue bitten and then kill them nor Traitors intents executed â—eâ—ore wee discouer the Treason It is then to late to iudge of the cryme but to complaine of indiscretion then they seeke no more releefe from Law but they flie to Armes It is not then time to accuse and to punish but to weepe and to flie The Cittie of Rome laboured in vaine to resist Caesar after that he had subuerted the Lawes vsurped the Dictatorship and terrified all Italie with the brute of his forces If they shouâ—d haue stayd vntill the prisoner had executed his desseins there had beene no talking of Iustice nor of State You must not tarrie tâ—ll the house shake and be readie to fall you must vnderproppe it and repaire it in time It is a miserie sayd the Emperour Domitian when they will not beleeue a Conspiracie against Princes vntill they bee slaine by the Conspirators Now that God by a singular worke of his prouidence hath discouered this Conspiracie it toucheth the health of the State the honor of the Court to punish these Conspirators Reason requires that the example may make knowne how execrable this offence is for the which it is lawfull to torment the dead and terrifie them that be liuing to make the Children partakers of their Fathers punishment and to assure them rather of miserie then of life that the world might haue more horror of his wickednes then feare of his punishment The Kings Clemencie hath had his turne now Iustice must take hers making her authoritie to be feared and admired 〈◊〉 vnto the Sea which is more admired wheÌ„ the waues are swolne riâ—en vp to the clouds then when it is calme and still But they consider the qualitie merit of the prisoner First Iustice hath her eyes blinded and shut from al distinctions but that it houlds the offence greater in a great person then in a meane and by this proposition the punishment must be greater The faults of meane men are hidden in the multitude their fortune and reputâ—tion is one thing Those which raysed to great places doe good or harme by the example of their good or bad actions are they which are knowne and discouered to all men In matters of rebellion and crymes of State they regard not
him for a Study said vnto him My Son I see that he whose Natiuity this is shall come to great Honours by his industry and Millitary valour and may be a King but there is a CAPVT ALGOL which hinders it And what is that said the Baron of Biron Aske me not said la Brosse what it is No said the Baronâ— I must know it In the end he sayd vnto him My Son it is that he wil do that which shall make him loose his Head WhervpoÌ„ the BaroÌ„ as they report did beat him cruelly hauing left him halfe dead he went downe carried away the Key of the Garret dore whereof he bragged wheÌ„ he was gone They say he had conference with one Caesar who was a Magitian at Paris who told him That onely a backe-blow of the Bourguignon would keepe him from being â— King He remembred this prediction beeing a Prisoner in the Bastille And intreated one that went to visit him to learne if the Executioner of Paris were a Bourguignon and hauing found it so he said I am a dead man During these last Ciuill Wars 〈◊〉 Father being Commander of the Kings Army of a young Baron hee was sodainâ—y made a Captaine and Marshall of the Campe. After his Fathers death at Eâ—pernâ—â— he was Generall and Admirall of France then Marshall and Lieutenant of the Kings Armyes the defeate of the Spanish succors at Laon with his exploytes in Burgunâ—y and Picardy made the King so to loue him as he onely was in credit there remayned nothing but to vse his happinesse modestly Doubtlesse hee did great seruices to the King and to the Crowne but he was rewarded with great fauours and 〈◊〉 to the greatest Dignities and Honours of the Crowne the which if he could haue vsed temperately euen in the height of his Fortune he had beene too happy 〈◊〉 reported that his Father sayd vnto him seeing his haughty disposition Baron I would aduice thee when a Peace shal be made The Marshall birons words vnto his Son when he was but Baron of Biron to go and liue priuately at thine owne house else thou must leaue thy head at the Greue All Princes that were allied to the Crowne of France reioyced at the discouery of the Duke of Birons Treason The Queene of England and the King of Scotland sent their Ambassadors vnto the King to congratulate that God had so happily preuented this last Conspiracy The King of Spaine did the like by Taxis The â—rchduke sayde all the blame vpon the Count of Fuentes The Duke of Sauoy sent the Count of Viesque vnto the King as well to obserue howe the Duke of Birons death had beene taken in Court and in that Great Citty whereas there was diuersity of Humors and Opinions as to excuse him from the Imputation which was layd vpon him to be the first Architect of this Conspiracy The Ambassadors of England Scotland and Sauoy were receiued of one day at Monceaux Ambassadors sent to the King to congratulate The King in receiuing of them made a great difference for hee receiued them not with one Countenance The last was not vsed like vnto the first the King leaning vpon a Window shewed by his gesture that he was not pleased with his excuses and that words alone could not repayre so bad effects nor make him beleeue that the Duke of Sauoy had not beene an Actor to corrupt the Duke of Biron The Dukes Ambassador made his excuse with a great Grace and Boldnesse although it be a very hard thing to discourse of a subiect to one that can giue no beleefe vnto it The Count of Viesque passing through Lions visited the Gouernoâ— and gaue him a Letter from his Maister the which he sent vnto the King who was very well pleased with his proceeding The Kings Letter to 〈◊〉 de la 〈◊〉 the 1. of September 1â—02 and writ vnto him in this sort It was not needefull to send me this Letter but onely to giue mee a newe Confirmation of your loyalty which I hold so assured as it needed neyther that nor any other But the wisest do alwayes obserue the ancient formes whereof that is one of the principall not to sâ—e nor heare any thing from forraine Princes without the priuity and permission of his Maister The King parted from Monâ—eaux to go to Paris where he dispatched