to be reuenged vpon Charles the Daulphin and Charles to defend himselfe The exploites of the Daulphin and of Philip of Boârgâogue after this murther Philip was then in Flanders The Parisiens passionate partisans of the Bourguignon who had seene the Duke of Orleans murthered without mouing and they themselues had massacred the chiefe Officers of the Crowne and had shed the bloud of many good men for his pleasure and passion hauing repayed the bloud so treacherously slaine by him in the same coyne they nowe growe into a greater mutinie then if the King himselfe had beene slaine They send their deputies to Philip and promise not onely to bee faithfull but to assist him with all their meanes to reuenge the murther committed on the person of his father And at the same instant Montagu being escaped from the Turn-picke writes to all the Citties vnder the Bourguignons obedience of this accident the which he could report as an eye witnesse Charles on the other side writes to all the good Citties of the realme yeelding a reason of this murther and imputing the fault to the Bourguignons bad dealing who would haue slaine him at a parle exhorting the people not to mourne for the iust execution of a man borne for the ruine of France who had willingly thrust himselfe into this mischiefe offring all his meanes to settle the realme in peace according to the authoritie whereunto God had called him But in talking hee seekes countries Stephen of Vignoles called la Hire and Poton of Xaintrailles winne Crespy in Laonois and Caradoz of Quesne with Charles of Flauye take Roye places very important to trouble the Citties of Picardie where the Bourguignon was chiefely obeyed The strong Caâtell of Muin opposite to Crespye and Roye is surprised by the industry of his seruants keepes all Vermandois and Laonois in alarume This beginning caused Philip to seeke al speedie meanes to crosse Charles his proceedings being resolute to continue what he had begunne yet the Parisiens feared pressing Philip againe not to abandon the seruants of his house the which made him more prompt in the execution Philip being assured of his Flemings obtaines a suspension of armes from Henry the 5. King of England and a day and place appointed to treat a general peace betwixt the two realmes Then marching with his army through Picardie hee recouers Crespy Roye and Muin to the great content of his partisans and so he arriues at Troyes in Champagne the appointed place for this treatie Isabel Queene of France a cruell Medea and and vnnaturall mother continued her tragike choller against her Son who hauing defaced the common feeling of nature did soone forget the honor she had receiued to be married into the house of France Being thus wedded to the Bourguignons passions Queene Isabel hates the Daulphin hir sonne deadly she tormented her poore husbands spirâts being exceeding weake perswading him that his best course was to disinherit this wicked son to declare his daughter heire and in marrying her to the greatest King vpon the earth to giue her likewise the realme after his decease to her issue as descended from the bloud of France Philip comming to the King found newe worke for presently Henry the 5. King of England concludes a peace with King Charles the 6. weddes Katherine his daughter and doth obtayne by letters pattents That establiââing a firme and free peace in both the Realmes of France and England in regard ãâ¦ã marriage of Catherine of France he is declared Regent of the realme during the life of King Charles to whom the title of King remaynes and to âsabel his wife the title of Queene during their lââes But presently after the Kings decease The lawfull heire reiected and Henry the 5. declared heire of France the Crowne realme of France with al their rights and dignities should remayne vnto him whome King Charles the 6. calles by his letters patents his most deere and welbeloued sonne and to his heires in chiefe They cause this poore sicke King to sweare vpon the holy Bible to promise this for him and his withall exemptions and necessary clauses in so great and important a businesse This goodly act the finite of the furious passions of ciuill warre was made aâ Troye the 21. of may in the yeare 1420. This done the French and English forces ioyning and marching vnder the same colours acknowledge one Comander and for their first exploit they win Monstreau-faut-Yonâe where they take vp and bury Iohn of Bourgongne againe and so marching on as against Rebells they take Melun Meaux and Morst and beseege Compiegne But least matters should growe cold Henry of England whome they call Regent returnes to Troye and with a goodly traine conducts the King Queene and his newe wife Catherine to Paris being better followed and serued then the King himselfe The Parisiens folly did wonderfully imbâace the comming of this newe royaltie promising vnto themselues a newe heauen but this humor lasted not long hauing tried the power of forraine Princes and the commande of their Kings by very contrary effects The Regent held a Councell presently in great state in the Pallace of Saint Pol Henryes proceeding in his new royaltie of France being the Kings lodging Two throanes were erected for the two Kings and a seate vnderneath for Philip of Bourgongne The Kings councell being fewe in number is supplied by the Court of Parliament and the vniuersity Philip demandes Iustice of the muâther committed on the person of Iohn of Bourgongne his father His Aduocate Rolâin made this instance The Kings Aduocate and the vniuersitie assisted him in the ãâã King Charles promiseth Iustice against his Sonne the Daulphin and to dâal good âffâces for King Henry his newe Sonne This was the first act of the newe Regencie against the onely Sonne of his house And moreouer they decreed that heereafter all the treasure should be gouerned by the Regents authoritie and commande Henry resolues presently to call a Parliament for the necessity of his returne into England whether he ment to conduct his new Spouse The Bourguignon craues iustice against the Daulphin A Parliament was held according to this decree but all were amazed at this sodaine alteration euen the very report of my Historie hath some fealing thereof for what canst thou see herein gentle reader but frosen ice in the remembrance of these confusions renewed by the fealing of our owne Thus the Regent caused Charles Duke of Touraine and Daulphin of Viennois to be called to the marble table All sollemnities obserued and he not appearing by a decree of the Councell and of the Court of Parliament he was banished the realme The Daulphin banished the realme by a decree and he appeales and iudged vnworthy to succeede in any of the Seigneuries as well present as to come The Daulphin appeales from this sentence To God and his sword who in the ende doing him iustice shall blesse his sword and
violent death of Gyac of whome wee haue spoken hee had fauored Tremouille to plant him in the Kings good fauour But as Ambition hath neyther faith nor honestie Tremouille finding himselfe inward with the King retaynes all fauour for himselfe Newe troubles in Court by the Constable little esteeming both the Constable and the Princes Hee did onely associate vnto him in credit Prie and la Borde men of small accompt to vse them at his pleasure Iealousie mounts againe vpon the Stage the Princes Constable and cheefe officers of the Crowne in steede of taking counsell to pursue the good successe of Montargis they combine togither to worke their wills vpon Tremouille and his partisans as they had done vpon Gyac The plot was orderly layed 1427. Iames of Bourbon Earle of Clermont and Charâes of Bourbon Earle of Marche Princes of the Bloud become heads of this league against Tremouille and his companions The league is thus plotted Forasmuch as the King is gouerned by base people to the contempt of the Princes and officers of the Crowne and to the great oppression of the poore people the confederates meane to punish these Flaterers abusing the Kings name and authority and to approach neere vnto his maiestie to gouerne the affaires for the good of his seruice and the âase of France The execution must beginne with the seizure of Tremouille and continue with Prie and la Borde The Constable should take Tremouille and the Princes were to seize on the Citty of Bourges where Prie and la Borde were in the great Towre and so to punish them But this enterprise came to naught for Tremouille hauing intelligence of this desseine The King discontented with the Constable and the the Princes not only preserued himself but hauing perswaded the King that this complot was made against his owne person and authority it so troubled Charles as he came in person to Bourges and preuented the Princes entry and without any more disguising he was strangely incensed against the Constable as the author of these troubles and confusions forbidding the citties to receiue him The Constable notwithstanding smothered this disgrace and to shew the deuotion he had to the Kings seruice he goes to field gathers together a goodly troupe of Brittons and puts himselfe into Pontorson a Towne abandoned he fortifies it and mans it with a good garrison vnder the command of Monsieur de Rostrenan and Beaufort This doone he dismisseth his Brettons Pontorâon yeelds to the English The Earle of Warwicke watched all occasions to surprise the Towne when as behold these two gouernours minister a fit meanes for making a roade towarps Auranches they are both taken Warwicke marcheth presently to the walles of Pontorson with his army The Constable sends Bertrand of Dinan Marshall of Brittany speedily with great succours Yet the siege continues obstinately New supplies are sent them by the Duke of Brittaine the which were cut in peeces Pontorson beeing painefully parleed with in the ende yeelds to the English the besieged departing with bag and baggage But this was not the ende of this victory They threaten to enter iâto Brittaine the English armye increased both in number and courage by this happy successe and threatens Brittaine with fire and sword They prepare to enter Iohn Duke of Brittaine wearied with so many losses and fearing worse making no accompt of the succours of France to whom he was coldly affected takes part with the Duke of Bedford renounceth all other alliances promiseth to acknowledge the King of England for King of France The Britton leaues the allâânce of France and to take the oath of obedience such as his predecessors were accustomed to doe to the Kings of France Behold the great good which Brittaine brought to our country in her extremest afflictions after so many hopes and imbracings This yeare is painefull shamefull and confused but the forerunner of a worthy deliuerance Take courage then my countrimen in the remainders of this tempest We haue said that after that miserable battaile of Vernueil the towne of Mans yeelded to the English The inhabitants not able to beare the imperious command of the English resolue in the end to shake off that yoake For the effecting whereof they seize vpon a gate giuing intelligence thereof to the Lord of Oruall Mans surprised and the English cut in peeces brother to the Lord of Albret who happily arriues takes the Cittie and cuttes the English in peeces The Earle of Suffolke was within the Castell Talbot that renowmed Captaine was at Alençon he aduertiseth him of this surprise Talbot prepares his succours with such silence and flies thether with such speed as he arriues at Mans the third day after the surprize Our Frenchmen transported with ioy for so noble 2 conquest and fearing no enemy among so many enemies Man 's lost againe by the French Both politick and discontented slept securely in their beds after the French manner without feare or gard When as Talbot hauing entred the Citty by scaling surpriseth them in their beddes and killes them without resistance 1428. A notable example both to imitate and to flie to flie that through carelesnesse we suffer not our selues to be surprized like Swine It is the very terme wherewith the Historie doth blemish this brutish sloath To imitate not to hold any thing impossible when as resolution doth accompany him that hath any notable attempt in hand But this victorie stayes not at Mans the Earle of Suffolke with his braue Talbot goes to field they marche to Laual a Towne of importance vpon the confines of Aniou and Bretanie they take it easily by the onely terror of their victorious armes incountring no enemie to withstand them Domesticall confusions The whole Court was in confusion the Princes of the bloud and our Constable studie not to make warre against the English but against the Mignons It was their proiect as if the whole state depended vpon the Kings fauour who lost daily to the generall discontent of all the French So this yeare had nothing memorable but that our warriours had lost both iudgement courage and force that through their defects God might raise vp some extraordinarie meanes for the deliuerie of this Monarchie almost ruined Our Captaines then did some exploits taking Rochefort Bertan-court Ianuill Chasteau newf Puiset Toury Mompipeau Nogent le Retrou and Lude but what toyes were these in regarde of the stately triumphes of the English That which was most admirable this yeare amidst all these domesticall discontents Tournay yeelds to the French and all these ruines and desolations of the State which might well haue quailed the best affected those of the City of Tournay after long contentions in the end abandon both English and Bourguignon protesting sollemnly not to acknowledge any other King then Charles the 7. sonne to Charles the sixt as the true and lawfull King of Francâ and by consequence their lawfull Lord yet they made a truce
confusion of the Duke of Bourgongne Let vs generally confesse that it is not now alone that God doth shew his singular grace and fauour to this Monarchie The Britton was watchfull and ioyntly with the Bourguignon they practised crosses of dangerous consequence The English from a generall demand of the Crowne of France restraine himselfe to the Duchie of Normandie oâ Guienne But a franke demander requires a bold denier Lewis protests that hee would doo any thing to send the King of England out of this realme but to yeeld him the possession of any lands hee will rather put all to hazard Hee had a goodly and mighty army which they esteemed saith the Originall a hundred thousand fighting men and in shew might doo much the English being in bad termes with the Bourguignon But the quietest course is the best and both being willing to agree an accorde is soone made In the end the King graunts the English three-score and twelue thousand Crownes present paiment Paris lent the money vpon promises of restâtution by the feast of All Saints next following Articles of agreemeÌt with the English the marâiage of Charles with the eldest daughter of King Edward both being yet very young neither shall it take effect and for the estate of her house the Duchie of Guienne or fiftie thousand Crownes yearely payable in the Tower of London for nine yeares following at the end whereof hee and his wife quietly to enioy the reuenues of the sayd Duchie and the King should remaine discharged of the payment of 50000 Crownes to King Edward Moreouer the King promised sixteene thousand Crownes pension to some of Edwards fauorites who had much assisted in this reconciliation to Hastings two thousand to Howard to Iohn Chene Maister of the Horse to Sellenger Montgommeri and some others the remainder and besides there was great store of Siluer and Plate distributed among King Edwards seruants so euery Saint had his candle These conditions performed Edward should repasse the Sea and leaue Howard and the Maister of his Horse in hostage vntill he had recouered England yet not without an enterview of both Kings This peace should continue nine yeares comprehending the the Dukes of Bourgongne and Brittanie if they pleased The Bourguignon hearing these newes hastes his returne to the English followed onely with sixteene hundred Horse The Duke of ãâã come to king Edward At his âirst arriuall hee discouers his inward passions by his outward countenance But hee came too late to preuent it Edward tells him that hee hath made a truce for nine yeares and exhorts him to enter according to the reseruation he had made He reprocheth King Eâwaâd for making a truce Charles replies by fitts and after a reprochfull manner That Edwards Predecessors Kiâgs of England had performed many high exploits in France and with much sweare and toyle had woâne great reputation He checketh him that hee did not procure the English to passe for any neede he had but onely to giue them occasion to recouer their ancient inheritance And to make it manifest that hee had no neede of their comming hee would not accept of any truce with the King vntill that Edward had beeâe three monethes in his owne Country And hauing thus sayd heereturnes towards Luxembourg from whence hee came A brauadoe of ill digestion to the English and his Counsell but plausible to all the friendes of confusion But what is become of our Constable is there no speech of him during this treatie The Constaâââ perplexed Nowe is hee more incombred with feare then euer Hee knowes well that he hath displeased the King the English and the Bourguignon all alike and still hee apprehends the conclusion at Bouuines In the meane time hee seekes to please all and setts a good face on it Edward had freely made offer to the French Ambassadors to name some Noblemen that were Traitors sayd hee to the King and his Crowne and to proue it by their hand-writings The King holds a Counsell vpon this matter some maintayne Edward discouers the constables disseins that this accusation is fraudulent and that the English would make his demandes the greater with the wracke of an others honour as hauing good intelligence in France But Lewis his iudgement was more sharpe hee knewe the Bourguignons courses he considered the season that the English had not any one place in their hands and that the Bourguignon had deceyued them Moreouer he knewe well that the Constable would not giue them any entry and least he should bee farther imbarked in the league the King entertayned him with many letters and kept him in good humour and the Constable likewise sent often to the King yet alwayes swimmyng betwixt two streames vnderstanding that the treaty betwixt the two Kings grewe to some perfection he seemed well satisfied and sends Lewis of Creuille a gentleman of his house and Iohn Richer his Secretary aduising the King that to auoyde this threatning forraine tempest hee should procure a truce to satisfie the English it were good to graunt them one or two smal Townes to winter in Hee supposed in doing this the English should be beholding to him and to rest fully satisfied for the affront at Saint Quentin Note alwaies that Lewis was a wonderfull instrument of diuision when he pleased Lewis subtill industry Contây a prisoner at the defeate of Arras went and came vpon his faith to the Duke of Bourgongne to treat a peace Hee was by chance in Court at the comming of these two persons The King hides him in his Chamber behinde the hangings to heare and report to his master the speeches the Constable and his people held of him Creuille by the Kings commandement with a loud voice sayd that the Constable had sent theÌ to the Duke of Bourgongne with many instructioÌs to diuide him from the English and that they had found the sayd Duke so farre incensed as by their perswasions he was not onely readie to abandon them but to charge them in their retreat Creuille in speaking this did counterfet the gesture of a passionate Prince stamping and sweaâing S. George the oath of Charles of Bourgongne saying that he called the King of England Blanâborgne and the sonne of an Archer whose name he carried words accompained with all the indignities that might bee spoken This mooued laughter in the King who taking pleasure at the repetition thereof and seeming somewhat deaffe made him to straine his voice in the report Contay no lesse amazed then the King was pleased would neuer haue beleeued it if he had not heard it And although it grieued the King much to dissemble the Constables counsell to giue some places to the English yet would hee not discouer his discontent to these deputies but answered them gratiously I wil send to my Brother the Queene the Constables wife were Sisters and let him vnderstand my minde hauing cunningly drawen a promise from his Secretary to reueale
vnto him to haue had intelligence with Chastillon Admirall of France and with William of Nassau Prince of Orange touching the Low Countries This as some say was discouered by Don Iohn his vncle bastard brother vnto the King who being inexorable against them that had offended came vnto the Princes chamber in the night whereas hee found two pistols behind his beds head and some papers which did auerre the intelligences he had with his enemies The King first gaue him a gard afterwards he put him in prison and in the end to death But first he propounded to his Councell of conscience what punishment a Kings sonne deserued that had entred into League against his Estates and had conspired against his fathers life and whether hee might call him in question His Councell layed before him two remedies both iust possible the one of Grace and Pardon the other of Iustice and punâshment and the difference betwixt the mercie of a father and the seueritie of a King saying that if by his clemencie he did pardon them which loued him not hee could not but pardon that creature which he should most affect They desired him to imitate the Emperour Charlemagne who imputed the fiâst conspiracie of his sonne Pepin against him to lightnes of youth and for the second hee confiâed him iâto a Monasterie protesting that hee was a father not a King nor a Iudge against his Soâne The King answered that by the law of Nature he loued his sonne more then him elfe but by the law of God the good and safetie of his subiects went before it Moreouer he demaunded of them if knowing the miseries which the impunitie or dissimulation of his sonnes offences would breed he might with safetie of conscience pardon him and not bee guiltie of those miseries Hereat his Diuines shronke in their shoulders and with teares in their eyes sayd that the health of his people ought to bee deerer vnto him then that of his Sonne and that hee ought to pardon offences but such crimes as abhominable monsters must be supprest Hereupon the King committed his Son to the Censure of the Inquisitors commaunding them not to respect his authoritie no more then the meanest within his Kingdome and to regard the qualitie of his son as if he were a King borne making no distinction therof froÌ the partie accused vntil they found that the excesse of his offence would no more admit of this consideration remembring that they carried in their soules a liuely Image of the King which had iudged Angels and should without distinction iudge Kings and the Sonnes of Kings like vnto other men referring all vnto their consciences and discharging his owne The Inquisitors for the practises which hee had with the enemies of his religion The Iudgâmenâ oâ the Inquisitors declared him an Heretike and for that he had conspired against his fathers life condemned him to die The King was his accuser and the Inquisitors his Iudges but the Iudgement was signed by the King which done they presented many kinds of death in picture vnto the Prince to make choise of the easiest In the end hee demaunded if there were no pittie in his father to pardon him no fauour in his Councell for a Prince of Spanie nor no wisedome to excuse the follies of his youth when as they told him that his death was determined and might not be reuoked and that all the fauour was in the choise of the mildest death He sayd that they might put him to what death they pleased tâhat there was no choise of any death seeing they could not giue him that which Caesar held to be the best These last words A vnloked foâ death best deliuered with passion were followed with a thousand curses against his Fortune against the inhumanitie of his Faâher and the crueltie of the Inqusition repeating verie often these wordes O miserable sonne of a more miserable father Hee had some dayes of respit giuen him to prepare himselfe for death One morning foure slaues entred into his chamber who awaking him put him in mind of his last houre and gaue him small time to prepare vnto God Hee start vp sodainly and fled to the bed post but two of them held his armes and one his feet The deaâh of the Prince of Spaine Death of the Queene of Spaine and the fourth strangled him with a cord of silke Many hold that hee died of letting bloud his feete being in warme water The death of the Queene of Spaine foure moneths after made the world to suspect other causes of his death The King was also vnfortunate in his enterprises against Flanders and England hauing prepared a great fleet which perished in the narrow Seas almosâ without any fight Hee is blamed for his crueltie against the Indians whome hee abandoned to the slaughter like vnto brute beasts Hee had foure wiues aâter that of Portugal He married with Marie Queene of England by whome hee had no children His third was Elizabeth of France surnamed by the Spaniards the Queene of Peace by whome hee had two daughters the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia now Archduchesse and the Infanta Catherina Michelle who was Duchesse of Sauoy The fourth was Anna of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and his owne proper Neece by whome hee had three Sonnes and one daughter of the which there now remaines the Prince Charles Laurence surnamed at his comming to the Crowne Philip the third Hee affected the Empire as much as might be and not able to attaine vnto it hee sought the title of Emperour of Spaine The King of Spaines ambition yea hee was resolued to go to the Indies to take vpon him the title of Emperour of Amerââa After all his ambitious proiects vppon Affricke his attempts against Ireland and his intelligences with the Turkes Barbarians and Persians whome he hath sought to diuide and to make vse of euen against Christian Princes but chiefly and especially against France yet in the end hee was forced to confesâe That all the power and pompe of this world was meere vanitie He raigned aboue fortie yeares and was buried with his Ancestors as he had ordayned We haue said that hee drew a writing out of a little Cabinet and deliuered it vnto his sonne Some writers say that it was a translation into Spanish of the Instruction which the King S. Lewis gaue vnto his Sonne Philip the hardie Others say it was the Instruction which followes Instruction oâ the King of Spâinâ to the Prince his Sonne My sonne I haue beene alwaies sollicitous and carefull to leaue you your Estates peacefull and quiet but neither the many yeares which I haue liued nor the assistance of Princes my Allyes could euer purchase it I confesse I haue spent in lesse then 33. yeares fiue hundred nintie and foure millions of ducats all which haue bred mee nothing but cares and troubles It is true I haue conquered Portugal but as France did hardly escape me so may
of grace 920. the Empire being then very weake After Conrad was chosen Henry the âouler Duke of Saxony and after him his sonne Otho Princes adorned with great singular vertues fit for the time to preserue the West for the East did runne headlong to her ruine so as since Nicephorus who liued in the time of Charlemagne they did not esteeme them but held them as abiects in regard of those great Emperours which had liued before them namely Michel Curopalates Leo Armenien Michel the stamering Conâusion in the East the two Theophiles father son Basiâe the Macedonien Leo the Philosopher Alexander Constantine a Romaine all which had nothing of the Romaine but the name Thus this poore sicke bodie languished being torne in peeces by the infamies of these men either of no valour or altogither wicked attending the last blow by the hand of the Mahomeâans whose power they fortified by their vitious liues vntill they had lodged them vpon their owne heads A notable spectacle of Gods iust iudgement who dishonours them that dishonour him In the Church and expells them from their houses that banish him from their hearts In these confusions of State the Pope of Romes power increased daily by the ruines of the Empire who thrust himselfe into credit among Christians by many occurrents Their desseins was to build a Monarchie in the Church by authoritie power Seigneuries ciuil Iurisdictions armes reuenues and treasor being growne to that greatnes as afterwards they sought to prescribe lawes to Emperours and Kings who refusing it and disputing vpon this primacie many dissentions grew among them and so were dispersed among the people This is the summe of all that shall be discoursed in the future ages in Christendome wherein we shall view the the sea of Rome the Empire and the kingdome I treat but of matters of State 929. wherevnto the subiect and the order of our desseine doth tie me to report by degrees so long and so obscure a discourse of those ages plonged in darkenesse Plantina the Popes Secretary reports a very notable accident happened at Rome in those times a yong maide loued by a learned man these are his words came with him to Athenes attyred like a boy In vita Ioannis octaus and there profited so well in knowledge and learning as being come to Rome there were fewe equall vnto her in the Scriptures neyther did any one exceede her in knowledge so as she had gotten so great reputation as after the death of Pope Leo she was created Pope by a generall consent was called Iohn the eight But it chanced that hauing crept too neere to one of her gromes shee grewe with child the which she did carefully conceale But as she went to the Basilique of S. Iohn de Lateran betwixt the Colises and S. Clement she fell in labour Pope Ioan deliuered of a Child in the open streete and was deliuered of this stolne birth in a sollemne procession in view of all the people And in detestation of so fowle a fact a piller was erected where this profane person died So without flattering the truth not the Empire alone went to wrack but also the realme and the Church being in those daies full of confusions in which they fell from one mischiefe to an other by the barbarous ignorance of all good things both in the State and Church as the wise and vnpassionate reader may obserue in the continuance of the history plainly described But let vs returne from the Empire and sea of Rome to France Wee haue sayd that when Charles the simple was first imprisoned the Queene Ogina his wife had carried her sonne Lewis into England to Aldestan the King her brother She had patiently suffred all during the furious raigne of Raoul the vsurper while the experience of diuers masters did ripen the French-mens discontents to make them wish for their lawfull Lord. After the death of Raoul Aldestan King of England hauing drawne vnto him Willam Duke of Normandie the sonne of Rhou sends a very honorable Ambassage to the States of France intreating them to restore his Nephewe Lewis to his lawfull and hereditary dignity The French wish it so as without any difficulty Lewis the sonne of Charles was called home by the Estates of France whether he was accompanied with a great troupe of English-men and Normans as the shewe of a goodly army which might seeme to force them to that which they willingly yeelded vnto LEWIS the 4. surnamed from beyond the seas 33. kâng LEWES .4 KING OF FRANCE XXXIII 935. LEWIS returnes into France hauing remayned nine yeares or thereaboutes in England surnamed D'outremer or from beyond the seas by reason of his stay there He beganne to raigne in the yeare 935. and raigned 27. yeares A disloyall and vnfortunate Prince hauing made no vse of his afflictions ãâ¦ã disloyaââârince vnworthy the bloud of Charlemagne And thus their ruine aduanced by the default of men the which God held back by his patience He fouÌd the Estate of his realme like vnto one that returnes to his houâe after a long and dangerous nauigation He was receiued with great ioye of all men Those which had beene most opposite vnto him made greatest shewes of faithfull and affectionate seruice to insinuate into his fauour Amongest the rest William Duke of Normandy but especially Hugâes the great Maior of the Pallace whome wee haue already noted as the sonne of Robert the chiefe of the said League Hee had imployed all his meanes for the calling home of Lewis into France and at his returne he spared nothing to confirme his authority This was the meanes to âay the foundation of a greater authority for his successors They must begin the newe gouernment of this Prince with a wife to haue lawfull issue The Emperours allyance was very needefull Otâo heâd the âmperiall dignity being the sonne of Henry the fowler Duke of Saxony âewis marrieth one of the Emperors sisters ãâã âather to Hâgh Caâet marriâth an other He had two sisters Heâbergue and Auoye King Lewis marrieth the eldest and in signe of brotherly loue he motioned the marriage of the youngest with Hugues the great Lewis had two sonnes by Herbergue Lothaire who succeeded him to the Crowne of France and Charles who shal be Duke of Lorraine and contend for the Crowne but shall loose it Hugues the great was more happy then Lewis for of the yongest hee had Hugh Capet who shall take their place and ascend the royall throne to settle the French Monarchie 937. shaken much in the confusions of these Kings vnworthy to raigne or beare any rule And of the same marriage Hugues had Otho and Henry both Dukes of Bourgongne one after another Behold now vpon the Stage two great and wise personages the King and his Maior whom we may call a second King they striue to circumuent each other the which their actions will discouer but man cannot preuent that on earth
FRANCE XXXXVI HE found his authoritie respected within the Realme 1286. as well for his age The dâspâsition of Philip. as hauing gouerned the State with dignitie vnder his Father Philip. A good Prince Iudicious and of a noble minde and the which was not the least point of happinesse in this life he was well married with Ioane Queene of Nauarre whereof he tooke the name of King before the decease of his father His issue enioying her as a sweete companion of his complexions He had three sonnes by her goodly Princes of body and excellent spirits Lewis Philip and Charles which shall bee Kings successiuely one after another but all so ill matched Philip vnhappie in the marriage of his sonnes as it was his greefe to see his childrens houses infected with three Strumpets and put away without all hope of issue hauing seuerely punished the corrupters of his Daughters in lawe and confinâd these inâatiat mastiues into Monasteries He had also one Daughter of the same bed named Isabel who was married to Edward King of England leauing vnto France a heauie and dangerous Leuaine of horrible confusion by the meanes of her sonne a fatall scourge for this realme Philip after the decease of Ioane His second wife maried Constance the Daughter of Charles King of Sicilia a faire and a young Princesse whom he left great with a sonne the which was borne eight dayes after his decease and suruiued him but few dayes His raigne He began to raigne in the yeare 1286. and dyed in the yeare 1315. hauing raigned twenty and nine yeares The entrance of this raigne was goodly but Flanders Guienne and the Pope gaue him vpon diuers occasions and at diuers times many great and painfull crosses He loued Iustice and Learning wherin he was well instructed for that age so as he did consecrate the first fruits of his raigne to honor both the one the other as also the Muses did honour him with a goodly Oration which is read in the Originall of this Historie 1287. for a commendable memorie to posteritie of the vertues of this great Prince The Parliament was not tyed to any place but changed according to the necessitie of Prouinces Sutes were most commonly iudged definitiuely by the Bayliffs and Seneshals and the greatest causes were decided Soueraignly in the Kings Councell who gaue free audience to their Subiects Philip hauing obserued by the experience of former raignes that it was very necessarie to haue âurisdictions distinctly limited The Parliament of Paris erected left a Soueraigne power to his Parliament at Paris a part of his royall authoritie in ciuill and criminall causes and the better to gouerne it he appointed a sufficient number of Presidents and Councellors with his Aduocate and âroctor which number hath beene since augmented according to occasion and for the greater countenance of this dignitie hee placed it in his chiefe Cittie of Paris and to that end he caused that great Pallace one of the most admirable buildings vnder the coape of Heauen to be built by the meanes of Enguerand of Marigny Earle of Longueuille The Palace built Superintendant of the Treasurie of France Hee first oâdained but two sittings of the Parliament in the yeare the which necessitie hath made ordinârie vnder Lewis Hutin his Sonne who also erected an Exchequer at Roan Other Prouinces had their Parliaments at diuers times and vpon diuers occasions With like affection he fauoured his Vniuersities of Paris with all maner of priuiledges hauing his Wife Ioane a companion of the same humour whom he suffered to build in her name that goodly Colledge of Nauarre where at this day in this Iron age Colledge of Nauârââ wee may bâhold with admiration the great bountie of âur Kings in commendable and vertuous actions These goodly beginnings in shew the first fruites of a sound peace were crossed with many difficulties both within and without the realme Flanders gaue the fiâst subiect This Countrie is one of the chiefe Seignâuries of this Monarchie and in the yeare 1225. this lawfull subiection was acknowledged at Meluâ by the Earle of Flanders Cause of the wârâe in Flanders In the beginning of this raigne Guy Earle of Flanders came to do his homage to Philip who required to haue the Citties of Flanders to ratifie this peace of Melun the which was performed but vnwillingly by this riche people who still complained vnto Philip that his Parliament at Paris did infringe their Priuiledges for the which hee wisely prouided but the great securitie of these rich Citties musâ âeeds be the cause of their own afflictions as it chanceth ofteÌ that a rich people being too faâr The cause of quârrell in Guyenne seâke wilfuâly their owne ruine Guyenne did likewise much trouble Philip and these two quarrels were intricate one with another like vnto diseases which come together according to the times and occasions when they chance The King of England was Duke of Guienne since the marriage of Elenor as wee haue seene but many difficulties haue fallen out the accord made by the King S. Lewis specified by vs had limittâd the Seignâuries of Guienne to the English the which hee should hold by homage of our Crowne but he could not limit his desire being watchfull vpon all occasions to free himselfe from the subiection of France Let vs follow by degrees the actions and the orâer of times in the combersome report of these new stormes falling out diuersly and in diuers places like as in a time inclined to raine a Cloud dischargeth it selfe by Planets in diuers parts âhe force and neighbourhood of England increased the quarâell and caused a continuance by diuers accidents Edward the first of that name Sonne to Henry the third liued then in England and Count Guy in Flanders Edward came likewise into France and did homage to the new King for the Duchie of Guienne and other lands which he held of the Crowne Occâsioââ to rânue the war with the ââglish as Guy had done for his It chanced that certaine English Ships scouring along the coast of Normandie made a great spoile of the subiects of France Philip vpon their complaints intreates Edward to cause restiâââion to be made of that which had beene vniustly taken by his subiects Edward neglects it so as Philip causeth him to be adiourned to yeeld a reason of this attempt as vasâall to the Crowne He appeares not and so by sentence he is declared guiltie of fellonie and of high Treason and to haue forfeited his interest in all his Seigneuries of France For the execution of this decree Arnoul of Neele Constable of France is sent into Guienne with an armie 1293. in the yeare 1293. a notable date to coate the fiâst letter in this Inuentarie of a very long processe although with some inteâmission yet so violent as it had a most ruined France The Constable doth his exploit Pâilip sends an armiâ into
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 ãâã the first pawne of his libertie The Regent his sonne labours earnestly the ãâã 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 ãâã 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 mutuâll league of friendship and they sweare a league of friendship and comprehended Charles King of ãâã 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 ãâã of Edward with all the shewes of loue that might be betwixt brethren and ãâã 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 ãâã armes who had giuen him so many testimonies of his faithfull loue in his necessitie ãâã 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 Heâin whether not onely the whole countrie repaires ãâ¦ã 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 fiâst 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
he would not accept of this gouernment without the good liking of the Duke of Berry so as all the punishment fell vpon Betizac his chiefe Treasurer who ãâã burnt at Beziers Betizac the Dukes treasurer burnt purging in the fire the extorsions he had committed vnder his maisterâ authoritie At that time Charles King of Nauarre died so often blemished in the truth of this historie we haue noted how he had retired himselfe from Court into his realme of Nauarre As this retreat was vnto him a reprochfull banishment so this shamefull solitarinesse was a ciuill death But the Catastrophe of his tragicall life was a famous proofe that God doth often reuenge notable sinnes by notable punishments euen in this life He was much broken by the excesse of venery and all sorts of dissolutions the which he had exceedinglie vsed with his wonderfull tyrannie and crueltie As they did anoint him with medicines fit to warme and comfort his benummed members some say they had chafed him with Aqua-vitae The tragicall ãâã of the Nauarroâ and wrapt him in a sheete but behold fire takes hold of this sheete with such violence as being vnable to quench it he was consumed by degrees liuing some daies as suruiuing his paine and that which encreased the horror of Gods iudgement his death made both great and small to reioyce and was receiued in France with as great content as the winning of a great and famous battaile Great robbing during the truce There was a generall truce betwixt the French and English so as the garrisons lying stâll the Souldiars bred vp and nourished in armes fighting no more by order vnder their eâsâgnes sought now their prey by disorder vpon the labourer and marchant The countries of Rouergue Perigort Limosin Auuergne and La Marche had English garrisons who spoiled these countries and did runne vp into the neerest parts of Languedoc Velai Geuaudan Viuarez and Suenes where the villages are for the most part walled in to preuent these sodaine incursions There were many theeues amongst them Teste noire or Black-pate in the Castell of Ventador Amerigor Marcel at Roâh-Vandais who breaking the truce sought to be supported by the King of England but in the end they all fell into the hang-mans hands or perished miserably by some strange death an Image of our late confusions Libertie had bred vp these warriours with so great aboundance as the English passed the sea to make Turneys and to fight at Barriers as they vse at great Triumphes There was a Tilt set vp betwixt Calais and Saint Iaquelvuert where the Nobilitie made triall of their valour as in a Schoole of Fence To take away this troublesome aboundance they tooke occasions to make long voyages into Castille and Italie but in the end there was a very famous one offred against the miscreaâts of Barbarie at the Geneuois request who suffred many discommodites in their traffick by these barbarous Affricans Charles granted them succours willingly and gaue the charge of this warre to Peter duke of Burbon assisted with the Earles of Auuergne and Foix the Lords of Coucy Guy of Tremouille A voyage into Affâââke by âhe Frenâh English together Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France Philip of Arthois Earle of Eu Philip of Bar Harcourt Antoing Linge Pyquiny and many other great men from all parts of the Realme which ranne to so famous an action vnder so worthy a commander and at so great leysure more painfull then the toyle of warre to men that desired nothing but imployment Richard King of England to imitate Charles granted succours to the Geneuois vnder the command of the Earle of Salisburie accompanied with many Noble men and Engââsh Gentlemen moued with desire like vnto the French in the enterprise of this pleasing paine The Deputies of the Kings of France and England assembled to treate of a generall peace but not able to effect it they continue a truce for foure yeares with goodly pâouisions against robberies for the safetie and quiet of their Estates Charles gaue free passage to the English by the Countries of Langâedââ and Daulphiné to passe the Alpes safelie All come to Genes to the great ioy of the Geneuois Being shipt they land within fewe dayes in Barbarie Presently they beseege the Citty of Affricke So our histore termes it as bearing the name of all the vast and barbarous counâry They call the Afâricanic commanders Agadinquor of Oliferne and Brahadist of Thunes But our Argonautes found them which stayed their fuây The Barbarians defended themselues with an obstinate resolution But their foâce did them lesse harme then the ayre and diet beeing very contrary to theiâ complexions so as our armie decreased dayly especially of men of accompt This siege conâinued six weekes with much losse no hope to preuaile The ãâã noated alwaâes to be âaithlâsse The Geneuois hauing conceiued a hope of a sodaine victorie began to grow cold and slacke in furnishing of the armie The Duke of Bourbon foreseeing the difficulties which might grow in continuing obstinaâe at this siege fearing the winter and not trusting the Geneuois who are famous for that they haue no faith remembring the example of the King S. Lewis resolued to returne wiâhout any greater losse He trusseth vp his baggage bringes backe his troupes into France coÌtinuing the example to al such as are capable of reasoÌ how difficult it is for Christâans to performe these strange attempts after the experience of many ages The ârench and the English hauing liued louingly together in this voyage returned to their houses without doing of any memorable act but to haue endeauored to doe sometâing worthy of memory to auoide idlenesse during so peacefull a time âritâaine did then conceiue and afterwards bring forth more preiudiciall effects then Bârbary iâ selââ and the way was made by light occasions to horrible and monstrous efâects to the great preiudicâ both of the King and Realme for a notable tesâimonie to posterity what Councellors Enuye and ambition be in a state we like wretches seeke for peace and when God gâues it we flie from it we maligne an other mans good and depââue our selues of our owne But alas it were a small matter for a great personage to hurâ himselfe by his owne passions if this poison did not spred abroad to the preiudice of âhe common weale We haue said that Iohn of Montfort remained peaceably Duke of Brittaine by the death of Charles of Blois and the agreement he made with his widow Hatred betwixt the duke of Briâââine the Constable Clisson whose eldest sonne Iohn of Brittâine Earle of Ponthieure was redeemed from prison out of England by the constable Clisson who gaue him his daughter in marriage payed his âansome The constable was a Briâton and so a subiect to Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine his ancient and capitall ânimy and yet by this newe succession was become his Lord. Doubtlesse in this quality Clisson could not