the Ambassadors That of Sauoy came to his Maister being newly returned from Vercel where he had visited the Duke of Saxonies brother passing into Italy He presented him with eight Horses richly furnished and a Hat-band with a Iewell esteemed at twelue thousand Crownes Soone after hee â—ent to Riuoly for his pleasure of Hunting leading D' Albigny with him to whom hee made shewes of extraordinary Loue. Mens coniectures were not able to peerce into the secrets of that which they treated of together but they will burst forth before the yeare shall end The Count of Viesque came to Riuoly in the beginning of October Euery man said at Thurin that his Ambassage was Gratious Bâ—uâ—es of war after the death of thâ— Duke of Biron and that the King was weâ—l pleased with that which the Duke of Sauoy would haue him beleeue yet all Sauoy was â—ull of Souldiars and no man knew howe they should bee imployed Some sayd that the Duke of Birons death would breed a newe storme in France but all the choller and threats of them that repined thereat was but a fantasticall lightning The Count of Fuentes would haue done his best to haue bred a storme his spirit which hath no rest but in exercise thinking with Teres father to Sitalâ—es that nothing doth dâ—stingâ—ish him from the rest of his Maisters seruants but War was so much discontented for this death as he could not sleepe He did meditate of reuenge and the King was well aduertised thereâ—f It was thought that vnder colour of passing a newe army ouer the Alpes hee would discouer some desseine and the King was aâ—uerâ—iâ—ed from many parts that the Cittie of Lions was not the last nor the least in his chollenke thoughts That three and twentie companies of Spaniards in the which wereâ—t the least three thousand men had past the Mountaines and were dispersed in Sauoy that the Duke of Sauoy had at Romilly fiue hundred men vnder the Regiment of Valdisers and at Anissy 1500. Neapolitains that they attended some Lansâ—uenets that neere vnto Genoa their were thirtie Companies of Spaniards landed and that they fortâ—fied Saint Genis against the last Treatie of Peace a fit place to execute any desleine vppon Lions or Vienne The King therefore foreseeing that if they sought any aduantage vppon France it should be rather for Lions then any other place hee therefore lodged in the Bastions of Saint Iohn and Saint Clair fiue Companies of the Regiment of Bourg L' Espinasse and those of Nerestan at Montlael and Seissel The opinions of this new Armie were as diuers as their desseins were secret yet
that might be without preiudice to their Alliaâ—ces to assure a good Neighbour-hood with the State of Milan so as the Count oâ— Fuentes would demolish the Fortâ— within sixe months vpon their Frontier The great Cantons of the Suisses were Actors in this busines perswading the Grisons to trust rather to Courage then to the safety of their mountaines Matters continued in great suspence They sent often to Milan and what was concluded there was dissoluâ—d in the Assembly of the People by the friends of this Crowne and by the Wisedome of the Kings Ambassador who said plainely that his Maiesty would leaue their Alliance if they made not a Declaration that might content him Those iudgments that were sound not preiudicate found it reasonable in this reason the honor of their faith the reputatioÌ„ of their estate as coÌ„trariwise they thought it could not be an act of glory to sel their Alliance as it was not coÌ„mendable for the Spaniards to bâ—ye it if they were of the Romans humor who neuer sought that by Gold which they might do by the sword But against these apparant reasons An Allyance puâ—chased dishonorable the Count of Fuentes had so many Trickes and Deuises as the Ambassador of France had much adoe to retayne this people who promised in words not to forsake the allyance of France and Venice doing the contrarye in effect In former times it was incredible that the Suisse so great an enemy to the house of Aâ—stria from whose subiection they had reuolted and the Grison so contrary to the Spanish fâ—shions would incline that way and contradict the very feeling of Reason and Nature The Truth hath freede the doubt and let vs see that it is of this people as of Viniger the which neuer freezeth for that it is extremely cold The Suisses and Grisons for that they are enemies to the Spaniards will not haue the power of Spaine to bee their enemy The bad successe of this businesse did not concerne France and the Venetians alone the best aduised did fore-see that it might drawe a Ciuill Warre into Italy vnder the pretext of Religion Many Commanders and Captaines Grisons not able to endure the Rigour and Threats of the Count Fuentes were sollicited by them of their Beleefe and Religion lurking in Italy to hold good and to attend vntill the Lord came from Edom to disperse their enemies and to beleeue that as there is no Waâ— more glorious then that which is vndertaken to free their Country from seruitude so there is none more iust then that which is made to deliuer Consciences from Tyranny and that both in the one and the other occasion it is a great happynesse to sacrifice their Liues The King sent aduice thereof to Rome for the Consequence and Danger of Religion Hee did also pacifie the diuision of the people of Valais who were in Armes and ready to come to a generall Combate for the same quaâ—rell In the meane time the Grisons remayned betwixt the doubtfullnesse of Warre and the discommodities of Peace and as in the breeding of such diuisions free and curious spirits cannot reteyne their passions they made Pasquins in Italy vpon this subiect and the Spanish braueries were not mute the which the Grisons answered with the like humour If the Venetians who were the cause of all the mischeefe would haue spoke and set their hand to the worke as they ought the Count of Fuentes who did more by example then by any authority would haue intreated the Grisons more mildly But besides that Common-weales are not good for an offensiue Warre these Seigneures who would not hazard anything but preferre present and assured things before that which was past and perilous would haue beene content to haue inioyed that which they desired without any trouble There was a generall assembly held at Illant at one of the Corners of the Grisons where afâ—er great diuersity of opinions it was concluded by the greater part that seeing the Ambassadors had through their Auarice defamed their Legation and suffered the Count of Fuentes to binde the liberty of their aduice with chaines of Gold and had exceeded the instructions that were giuen them the laâ—t Treaty made at Milan should be declared voyde and of none effect if the Alliance of France and that of Venice were not expressely reserued The Dobles of Spaine had wrought wonders giuing motion to the most heauy and speech vnto the Dombe to fauor the Count of Fuentes intentions with a Nation that loues money beyond all measure But in the ende the consideration of their owne health and the ruines of their liberty were of more â—orce making them to choose the hazard of Armes and of all discommodities rather then to suffer the Fort which the Count of Fuentes had caused to be built to stand vnruined And for that incensed with this resolution he had made shew to seyze vppon Valteline they made a leauy of eighteene hundred Men in sixe companies to oppose against him The Kings intention was that the treaty of Milan should not alter the Alliances of the Crowne of France and of Venice But if the Grisons should breake with the French dishonour their reputation with so foule a defection the French had no great reason to regard it seeing it were a losse but of inconstant friends whose faith was ruined by the same meanes it was preserued True it is they should loose a goodly passage into Italy but when they had any desire to goe thether it should not bee by the Grisons The French Armies were neuer led that way to passe the Alpes It is true that when the Kings of France held Milan this passage was necessary for them to draw in Suisses and Germaines for their seruice But inioying this no more they neede not to care much to loose that which cost them so deere to maintaine This was the beginning of the thirteenth yeare of Pope Clement the eights sitting in the Pontificall Chaire In his youth a Mathematician told him that he should be a Cardinall then Pope and should sit in the seat twelue yeares A Friar had told Leo the tenth as much hauing saued himselfe in Mantoua after the battell of Rauenna assuring him that hee should be Pope â—redictions of â—riar Seraphin of Montoua before he came to the age of fortie yeares A Terme which made this prediction seeme ridiculous and impossible and yet it was true for after the death of Iulio the second the yong Cardinalls being banded against the old chooâ—e him Pope The Astrologian hath spoken very truely in the two first adueÌ„tures of this Pope but hee hath misreckned himselfe in the third yet some feare it is but one yeare for this which wee shall shortly beginne is full of badde constellations vpon that Sea as they hold that haue studied the booke of the Abbot Ioachim Curious questions About that time there was a Iesuite that maintained an opinion that was held very bold throughout all the
concerne the King his Person and his State and if it bee tollerable to heare what is sayd yet is it not lawfull to â—peake or publish it His Maiestie himselfe hath not yet declared the cause of the Count of Avuergues restraint and in the letter which hee did write vnto the Gouernour of Lions vppon that subiect hee did onely send him these wordes The Kings letters to la Guiche from Fontainbleau the 15. of Nouemb 1604. You haue vnderstood how that I haue againe caused the Count of Auvergne to bee apprehended being aduertised that hee continued still in his bad practises and that hauing sâ—nt often for him hee would not come At the least I will keepe him from doing ill if I can At the same time when as the Count of Auvergne was taken the brute was that the Duke of Bouillon had like to haue beene surprised When as he could find no other refuge for his â—ffayres but to retire himselfe out of the Realme hee hath vsed the lâ—bertie of his retreat wisely and hath alwayes sought the Kings fauour for the assurance of his reâ—urne Some forraine Prince of his friends aduised him not to returne to Court to hold all reconciliation suspect and to beleeue that when a Prince is oâ—ce offended he is neuer qâ—iet vntill the offence bee reuenged That hee must not trust to that which hee promiseth nor to that which hee sweares houlding both the one and the other lawfull for reuenge That the word of a Prince that is offended is like vnto Zeuzis cluster of grapes which takes Birds but his oth is like vnto Parrasius vayle which deceiues Men. Those which haue lost the fauour of their master for that they had intelligence with them whome they could not serue without cryme are alwayes in continuall distrust the which followes the offence as the Boat doth the Shippe vntill they haue quenched and smothered the cause and made it knowne that they are diuided and enemies to all their wils that would distract them from their duties for Men that are double and dissemblers are neuer tamed no more then a Batt which is halfe a Ratt and halfe a Bird or the Chastor which is flesh and fish The Duke of Bouillons patience hauing giuen the King time enough to consider of his intentions The Duke of Bouillon is redie through the Kings Clemencie to obtaine all that he could desire to returne to a greater fortune in the which lesse is allowed then to a meaner estate The Duke Tremouille ended his fortune by death Hee might haue dyed when as the King would haue lamented the losâ—e of him more Death of the Duke of Trâ—mâ—uille for hee was not now well pleased with certaine wordes which had beene reported vnto him and if hee had liued he would haue beene in paine to excuse himselfe of the commandement hee had made him to come vnto him to answere it From hence spring two fruitful considerations the one that there is nothing so fearefull and terrible as the threats and disgrace of his King the other that it is alwayes dangerous to speake ill of his Prince For the first Cassander greatlly feared Alexander euen when hee was dead for that hee had seene him once transported with choller against him And although