men which chanced in the beginning of the yeare 1394 shal burne farther and kindle a greater fire betwixt the vncle and the Nephewe foâ the space often yeares vntill the death of Philip Duke of Bourgongne leauing this hatred hereditary to his posterity There is no meanes which the Bourguignon doth not attempt to wrong his Nephewe of Orleans Certaine Augustin Fryars vndertake to cure the King by incisions in his head wheâby he was in great danger of his life These counterfets were brought forth publikely in their habits and beheaded but the scarres of these wounds will remaine in Lewis his âace who recommended them vnto the King The women are dealers in these actions The Duchesse of Bourgongne perswades Queene Isabel that Lewis his meaning was to kill the King her husband his children These impressions are confirmed by the graue and sweet discouâses of the duke her husband who by degrees setled a hatred in the Queenes minde agaiâst her brother in-law Thus this faction is much fortified by the authority of Queene Isabel and by her with her husbands name whom she makes to speake what she pleaseth sometimes as her will directed him but not alwaâââ Yet this weake braine is the checker of all these courâly pollicâes by the meanes oâ women who are continually about his bedde or his chaire to distemper his braine with variety of newes springing from their wretched passions and this poore Prince is sometimes won sometimes lost and alwaies tormented wâth these imporâunâ discoârâes Vâlenâine to the Duke of Orleans an Iâaââan and daughter to Iohn Galeaz one of the cunningest and most subtill witts of her time which subtilty some held she increased by coniuring would not yeeld to the brauadoes of these two Princesses against whom she opposed her selfe not only by her husbands degree but also by a politike courage bred in her selfe visiting the sicke king with such ciuill entertainment as her greatest enemies could not finde any honest colour to deny her the dore So as the King did not onely willingly see her but did call for her and in his greatest fits did know her onely among all the rest refusing to take any thing but from the hands of his good Sister of Orleans The more the Kings loue kindled a iealousie in these two Princesses her enemies the more it raysed vp the mind of Valentine and by hir meanes of her husband who remeÌbring too hatefully the degree whereunto he was borne and the wrong done him in reiecting him yet hauing neither dexterity nor meanes to win many seruants he gaue the Duke of Bourgongne all aduantages being graue cold pleasing and modest so as by his wise teÌper he disolued the heate of the Duke of Orleans immoderate vehemencie who tyring himself with the shew of his greatnesse makes it known by effects that all the authority was in the Duke of Bourgongne for whosoeuer had neede of any publike helpe he must pasâe through his hands what busines soeuer chanced either within or without the realme the true rendez-uous was at his lodging Thus the Vncle made his Nephew towalke horses as they say although he chafed and stamped beyond all measure These diuisions troubled the whole court making them to neglect the affaires of state and what can we obserue more famous in so disordered an estate Al businesses are done in the Kings name yet without the King vnlesse the parties would haue him to countenance some great passion I do purposely omit all that which passed in this raigne touching the schisme of the Church and the house of Aniou in the realmes of Naples and Arragon not to breake off the course of my intent meaning to represent in due place all that concernes this forrain history Richard King of England sends his Ambassadors to Charles to congratulate his recouery offring him a generall peace and demanding his daughter in marriage The Kings relapse delayed the conclusion for a time Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France but soone after by the care of the Duke of Bourgongne who had a great interest in this alliance by reasoÌ of his country of Flanders it was concluded in the yeare 1395. Charles had some intermissions by meanes whereof he could ride Richard repayres to Calais and Charles to Ardres whether Richard came to ratifie the peace concluded betwixt their Ambassadors and to receiue his new spouse The Kings encountred one another with loue and kindnesse making shewes of great good will but it was a short ioy for either of them For as it seemed that the quiet of these two realmes had beene setled by this generall peace sealed by this marriage and seasoned with so many reciprocall shewes of cordial affection betwixt these two great Kings behold a great combustion in England which intangles both these Kings in this common calamity Richard being of himselfe effeminate carelesse voluptuous and idle grew more delicate by this profound rest built vpon the alliance of his enimy who alone might haue quickned him He is alwayes with his yong wife imbracing her dallying with her and attiâing her with such contempt of his authority abassing himselfe too much to his subiects so as he grew contemptible vnto his enimies who presâmed to attempt against his person The ordinary warres of England against France had caused many necessary impositions without any grudging of the subiects but when as necessity ceased by this generall peace the people require to bee relieued William More makes an oration vnto the king in the name of all the English in generall Richard hauing no meanes in these infinite exactions to supply the charges of his idle voluptuous life contemned his subiects request and in the ende pressed vpon the same matter by the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arondel in the name of them all he puts them vniustly to death The English madde with rage for the death of their deputies flie to such remedies as despaire giues to necessitie From this general discontent sprong a strange Tragedie against Richard for the English seeing themselues thus despised by their King they cast their eyes vpon Henry of Lancaster his cousine and hauing called a Parliament they put Richard into prison and crowne Henry of Lancaster in his place Richard King of England put from the Crowne Richard being forced in open assembly to resigne the Crowne and to condemne himselfe to perpetuall prison as hauing abused his royall authoritie and his subiects But this tâagicke change concernes the Histoâie of England This may bâieflie suffice for ours in the conference of our estate with theirs Charles did greatly grieue at this deiection of Richard his sonne in lawe from whom he expected great loue and quiet for his subiects But who seeth not the vanitie of this world both in great and small to feare a shower euen when the Sunne is hottest Hee sends for Isabell his daughter of twelue yeares old whom Richard had not yet toucht being content to behold her
authority and the Daulphins who was heire apparent to the Crowne of France the capitall Citty of the realme the aâpââbation of the best Cities most of the Prouinces and wâthout comparison gâeateâ means of himselfe both for men and mony Thâs ââcond warre continued a veare it began in Iuly 1411. and ended the yeare afâeâ 1412. in the same moneth far more variable and violent then the first and memoââble in this that the vanquished was victor and the victor vanquished The same authoâitie which had supported the stronger was in the ende fauorable to the weaker âuch as most pleased their masters humor receiued death of him for their reward Very necesâaââ obsââuations to iudge of these Ciuill warres The Orlean faction went first to field They were about seuen or eight thousand horse The number of their foote is not specified 1411 Charles Duke of Orleans makes the body of his army in Gastinoâs the Duke of Bourbon in Bourbonois and the the Earle of Alenson in Vermandoâs Peronne Chauny Neele and Han yeeld vnto them Clermont which belonged to the Duke of Bourbon is fortified they seeke to surprise Reteil and Bapaumes but in vaine This was the first sally begun by them of Orleans But the Bourguignon takes an other course he prepares the Kings Edicts against them he imployes the peoples force within the Citties and armes in field and all availes him at the first He had a great army both of horse and foote the which doth presently march into Picardy where the Orleanois had begun and easily recouers what they had gotten Han standes resolute they beseege take spoile and sacke it The Flemings which were vassalls to the Duke of Bourgongne being laden with spoile craue leaue to returne home neyther could the Dukes promises nor threats retayne them but they leaue his army and depart This had almost ouerthrowne his affaiâes he abandons Mondidier the which was presently surprised by Peter of Quesnes Lord of Gannes of the Orlean faction and putting his army into garrisons doubting the euent of this warre he sends with all speede to Henry the 4. King of England crauing succors in this necessity The Bourâignon crâues aide of the King of England Henry makes his profit of these ciuill dissentions in France he presently sends twelue hundred men to the Bourguignon to supply the Flemings want vnder the commande of Thomas Earle of Arondel The Orleanois loose no time and for their neârer approch to Paris they surprise Saint Denis and Saint Cloud places of importance and fortifie Corbeil for the passage of the riuer of purpose to famish this great Cittie which liues by dayly prouisions brought from diuers parts But hee findes one to countermine his practises vsing the same instrument he had imployed to hurt him The Orleanois keeping the field about Paris must needes be the cause of great calamities And all this was acted in the viewe of the King and Daulphin Iohn informes the King of his enemies insolencie who without appealing to his Maiestie presumed to spoile the heart of Francâ as if they were strangers or enemies Charles apprehends this error but too easily Tâe King Daââpâiâ incensed against the Duke of Orleans desiring nothing but rest but Lewis the Daulphin especially is incensed by these informations and his chollâr encreaseth daâly against his Cousins of Orleans The Bourguignon saied that they played the Kings and could not conceale their intention which was to seize on the Crowne seeing they presumed to take armes against the King There are rigorous Edicts made against the Orleans faction as against rebelles and guilty of high treason All their goods honours and persons are confiscate which remayne in thâs army if within fiâteene dayes after publication of the Kings letters pattents they retire not themselues to their houses And to begin with thegreatest Charles of Albret Constable of France and Arnolde of Corby the Chanceâlor are dâspossessed of their dignities and the Earle of Saint Pol preferred to the first place and Dolâhaing the Duke of Bouâgongnes aduocate to the last This stormâ makes worke at Paris they seeke out all of the Orleans partie and presently cast theÌ into prison The Parisienâ mutine against the Orlean faction Peter of Essars being restored to his place remembers the article made against him at Wincestre and aâmes the people against them Whosoâuer is found out by the Parisiens bâeing of the Orleans faction hee is brought with hazard of his lâfe to prison All is lawfull in this popular rage so it bee against the Armagnacs All these engins forced from diuets parts do strangely shake the Orlean partie Such as were restrayned within any Townes duâst not breath and many in the army slippe away daily fearing the rigour of these Edicts which were executed withall seueritie Chaâles Duke of Orleans hauing taken counsell of the Princes and Noblemen his associaâs what course to followe in this alteration before a greater in conueniency resolues to drawe the Bourguignon to battaile although he were fortified with these new forces from England So as hauing passed the riuer of Oyse vpon a bridge of boats all the passages being seized on by the Bourguignon in the Kings name he presents himselfe before the gates of Clermont in Beauuoisis 1412. where Iohn his capitall enemie remayned The Orleans aâmy yet faire beautified with the presence of great personages the Duke of Bourbon the Eaâles of Alenson Clârmont Albret Vertus Vienne Bouciquaut the Archbishop of Sens brother to that Montagu which was beheaded Craon Montbason Hangest with many Batons Knights and Squiers all resolute to ende this quarrell by battaile and to that ende hauing defied the Duke of Bourgongne they attend him betwixt Clermont and Cathenay But the Bourguignon leauing them there to spoile that goodly and fertill country of the Isle of France whereby they increased the hatred and curse of the people more incensed then euer against these Aâmagnacs exclayming of him as of a coward that durst not fight he arriues at Paris to the peoples great content who attende him with all deuotion Hee presently takes Saint Cloud and Saint Denis from the Orlean partie to their great losse notwithstanding any diligence of Charles their head who proclaymed a victory before the combaâe Thus Paris is freed without any restrainte and all the Orleans partie brought verie lowe Neyther Charles noâ his Associats talke any more of fighting with the Bourguignon they had worke inough to retyre themselues and to defend their Townes expecting a present seege Iohn of Bourgongne failes not to husband this good successe and âo countenance his forces hee doth intangle the King and Daulphin in the pursuâe of his enemies halfe vanquâshed So his victorious army enters into Beausse turning head towards the Country of Orleans the inheritance of his chiefe enemie Esâampes yeelds âo the King The Duke of Bourbon is there taken prisoner and sent presently into Flanders Whilest that all things succeeded thus
but we sought our owne decay The Constable Albret comanded âhe foreward that day and with him were the Dukes of Orleans Bourbon the Earles of Eu and of Richemont the Lord of Bouciquault Marshal of France the Lord of Dampierre Admiral The Battaile was led by the Duke of Bar and the Earles of Alenson Vaudemont Neuers Blamon Salines Grandpre and Roussy The Reerward by the Earles of Marle Dampmartin and Fouquembergue The King of England forced âo fight Henry being denied pasâage by the Constable resolues to fight puâting his trust in God and in his owne valour determining to vanquish or to die He made choise of a place of hard accesse and the better to fortifie his archers euery one had a sharpe stake planted before him The French ordered as before attended their enemies either looking who should begin the game Impatiencye forceth the weaker like desperate men the English Archers being in fight with such a furie as the French foreward cannot endure the violent fal of this furious storme the CoÌstable Albret was slaine fighting in the foremost ranke The Duke Anthony of Brabant brother to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne seeing this disorder leaues his troupe to redresse it but he was also slaine by the English bowe men And gets the victorie with his bâother Philip Earle of Neuers The battaile was likewise foâced after a great fight The reerward fled and saued them selues in the neerest places of retreate So as the losse was not so great as the shame and ouerthrow They number ten thousand men slaine but their rashenes was inexcusable The head smarâed for it and the Bourguignons brethreÌ had there an honorable tombe Charles Duke of Orleans Lewis of Bourbon the Eaâls of Eu Richemont Vendosâe the strongest pillers of the Orlean faction with many Noblemen and Gentlemen were taken and led into England This deâeat chancâd the 20. of Ocâober in the yeare The Battaile of Agincourt 1415. called the euill Battaile of Agincourt And as one mischief comes neuer alone the bodies at this defeat were scarce buried before Lewis the Daulphin dies This Lewis eldest Sonne to our Charles Sonne in Law Lewis the Daulpâin dies and a terror to the Bourguignon was little lamented of the people and lesse oâ his father in Law who hated him to the death A Prince of little valour and much toâle more busied with himselfe then with the affaires he managed the which he made troublesome by his insufficiencie presumptioÌ to know much His disposition vnwilling to learne fâom others what he vnderstood not for the good of the State and his owne duty Iohn Duke of Touraine his brother succeded him in the first degree of the Prince of the bloud The Duke of Berry dies and the Earle of Armagnaâ was made Constable in the place of Charles of Albret who shall minister good occasion to speake both of his life and death Iohn Duke of Berry brother to our Charles the 5. augmented these losses A wise Prince and louing Learning coÌmendable in al things but for his couetousnes the which made his vertues of lesse fame A blemish very il beeseming a generous and heroicke spirit These great losses should haue made the Bourguignon humble but he became more insolent making new practises to raise him selfe hauing no competitor Imbracing this ocasion he gatheâs togither what troupes he can with an intent to go to Paris The Queene and Constable of Armagnac vnwilling he shoud come armed comand him in the Kings name not to aproch The Parisiens were not then so well conceited of the Bourguignon being restrained by the court vnâuersitie but especially by the Kings authoâity being present who spake whatsoeuer his wife the Constable would haue him being then alone in authority in the Kings Councell The Bourguignons troupes kept the field 1416. committing all kinde of insolencies and spoyles against whom the King made Edicts as against common theeues The Bourguignon renewes the warre giuing the people liberty to kill them But this did nothing mollify the heart of this reuengefull Prince borne for his Countries misery hauing no other intent but to afflict it wâth new calamityes To this ende as in the Kings sicknesse the Daulphin had the name and authority of the State he sought to winne the fauour of Iohn succeeding in the right of his brother deceased This occasion was offered but the issue was contrary to his desseine The misery of our France was such as the common duty of humanity moued forraine nations to pitty foreseeing our ruine if the warre betwixt France and England continued In this common desire The Emperor Sigismond comes into Francâ the Emperour Sigismond by the consent of the Germans came into France His traine and the good worke he vndertooke deseâued an imperiall Maiestie but the ende will shew hâs intent to be other then he protested Being arâiued in France to the great content of all the French he findes our Charles at his deuoâion who receiued him with all the pompe he could giue to so great a Monarch making shewe of the great desire hee had to make a peace betwixt the French and the English for the generall good of both estates But this accord was but halfe made The Emperour hauing remained some time with Charles goes into England where he findes Henry of an other humour puft vp with the happy successe of his affaires the weakenesse of ours and in trueth the measure of our miseries was not yet full So Sigismond hauing perswaded Henry in vaine returnes into France Charles to honour him sends his sonne Iohn Duke of Touraine and Daulphin of Viennois into Picardie to meete him hauing married the daughter of the Earle of Hainault as great a friend to the Bourguignon as ill affected to the French The Emperour seeing his labour lost in seeking this reconciliation takes his shortest course into Germany leauing a reasonable subiect to the cleare-sighted The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Bourguignon to iudge that he had an other intent then to settle a peace in France by countenancing of the Bourguignon the instrument of her miseries for after this yong pâânce had spoken with the Emperour he is wholy changed in fauour of the Duke of Bourgongne and resolues to âandy with him against the Duke of Orleans This foundation beeing laid by the Emperours pollicy it was fortified by the Earle of Hainault father-in-law to Iohn the Daulphin Nowe he imbraceth the greatest and most dangerous enemie of all true Frenchmen with a wonderfull affection But the subtill is taken in his own snate the end doth often bewray the intent As all things tended to a manifest change by meanes of this yong Prince inchaunted by his charmes hauing a spirit like vnto waxe apt to receiue any impressions from so subtill an artisan as the Bourguignon behold death cuts off all these hopes The Daulphin Iohn dies cast in the mould of
the bridge to be fortified with three turnepikes to stoppe their free entrance into the Towne whether the Bourguignon must come by dutie vnto the Daulphin This succeeded according to his desseine but it carried the shewe of an enemie The Bourguignon sends three gentlemen of his houshold to the Daulphin Thoulongâââ Ernoy and Soubretier to aduertise him of his comming They giue him notice of the two barricadoes made vpon the Bridge and wish him not to aduenture Hauing referred it to his Counsell all beeing on horsebacke he resolues in the ende to passe onâ he lights at the Castle where his lodging was assigned and setts his gardes at the entry of the gate towards the Towne Hereupon Tanneguy of Chastell come vnto him who after a due reuerence saluted him from the Daulphin saying that he attended him at the bridge foote at the towne gate Then Iohn of Bourgongne hauing chosen out ten of his most trusty followers Charles of Bourbon the Lords of Nouaille Fribourg S. George Montagu Vergy ãâã Pontauillier Lens Giaâ and his Secretarie Seguinat hee approcheth to the first barre where he inco unters with som from our Charles who intreat him to enter vpon their maisters word and assure him by oath Before he enters as if his heart had foretold his harme he stayes sodainely and askes aduice of his company who incouâaging him to passe on he enters the second barre the which was presently lockt and then he caused some to go before him and some behind he remaining in the midest Tanneguy of Chastell comes to receiue him and the Duke laying his hand vppon ãâã shoulder very familiarly This is he saies the Duke in whom I trust I will conclude this bloudy Catastrophe with the very words of the Originall And so he approched ãâã vnto the Daulphin who stood all armed with his sword by his side leaning on a barre Before whom he kneeled with one knee on the ground to do him honour and reuerence saluting âim most humbly Whereat the Daulphin answered nothing making him no shewe of loue ãâã charged him with breach of his promise The Daulphin causeth Iohn of Bourgongne to be slaine for that he had not caused the war to cease nor drawn his men out off garrison as he had promised Then Robert de Loire tooke him by the right armâ and said Rise you are but too honourable The Duke hauing one knee on the ground and his sword about him which hong not to his minde somewhat too farre backe kneeling downe he laid his hand on his sword to pull it forward for his ease Robert said vnto him doe you lay your hand vppon your sword before my Lord the Daulphin At which ãâã Tanneguy of Chastell drew neere vnto him on the other side who making a signe saiâ It is time striking the Duke with a little axe so violently on the face as he cut oâf his chinne and so he fell on his knees The Duke feeling himselfe thus wounded layde his hand on his sword to draw it thinking to rise and defend himselfe but hee was presently charged by Tanneguy and others and beaten dead to the ground And sodainely one named Oliuer Layet with the helpe of Peter Fortier thrusts a sword into his belly vnder his coate of Maile Whilest this was doing the Lord of Nouailles drewe his sword halfe out thinking to defend the Duke but the Vicont of Narbonne held a dagger thinking to striâe him Nouailles leaping forceably to the Vicount wrested the dagger from him being so sore hurt in the hinder part of the head as he fell downe dead Whilest this was acting the Daulphin leaning on the barr beholding this strange sight retyred backe as one amazed and was presently conducted to his lodging by Iohn Louuet and other his councellers All the rest were taken except Montagu who leaped ouer the turnepike and gaue the Alarum There were ãâ¦ã vpon the place but Iohn Duke of Bourgongne and Nouailles S. George and a Aâcre were hurt The Dukes men charged home vnto the turnepike but they were eâsily repulsed His troupes retyring to Bray are pursued by the Daulphinois with losse and in the ende the castle is abandoned by him that had it in gaâd The Dukes body stript off al but his Doublet and Bootes is drawne into a Mill and the next daye buried This happened the tenth of September in the yeare 1419. Behold the ende of Iohn Duke of Bourgongne Seeing then this murther troubled the Daulphin who had caused it to be committed what stonie heart would not be amazed thereat Truly the breach of faith is vnexcusable howsoeuer it be disguised for as faith is the ground of humane society so doth it extend euen vnto enimies with whom it must be inuiolably kept This blowe shall be deere to Charles Through this hole the enimye shall enter so farre into the Realme as he shall put him in danger and in the ende he shall be forced to confesse his fault not able to excuse himselfe without accusing of his councellours But from vniust man let vs ascend to the wisedome of that great Iudge of the world who is alwaies iust The Oracle cries He that strikes with the sword shall perish with the sword and The disloyall to the disloyall They loued misery and misery found them out And wise antiquity saies God punisheth great wickednes with great paines euen in this life And Hardly can tyrants descend into the graue with a dry death that is without blood or murther Oh iustice of God alwaies iust alwaies wise and alwaies good Thy iudgements are righteous O Lord. I condemne the errour of men yet I held my peace Bloud punished with bloud because thou dâdest it Draw the curten Iohn of Bourgongne hath played his part vpon this Theater He had slaine the the Duke of Orleans traitorously and now he wallowes in his owne goare being treacherously slaine by the Daulphin Charles Now let vs see the care his son Philip Earle of Charolois had to be reuenged of Charles for this cruell murther but all is not yet ended The Catastrophe of this miserable raigne Philip sonne to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne stirres vp great troubles against Charles the Daulphin in reuenge of his fathers death BY whose meanes Isabell an vnkinde mother makes warre against Charles her sonne and peace with Henry the fift King of England then a capitall enemy to the state She giues him her daughter Katherine in marriage and procures King Charles the 6. her husband to declare Henry his lawfull heire and to dis-inherit his only sonne Charles the 7. from the realme of France 1420. During these occurrents Henry the 5. and Charles the 6. die leauing the Crowne of France in question betwixt Charles the 7. and Henry the 6. proclaimed King of France at the funeralles of Charles the 6. From the yeare 1419. to the yeare 1422. AFter this tragicall and strange murther of Iohn of Bourgongne Philip his sonne Duke of Bourgongne by his decease seekes
with profit it is necessary to distinguish it in order There are three parts famous both for the subiect and successe The first shewes the confused and troublesome beginning of this raigne The order of this discourse vntill our Charles was sollemnely installed King and thereby acknowledged of all the French for vntill that day the greatest part called him Earle of Ponthiâure or King of Bourges in mockerie and such as were more modest termed him Daulphin of Viennois The second putts him in possession of his royall authoritie shewing by what meanes he reduced the Citties subdued by the English to his obedience beginning with the Cittie of Paris and so proceeding to the rest of the Realme expelling the English from all but onely Calais The third shewes the ende of this raigne discouering the Kings domesticall discontents which hastened him to his graue after the happy euents of all his difficulties So this raigne continued thirty nine yeares variable in good and euill The beginning difficult the middest happy and the ende mournfull This is the Theater of mans life where ioye sorrow happinesse and misfortune play their parts diuersly both with great and small Charles the 7. was one and twentie yeares old when hee began to raigne and raigned 39. yeares for after the decease of his father Charles the 6. hee tooke vpon him the name of King of France notwithstanding the pretension of the English the 22. of October in the yeare Charles his raigne 1422. he died the thirteenth of Iuly .1461 He was married at aleuen yeares of age to Marie the daughter of Lewis of Duke Aniou and King of Sicile By this marriage hee had three Sonnes and fiue Daughters His sonnes names were Lewis Philip and Charles Lewis the eldest shall succed him to the Crowne Philip died very yong Charles liued somewhat longer but without any great successe His childeren hauing only the titles of the Dukedomes of Berry Normandie and Guienne His daughters were Radegonde Yoland Catherine Iane and Magdaleine The first died being betrothed to Sigismond Duke of Austria Yoland was married to Amedee Duke of Sauoie Catherine to that great Charles Duke of Bourgongne who shall be his owne ruine Iane to Iohn Duke of Bourbon and Magdalein to Gaston Earle of Foix and this was his race His manners and disposition His manners will appeere by his life he was of a tractable and gentle disposition capable of counceil but louing his ease too much and suffring himselfe to bee often carried away by his seruants And yet as God would vse him for the establishing of the French Monarchie so did he bring him vp in the schole of affliction to fortifie him against all difficulties assisting him with great worthie persons both for warre and councell by whose meanes he did raise vp this estate yet with great and confused combats and by a long and painfull patience But let vs proceede to that which hath chanced vnder his raigne most worthy of obseruation The miserable estate of this raigne vnto the Coronation of Charles the 7. during seauen yeares From the ende of the yeare 1422. vnto .29 in the moneth of Iune when as hee was solemnly installed King in the Cittie of Poitiers SVCH was the estate of Charles when his fathers death called him to the Crowne Wee haue seene after that the miseries of France had caused his mother Isabell to forget her owne bloud making him to bee reiected from the Crowne and Henry the 5. King of England substituted in his place yet he fainted not in these extreamities but did valiantly withstand the pretended desseignes by whose death God soone laid the foundation of this realmes restoring Yet after the death of King Henry the 5. Charles was incountred with infinite difficulties He had small meanes fewer friends and many mighty enemies He scarce enioyned the least part of his estate followed by intreatie and obeyed by halues euen of such as made profession to be most faithfull The Citties had diuers motions Diuersitie of humours in the Citties as priuate interest drew mens mindes to that partie which they held most profitable There were but too many which followed the fortune of the English being a Conquerour the corruption of man inclining commonly to the stronger But amidest these vncertaine humours of people The enemies of Charles he had enemies which incountred him with aduantages apparently victorious for Henry the 6. although he were very young yet did he exceed him in all things he had a realme hereditarie and absolute The King of England the best part of the French Monarchie the assistance of the Duke of Bedford his Vncle with many worthy men and great meanes To these enemies were ioyned some great men which fished in a troubled streame euery one imagining to haue a part of this garment building their desseignes vpon the Sepulcher of Charles and the alteration of the State Among the chiefest were Philip Duke of Bourgongne Amedee Duke of Sauoie Peter Duke of Brittaine with his Brother the Earle of Richemont Diuers instruments vnder that great engin of England but all these motions were to ruine France and to build their greatnesse vpon her ruines The Burguignon who had a great hand in the State was most interessed and most opposite to Charles being apparently the author of his fathers murther The Duke of Bourgongne Yet Philip a iudicious Prince so hated him whom necessitie commanded him to hate in this accident as if he should loue him in time not wedding himselfe absolutely to the English yet did he so worke for him in shew as making himselfe in effect the stronger he might counterpeise him if necessitie required and strike the last stroake for him to whom the French should incline Reason likewise taught him that the people would respect the lawfull heire of the Crowne louing their Prince naturally and in the end would reiect the Stranger as an vnlawfull Tenant who made himselfe daily insupportable by his imperious cariage Amedee Duke of Sauoye being on the Stage and farre from blowes kept the stakes and entertained Charles The Duke of Sauoye as if he should be an assured mediator in these quarrels to end them with more aduantage then any Christian Prince and so he nourished this diuision by a strict intelligence which he had with the Bourguignon As for the humour of the two Brethren of Brittaine the course of the Historie will soone shew it Thus Charles charged by many enemies The Duke of Britaine had few faithfull and confident friends and in that golden age so small meanes to entertaine his friends as he could hardly supply the ordinary charges of his traine selling and ingaging peece after peece of his inheritance So as he had nothing more assured then the equitie of his cause and his resolution in this great necessitie He had yet some good friends remaining in Scotland whom he bought dearely Charles aduanceth Scottishmen aduancing them to
humble himselfe to all men doth nowe braue all them which had newely raysed him to this dignity He threatens to keepe them vnder and checks them with reprochefull wordes Otho Duke of Brunswick husband to Ioane Queene of Sicilie and Naples comes to congratulate his election and for a proofe of his great humilitie as Vrban called for wine Otho takes the cuppe from his taster and kneeling before the Pope presents it vnto him Vrban takes it leauing him on his knee with a frowning countenance without speaking any thing The pride of Pope Vrban the 6. This insupportable arrogancie displeased the whole Colledge but especially Queene Ioane holding this disgrace done to her selfe and made Vrban so odious as they all resolue to depose him and to choose another Pope wherunto Ioane doth promise her assistance They all ioyntly resolue to retire themselues quietly out off Rome into some place of libertie So vnder colour to auoide the heat of Sommer they take their leaues to go to Anagnia where hauing soiorned some weeke they go to Fundy a Cittie in the Kingdome of Naples a fit place to enioy their liberties vnder the Queenes protection Then began they to plant their batteâie against Vrban They set downe for the grownd of their right that the condition specified in the election of Vrban should bee auailable to those that did choose him to declare him incapable of the dignity whereof hee shewed himselfe vnworthy and to obserue all formalities they cite Vrban before them and write vnto the other Italien Cardinalles that their meaning is to name an Italien Pope Vrban deposed by the Colledge Clement chosen A meanes to drawe them to increase their number Beeing assembled they depose Vrban by the plurality of voices and beeing to choose another at the same instant they aduance Cardinall Rupert of the noble house of the Earles of Geneua and call him Clement the 7. This bred a great alteration both at Rome and in Vrbans minde for Rome is presently abandoned and Vrban so amazed as hee knowes not what to do Behold two Popes in one chaire which is too little froÌ them both seing the world wiâl not suffice them for in chosing Clement they found no more clemencie then vâbanity and ciuill conuersation in Vrban Clements disposition Clement yeelding nothing to the vices of his competitor an ambitious man willfull audacious sumptuous and poore hauing nothing rich but the heart pufte vp with the greatnesse of his house These two do worthy exploits especially Vrban whose name the people changed and for Vrban they called him Turban that is a troubler of world to note his barbarous and fierce nature louing troubles and confusion And that which made a way to this mischeefe Kings and Princes who should haue imployed their authorities to quench this fire were nothing affected therevnto for the Emperour Charles the 4. died soone after the breeding of this Schisme leauing an insufficient successor France and England were too far ingaged to determine their owne quarrells by the sword As for the particular of France during the imprisonment of Iohn the infirmity of Charles the 6. and the halfe shipwrake of Charles the 7. what helpe could the French bring to these confusions being almost drowned in their owne In the beginning Clement had all aduantages ouer Vrban The authority of the ordinarie and ancient College Canonically chosen followed by the Court of Rome and the Castle Saint Angelo by the which he might enter the Cittie All the French the greatest part of the Italiens many Germains al the Spaniards and English which were at Rome repaired vnto him and consequently all those nations followed him France Spaine England with a part of Germany and Italie There remayned the Hongarians some Germains who for feare of the affaires at Naples not daring to trust themselues in Anagnia were forced to continue in Rome a leuaine which shal soone cause great deuisions Vrban as much daunted in aduersitie as he was puft vp in prosperity humbles himselfe to all men he weepes and deplores his miseââe and craues ayde of euery man promising all fauour if they did helpe to restore him There is neyther Hongarien Germain nor Italien which belong vnto the Court but he sues vnto him By their aduice and direction Pope Clement vseth the Emperours Ambaââadors disgracefully he flies to the Emperour Charles the 4. and to Lewis King of Hongarie intreating them to be mediators to the Colledge of Cardinalles who were discontented with him But Clement growen ouer proude with this first successe gaue him means to repaire his estate He hath a desseine to surprise Rome by the Castell but as Bernard Cazal with a troupe of Neapolitans would haue seized vpon one of Rome gates hee was valiantly repulsed by the Inhabitants The Emperour Charles the 4. and Lewis King of Hongarie sent their Ambassadors to Clement and to the Colledge of Cardinalles Pope Vrtain makes a newe Colledge of 26. Cardinals to treat an accord Clement vseth them without all clemencie he checks them putts them in prison and in the ende sends them away with many indignities This affront mooued Charles and Lewis so as by their means both Germanie Hongarie Poland Denmarke Sueden Norway and Prusse were all affected to Vrbans faction Charles was a spectator of this first Scene and died three monethes after leauing vpon the stage dangerous actors against Clement Vrban being thus fortified grewe high minded and for a marke of his authority hee erects a new Colledge of six twentie Cardinalls all created in one day being Italiens Germains Hongariens Polonians and other nations that fauored him to haue a support of this authority in all parts Clement works likewise and to haue his reuenge for that hee could not seize vpon a gate of Rome hee resolued to send an armie to field to vexe the Romans and to force them to obedience but the successe of this desseine was not answerable to his desire for hauing sent the Lord of Montioux his Nephew with goodly troupes furnished by Queene Iane Clements forces defeated by the Romans the Romains led by Alberic of Barbiane defeated this army and tooke Montioux prisoner whome they beheaded as a disturber of the publicke quiet and so they chase the French out of the Castell Saint Angelo Clement finding himselfe nothing safe at Fundy meanes to retyre to Naples but the Neapolitans would not receiue him notwithstanding the Queenes perswasions and so he passeth to Auignon whether he brings the Pontificall sea for the second time as Clement the 5. had done at the first Clement comeâ to Auignon It was in the yeare 1384. that the Popes second sea was planted in Auignon fiue yeares after that Gregory had retired himselfe Clement frustrate of all hope of his returne to Rome faints not in these first difficulties finding himselfe in a place of safety where he might command at pleasure beeing proud by nature by reason of his great birth and by
In the end by the Dukes meanes yeelding him his libertie this quarrell was ended marrying the eldest sonne of René with the daughter of the Earle of Vaudemont But let vs reserue the rest to the following raigne About the end of this yeare a solemnitie was done in Paris which carried more shew then substance We haue said before how that Henry the 6. King of England Henry King of England crowned at Paris had beene crowned King of France when as our Charles was crowned at Poitiers after the decease of his father Henry was but two yeares old and came not out of England vntill that Charles had bin sollemnly crowned at Rheims to the great ioy of all the French but when as the Duke of Bedford found how much this autentike publication aduanced the affaires of Charles he caused Henry to be brought into France and to be crowned at Paris with an extraordinarie Maiestie to out-countenance Charles his Coronation by a greater shew of pompe But the bloud of France cannot dissemble no man was moued thereat no more then to see a Tragedie acted vpon the Stage This yeare is very barren of all memorable exploits but that this silence noted an entrance to an accoâd both parties being weary of pleading yet with great slacknesse as we see in diseases which come sodenly and passe away slowly we must therefore crosse this rough way before we come to Paris Montargis taken by the English as we haue said Montarâis taken and lost againe was noâ recouered by the French but after a diuers maner for the English lost the Toâne by the Castell and the French the Castell by the Towne yet were they three moneths in winning of the Castell Hauing taken all they lost all by the same meanes tâat made them so much to gape after the Castell which was the want of money This shamfull losse greeued many of the greatest in Court and bred a new trouble by this occasion Tremouille was yet in great credit with the King Tremouille taken and deliuered againe hauing by this meanes a great hand in the State they accused him to haue heaped vp great treasure to the preiudice of such as daily imployed their liues for the Kings seruice The greater men reâolue to take Tremouille prisoner and to punish him like vnto Giac and others before mentioned The King was at his Castell at Chinon Tremouille followes him as his ãâã but it chanced as he was in his chamber the Lords of Brueil Coytiuy and Fetard ãâ¦ã with 40. armed men enter and take him not one of a hundred of that sort could escape But six thousand Crownes saued his life hoping to returne againe into credât The Constable of Richmont growes into greater fauour then before Thus misfârtune is good for some thing Bedford puft vp with the successe of Montargis takes Mâlly in Gasâenois but hauing besieged Lagny in Brie he was repulsed· and at the same time Iohn of Luxembourg of the Bourguignon faction is dispossessed of Ligny in Barrots by the Gentleman of Comeâcy A disgrace which shall draw the Bourguignon to a ââmposition so much desired togither with the happy successe of the French in the Câuntry of Arthois the taking of S. Valery in Ponthieu The confusion of the warre and the generall wauering of ãâã câiefe Citties in Picardy tired with these confusions being so great as no man was ãâã of his person of what partie soeuer if he were the weaker The Cardes were so shuffled 1432. as an English man would become French to take a Bourguignon and a Frenchman become English or a Bourguignon to take a Frenchman These vnkinde treacheries were vsuall especially at Amiens Abbeuille and throughout all Picardie where the warres had been most licentious Which outrage hath been reuiued in ouâ miserable age through the crueltie of these wretched warres which causeth men to make shipwracke both of faith and honour This yeare had a plausible beginning but without any great effect The Councell of Pisa being assembled as we haue said to redresse the confusion of Antipopes and to reduce the Church diuided by this Schisme vnto vnion sends the Cardinall of Auxerre vnto the Kings of France and England to exhort them vnto peace Charles protested that he desired nothing more the English said the like They assemble to this end at Auxerre in great troupes but at their first meeting all this treatie was broken off for both the one the other stood vpoÌ the qualitie of King of France being the fundameÌtall point of all their quarrell The Duke of Bedford spake more proudly then Charles himselfe A treatie betwâxt the French and English as if the law of State which maintained this Monarchie had beene made in England an Iland become firme land and France changed to the Isle of Albion or of Brittanie of such force is error euen in matters of State when as passion ouer-rules the light of reason So as they all depart without any effect They onely conclude a truce for the great want of the poore people who could suffer no more But this truce was a pit-fall for many trusting the countenance of this courteous warre which making profession to meane nothing so is more to be feared when she smiles then when she frownes Ioân Duke of Bourbon dies in England Wee haue saied that Iohn Duke of Bourbon was taken prisoner in the battaile of Azincourt whom they could neuer redeeme at any rate This yeare he dyed in England and his sonne Charles succeeds him He had to wife the sister of the Duke of Bourgongne but they fall to words for their rights and so to warre Charles takes from Philip A quarrell betwixt the Dukes of Bourbon and Bourgongne Grancy Aualon Perepertuis Mucy-l'Euesque Chaumont and other places The Bourguignon had his reuenge and besiegeth Belleuille in Beauieulois belonging vnto Charles Mary Duchesse of Berry labours to reconcile these Princes and drawes them to a peace the which shall soone be a meanes of a generall accord betwixt the Bourguignon and France by the mediation of the Duke of Bourbon a profitable instrument of so good a worke This occasion not preuented was seconded by an other for the Duke of Bedford Bedford marrieth againe after the death of his wife being sister to the Duke of Bourgongne marries with Iaquelin the daughter of Peter of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol who was no friend to the Bourguignon and moreouer the youth and beautie of this new spouse had so bewitched Bedford as he was easily drawne from Philip whose loue he entertained with great difficultie The Duke of Bedford and Bourgongne in dislike yet in respect of the generall cause they made a good shew and had met at S. Omer to that effect but this enterview encreased their discontents In the meane time the truce being ill obserued on either side is conuerted into a languishing warre Bedford makes warre in the Countrie of Maine by Scales and