that after the death of Alexander he was aduanced to the Throne of Macedon yet walking in the Cittie of Delphos and hauing seene an Image of Alexanders who was nowe rotten in his graue he did so tremble as his Hayre stood right vp his knees fayled him and the palenesse of his countenance shewed his amazement and the terrible assault which his memory gaue him for the second when a free speech hath once escaped against the respect of the Prince he must haue a great and a strong Citty as Lisander sayd to defend his liberty of speech They haue neither Friendes not Councell against the King and if their misery findes any shadowe or protection it is but like vnto Ionas Gourd of one night Let them not flatter themselues in the greatnes of theiâ— houses nor their Allyances this qualitie doth but increase their offence Princes are not so much mooued with that which the common people do as with the Lycentious words of great men Caius disguised himselfe into as many fashions as he imagined there were Gods A Cobler seing him set in his Pallace like Iupiter with a scepter in one hand a Thunderbolt in the other and an Eagle by his side burst out in a great laughter Caius causing him to come neere asked him why he laught I laugh at this foolerie answered the Cobler The Emperour laught also suffering it to passe freely without choller yet punishing other speeches seuerely which came from persons better quallified Thus ends the seuenth yeare after the conclusion of the Peace FINIS ⧠A TABLE OF THE MOST memorable things contained in this Historie Pharamond the first King of France THe fundamentall date of the French Monarchy Folio 1 The estate of the Empire at the beginning thereof ibid. The time of his raigne fol. 2 The estate of the Church ibid. The French can endure no gouernement but a Royaltie â—ol 3 The Royaltie of France successiue and the efficacie of a successiue Royaltie ibid. A successiue Royaltie the best kind of gouernement fol. 4 The manner of the receiuing of a new King in old time ibid. The people consent not to preiudice the Kings prerogatiue at his first reception fol. 5 In France the Male is onely capable of the Crowne ibid. The fundamentall Law which they call Salique ibid. The practise of the Salique Law â—ol 6 Of the word Salique and what the Saliens were ibid. The death of Pharamond fol. 7 Clodion or Cloion the hairie the second King of France THe first attempt of Clodion fol. 8 The estate of the Empiâ—e fol. 9 A Law â—or wearing of long haire ibid The Estate of the Church ibid. Mâ—roâ—â—è the third King of France HE enters France â—ol 10 The French ioyne with the Romanes and Gothes fol. 11 Orleans besieged by Attila hee is ouerthrowne but not quite vanquished ibid The happie raigne of Meâ—ouâ—è fol. 12 The estate of the Empire and the Church ibid. Childeric or Chilperic 4 King of France HE is expelled for his vice fol 13 He is called home againe ibid. Clouis 1. the 5. King of France and the first Christian King HE aspires to the Monarchy of all Gaule fol. 15. The fiâ—st rooting out of the Româ—ins ibâ—d Clouis becomes a châ—istian fol. 16 Religion the only true bond of aâ—â—ectâ—ons ibid. Gaule called France ibid. Waâ—res against the Wisigothes fol. 1â— Warres in Burgundy and the cause why ibid. Clouis conquests in Burgondie fo 18 A â—recherous attempt of Gondâ—bault hee is justlie punished for his murthers ibid. The first winning of Burgundy Daulphine and Prouence ibid. Alaric slayne by the hand of Clouis ibid. The Emperour sends Ambassadours to Clouis fol. 19 Clouis being conqueâ—or is conqâ—ered ibid. He looseth
make a petition vnto the King fol. 827. The Kings answere vnto the Clergy ibiâ— The Iesuits seeke to be restored ibid. The Kings onely Sister fianced to the Prince of Lorraine fol. 828 Troubles for the Duchy of Ferrara 〈◊〉 Duke Câ—â—sar prepares to armes fol. 829. The Popes entry into Ferrara ibid. The Arcâ—-duke Albert meetes with Marguerite of Austria ibid. They passe through the Venetians Countrie fol. 8â—0 The Duke of Mantoua meetes them ibid. The Pope and Legats receiue them ibid. The Duke of Sessa Ambassador for Spaine attended her ibid. The Queens entry into Ferrara ibid. The King of Spaines marriage ibid. Foure of one Family of the same Name and bearing the same Armes married together fol 8â—1 The Popes nuptiall gift to the Queene of Spaine ibid The Admirall of Arragons exploytes in the Duchy of Iuilliers ibid. Prince Mauâ—ice his exploites fol. 832 The Archdukes Answer to the Ambassadors ibiâ— The Earle of Broâ—ke taken by the Spaniards in his Castle and then murthered iâ—iâ— Wezell forced to furnish Money and Come fâ—l 833. The Electors write vnto the Emperor ibid. Warre in Sueden fol. 834. The Turke beeseegeth Varadin in vaine fol. 8â—5 Bâ—da attempted in vaine by the Christians ibid An Inundation at Rome ibid The Pope creatâ— 16. Cardinalls ibid. A treaty at Boulogne fol. 836. The King sicke at Monceaux iâ—id The Deputies of the Princes and States of the Empire assemble at Collen fol. 837. The Electoâ— of Mexiâ— answer to Cardinal Andâ—ew ibid. The Admiralls Letter to the Deputies at Collen fol. 838. He excuseth the murther of the Earle of Brouk and his otheâ— outrages ibid. The Kings Sister marryed to the Duke of Barfoll fâ—l 839. She refuseth to change her Religion and why ibid. The King desires his Sister should become a Catholike fâ—l 840. The Prince of Lorraine comes vnto Paris ibid. Complaints made by them of the Religion fol. 841. Exclusion from publike charges ignominious â—â—l 842. No man is held a Cittizen if he be not partaker of the honors of the Citty ibiâ— The last Edict for Religion at Nantes ibid. Contestation touching their Synode with strangers ibid. The Court of Parliament opposeth against the edict of Religion fol. 843 The Kings speech to the Court of Parliament ibiâ— A Pâ—ince giues no reason of his Edict fol. 844. Necessity the fiâ—st and essentiall cause of an Edict ibid. The Kings sister pursues the establishment of the Edict fol. 845 The Inâ—â—ntas proâ—laâ—ation against the States of the vnâ—tâ—d Prouinces ibid An answer made by the Vnited Prouinces â—â—l 847. The Archduke comes to Genoa with the Queene of Spaine fol. 848. The