the Countrie in alarme Occasions are offred of dayly skirmishes and daylie the English are beaten But the long stay of this little army and this thorne of Saint Denis stirred vp the people of Paris who loth to be so restrayned prepare a great power to force Saint Denis at what price soeuer The Marshall of Rieux loath to ingage himselfe beeing in all shewe the weaker retyres honorablie to Meulan without any losse The English beat downe the defences of Saint Denis being a common retreat to all men without any more labour eyther to keepe it or to recouer it The accord of Philip Duke of Bourgongne with Charles the 7. King of France IN the ende behold an agreement made with Charles so much expected so vnprofitablie sought after and nowe freely offred by the Duke of Bourgongne The deputies of the Councell presse both French English and Bourguignon to ende al quarrells by some good composition The Cittie of Arras is allowed of by them all to treat in The Assemblie was great from the Pope and the Councell of Pisa there came the Cardinalls of Saint Croix and Cipres An assemblie to treat of a peace with twelue Bishops For the King of France there was the Duke of Bourbon the Earle of Richmont Constable of France the Earle of Vendosme the Archebishop of Rheims Chancellor of France the Lords of Harcourt Valpergue la Fayette Saint Pierre du Chastell du Bois Chastillon du Flay de Railliq de Rommet Curselles and de Cambray first President of the Parliament at Paris with many wise and learned men as Iohn Tudart Blesset Iohn Charetier Peter Cletel Adam le Queux Iohn Taise and la Motte For the King of England the Cardinalls of Yorke and Winchester the Earle of Suffolke the Bishop of Saint Dauids Iohn Ratcliffe keeper of the great seale the Lord of Hongerford Ralfe the wise the Official of Canterburie and some Doctors of diuinity For Philip Duke of Bourgongne there came the Duke of Gueldres the Earle of Nassau the Bishop of Cambray the Earle Vernambourg the Bishop ãâã Leâge the Earles of Vaudemont Neuers Salines S. Pol and Ligây besides the deputies oâ many of his best Townes The pompe was great both on the deputies behalfe of the Duke of Bourgongnes who intertained theÌ with all the honour good cheeâe that might be ãâã But leauing these circumstances I make hast to the principal matter The Kângâ of France and England began the treaty The âundamentall question was to whom the Crowne of France belonged The English did challenge it The question for the crown of Fâanâe both for that he was ãâã from a daughter of France as also by the graunt of Charles the 6. who did instââce Henry the 5. and his successors heires of the crowne had disinherited Charles ãâã 7. whom he termed an vsurper The deputies for Charles answered that they ought ãâã to call in question the ground of the Estate which cannot stand firme without that ãâ¦ã heire to whom the lawe appoints and therfore without prouing of that which was apparent of it selfe they came to offers for the ending of all controuersies That if the King of England would both disclaime the title of King of France yeeld vp the countries held by him in diuers parts of the Realme he should inioy the Dâchies of Guiânne and Normandy doing homage for them vnto the Kings of France as his soueraigne and with those conditions which his Ancestors Kings of England had formerly inioyed theâ They stood vpon very different tearmes their authority was limited and possession puât vp the English But sometimes he refuseth that after sues He that striueth to haue all most commonly looseth all One moitie in effect had more auailed the English then all in imagination who in the ende shall finde that the soueraigne Iudge the preseruer of the lawe and of States giues and takes away Charles the English cannot agree appoints and disapoints according to his good and wise will and that there is no force nor wisedome but his Tâe mâtter was soone ended betwixt the Kings of France and England seeing right could do no good the sword must preuaile Thus the Ambassadors of England returne without any effect those of France stay to treate with the Duke of Buurgongne and his deputies amongest the which he himselfe was the chiefe as well for his owne interest as for his iudgement in affaires A man exceeding cunning who could imbrace all occasions to make his profiâ by an other as the discourse of his life hath made manifest Bât ãâã what ende serues all this morter and so great workemanship to frame a building which shall be ruined vnder his sonne and shal bury him in the ruines thereof It is a âoolish reason which thou calledst reasân hauing no ground of reason and doest not hearken to the voice of heauen O Foole all thy riches shal be taken from thee this night Man walâes in a shadow he toyles in vaine to ãâã âis name immortall in the graue he hunts with infinite labour and takes nothing As for Charles he sought to retire the Bourguignon from all league and alliance with tâe King of England and taking from him all occasions of discontent so to ingage him ãâ¦ã honours as he should resolue to follow his faction as the most profiâââââ knowing that his own priuate interest was the chiefe end of his desseins Matters ãâã cârried in shew according to the humour of that age the dâsposition of the court ãâã for the honour of Charles who must aske the Duke of âourgongne pardon hauing ãâ¦ã father to be slaine against his faith Charles sends a blank to the ãâã to ãâã what conditions he pleased But was it not true must not the crime be cânfessed by hiâ that was culpable Charles therefore resolues to send him a bâanke tâe accârd doth testâfie that the Bourguignon fiâled it with so many vnreasonable conditâons as it is strange so great a monarch should stoâp so much to his subiect vassall but necessity âath no law A presidânt for great men not to attempt any thing against reason least they bee constrayned to repaiâe it with reason and yet to know that it is an amendment of a fault to yeeld to necessity for the good of the state beeing a great thrift to loose for gaine The ââiginall sets downe at large all the conditions of this treaty wâo so please may reade ãâã Monstrellet in the history of S. Denis The summe is that the massacre ãâã ãâ¦ã person of Iohn Duke of Bâurgongne at Montereau-âaut-yonne ãâ¦ã repaired by confession and ceâemonies Great sommes of present money with goodly Seâgââuries are giuen to the Duke of Bourgongne so many assurances for him and hiâ ãâã a great volume is full of these scrupulous conditions The Duke of Bourgongnes promise is more simple that he should declare himselfe a friend to Charles the 7. King of France King Charles and the
Bourguignon reconciled enemy to his enimes that he should renounce all alliance and friendship with the king of England and promise both his person and all his meanes to expell him out off France The performance was according to promise Charles Duke of Bourbon and Arthur of Brittaine Earle of Richemont Constable of France in the name of Charles the 7. aske pardon of the Duke of Bourgongne for the death of his father and the Duke pardoned him for the loue of God The Cardinalls in the Popes name and the Counsels absolue the Duke from the oath which he had made vnto the English and eyther part sweares to maintaine the accord in that which did concerne him So the peace was published with great solemnity to the incredible content of all men The King the Duke of Bourgongne and the whole Realme reioyced exceedingly only Iohn of Luxembourg Earle of S. Pol wold not be therin coÌprehended he shall suffer for it and his house after him This was the 24. of September in the yeare 1435. a famous day for those things which happened in this raigne whereof this accord gaue the first occasion The marriage of Charles sonne to the Duke of Bourgongne with Katherine of France daughter to our Charles was concluded to seale this accord From this peace sprong a more violent war against the English The Duke of Bourgongne sends backe all his contracts to the Duke of Bedford and hauing shewed him the iust reasons which had mooued him to imbrace the Kings amity beeing his kinseman and Lord hee renounceth the alliance of England with a watch-word that euery one should looke to himselfe Euery man sharpens his sword and scoures his armes to recouer that by force which they could not obtaine by reason War very violent against the English The first fruites of this accord beganne to grow ripe euen in the heart of winter for Corbeil yeelds presently to the King with Briâ-Conte-Robert and the Castle of Bois de Vincennes The Bourguignon imployes all his friends and intelligences at Paris he vseth all his instruments meaning to set them to worke the yeare following All Normandy begins to reuolt Diâpe Fescan Monstier-Villiers Harfleu Tancaruille Bec-Crespin Gomusseule Loges Villemont Grasuille Longueuille Neuf-uille Lambreuille Charles-Mesnill S. Germain Fontaines Preaux Blainuille obey the King willingly chasing away the English receiuing the French for their safety all which was acted in two dayes What more To finish this worke God takes away one of the chiefe causes and one of the principall instruments of the misery which had so long afflicted this estate We haue seene what part Isabell of Bauierre played in this Tragedy wee haue sought her after the death of her poore husband and could not finde her for in trueth she was ciuilly dead Bedford fearing the spirit of this Medea seekes not onely to stay her hands but to keepe her eyes from the managing of affaires And for that shee had deuoured the treasure of the Realme he constraines herto keepe a diet He doth therefore sequester herto the house of S. Pol where she liued vntill the ende of this yeare in great pouerty no more assisted by the Bourgongnon then by the English Beeing dead they caused her bodye to be put into a small boate Queene Isabel dies and so transported by the riuer of Seine to S. Denis where she was buried without any pompe like to a common person A light put out whose sauour doth yet offende posterity In this yeare also died Iohn of England that great Duke of Bedford called Regent of France who hath noted many blacke pages in this volume and so much terrified our Ancestors Hauing seene the former accord and felt so sodaine effects in Normandy fearing the rest would follow he drowned himselfe in sorow and knowing no meanes to auoide this storme he dies at Rouen the 15. of December leauing to King Henry the 6. a bottome very hard to vntwist The Duke of Bedford dies and to his yong wife beeing sister to the Earle of S. Pol a cause of mourning the which continued not long for she married soone after with an English Aduenturer of small accompt giuing causeto laugh at her beeing but little pittied Charles being thus discharged of a heauy burthen by this accord hath more liberty to follow his honest delights He goes to Lions visits Daulphiné and stayes in Languedoc a Prouince which he loues aboue all the rest 143â hauing found it most denâââd to his seruice Montpellier was his aboad a place very pleasantly seated ãâ¦ã this time of ââreation he had left good lieutenants in France who shal soone send him ãâã of their exploytes The Citty of Paris yeelds to the King and expells the English THe Bourguignon prepares to annoy the English whilest that the Constable makes way for the reduction of Paris His intent was parting from Pontoise to put himselfe into S. Denis a Towne halfe dismantled but Thomas of Beaumont Captaine of the Bastille hauing intelligence of this desseine preuented the Constable and entred into S. Denis with a notable troupe of soldiers Richmont notwithstanding approcheth neere to S. Denis the sentinell hauing giuen warning of his approch Beaumont issues forth to the bridge vpon the little riuer which is towards Pierre-file where he met with the fore-runners who hauing drawne him forth ingage him in the battaile the which was led by the Constable marching from the valley of Montmorency This English troupe was easily vanquished most of them were cut in peeces The English vanquished S. ãâã and the rest taken hardly any one of them escapes to carry newes to Paris Thomas of Beaumont is slaine among the rest vpon the place The Constable makes vse of this good successe he presently marcheth with his victorious forces to Paris which stood amazed at this nere power wanting a Regent who was lately deceased and such as were left to command were more fit to handle an Oare then to gouerne the helme Now waâ the time for good Frenchmen to shew themselues whereof there were many in the Citty The Bourguignon faction being now become the Kings seruants imbrace this occasion and hauing consulted together they resolue to shake off the English yoake the which they ãâã too long endured The Duke of Bourgongne was then at Bruges but he had leât the Lord of Lislâ-Adam to ãâã with his partisans at Paris It is the same whom he had formerly imployed against Câârles and his father Iohn in the murther of the King seruants He had great credit ãâã the Parisiens of whom Miâhael Laillier was the chiefe Tribune Hee discouers by him the peoples affections being resolute to submit themselues to the King of whom they crââe onely a generall absolution of what was past This gentle demande beeing brought to Pontoise to the Constable and easily granted all prepare for the effects That quarter nere the Halles gaue the first signe of the French libertie at Paris by the meanes
came a new taske in hand To kepe them in practise he sends part of them vnder the command of the Admiral bastard of Bourbon for Montauban was dead and the Earle of Dammartin into Armagnac He had beene one of the common-welth and this enterprise did alwaies sticke in Lewis his stomack At the fiâst without any effution of bloud they make him peaceable possessor of the countrie whereof they invest his brother and so the yeare ended But let vs se the first frutes of the following yeare To be revenged of Charles of âourgongne A new pretext of reuenge he must haue some apparent colour Lewis doth vnderhand practâse the Townes lying vpon the riuer of Somme animates the Nobility of the Countrie to complaine in the Parlement at Paris of the difficulty they had to receyue iustice and therevpon to require the Kings assistance fauour Moreouer they charged the Bourguignon that he extended his limits farther then he ought by the treatie vsurped the Kings rights and prerogatiues forcing some Lords whose lands did hold directlie of the King to doe him homage and seruice against all men Vpon colour of these complaints Lewis assembles the Estats at Tours in the moneth of March and Aprill the which was all he euer held but he calls none but his most confident seruants who would not contradict him in any thing For a conclusion of the assemblie the Duke is summoned to appeere at the Parlement of Paris He retaines the officer many daies at Gand and in the end sends him back As all things were prepared to ruine the Duke of Bourgongne behold there falls out another matter of some moment in this action The Earle of Warwick hauing aboue all others supported the house of Yorke against that of Lancaster had besides his patrimonie inriched himselfe aboue 4000. Crownes a yeere reuenue in rewardes and offices by Edward King of England Competitor to Henry the 6 whom he kept prisoner at London which Henry had so long ruled our France This his great credit drawes iealousie after it too ordinary in soueraine Princes especiallie to theÌ whom they haue raiâed vp Edward King of England the Earle of VVââwick diuided wherby the Earle falls into some disgrace with Edward The Duke of Bourgongne to whome the Earles great authoritie and the secret intelligences he had with our Lewis was wonderfull odious and suspect for the Duke had married the sister of Edward to fortifie himselfe against Lewis not for any affection he bare to the howse of Yorke being by his mother issued out of the house of Lacaster feeds this harted of Edward agaiâst Warwicke who finding himselfe forced to yeeld to the stronger resolues to retyre into France hee leads with him Marguerite the wife of Henry 1470. daughter to Rene King of Sicile the Prince of Wales son of the sayd Henry and Marguerite Warwike âlies into Fâance the Duke of Clarence son in lawe to Warwicke and brother to Edward the Earle of Oxâord with their wiues and children and many followers In his passage he takes many ships from the Bourguignons subiects and sells the bootie in Normandie And âor a requital Charles causeth all the French Marchants to be taken that were come to the faire at Antwerp hee complaines to the Court of Parliament at Paris The Duke of Bourgungnes arrogancy of the reception the King had made of the Earle of Warwick threatning to fetch him wheresoeuer But the arrogance of his words was but the leuaine of his splene Lewis giues such entertaynment to the Earle of Warwick as he might hope for he armes all the ships he can finde in his fauour by meanes wherof he returnes happily into England and gathers togither an infinite number of men which ioyne with him from al parts he marcheth against Edward and forceth him to fly to his brother in lawe into Holland being accompained only wih seauen or eight hundred men for his gard without mony and without apparell other then for war Hee drawes Henry out of prison where he himselfe had formerly lodged him and installes him againe in his royall state Edward notwithstanding the presence of the Dukes of Glocester and Somerset sent by Henry obtaynes of the Duke of Bourgongne but vnderhand and secretly The Earle of VVarwike slaine and his whole army defeated by Edward for that hee would by no meanes incense Henry whom al England now obeied succors of meÌ ships money he returnes into the realme is receiued into London he meets with the Earle of Warwicke fights with him and kills him with his brother the Marquis of Montagu cuts all his army in peeces The Duke of Clarence before the battaile goes to âis brother Edward and with his owne hand slue as some write Henry whom Edward had taken in London and led to this battaile this was in the yeare 1471. on Easter day This happy victorie is seconded by an other no lesse famous The Prince of VValles sonne to Henry deâeated by Edward The Prince of Wales sonne to Henry followes after with whome the Dukes of Glocester and Somerset had already ioyned leading fortie thousaÌd men of his faction Edward pufte vp with the prosperous successe of his first victory marcheth towards him fights with him kills him takes the Earle of Somersât prysoner and the next day cutts off his head To conclude Warwicke had conquered the realme of England in eleuen days and Edward recouered it in twentie and remayned in peaceable possession vnto his death If the Earle had patiently attended the great forces which Prince Edward brought vnto him who will not thinke but he had remayned a conquerour But he feared Somerset whose father and brother he had put to death and hee must feale the effects of the diuine Oracle Hee that hath shed mans bloud his bloud shal be shed for God hath made man after his owne image and Gen. 9.6 Math. 26.52 Apoc. 13 10. All those that haue taken the sword shall perish by the sword In the meane time whilest these stirres are in England Charles the 8. of that name afterwards King of France was borne vnto Lewis at the Castell of Amboise a happie proppe of an old decayed father This birth causeth the Princes hereafter to be lesse respected and the King more feared and honored who hauing now an heire to whome he might leaue the Crowne Charles the 8. borne bandies all his witts to weakeÌ his enemies as wel for his own priuate regard as to leaue therealme wholie peaceable to his sucâessor Charles of Guienne lyued for shew in good amity with the King Francis of Brittain although he had preferred the order of the golden fleece before that of Saint Michell the which Lewis had offred vnto him being loath to loose assured friends to accept the friendship of a Prince in whom he could repose no confidence yet he contayned himselfe Charles of Bourgongne woare the garter openly molested the Kings subiects
hostility Some Germaines enter into Brittaine The Chancellor of Montauban goes to sollicit in England Charles will haue Anne first to discharge her English and Castillians Anne replies that in like sort he ought by the treaty of Francford to yeeld her her places to leaue the other foure aboue mentioned as newters She imputes the spoiles of Nantes to the former diuisions betwixt her and the Marshall of Rieux and promiseth that hereafter the like insolences shall not be committed Newe causes of warre That the Germains comming was onely to force some of her subiects to obedience That the Chancellors going to the King of England was to agree vpon the charges due for the succors he had sent That in truth seeing the King to make newe preparations to the preiudice of their treaty shee had giuen the Chancellor commission to treate for some succors of men The King is discontented herewith so as Guemené and Coetquen her Ambassadors returne with no other answer but a newe assignation at Tournay In the meane time the King armes and makes great preparations at Pont-See Anne serues him with the same sauce Shee solicits the Kings of England and Castille and her newe spouse to ioyne their forces and to inuade France with a mighty army Hee that cannot circumuent his enemie with the Lions skinne must vse the Foxes Charles is aduertised of his newe alliance of Austria and Brittaine The neighbourhood is dangerous beeing thus fortified King Charles seekes to haue Anne to wiâe He must auoide this and by some meanes get that for himselfe which an ill neighbour pretends Hee therefore sends to treate with the Duchesse but she cannot affect him that had shewed himselfe so violent an enemy Yet he finds an other expedient Alain of Albret was frustrate of his hopes and this deniall had mightily discontented him he was therefore easily drawne away The Duke of Bourbon gouernes him so absolutely for a time that vpon certaine promises and other preferments he winnes him for the King who promiseth to deliuer him the Towne of Nantes wherein hee might doe much being armed with the Marshall of Rieux fauour The effects follow Alaine surpriseth the Castell of Nantes and in hatred of Annes disdaine he spoiles the Treasurie of the Dukes of Brittanie in the which were all their pretious stones and the Duchesses Iewels Nantes taken for the French and deliuers both Towne and Castell into the Kings hands yeelding him the right hee pretended to the Duchie by reason of his wife Francis of Brittanie daughter to William Vicont of Limoges a younger brother of the house of Ponthieure for a pension of six hundred pounds a yeare issuing out of the lands of Gaure neere Tholouse wherevnto the Chamber of Accoumpts at Paris with the Kings Proctor generall and the inhabitants of Gaure opposed maintaining that there was no recompence due to the Lord of Albret for that interest seeing he had none The King who was in Sentinell marcheth thether in person with his armie the 4. of Aprill hoping now to finish this warre and to send home the English He marcheth with an intent to besiege Anne in Rennes whether this new terror had drawne her But they had so sodenly pestred all the approches with numbers of trees cut out off the neerest forrest as they were forced to giue ouer that enterprise to vndertake the siege of Guingamp being the key of base Brittanie The inhabitants were reduced to extreame pouertie hauing lodged the English armie almost a yeare who for want of payment had spoiled them of all their goods and left it ill garded with men for defence Tremouille Lieutenant for the King had this charge who sent Adrian l'Hospitall before with part of the armie to beleagar the place At his approche the inhabitants demanded a composition Guingamp taken the Lieutenant receiues them with assurance of life and goods But in his absence he cannot saue the towne from spoile Then fell out the appointment for Tournai Anne sends sixteene Deputies who findes the gates shut against them and no lodging but in the Suburbes the King disdaining this treaty hauing intelligence of the marriage of Maximilian with Anne foreseeing that from this stock might spring a plant which hereafter might crosse his estate Maximilian was now much moued for the taking of Nantes the Emperour Frederick his father held a Diet at Noremberg to prouide some meanes to recouer this losse and to encounter the French forces The Princes of Germanie promise him twelue thousand Lausquenets which the Colonell George of Terreplâine should bring to him by August following The King of England should augment this armie with a leuie of six thousand English But the discord that fell out betwixt these two Princes and the tediousnesse of the Germaines who are wonderfull heauie gaue the King meanes to effect his desire and to supplant Maximilian The Duke of Orleans freed from prison At that time the King freed the Duke of Orleans from prison and by the same meanes the Prince of Orange and the Earle of Dunois were reconciled vnto him These men were great meanes to put the King in Maximilians place beeing onely married by a Deputie Anne much discontented with King Charles The Counsell found no better expedient to quench all these quarrelles and troubles But the Duchesse was strange what meanes is there saieth she to loue a Prince who these three yeares hath made such cruell warres against mee being a pupill and vnder age Who detaynes my Townes vniustly Who spoiles my subiects Doth outrage and kill my Officers vpon refusall to pay him my rents and reuenues Who notwithstanding former transactions passed betwixt vs spoiles my Country makes desolate my Townes and hath sought tirannically to seize vpon my person It was needful to imploy many great personages to pacifie this discontented minde The King sends the Duke of Orleans to that ende who cunningly doth practise the Marshall of Rieux the Chancellor of Montauban and others of the Counsell with the Ladie of Laual gouernesse to the Duchesse and other Ladies her familiars who both publickly and priuatly lay before her her forepassed dangers then miseries in the which her subiects had beene plunged through warre the neighbourhood of so mightie a King who would continually oppresse her and the farre distance of Maximilian 1491. Her Councell perswade her to imbrace the alliance of France a poore Prince full of affaires and of small credit who hath no meanes to raise her neyther could he euer succor her with aboue two thousand men That she had no better meanes to purchase rest to her selfe and peace to her subiects then by imbracing the alliance of King Charles whereby she should not onely recouer her places but of a Duchesse of Brittaine should become a peaceable Queene and well beloued of the whole Realme If they were both married it was but by Attorneyes finally in such accidents the Church doth willingly dispence with such couenants
on this side the Pyrenâe mountaines So as the English seeing that Ferdinand did vse them onely to satisfie his priuat couetousnesse tooke shipping and sayled into England To recouer this vsurped realme the King sent Francis Duke of Longneuille gouernour of âuienne Charles Duke of Bourbon sonne to Gilbert late Viceroy of Naples Odet of Foix Vicontu of Lautrec Iohn of Chabannes Lord of Palisse Marshall of France Peter of âerrââl the Lords of Maugiron Lude Barbezicux Turene Escars Ventadour Pompadour and other valiant Captaines and Gascons which hee assembled from all parts But the army being diuided by the dissention of the Duke of Longueuille who as Gouernour of Guienne pretended the commande to belong vnto him and the Duke of âourbon vnwilling to yeeld vnto him by reason of his quality proued fruitlesse for the King of Nauarre Thus the realme of Nauarre was inuaded by the Spaniards who remayned master thereof The departure of the English and the enterprise of Nauarre being made frustrate ãâã affects the affaires of Milan with greater vehemencie whilest that the Castel and that of Cremona held good but the opposition of so many enemies bred many ãâã There were many hopes to drawe some one of these from this common alli ãâ¦ã Bishop of Gurce had courteously giuen eare to a friend of the Cardinall of S. ãâ¦ã whome the Queene of France had sent vnto him and held one of his people at ãâ¦ã Court to make a motion that the King should bind him selfe to aide the ãâã against the Venetiânâ that Charles grand-child to Maximilian should ãâ¦ã âingâ yongest daughter to whome he should giue the Duchie of Milan ãâ¦ã the King shoâld yeeld vnto them the rights he pretended to the realme of Naples 1513. and that the said Duchy being recouered Cremona and Guiaradadde should be held by the Emperour Moreouer the Veneââans were wonderfully grieued at the Popes new treaty with the Emperour which put the King in hope to draw the Venetians vnto him The Arragonois came betweene by a politike stratageme to assure his new Conquest of Nauarre he had sent two Fryers into France it is the Spaniards custome to manage affaires by the meanes of religious persons to make their negâtiations the more graue and to colour their policies with more subtilty to treat with the Queene touching a general peace or a priuate betwixt the two Kings The amity of the Suisses did import much But remembring that by their forces Charles the 8. had first troubled the peace of Italy Lewis his successor by meanes thereof had conquered the Estate of Milan recouered Genes and ouerthrew the Venetians that at this present the Pope and other Potentates of Italie payed them annuall pensions to bee receiued into their confederacie They grew obstinate in refusing the Kings alliance whâch he sought by the Lords of Tremouille and Triuulce In the end the King being reiected by the Suisses seekes the Venetians who conclude to make a league with the King according to the capitulations made formerly betwixt them by the which Cremona Guiaradadde should remaine to theÌ Robertet Secrettary of the State Triuulâe and almost all the chiefe of the Councell approued this league But the perswasions of the Cardinall of S. Seuerin opposite to Triuulce and the Queenes authoriây who desired much the greatnes of her daughter by the foresaid marriage so as sâe might remaine with her vntill the consummation thereof made the King and his Councell incline to the Emperours party But discouering that these were but practises of the Emperour to make the King proceed more coldly in his courses he soone gaue it ouer Whilest that armes ceased on all sides the Popes passions encreased He reuiued his desseines against Ferrare Sienne Luques Florence and Genes and as if it had beene in his power to beat all the world at one instant he thrust the King of England into warre in whose fauour he had dispatcht a Bull in the Councell of Lateran whereby the title of most Christian was giuen vnto him and the Realme of France againe abandoned to him that should conquer it But as he deuised of all these things and without doubt of many other more high secâââs according to the capacity of his terrible spirit howe great so euer death ended the course of his present toyles the 21. day of February at night Pope Iulius dies A Prince doubtlesse of courage of admirable constancie and most worthy of glory if he had directed his intentions to aduance the Church by peace as hee sought to grow great in temporall things by policies in war Iohn Cardinall of Meâicâs succeeded âim and was called Leo .10 The happy memory of his father his lawfull election free from bribes and Sâmonye his faire conditions his liberality and mildnesse of spirit A new election gaue great hope of the quiet of Christendome Yet soone after his instalment he shewed plainely that he was rather successor of his predecessors hatred and couetous passions then of S. Peter According to the treaty of the aboue named Friers the Kings of France Arragon concluded a truce A truce betwixt ârance and Arragon whereby our Lewis hauing more liberty to thinke of the warres of Milan resolued to send an army knowing well that the people of that estate oppressed with excessiue taxes leauied to pay the Suisses and with the lodging and payment made to the Spaniards desired earnestly to returne to his obedience And to make this enterprise the more easie the accord propounded before with the Venetians was againe renued so as the Venetians considering that a concord with Maximilian keeping Verona from them was not sufficient to protect them from troubles and dangers and that hardly they should get such an occasion to recouer their estate they binde themselues by Andrew Gritti Peace betwixt the king of Fâance and the Venetians To ayde the King with eight hundred men at armes fifteene hundred light horse and ten thousand foot to recouer Ast Genes and the Duchie of Milan And the King to assist them vntill they had recouered all they had possessed in Lombardie and in the Marquisate of Treuise before the treaty of Cambray The King knew well it were but labour lost to seeke the Pope who desired to haue no Frenchman in Italy Yet the deuotion he had to the Romaine sea made him sue vnto Leo not to hinder him in the recouerie of the aboue named places offering not onely not to paâse any further but also at all times to make such peace with him as he pleased But Leâ âreading the steps of his Predecessor perswades the King of England to ioyne with the Arragonois in the oppression of France according to the Bull gâuen by Iulio he protested to continue in the League made with the Emperour with the Catholicke King and with the Suisses The King thus frustrate of a peace with the Pope A royall army in the Duâhie of Milan sends the Lord of Triuulce with fifteene
of the Duke of Aniou His holinesse hath beleeued that religion was the onely motiue of the Duke of Guises armes The Barricadoes with the vsurpation of the Bâstille and Bois de Vincennes haue made him to change his beleefe Hee himselfe hath sayde vnto the bishop of Paris that the fact was too bold that the estate is interressed and that the offence is irreconciliable Hee hath written vnto the King aduising him to assure himselfe of the Estates at what price soeuer that in such imminent dangers âee must seeke out all extraordinary remedies and vpon this consideration hee graunted the King a confessor to absolue him of all reseruing the matter to the holy sea Obiâction Yea but the Estates are vnder the kings oath protectioÌ Without doubt an oath was neuer brokeÌ without repeÌtance But how is the soueraigne bound to his subiect who by âebellion hath violated his oth to his Prince Necessitie forceth the law great punishments of rebels haue beene often done in great assemblies The Kings of England and Poland do practise it well and our Charles hath died his sisters nuptialls with more bâoâd then wine Moreouer the Duke of Guise hath great credit with the people of France It is true but his partie hath no credit but with the multitude An other the which is a very moueable and inconstant foundation Men of account Townes gouernours and tâe Kings officers mutine not but by meanes of the multitude and seeing him fallen that gaue mouing to their rebellion they will conteine themselues Liege say they who feare least this violent counsell which they gaue him in so vrgent a necessitie should be discouered the Duke of Guise will surprise you They haue alreadie published in Paris that this is your climacterical yeare they shewe forth the rasor that shall shaue you they demaund how long they shall suffer you to liue in a Cloyster The lightning goes before the thunder the guilt of treason is extraordinarie in the head âo the punishment goes before the instructions and formes of Iustice. One must punish the offendor and then informe of the offence The mildest common-weales most politike and greatest enemies to rigour haue alwaies held That whereas the esâate is in danger they may begin with the execution In the end the King is saâââfied The Kings last reâolution hauing remained long in suspence betwixt the rigour of his reuenge and the mildnesse of his owne disposition By the Kings countenance or some wordes let slippe by some one of the foure they find it dangerous to coÌtinue long at the Estates But the more the Duke of Guise enters into discourse the more the Kings good countenance disswades him And the Archbishop of Lion attending a Cardinals hatt within a few dayes from Rome Retyring yourselfe from the Estates said he vnto him you shall beare the blame to haue abandoned France in so important an occasion and your enemies making their profit of âour absence wil sone ouerthrowe al that which you haue with so much paine effected for the assurance of religion Man doth often loose his iudgement vpon the point of his fal Aduertisements were come to him from all parts both within without the realme from Rome Spaine Lorraine and Sauoye that a bloodie Catastrophe would dissolue the assemblie The Almanakes had well obserued it it was generally bruted in the Estates that the execution should be on Saint Thomas day The eue before his death the Duke himselfe sitting âoâne to dinner found a scroule vnder his napkin aduertising him of this secret ambâsh âut as ambition blinds those whome shee hath raised vp to the pies nest and ãâ¦ã of Gods iudgements confounds such as trust in their authoritie he writ vnderâeath with his owne hand They dare not and threw it vnder the table The Duke of Guise following the councell of the Cardinall Morosin had the one ãâã ââentith of December incensed the King a new by some bold and presumptuous âeeches Liege âsaid he ââing I find that the affaires decline from bad to worse and that those things which seemed curable are growne desperate I beseech your Maâestâe to receiue againe the charge you haue committed vnto mee and giue me leaue âo ââtire my selfe He spake this to the end that by this discontent hee might take an âcââsion to dissolue the estates and bringing the King into extreame hatred with ãâã ââbiects hee might play the last act of his long foreplotted Tragedie The ãâã had the two and twentith day following prepared seuen of his fiue and ãâã they were gentlemen whâme hee had appointed to be neere his person besides ãâã Archers of his gard to execute his will and by many dispatches had ãâã those Townes which hee held to bee most mutinous The three and twentith ãâã his Councell somewhat more earely in the morning then was vsuall ãâ¦ã deuotion to go after diâner and to spend the holidayes at our Ladie of ãâã The Caâdinalls of Vendosme Guise and Gondy the Arche-Bishop of Lion ãâã Mââshallâ of Aâmont and Retz the Lords of d'O Rambouillet Maintenon Marcell and âââremolle ouerseers of the Treasor were assembled The Duke of Guise comes ãâã atâending the beginning of the Councell sends for a handkercher the groome of his chamber had forgotten to put one into his hose Pericart his Secretarie not daring to commit this new aduertisement to any mans report ties a note to one of the corners thereof saying Come forth and saue your selfe else you are but a dead man Bât they stây the page that carried it Larchant Captaine of the Kings gard causeth aâ other to be giuen vnto him with all speed by Saint Prix the chiefe grome of the Kângs chamber The Castle gates are shutt and the Councell sits about eight of the clocke The spirit of man doth often prophecie of the mischeefe that doth purâue him So whilesâ they dispute of a matter propounded by Petremolle the Duke feeles strange alterations and extraordinary distemperatures and amidest his distrâst a great fainting of his heart Saint Prix presents vnto him some prunes of Brignolles and raisins of the sunne Hee eats and thereupon the King calls him into his Cabinet by Reuoll one of the secretaries of his Estate as it were to confer with him about some secret of importance The Duke leaues the Councell to passe vnto the Cabinet and as he did âift vp the tapistrie with one hand to enter The Duke oâ Guise slaine they charge him with their swords daggers and pertuisans yet not with so great violence but he shewed the murthereâs the last endeauours of an inuincible valour and courage Thus liued and thus died Henry of Lorraine Duke of Guise a Prince worthie to be in tâe first rankes of Princes goodly great tall of proportion amiable of countenance great of courage readie in the execution of his enterprises popular dissembling but couering the secrets of his minde with his outward bahauiour imbracing all times and occasions politike in
in the second royall branch called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third The names of the 13. kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip. Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewis the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Frances the 1. Henry the 2. Frances the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. and last of this royall branch Philip of Valois the 50. king of France fol. 1 His controuersie with Edward the king of England ibid. Preferred to the Crowne and installed king ibid. Setles his affaires in France fâl 2. Suppresseth the Flemmings ibid. A notable sute of the Parliament against the Clergie ibid. Takes homage of Edward king of England for Guienne ibid. King Edwards oth to Philip. ibid. He resolues to go to the holy land fol. 3 The Pope discontented with Philip. ibid. Edward king of England makes warre with Philip ibid. Robert of Artois the firebrand of warre fâl 3 He flies into England fol. 4 Warre in Guienne and Scotland ibid. Iames of Artevill ring-leader to the seditious Flemmings ibid. Edwards practises in Flanders and Germanie ibid. Battell of Scluse in fauour of the English fol. 5 The English and French Army retire without fighting Edward takes on him the title of King of France fol. 6 Ione Queene of Naples kils her husband and the kingdome is taken by Lewis King of Hungary fol. 7 Arteuil slaine by the Flemmings fâl 8 The French defeated at Blanquetaque ibid. The battell of Crery with many particuler accidents that happened in it fol. 10.11 King Edward besieges and takes Calice fol 12.13 Dolphin incorporate to the crowne fol. 14 Monpelier purchased to the crowne ibid. Queene Ione of France dies ibid. Philips death and disposition fol. 15 Estate of the Empire and Church ibid. Iohn the 1. and 51. king of France COnsiderable obseruations in his raigne fol. 16 His children and most remarkable personages in his raigne fol. 17 Charles of Nauars humors and discontents ibid. Charles of Spaine Constable of Fâance slaine in his bed by the king of Nauarre ibid. Nauars practises and force against the king fol. 18 Nauarre taken prisoner by the king and foure of his complices beheaded fol. 19 Warre in Normandie and Guienne betweene Iohn and the Prince of Wales sonne to Edward the 3. fol. 19. and 20 The battell of Poytiers where the French were ouerthrowne by the English and king Iohn taken Prisoner with the number slaine and taken fol. 21. and 22 Assembly of the Estates for Iohns deliuery with the insolencies of the people during his imprisonment fol. 23 The Kâng of Nauarr set at libertie comes to Paris and the Dolphin yeelds to him fol. 24 Iohns generous answere to King Edward fo 25 The Parisians comes into the Dolphins lodging solicite the Cities to rebell but they refused them fol. 26 The Dolphin leaues Paris fol. 27 The Nauarrois seekes to ruine him ibid. A Parliament Compiegne and the Dolphin declared Regent fo 28. Two French armies one against another fol. 29. The Parisians mutiny with the English that had serued them who beate them backe in sight of the Nauarrois fol. â0 The Regent is receiued into Paris with the Nauarrois attemps against him fol. 31 Edward repents an opportunitie neglected ibid. The desolate estate of France fol. 32 The Dolphin executes the Parisians and pacifies the rest ibid. Conditions for the Kings deliuery and preparation to defend the Realme ibid. Edward enters France with an Armie besiegeth Paris but in vaine fol. 33 Edward amazed with a thunder concludes a peace with Iohn at Bretigny ibid. The two Kings swear a mutuall league of friendship fol. 34 King Iohn brought to Calis and after receiued by his sonne with great ioy ibid. Iohn receiued into Paris fol. 35 Difficulties in the performance of the conditions of peace ibid. Iohns death in England the 8. of April 1â64 with his disposition ibid. Charles the 5. called the wise the 52. king of France HIs raigne and manners with the augmentation of his brethrens portions fol. 36 His Marriage and children fol. 37 Warre in Brytany where the French are defeated by the English ibid. He reconciles the pretendants for Britany fol. 38 Wars receiued in Britany Flanders and between France and England ibid. The Emperor seekes to reconcile them fol. 39 Charles proclaimes war against the King of England ibid. The successe of the French army in Guienne with the exploits of the Prince of Wales called the Blacke Prince ibid. Peter king of Castile murthers his own wife fol. 40 Charles sends an army against him as a muâtherer and a Tirant ibid. The king of England restores Peter and defeats the French ibid. Peter forsaken by the English taken prisoner and beheaded fol. 41 The English second passage through France vnder the Duke of Clarence ibid. Troubles in Flanders pacified by Philip. fol. 42 Sedition at Monpelier punished by the Duke of Berry with the sentence against them but moderated fol. 43 Charles his death disposition with some obseruations worthy to be obserued by Princes f. 44 The state of the Empire and Church with the originall of the Canto in Swisserland fol. 45 Diuision at Rome for the election of a new Pope And an Antipope chosen fol. 46 Charles the sixt 53. King of France NEcessarie obseruations for the vnderstanding of this raigne fol. 47 The minoritie of K. Charles the sixt Strange euents in the beginning of his Raigne fol. 48. Lâwis of Aniow Regent and Oliuer Clisson Constable fol. 49 Controuersie betweene his vncles at his coronation for precedence ibid. Tumults in France ibid. And in Flanders between the Earle and the Gantois fol. 50.51 King Charles succours the Earle of âlanders against the aduice of the Regent and his counsell fol. 52 He ouerthrowes the Flemmings and kils threescore thousand of them fol. 53 The Gantois appeased and a peace in Flanders fol. 54. Charles marrieth Isabell of Bauiere and concludes a peace in Brittany ibid. He sends men and munition into Scotland and resolues to make warre vpon England which the Regent dislikes of fol. 55 Preparation in France and England for war fol. 56 The Regent opposeth against this warre âol 57 The enterprise broken oâ and Naples offered to the Regent fol. 58 The seditious and cruell insolencies of the Parisians but they faint and âue to the King for pardon fol. 59 Lewis of Aniow crowned King of Naples fol 60 A schisme in the Church fol. 61 Queene Ioan ãâã Naples taken and smoothered and Lewis Duke of Aniow and adopted King of Naples dies ibid. The English enter Picardie and Charles makes a truce with them fol. 62 The King hauing consulted what course to take with the mutinous Parisians enters the city with an army executes many they cry for mercie and he pardons them fol. 63.64.65 Charles out of his vncles gouernement who grew discontented fol. 66 HE giues the Dutchy of Orleans to his brother Lewis and visits