magnificence at the King of Spaines mâ—rriage at Valentia ibid. Knights of the Golden-Fleece fol. 849 The life and death of Monsieur de Pinaâ— Archbishop of Lions ibid. Barricadoes at Lions against the Duke of Nâ—mours fol. 850. The Duke of Ioyeuze returnes to the Capuchins fol. 851. The seâ—ond Duke of Ioyeuze drowned fol. 852. The Earle of Bouchage left his habit of Capuchin by the Popes dispensation and is Duke of Ioyeuze ibid. His mother desires his returne to be a Capuchin and the King commends his resolution ibiâ— Iesuites incapable of Spirituall dignities fol. 853. The Marquisate of Salusses in question ibid. The Duke of Sauoy seâ—kâ—s to be reconciled vnto the Kiâ—g ibid. The Pope made Iudge of the Controuersie ibid. Brauery of the French fâ—l 854 The Aâ—biteâ—ment broken The King of Spaine repayres all fol. 855. The Duke complaines oâ— the Spaniards â—bâ—d Death of 〈…〉 Marquis of Monceaux and Duchesse of Beaufort ibid. A quaâ—â—ell betwixt D. Phillippâ—n of Sauoy and Monsieur Crequi fâ—l 856. They fought twiâ—e and at the second combate D. Philâ—â—pâ—â— was slaine fol. 857. Aâ—â—igâ—ac demands D. Philâ—ppins life fol. 858. The Estate of the Kings affayres in Suisse ibid. The petty Catholike Cantons allyed to Spaine ibid. Monsieur Sillery Ambassador in Suisse fol. 859. The King sends money to the Suisses ibid. The Duke of Lerma fauorite to the King of Spaine ibid. Asseâ—bly of the Deputies of some Princes of the Empire at Conâ—â—ance fol. 860. The Iustifications of the Vnited Prouinces ibid. Propositions of the Deputies oâ— Westphalia fol. 862. A Decree made at Conâ—â—ance ibid. The Count of Lippe Generall of the Germaine Army they beseege Rees ibid. Prince Maurice assures them of Bommell by his presence fol. 863. The Admirall takes Creuecaeur ibid. The Spanish Aâ—â—ye and that of the States retire out off the limites of the Empire ibid. The Arch-dukes passage into Flanders fol. 864 Isabelle of Valois mother to Isabelle of Austria called the Queene of Peace ibid. The entry of silkes forbidden in France ibid. The King at the Queenes request reuoaked the Edict for silke fol. 865. Martha Brossier possest with a Diuell ibid. The Bishop of Anger 's discouers her to be a CouÌ„teâ—feit ibid. A decree made by the Court against her ibid. An Attempt against the King discouered ibid. Complaint made by the King of Spaine fol. 866 The Archdukes send vnto the King fol. 867. An Army defeated at Dunkerke ibid. The death of the Chancellor Chiuerny Complaints against him ibid. Pompone de Bellâ—â—re Chancellor of France ibid. The death of the Elector of Treues fol. 868. Death of the yong Princesse of Conde ibid. The Marquis of Belle I le becomes a religious Woman ibid. Execution of the Edict of Pacification ibid. The Duke of Iuilliers marries the Daughter of the Duke of Lorraine fol. 869. The Court of Parliament perswades the King to marry ibid. Monsieur de la Guesâ—les speech vnto the King ibid The King of France neuer dies fol. 870. A Letter from Queene Marguerit vnto the King ibid. Her request vnto the Pope ibid Pope â—râ—gâ—rieâ— dispensation was after the Kings marriage fol. 871. The Kings age ibid. The Kings Letter to Queene Marguerit Her answer ibid. â—oure Knights of the Golden-Fleece made by the Archduke fol. 872. The Archdukes Army retires out off the I le of Bommell ibid. The States answer to the Emperors Deputies ibid. The Duke of Sauoy resolues to goe into France iâ—id Hee seemes to bee discontented with Spaine fol. 873. The Councell of Spaine demands the Dukes children ibid. The King of Spaine offended with the Duke ibid. The King giues order for the receiuing of the Duke of Sauoye at Lyons fol. 874. The Duke of Sauoye comes to Fontainbleau fol. 875. The Duke of Mercures voyage into Hungary fâ—l 876. The Tartares demand a Peace fol. 877. They are defeated by Paâ—fi ibid. Redeâ— and â—ebâ—sse made Knights by the Emperor fol. 878 Ambassadors from the Moscouite to the Poland ibid. The great Duke of Moscouie sends presents to the Emperor ibid. Duke Charles hangs vp the Nobles of SuedlaÌ„d that serued the King And makes seauen demandes vnto the Estates of Sueden 〈◊〉 879. The Christians enterprises in Hongaâ—y 〈◊〉 the Turke A Parle of Peace betwixt the Christians Turkâ—â— and Tartares 〈◊〉 Cardinall Andrew Battory defeated and 〈◊〉 by
the authority her sonne had left her and the free accesse she had vnto his person made a way to the execution of her desseine for hauing corrupted such as had the chiefe forces at their command and wonne them with her sonnes treasure shee seized on him puts out his eyes sends him into Exile where soone after hee died for greefe and tooke possession of the Empire These vnnaturall and tragicke furies were practised in the East The tragicall death of Constantin whilest that Charlemagne by his great valour built an Empire in the West Irene in her sonnes life would haue married him with the eldest daughter of Charlemagne but this accident crossed that desseine After the death of Constantin she sent to Charlemagne to excuse herselfe of the murther disauowing it and laying the blame vpon such as had done it without her command And to winne the good liking of Charles shee caused him to be dealt withall touching marriage for at that time Festrude was dead with promise to consent that he should bee declared Emperour of the West and to resigne vnto him the power of the East But Charlemagne would not accept thereof the Nobility and people of the Greeke Empire did so hate her as hauing suffred her the space of three yeares in the end they resolued to dispossesse her In this publicke detestation of this woman the murtheresse of her owne Childe Nicephorus a great Nobleman of Grece assisted by the greatest in Court and with the consent of the people seizeth on the Empire in taking of Irene Irene banished diuision of the Empire whome he onely banished to giue her means to liue better then she had done He afterwards treates and compounds with Charlemagne that the Empire of the East contynuing vnder his command that of the West should remaine to Charlemagne By this transaction of Nicephorus and the consent of the Greekes the possession of the Empire was ratified and confirmed to Charlemagne