Burgundy fol. 67 The maiâiâiâ of K. Charles the sâxt Complaints against the Duke of Berry and Bâtzac his Treasurer burnt fol. 68 THe tragicall end of Charles King of Nauarre ibid. âemaâkeablâ fâr âis health fââm tââ yeares 1â88 vnto 1â9â Peter of Craon being disgraced in court is perswaded by the Duke of Britainâ to murther the Constable whom he assaults but kils not fol. 71 He is condemned for his attempt foâ 72 Charles being distempered with choller his Vncles and Phisitions dissuade him from the war in Brittaine yet hee marcheth on against the Duke ibid. The duke labors to pacifie the king who parting from Mans a strange accident befell him fol. 73 CHarles fals into a phrensie the court in a pitiful case with a generall censure of this accident fol. 74. The second season remarkable fâr his sicknesse from the yere 1393 vnto 1422. The second causes of his phrensie his army dissolued and care taken of his person fol. 75 An order taken for the gouernment of the realm fol. 76 The disposition âf Philip Duke of Burgondy ibid. FActions and alterations in Court fol. 77 Philip Duke of Burgogne aduanced to the gouernment of the realme by a decree of the Estates The kings Minnions ill intreated ibid. The Constable flyes from Paris and is condemned beeing absent ibid. Charles fals into a relapse by a strange accident fol. 79 Richard king of England marrieth with Isabell of France fol. 80 Is put from his gouernment fol. 81 The French succour the Hungarians and are defeated ibid. Charles his children during his infirmitie fol. 82 Hatred betweene the house of Orleans and Burgundie fol. 83 The Duke of Brittaine and the Constable reconciled ibid. DIscentions between the Dukes of Burgundie and Orleans The beginning of the ciuile warre fol. 85.86.87.88 The duke of Orleans murthered by the Burguignon fol. 89 The sequele of this trecherous murther fol. 90.91.92 The faction of Burgundy and Orleans after some ciuile warre appeased by the Daulphin who dispossesseth the Burguignon and restores them of Orleans from the yeare 1409. to 1413. fol. 93 94.95.96.97.98 Iohn of Burgundy crost by the Daulphin and the house of Orleans stirs vp new troubles from 1412. to 1417. when as the Daulphin died but troubles ceased not The estate of the Court vnder Lewis the Daulphin fol. 100 The Daulphin takes vpon him the name of Regent fol. 101 The Duke of Burgundie disgraced and banished not admitted into Paris proclaimed guiltie of high treason the King marcheth against him and he sues for peace fol. 102.103 Henry the 5. King of England enters France with an army demands Katherine the Kings daughter and marcheth into Picardie fol. 103 The King of England forced to fight and gets the victorie at the battell at Agencourt fol. 104 The Emperour Sigismund comes into France fol. 105. The Daulphin Iohn fauours the Burguignon and his death ibid. Iohn of Burgundy ioines with Isabell the Queene who takes vpon her the regencie and makes warre against her sonne Charles the Daulphin seizeth vpon Paris kils the Constable of Armagnac Henry of Marle Chancelor of France but is slaine in the end by the Daulphin from the yeare 1415. to 1419. fol. 106 A strange confusion the Mother against the Son fol. 106. The Burguignon armes and drawes in the English fol. 107 The Daulphin encountred by three great enemies The Burguignon the English and his mother ibid. The King dislikes of the Queen and the Burguignon ioynes with her fol. 109 The Queene declares her selfe Regent of France erects new courts and officers fol. 110 Paris surprised the King taken and the Daulphin saues himselfe fol. 111 The Daulphin seekes to recouer Paris fol. 112 A horrible massacre at Paris with the number murthered and a plague ensues it fol. 113 Roan besieged and taken and all Normandie yeelds vnto the English fol. 114 The Burguignon and the Queene seeke to reconcile themselues to the Daulphin fol. 115 The Duke of Brittaine leaues the English and ioynes with the Daulphin fol. 116 The Parisians mutinie and kill the Burguignons seruants fol. 117 A peace betweene the Daulphin and Iohn of Burgundie ibid. The Daulphins proceedings reasons and resolution to kill the Duke of Burgundy fol. 118.119 The Daulphin causeth the Duke of Burgundy to be slaine fol. 120 Blood punished with blood with the Catastrophe of this miserable raigne fol. 121 During these occurrents Henry the 5. Charles the 6. dies leauing the Crowne in question betweene Charles the 7. and Henry the 6. proclaimed King of France at the funerals of Charles the 6. from the yeare 1419. to 1422. fol. 122. The exploits of the Daulphin and of Philip of Burgogne after this murther fol. 122 Queene Isabell hates her sonne deadly ibid. Henry the 5. proclaimed heire of France with his proceeding in his new royaltie fol. 123 The English defeated and the Duke of Clarence slaine fol. 124 The great exploits of Henry the 5. ibid. His sicknesse and death fol. 125 Charles the 6. dies ibid. Henry the 6. proclaimed King ibid. Charles the 7. the 54. King of France NOtable particularities of this raigne fol. 127 Charles his raigne his children manners and disposition fol. 128 The miserable estate of this Realme vnto the Coronation of Charles the 7. during 7. yeares  England Burgundy Sauoy Brittany enemies vnto Charles fol. 129 Charles aduanceth Scottishmen and makes a gard of them for his person ibid. The Dukes of Bedford and Burgogne conclude a great league against Charles fol. 130 Warre against Charles in diuers places defeated by the English and Meulan taken fol. 131 The cause of the diuision betweene the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy fâl 132. The notable battell of Creuant where the French and Scottish were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Bedford ââl 133. ãâã 11. the eldest Son of Charlââ borne ãâã 134 New supplies âome out off Scotlâd the French growing weary of the Englâsh coÌplot agâiâst thâm ãâã 135 The Duke oâ Bedford sends a challenge to the Fâench Army who are in diuisâon ãâã 136. The French defeated at the battell of Veânuill f l. 137. The number taken prisonââs and slaine fol. 138. Câarlââ hiâ miseraâle âstate discântentes fol. 139. Bedforâ and Richmont brothers in law at variance f l. 140. Câarlââ sends an ambassage to Philip of Burgundy ãâã 141 The Duke of Bâittaiâe comes to Charles and ãâ¦ã English âol 142 Thââââttons dâfââted by their error fâl 14â The Kingâ mâgnoâs slââne by his Councâl 144. ãâã Duke of âurgondy made heyre of ãâã  Hamault Hollând ând Zelând ãâã 145. The Duke of âedford brings newe forces out of England ãâã Montargis beseeged by the English releeued by the French and the English defeated fâl 146 Pontarson taken by the English fâl 147. The famous sââge of Orlâans from ãâã 148. ãâã 156. THE Coronation of Chârlâs the 7. at Rheims 156. The desseigne of the âurguignon and Sauoyard against Daulphine and Languedoc fol. 1â7 All Champagne yeelds to
King Charles fol. 159 The âstate of the Empire and âhurch A horrible Schisme with the cause thereof fâl 160.161.162.163.164.165 The English seâke to crosse Charles in his affairs fol. 166. Iâare ãâ¦ã the Pucelle disswades ãâã from fighting is sore wounded and her meâ dâfâatâd fol. 167. The Institution of the order of the Golden-fleece by the Duke oâ Buâgundy ibid. I ãâ¦ã the Virgin called the Pucelle taken at CoÌpiegâe sent to Roan condemned for a Wâch and buâât fol. 168 Compeigne releeued by the French the ãâ¦ã fol. 169. The Duchesse ãâã Bedforâ dies fol. 170. ãâ¦ã by the English and Chartres by the ãâã ibid. Henry King of England ârowned at Paris ibid. A Treatâ ãâã the French and English fol. 172 A quarâell betweene the Dukes of Bourbon Bourgoânge and Bedford ibid. King ãâã goes into Daulphine and ãâ¦ã takes armes against the English fol. 173. The English defeated and the Earle of Aâundell slaine ãâã 174 The Accord of Philip Duke of Bourgoing with King ãâã the 7 ibid. Waâ very violent against the English fol. 176. Queene Isabell and the Duke of Bedford dies ãâã The Citty of Paris yeâldes to the King and expells the English ãâã 177. The Constable râcâiuâd into Paâis ãâã 178. The Daulphin ãâã marâied to a Daughter of Scotland ãâã 179 The Duke of Sauoye becomes a Monke ãâã 180. ãâã Son of ãâã of Bouâgongne ãâ¦ã of France ãâã 182. ãâã calles a Parliament at Orleance to treat of a gânârall Peace fol. 181. The Pâânces of the blâud makâ a League to aduââce thâ Daulphin ãâã 183. King ãâã goes with an Army against the Duke of Bouâbon and the Daulphin flies into Burgundy ãâã 184 The ãâã of ãâ¦ã Sorcery ãâã 185 A Tââaty ãâã the 2. Kiâgs for a Pâaâe but fruâtââsse ibid. Aââer the ãâã and ãâã of the Duke of O lâaâcâ the Duke of Bouâgânge and he becomeâ greât fâiends ãâã 186 The mâmorable seege of Penthoââe fâl 187. The Parliament of Tholouse erected ãâã 192. A generall Tâuce and the French and English make Warre in Suisseâland with the causes thereof ãâã 193. The Sâisses âight valiantly but are defeated fâl 194. The English breake the truce and suâprize Fougers fol. 195. ãâã and the Duke of Brittaine combine against the English and take townes in Guienne and Normandy fol. 196. Charl sends his Army to Roan ãâã 197. Takes it and bâseegeth the English in their Forts fol. 198. The Earle of Sommerset and Talbot yeeld and come to King Cââarles ibid. King Câarlââ deales honourably with Talbot fol. 199. The English defeated at ãâã fol. 200. All Normandy yeelds to Câarles ibid Guiââne returnes to the Crowne of France fol. 201. THE French Army in Guienne takes Blay Bourg Liborne Fronsack Boudâaux and Baionne fol. 202.203 Talbot enters with newe English troupes and takes Bourdeaux and all the Townes againe fol. 204. The English defeated and Talbot slayne fol. 205. Troubles in England fol. 206. The Councell of Basill with the miserable Estate of the Church fol. 208.209 Constantinople taken by the Turke and Constantine the Emperor smoothered fol. 210. Printing inuented fol. 221 King Charles and the Dolphin discontented one with another ibid. The king sends an armie against his sonne fol. 212. Lewis the Dolphin marries againe to the great dislike of his father fol. 213 Charles his waiwardnes his loues fol. 214 An enterprise vpon England and Sandwitch taken fol. 215. The tragicall death of Charles fol. 216 Lewis the 11. the 55. King of France HIs wiues and children fol. 218 He purchaseth the Countie of Rousillon fol. 219. The Common-weale makes a league against him which he discouers fol. 220.221 The warres of the Common-weale fol. 222. The battel of Montlehry fol. 223. Famous for running away fol. 224 Paris beleagred fol. 225 The confedârates and Lewis after much trouble make a peace at Coââans 226.227 Difference betweene the Duke of Britany and Charles Duke of Normandy fol. 228 Lewis discontent with the duke of Britanie fol. 229 He makes a league with the Liegeois ibid. A horrible outrage committed by them of Dinan fol. 230. He supports the rebellious Liegeois against their Duke fol. 231. He makes a peace with the Duke of Bourgogne fol. 233. Duke Charles besieges takes and ruines the rebellious citie of Leige fol. 234.235 Edward king of England and the Earle of Warwicke diuided fol. 236. Warwicke flies into France fol. 237. Is slaine and his whole army defeated by Edward ibid. Charles the 8. borne at Amboise ibid. S. Quintin taken by the duke of Bourgogne and by and by the king fol. 238. Charles of Bourgogne abandoned by his friends ibid. Submits himselfe and obtaines a truce fol. 239. A new league against Lewis fol. 240 The Duke of Guienne dyes by poison fol. 241 The Bourguigons practises against Lewis fol. 242 Perpignan deliuered by treason to the king of Arragon fol. 243. The Duke of Alonson condemned but pardoned by king fol. 244 The king and the Burguignon conspire the Constables death fol. 245 The Burguignon seekes to poison the king ibid. He marrieth his two daughters fol. 246 Adolfe the sonne of the Duke of Gueldres an vnkinde sonne fol. 247 The English prepare for France fol. 24â The Duke of Burgogns Lieutenant executed by the Suisses fol. 249 Open warre betweene the Duke of Bourgogââ and the Suisses ibid. Mournefull presages to the Constable fol. 25â Lewis sends an ambassador to the Emperor fol. 251 Charles in great perplexity leaues the siege of Nuz ibid. Edward King of England defies Lewis fâl â52 Lewis sends a counterfait Herald to King Edwââd fol. 253. Ambassadors sent from both Kings with âhe Articles of agreement between them ãâã 254 The Duke of Burgogne reprocheth King Edward for making a Truce ibid. Edward King of England discouering the Constables disseins reiects him fâl 255. An enterview of the kings at Picqugny with Lewis his politike proceedings fâl 256 King Edward protects the Duke of Brittaine and returnes home into England âol 257 King Edward being discontent with the Burguignon offers Lewis aide against him âol 258 The last act of the Constables tragedie with his pitifull and desperate estate fol. 259 The Constable yeeldes to the Burguignon is deliuered to the king and beheaded fol. 260 Campo-bachio a traitor to Charles of Burgogne offers Lewis to kill him which Lewis discouers to Charles fol. 262 Charles Duke of Burgogne makes warre against the Suisses ibid. Is ouerthrown at Granssen and looses al his baggage esteemed at 3. millions fol. 263. The Suisses reuenge the crueltie of Charles at Granssen fol. 264. Charles armes again besiegeth Morat and is ouerthrowne fol. 265. The battell of Nancy where Charles is ouerthrowne and slaine fol. 267. Lewis discouers the Duke of Brittanes practises with his Chancelor fol. 269. Townes in Pycardie yeeld to the king fol. 270 The Duke of Nemours beheaded fol. 271 Lewis his health decaies fol. 272 Arras Hedin Therouenne and Montreuill yeeld to Lewis fol. 273 The insolencie and barbarous crueltie
A GENERAL INVENTORIE OF THE HISTORY OF FRANCE From the beginning of that MONARCHIE vnto the Treatie of VERVINS in the yeare 1598. Written by IHON DE SERRES And continued vnto these Times out off the best Authors which haue written of that Subiect Translated out of FRENCH into ENGLISH by EDWARD GRIMESTON Gentleman HENRY·IIII·KING OF FRANC ' AND NAVAR · · Imprinted at LONDON by GEORGE ELD 1607. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND MOST WORTHY OF ALL HONOVRS AND ALL TITLES THOMAS EARLE OF SVFFOLKE ROBERT EARLE OF SALISBVRIE MY MOST HONOVRED LORDS I dare not so much trespasse against the publicke as after the solemne and tedious manner of Epistling to vsurpe your time with a barren Preface it is my gaine if I be but heard to say I dedicate my selfe in which I vnderstand my vtmost abilities and of those doe here offer vnto your Lordships a small part being rather the redemption of my life from the note of idlenesse then any fruitfull course of liuing For being after some yeares expence in France for the publike seruice of the State retired to my priuate and domesticke cares it was yet my couetousnesse to winne so much vpon them as the leisure of Translation to this generall Historie of France written by Iohn de Serres an Author whom aboue mine own particular knowledge of this subiect I haue heard vniuersally esteemed for the most faithful and free from affection that euer toucht at that Argument able to teach the vnlearned to delight the learned and draw to him as many Commenders as Readers The Maiesty Graces and Strength of whose worke if I in my traduction haue any way vnsinewed or defârmed I confesse a sinne against his graue yet in my consecration of him to your Lordships I haue made him plenarie satisfaction which presumption of mine though he may glorie in I haue no other meane to expiate but by naked professing my selfe to both your Honours bound in all obligation of dutie seruice no lesse then your selues are each to other in the faith of loue freindship For which sacred respect I haue thus prefixed you joyned in the face of my Altar where I omit to speake more of your mutuall and knowne merites except I had volumes to fill not pages and desire onely that where I am studious to be gratefull I may not deserue to offend Your Lordships deuoted in all dutie and seruice EDVVARD GRIMESTON To the Reader I Could not Courteous Reader neglect an vsuall complement in the publishing of this worke to recommend the worthines of the Author and to excuse my weakenesse To free my selfe from the imputation of Idlenesse I vndertooke the Translation of this Historie of France and to giue some content vnto such as either by their trauell abroad or by their industrie at home haue not attained vnto the knowledge of the Tongue to read it in the originall Where you may see the sundry Battailes woon by our Kings of England against the French and the worthie exploits of the English during their warres with France whereby you may bee incited to the like resolutions vpon the like occasions I doubt not but those which haue conuersed most familiarly with the Histories of France will concurre in that generall approbation of his writing to be as freâ from affection and passion as any one that euer treated of this subiect He hath digested into one Worke whatsoeuer hath beene written by many touching the French History since the beginning of their Monarchie And if he hath not dilated at large the great attempts of Strangers in France employed eyther for their Kings or against them he is not therefore to be blamed nor to be held partiall for that the subiest whereof he treats being great the time long and his style short and succinct he had vowed to note euery accident of State and Warre briefely and truely Besides you must consider that he was a Frenchman and although hee would not altogether smother and conceale those things which might any way eclipse the glory of his Nation least he should be taxed to haue fayled in these two excellent vertues required in an Historiographer Truth and Integritie without passion yet happily he hath reported them as sparingly as he could The History of Iohn de Serres ends with the Treatie at Ueruins betwixt France and Spaine in the yeare 1598. I haue been importuned to make the History perfect and to continue it vnto these times whervnto I haue added for your better satisfaction what I could extract out of Peter Mathew and other late writers touching this subiect Some perchance will challenge me of indiscretion that I haue not translated Peter Mathew onely being reputed so eloquent and learned a Writer To them I answere first That I found many things written by him that were not fit to be inserted and some things belonging vnto the Historie related by others whereof he makes no mention Secondly his style is so full and his discourse so copious as the worke would haue held no proportion for that this last addition of seuen yeares must haue exceeded halfe Serres Historie Which considerations haue made me to draw forth what I thought most materiall for the subiect and to leaue the rest as vnnecessarie But now I come to my last though not my least care how this my labour shall be accepted the which must vndergoe the censure of all humors Some I doubt not regarding the content and profit they may reape thereby will allow of mine endeauors though others do but prie into it with a curious eye to note what is defectiue obseruing more the elegancie and choise of words then the worthinesse of the Historie But let me intreat as much kindnesse of these curious Surueyors as a graue Senatour of Rome did of one of his companions who had found him playing in his garden with his yong sonne The Father somewhat abashed to see himselfe so surprised requested his fellow Senatour not to publish his folly vntill he had a yong Sonne Euen so I intreat them not to detract nor to maligne that which is well meant vntill they haue produced the like Concluding with the Poet Carpere vel noli nostra vel ede tua I must craue your patience in regard of the Presse intreating you to supply with your iudicious reading such errors as you shall find committed For that I my selfe could not attend it being drawne away about other imployments And so referring all to your kind acceptance I rest Yours Edward Grimestone IOHN DE SERRES TOVCHING THE VSE of this his Inuentorie AS an Historie is the Theater of mans life whereby all may learne one common lesson The generalâ vse of Histories by the goodly examples she represents vnto their eyes eares and vndeâstandings Euen so she inuites all men to view heare and to conceiue them well what language soeuer she speakes what subiect she ãâã of what time shee notes and what person soeuer shee represents Thus offring her selfe to all with this
that the subiects consent who offer their goods and liues to their King be held in due degree This hinders no more the hereditarie prerogatiue of a Roialtie then the diuerse ministerie of the members do the soueraigne authoritie of the head ouer the whole bodie And as in the beginning or in the rising or infancie of an estate vertue ministers occasion for the people to choose such as should commaund ouer them successiuely leauing as it were in sacred gard in the hands of their best men what they hold most pretious and so to their successors who by all reasonable coniecture must be good and vertuous being borne of good parents euen so in the end vice makes them to hate such as abuse this prerogatiue and in like manner the same vertue makes them flie to others whome they hold more worthy to command in that they are obedient vnto reason This Maxime then stands firme that the authority of the states not being incompatible with the soueraignty of a king the royaltie of France is and hath alwaies beene merely hereditary without any exception nor can it otherwise subsist and stand all well considered And who so thinkes or speakes otherwise imagyning popular common-weales in France he is ignorant of the disposition of the French and feeds himselfe with a dangerous vanity The third The mâle only capable of the Crowne the female excluded in France But this lawe of a succeeding royaltie is limitted by a third Maxime That the right of the Crowne is tied to the heires male whereas in many nations for want of males the soueraigne Authority of a royaltie falles to the females of the royall race And this lawe receiued by the approbation of the subiect people is happily put in practise The president is very memorable and remarkable in the Realme of England whereas Queene Elizabeth alone hath surpassed the happinesse of the greatest Kings her predecessors ruling a long time with great Authority in peace So as hauing gotten most famous victories ouer her enemies shee hath erected through peace the goodliest trophies that euer king of England could haue planted there So great is the force of the lawe in the society of mankinde the which God will haue inuiolable vnder the gage of faith and publique order The French were often called Saliens of the riuer Sal in Francoâia and the French lawes termed Salique lawes But the royaltie of France is wholy restayned to the males the fundamentall lawe of state being called the Salique lawe not admitting the females For this soueraigne lawe is set downe in these words In the Salique land let no portion of the inheritance come to the female but let the male haue the possession That is to say the males onely are capable of the Crowne of France the females being wholy excluded and by coÌsequence their issue the which can pretend no more interest then their mothers neither haue they any portion in the reuenewes of the Crowne which cannot be alienated So as it is giuen them but for terme of life by assignation of dowrie at the Kings good pleasure Thâ fundamentall lawe called Salique This fundamentall lawe is called Salique by excellency although the Salique lawes conteine the rights of priuate men but amongest them that which concernes the maiesty of the prince is the principall and for this cause is knowne by this worthy obseruation 428. The practise of this fundamentall law is apparent in the first race where the cheefe proofe of antiquitie must be made in the daughters of Childebert The practise thereof sonne to the first Clouis In the daughters of Cherebert sonne to Clotaire the first in the daughters of Gontran son of the same Clotaire all which were excluded from the Crowne and in their places the neerest Princes of the blood admitted by the consent of all the French The second race hath no examples of this law in the particular circumstance of women The third hath very notable ones Edward King of England was excluded by iudgment of the States from the right he pretended to this Crowne being sonne to one of the daughters of France the onely daughter of Philip le bell Philip of Valois was preferred before his Neece daughter to Lewis Hutin And of late memory Francis the first of that name Duke of Angoulesme before the two daughters of Lewis the twelfth without any controuersie This law was obserued among the French before Pharamond was borne and by vertue of this law he reigned as Successor to his Ancestors Marcomir Sunno Melobaudes Here the Author wouâd haue a âamed sâpposition to be taken for an vndoubted truth and others And as he was appointed by the wise prouidence of God to bee the first Architect of this Monarchie so was hee indued with singular graces fit for so excellent a worke in the which the law should fortifie the valour of this fierce warlike nation Thus Pharamond is renowned for his wisdome and iudgment who did countenance authorize the Salique lawes and that especially which was the chief to take away all future debate from his Successors And for the better strengthening of his lawes he assembled his captaines whereof the Counsellors of our ancient Kings were chosen They name among the chiefe of them Widogast Sabogast Wisogast and Bosogast the which our fabulous curiosities do transforme into some great Orators without any appreheÌsion of truth These were good warriors yet wise men and iudicious But who can beleeue they were great Rhetoricians So Pharamond was not the Author but the bewtifier of the SALIQVE lawes as Iustinian of the ciuill lawes of the Romaines To search out the originall of the word neither my style nor my humor will suffer me to dispute thereof Of the word Salique euery one hath his iudgement free But this is my opinion as words be the images of things so are they inuented to represent the nature of the thing whereunto they are applied It appeares that among the French the Saliens were those that held the cheefe degrees What the Saliâns were and gaue the name to the whole Nation So as all Frenchmen are ofteÌ times called Saliens The SALIQVE lawes therfore are the FreÌch lawes appointed to rule and gouerne the French It was the aâcient name continued with the most ancient lawes the which the honour of the Nation and the reuerence of so sacred a thing hath forbidden in any sort to alter So the SALIQVE lawe hath continued time out of mind the Soueraigne law of State vnder the which the French haue liued and so haue continued from father to sonne without any alteration either in the substance or the word maiesticall in the heartes and tongues of all French men What apparence is there then that Phillip of Valois hath borrowed the name of Pharamond in the inuention of this law to make it serue his turne How much vnlikely is it that so important a law being the ground of the Estate should
bee vnknowne to the French What a drowsines had it beene in so wise circumspect a nation to suffer themselues to be abused by a new-come Prince and by so grosse a pollicie to drawe themselues into apparent combustion which hung ouer their heads in preferring the French before the English who had then so good a portion in France where hee possessed the goodliest and richest prouinces How vnsound is this policy to imagine that a poor Prince Count of Valois hauing to do with a rich King of England who encountred the Frenchmens minds with an intestine force by the golden vertue of his Angels could haue abused such as were kept in their obedience by the force of right and reason for the preseruation of the Crowne of France their Countrie Who sees not but it had beene the ouerthrowe of Philip of Valois cause to say that hee had forged a law at his pleasure to exclude the lawfull heire and her ofspring from her right Truely the good cause of Philip of Valois made him victorious against the forces of Edward King of England and the auncient reuerence to him 430. authorized by a continuall vse and receiued by the common consent of the French reiected gold to respect the order of right for the benefit of the lawfull heire These French lawes were called Saliques of the riuer Sal which is in Franconia Etimologie of the word Salique or East Franco it ioynes with Mein and is not yet dryed vp It is neyther new nor extraordinary for people to deriue their names from Mountaines or Riuers and to shewe an example springing from the same thing by noting the Riuers The Country where the Citty of Paris is seated not onely the chiefe of this great realme but the Theatre of the whole world if by a happy peace she may recouer her ancient beauty is called the Isle of France for the concurse of diuerse riuers which ioyne with Seine and to this end the ship the armes of our chiefe Cittie shewes the oportunity of these goodly riuers Who can with reason reiect the apparency of this likely-hood That as our ancestors remayning alongst the riuer of Sal were called Saliens so the name hath continued to posteritie the which for the like reason are called Ripuaires as made for the commodity and vse of the dwellers vpon that banck the which they likewise called Ripuaires or Ribberots Truely long time after Conrad of Franconie the Emperour was called Salique to marke his beginning in that Country by the ancient name Thus much for the word But the inuiolable Maximes and Principles of the state of France the consent of all the true ancient writers the prescription of so many ages the generall approbation of all the French nation should make vs hold this Salique lawe for certaine without seeking for new opinions not onely weake and vnprofitable but insupportable in the state where the olde prouerb must stand for an oracle Remoue not the stâane well layed Thus hauing briefely set downe the principall lawes of the state of France I will returne to the course of my history Thus hee raigned thus he liued and thus died Pharamond the first King of France Death of Pharamond leauing for hereditary successor of his Realme his sonne Clodion according to the right of lawe and King in effect by consent of the French This age was the sincke of Babarous nations by whome God would iustly punish the vniust pride of the Râmains The greatest parte came out of Asia staying first in Germany and from thence like Caterpillers or Grassehoppers âread themselues ouer Gaule Italie and Spaine that is to say the Goths or Getes Alans Hunnes Sueues others from the North the Bourguignons Normans and Lombards We must know the Chaunge of these nations for the vse of his history But it sufficeth to touch them briefly in their places without cloying our chiefe subiect with a cumbersome discourse 431. CLODION or CLOION the hairy 2. King of France CLODION·KING OF FRANCE .2 CLODION the sonne of Pharamond succeeded his father in the yeare 431. and raigned one and twenty yeares The first attempâ of Clâdâoâ He laboured to follow his fathers course and to settle himselfe in Gaule but hauing transported certaine troupes which made a happy beginning passing to the couâtrâes of Cambresie and Tournay betwixt the riuers of Somme and âscout behold a furious mulâitude oâ diuers nations assembled toâeâher of âandales Alans Sueues and Burgâignons iealous to see this great and warlââe people follow their steps in the conquest of a land not onely âet to âale but abandoned in the disorders of the Romaine Empire oppoâed themselues against them The French not able to withstand âo great vnited forces retyred themselues into their Country oâ Franconia To this iealousie was added the practise of Stillico Lieutenant generall tâ Honorius Emperour of the West who easily ingaged these Nations seeking for woâke against the French laboured by all meanes to crosâe them and to possesse âimselâe of Gaule yet the successe did not fitte his desseigne for being preuented by Honorius his maister he was slaine with his sonne Euâherius whom he had appointed absolute heire of that goodly portion But the prouidence of God had left it in prey to these great and victorious Nations being come from diuers parts of the world to diuide the Empire Thus confusion preuailed by his authority who had most interest in the practises of Stillico who in taking Gaule for himselfe reteined still the Romaine name being ouerthrowne by Honorius The deluge of these barbarous nations oâerflowed all Gaule which from yeare to yeare was replenished with new guests The Bourguignons had already seized on a great part with the title of a kingdome whereof Arles was the chiefe Citty The Goths possessed Gaule Narbonnoise 440. euen by the Emperours consent who granted what he could not take from them with promise to passe no further So this victorious nation dispersed in diuerse places in Italy Gaule and Spaine were called by sândry names Wisigoths and Ostrogoths according to the place where they were planted by their great multitudes and valour Such was the disorder of the Romaines who in their seasons had subdued the whole world by their victorious armes These tempests and stormes raigned during the Empires of the two brethren Arcadius and Honorius the one commanding in the East The estate of the Empâre and the other in the West of Theodosius the second sonne to Arcadius and in the beginning of Vâlentinian the third a vitious and vnhappy Prince The raigne of Clodion fell out in those times not greatly memorable but to obserue his resolutions and manly endeuours to settle and increase the conquests of his father but with no successe Thus great and heroicall enterprises haue often stayes and lets in the beginning or such difficult crosses as they seeme quite suppressed Aetius a Romaine borne succeeded Stillico for the Emperour in that which
redresse the confusions which grew dayly Behold Odo reuiues the warre more furiously then before and enters Lorraine with a strong army but his enterprise fell vpon his owne head For Gothelon Duke of Lorraine confirmed by the Emperour defeates him burying his ambition and his life in one sepulchre and thus much for Bourgongne Normandy gaue no lesse cause of imployment to Henry Robert Duke of Normandy had mainteyned the hereditary loue of his father with the King greatly relying vpon his friendship Hauing resolued a long and dangerous voyage to the holy Land Robert Duke of Normandy prefers his bastard before his lawfull children he intreated him to affect the protection of William his bastard sonne whome hee had made his heyre excluding his lawfull children This testament seemed vnreasonable to all men but Robert had setled his Estate before his departure appoynting him good Gouernours and putting the strongest places and treasure into their hands as William remayned Conquerour after his death which happened in this long voyage beyond the seas But this was not without great difficulties in the which Henry kept the stakes ballancing both parties with his authority William remaining the stronger Normandy had some rest beeing freed from men of warre by this occurrent A gallant troupe of Warriors weary to liue at home and desirous to see the world led by Robert and Guischard valient Gentlemen Happy successe of the Normans in Italy seeking their fortunes came into Italy where they are imployed in priuate quarrells and there get so great reputation as by their example they drawe many to the same voyage and an other notable swarme of braue souldiers are led thether by Tancred a man very famous for this attempt the partialities of Italy giue them occasions and meanes to seize vpon Pouille Calabria and Sicile as the history describes at large This briefly may suffice to note the Estate of this raigne Thus Henry passeth his raigne amidst these troubles beeing too light to shake the body of an Estate following the example of his Grandfather and Father he causeth Philip his sonne to bee crowned King being but seuen yeares old and gaue him Baldwin Earle of Flanders for Tutor and regent of the Realme He liued little after his Coronation the which be hastened by reason of his indisposition and so he died 55. yeares old in the yeare 1061. Robert dies Beloued and lamented of all his subiects whom he intreated with much mildnes some yeares before his death the beginning of his raigne being disquieted with the feare of ciuill dissention and the end crowned with a plentifull rest PHILIP the first the 39. King of France PHILLIPPE KING OF FRANCE XXXIX 1061. ACcording to King Henries decree Baldwin Earle of Flanders tooke vpon him the gouernment of yong King Philips person Baldwin Regenâ in Philips minoritie already confirmed by his coronation of the affaires of the realme with quietnes hauing the reputation of a good wise man although he were not pleasing to them all For certaine Noblemen of Gasconie did crosse him charging him with ambition as if he would make himselfe a King like to other Regents whereof the memorie was yet fresh in all Frenchmens mindes But his integritie and wisdome preseruing his credit with the greatest part of the French gaue him meanes to subdue the rebellious Gascons who made this their pretence to fish in a troubled streame during the minoritie of the young King Baldwin doth not winke at this repulse neither doth he suffer it to passe vnpunished He armes wisely with a shew to go against the Sarrazins which sometimes did ouerrunne the frontiers of France bordering vpon Spaine This zeale hauing moued many to accompanie him Baldwin punisheâh the rebels of Gasconie he punished the rebels in Gasconie and preuented many which began to mutine in sundry places of the realme as shall appeare in the future raignes It is the ordinarie ebbing and flowing of worldly things in the impatience of the French neuer to liue long in one estate Wee haue now passed aboue seuentie yeares in peace in these three raignes this Prince shall adde fortie nine more of great tranquilitie to this realme But setting before our eyes the horrible confusions in other parts it doth shew vs plainly the occasions whereby the disease grew in the State which in the ende bred so long and dangerous a feauer by ciuill warre For why doth a history represent vnto vs the effect known vnto al men if it touch not the causes and motiues of these great euents the which succeed not presently but by degrees as a Clocke which carried by contrary motiues strikes the houre at the time appointed amongest all the minutes This iudgement is necessary for the right vse of what wee reade The Kings minority passed quietly by the wise gouernment of Baldwin who hauing accompanied his pupill to the age of 15. yeares leaues him his temporall realme in peace and seekes an eternall Crowne in heauen being greatly lamented of the good leauing a memorable example of a good tutor to a King Baldwin dies much lamented and a wise Regent of a realme Philip takes in hand the helme of the Estate beholding from a safe harbour the stormes of other nations which exceed in pernitious furies not foreseeing the seeds cast by himselfe in the bosome of his owne realme that his example giues liberties to his subiects to the like disorder A wise Prince but disloyall taking couetousnes and ambition for his Councellors The disposition of Philip. seekingonely his owne profit and contemning that plaine simplicity which had purchased so much happines to his father grand-fathers to himselfe a respectiue credit withall the French and immortall praise to his posterity A looking glasse for Kings Princes without any deceit wherein they may viewe the true causes of the happines of their Estates Flanders England and Italy beganne first before that France entred who shall act a long and tedious part vpon this stage Baldwin of whom we haue made mention left two sonnes Baldwin and Robert with their mother Richilde Their Vncle Robert the Frison preteÌded the inheritance to belong vnto him or at the least the gardianship of his Nephewes Richilde and the states opposed to both his demands so as they grew to words and then to warre King Philip as their soueraigne ought to bee Iudge to compound their quarrels but he labors to kindle them seeking his own profit in these garboiles Robert the Frison preuents him with promises to do what hee pleased Hee winnes him and gets a promise to be succoured against the right of his Nephews But Richilde mother to these pupills knowing the Kings humour goes vnto him to crosse Roberts desseins who brought nothing but words This woman brought money with her good behauiour and wonne him against Robert who discontent with the King assembles his other means goes to field with his army and gets part of the Country Richilde
flies to Philip who comes himselfe with a very great army and enters Flanders The vncle supplaâââ 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 fârsâks 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 tâeÌ 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 Dâchie 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 soâlemne 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 Conââââons 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 diâplace and to dispoâe 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 affâont Sârange confuâoâs betwixt the Emperoâr and the âope 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 Râuenna 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
by the decree of Clement But this was not all those which were opposite to the Emperour chose in the place of Gregory Vrbain the 2. and their party growing strong the confusions increased opposing oâe Emperour against another Herman of Luxembourg to Henry and after him Egbert Marquis of Saxony the which were taken by Henry and slaine one after another Vrbain hath other practises against Henry hee animates his owne sonne by his first wife against him forcing all the lawes of nature The Pope incenseth the sonne against the father who takes from him both his Empire his life And as Henry had suppressed the practises of this his eldest sonne Pope Paschall who succeeded Vrbain the 2. succeeds him euen in the like monstrous practises incensing his other sonne Henry whom the father intended to make Emperour relying on him as on his child beloued aboue all the rest So this sonne bewitched by ill councell found meanes to seaze on his Father depriuing him first of the Empire and then of his life The Pope added to this death a new disgrace causing by his thundring Bulls The Popes malice against the Emperour being dead the body of Henry to be digged out of his graue These were the fruites of their serious controuersies for preheminence not onely vnknowne to the ancient Church nor practised by the Apostles but expreslie forbidden by the holy mouth of the sonne of God The Popes one after another troubled with these crosses had recourse vnto our Philip so had Henry the 4. being a prisoner to his sonne but the respect of his coÌmon friends made him to keepe the stakes and to be a spectator of these lamentable confusions And yet many orders were erected by the Popes amiddest these disorders that of the regular Chanoines for a difference of the secular the Charteaux Templiers Benedictins and Carmes Thus Philip a witnesse of others miseries raignes peaceably during this age full of confusion both in Church and State The Emperour had reduced the realme of Bourgongne to the Imperiall iurisdiction distinguished as wee haue sayd but during these disorders The begining of the estaâes of Daulphiné Sauoy Prouence and Francâe Conté the whole body was dismembred and reduced to an other forme as when one is wearie of an old garment The industrie of such as held the Citties and Countrie in their possession made foure peeces of this garment The one was for Otho of Flanders which is the Countrie about Besançon with the title of an Earledome whereof it carryes yet the name The other for Berald of Saxony who enioyed Sauoy The third for Guigue the fatte Earle of Grisiuaudan who from little grewe so great in the confusions of times hauing taken the chiefe Citties of the Country and in the end Grenoble the capitall Citty as he became absolute Lord of all that Prouince the which hee called Daulphiné in fauour of his Sonne who hauing married the Daughter of the Earle of Albon and Vâennois named Daulphin would carry the same name holding himselfe honoured by so worthy an allyance The fourth peece is Prouence one of the goodlyest and richest both for the fertilitie of the Countrie and commoditie of Ports most conuenient in all the Mediterranian Sea this was fallen into the hands of Berengers successors by the meanes before specified So the Empire lost the command of these foure Prouinces which fell to foure diuers Lords leauing yet in Daulphiné some traces of the ancient name without any effect for they yet call it the Empire in their common language as wee haue sayd elsewhere But as during the raigne of our Philip these confusions were notable Voyage to the Holy Land so that great and renowned voyage to the Holy Land made by our Argonaâtes Christians âs worthy to be carefully obserued The proiect was to deliuer the Christians of Asia âormented by the furious tyranie of the Mahâmetaines and to repeople the land the which God had honoured with the first fruits of his Church This zeale of Christians was commendable I would to God they had at this day changed their disordered passions glutted with their owne bloud into so holy a resolution vniting their mindes and forces against the common enemie of all Christendome The occasion was giuen by a French Gentleman called Peter the Hermite The motiââ of this enterprisâ who hauing long trauelled in the East and seene the miseries of the Christians among the Barbarians the maners of the Leuantins and the commodities and discommodities of the Prouinces of Asia neerest to the Holy Land he laide a pâot with Simeon Patriarck of Ierusalem to solicite all Christian Kings and Princes to imploy their forces for the conquest of the Holy land The euent was answerable to the proiect for being come to Rome to Pope Vrbain the 2. he did so well lay open the estate and importance of this action as being satisfied by him he resolues to inuite all the Kings Princes Potentates States Comoâaltieâ Lords and Gentlemen of Christendome therevnto To this end hee calls a Councell at Clermont in Auuergâe where he assisted himselfe and induced the whole assemblie by his perswasions with so great efficacie as they resolued neither to spare their persons nor estates in the execution of so important a worke Godefroy of Bouilâon sonne to Eustace Earle of Boulogne vpon the Sea being Duke of Lorraine by his Vncle Godefroy the Crooke-back the sonne of Gothelon a great and a generous Prince ofââed himselfe the first to this expedition and was chosen chiefe of this famous action The Emperour and all Christian Princes promised to contribute their meanes some their persons A troupe of all the selected Nobilitie of Europe did willingly consecrate themselues The names of such as went to the Holy land The most apparent were Eustace and Baldwin brothers to Godefroy Hugh the great Earle of Vermandois brother to Philip King of France Robert the Frison Earle of Flanders Robert the second sonne to William the Bastard Duke of Normandie and King of England Stephen Earle of Blois and Chartres Aimar Bishop of âuy William Bishop of Oranges Raimond Earle of Tholose and Saint Gilles Baldwin Earle of Hainault Baldwin Earle of Retbel Bohemond Duke of Apouâlie Garnier Earle of Grez Harpin Earle of Bourges Ysoard Earle of Die Rambaud Earle of Oranges William Earle of Forest Stephen Earle of Aumal Hugh Earle of S. Pol Rotron Earle of Perche and many others worthy to be registred in this Historie I haue onely noted such as I could finde out All Europe was moued with this voyage France Germanie Italy England Scotland Hongarie Denmarke and Sueden Spaine onely failed being at that time much troubled to keepe their owne home from the Sarrazins who were lodged euen in their bowels France did contribute more then all the rest of Christendom The zeale which moued these generous and valiant men made them to hazard all Dukes Marquises Earles Barons Knights and Gentlemen sold and ingaged their Seigneuries
of gold pretious stones dedicated to his Crowne by a Holy humility and a religious acknowledgement of the victory which the Son of God hath gotten by his bloud to giue vs in Heauen the Crowne of immortall life This famous act chanced in the yeare 1099. in the moneth of March. Hauing put Godefroy and the Christians in possession of the Holy Land let vs returne into France to our Philip not without griefe to see the dissention betwixt the Emperour and Pope who were nothing reconciled by the voiage to the holy Land The increase of this newe power purchased in England to the Sonnes of William the Conquerour gaue him no small occasion to looke to his affaires and the rather for that this newe King of England had begonne to make a breach in his Estate taking Xaintonge and Poitou Countries very important being members of one of the principall Prouinces of his realme The sonnes of VVilliam King of England foreseeing also that Normandy would bandy it selfe against France without all respect William had leât three sonnes of great hope William surnamed Rufus King of England Robert Duke of Normandie whome wee haue left in the holy Land and Henry Earle of Maine withall his treasure Philip therefore to secure his Estate following the example of his Ancestors caused Lewis his sonne whome hee had by Berthe daughter to Baldwin Earle oâ Flanders to bee Crowned King Philip dies There was a scandalous breach in this marriage for Philip falling in loue with Bertrade the wife of Foâques Earle of Aniou puts away Berthe and afterwards hauing reiected Bertrade hee receiued Berthe againe His disposition being mother to King Lewis to whome hauing resigned the crowne at Orleans hee died at Melun in the yeare of grace 1109. of his age 57. and of his raigne 49. hauing raigned long to settle his Estate but not without a leuaine of much trouble to come hauing degenerated from the vertues of his grand-fathers and father He was disloyall couetous louing nothing but his owne profit pittilesse ingrate and one who sowed dangerous seeds of much mischiefe which began to bud in the raigne ensuing LEWIS the 6. called the grose the 40. King LEWES .6 KING OF FRANCE XXXX AS wee foresee a storme by the clouds that rise 1110. by the darke mists of the thicke ayre The estate of this raigne pierced through with sparkles like the shining of a close fire and by the motiues of the water driuen with a violent and sudden wind euen so there be simtomes fits in an estate which foretell the alterations which shall insue the which fall not all at one instant but the subiect being gathered togither in processe of time breakes forth when it can no longer hold There is this difference betwixt naturall things and those which belong to man for that men can well discerne what the wether will be but he is blind in that which concerns himselfe and neuer beleeues vntil he feeles the blow falling into the danger which he flies by his owne fault neuer wise but after danger France had inioyed peace aboue a hundred yeares vnder these forepassed raignes shee now growes wearie This raigne is a preamble to a mornfull song which shal make them to weepe that reioyced in the fruition of so long rest The name of royall authoritie held all those great men backe which had any interest therein the wisedome of Capet Robert Henry and Philip had so bridled them as they willingly obeyed Now they are of an other humor The Duke of Normandie who since Capet had beene obedient and affectionate to the Crowne The French begin to fall from their obedience seeing himselfe strengthened with the Realme of England hee frames all his practises to ouerthrow this order by rebellions and tumults Lewis had scarce performed his fathers funeralls before the fire of rebellion kindled in diuers parts of the realme and as if the Kings youth had beene a blemish to his dignitie euery one will play the pettie King The places neere vnto Paris began these first reuolts by reason of the many great horses thereabouts Corbeil had an Earle 1109 Chartres an other Piseaux in Beause had one Crecy had his Lord Marle his Pompone his and so diuers other Seigneuries had euery one their particular Lord. But as a disease stirres vp all the humors in a weake bodie so all that were discontented with Lewis gather togither into one head to afflict him vnder the countenance of the King of England They were for a time suppressed yet this was but to open a vaine and not to cure the feuer Guy of Crecy the Lord Piseaux ãâã Earle of Dammartin Thibaud Earle of Champagne and Brye Pean of Louure in Parisi Milon of Montlehâry and Philippe the bastard of King Philippe all ioyntly play the mutines and rise against their King At the same instant Henry King of England goes to field his priuate quarrell was for the Towne of Gisors seated vpon the riuer of Epre on the confines of Normandie Rebels suppressed and punished But this small processe was soone ended for Lewis hauing defeated the English neere vnto Gisors hee forced Henry to retyre and afterwards punished all these rebells increasing his reuenues by their confiscations But the quarâell betwixt the Emperour and the Pope did hatch a more dangerous proces for France We haue sayd that Henry the 5. banded against his father Henry the 4. who had associated him to the Empire and had cast him into prison by the Popes Councell where this poore man died for greefe Henry the 5. wonderfully troubled in consciânce and vexed with daily approches that hee had violated the Imperiall rights resolued to haue his reuenge of Pope Pascall the author of this cruell and vnkind Councell To conclude he aâmes and that with so great a resolution as in few dayes The Emperour ãâã for his ãâ¦ã hee assembles threescore thousand foote and thirtie thousand horle with this army hee goes into Itâlie and hauing taken and spoyled Noâarre Pontremolo and Arezzo hee comes a Conqueror to the gates of Rome the which were opened without any resistance Being entred the Cittie and causing the Pope and Colledge to assemble he makes knowne vnto them the rights of the Empire as Pope Leo the eight had acknowledged them to Otho the second Emperour The Emperour comâs to Româ and ãâã the âoâe to take an oth and before him Adrian to Charlemagne according to the decâee of the Councell at Rome conteined in the sixtie third distinction and to conclude he forced him to take the oath of fidelity as to the true and lawfull Emperour and then returnes with his army Pope Pascal extremely moued with this ãâã calls a Councell wherein he protests to haue beene forced by ãâã so by consequence pronounceth that whatsoeuer he had promised was of no force and after all these toyles he died Gelisais succeeded him both in place and hatred against the Emperour
Henry but being too weake of himselfe neither hauing any such friend as the King of France according to the triall so often made time out of minde he comes into France but he died at Cluny and in his place Calixtus son to the Earle of Bourgongne was chosen Pope The reputation of the place from whence he was descended was great so as he being a Frenchman easily called a Councell in France to the great satisfaction of the French The Emperor degraded by the Popes decree in a Councell at ãâã It was held at Rheims where by an ecclesiasticall decree he declared Henry an enemy to the Church and degraded of the Imperiall dignity As this ignominious decree did moue the Emperor so did it minister matter to the King of England his brother in lawe to imbrace all occasions to annoy Lewis his capitall enemie for seeing this Councell had bin held in France and consisted chiefly of the French Church it was very apparant that the Kings fauour was very preiudiciall to the Emperours affaires The English fayles not to harpe vpon this string to the Emperour The Emperor and âing oâ England ioyne against France being already incensed by the thing it selfe promising him all his meanes incouraging him to enter France on the one side whilest that he came on the other with all the forces of Normandy and England The party was not small neither had Lewis small cause to feare being incountred by two such enemies But God shewed him the rod and reserued the punishment for an other season for as the Emperour was going to field the Germaine Princes foreseeing the misery of a warre vndertaken lightly vpon despight and weighing the importance of neighbourhood gaue him to vnderstand that he ought not to attempt warre against the King of France without declaring vnto him the causes of his discontent Hee therefore sends his Ambassadors to this end 1112. Lewis doth wisely answer him that hee is exceedinglie sorrie to see the two great Pillers of the Church so shaken by these dissentions and that it was to bee feared the whole building would bee ruined So as being a friend to both hee desired greatly to be a mediator of concord and not to carrie coales to increase the fire too much kindled alreadie the which ought to be quenched for the good and quiet of all Christendome This Ambassage was pleasing and preuailed so much as the Emperour disarmes The French King and the Emperour reconciled and was content to make Lewis a mediator for an accord betwixt him and the Pope to the great griefe of the King of England who expected a long continuance of this iaââe The composition was made at Wormes very beneficiall for the Pope in the yeare 1122. whereby Henry grants him the installing of Bishops and other benefices This did ease the sore but not cure it as the sequell of the Historie will shew While that Princes haue leisure to contend the poore people dye for hunger in many places of Europe This famine was exceeding great in Flanders Notable troubles in Flanders who then had for their Earle Charles surnamed the good for his good disposition and great charitie to the poore He sought by all meanes to releeue them But as barrenesse was one of the causes of this famine so the cruell couetousnesse of the rich was a great hinderance to the commoditie of victuals whereby there grew as remarkable an act as the successe was strange the particular report whereof the reader must pardon in the breefenesse of our stile There were three brethren at Bruges of the chiefe of the Countrie the which had gathered together a great quantitie of graine and would not sell it expecting a greater dearth which might cause a greater price that is Bertholphe Wendestrate Pouost of S. Donas and Chancellor of Flanders Lambert and Boussard Wendestrate brethren and an other rich Bourges called Lambert one of the chiefe of the Cittie This dignity of Prouostand Chancellor was so great as hee supplied the Princes place in his absence Vpon the peoples complaint the Earle decrees that all the graniers of these great houses should be opened and the Corne sold to the people at a reasonable rate The Comission was giuen to Thamard Almoner of the Earles house as a thing befitting his charge he causeth the graniers of these rich Bourgesses to be opened the corne is sold to the people and the money deliuered to the owners The people being releeued by the couragious care of Thamard commend him The Wendestrates and Lambert greatly discontented with this sale wherein they held themselues interessed cause many indignities to be done vnto him Lambert is directly accused by informations being a very audatious young man and the Wendestrates were touched therewith The Earle offended with these audatious attempts repaired them by Iustice threatning Lambert that if he continued he would seuerely punish him There was also an other complaint made by an old Abbot against the Prouost Treacherie against the good Earle of Flanders to whom the Earle spake roughly commanding him to restore vnto the Abbot what he ought him These free admonitions of the good Earle Charles did so alter the proud trecherous minds of these Cittizens as they resolue to kill him his milde facilitie giuing these wicked spirits both courage to attempt and boldnesse to execute And the end is answerable to their wicked desseine As the good Earle Charles went ill accompanied in the morning to his deuotion to the Church of S. Donas on Ash wednesday behold a troope of yong mad men led by this Lambert comes vnto him being vnarmed on his knees in a Chappell the Priest attired in his ornaments at the Altar the Earle holding forth his arme to giue his almes to a poore woman without any warning they beat him downe with their swords kill him and so forcing all to giue way The Earle of Flanders and his Almonet murthered they seeke for Thamard whom they find massacre with so great a furie as they leaue him vpon the place hewed into many peeces Their troope increaseth and they flie to the Pallace where all are amazed and finding it without gard without keyes without any gate shut they enter it with horrible cryes they kill sack and spoile and running from thence into the Cittie Crueltie in the Citty of Bruges they commit the like in those houses which they knew best affected to the good Earle Charles This furious crueltie was accompanied with an ouerweening indiscretion as if they had made some goodly conquest they braue it 1117. and play the maisters without feare of any punishment The people exceedingly grieued to see these barbarous cruelties against their good Prince whom they loued as a father durst not speake a word during this furye whereas this troupe of murtherers commaunded absolutely But the wisest Cittizens fled to Lewis as to their soueraigne Lord. Lewis comes to Bruges with great speede
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 âânsman 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 chooâe 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 inhibâbitants 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 stâââe 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 represeâts 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 stââke 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
her impudencie did so faâre exceed as shee would dishonourablie haue stayed in Antioche and left her husband presuming to cloake her shame with a shew of Religion saying without blushing that she could be no more the wife of Lewis to whom shee was Cousin in the fourth degree preferring the loue of a Iester named Saladin of the Sarrazin race Queene Elenoâ vnchast before the greatnesse of a King of France her lawfull husband Lewis being much disquieted perswades this woman to returne a heauier burthen to his minde then to his ship being returned to his house hee frees himselfe with all the speed he can And whereas hee should haue cast this insatiate woman into the Riuer being no more his wife and retained her Dowrie iustly gotten she playing bankerout of her honour Lewis pretends a cause to be diuorsed from Elenor and restores her Guienne hee calles a Councell at Baugency to haue her diuorsed the which was granted vnder colour of this farre fetcht consangunitie But his desire was to bee freed from her So retaining two Daughters borne vnder the vale of their marriage hee restores vnto Elenor all her Countrie of Guienne that is he puts into the hands of his furious enemie a Torche to set his whole Realme on fire for so soone as shee sees her selfe freed from the subiection and feare of a husband shee stayed not long to acquaint her selfe with Henry King of England and Duâe of Normandie Elenor marries with Henry King of England the greatest and most capitall enemie that Lewis had So hee obtained Guienne by the voluntary cession which Lewis made to haue the better meanes to annoy him and his whole realme Moreouer Lewis payde deerely for so great a discomoditie for the Pope would not giue him a dispence to marrie againe without a great summe of money to be imployed in the warres of the Holy Land and to finish this worke hee tooke to Wife Constance the Daughter of Alphonso King of Galicia being a weake friend Lewis marries againe and farre off This marriage was not greatly conuenient neither for his owne quiet not the peace of his subiects This subiect of deadly rancor encreasing the hatred of these two neighbour Monaâkes of France and England burst forth soone by dangerous effects The benefit of the new purchase of Guienne was the cause of that perrilous warre the which had so long and so lamentable a continuance William Duke of Guienne Grand-father by the Father to Queene Elenor had marryed the onely Daughter of the first Raimond Earle of Tholouse who had ingaged the sayd Countie to Raimond Earle of Saint Gilles who since also called himselfe Earle of Tholouse being seized of the sayd Countie and enioyed it quietly vnder the Kings obedience Henry King of England offers the money to Raimond to redeeme it The first war betwixt France and England for the Earledome of Tholouse and demands the Earledome as his Wiues right Vpon his refusall he armes enters into Quercy takes Cahors spoiles the Countrie and besiegeth Tholouse Lewis intreated by Raimond runnes to quenche this fire Beeing arriued and the two Armies readie to ioyne a peace was made betwixt the two Kings by the marriage of Marguerite the Daughter of Lewis with Henry the eldest Sonne of Henry King of England The two kings reconciled by a marriage But for that shee was very young and not yet mariageable shee was deliuered into Henry the Fathers hands vntill shee were of fitte age to marry Lewis had now buryed his wife Constance who left him but two Daughters without any heyres male so as being desirous to haue a successor hee made no delay to matry and tooke to his third Wife Alix the Daughter of Thibaud Earle of Champagne his vassall 1151. and newly reconciled but not greatly affected vnto him vntill that time Hee had a Sonne presently by her whom hee called Dieu Donné or giuen of God as an acknowledgement that God had sent him at his and his subiects praiers This is hee that shall succeed him I should begin to describe his raigne but order commands me to relate what happened during the raigne of Lewis in the neighbour nations of England and Italy wherein Lewis had great crosses Henry King of England had two sonnes by Elenor Richard and Geoffrây and by his first wife hee had Henry who was made sure to Marguerit of France of whom wee haue spoken The Father caused him to be crowned to settle him in his life time and tyed the English vnto him by homage A young Prince ambitious audatious ill aduised and rash who cannot long conteine himselfe with the taste of this new authoritie Notable troubles in England betwâââ the father and the sonne but will play the King with his Father And although his Fathers admonitions restrained him for awhile yet this ambitious humour still burst forth So as the Father from milde admonitions came to threats the insolencie of this young Prince increasing dayly Some yeares passed whilest this fire lay smothered very long for young Henry to whom the Fathers life seemed too tedious and the children of the second wife grew by the care of Elenor their Mother Henry the Father discontented with his Sonne and fearing that in consumating the mariage betwixt him and the Daughter of France the young Prince would grow proud augmenting his traine and State and through the fauour of King Lewis his Father in Lawe attempt something preiudiciall to his authoritie Hee delayed the accomplishment of this marriage although the Virgin werâ of more then sufficient yeares to marrie To this mischiefe was added an other more shamefull for that Henry the Father caused this Princesse to bee carefully kept the which should bee his Daughter in Lawe fearing least his Sonne should violently take her away Prince Henry iealous of his owne father and marry her Elenor falles into iealousie as if Henry had abused her And it was easie to settle this conceit in her sonne in Lawe Henryes head who had the chiefe interest in this delay And to publish this scandolous report vnto the people to make the old man more odious vnto the whole world A malitious and importune woman borne for a great plague to both these Estates As men doe commonly adore the Sunne rising so there wanted no Sicophants in Court to flatteâ the cares of this young King and likewise to incense the two Kings one against the other in flattering their passions Thus Henry transported by these occasions complaines to Lewis of the double wrong his Father did him both in the delay of his marriage and deniall of his authoritie And as Lewis at his request had giuen some admonitions vnto Henry in the end this passionate young Prince came to Paris where beeing well receiued hee enters League with Lewis to make warre against his Father and to disquiet him in diuers parts William King of Scotland is an associate vpon condition that Henry shall giue him
Pironne and Ferrand to the Lovure at Paris All France made Bonfires for this happy successe and Philip built a Temple in honor of the holy Virgen which de called Victory nere vnto Senlis By a decree of the Parlament at Paris the Earledome of Flanders was adiudged vnto the King as forfeited who gaue it againe to Iane the heyre of the sayd Earledome being not guilty of her husbands trechery This memorable victory called the battel of Bovuens chanced in the yeare 1215. the 25. of Iuly To make his triumph absolute Philip gaue free passage to the Germaines and Otho the Emperor being returned to his house willingly resigned the Empire died of a pining griefe The Emperor diâs for grâeâe of his loââe diâgrace which neuer left him after that shamefull flight hauing willingly sought his owne misery in supporting wrong against right and serching danger to perish in danger A notable example which shewes That victories come from the Eternall that mortall man dies before his time by his owne rashnes and that no vniust warre can bee succesâefull But what shall become of Iohn the onely motiue of this warre while the Emperor and the Earles of Flanders and Bullen great Princes whom he had imbarked be at warre hee remaines at home free from blowes attending the euent Seeing his Confederates thus defeated hee feares the whole storme will fall vppon him what doth hee hee playes at Double or Quit and flies to Innocent the fourth as to his Sanctuary And being forced to saue his Estate in this extremity he resolues to giue him a good part The Popes hatred with the power of France was the last end of his downe fall The Pope had excommunicated him not onely for the parricide of his Nephew Arthur but for the ill vsage of his Clergie To purchase so difficult an absolution there needed a great satisfaction He therefore sends confident men in all hast to Innocent 4. humbly beseeching him to pitty him in his calamity Iohn makes the realme of England tributarie to the Pope That if it would please him to receiue him into fauour and protect him against the King of France he would bind the realme of England and Seigneurie of Ireland to hold of him and his successors and in signe of obedience to pay him a yearely tribute of a thousand markes of siluer This franke offer caused Iohns Ambassadors to be well entertained Innocent âends his Legat presently to absolue him to passe the contract and to receyue the homages of fealtie as well of himselfe as of his subiecâ Iohn is absolued hauing laid his Crowne Scepter Cloake Sword and King the royal enseigns of a King at the Legats feet Iohn doth homage to the Popes Legate he doth him homage for his realme of England kissing his feete as his tributarie and binds the English to the like duty by a sollemne oth He was also willing to discharge that which he had taken from his Clergie This shal be the means to make him loose both his estate and life This hapned in the yeare 1215. These things performed in England the Legate returnes into France and denonceth vnto Philip in the Popes name That hee should suffer Iohn to enioyne his realme of England in peace and freely to possesse the lands which he held by homage of the Crowne of France Moreouer that he should satisfie the great complaints which the Clergie of his realme had made against him restoring that which he had exacted from them during the warres vpon paine of excommunication if hee did not presently obey Philip promiseth to submit himselfe and before the Legates departure hee frees the Clergie of his realme of the tenths which he had exacted for the charge of the warres according to the decree of a Nationall Councell held at Soissons Iohn liues at peace in England for that which concerned Philip but see hee is the instrument of his owne miserie Being exhaust of meanes through the long and chargeable warres wherewith England had beene afflicted hee had bound himselfe to the Pope to restore vnto the Clergie all such summes of money as he had extorted from them during his troubles and for want of paiment he sees an excommunication readie the which was reuoked but vpon condition of obedience Iohns oppression oâ his subiects the cause of his ruine Thus freeing the Clergie he sur-chargeth the people and pressed by the Pope to satisfie his command hee oppresseth his subiects by extraordinarie impositions and tyrannicall exactions adding force to his commands So as it fell out that as hee could not helpe the one without hurting of the other and that the people hate him commonly that wrongs them behold the English make strange complaints in Parliament against Iohn who doth incense them the more by his rigorous answers The English seeing themselues reiected by their King flie to extraordinarie remedies and being denyed iustice by him that should giue it they seeke it else where chosing a King in the place of a Tyrant France was their onely refuge in these extremities The English reiect âohn anâ offer the realme to Philip. and therefore they send the chiefe Noblemen of the realme to Philip to offer him the Crowne of England promising to obey him as their lawfull King Philip who desired nothing more makes shewe to refuse it pretending both the truce made with Iohn and his worde passed to the Pope but vnder hand he sends them his sonne Lewis his faithfull Lieutenant giuing him a traine fitt for his person in so great an exploite Lewis hauing taken hostages of the English for assurance of their faith Lewis of France receiued by the English hee passeth into England being receiued of them all with great ioy as the Prince from whom they attended their health and quiet Hee makes his entrie into London which was the Rendezvous of his most confident friends and by their example many Ciâties come and offer him obedience In the meane time complaints come to Philip from Pope Innocent as if hee had broken his faith and threats if hee did not repaire it Philip denies any breach of faith The Poâe sends to Philip âor Iohn They bee sayd he the discontents of the English against Iohn whom they accuse to haue slaine Arthur their lawfull King and hauing free libertie to make a new election they repaired to his Sonne who was of age to gouerne himselfe for whose errors hee was not answerable But attending the end of this sute let vs returne to England 1217. Iohn held strong places Winchester whether hee had retired himselfe Windolisor or Windsor The Pope âends to Philip for Iohn Norwiche and Douer hee had likewise factions in other Citties Lewis hauing receiued homage from many of them commandeth his Armie to marche to reduce the Citties to obedience who for the most part receiued him willingly Norwiche yeeldes without any dispute from thence hee goes to Douer hauing attempted the Captaine
by meanes of his brother whom hee held prâsoner hee resolues to take it by force and in the meane time hee beseegeth Windsor by some Noblemen of his partie Iohn sleepes not hee makes a vertue of necessitie imploying all his meanes to leuie men and to keepe what remained But behold an accident which ends both his sute and his life One of his Captaines brings him certaine troupes to releeue Winchester where hee attended the siege but they were charged by Lewis his men Iohn seeing his people to perish some by the Sword and the rest drowned flying to saue themselues oppressed in his conscience not able to endure the reuenging furies of his Nephews bloud vniustly spilt hee falles to a despairing griefe King Iohn dies for griefe and shortlye after dyes suffering the punishment of his iniustice and crueltie Leauing a notable example and president to all men neuer to hope for good by doing euill although the offender growe obdurate by the delaye of punishment This was after eighteene yeares patience during the which Iohn raigned with much trouble a slaue to his furious passions the which is a cruell and insupportable commander The English chânge their opinion Thus the decree of Gods iust iudgement against Iohn the parricide was put in execution in the yeare 1217. But this death of Iohn did not settle Lewis in his new royaltie as it was expected The discontent of the English dyes with Iohn and the loue of their lawfull Prince reuiues in his Sonne Henry God limits the bounds of States which mans striuing cannot exceede The Sea is a large Ditche to deuide England from France the Pyrenei Spaine and the Alpes Italy if audatious Ambition and Couetousnesse would not attempt to force Nature The English pleased with his death that made them to languish cast their eye vpon their lawfull King The Pope interposeth his authoritie for Henry against Lewis Who desirous to preserue what hee had gotten prepares his forces when as the losse of his Fleete comming from France to England makes him to change his resolution yeelding to reason and time restoring another man his right and estate to keepe his owne at home the surer and safer The Englâsh receiue Henry the sonne of Iohn and dismisâe Lewis of France Thus Henry the third the Sonne of Iohn was receiued King of England and Lewis returned into France but Iohns posteritie shall bee reuenged of the Children of Lewis with more and greater blowes then hee had giuen Lewis being returned into France findes worke at home to imploye him in Warre which hee sought beyond the Seas The occasion was to make head against the Albâgeios of whome wee will discourse in his life and not interrupt the course of this raigne It is now time to finish this tedious relation of Philips actions and to shew the conclusion of his life Avuergne vnitâd to the Crowne Hee did confiscate the Earledome of Avuergne and vnited it vnto the Crowne taking it from Guy being found guiltie of Rebellion this was his last acte All the remainder of his dayes were consecrated to make good lawes for the well gouerning of the Realme At Paris hee did institute the Prouost of Marchants and the Sheriffes for the politike gouernement thereof hee caused the Cittie to bee Paued Philips actions being before verye noysome by reason of the durt and mire Hee built the Halles and the Lovure beeing beautified since by Henry the second with a goodly Pauilion and the rest of the new Lodging Wherevnto King Henry the fourth that now raâgnes doth adde a Gallerie of admirable beautie if the necessitie of his affaires suffer him to Crowne the restauration of his Estate by the finishing of this great building Hee walled in Bois de Vincennes and replenished it with Deare and with diuers other sortes of wilde Beasts hee finished that admirable and sumptuous building of our Ladyes Church whereof the foundation was onely layde vnknowne by whome Hee made lawes against Vsurie Players Iuglers and Dycing houses 1219. An enemie to publicke disolutions and a friend to good order and iustice Hee releeued the people ouer-charged by reason of the Warres Hee restored vnto the Clergie all the reuenues hee had taken from them during his greatest affaires And thus hee imployed this last acte of his life to gouerne the Realme Landes vniteâ to the Crown to the which hee had vnited a good parte of that which was alienated by Hughe Capet That is all Normandie a good part of Guienne the Earldomes of Aniou Touraine Maine Vermandois Cambresis Vallois Clermont Beaumont Avuergne Pontheiu Alancon Limosin Vandosme Damartin Mortaigne and Aumale Wee shall hereafter see how the rest of the Crowne landes returned according to the diuers meanes which GOD gaue by the good gouerment of our Kings Philip imployd his peaceable olde age in this sort when as God did summon him to leaue his Realme to take possession of a better Hee was verye sicke of a quartaine Ague which kept him long languishing in his bed giuing him meanes to meditate vpon his death and to prouide for the Estate of his Reaâme leauing a good guide whom hee had leasure and meanes to fashion yet could hee not make him the perfect heire of his Vertues and Happinesse Although Lewis his Sonne were not vicious yet had hee nothing excellent to make him apparent among other Kings He would not Crowne him in his life time beeing taught by the late and neighbour example of the ill gouernment of England betwixt the Father and the Sonne finding his forrces to faile him by the continuance of this Feauer hee made his Will Philips testâment In the which hee delt bountifully with his Seruants according to their deserts hee gaue great Legacies towards the Christians Warre in the East and to the Templets who were then held in great reputation to bee verie necessarie for the garde of Christendome Hee gaue new rents to Hospitalls and to very many Churches And so hee died in peace the yeare 1223. the first of Iulie Hâs death in the age of fiftie and nine yeares beloued and lamented of his subiects Hee was fifteene yeares old when hee began to raigne and gouerned forty and foure yeares hee left two Sonnes His condâtions Lewis and Philip and one Daughter called Marguerite Vnhappie in his house and verye happy in his raigne· His minoritie was reasonable good but his age was verie reuerend Crowned with all the contents a mortall man could desire in this mortall life hauing left many testimonies of his Vertues to make his memorie deere and respected of his posteritie His estate peaceable his heire knowne and beloued of his subiects and of age and experience to gouerne himselfe and to force obedience A Prince rightly called Augustus whom wee may number among the greatest Hee was most Religious Wise Moderate Valiant Discreete and Happy a louer of Iustice of order and of pollicie friend to the people enemie to Disorders Dissolutions
of K. Alphonso attending meanâ to repaire his affaires in better season In the meane time Simon doth promise himselfe the property of all Raymonds estates the which he had gotten with his Sword but for that it was apparent that the King of France would hardly grant so goodly a Prouince taken from his kinsman to one of his subiects Simon therefore flies vnto the Pope by whose authority this war was chiefely ingaged from whom he attended his chiefe recompence hauing laboured for him Innocent the 3. finding that Philip who would not desist in his pursute against Iohn King of England notwithstanding his interdictioÌâ would not be moued now by his simple authority to leaue so important a peece he assembles a great Councell meaning to force the King to yeeld vnto his will âhe Patriarkes of Ierusalem and Constantinople were there in person The Councell of Latran and those of Antioche and Alexandria sent their deputies there were 70. Archbishops 400. Bishops and 1000. Abbots Priors The Emperors of the East West the Kings of France England Spaine Ierusalem Cipres and other Kings Princes and great estates had their Ambassadors By a decree of this notable assembly Count Raymond was excommunicated with all his associats The Earldome of Tholouse giuen to Simon of Montfort by the Pope his lands adiuged to Simon of Montfort for his seruice done and to do to the Catholike Church Philip could not gain-say this decree confirmed in a maner by the consent of the whole world He therfore receiued SimoÌ to homage for the Prouince of Languedoc whereof he tooke peaceable possession but he did not long enioy it âor seeing himselfe inuested he began to oppresse his new subiects An Eâle is lost with ouer griping The people of Languedoc finding themselues oppressed with this insupportable burthen of Simon they resolue to call home their Count Raymond who was retired into Spaine to seeke some meanes to recouer the possession of his estate His case was not desperate for hee enioyed the Earldomes of Viuareâz Venaissan and the Citty of Auignon places kept by his subiects during these occurrents whether Simons forces were not yet come Raymond being called by his subiects returnes into Languedoc accompanied with a notable troupe of Arragonois being discontented for the death of their King Alphonso The whole Countrey baâdied against Simon hating him as an vsurper Simon hated by his subiects of Languâdoc for hâs oppression âyâânie and detesting him as a tyrant for doubtlesse vniust violent things cannot continue Whilest that Simon seekes to bridle the Citties of his new conquests leaping from place to place with an infinite toile behold Raymond is receiued into Tholousâ by intelligence with great ioy of the inhabitants Simon abandons all the rest and flies thether but he finds a stop for comming to the gates of the Citty as he approched neere the walles to parley he was hurt in the head with a stone wherof he died The example of Tholouse made the greatest part of the subdued Citties to reuolt Simon of Montfort left two sonnes Simon of Montfort slaân before Tholouse Guy and Amaulry vpon the reuolt of Tholouse the one seizeth vpon Carcassone the other of Narbonne but Guy was slaine in Carcassone by the Inhabitants who were the stronger Amaulry hauing fortified Narbonne repaires to Philip Augustus beseeching him to succor him in his necessity Philip had the Wolfe by the eare for as on the one side he desired this goodly Prouince for himselfe rather then for the children of Simon of Montfort so was he also restâained by the authority of the Pope and Councell He theâfore sends his sonne Lewis into Languedoc to reduce the Country to his obedience But he had scarce taken any one Castell when as his fathers death calls him home Count Raymond receiued againe in Languedock So as Count Raymond his subiects of Languedoc had time to reuiue their spirits recouer many places gotteÌ by Simon The king of England would neither assist nor send to the coronatioÌ of Lewis although he were held as Duke of Guienne 1223. This occasion moued Lewis to warre against him Warre in Guienne against the English whereby he got Niort and Rochel and Sauary of Mauleon Gouernour for the English retired to his seruice This losse made the warre more violent Richard Earle of Cornwaile brother to Henry King of England passed into France with a goodly armie and hauing taken S. Macaire Langon and Reolle Townes seated vpon the Riuer of Garonne and defeated some French troupes he made way for a truce which was fauourable for both parties But especially for Lewis being desirous to settle matters in Languedoc the which troubled him for the daily proceedings of the Albigeois yet was hee loth to labour for another For this reason he treats with Amaulry Earle of Montfort touching the right he had to that Countrie with whom hee preuailed the more easily for that hauing lost the greatest part of the Prouince he was not able to hold the rest with the Kings dislike to whom hee resigned it by order of a decree made by the Pope in the Councell of Latran and in recompence hee made him Constable of France with the consent of Pope Honorius Lewis compounds for Languâdoc with the âoân of Simon Montfort Hauing compounded with the Children of Simon Montfort hee resolued to winne Count Raymond to his deuotion and to perswade him to lay aside armes whereof hee did see the euents to be very doubtfull His intent was to vnite this rich Prouince of Languedoc to the Crowne But reason which saith that no man thinkes his owne too much the respect which great men do vsually beare one to another and the alliance which the house of France had with the Countie of Tholouse were great restraints for the couetousnesse of Lewis But how soeuer he determined to make himselfe the stronger to prescribe them a law To this end he leuied a great Armie fortified with his Edicts by the which hee thunders against these poore Albigeois as Heretikes and Rebels These Edicts were of force whereas his authoritie was respected Count Raymond considering with himselfe the cruell beginning of this warre and the continuance of the like miserie in these second armes fearing to imbarke himselfe the third time with a people against his King is easily perswaded by Lewis to reconcile himselfe to Pope Honorius Thus Raimond leauing to oppose himselfe Count Raymond submits himselfe vnâo the Pope yeelds to Lewis and perswades the âarle of Cominges the chiefe agent of his desseignes to the like obedience Thus both of them abandon the people go to Rome they make their peace with the Pope and leaue the Albigeois to the mercie of Lewis who seeing them without a head imbraceth this occasion to their ruine High and base Languedoc was wholy in his power by Raymonds departure Auignon remained with many other places in the Countie of