and then beganne the diuision of the two Empires East and West That of the West beganne with Charlemagne and continued in his race whilest his vertues did protect it afterwards it was transported to the Princes of Germanie 8â—6 who likewise acknowledged the Germaine stemme of Charlemagne borne at Wormes crowned at Spire and interred at Aix all Citties of Germanie and the truth sheweth that as the Originall so the first commaund of the French was wholie in Germanie Hetherto we haue represented breefly as wee could considering the greatnes and richnes of the matter what Charles did whilest he was King of France onely now wee must relate with the like stile what hath hapened worthie of memorie vnder his Empire His deeds while he was Emperour CHARLES liued fifteene yeares after hee had vnited the Romaine Empiâ—e to the French Monarchy Grimoald Duke of Beneuent sought to disturbe Italie for the Lombard Warre in Italie but Charles preuented it in time by the meanes of Pepin his sonne a worthie and valiant Prince Grimoald was thus vanquished yet intreated with all mildnes so as being restored to his Estate he became afterwards an affectionate and obedâ—ent seruant to Charlemagne who was a wise Conqueror both in his happie valour and the wise vsing of his victorie About the same time the warre in Saxonie was renued In Saxony being alwaies prone to rebellion with the warre against the Huns Bohemians Sclauoniens and the second against the Sarrazins The which I haue breefly reported in their proper places here I note them onely to shew the course of things according to the order of times the goodly light of truth At Veniâ—e 〈…〉 the repuâ—â—e He had likewise a great and dangerous warre against the Venetians wherein he imployed his sonne Pepin Obeliers and Becur great personages were the cheefe Commaunders for the Venetians The Emperour and his Frenchmen receiued a great check by the Venetians who had this onely fruite of their victorie that among all the people of Italie subdued by Charlemagne they alone were not vanquished but had happily made head against great Charlemagne They did greatly increase their name and reputation but nothing inlarged their territories by this conquest glad to haue defenâ—ed themselues against so noble and valiant an enemie By reason of this Venetian war Charles stayed some time in Italie to assure his estate He would haue the Countrie conquered from the Lombards to be called Lombardie with a new name to moderate their seruile condition by the continuance of their name in the ruine of their Estate Seing himselfe old and broken his children great wise and obedient he resolued to giue them portions 〈…〉 to his childâ—â—n and to assigne to euery one his Estate To Pepin he gaue Italy to Charles Germanie and the neighbour Countries keping Lewis his eldest sonne neere about him whom he appointed for the Empire and Realme of France Hee sought to reduce all his Estates vnder one Law An order for 〈…〉 making choise of the Romaine both for the dignitie of the Empire and being more ciuill but the French loth to alter anything of their customarie lawes hee suffred them as they desired and those which had longer serued the Romaines and loued best the Romaine Lawes he gaue them libertie So as Gaule Narbonnoise which comprehends Daulphiné Languedoc Prouence do vse the written Law as the ancient Prouince of the Romaines and the rest of France obserue their customary Lawes Denmarke a dependance of the realme of Germanie and part of Charles his portion The Daâ—eâ—â—â—uolt as we haue said was reuolted from the obedience of the French Charles by his fathers commaund prepares to subdue them but God had otherwise decreed for herevpon he dies to the great greefe of his father and all the French who loued the louely qualities of this Prince the true heire of his fathers name and vertues Charlemagne mourned for his yongest sonne Câ—â—â—les looseâ—h twâ— oâ— his 〈…〉 when as sodainly newes came of the vntimely death of 〈◊〉 his second sonne King of Italie a Prince of admirable hope a true patterne of hâ—s â—athers greatnesse Thus man purposeth and God disposeth thus the sonnes die before the father thus the greatest cannot free themselues from the common calamity of mankinde Thus great Kings and great Kingdomes haue their periods 809. Charlemagne lost his children and the realme her best support for these two Princes carried with them the fathers valour leauing Lewis their brother with large territories and few vertues to gouerne so great an estate After the death of theâ—e two great Princes many enemies did rise against Charles seeming as it were depriued of his two armes the Sarazins in Spaine the Selauons and the Normans in the Northerne regions Rebellion against Chaâ—les but he vanquâ—shed them all and brought them to obedience old and broken as hee was Wee haue shewed how that Nâ—cephorus had beene made Emperour by the death of Irene It chanced that as hee fought against the Bulgartens
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
for certaine disliks of the vniuersitie which was then in great credâ—t at Paris he was condemned to perpetuall prison This multitude drawes him forth vpon promâ—se to be their leader but being at libertie he slippes away and retieâ—s wisely to Dyâ—on being loath to ingage himselfe in these popular confusions the which discreete men doe flie as plagues in a Common weale This rable finding themselues countenanced with a Commander so well experienced presume farther yet seeing themselues abandoned by the departure of Aubriot and recalling themselues from this phrensie their hearts faint and euerie one bethinkes himselfe howe to yeeld an accouâ—t of that which had chanced The Parisiâ—n begin 〈◊〉 faint all this zeale of publike good vanishing away with the consideration of priuate danger Such as had most to loose finding themselues actors in these insolencies seeke for Councell of Iohn de Marais a popular Aduocate intreating him to be intercessor for them vnto the King The vniuersitie is also requested to imploy their credit with the Prouost of Marchants and other notable Cittizens which were not guiltie of these phrensies There is a number chosen to goe to the