depart from Corbeil and enter Champagne in hatred of the Earle who had forsaken them to follow the Kings partie But Lewis taking him into his protection and marching towards them with his men at armes all their desseignes came to nothing And yet they had imbarked the Duke of Lorraine and the King of England in this quarrell Lewis hauing expelled them Champagne followes his course takes Angiers without any contradiction belonging then vnto the Brittons and from thence hee marcheth into Brittanie Terror opens the Gates of all the Citties The Earle of Dreuz leaues his Brother who seeing himselfe abandoned of them all but first of iudgement confesseth his fault and doth homage to the King for Brittanie The League broken and by this rebellion he gets the name of Maâclerck hauing so ill imployed his time as to suffer himselfe to bee vanquished by a Child and a Woman These troubles thus pacified to the dishonor of the Authors the young King wonne great reputation and his Mothers wisdome was generally commended Lewis makes a progresse throughout ãâã realmâ who thought it fitte that her Sonne should bee seene of all his subiects As hee went this progresse hee receiued homage from all his Nobilitie and ordained many things according to occurrents It chanced that hauing erected Poitou to an Earledome and giuen it to Alphonso his brother Hugh Earle of Marche which lyes within Poitou would not acknowledge Alphonso for his Lord His Wife Isabell Mother to King Henry of England who had beene first married to King Iohn was the motiue scorning to subiect her selfe to an Earle of Poitou This ambitious passion was the cause of great Warre First shee drewe in the Earle of Lusignan vnder the same pretext for that there had beene Kings of Ierusalem and Cipres issued out of this Noble house and afteâwards the King of England The first tumult not preuented had almost surprised Lewis within Saumur and this Woman transported with pride and hatred sought to make him away eyther by poison or sword kindling the Warre in England by hired Preachers In the end after the two armies had made great spoile in Poitou Xantonge and Angoulmois both of friend and enemie a peace was concluded with the English vpon condition that La Marche should remaine in France This was the end of that feminine rage ridiculous in the issue but lamentable for the poore people who alwayes pay for the folly and malice of Princes Prouence was gouerned by the Berengers as wee haue sayd since the ouerthrow of Lewis the Sonne of Boson and then in the hands of Raymond Berenger Prouence comes to Charles of Aniou a sonne of France a fierce and cruell man who had so incensed his subiects being impatient and turbulent of themselues as they had recourse to Raymond Earle of Tholouse his neerest Kinsman to install him in their Earles place with whom they would haue no more correspondencie Being ready to arme the felicitie of Lewis pacified all Raymond Earle of Prouence had foure Daughters Marguerite which was wife to our Lewis the ninth and Queene of France Elenor which was married to Henry King of England Sanchia to Richard his brother Duke of Cornwaile and Beatrix which was to marry Daughters of great hapines hauing had three Kings and a Royall Prince The Earle of Prouence would hardly haue beene comptrould by Lewis but GOD who meant to plant a generall peace in France by the hand of this good King buried Raymond with his rage in one Tombe taking him out of the world whome a whole world could not containe Lewis after the decease of Raymond pacified the Prouençals in marrying his brother Charles the Earle of Aniou with Beatrix the Daughter of their Earle to their great content adding in fauour of this marriage Maine to Aniou And since this Charles was King of Sicilia Robert the yonger brother was Earle of Arthois By this meanes his bretheren remained satisfied Alphonsus being Earle of Poitou and Tholouse by his portion and mariage Charles Earle of Prouence and Aniou and Robert Earle of Arthois and the Realme continued in happy peace These things thus happily performed by Lewis hee imployed his care in the reformation of the Realme beginning first with himselfe and his houshold Lewis his disposition then did he plant Religion and Iustice the principall Pillers of a State for the good and ease of the people Hee lead a life worthy of a King louing and honoring Religion with much zeale and respect taking delight in the reading of the holy Scripures the which hee cauâed to be Translated into the French tongue which I haue seene in a Gentlemans custodie carrying this title He did greatlie honor Clergie men being worthy of their places and was a seuere censor of them that did abuse it whom hee charged to liue according to their Canons and to shew themselues patternes of good life to the people That they should bee preferred to Ecclesiasticall dignities according to order in all libertie and should enioy their reuenues without lett That the exactions and insupportable charges imposed by the Court of Rome these are the words of his Edict on the realme of France by the which it was mâghtily impouerished and which hereafter might be leuied should not in any sort be leuied without apparent cause his expresse command and the approbation of the French Church He had a good soule being iust sober modest The Patterne of an excellent Princâ temperate in his eating and drinking in his talke habits and conuersation neither melancholie nor exceedinglie merry circumspect of a good iudgement staied charitable moderate vigilant and seuere in the obseruation of that he had decreed And as the Prince is the rule of his house he either chose seruants of his owne humor or else his seruants framed themselues vnto his disposition so as his Court was like vnto a well ordred Church His traine was royall and stately according to the times but there was nothing superfluous not lost so as hee had his Treasurie replenished to giue to such as deserued He paied his seruants wel yet he gouerned his treasure in such âort as his officers could hardly steale from him and such as offended he punished with so exact a seueritie as the rest feared to commit the like The orders for his treasure are registred in his Ordinances where you may see them at large He loued learning and learned men and delighted to read and heare good workes fauouring his Vniuersitie of Paris and drawing the Parisians to lâue Scholleâs so as in his time the Vniuersitie of Paris had great prerogatiueâ as the eldest Daughter of our Kings The realme was corrupted with the iniustice extââsion of former raignes by the sale of offices being most certaine that what we buy in grosse we must sell by retaile He did therefore expresly prohibite these sales and supplied such places as were voide according to the merits of persons after due examination to draw good men and
Guienne hee taketh Bourdeaux the chiefe Cittie of Guienne and then most of the other Townes doe willingly yeeld obedience vnto the King Rions and some other Castels well fortified by the Eâglish âold good to serue as a Leuaine of this waâre Edward seeing himselfe thus assailâd aâmes by Sea and Land By Sea hee sends an Aâmie vnder the conduct of Robert Tiptoste A Leââue beâwixt Edwaâd oâ Enâland Gây of Fâanders the Emperor and Dukâ oâ Bâr against Philip. By land hee sends some forces vnder the command oâ Iohn Breton to preserue that which remained in Guienne and to fortifie himselfe with friends in the doubtfull euents of so important a cause hee makes a league with Guy Earle of Flanders and for confirmation thereof hee demands his Daughter Philip for his eldest sonne the Prince of Wales the heire apparant to the Crowne of England which the Earle accepts willingly And to omit nothing that might auaââe him hee enters league with Henry Duke of Bar giuing him Elenor his Daughter in marriage and with Adolphe of Nassau Emperour both hauing pretensions against France The Duke of Bar demanded Champagne of the King by the rights hâe preâended and enters it with forces Philip sends Gualter of Creây the Loâd of Chaââillion vpon Marne against him with a goodly Armie who on the other side entâing into Barrois makes a diuersion and forceth the Duke to returne to defend his owne against Gualter âhe Emperour brauângly giues notice vnto the King that he will make warre against him to recouer the Lands belonging to the Empire Philip makes no other answer but sends him a packet well sealed vp in the which was a whiâe Paper foulded like a Letter without any writing This scofâe was a great defie as indeed the braueries of Adolphe had no successe The Earle of Flanders was the neerest and most dangerous enemie to preiudice Philip who had ioyned himselfe to the King of England by so strict a bond as the marriage of his Daughter Philip hauing three great enemies in front tryes his wittes to staye them The most dangerous was hee that dealt vnder hand that is the Fleming who made a good shew to Philip Stââars dâluditur ãâã and yet treated with his most dangerous enemie but pollicie did circumuent pollicie The King findes meanes vnder-hand to giue him notice that hee would gladly see his Daughter whome hee had Christened and was called Philip by his name before he led her into England Guy brings her with him to Paris being arriued he is committed prisoner by the King The cause is made knowne vnto him by such as had commanââment to arrest him That being his Vassaâle hee had presumed to allye himselfe with a capitall enemie to the Crowne giuing him so precious a gage as his Daughter Guy obtaines leaue to speake with the King Hee excuseth himselfe Philip sâizeth vpon âhe âaâle oâ Flânâeâs Daugâter but his Daughter ââmaines as a pawne with the Queene to bee marryed at the Kings good pleasure ãâã Daughter although kindly entertained by the King and Queene was full of greefe lamenting dayly as if this honourable gaâde had beene a most cruell prison The Earle intreates Philip to send him his Daughter hee answers him plainely that hee tooke her not to restore her Herevpon Guy takes occasion to complaine of the great wrong hee pretended to bee done him by Philip who detaines his Daughter forceably without reason The English in the meane time make open warre in Guienne Philip foreseeing that this was the beginning of a greater storme meaning to lay the burthen vpon him that might doe him most harme sends a goodly Armie into Guienne against the English vnder the conduct of two great Commanders his Brother Charles Earle of Valois and the Constable of Neele to molest the enemie in diuers places Rions and Pondesaâ Townes vpon the Riuer of Garonne then strong but now desolate are besieged and after many diâficulties yeeld vnto the King and in the end Saint Seuer but with more paine Edmond Brother to the King of England is defeated at Sea The English affaires succeeded ill and reâuânâng into England repaires his Nauâe But striuing afterwards in vaine to besiege Bourdeaux with new forces hee goes and dyes at Bayonne then belonging to the English 1296. Thus all things succeeding ill for the English hee seekes all meanes to fortifie himselfe He flies to the Emperour Adolphe the chiefe instrument of his hope and sends him money to leuâe an armie To Pope Bâniface the eight beseeching him to remeâber the priuate bond he had to the preseruation of England whereof he was protector Guy Earle of Flanders ioynes openly with the English in this societie to make warre against Philip with all his forces But from these light beginnings sprung diuers occasions which ââoubled these great Princes The Fleminge is the chiefe aduancer of this Trageâââ and shall haue his share in it A great assembly of Princes against Philip. He cals a great assemblie in the Cittie of Gramont in the yeare 1296. at the feast of Châistmas where Adolph thâ Emperour Edward King of England the Duke of Austria Iohn Duke of Brabant the Earle of Iuliers William of Iuliers his Sonne Iohn Earle of Holland and of Haynault Robert Earle of Neuers William Henry and Guy of Flanders Ihon Earle of Namur and many other great personages meete and with one coâseââ resolue to make warre against Philip. The colour was to maintaine Guy Earle of âlanders vniustly afflicted by Philip who had violently taken and stolne his Daughter against the right of Nations and detained her refusing obstinately to restore her to her Father It was decreed that Guy should begin by force and bee well secoâded by the Emperour and the English in case of necessitie But before they come to Armes Pope Boniface should make the first point by the luster of his authoritie All things threatned Philip with much trouble but the end will shew that the attempts of man are all but vaine Boniface according to the intent of their league sends his Nuncio to Philip Popâ Boniface eâenây to Pâilip which was Iames Bishop of Metz to exhort him to doe Iustice both to the Earle of Flanders and to the King of England protesting that hee desired nothing more then peace betwixt Christian Princes Hee sent the same Nuncio vpon the same subiect into England but with an other intent then hee made shâw of vnto Philip casting Wood and Oyle into this fire in steed of Water to quench it But for that this Pope must appeare in many acts of this Theater wee must obserue his disposition by some sufficient and not suspected testimonie Platina the âopes Secretarie Being saith hee a Priest Cardinall of Saint Martin of the Mount Platina iâ ãâ¦ã hee affected the Pontificall dignitie with such vehemencie as hee omitted neither ambition nor fraude to compasse it and moreouer hee was puft vp with such arrogancie âs âee
contemned the whole world Hee reports also that hee vsed a notable pollicie to circuâuent Celestin being chosen to the dignitie of Pope a simple man and vnfit for maââeâs of State hee suborned some one to talke to him in the night like an Angell perswading him to leaue this charge if hee would be saued hee preuailes by his pâactises and wrought so by subtill deuises as hee was chosen Pope in his place Being Pope hee desired nothing more then to kindle the warre betwixt the Guelphes and the Gibelins then called Blacke and White by a name and marke of a faction Platina coates a singular proofe of his disposition nothing inclined to procure peace among Christian Princes Prochât Archbishop of Genoa affected to the Gibelin faction kneeled at Boniface feete on Ashwednesday As the Priest is accustomed to say Memento homo quia ciuis es in âinerem reuerteris he sayd changing the wordes Memeâto homo quia Gibilinus es et eâm Gibilinis in cinerem reuerteris casting the Ashes into his eyes where as they are accustomed to cast them on the head in signe of humilitie and submission Boniface thus inclined to the peace of Christendome that is to say as the Lord of Haillan writes more puft vp with glory and vanitie then good zeale to the peace of Christian Princes hee commands Philip by his Nuncio to restore to the English and Flemmings what they demanded and for not obeying hee cites him to appeare at Rome vpon paine of excommunication Philip a wise and a valiant Prince although hee were discontented with this course yet hee sent an Honorable Ambassage to Rome by the Archbishop of Rheims and the Earle of Saint Paul to lay open his right before the Deputies of the King of England and the Earle of Flanders who were then at Rome to complaine as being wronged All parties being heard Boniface decrees that Philip as the fountaine and cause of all the miseries and inconueniences which had happened should yeeld to Edward and to Gây all they demanded both in Guienne and Flanders The Pope makes a decree against Philip. charging the Archbishâp of Rheâms to signifie this Bull vnto the King vpon paine of excommunication for not obeying This was the first blowe giuen by Boniface against Philip The other Sceane of this Theater shall represent an other acte But what doth Philip after these great threates He prepares for deeds not suffering himselfe to be daunted with words and tâies his witte to finde out meanes to maintaine himselfe against so mightie enemies not holding it fiâte nor worthy of a King of France to be terrified with these CoÌminations from Rome imployed without reason against his lawfull authoritie So seeking for all helpes he resolues to be ready for all euents holding words insufficient to calme this storme Philip prepares to defend himselfe He layes great impositions which they call Maletost vpon his Subiects for the leâying of Souldiars and imposeth great tenths vpon the Clergie But in the search of thâs remedie he was incountred with two difficulties On the one side The French mutine being surcharged his Subiects suâcharged with the exaction of these great summes being almost in dispaire were ready to rebell in diuers places especially in the greater Citties And on the other side Pope Boniface thundred against him by new Comminations and Censures â forbidding the Clergie to contribute any thing This Prince crossed with these difficulties continues his course resolutely Philip admonisheâh the Earle of Flandeââ of his duty as a great worke requires a noble and vndanted spirit But before he enters warre against Guy Earle of Flanders he sends the Archbishop of Rheims and the Bishop of Seâlis vnto him to aduise him not to enter into a voluntarie warre That the King was as carefull of his Daughter as himselfe to marrie her honorablie according to her qualitie That hee did nothing vnworthy of a good King or a good God-father in not suffering his subiects to allie themselues to his capitall enemies the which hee spake not for feare of the Earles forces or of his friends but for the care hee had of his Subiects not to see them runne headlong into ruine and therefore he presents him the choise of Peace of Warre Count Guy answers âhat hee is resolute to recouer his right by force from the King seeing hee might not haue it by reason Philip hauing tryed mildnesse in vaine comes to force Hee had a goodly Armie whereof hee takes the one halfe and giues the other to Robert Earle of Artois his cousine He turnes the head of his Armie against Lisle and besiegeth it Philip inuades Flanders and defeates he Flemings whilest that Robert defeates the Flemings at Furnes and takes the Earles of Iuliers and Albemont with many other of great accoumpt and sends them prisoners into France So continuing his victory hee takes the Townes of Cassel Bergues Saint Winoch Furnes and all the West part with an incredible celeritie The King hauing taken Lisle hee enters victoriously into Bruges At this sodaine check all the rest of Flanders stânds amazed This happy beginning did shake the desseignes of the confederate Princes so as without any more delay they sue for peace Ambassadors come presently vnto him from the King of England demanding a truce the which hee granted comprehending the Earles of Flanders and Neuers vpon condition they should put their controuersies to compromise And so he returned into France leauing Raoul of Neele his Constable Gouernor of the Countrie of âlanders This was the first voyage of Philip into Flanders in the yeare 1297. All things seemed to bee thus mildely pacified He seizeth vpon all Flanders but the progresse will soone shew that Philip had no meaning to receiue the Earle of Flanders into fauour For the truce being newly expired Charles Earle of Valois enters into Flanders with the same victorious Armie where hee takes Bethâne Douay Courtray and all the rest of the Countrie of Flanders except Gand whether the Earle Guy was retired with his Children being disapointed of succours from his allyes and confederates England is quiet and the Emperour Adolphe is no more to be seene The Earle of Flanders forsaâân by his confederates who had made this poore Earle to weare the Bable And the Gaâtois make their peace with the King keeping their Priuileges But what shall become of the Earle hee yeelds himselfe absolutely into the hands of Robert Eaâle of Artois with promise that by his intercession he should be restored into the Kings good fauour and so into the possession of his estate 1299. Vpon this promise of Robert Guy accompanied with his children Robert William and Guy and his Nobilitie that were most confident vnto him comes to Paris but his hope was soone turned into a languishing sorrow for both himselfe his children and all his followers were dispersed into sundry places vnder sure gardes Guy put into prison as the Kings prisoners
Daughters whose names are buried in the confusion of times troubled by the pâetences of Males and Females and his wife with Child as wee haue sayd A wombe which shall breed many long and perilous controuersies Charles dyed in the yeare 1328. leauing the Crowne to the second royall branche of Capets wherevnto the order of the fundamentall law did lawfully call them THE SECOND PARCELL OF THE THIRD RACE OF CAPETS CONTAINING THIRTEENE KINGS in the second royall branche called of Valois from Philip of Valois to Henry the third THE NAMES OF THIRTEENE Kings of the second royall branch of Capets called of Valois Philip of Valois Iohn Charles the 5. Charles the 6. Charles the 7. Lewes the 11. Charles the 8. Lewis the 12. Francis the first Henry the 2. Francis the 2. Charles the 9. Henry the 3. the last of this royall branche From the yeare a thousand three hundred twentie eight vnto the yeare a thousand fiue hundred eightie eight PHILIP of VALOIS the 50. King of France PHILLIP KING OF FRANCE L. THe doubtfulnesse of the issue which was expected from the royall wombe of Iane 1328. widow to Charles the faire held the beginning of this raigne in great suspence and perplexitie Controuersie for the realme betwixt Edward the 3. King of England Pâiâiâ of Valois euen for the regencie it selfe for Edward the 3. King of England the sonne of Edward the 2. and of Isabell of France the daughter of Philip the faire and sister to the three Kings last deceased pretended it as his right and in case the child died whatsoeuer it were the realme also by the title of royall consanguinitie according to the lawes of England ãâã Philip of Valois the first Prince of the bloud of France maintained that ãâ¦ã of the male if any were borne as the realme if it were a daughter oâ the sonne died belonged directly vnto him without all controuersie holding the first ãâ¦ã among the Princes of the bloud after the decease of the three brethren who had bin ãâ¦ã aâter another For Philip the hardie had left two sonnes Philip the faire and ãâã Earle of Valâiââ of whom it is said That he was the sonne of a King brother to a King ãâ¦ã father to a King and yet no King ãâã Philip and Charles had succeeded to the Crowne one after another so as after ãâ¦ã the right came to Charles and his children according to the fundamentall law oâ State To decide this controuersie the generall Estates were called at Paris Philip of Valoââ preferâed to the ââowne with great solemâiââe where they decree That Philip of Valois should be Regent of the realme if Queene ãâã had a sonne and King if it were a daughter ãâã was delâuered of a daughter the first of Aprill at Bois de Vincennes the which was caââed Blanche This quaârell thus decided Philip installed King Philip of Valois was saluted and proclaimed King of France and within few daies after was annointed and crowned at Rheims accordiââ to the vsuall custome And âhen being well accompanied with his Princes Peeres Officers and an infinite number of his nobility he made his entry into his chiefe Citty of Paris with an incredible ioy and pompe this was in the yeare .1328 Being thus in possession of the Realme he studied to settle his estate much disordered by the ill gouernement of the forepassed Kings ãâã settles his ãâ¦ã France and likewise to satisfie the daughter of Lewis Hutin in regard of the Counties of Brye and Champâgne lying too neere to his good Citty of Paris to be diuided from the crowne So he treated with her and held them by his prerogatiue giuing vnto her as much in exchange as the said Earledomes were worth lying farther off in the counties of la March Rouergue and Languedoc But Flanders troubled him much more the Earle and his subiects were greatly incensed one against an other by reason of some exactions of money made by the Earle for the payment of his old debtes due by the accord so as they made warre against their Earle and tooke him prisoner Beeing the stronger they controlled their Lord but soone after they payde for their folly for the Earle being deliuered had recourse vnto Philip as to their soueraigne Philip takes the Earles cause in hand He suppresseth the Flemings rayseth a great armie against the Flemings takes sacks and burnes Cassel where they had made the body of their army after the defeate of two and twenty thousand Flemings in a pitched field Hauing subdued this mutinous people hee aduised the Earle to vse that aduantage modestly to win theÌ by mildenes not to thrust them into errors by despight or dispaire the which are sooner preuented then repayred in popular tumults Beeing returned from this voyage Philip found newe worke at Paris The Courts of Parlement and all the Soueraigne Iudges assembled from all the Prouinces made a general complaint against the Clergy of France A notable sute of the Patlements against the cleargie they accuse them ofsundry abuses namely that against the due of their charges they intermedled with the politike iurisdiction The sute was vehement famous for the greatnes of the parties The King to reconcile this quarrel calles a general assembly of his whole realme at Paris The cause was pleaded before him with great liberty by Peter of Cugnere this is he who by derision they called M. Peter Cugnet whoÌ at this day they finde in the great Temple at Paris noted with a little Monkeys head placed betwixt two pillers to put out the candles being odious by reason of his pleading and as coldly defended by Peter Bertrand both famous Aduocates in those times The issue was doubtfull but Philip foreseeing the euent of so important a busines after that he had seriously exhorted the Prelates to reforme themselues in reforming the abuse to auoide these popular complaints he referred the matter to a further hearing But he had other worke in hand Edward the 3. King of England for that he was not receiued King of France practised great and new desseines against him studying onely vpon reuenge He had purposely refused to assist at his coronation makes no shew of any intent to do homage for Guienne whereunto Philip did cal him Edward hauing no colour to refuse so apparent a duty came to ãâã with so great and extraordinary a traine as it seemed plainly not to be done to honour the king but rather to strike some feare or admiration into the French of his great forces To check this bold brauâdo Philip shewed himself a King at his first enteruew with Edward who euen then champt vppon the bit and smothered his choler Edward appeares at the place and time prefixt royallie attired with a long roabe of crimson veluet pouldred with Leopardes of gold a crowne vpon his head a sword by his side and golden spurres on his heeles He presents himselfe standing before Philip
sitting in his royall throane attyred with a long robe of violet coloured veluet pouldred with Fowers-deluce of gold a crowne on his head and the scepter in his hand holding a royall Maiesty accompanied with his Constable Chauncellour and great Chamberlaine The Vicount of Melun great Chamberlaine of France coÌmands Edward to take off his crowne sword spurs to kneele downe the which he doth Then hee tooke both his hands and hauing ioyned them both together hee spake vnto him in this manner The ãâã of ãâã King oâ England to ãâã You become a Leege man vnto the King my Lord who is here present as Duke of Guienne and Peere of France and you promise to be faithfull vnto him loyal Say yea And Edward answered yea In like sort he did him homage for the countie of Ponthieu intreating Philip to restore him all those places in Guienne 1330. which his Predecessors had inioyed Philip answered him with great grauity that he would consider thereof This was the homage which Edward King of England did vnto Philip King of France the which I haue particularly noted as the first act of a notable Tragedy The euent will shew that Philip had done farre better without preiudice to his authority Philips error in receiuing homage lawfully purchased by the law of State to pacifie Edward by all ciuill meanes obseruable betwixt Kings and not to braue him vpon an inferiour quality the which is no blemish to the other for in the end he shewed himselfe his equall in dignity A furious bayte of hatred among Princes which cannot be reconciled Edward departed discontented from Philip The cause of Edwards disconteÌt against Philip. resolute to attempt all meanes to crosse him and to ruine him Hee seekes out all instruments fit for this dessigne both in Flanders Brittaine and Germanie whereof followed mournefull euents both for the King and his Realme I will note euery thing in order reseruing the Estate of the Church and Empire to the ende of his raigne least I should intterrupt the order of this discourse Philip was otherwise affected then Edward as commonly desire makes shewe of that which is not pleasing men with vaine imaginations for supposing that he had tamed Edward with his imperious homage he presumed that he had well setled his affayres to be obeyed by him without any contradiction and to haue his realme enioy an assured peace without any anoyance vnder his commaund Vpon this conceipt he intends a voyage to the East Philip resolues to go into the East desirous to be nothing inferior to the glorious and renowned zeale of his Predecessors In this deuotion he easily yeelds to the perswasions of Pope Benedict .xi. borne at Tholouse then resident at Auignon His fleete was then preparing at Aiguesmortes a sea Towne of Languedoc whilest that he prouides for the regencie of the Realme giuing it to Iohn Duke of Normandy his eldest sonne being foureteene yeares old leauing him a graue and learned Counsell And seeking to sownd Edwards mind if he would accompany him in this holy warre imitating the example of his Predecessors he learnes by certaine intelligence that he watched his departure to inuade France This new occasion gaue him a reasonable subiect to change his resolution and not willingly to expose his new inheritaÌce to his enimy But this satisfied not Pope Benedict The Pope disconteÌted with the King who grew so bitter vpon this alteration that exclaiming generally of Philip as disloyall he sought all meanes to annoy him There was a capitall hatred betwixt the Emperour Lewis of Bauiâre and the sea of Rome hauing excomunicated him as an heretike Benedict absolues him and becomes his friend seeking to oppose him against Philip who dislyking of this proceeding sends Entragues a gentleman of Viuarez to Auignon to let Benedict vnderstand that if he did not forbeare to speake ill of him he would force him to silence after the example of that his Predecessor whose name he bare and who had left so famous a remembrance of his rashnes to posterity Edward being returned into England sleepes not A Prince of an excellent iudgement great courage and of a resolute and actiue spirit high minded and a fatall instrument to chastise France His repulse his homage and his great meanes Edward resolues to make warre against Philip. were both the baite and the ãâã to this generous resolution which thrust him on to disquiet the possession of that by force which he could not obtaine by reason But for so great a proiect he needed a ââeat Counceller to direct and fortifie him in the execution of an enterprise of so great import Robert Earle of Artois a Prince of the blood of France descended from an other Robert sonne to Lewis 8. and brother to S. Lewis had a great suite with his Aunt Mahauld Countesse of Burgongne for the Earledome of Arthois Robert had laboured much for Philip in his great question for the crowne against Edward King of England before mentioned assuring himselfe that Philip would requite him in his vniust pretention but Philip preferred the countesses right before Roberts wrong so as leauing the course of iustice free the County of Arthois was adiudged to Mahauld Robert of Arthois the frebrand of war by a decree of the court of Parliament of Paris This losse did so discoÌtent Robert as he presumed to brag openly that he would dispossesse Philip of the crowne by the same meanes that he had raysed him vnto it But this presumptuous threat deliuered rashely before many witnesses cost both the realme and himselfe deere 1331. who in the ende smarted for his malitious and vnâeasonable discontent He flies into England carrying nothing with him but a minde transpoâted with passion armed with pollicy He flies into England Philip proclaimes him guilty of high Treason and seizeth vpon his lands Edward receiues him with al shewes of loue giues him the first place in his couÌcel Behold these two great Kings banded one against another entring into a dangerous warre which shall much afflict their estats as commonly the subiects pay for the follies of Princes The first breach began in the easiest places Guienne was the first exchecker of this long and dangerous game The Earles of Foix and Armagnac were for the King in Guienne the Earle of Albret for Edward The King of Scotland is a formall partaker for France warre begone in Guienne Scotland against Edward Edward begins to spoile Philips Countrie and Philip takes from Edward the Castell of Xaintes by Charles Earle of Alanson his brother Edward on the other side makes war against Dauid King of Scots and Philip sends him succors These were the first drops of that cloude which darkened the heauens attending the storme which shall fall after these thunder cracks but what is al this in regard of that which shal presently succeed By the aduice of Robert of Arthois Edward makes a proclamation against
them to his wise and irreuocable decree the which neuer failes to execute things in their due season Philip had the like desire to fight although his counsel were otherwise affected The like aduertisements were giuen from all parts and reason it selfe did wish him not to expose his new Crowne to the hazard of a generall and doubtfull battaile So the armies stand some daies at the gaze In the end Edward to draw him to fight besieged Tournay Some skirmishes were made in the which the English were beaten The place is victualled by Philip but the English army stands firme in the same quarter watching a fit oportunity for their desseine All Europe stood gazing at this great and dangerous spectacle The friends of both parts were greatly perplexed with so doubtfull an euent the which brought the estate of two realmes into question But God who reserued the victory and scourge to an other season dispersed this storme being in shew ready to fal by this occasion Iane of Valois sister to Philip widowe to William Duke of Hainault and mother to Marguerite the wife of Edward a Princesse of excellent vertues hauing since her widowhood willingly giuen ouer al affaires of State had professed her selfe a Nun at Fontenelles to attend her deuotion and fasting 1337. She resolues to imploy all her credit as a Sister and Mother in lawe with Philip and Edward to keepe them from so dangerous abattaile She runnes to the one and to the other Iaâe of Valois labor to stay them froÌ shedding of bloud but finds them both so resolute in their desseins as shee is often reiected Yet is she nothing daunted In the end she incounters their violent passions with such patience and dexteritie as she obtaynes a day and place for a parle although Ieames of Arteuille a dangerous flie in a State tickled Edwards eares to crosse so comendable a resolution An example of a woman worthy of eternall praise euen in this iron age whereas women haue beene miserable instruments of ciuil dissentions Nota. and hellish fier brands to consume France with the fier of conâusion and miserie The great armies of France and England ãâã without fighting Edward takes on him the tittle of King of France A parle being concluded deputies were chosen on either side to treat and by them a truce was made Tournay is deliuered and the armies dismissed and so the storme prâuented for this time the which threatned both realmes All good men reioyced none but Ieames of Arteuille his faction were greeued So as not able to auoide it yet to feed Edwards humour he aduiseth him to take vpoÌ him the name of King of France by the which both he and his complices should auoide the infamie of rebellion and the punishement of high Treason as hauing done nothing but by the comaundement of their soueraigne The date of this title of France was in the yeare .1337 The which England holds to this day and our Kings the realme in effect Edward left his wife at Gaâd to keepe the flemings at his deuotion being a wise and a vigââant Princesse he himselfe returned into England extremely greeued for being vnable to satisfie his Germains for want of money who expected a great bootie by this warre from the which they scarce returned with their pay The Germaineâ leaue Edward and ioyne with Phiââââpe There spâong vp a newe combustion from this discontent the fier being onely smothered in the embers but not quenched Philip makes his profit of the Germains discontent and by the meanes of Iane the wife of Lewis of Bauiere Emperour being his neâcâ he wins them to leaue Edwards part and to imbrace that of France Edward in like sort striues to haue his reuenge on Philip. But to what ende serues all this but to disquiet their estates the which they ought to maintaine in peace Thus the passions of Princes are bad councellers for the good of their subiects This was the occasion of this newe breach betwixt the two Kings Arthur Duke of Briâtaine sonne to that Iohn 2. Duke of Brittâine who as we haue saied had beene slaine at Lions at the coronation of Pope Clement 5. had two wiues A newe quarâel for the Duchie of Bâittaâie and by either of them children of the first named Bâatrix vicontesâe of Limosin he had two sons Iohn and âuy of his second wife Yoland countesse of Montfort ãâã he had Iohn of Montfort who contended for the duchie of Brittaine Iohn 3. the sonne of Arthur dying without issue hee made his niece Iane the daughâer of his brother Guy who died before him his heire in the succession of the sayd duchie In regard of this prerogatiue giuen to Iane Charles of Blois nephewe to King Philip married her vpon condition That those children which should be borne of this marriage should bee lawfull heires to the duchie of Brittaine whereof Charles was inuesied after the consummation of the marriage all homages done vnto him and hee was puââ ãâã reall and full possession of âhe said Countrie in the life of Iohn After whose decease behold Iohn of Montfort halfe brother to Iane as we haue saâeââ pretending to the said duchie surpriseth Nantes then Rennes Vânnes Brest the Castel of Aulroy with many other places hauing receiued the homages of the Brittons he comes to Paris to do his soueraigne homage to the King for the saâd duchie and to be ãâã therein Charles of Blois opposeth in the right of his wife and hereupon they are both âent by the King to the Court of Parlement of Paris to do them iustice Adiudged to ãâã of Bââiâ against ãâã of Montfort The Court with the Kings authority sitting in his seat of Iustice and in the presence of many Princes decrees that Charles of Blois in the name of Iane his wife the lawfull hââââ of the duchie of Bâittanie as succeeding the second son of the first bed should be receiued by the King to fealty and homage for the Countrie of Brittaine and Iohn of Montfort the third son of Arthur of the second bed should be acknowledged in his degree to enioy his right when it should fall vnto him Iohn of Montfort disdaining this order 1341. resolues to win that by force which he could not recouer by reason and in this humor he goes into England crauing aide from Edward who receiues him very gratiously but from thence he returnes into Brittaine Philip aduertised of these practises pursueth Iohn of Montfort with such successe as hauing taken him prisoner with the Castell of Nantes whether hee was retired he confined him to the Louure While these difficulties fall out in Brittain Troubles at Naples there growes a newe trouble by a strange accident at Naples in the familie of our Princes of France of whome we haue spoken Wee haue saied that Charles the Lame had manie sonnes Charles Robert Lewis and Philip Robert after this losse of Sicilie had for his
where the Captaines iudgement is more auailâable then the souldiers force But why ascend we not from these second causes true in that which doth concerne vs vnto the first and soueraigne cause The arme of the Eternall âurging this Realme full of vicious and corrupted humours letting it blood but not suffering it to die this bloud letting shal be the beginning of a stronger medicine prescribed by the same Phisition ministred vnto France in the following raignes but in the end we shal finde the operation to the recouery of our estate Let vs now see the progresse of our miseries Edward did all he could to manage this victory wisely Philip to preuent him Edwards procâeding after the battell wonne Edward without any stay passeth on without atteÌpting the great Citties of Amiens Abbeuille although neerer he makes shew to set vpon Monstreuil Bologne but he posted to Calais a fit place for the passage of England Iohn of Vienne Marshall of France with him the Lord of Andreghan great personages in those daies commanded there with a strong French garnison being assisted with the faithfull resolution of the inhabitants So presently after the bâtâaile of Cressy Edward did besiege the Towne of Calais A long siege painfull and of remarkable successe He ãâ¦ã Philip amazed with these sharp crosses fallen out beyond his hopes of ease slept not although it were with much paine and lesse fruite But his whole care was not for the ouerthrowe at Cressy He had a further reach following the trace of this vnfortunate losse Hee was entred into a newe inheritance this newe losse was to him a newe checke Affliction is a great crime both in great and small A remarkable ãâ¦ã this raigne and opens their mouthes which haue their hearts ill affected The people of France were in extreme pouertie and yet the necessitie of the Kings affaires forced them to a new charge The ill gouernment of the publike treasure the falsehoode of the Treasorers who inriched themselues by the pouertie of the miserable people the fall of money imbased the decay of trafficke the increase of taxes A ãâ¦ã by a plâgâe imposts subsidies were the causes of this general want the which drew the people into dispaire in this surcharge of troubles falling vpon the King This burthen grewe the more heauie by a great famine being followed by a strange generall plague throughout the whole realme as if heauen and earth had conspired to the ruine of France Philip inuironed with so many and so great difficulties continues constant with a valorous resolution against them all He prouids for the gard of the Citties of Picardy lying neerest vnto danger and to driue off the time vnfit for armes he calles a great assembly of his estats Philip calleâ a Parliament to take Councel aide and comfort in the perplexity of so many dangerous occurrents In this assembly it was decreed to call the Treasorers to an accompt and to refer the gouernment of the treasure to Clergie men to the Nobility Therby to free the people from all iealousie of ill imploying it The Abbots of Marmoustier and Corbie are chosen for this Intendancie and to assist them there are ioyned foure Bishops and foure knights Peter of Essars Treasorer of France is committed to prison condemned in a great fiâe to the King Many treasorers being condemned iustly or vniustly yeeld that at once which they had bin long in gathering The treasoâers called in question for thââr charge the sponge being then pressed by necessitie The Bankers Lombards other vsurers are then called to a strict accompt by reason of their vniust exactions The interests are proued to exceede the principall the which is forfaired to the King The interest is remitted to the debitor which payed the principall But the chiefe frute of this assemblie was that the whole body was wel inclined to succor the King in so vegent a necessity Bankers and vsuâers are sifted without any alteration for the new difficulties of State Thus the winter was spent without any memorable acte on either side In the spring Philip goes to field with a great army and approcheth neere vnto Calais to drawe Edward to âight but it was in vaine for Edward contenting himselfe with his victorie and not willing to rân the hazard of a second battaile kept himselfe within his trenches and to manifest his resolution vnto Philip Edward to ãâã not to leaue the seege he built houses about Calais to lodge his army drie sends for his wiâe protesting publikely by a solemne oth not to rise vntill he did see an end and make the inhabitants pay for their obstinate resâlution On the other side Philip labored to crosse Edwards desseines but with small successe To worke a diuersion of this seege hee makes war in England by the King of Scotlands meanes and in Flanders by his sonne Iohn then Duke of Normandy and afterwards King of France but all succeeded ill Dauid King of Scotland hauing by Philips perswasion entred and spoyled England was defeated taken brought prisoner to London through the happinesse of Edwards fortune and the diligence of his officers ãâ¦ã losse in his raigne Iohn Duke of Normandie hauing left Guienne by his fathers command comes into Flanders beseegeth the Towne of Cassel held by the English faction but he is forced to rise by theÌ within the Towne Then he falles vpon Lislâ where he hath a newer repulse so as hardly could he retyre himselfe to his father Philip who sees his subiects in danger of shipwracke yet could he not releeue them Guienne abandoned by Iohn for the action of Flanders suffered much for Henry of Lancaster Lieutenant for Edward in Guienne seeing the Country left weake by Iohns departure issues out of Bourdeaux with an army and finding no enemy he doth easily surprise many Townes of Xantonge and Poitou and ladden with spoile he returnes home 1347. In the ende Calais yeelds to Edward standing to his mercy Calais taken after a long and cruell famine and almost a whole yeares siege for the siege began the 30. of September .1346 and the Towne was yeelded vp in August .1347 The French garrison was put to ransome and so set at liberty the Inhabitants were worse intreated the baser sort onely were suffred to depart with what they could carrie about them and in their steed Edward sends a Colony of English to whome he distributed all the goods of the vanquished and fortified the Towne especially towards France to leaue this place hereditary to his posterity who held it .200 yeares that is from the yeare .1346 vnto the raigne of Henry the .2 father to the King last deceased The integrity of these poore inhabitants is remarkable in their extreme affliction Edward had reserued six of the chiefe Cittizens to be at his disposition for the satisfiyng of his oth hauing vowed to make the bloud to flowe in Calais
He demands them to this end aâcording to the conuentions This charge being deliuered in the Towne house where thâse miserable Bourgeses were assembled by his permission to giue their Countây their last farewell they gaze one on an other terrified with so pittilesse a condition As they al stood mute in this common calamity one of the troupe breaking this mournfull silence Sâeââg âaith he I haue so often imployed my life for my Countriâs good should I nowe feare to ãâã it for my last oblation A notable farewell of the Calisââs O my Countrimen I doe cheerfully offer my head to the King of Englands ãâã and will liue no longer in my Countries myserie This hee spake without teares and with so resolute a countenance and a browe so manly big as hee mooued the whole company so as all with one generall voice ãâã Let vs go to the death it is the last duty we can performe to our poore Countrie Immediatly there was pressing among this great multitude who should be of the six to carry their heads to Edwards triâmphe They were chosen out drawen bound and led to execution The Queene hauing notice thereof desired to see them who were brought bound in the executioners hands The Queene ãâ¦ã This spectacle mooued her to weepe and compassion caused her to beg a pardon of the King beseeching him to giue life to these men worthy to liue after so constant a loyaltie She obtayne her request and leaue for them to remayne still in Calais esteemed to continue faithfull to their deliuereâ who had shewed themselues so constant in the faithfull loue of their lost countrie The history did owe this digression to so commendable an act The same Some brought Edward a wisshed successe in Brittaine Troubleâ in Bâiââain touching the quarrell for the Duchie Philip had taken Iohn of Montfort and Edward in exchange tooke Charles of Blois whome he led into England and still weakeneth Philips authoritie in Britain and settles his owne Thus passe the affaires of this world euery one hath his turne Vertuous Princeââes in their husbands miseries The two Duchesses of Britain Ioane the wife of Iohn of Montfort and Ioane the wife of Charles of Blois did wonders in keeping those places they had in their possessâons during the imprisonments of their husbands without entring farther into the discourse of the female wars of these Amazons worthy yet of eternall memory hauing so couragiously releeued the afflictions of their imprisoned husbands and neuer yeelded to necessity Newe troubles in Flanders Flanders likewise grewe mutinous by Edwards practises being then greatly respected for the successe of his victorious armes The Flemings receiued their Earle Lewis of Malle without any opposition beeing sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at Cressy but the Kings of France and Eâgland contended who should winne him Lewis was in heart a Frenchmân The Citties were generally affected to England The marriage of this young Prince was great Edward desired him for his daughter but especially the oportunitie of this rich County for his affaires He comes himselfe to Gand to compasse his desire but the euent was not answerable The Earle of ãâ¦ã into France for although the Earle made shewe to imbrace this alliance at the great instance of his subiects yet his heart was otherwise affected who vnder colour to go flie at the Heron goes out of Gand with a smal traine flies to Paris to Philip who hauing receiued him gratiously perswades him to espouse Marguerit the second Daughter of the Duke of Brabant thereby to cut off all hope of marying with England Thus the hatred of these two Princes continued which in the ende must breake forth into hostâle effects Pacardy was the stage of their lamentable tragedies from thence the miserie was dispersed ouer the whole Realme 1348. Philip giues the gouernement to Geoffry Earle of Charny the Lieutenancy to Anthony of Montmorency They fortifie the Towns and bridle Calais beeing assisted by a great number of voluntary Nobility louing the coÌmand of these two great captaines as a schoole of military discipline to shewe that the French did not faint in their afflictions These losses were then repaired by the gaine of the country of Daulphiné one of the noblest and goodliest Prouinces of this Realme And this was the occasion Imbert or Vmbert Daulphin of Viennois hauing lost his eldest sonne in the battell of Cressy as I haue said and his yongest being two or three yeares old by a strange accident they say that he himselfe let him fall out of his armes as he plaide with him at a window thinking to feare him moreouer hauing Amé the 6. Earle of Sauoy an irreconciliable spightfull enemy beeing too weake to resist him nor able to make choise of a kinsman to repaire his estate being wearie of the world and decayed in iudgement he resolues to cast himselfe into the King of France his protection to oppose him against his enemy and to put this goodly inheritance into his hands thereby to preuent the Earles greedy desire Forthwith hauing aduertised Philip of his intention and being graciously intertayned by him he giues all the Countrie of Daulphiné to him and his successors Kings of Francâ vpon condition that the first son of the house of France should carry the name of Daulphin of Viennois the armes of the country of Daulphiné should be quartered with the armes of France that the Nobility whole country shold be receiued with their priuileges Amé Earle of Sauoy otherwise a deare friend to Philip sends his Embassadors to make his benefit of this exchange but it was not for him all that he could obtaine was to exchange some land with that which laie intermixt within his territories adioyning Daulphin incorporate to the crowne the better to liue in quiet afterwards Daulphiné was thus incorporated to the Crowne of France For we cannot with any reason doubt but in old time it was a meÌber of this our Monarchy as likewise Sauoy was but in these diuersities of portions vnder the children of Lewis the gentle as we haue noted before the Realme and Empire swallowing vp both the effect the name of the Realme of Arles in the which these Estates were comprehended haue maintayned themselues by a remarkable distinction and so vnder the authority of the Empire they haue since held their soueraignty not acknowledging any Emperour but their Princes Daulphiné is returned to his first originall and Sauoy maintaines it selfe vnder the obedience of his soueraigne Prince vnto this day As for the name of Daulphin giuen to the first sonne of France the execution of Prince Imberts will was not put in practise before Charles the fift sonne to Iohn then Duke of Normandy in the life of his father Philip and not giuen to Iohn in the yeare 1348. The towne of Montpâllier purchased to the crowne The yeare following the Citty of Montpellier one of
much eased This prouision came happily for the preseruation of France against the which Edward made then great preparatioÌ at the instance of the Nauarrois The truce expired he did forbid the FreÌch to trafficke into England in the meane time his army laÌds at Calais himself follows in persoÌ with a goodly traine Being landed resolued to take possession of the realme of France or by force to turne it he marcheth directly to Arras the which he takes in 3. daies Edward enters France with an army hauing assured it with a stroÌg garâison he goes towards Champagne where passing onely he besieged Sens which yeelds without resistance and by their example Neuers All Bourgongne was strooke into such a terror as they redeemed their country froÌ spoile with a great summe of mony Hauing thus found means to intertaine his armie at his enimies charge enriched his souldiers with an inestimable booty he marcheth towards Paris as the head city of the whole realme the chiefe end of his desseââe the certain triumph of his conquest the goodly theater of his victories Our âegent was nothing amased at these threats of Edward for hauing asseÌbled a goodly army with great expeditioÌ he atteÌds him at Paris where the whole burthen of this was did lie He lodgeth his army in the suburbes fortifieth against approches being taught by the examples of his grandfather father not to hazard any thing resoluing only to defend himselfe within his trenches This resolutioÌ succeeded happily He besiegeth Paris but in vaine for Edward seeing the impossibility to draw the regent to fight notwithstaÌding al his alarums raiseth his siege marcheth into Britany to refresh his army to the great conteÌt of the ParisieÌs who could not sufficiently coÌmend the wisdom of their regent hauing so politikly auoided this storme The regent imbraceth this occasion he furnisheth Paris with aboundance of victualls commands the souldiers to liue orderly without oppression of the inhabitants he fortifies the weakest places with all speed and doth so incourage the people as they are ready to sacrifice theÌselues for the preseruation of the State Edward supposing the great wast caused by the men of warre resident in this great citty would haue taken from them al means to coÌtinue haue bred an impatiency in the minds of this vnconstant people giuing him the better meanes to enter it he returnes with his army being strong lusty by this good refreshing of Britaine Being returned he finds things better ordered then before so as preuailing nothing but walking about the citty beholding a far off the great towers and the admirable masse of so many buildings as a briefe of the whole world he resolues to leaue the siege returne no more Thus experience teaching him what the strength of our chiefe citty was he packes all vp and goes towards Chartres meaning to besiege it But whilest he lodged there his army making a horrible spoile of the whole couÌtry there chanced an occasioÌ as the worke of heauen which sodainely quailed his ambitious disseine to ruine France for behold a horrible extraordinary tempest of haile thuÌder and lightning falls with such violence as many horses men in the armie perished as if that God had stretched forth his hand from heauen to stay his course Edward amazed with thunder He resolues to conclude a peace with King Iohn This amazemeÌnt causeth Edward to vow to make a peace with King Iohn and the regent his son vpon reasonable conditions He which had thus thundred did likewise opeÌ the Duke of Lancasters mouth shewing how reasonable it was to limit humane attempts within restrained bouÌds not to attend an infinit perpetuall prosperity in wordly affaires beeing more safe to content himself with a meane successe theÌ to be traÌsported with the violent course of humane hopes cast in the mould of indiscreet desires He likewise laied before him the impossibility of so extraordinary a desseine as to make himselfe maister of all France a notable example for Princes to behold their own infirmities and the greatnes of God to whoÌ they owe the homage of their enterprises being theÌ most happy when they are most sober ââârate without imagining an infinite power in the short weaknes of this mortal life wherevnto they are subiect like other men A peace concluded at Bretignie The Articles This lessoÌ mollified Edwards hart inclining to the deliuery of K. Iohn his prisoner to a general peace the which was concluded at ãâã a village nere vnto Chartres in the yeare 1360. the 8. of May vpoÌ these coÌditioÌs That the country of Poitu the Fiefs of Thouars Belleuille the couÌtries of Gascony Agenois Peregort Limosin Cahors Tarbe Bigorre Rouergue and Angoumois in soueraignty with the homages of the two next yeares after 1360. at reasonable paâments And for the consideration the said King of England and the Prince of Wales his sonne both for themselues ãâã successors should renoâââ all rights pretended to the Crowne of France the Duchie of Normandie the countries of Tourance Aniou and Maine the soueraingty and homage of Brittâine and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes they should deliuer King Iohn at Calais at their charge the expences of the Kings house onely excepted The hostages giuen for the performance of the conditions For assurance of which agreement there should be deliuered into the King of Englands hands these hostages Lewis Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry sonnes to the King of France Philip Duke of Orleance the Kings brother Philip Duke of Bourgongne the Earles of Blois Alanson Saint Pol Hââcourt Porcian Valentinois Grandpre Denne and Forest the Lords of Vaudemont Coussy Pyennes Saint Venant Preaux Montmorency Careneieres Boâââ guion Estoute-ville the Daulphin of Auueigne Andregel and Craon A choâââ of well selected personages to be a sufficient caution for the money and conditions that were to be performed The Deputies that treated The Deputies for King Iohn were Iohn of Dormans Bishop of Beauuais and Chanâeller of France Iohn of Melun Earle of Tanearuille the Lord of ãâã Marshaââ of France â the Lords of Montmorency and Vigny Iohn Croâââe Simon of ãâã Iohn Marâââ Lawyers and Iohn Maillard and Stephen of Paris Bourgesies of Paris For the King of England were Iohn Duke of Lancaster the Earles of Northampton Warwicke and Suffoâââ Renauâd of Celâsâan Gualtâr of Maâny Knights with certaine learned men for their Councell This treatie of a generall peace signed by the two Kings was ratified by their two eldest sonnes Charles and Edward and proclaimed by Heraulds first at the wiâdowââ of the Kings and Princes lodgings and then at the corners of the streetes in great solemnitie The hostages were deliuered to Edward the father who imbarked at ãâã and lead them into England leauing the Earle of Warwicke in France to see the execution of the peace King Iohn brought to Calis
parties being hard the widow of Charles of Blois being called King Charles reconciles the pâeâendants for Britâaine and the matter debated he reconciles them vpon these conditions That for the interest which Ioane pretended for her and hers to the Duchie of Brittaine she should haue the Earldome of âonthieure the Seigneuries of Auaugour Guello Gincamp Rochedorie Lauuton Chaââeaulin in Cornwaille Dualt Vhelgost and Rospreden to the value of twentie thousand Eures or franks of rent 2000 pound starling and if Iohn of Montfort died without lawfull heires the Duchie of Brittaine it should returne to Ioane and her issue male or female This accord drew Iohn of Montfort to Paris where hauing done his fealtie and homage as well for the Duchiâ Brittain as the Earldome of Montfort and other Lands hee had in France the widow of Charles of Blois ratified it by vertue of the decree Oliuer of Clisson at the same treatie was restored to the possession of all his Lands forfaited when his father was beheaded as we haue saied He shal be Constable and shall giue vs good cause to speake of his life This accord was made in the Towne of Guerande in the yeare .1365 but it continued not long for Lewis of Aniou the Kings brother sonne in lawe to the Duchesse of Brittain was not pleased with this agreement whereby he saied he was greatly wronged Iohn of Montfort distrusting King Charles had his recourse to the King of England to whome he went in person to require ayde against the forces which he pretended would come against him The warre reuiued in Brittanie leauing Robert Knowles an Englishman in Brittaine who not attendâng Iohns returne began to make warre vpon the French with all violence Charles being pressed both by the Duches Ioane and by Lewis of Aniou his brother declares Iohn guiltie of high Treason for that he had broken the accord would noâ appeare vpon sundry summons dayly made vnto him So the warre began againe the successe whereof we wil note heere after Thus there passed six or seauen yeares with varietie of accidents in Brittaine In Fâanders Whilest that Brittaine was thus shaken with sundrie stormes Flanders was not without trouble by the accustomed practises of the English Lewis Earle of Flanders sonne to that Lewis which was slaine at the Battaile of Crecy had one only daughter named Marguerite who remayning heire of this great and rich estate was the Lâuaine of the antient iealousie betwixt the two Kings Charles and Edward striuing who should haue her The Citties of Flanders of greatest power in this purâute held stoutly for the Engliââ Conâe Lewis father to the maide was in suspence feaâing both the English and the Freâch for diuers respects and yet hee loued the first and feared the last But in the end by the meanes of Marguerite of Arthois mother to the Earle a marriage was concluded in fauour of Philip the hardy brother to Charles King of France to Edwards great griefe both father and son who in disdaine of this refusal sought al meanes to breed new troubles in France The treatie of Bretigny ministred a newe subiect and apparent cause of discontent to the King of England who complayned that hee had beene deceiued by Charles vnder a shewe of faithfulnesse hauing restored vnto him all his hostages receyuing onely the sommes promised for the ransome leauying vpon his simple word the reuenues of those Seigneuries granted him by the treatie The cause of new warre ãâ¦ã and ânââand Charles had retyred all his hostages in good time paying readie money and making knowne vnto Edward the sundrie charges he had giuen to the Countries and places comprehended in the treatie to yeeld them selues whollie into his power he likewise signified vnto him his subiects answers who in the beginning excused themselues ciuilly by honest delayes but in the ende the generall Estats giue Charles to vnderstand That the question being for the generall interest of the States they were not to bee forced to yeeld to an vnlawfull action directly contrarie to the fundamentall lawe of the realme which suffers not the King to preiudice the Crowne nor to alienate the reuenues thereof which were not to be alienated That tâis accord made in prison for the Kings redemption was forced and so by consequence vneiuill and not to be allowed by the Lawe of nations The effects followed this resolution with such an obstinacie of the Countries Citties Noble men which were charged by this treatie to yeeld as they protest freely to Chârles that they wil willingly spend goods liues rather then fal into the king of Englands hands coÌtrariwise wold imploy al their meanes to liue vnder the subiectioÌ of the king of Fraâce This faithâull constancie of the interessed subiects must needs be pleasing vnto Charles 1366. but to that he himselfe had made this treatie his honouâ was greatly ingaged the which he must ãâã by good and auaylable reasons and make it ânowne vnto all Europe who haâ tâeir eyes fixed vpon these two Princes playing their parts vpon so famous a Theater ãâã complaines by a sollemne Ambassage to the Emperour Charles the fourth ãâ¦ã the paines to come into France The Emperor seâkes to reconcile theiâ two Kings with an intent to imploy his authoritie and ãâã to reconcile these two Princes but it was in vaine The cause of this fruitlesse ãâã pâoceeded from Edward being resolute to haue his part tryed by armes being ãâ¦ã by his victorious successe in the former raignes Chârles âad alwayes protested to obserue the treatie of âretigny inuiolable But hauing ãâã the geneâall resolution of the States and of the countries and Noblemen ãâã bâ the said treatie he resolues to protect them and hauing excused himselfe both to the Emperour and forraine Princes by a publike declaration he sends a Gentleâââ ãâã Bââussâ called Chapponeau to the Prince of Wales being at Bourdeaux summoning ãâã to appeare before him at Paris Câarlâs proclaimes waââe against the Kinâ of Eâââlând at the instance of the Nobilitie and commons of ãâã complaining of him He also sent a Herald to the King of England to proclaime wârrâ against him The Earle of Armagnac the Lord of Albret who had newly maried ãâ¦ã Boârbon and by this alliance was become French the Earles of Perigort Cominââ and Carmaâ the Lords of Barde Condon Pincornet Pardaillan and Agenois began ãâ¦ã against the King of England followed by all those Prouinces protesting ãâã the crowne of France At ãâã example all the Townes of the Countie of Ponthieure yeelded to Guy Earle of ãâã and to ãâã of Chastillon Maister of the Crosbowes Then the Kings armies marche ãâã parts vnder the commands of the Dukes of Aniou and Berry the Constable ãâã to whose wisedome especially to the Chancellor Dourmans The successe oâ the Frânââ armie in Gââânne they attribââe the obedience of the people of Guienne discreetly practised by them Limoges and
hundred men at armes Brittons vnder the command of the constable Clisson who was with the fleet in Brittaine They had a care safely to lodge this great army after their descent in England expecting with safety the variable euents of warre against a king and people whom they came to fight with on their owne dunghill To preuent all in conueniences they build a great frame or engine some attribute this inuention to the Constable Clisson others to Iohn of Vienne Admirall of France who had layde the first plot of this enterprise like to a towne of warre with towers bastions bulwarks A strong sort of wood made flankes and other defences according to the manner of that age There was a lodging for the King and his court according to the degrees of Princes Officers and Noblemen of marke Lodgings for the chiefe of the armie according to their quarters and space to set vp their tents and pauillions halls and common places for the munition and victualls which followed the army and to conclude conuenient roome to imbattell a great number of men of warre Thâs inclosure or frame was round and made of many peeces with admirable arte and so great aboundance of stuâfe as if they had cut downe a whole foârest it was finished with wonderfull speede by the great number of workemen which came from all parts To the men shippes victualls and this engine the Kings court gaue an extraordinarye beauty being accompanied with the Dukes of Lorraine and Bar the Earles of Sauoy Armagnac Geneue S. Pol. Longueuille Eu Daulphin of Auuergne the Lord of Coussy Master William of Namur with all the great Barons of France and an infinite number of braue nobility who imbarked themselues more willingly then in the voyage to the holy land The preparation of the English for their defence Thus was the preparation made in France for England where they remayned in great perplexity to see so great a storme readye to fall vpon them They prouide the best they can first by deuotion hauing recourse vnto God then they fortifie their ports and all passages with great dilligence both with men of warre and all sorts of incombers to helpe those places which nature had made of hard accesse in this Iland They say that Richard leauied a hundred thousand foote and ten thousand horse which was not answerable to the Admirals relation the first Architect of this ridiculous attempt But thus are princes oft times abused imbarking themselues in dangerous actions without reason whose endes are not answerable to their beginnings All was ready in the end of September the King had prouided for the gouernement of the realme in his absence leauing his brother Lewis Earle of Touraine assisted with the Duke of Berry his vncle and the bishop of Beauuois his chancellour Thus he parts from Paris and comes to Scluse with great speed to recouer the time lost The Regent should not abandon his person in so long and important a voyage but he stayes behind the King promising to follow presently but his meaning was to bring this enterprise to nothing The king beeing arriued the howers of stay are tedious he tells the minutes and complaines of the time lost he sollicites his vncle to come by sundry letters The Regent seekes to ouerthrow the action and sends post after post he stampes he chafes by reason of his stay The whole Court is of the same humour The Duke of Aniou answers the King that he will part to morrowe but he stayes at Paris to make good cheere at leysure of purpose to draw on winter to make the voyage impossible and so to ouerthrow the action the which was neuer pleasing vnto him eyther for that it was pleasing to the Duke of Bourgongne his brother and so to crosse him or for that he held it preiudiciall to the King and his realme But seeing himselfe prest by importance and impatient letters from the King he parts from Paris and the same day the Constable Clisson waies anckor at Lantriguer in Brittaine with this great Towne of wood and seuenty two ships of warre meaning to ioyne with the whole bodye of the armie at Scluse but it fell out contrary to his disseine and otherwise then the facility of his supposed victory had represented vnto him For hauing âun his course towards Flanders to take port at Scluse behold a contrarye wind casts him vpon the coast of England Part of the French nauie dispersed at sea where notwithstanding all the diligence of his Marriners his fleete was dispeâsed into diuers parts three ships wherein this great Engine was are driuen into England and runne on ground at the mouth of the Riuer of Thames Behold our Argonautes as much amazed to see themselues taken in a weyre as the English were glad who with ioy and admiration see themselues possessed beyond all hope and without any paine of that which had cost their enimies so much to ruine them These newes flie speedily to King Richard who commaunds this great booty to bee brought vp the riuer vnto him whether all the Country flocks to so strange a spectacle and euery one holds it for a presage of good successe to haue taken their Citty which should haue taken them An other part of the Fleet is driuen into Zealand and the Constable of Clisson with the rest arriues at Scluse much amazed at this first successe All their ioy of an assured victory is conuerted into a generall feare least some newe losse should followe this vnfortunate beginning The Regent opposeth himselâe directly against thiâ voyage But whilest this amazement troubled most of the French the Duke of Bourgongne and those of his faction who desiâed the performance of this voyage at any rate made these difficulties light as common accidents which should not hinder great enterprises the which cannot bee executed without some crosses for the which they must seeke a remedy and not dispaire He had perswaded the King againe easie to be drawne to what he desired Hereupon the Regent arriues who seeing the King resolued to imbarke vales his maske speakes plainely and tels the King in his Counsell That he will neuer consent he should expose his person and estate to the hazard of the sea of weather and of war and vpon an aduice which seemed apparently false being most certain that the King of England had assembled aboue a hundred thousand fighting men That these first losses were aduertisements froÌ heauen to bridle those vaine hopes which are sooner conceiued then brought forth He had alwayes sufficiently declared that it was not his aduice yet for that he would not seeme to contradict the Kings will crosse such as gaue him this councel as honorable to himselfe and profitable to his Realme he would not rashly oppose himselfe But seeing now that God spake he did open his mouth the more boldly bearing in his heart a faythfull zeale vnto the Kings seruice and the good of the State That
Vncles Lords Physitians all sigh all lifte vp their eyes to heauen Tears fall from the Duke of Orleance eyes he beats his brest and crosseth his armes he approcheth neere to his poore brother and hee recules from him All are amazed all confounded O my Country what trouble shall this poore head giue vnto thy body But may I lawfully sigh with my Countrimen who sighed then foretelling the miseries thaâ should befall them by this phrensie as if my selfe had beene in this disorder a witnesse of so great an afflictâon both to this poore Prince and to his Estate A generall Censure of this accident The History doth very fitly set downe the diuers Censures that were giuen of this accident both at Rome and Auignon famous places being then the seats of Popes and also in England and in France The poore subiects as men whoÌ it concerned spake sobeâly with great griefe some blaming the Duke of Brittain and Peter of Craon others the Coâstable of Clisson and Mignons of his chamber who had induced the King into this action but all in generall lamented bitterly this great desaster England was amazed at this report and sorry for it especially the Duke of Lancaster who had conferred with out Charles very pâiuatly in the treaty of peace which they had at Amiens He wepâ commending this good wise Pâince being desiâous of the good of all Christendome Rome and Auignon being then banded one against the oâheâ by reason of the Schisme of Antipopes reioyced at this calamity befallen vnto our poore King âroisard toâ 4. Chap. 5. Vrbain as his professed enemy triomphed in his mâsery whereinto he âayed he was fallen by a iust iudgement of God hauing supported Clement his competitor against him Clement reioyced for that he was not fully confirmed in his authority by him the King hauing busyed himselfe with his subiects quarrells whereas his greaââst charge was to restore the dignity of the holy Sea to her ancient beauty This the Historie obserueth of the Censures of these Antipopes But the diuine Oracle saies O how happie is he that iudgeth wisely of the afflicted representing an admirable example in the perâon of Iob to gouârne themselues discreetly in their Censuâes Iob hath the testimony of a very good man and yet he had great afflictions hauing lost goods children howse and helth tormented by his wife and not only abandoned but also persecuted by all his friends in that which was more deâre vnto him then his goods and life his credit wherof they seeke to depriue him accusing him that he had liued wickedly like an hipocrite hauing but the shew of a good man and not the integâity of a good life whereof he made profession Such is the vaine iudgment of this world which holdes aduersity for a vice and prospeâity for a vertue measuring things according to their passions and not with âeason but the tââth doth teache vs an other lesson O Lord howe great are thy workes thy thoughts are verie deepe the ignorant man doth not know them nor the foole doth not vndersâand âhem Thât we might know the chastisements of God to be alwayes iust although the câuses be vnknowen vnto vs. We cannot denie but there werâ errors in Charles but yet we must confesse in acknowledging things as they be that he was one of the least vicious Kings of France and if we shal examine the zele he had to the gouernment oâ his Estate he must hold an honorâble ranke among the most vertuous Princes that haue at any time deseâued well of this monarchy Many neerer causes of his infirmitie may be truly and soberly obserued The second causes oââhe Kinâs phrensie the disposition of his body his manner of life the âurcharge of affaires the weaknes of his bâaine the abounding of choller greefe and waywardnâs the want of rest and foode the importunitie of his voiage the terror of this voice the noise of armes âo waighe downe the ballance euer charged with so heauie a burâhen But why from man do we not ascend to God Truly God doth hold gouerne this rod and as Charles was the head of this great Estate by his wise decree so he not only punished the person of Charles but the whole body of this âealme that both great and small might learne by this pittifull spectacle to humble âhem selues vndâr the mightie hand of God who hath created the spirit of man to woâke according to his good and wise will and disposeth absâlutely of men their affaires as he pleaseth and that this saying may be the seale of a ââue and sober humilitâe I haue held my peâce O Lord for thou hast doone it drawen from this Maxime God dotâ all wel what so euer he doth O Kings âhis famous example belongs to you in so famous a Kâng O Subiects you must learne by the head oâ Chârles of what pâice his head is whome God hath gâuen you for king âhat you may praie vnto him with all your hearts to make him fit for the gouernment oâ the whole bodie without the which it cannot subsist But I wil returne to our Charles Paâdon curteous reader thâs dâgression for the sâarch oâ the vse oâ so famous an Accident This new and stâange accident made them presently to dismisse the troupes hauing other worke in hand then to make warre in Brittaine The armie dissolued All the Court is wholy affected to the Kings hâalth He is preseÌtly caried backe to Mans his sicknes âncâeaseth he must be transported to a better aire The Physitians aduise it shold be to Creilâ pon Oise one of the royall houses in the Countrie of Beauuaisin betwixt Beauuais and Senlis a pleasant and hâlsome seat vpon the riuer He is conducted thether with great care but his frantike feuer conâinues still They seeke to conceale it least the fame thereof should be dishonorable but truth speaks generally Iames Harsely an excellent Physicion of Laon is sent for and preformes his duty happely as shal appeere by the euent Caââ of the Kings person Nothing wanted that mans wit could deuise to helpe and cure the infirmitie of so great a King Let vs lâaue Charles in the Physicions hands and returne to the Crowne as sicke as the head hauing as great need of a good and spede remedie A Paâlement is âresently called they assemble at Paris with all speed All France mournes for the affliction of their King whom they loued deerely for his myldnes and the siâgular hope they conceyued of his reigne whereby Charles purchased the name of Welâ beloued 1394 The Estats assemble to resolue what was necessary for the gouernment of the realme in this accident They determyne first what might bee fittest for the forme of gouernement hoping verily of the Kings speedy recouery beeing loath to seeke a remedy that might any way preiudice his authority It was therefore set downe for a lawe That they should abstaine from the name of Regent vnfit
men and gentlmen which had assisted these murtherers died of the plague except Lisle-Adam who was reseâued to receiue his punishment from King Henry of England although vpon an other occasion as you shall see here after And was not this God who reuenged this crueltie But let vs returne to our discourse for seeiâg the punishment was so sodaine we might not well remit the rehersall to any otherplace Charles lookes but coldly vpon his wife whome he loued not neither in health or sickenesse Hee welcomes the Duke of Bourgongne with a cheerefull countenance who had wonne his heart by framing himselfe to his weakenesse with mild speeches shewes of honour and apparant humility Impressions of common sense whereof phrensie for the most part doth not depriue mad men The Bourguiguon alters all at Paris The Kings councell assembled presently many things were propounded the first day they began with Officers the Constables place was confirmed to the Duke of Lorraine and the Channcellors hip to Eustache of Lastre Lislle Adam and Chastelus are made Marshalls of France for their well deseruing at the masaker at Paris Our Bourguignon creates Charles of Lens Admirall of France being Captaine of Paris and Phillip of Moruilliers the Queenes Aduocate first President of the Court of Parliament The English take all Normandie During this confusion Henry King of England makes other worke He was in Normandy taking Townes and Castles without any resistance Touques a Câstell held impregnable was forced by him during the passions of our mad-men as the first fruites of his conquestâ Louuiers Pont larche Caen Cherebourg Falaisse Argenton Alencon Constance S. Lo and other places followed to make the way open to Rouen without any great difficulty Rouen is besieged in a manner the very day of the massaker at Paris Henry doth assault it with all the force and policie he can as the Dongeon and chiefe strength of all Normandy Rouen besieged taken The cittizens giue a testimony of good and faithfull subiects by their valour and constancie They demand sucâours from the King with a protestâtâon of the euent The Court makes shew to stirre and to prouide for their defence but what remedy can the dead giue vnto the sicke In the ende after all their resistââce seeking to maintaine themselues vnder the obedience of France Rouen yeelds to Henry King of England vppon hard conditions All yeeldâ vnto King Henry To paye him three hundred sixty fiue thousand Crownes of gold and three Cittizens at his choise to doe his pleasure And so he suffered them to inioy their priuileges Of the three which he had chosen to punish he pardoned two and caused Alain âlanchart Captaine of the commons to bee beheaded worthy to be eternized in our history dying for the seruice of his Kââg and countrye in a time so famous for so desperate a confusion The sequile waâ great for not onely all the Townes of Normandy yeeld vnto him but also the Iââe of France was so amazed as all obey hiâ euen to the gates of Paris where the fuââe of our miserable dissentions prepared a Throne for the sworne enemye of ãâã Realme I am weary to report our shamefull losses as reuiuing our old soares Henry migât haue grauen in his triumph I came I sawe and oâcrââme onely Mont S. Michel in Normandy was maintained vnder the obedience of our crowne through the vallour ãâã some Gentlemen Normans whose names the history owes to posterity Iohn ãâã Montfort Duke of Britanie seeing this happie sucsesse makes composition wâtâ tâe English shrowding him selfe vnder his protection but he shall soone leaue him ãâã a more happie season shall make him turne to the Daulphin In this shipwracke the Queene and the Bourguignon had meanes to glut their ambition and furie at Paris beholinge the ruine of France hoping that in all extremities they should make their peace with the King of Ingland at their Countries cost hauing a daughter for a paââe and confirmation of this accord They send Ambassadors to Henry King of England being a Conquerour and âor a baite they carry the portrait of Katherine of France the Kings daughter a Princesse of excellent beauty who must likewise bee the Leuiân of our miserie But Henry finding this figure to be faire The Bourguignon treates with the English but in vaine desires to see the essentiall substance so as the Queeâe and the Borguignon gouerning the spirit of this poore sicke King conducts ãâã person with his daughter to their enimy neere to Meulan to aduise of a meanes for a generall peace but they departed without any conclusion by reason of the great demaunds which Henry made puft vp with this victorious successe seeking to sell âis friendship at too high a rate Yet the image of Katherine had made an impression in his heaât beeing much discontented that they had refused her with these conditions The Bourguignon likewise found lesse kindnesse then he expected and returned maleconânt for that Henry puft vp with these fortunate incounters and carried away with hope of future victorye spake more proudly then the Bourguignons humour could well digest which was the cause of his destemperature He growes discontented and seekes to reconcile himselfe to the Daulphin for Hânry said in his choler That he would haue both daughter and Bealme whosoeuer said nay and that there was no sufficient security for what they promised seeing the Daulphin did âot consent theâeunto A pill which the Bourguignon could not easily swallow So he chawed vpon this speech of the English which drewe him to his ruine for euen then he beganne to study by what meanes he might reconcile himselfe vnto the Daulphin hoping to fiâde a better composition with a yong Prince his kinsman and weary of the warres then with the English growne insolent by his victories Charles was not quâet in minde fearing least in these treaties they should conclude something to his preiudice So as they both inclined to an accord but vppon diuers causes to oppose against their common enimie with a common force But before we shewe the effect of this common desire we must see both the estate of our Daulphin since hee retired himselfe from Paris and of the Bourguignon since hee became Tribune of the people Although this terrible storme might haue shaken the young yeares of the Daulpâin Charles vnacquainted with the affaires of the world and his disposition inclining to pleasure seemed vnfit to indure much paine and toyle The Daulphinâ estate yet the effects at need shewed his constant resolution against all difficulties They attribute this consâancie and resolution to the faithfull councell of his seruants yet was it much for him to follow it Tannegay of Chastell Iohn Louuet president of Prouence the Vicont of Narbone and Robert Masson were those which serued him most for Councell in the beginning but God soone after did raise him vp strong hands to mannage armes couragiously and valiantly La Hire Pothon
the greatest dignities of the realme· for he made Charles Steward Earle of Boucquam his Constable and Iames Earle Du-glas Marshall of France and to honour the Scottish-mens faith he gaue them the gard of his person an institution which continues vnto this day He institutes a gard of theÌ for his person He had likewise some friends in Spaine and Italie who succoured him in due time according to their meanes We haue shewed what Prouinces followed the partie of our Charles amongst the which Languedoâ was a principall The importance of this countrie did much aduance his affaires This reason moued both the Bourguignon and the Sauoiard against this Prouince The instruments fit for this enterprise were Iohn of Chââlons Prince of Orange and the Lord Bochebaron a Nobleman of Velay one of the 22. diocesses of Languedoc The first by the commodity of his neighbourhood did win Nismes Pontsaint Esprit Aiguesmortes and all the rest of base Languedoc vnto Beziers Warre in Languedoc except the Castell of Pezenas the tower of Villenefue by Auignon the castell of Egaliers now wholy ruined neere vnto Vzez This losse was somewhat repaired by the fidelitie of the inhabitants Aiguesmortes set vp their ensigne of libertie by the direction of the Baron of Vauuerbe and killes the garrison of Bourguignons which the Prince of Orange had placed there To this day they shew a great tub of Stone wherein they did salt the Bourguignons The example of this strong and important Citty A strange cruelty whereby they are called Bourguignons sallies to this day awaked the rest and euen vpon the approch of the Earle of Foix who came with a goodly armye all the Townes yeeâd vnto him except Nismes and Pont S. Esprit Townes of great importance in that countrye the one beeing the head of that Seneshauce the other a passage vpon the Rosne towardes Daulphiné But as the libertie of time made the seruant presume aboue the Master so it chanced that the Earle of Foix hauing tasted the sweet of command and transported with the common humour of men seeking to make their profit of the common confusions of France deteined the reuenues of Languedoc by his absolute authority imparting none to Charles being exceeding poore in this confused time This necessity was accompanied with a cruell warre stirâed vp in Velay by the Lord of Roche-baron a partisan to the Dukes of Sauoy and Bourgongne who furnished him both with men and money for this rebellion for it was rather a horrible theuery then a warre These ãâã occasions drew Charles into Languedoc to confirme his authority and his voyage succeeded according to his intent for he chased the Prince of Orange out of Nismes and Pont S. Esprit he pacified the troubles of Velay and put the Earle of Foix from his gouernement giuing the place to Charles of Bourbon Earle of Clermont a Prince of the bloud to the great content of all the people Hauing thus happily prouided for his affaires he takes the way of Velay to returne into France beeing arriued at Espaly a Castle belonging to the Bishop of Puy he is aduertised of his fathers death Charles mouârnes for the death of his father after Henry the 5. his Competitor He falles presently to teares and mourning yet he buries not his affaires in care His Councell aduiseth him to change his blacke roabes into Scarlet to set vp the banner of France in his name and to proclaime himselfe King for the first fruites of his coronation the which being performed at Puy to the peoples great ioye Charles goes to Poitiers where he caused himselfe to de crowned King and receiued the homage and oathes of the officers of the Crowne Princes Noblemen and gentlemen that were about him with such pompe as the strictnesse of time would permit Then he intituled himselfe King of France and made shew of more authority and greater pompe But on the other side the Duke of Bedford beganne to bandy more strongly against him Henry the 6. his pupill a yong infant was in England He caused him likewise to bee crowned King till the seauen yeares after he should be solemnely installed at Paris in the yeare 1430. He set his name vpon the money of France making a new stampe but without any other change then of his name So that hereafter two Kings two factions two armies shall contend for this goodââ Crowne The heire being the weaker shall fight against a strong pretender Law ââuours the one and force the other but the Protector of this estate will giue a fauourable doome for the weaker The Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne hold a counsel aâ Amiens that the honour of so memorable a preseruation of this monarchy apparently drawne out of the graue may be giuen to him who rules the deluge of our confusions by his miraculous prouidence Scarse had Charles receiued the first fruites of his royall authority when as the Dukes of Bedford and Bourgongne his capitall enemies assemble at Amiens to crosse his new dignity in the breeding There shall be seaueh yeares of exceeding bad time but after this sharpe winter there will come a goodly spring when as all seemed lost and in the ende Sommer shall follow with a plentifull haruest of rest to this Realme whereof the lawfull heâe shall remaine in quiet possession and the pretender expelled with losse euen of that which he might haue ciuilly inioyed In this assembly at Amiens great plottes are layde against Charles whose ruine was their soueraigne end All is done at the charge of the English Peter Duke of Brittaine and Arthur Earle of Richmont his brother are there present Amedee Duke of Sauoâ sends his Ambassadors A great league against King Charles consumed by alliances vnder an other colour but he casts the stone hides his arme The Dukes of Bedford Brittaine and Sauoy make a defensiue offensiue league agaiâââ Charles The soueraignty of the Crowne should remaine to the English the commoââties to the Dukes They set the seale of marriages to this alliance Iohn Duke of âedford marries with Anne the sister of Philip Duke of Bourgongne and Marguerit his other Sâster takeâ Arthur the Earle of Richemont Then they seeke the fruits of this alliance with the preiudice of Charles Euery man takes his quarter to torment him on all sideâ The Bourguignon vndertakes Picardy where he settles Iohn of Luxembourg to expel the Daulphinois out of some places which they held there Henry of Lancaster Earle of Salisbury went into Champagne and Bry to clense the Country about Paris and to budâe Orleans The Earle of Warwick vndertooke Guienne to make war against those toânes that held the Daulphins party Lewis Prince of Orange had charge to arme in Languedoc and Daulphiné Behold a great storme rising against the lawfull heire of this crââne Amidst all these difficultyes Charles must needs be in great perplexitie but I reade with ioy that he whom God had chosen to