King and to sue for pardon These deputies The Parisiens sue to the king for pardon in their habits countenances and words shew the greatest sorrow that may bee for an offence committed Iohn de Marais is their Aduocate the King hauing heard them sends them away vntill his Councell had aduised what answere to make who decrees That for punishment of this popular insolenâ—ie the Cittie of Paris should pay a hundred thousand frâ—nes and the heads of this sedition with such as had broke the prisons should be at the Kings discretion This decree is deliuered to Iohn de Marais to make knowne vnto the Parisiens in whose name he had spoken to the Kings Councell 1383. He acquaints them with the Article for the fyne and conceales the punishing of the Authors of this sedition whether it were by commandement or otherwise the Historie makes no mention yet he kept their heads and his owne for the scaffold as we shall presently see to reape the deserued punishment for dealing in these dangerous affaiers and to pay a deere interest of their popular brokerage The Parisiens tamed by this reprehension pay the hundred thousand frankes as a fyne for their folly and the whole taxation imposed for the warre of Naples without any question These summâ—s are giuen to the Regent for his voiage into Italie where his Bretheren the Constable of Clisson and the greatest part of the Councell wished him rather then in France the Chanceller Dormans onely excepted who soone shall reape the frute of his departuâ—e notwithstanding any shewe they made him to see him in so good away to settle his greatnesse He parts from Paris taking an honorable leaue of the King of his Brethren and of the whole Court Lewis of Aniou crouned King of Naples goes to take possession leauing the Regencie to the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne vntill his returne But taking the way of Italy he takes the way of much paine and the Rendez-uous of death which soone swallwes vp both his life and all his desseins His army was goodly some say thirty thousand horse and an infinit number of foote others thirty thousand men without specifying horse or foot but all agree that he went to the conquest of this realme not onely well accompained but also well furnished with siluer the necessary synewes of a long warre They gaue out that it was the Treasor of Charles the 5. the which he caused Sauoysy to deliuer in the beginning of his Regency The order of the Historie commands meâ— nowe to set downe the titles of the realme of Naples for the which our Lewis of Aniou marcheth into Italie with his army and the successe of this voiage The title of the Kingdom of Naple We haue sayed that Charles brother to the King Saint Lewis Duke of Aniou and Earle of Prouence by his wife Beatrix was called to the realme of Naples by Pope Vrbaine the 4. and conquered the possession by his sword hauing defeated Manfroy and Conradin of Sueuia That he was dispossessed of Sicile at the Sicilien Euensong by Peter of Arragon sonne in lawe to Manfroy fauored by Pope Nicolas the 4. taking from Charles what his predecessor Vrbain had giuen him so as after hee had contended long with Peter of Arragon the realme of Naples ramayned vnto him leauing it to his children with more trouble then content This Charles of Aniou brother to Saint Lewis had many Children Charles Robert Lewis and Philip. Lewis surnamed the Lame married Marie the Daughter of Stephen King of Hongarie Charles Martell had two sonnes Lewis and Andrewe Lewis was Prince of Durazzo or Diâ—rachium and Philip Prince of Tarentum All appered on this Theater in some sort but Robert second sonne to Charles was King of Naples and Earle of Prouence he had one sonne named Charles who succeeded him in these two estats and he had but two daughters Ioane and Marguerite Ioane as the eldest was Queene of Naples and Contesse of Prouence and was married to Andrewe brother of Lewis King of Hongarie a loose and an audacious Princesse who slewe her husband as wee haue sayed and married with Lewis sone to Philip Prince of Tarentum hiâ— Cousine against all order Lewis King of Hongarie sonne to Charles Martel comes to Naples to reuenge the murther adulterie of this mastiue bitch who flies with herincestuous husbaÌ„d into Prouence yeelding him the free possession of the cittie of Naples and that of the greatest part of the realme some places remayning in Apulia in the gard of certaine Capâ—aines coÌ„fident seruaÌ„ts vnto Ioane who were the meanes to put hir againe speedilie in possession of that estate soone wonne and soone lost It is manifest that the institution of the realme of Naples belongs to the Sea of Rome Lewis King of Hongarie being victor hauing performed the dutie of a good Brother and done all hee could against this vilanous murtheresse returnes home leauing all his newe Conquest to the disposition of Pope Clement the 6. a Limosin Ioane meanes to recouer Naples then resident in Auignon Ioane who was neere vnto him and to whome Auignon where the Popes had nowe long held their Sea belonged had no great labour for yeelding Auignon vnto him she recouered Naples both by the Popes fauour who had the chiefe authoritie as also by money wherewith shee did both winne the Gouernors of places most easie to corrupt and also leuied an armie to force them that were most affected to the King of Hungarie Nowe shee is settled againe in the realme of Naples with her Adulterer Lewis of Tarentum who suruiued not long after this exploite of Naples and the sale of Auignon After his death shee marries presently with Iames of Arragon Duke of Calabria of whome she was soone wearie falling in loue with Otho of Brunswike a
young Germaine Prince of a good house but not of abilitie to support Ioane so as she held him not as a husband but vsed him as a Stallion Amidest these alterations of Naples the sea of Rome was not quiet for after the death of Pope Gregorie XI who retired from Auignon to Rome the Colledge of Cardinalls fell to a horrible contention for the Popes election the Romains being resolute to haue one of their owne nation and the French one of theirs from whence sprong that strange Sichsme whereof we shall speake Vrbain the 6. was chosen at Rome after the decease of Gregorie the XI and the French Cardinalles yeelded to this election but for that they sayed they had beene forced by the Romains who had them in their power and threatned to kill them vnder colour to change the aier hauing obteined leaue to goe to Anagnia they retier to Fundi a Cittie of the realme of Naples fauored by Queene Ioane French by stock and humour A Schisme in the Church and there they choose Clement the 7. for Pope to oppose him against Vrbain Clement retyred to Auignon and Vrbain keepes at Rome Two Popes two Seas two Factions which trouble all Christendome with horrible confusions Clement seekes to fortifie himselfe and as France held for him so did he labour to haue Naples wholie at his deuotion by reason of the neerenesse much importing for the Cittie of Rome where the chiefe quarrell was debated Contrariwise Vrbain the 6. to be reuenged of Ioane a partisan to Clement the 7. his enemie hath recourse to Lewis King of Hongarie the first interessed beeing brother to him whome this strumpet had slaine that he might oppose the same scourge which had alreadie corrected her But Lewis excusing himselfe by his age and the infirmity of his body sent him Charles issued from that Lewis Prince of Durazzo who we sayed was sonne to Charles of Aniou seeking euen in the race it selfe a man to punish this wicked woman giuing him a goodly armie to that ende Ioane seeing this great storme readie to fall on her flies to Pope Clement the 7. and by his aduice adopts our Lewis Duke of Aniou of whome we nowe treat Lewis hauing prepared his army and beeing crowned King of Naples and Sicile by Pope Clement the 7. in Auignon hee lands at Naples to take possession of the realme Estate of Naples wherevnto the lawefull heire and the Popes authoritie did call him But he came too late for Charles of Durazzo being parted from Hongarie with his army and happylie landed entred the Country ouercame Otho the pretended husband of Ioane and holding him prisoner he forced this miserable woman to yeeld vnto his mercy the which was too great for that he only caused her to be smothered betwixt two pillowes Queene Ioane taken and smothered deseruing as cruell a death as her life had bin execrable Notwithstanding all these difficulties Lewis of Aniou thrust forward by his owne ambition proceeded hauing giuen such order to his affaiers after the adoption made by Ioane in his fauour and the Popes coronation as he procured all the Captaines of places to hold for him hauing ingaged them by money and golden promises so as many places held good for him and the people desyred him being glad to be freed from Ioane and to haue so mightie a Lord to maintaine them in peace Lewis enters the realme of Naples at the first hee winnes Tarentum and Beri Lewis Duke of Aniou and King of Naples by Adoption dies but whilest he determines to proceede in his desseines death surpriseth him making an ende of his infinit ambition and of all his toyles but not of his childrens Lewis and Charles nor of their posterities Thus Charles Pince of Durazzo of the race of Aniou called the Hongarien for that he had beene borne and bred in Hongarie and brought vp by King Lewis remayned peaceable King of Naples 1384. leauing two Children Ladislaus and Ioane who shall prepare a newe stage whereon our Princes shall soone playe their parts as you shall vnderstand Let vs nowe returne to France The Duke of Anious departure put all authoritie into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Bourgongne The Duke of Berry and Bourgongne in credit who began to manage the affaiers of State at their pleasures There was no great loue betwixt them although they were bretheren but onely to maintaine themselues against such as might hinder their ambitious plotts And for that they had knowen the Chanceller Dormans to be wholy affected to the Regent they perswaded the young King to dismisse him for some reasons the which are not specified in the Historie The Chancellor Dormains disgraced But Princes want no colours when they will disgrace their seruants Peter Orgemont was appointed in his place after the seale had remayned some time in the hands of Robert of Corby first President of the Court of Parliament of Paris and of Philip Moulins a Chanoine of the sayed Cittie But Flanders which alwayes bred some monster in that age stirred vp by the English and pufte vp by the ridiculous conclusion of this great and vaine preparation began new troubles and had practises with them of Paris to drawe the rest of the Citties of the realme into some popular league New troubles in Flanders These newes put the King into great perplexitie the rather for that he had surprised certaine letters from the Maillotins of Paris to the white capps of Gand to make a correspondencie betwixt them the accustomed Leuaine of rebellion with ill aduised people As these things amaze both the King and his Vncles behold Richard lands at Calais with an army vnder the command of the Duke of Lancaster who at first spoiles Picardie and then plants himselfe before Ypre The English enter Picardie and beseegeth it The Gantois had made a good shewe both to the King and Duke of Bourgongne vntill that time seeming resolute to obserue their former accord but the English armie being entred into Flanders they go to field and ioyne with them before Ypre The Kings Vncles muster men in all places with great dilligence and intreat their neerest friends to come speedily to their succour The Duks of Lorraine and of Bar make hast the Duke of Brittain comes with a goodly troupe They haue sodenly assembled twentie thousand Frenchmen at armes besides the succors of Lorraine and Brittain the number of foote is not specified Charles thus accompained comes to Saint Denis in France and hauing taken leaue of the Martyrs according to the ancient custome of Kings and giuen the foreward of his army to the leading of the Constable Clisson and the Duke of Brittain the Constable marching before the Duke A great quarrell growes for Precedence by reason of his place the ground of a dislike fell out betwixt them which beeing nourished by diuers occasions shal be the subiect of a great desaster both for the King and