first motions put Charles in some hope of a better estate but behold a newe checke which cooles his courage At the same time that hee made his leauie in Scotland the Duke of Exeter prepared a great armie in England to releeue the Duke of Beford his brother that hee might haue meanes to contynue the warres in France There comes vnto him eight thousand archers and eighteene hundered men at armes For the imploying of these men Nâwe forces âaised in England he beseegeth Galardon taketh it at his first approch and without the losse of any houre hee plants himselfe before Yury and at the same instant all his forces come to him vnder the commande of the Earle of Salisburie The army being thus increased he presseth the seege Girault of Paliere held the Towne for the King The Duke of Bedford summons him to yeeld it âiraud demandes respit to aduertise the King Charles was then at Tours well accompanied both of his subiects and forraine friends for after the defeat of Creuant foreseeing that the English would pursue the cause with more violence hee had prouided men to oppose against them The Marshall Du-glas Duke of Touraine by his newe pourchase âad brought him succors from Scotland The Vicont of Narbonne a goodlie troupe from Languedoc the which was the flower of the whole army The Duke of Alencon the Earles of Aumale Ventadour Tonerre Du-glas Moiry the Viconte of Mardonne the Lords of Fayette Tournon and other Noble men of Marke with their followers were readie to do their best endeauor So as hee had eighteene thousand fighting men The rendez-uous is in Perche and they were shortly to march to Yury The King stayes at Chastecudun The Constable of Bouâqhingam sends to vewe the enemies countenaÌce The skouâs report the greatnesse of the English army and their dilligence at the seege who being discouered and pursued hardly escape They resolue that in steede of charging the English army they should beseege Vernueil a Towne obeying the English eyther to take it or to make a diuersion from Yury The first succeeded for our men approching to Vernueil with a victorious countenance and bragge as if the English army had beene defeated Vernueil yeelded to the French Yury yeelded Vernueil opens the gates without any question and yeelds to the Kings seruice But this shewe of victory cost our French men deâre who had done better to succour Yury then in loosing it to hazard their owne ruine as it happened afterwards Girault of Paliere hauing long and in vaine expected succors and doubled the prefixed time hee yeelds to the Duke of Bedford who hauing nowe no other impediment he resolues to fight with our army at his aduantage for the effecting whereof he had the better meanes by their long stay Hauing intelligence of the Estate of our Armie he resolued to drawe them to battaile knowing howe much it did import to send a victorious soldiar against one whome he hath vsually beaten Hee therefore sends a herauld to defie them giuing him charge to direct himselfe to the Duke of Touraine The Duke of Bedford sends a challenge to the French army a Scottish man being Marâshall of France To whome he saies The Duke of Bedford my maister commanded mee to tell you that he comes to drinke with you Du-glas answers him That he should be welcome but hee must make some hast for that diner was readie Vpon this brauado they go to Counsell The mischiefe was the army had no head hauing indeede too many A multitude of commanders and commaundements is a plague to all good order and especially in militarie discipline which consists wholy in authoritie Euery one had varied in his opinion Some were of aduice to attend the enemie A diuision among the heads of the French army others thought it fittest to take him at his worde without induring of these brauadoes Thus their diuided opinions diuided the armie and those which in shewe made the armie ouerthrew it Du-glas and Narbonne Du-glas sayed Seeing the army is well lodged hauing a good Towne to backe it to what ende should they runne rashly against a victorious enemie The Narbonnois replies To endure these brauadoes were to take away the hearts of the French Soldiars and to coole their courage without any reason and what greater indignities might a vanquished man beare The Duke of Alenâon and the Constable were of the first opinon but the contention grewe so great as the Viconte sayed That if the wiser had no minde to fight heewould go and defend the honor of France with the hazard of his life so being retyred to his quarter he coÌmanded to sound a marche notwithstanding the Duke of Alensons intreatie to stay and march together On the other side the Duke of Touraine discontented at the Visconts choller keepes back the Scottes But necessitie drew forth the whole armie The French armie one Battaillon after another This disorder was the cause they could not choose a sit place of armes nor dispose of their Battaillons All were in grosse confusedly without any vantgard The chiefe of the armie were on foote They place two wings and to euerie wing a thousand horse The Italians had the right and the French the left In the âore-fronte of this battaile they planted foure hundred horse to beginne the skirmish The Duke of Bedford had oportunitie to dispose better of his armie The English armie he makes abode all on soote where he placeth his chiefe force and lodgeth there himselfe In the front of this body he placeth great store of Archers and euery Archer hath a stake stâcât in the ground to withstand the chaâge of the horse Vpon either wing he plants the choise of his most resolute Archers Behind are his vnarmed people with the bagage the horses being tyed close together taile to taile with two cordes or wit hs but for their gard he left two thousand choise Archers In this order he attends the French whom he discouers comming a farre off resolute to fight with the countenance of conquerours They were long before they could set their troupes in order aâd ranne a full gallop to their death So as in these stirres and in their hast to fight they were out of breath before they came to blowes All the morning is spent in approches the two armies fronting one another a little after noone a signall is giuen to the battaile our aduenturers go to the charge to trie if they can force the grosse of the English armie The foure hundred Italian Lances lead by Cameran with one eye made the point and at the first charge beate back the English Archers that were in the front At the same instant our two wings of horse charge the English armie in flanke seeking to breake their ranckes The finy of the fight was violent on either side our men striuing to enter into the body of the English foote and the English labouring to withstand our men with a continuall
best meanes to honour her This great liberty gaue her meanes to make an escape from this goodly cage so as hauing practised some for her guide shee disguiseth her selfe in the habit of a man and retyres fâom Gand to Breda where shee doth assure the riuer of Garide and doth solicit the Townes of Holland by her Agents The Bourguignon foreseeing by these beginnings a long countinance of trouble flies thether with his army He enters the Countrie She escapeth from Gand. at the fiâst they all resist him for the respect the subiects bare to their Lady But as the inconueniences of warre increased dayly and that Philip did shewe by publike writings and priuate practises that whatsoeuer hee did was to maintaine the right of the lawfull husband many Townes yeelded vnto him At this time Iohn Duke of Brabant the lawfull husband of Iaqueline dies in the Castell of Leneuure Philip of Bourgongne made heire of Braâânt ãâã Holland and ââland hauing instituted Philip of Bourgongne his heire The Citties seeing the Bourguignon supported both by force and right followe him by a common consent as twise a Conquerour and perswade their Lady not to oppose her selfe obstinately against so reasonable a necessity So without any other force but the happy successe of the stronger an accord was made betwixt Philip Duke of Bourgongne and Iaqueline Contesse c. Hainault and Holland vpon these conditions That Iaqueline doth acknowledge her Cousin Philip Duke of Bourgongne for the lawefull heire of her Countryes and from thence forth doth make him gouernour of Hainault Holland and Zeland All these Estaâs should take their oath and do homâge of fealtie vnto Philip. All fortressâs should bee dâliuered into his hands and she promiseâh neuer to marrie without his consent This Philip was honorably receiued throughout all these Estats to the content of some and discontent of others according to their diuers humours but force controwled all Iaqueline made a good shewe yet greatly discontented to see him her maister Such was the Tragicall Comedie of this long sute for the quiet of these Estats and the greatnesse of the Duke of Bourgongne who made his profit of all sides He is made heirâ of Nâmaâ for soone after William Earle of Namur left him the Earldome of Namur whereof he takes possession to the great disconâent of the Liâgeois as wee shall see heereafter This greatnesse of the Duke of Bourgââgne bred iealousie in the Duke of Bedford hee being assisted by the Duke of Brittain his open enemy and the Earle of Richmond Constable of France whome he sees hourely to growe great in his authority Thus âearing more mischeefe to fall vnto him by that meanes hee resolues to ãâã himselfe with newe helpes and to this ende hee goes into England leaââng the affaires of France in charge of the Earles of Warwike Suffollke and Salisburie His stay was not long necessitie pressed him Hee obtaines both men and money fit remedies to preuent a storme The Duke of Bââford bâingâ newâ forces out of England Hee returnes into France with ten thousand men and a notable summe of money for their pay For the good imployement of these newe forces hee resolues to beeseege Montargis a dangerous thorne both for the neerenesse to Paris and the conuerse of the Bourguignon who continued his desseângs notwithstanding the stil iealousie of these Princes The charge of this seege was giuen to the Earles of Warwicke and Suffolke with three thousand men the rest were dispersed in Normandie and in Townes bordeâing vpon Picardie for feare of the Bourguignon in whome he had no confidence Montargis is beeseeged and although the waters hindered their approach to the walles yet within âewe dayes it was fiercly battered by the English and valiantly defended by the French The seege of Montargis happie for the French They câie out for succour but the affaires in Court were so wonderfully confused by the inâestine icalousies of the great men that one gazed vpon an other yet no man stirred although Charles continually cried to armes In the ende they beegin to march and although the Constable had busied himselfe in this leuie yet feating the example of Saint Iames hee would not hazard himselfe in the leading thereof The Constable loth to go to the releese of Montargis alleaging many colours to saue himselfe from blowes For want of him the charge was giuen to the Earle of Dunois a bastard of Orleans to William of Albret Lord of Oruall to the Lords of Gaucourt Guitry Grauille Villar la Hire Gyles of Saint Simon Gaulter of Frossard Iohn Stuard a Scot and other valiant Captaines who led fifeteene or sixteene hundered fighting men Their purpose was onely to vitteil the beseeged whilest the King raised greater forces in the Countries of his obedience The Constable remayned at Iargeau attending the issue which succeeded more happily then the desâeine of so flight a succour The Earle of Dunois doth aduertise the beseeged of his approach The riuer forced the English to make three lodgings those within the Towne had cunningly surprised the bridges vpon the riuer of Loing and after the succours had secreatly recouered the Rendez-uous those within the Towne stopped the course of the water so artificially Montargis releâued and the English defeated as the riuer ouerflowes the bridges At the same instant all the troupes charge the English la Hire leading the first troupe chargeth the quarter where the Lord de la Poole brother to the Earle of Suffolke commanded crying Montioye S. Denices he fills all with confusion killing burning and spoyling de la Poole with much adoe saues himselfe with seauen more in his brothers lodging in the Abby without the Towne vpon the way to Nemours The Earle of Dunnois whose rendez-uous was towards the Castle hauing ioyned with the Townesmen who were issued forth with great resolution chargeth the body of their Campe the which he wholy ouercame The slaughter was great for so small troupes for they numbred sixteene hundered slaine vpon the place In this charge the Earle of Suffolke fauored by the waters gathers togither al he can in his quarter and recouers the hilles to make his retreat to Chasleau-Landon and Nemours places vnder the English commaunde and of neerest retreat The honour of this happie successe was attributed to the Earle of Dunois whereat the King recâyued an incredible content as a refreshing to this buâning âeuer and the Constable Richemond a greeuious discontent being absent and so this yeare ended But the newe yeare will shewe what fruits Brittain yeelded to France during her great necessities This chââke at Montargis did somewhat coole the Duke of Bedfords heat The Constable seekes all meanes to crosse the King but the Constables ambition nothing at all who hauing vndertaken to play the King with the King sought to crosse all the humors of this Prince hee hated what hee loued disallowed what hee allowed and dispraysed what hee commended After the
with the Burguignon being their neighbour with the Kings good liking In the meane time the Duke of Bedford leuies what men and money he can both in France and England for some great attempt Charles hath intelligence from diuers parts but what could he doe in so deepe dispaire of his affaires and in so visible an impossibilitie The famous Siege of Orleance ALL the Citties of this side Loire from the Ocean Sea were lost with the whole countries of Normandie Picardie the ãâã of France Brie and Champaigne He had nothing left but the Townes lying vpon the riuer of Loire from âyen to Anger 's for La Charité held for the Bourguignon The chiefe was Orleance this being wonne what could hold out long for the French Bourges could make small resistance if the English had forced Orleans The enemies of our State who called Charles King of Bourges threatned to take from him this small and languishing royaltie Orleans then was the marke whereat the Duke of Bedford aimed who hauing wonne the Britton it greatly fortified the English affaires in France As for the Bourguignon he had in a manner recouered the Estates of Holland Hainault Zeland and Namur And although ambition and couetousnesse may neuer be bridled yet these Princes nothing friendly among themselues but as coÌmon enemies to this Câowne agreed well in this to make their priuate profit by the ruine of our state But man purposeth and God disposeth we shall soone see how much he scornes their vanities In this lamentable time mans reason could not discerne by what means Charles should resist so mighty enemies But in the weakenesse of this Prince I read with ioy the words of the Original which saith During the time that the English held their siege before the noble Citty of Orleans King Charles was very weake beeing abandoned by the greatest part of his Princes and other Noble men seeing that all things were opposite vnto him yet had he still a good trust and confidence in God He was not deceiued in this hope as the sequele will shew The charge of this siege at Orleans was giuen to the Earle of Salisbury a wise valiant Captaine hauing giuen good testimonies of his sufficiency for the well managing of this siege he resolued to take in all the forts neere vnto Orleans that obeyed the French beginning with the weakest parting from Paris taking his way through the Countrie of Chartâes he seizeth vpon all the smal Townes wherein our Captaines had so much toyled but a fewe monethes before Nogent le Retrou Puiset Rochefort Pertrancourt Ianuille Toury Mompipeau the Castell of Pluâeâs and la Ferte of Gaules The Earle of Salisbury sets downe before Orleans and approching neere the Cittie both aboue and beneath Meung Baugency and Iargeau In the ende he plants himselfe before Orleans the 6. of October in the yeare 1428. A day to be obserued for that the 12. of May the yeare following was the last fit of our disease which changed the estate of our miserable country like vnto a pleasant spring after a long and sharpe winter when as a goodly summer crownes all our labours with aboundance of peace and plenty So this siege continued iust 7. moneths The bruit of this great preparation did wonderfully disquiet both court and country vnder the French obedience in the weakenesse and confusions of the state The King after the taking of la Charité was commonly resident at Poitiers he now retires to Chinon to bee neerer to Orleans The townes willingây contrâbute men money Charles his diligenâe to relieue Orleans and victualls Many great personages flie to this siege to defend the chiefe strength of our King and Kingdome Lewis of Bourbon the sonne of Charles Earle of Clermont the Earle of Duâois bastard of Orleans the Lords of Boussaâ and Fayette Marshalls of France Iohn Steward Constable of Scotland William of Albret Lord of Orâall the Lords of Thouars Chauigny Grauille Chabannes The Captaines la âire Xaintrailles Theolde of Valpergue Iohn of Lessego Lombards with many other gâeât personages There were not any of the Prouinces of Daulphiné and Languedoc for that the Dukes of Bourgongne and Sauoy at the same instant prepared a great army by the meanes of Lewis of Chaalons Prince of Orange to invade those Countries being wholly in the Kings obedience The Orleanois resolues to defend himselfe He presently beates downe all that might accommodate the enemy suburbs howses of pleasure wine presses yea and the temples themselues Salisburie doth likewise vse great dexterity and diligence to plant his siege The Earle of Salisbury builds up sorts towards Beausse and the port Banniere he builds a great Bastille which he calles Paris Another at the port Renard which he names Rouen Towards S. Laurence another to the which he gaue the name of Windsore At the port of Bourgongne he fortified a ruined Temple called S. Loup and neere vnto it an other named S. Iohn the white At the Portereân hee built a great fort vppon the ruines of the Augustines Church calling it London from the which hee wonne the Towre vppon the bridge and all with âonderfull speede All the cittye is inuironed hauing neyther issue ãâã but with sore fighting And in these toyles they spend the rest of the yeare The first day of the new yeare the English for a new yeares gift to the citty bring their scaling ladders couragiously to the Bulwarke at the port Renard but they were valiantly repulsed by the defendants the next day the Admirall of Cullant hauing passed the riuer of Loire at a foord winter being very drie this yeare visits them of the cittie brings theÌ diuers necessaries vpon his returne he incounters some English troupes which came stragling from forrage 1429. He chargeth them cuts them in peeces and so retires without danger Thus the moneth of Ianuarie passeth without any other memorable exploite The battaile of Herings vnfortunate for the French But there happened a strange accident the 20. of Februarie following The Duke of Bedford sent Lenten prouision to the Earle of Salisburie with some munition of warre vnder the conduct of Iohn Fastall and Simon Bowyer with 1700. men for their garde The Duke of Bourbon brought a goodly succour of foure thousand men to the besieged He resolues to charge this English troupe hauing well viewed their numbers It was likely the stronger should haue the victorie but the issue was contrary to the desseigne For it chanced as his men marched confidently as it were to an assured victory without any iudgement the English seeing them in doubt how they should fight either on foote or horseback and irresolute in the end they resolue to charge the French it falling out many times in this exercise that he which begins winnes To conclude without any farther aduise the English imbracing this occasion charge our troupes who were so surprised with this vnexpected impression as they presently giue way to
for their deliuery changed the face of our affaires and dismaied the enemies And to conclude by a miraculous meanes gaue a happy successe both to our King and Realme and this was the ãâã A young Maiden named Ioane of Arâ borne in a village vppon the Marches of Barre called Domremy neere to Vaucouleurs of the age of eighteene or twenty yeares issued from base parents her father was named Iames of Arc Ioane the virguâ and her mother Isabell poore Country folkes who had brought her vp to keepe their cattell shee said with great boldnesse That she had a reuelation howe to succour the King how he might be able to chase the English from Orleans and after that to cause the King to bee crowned at Rheims and to put him fully and wholy in possession of his Realme After shee had deliuered this to her Father Mother and their neighbours she presumed to go to the Lord of Baudricourt Prouost of Vaucouleurs she boldly deliuered vnto him after an extraordinary manner all these great misteries as much wished for by all men as not hoped for especially comming from the mouth of a poore country maide whom they might with more reason beleeue to be possessed by some melancholy humour then diuinely inspired beeing the instrument of so many excellent remedies in so desperate a season After the vaine striuings of so great and famous personages At the first he mocked her and reproued her but hauing heard her with more patience and iudging by her temperate discourse and modest countenance that she spake not idlely in the ende he resolues to present her to the King for his discharge So she arriues at Chinon the 6. daye of May attyred like a man The disposition of Ioane She had a modest countenance sweet ciuill and resolute her discourse was temperate resonable and retyred her actions cold shewing great chastity Hauing spoken to the King or Noblemen with whom she was to negociate Shee presently retired to her lodging with an olde woman that guided her without vanitie affectation babling or courtly lightnesse These are the maÌners which the Original attributs vnto her The matter was found ridiculous both by the King and his counsell yet must they make some triall The King takes vpon him the habit of a countriaman to be disguised this maide being brought into the Chamber goes directly to the King in this attire salutes him with so modest a countenance as if shee had beene bred vp in Court all her life They telling her that shee was mistaken shee assured them it was the King although she had neuer seene him She beginnes to deliuer vnto him this new charge which she saies she had receiued from the God of heauen so as shee turned the eyes and mindes of all men vpon her This matter being referred to counsell it was concluded they should take the aduise of diuines They answer that in desperate diseases the prouidence of God doth commonly raise vp extraordinary remedies and imployes women when as men grow faint hearted as in the afflictions of Israell he hath mightily vsed Debora and Abigail The one to teach the people the other to kill a furious tyrant and Iudith which ãâã that great tyrant in the middest of his army So as necessity which made them to seeke all sorts of remedies caused the King to try if this maide spake trueth but without the hazard of any thing This Ioane holden for a prophetisse by many is reported by Girrard called Lord of Haillin Ioane held to be an impostor or mad and sundây other French writers plainely said to haue bin induced to this imposture by three Noblemen who had incited hir thereto and layed that plot onely to encourage King Charles to battaile dispayring of his state She is armed and sent to Orleans She desires of the Kâng that she may be conducted to Orleans to begin the worke which she said she had in charge A sword remaining in Touraine in a place called S. Katherine of Fierebois was brought vnto her to bee armed therewith They gaue her armes and horse with a sufficient troupe to enter the Citty Lewis of Cullent Admâral of France and Iames of Rieux Marshall had charge to accompany her with some victualls to the besieged and to haue a care that all should bee wisely carried without hazard She prepares her colours being armed at all points she went to take leaue of the King with a grace worthy of a great Captaine Beseeching him to trust in God in whose name she spake Thus she parts from Chinon the 12 of Aprill Now they reckoned the sixt moneth of the siege the âesieged crie out for hunger This victualing prouided at Blois is conducted by the abâue named commaunââ with great care as well for feare of the English who had their seââinels ãâã plâce as for the distrust they had of this new commander She marched in the foremost rank betwixt the Admirall and the Marshall very watchfully carrying the countenaâce of a very resolute personage She victualls and relieues Orleans They arriue with this prouisioÌ safely at Orleans the English making no shew of arming although she passed before their forts in viewe of the army yet had they scarce six hundred men in this supply The power of Gods prouidence is admirable in the hearts of men making them to yeeld insensibly to what he hath decreed 1426. This first blow stirred vp the spirits of the French Orleans begins to reioyce at the sight of this maide attired like a man standing vpon the point of yeelding This first releefe was not sufficient for so great a multitude They resolued to fetch more victuals and to that end would returne to Blois But before their departure the Maiden writes this Letter following to the chiefe of the English armie and sends it by a Trumpet I haue truly set it downe out of the originall in the owne proper stile both for the reuerence of antiquitie the noble courage of this Virgin and the truth and state of the subiect King of England doe reason to the King of Heauen for his bloud royall yeeld vp to the Virgin the Keyes of all the good Citties which you haue forced Ioan sends threats to the English She is come from heauen to reclaime the bloud royall and is ready to make a peace if you be ready to doe reason Yeeld therefore and pay what you haue taken King of England I am the chiefe of this warre wheresoeuer I incounter your men in France I will chase them will they or no. If they will obey I will take them to mercie The Virgin comes from the King of heauen to driue you out of France If you will not obey she will cause so great a stirre as the like hath not beene these thousand yeares in France And beleeue certainly that the King of heauen will send her and her good men at armes more force then you can haue Go in Gods name into
you haue yet done So the accord was made without comprehending of these three The Dukes of Bourbon and Alenson sweare to serue the King and yeeld vp Loches Corbeil Bois de Vincennes Sancerre Sancouins Erie Conterobert and other places which they held The Daulphin remaynes with his father who changeth all his trayne except his confessor and Cooke But all this is but counterfeit you shal soone see other broyles This phrensie of state bred in the Kings house against the King himselfe was by our Ancestors called the Pragââây Nine monthes of this yeare being spent in these garboiles Charles returnes to Tours to prouide for the raysing of the seege at Harfleu where the Earle of Somerset had lien long but it was in vaine for the Towne was taken in the end after a long and painfull constancie of the Inhabitants who could not be releeued in time by reason of these home-bred troubles and yet there was a second mischiefe The Lord of Gaucourt gouernor of Daulphiné a most profitable seruant of the King returning from the seege and causing some of his baggage which was scattered from the troupe to retire he was surprised by a companie of English and led prisoner to Rouen to the great griefe of Charles who loued him hauing giuen good testymones of his loyaltie in his greatest extremities But in exchange Charles takes Conches and Loââiers Townes of importance in Normandie from thence he came into Champaigne to subdue a part of these aduenturing theeues who had surprized some places in this Prouince Musse l'Euesque Montagu and others The Kings army led by the Constable takes them and razed them by the Kings commande pardoning most of these theeuish Captaines the bastard of Vergy and the Lord of Commercy A memorable execution but he caused Alexander bastard of Iohn Duke of Orleans to be drowned a notable theefe who hauing followed the discontented Princes had spoken vnworthilie of his maister This execution of Iustice is memorable vpon one of so high a birth being followed the same yeare with the exemplarie death of Gylâs de Raiz Marshall of France issued from a great and famous house The Marshall de Raiz burnt for sorcerie who beeing found guilty of Negromancie and Sorcerie was condemned by the Court of Parliament of Brittaine and burnt at Nantes with some of his seruants culpable of the same crymes He was honored for his valour but neither his armes nor his bloud could stay the hand of diuine Iustice meritoriously exâcuted by this iust decree of the magistrate Priuate actions worthie to be registred in the historie to shew that the greatest cannot flie the hand of God after they haue long abused his patience But the treaty of peace betwixt France and England being discontinued aboue a yeare was againe reuiued by the industrie of the Duchesse of Bourgongne a Portugall but much affected to the quiet of the Realme and a very sufficient woman who had great credit with her husband She followes it so wisely as in the ende two Kings sends their Ambassadors to Calais On Charles his behalfe were the Archbishops of Rheims Narbon A treatâe betwixt the two Kings for a peace but ãâã and the Earle of Dunois bastard of Orleans For Henry King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exeter who brought with them Charles Duke of Orleans so being longe kept prisoner in England This poore Prince after the languishing of so long a prison was exceeding glad to see some meanes to returne to his house hauing felt the aire on this side the Sea and imbraced the Earle of Dunois one of the branches of his house hee who âad so faithfully serued him in his afflictions but hee greeued to see himselfe presently carried backe into England for that they could not agree vpon the foundamenttall points the English being resolute not to leaue one foote of that which they held in France And although the King were content they should freely inioy what they possessed so as they held it as they had done in times past of the Crowne of France by homage yet would they not yeeld in any sort being loath to relinquish their pretended souerainty But he refuseth which afterwards doth sue At this time they were inforced to retire with this resolution That without infringing any thing of the treaty begun euerie one should go home and consider of his affaires to assemble againe when neede should require The Duke of Orleans deliuered the which eyther part desired And this is al could be done for the general They proceeded farther for the duke of Orleans but as in these trafficks such as hold the possession do coÌmonly vse policy the stronger giuing lawe to the weaker so in so precious matter as life the English must bee sued vnto making no hast to deliuer him for that they drewe great profit yearely for the pension of this great Prince Moreouer Charles had no great care of his deliuerie for that some malicious spirits had seasoned him with some bad impression against this poore Prince perswading him that his long imprisonment was not without some mistery and that it hatched some mischiefe against the King and his estate The which being miserable in so great a person gaue all men a iust cause of compassion But notwithstanding all these difficulties yet must this Prince one of the goodliest plants of this Crowne be now deliuered to leaue a successor for the realme of France The diuers aâflictions of the Duke of Orleans and God who would honor his race with the Crowne had prepared an admirable meanes for his deliuery by his helpe from whom in reason he might least hope euen when his owne friends had abandoned him A notable example for all men in many respects a prison of fiue and twentie years was a great affliction to a Prince borne to commande and yet captiue to an other The losse of all his goods gaue him a sufficient occasion to resolue to perpetual miserie and to leaue it for an inheritance to his posterity In the ende sclander a most cruell sting to a generous minde which hath honour for his assured Treasor had beene able to suppresse him But God who goâerns the rodde wisely giues him libertie goods and honour in due season in despight of this deuilish enuy which seeking to afflict the afflicted and controuling aduersitie as well as prosperity is then corrected when it seekes to correct an other but God doth neuer send helpes too late The Duke of Bourgongne vndertaks for the Duke of Orleans ransome Philip hauing resolued to do this good turne for the Duke of Orleans and to withdraw him out of prison compouÌds for his ransome with the King of England for three hundred thousand Crownes He giues his word for it and payes it and so Charles Duke of Orleans being honorably conducted comes first to Calais where the mony beeing payed hee comes free to Grauelin to the Duke of Bourgongne his deliuerer
where Charles was resident whilest that his army afflicted these poore people He feasted conducted this Princesse as his own daughter euen with tears of ioy The King of England marrieth but this ioy was sodenly coÌuerted into heauines by the death of the Daulphins wife his daughter in Lawe whom he loued deerely for her vertues which made her amiable to all France She was one of the chiefest in this great solemnity from the which she went to the bed of death her death was the sepulchre of her Mother the widowe of Iames King of Scotts who was come to see her and whilest her funeralles were making her Sisters ariue from Scotland to attend on her nay rather to descend with her into the graue if the humainty of Charles had not reuiued them giuing them honest meanes to maintaine their estats in France Thus passeth the Ocean of this miserable life in the which there is more cause of mourning then of ioy The Daulphins wife dies both in great and small The marriage likewise of England wherein were so great shewes of ioy shall end with a lamentable Tragedie as we shall see hereafter The truce was so pleasing to both Realmes A truce prolonged for fiue yeares that before it was expired the Kings of France and England renue it for fiue yeares more in hope of a perfect peace promising by their seuerall writings published generally to meete togither within six monethes in some conuenient place to confirme this peace so generally desired of all their subiects 1445. 1446. 1447. 1448. And to confirme the assurance of their promises the English deliuers Mans to Charles with all thee held in the Countrie of Maine but all is put into the hands of King René his father in lawe Francis Duke of Brittain doth homage to the King for the Duchie of Brittain and the Earldome of Montfort This was at Chinon but some monethes after there chanced a tragicall desaster in that house Francis suspecting that Gyles his brother would deale treacherously with him by the too familiar correspondency he had with the Engâish caused him to bee put in prison by the Councell and care of Charles who had sent him foure hundred lances vnder the comand of the Admirall Coitiuy But they dealt worse with him causing him to die in prison for hungar The history of Brittain describes this accident very plausibly The cruâlty of the Duke of Bâittany against his brother but it is true that Gyles died beeing prisoner with his brother Peter who suruiued him not long after hauing a great remorse for this tragicke accident In the rest of this yeare and the three following there is nothing memorable but the pursuts which Charles made for the reunion of the Church But not to breake off the course of our history which is properly to treate of that which concernes our Estate we reserue it for a more conuenient place A worke in truth not onely worthy of a great Monarke but of a peaceable time that in the peace of the State we may see the peace of the Church The soldiars insolencie was nothing abated by this voiage of Germany They returne more flesht then before against the poore laborer Charles made new orders to restraine them causing them to bee duly obserued but the ouerwening violence of the English increased daylie not onely by the negligence but by the command of such as had the charge The Duke of Yorke being called home into England the duke of Somerset succeeded him a proud man who thinking to do better then the rest did absolutely ruine the English affaires in France Hee dispenced with his soldiars in all their villaines 1448 and kept them ready to breake the truce vpon any profitable occasion The English breake the truce In the meane time the Souldiers ordinarie practise was to stand in Sentinell to surprise some good house in the countrie being ill garded to robbe it spoile it and carry away the prisoners by vnknowne wayes To this end they had their spies their guides and their retreats The fields were full of robberies by men disguised in strange and fearfull habits being masked when they espied their pray and therefore they called them counterfeit faces But to draw men into danger they marched like passengers expecting the commoditie to surprize them There is heard nothing but complaints and repulses All the pursuites which were made to repaire the breaches of truce did but increase the paine and charges of the interessed But of these small disorders committed by the Souldiars there grew so great an inconuenience as in the end it filled vp the measure against the English being hated and detested of all the French for their pride and insolencie Fougeres surprized by the English during the truce Fougeres a Towne of Brittanie vpon the confines of Normandie then very riche and populous being without garde vnder the assurance of the truce was easily surprised by Francis of Surienne called the Arragonois a Knight of the order of the Garter and a great Captaine vpon the marches of France obeying the English The Towne being surprised by him being accompanied with six or seuen hundred souldiers suffered all the miseries that might be They kill spoile and sack rauish women robbe Churches take prisoners and from thence they runne into Brittanie and fill all full of feare and combustion The Britton appeales to the King and both complaine to Henry King of England and to the Duke of Somerset his Lieutenant in France they presse them to repaire so notable a breach else they would seeke a meanes of reuenge But they receiue nothing but words disauowed by mouth and aduowed in effect for Somerset causeth S. Iames of Beueron to be fortified contrary to the treatie Charles receiuing these bare answers from England sees which way the chance would fall and that the game would not passe without blowes yet he restrained his men with great modestie holding it for a maxime that he must vse no force But when as moderate remedies can take no place with men not capable of reason then to oppose force against the iniurious passion of his enemie I read with ioy in the Originall that Charles conteined himselfe and was forced to this last warre To haue God on his side and the wrong on his enemie To conclude this moderate proceeding did so iustifie the good cause of Charles as it was continued with a happy euent not onely to abate the pride of the English but to expell them out of the whole realme as the iust iudgement of God pursued their arrogancie in this attempt by the breach of publike faith the vndoubted ruine of humaine societie which hath no certaine foundation but in perfect faith Here endeth the yeare but the controuersie shall begin more hotly by iust armes accompanied with a victorious sentence the which the Iudge of the world shall pronounce against the pretender of this estate Normandie reduced to the Kings obedience THe
prisoners and artillerie deliuer vp Arques Caudebecq Tancaruille Lisle-bonne Hânnefleu and Monstreuille The Conditions granâed to the English at Rouen they should pay fiftie thousand Crownes presently and discharge their priuate debts in the Cittie before they departed for assurance whereof they should leaue Talbot the flower of all their men with fiue other hostages such as the King should demande So Talbot remaynes for a pledge After ten dayes all articles agreed vpon beâng performed except Honnefleu all the hostages haue leaue to depart except Talbot who stayes vntill Honnefleu is deliuered But Talbot must haue more time to tast the bountie clemencie of our King and the fruits of French couâtesie Thus Charles enters Rouen with great pompe Câarles enâers Rouen but the peoples ioye exceeded the statelinesâe of his traine Their showtes drowne the Trumpets and Clarons all crie God saue the King 1450. This poore people greedie to see their Prince after so long and cruell a seruitude weepe for ioy men and women young and olde all runne many bonfiers are made but the fire of publike deuotion burnt more cleare This was the tenth of Nouember in the yeare 1449. a notable date for so singular a deliuerance There yet remained some Townes in Normandie to conquer Charles loth to loose any opportunitie or to giue the enemie any leisure to bethinke himselfe would scarse allow of any time for the publike ioy and content of his good subiects but goes presently to field with his armie Honnefâeu would not obey the Duke of Somerset the which he must deliuer vp according to the treatie there were fifteene hundred English resolute to defend the place but after fifteene dayes siege they yeelded vpon honourable termes King Charles deales honourablie with Talbot their goods and liues being saued Charles for an increase of the good cheere he had made vnto Talbot during his imprisonment giues him his libertie without ransome with meanes to retire himselfe into England with great gifts but he shall make him no due requitall of this good and honourable entertainment Fougeres the subiect of this last warre and the chiefe cause of this good successe returnes to the obedience of the Crowne through the valour of the Duke of Brittanie and Belesme with the Castell of Fresâââ by that of the Duke of Alançon As all things succeeded happily for our Charles so all went crosse in England The Earle of Suffolke gouerned King Henry the 6. quietly being a young man and of a weake spirit As all the affaires of England depended vpon this Earle The estate of England so did the reproches The Duke of Somerset a Prince of the English bloud very iealous of his credit and reputation and ashamed to be blemished with these losses in France layes the chiefe fault vpon Suffolke and others that had the gouernment and so incensed the people of London against them The Londoners mutinie and kill the Lord Keeper as the Londoners transported with choller for so great a losse meaning to punish the offenders fall vpon the Bishop of Chichester Lord Keeper of the priuie Seale and kill him in a mutinie they intend the like to Suffolke ââ by the fauour of some of his friends he had not beene put into the Tower of London to yeeld an accoumpt of his actions Henry who loued him deerely takes him forth The English Chronicle reports quite contrary and sent him into France for his better safetie But it chanced that Suffolke seeking to auoide one danger fell into another where he made his last shipwrack for being met by Somersets people being his capitall enemie he was taken and beheaded his head body were sent to London those cruell spoiles set vp to publike view in places most frequented In the meane time all England troubled for the losse of Rouen and the greatest part of the Prouince resolues to hazard all to saue the rest of their conquests in France They had yet in Normandy the Townes of Caen Vire Auranches S. Sauueur leVicont Falaize Damfront Cherebourg with the strong places of Tombelaine Briquebec New forces sent out of England into France and a great part of Guienne With this remainder the English imagin to recouer the possession of what they had lost So Henry sends speedily 4000. men vnder the command of Thomas Tiâel one of his most renowmed Captaines Being landed at Cherebourg without any losse of of time he besiegeth Valonges a strong place and of importance At the brute of these forces all the English garrisons assemble to augment his armie and to fortifie the siege so as being together they make about 8000. men Our armie was lodged in diuers places to refresh themselues since the siege of Honnefleu the season being wonderfull moist in the thawe of the spring when as newes came to Charles of the landing of the English and the imminent danger of the besieged the losse whereof were a foule blemish to his victorie To preuent this he presently sends the Earle of Clermont with sixteene hundred Lances whereof the Earle of Castres the Admirall of Raiz the Seneshall of Poitou and the Lords of Montgascon Couuran and Rouhault were the commanders The English armie was lodged at Fourmigny a village betwixt Carentan and Bayeux in a place of aduantage to keepe themselues free from such forces as they might doubt should be sent from the King being then in the country Matago an old English Captaine came vnto him with a thousand Archers The English being thus fortified set their backes to a Riuer being flanked with diuers Orchards and Gardines before them they make trenches to stoppe their approche and in this sort they attend the enemie The neerenesse of Charles made them to imagine our French to be more in number then they were for this troupe did not exceed sixe hundred fighting men whereof a hundred onely commanded by Geoffray of Couuran and Ioachim of Rouault charged the English vantgard hauing slaine three or foure hundred put the rest of their armie in disorder yet the Earle of Clermont seeing the danger he was in with his troupe if the enemie had discouered his aduantage hauing so great an army against his small troupe sends presently to Charles for speedy succours By good hap as the messenger came vnto the King the Constable of Richmont arriues from Brittaine who marcheth presentlie not giuing his souldiers any leisure to breath exhorting them to go couragiously to an assured victorie His comming strack the stroake and swayâd the victory He had 240. Lances and 800. Archers and with him Iames of Luxembourg the Cont of Laâall and the Lord of Loheac Marshall of France with the good fortune of Charles He aâriues euen when as the Earle of Clermont was farre ingaged in the fight the English had taken two Culuerins from him and in despight had passed S. Clements-forde preparing to discharge these Culuerins when as behold the Constable comes with his troupe with a victorious
their Cittie with exceding ioy the first day of August to the great greefe of the English who see themseues expelled out of the whole realme but they shall yet make a new attempt The oathe of fealtie was autentically made to Charles the All Guâenne swear vnto King ãâã 7. both by the Cittizens of Burdeaux and by all the Estates of Burdelois to their naturall King and lawfull Prince renowncing the English The Nobilitie held vp their hands first in this oath namely the Lords of Esparre Montferrand Duras Rosan Pugeols Lansac Lisle Anglade amongest the which how many proued treachers The Archebishop also did take the same oth of homage and fealtie to the King with Gaston de Foix only Captall de Buch would not take the oath for his person but he submitted all his Lands to the obedience of the Crowne an error which shal be preiudiciall to the whole Prouince Thus all Guienne was made subiect to the Kings obedience except Bayonne for the reduction of which Towne being needlesse to keepe togither so great an armie euery Nobleman was commanded to returne to his howse and that the Earle of Dunois should contynue there to imploie the forces of the Country at this seege So the Princes of the bloud depart accompanied with twenty thousand men whom they dismisse euery one into his Countrie The Earle of Foix ioyned with the earle of Dunois they beseege Bayonne the seege was long painefull and dangerous Bayone yeelds vpon hard conditions the which might haue bene more easie and spedie by means of the armie which was redie But in truth the nigard spends more then the bountifull man in euery degree yet in the end Bayonne submits to the obedience of the Crowne vpon these conditions That the tounesmen of Bayonne should deliuer Iohn of Beaumont their Captaine into the Kings hands with their own persons and their goods to be at the Kings wil discretion and to repaire their disobedience to purchase the Kings fauour they should pay fortie thousand Crownes whereto they are referred by the earle of Foix generall of the army This accord was coÌfirmed by the entrie of the said Earle into the Towne who tooke a sollemne othe in the Kings name Charles forgiues the inhabitants halfe their fine and confirmes halfe their priuiledges The three Estates of the Country of Burdelois send their deputies vnto the King who was then at Taâllebourg 1453. to confirme their othes and homages already taken by his Chancellor and the Kâng lâkewise doth ratifie their priuileges and receyues them into fauour so as Guienne âeemed to be reduced to the Kings obedience All Guienne reduced to obedience to the incredible content of the whole realme and so this yeare ended with an vniuersall ioy But seuen or eight moneths were scarse spent in this publike ioy such as the French might haue in euery corner of their country enioying peace the which they had not tasted these hundred yeares and which in outward appearance there was no hope to recouer the English and Bourguignons hauing taken such firme footing in all parâs when as behold a great surge which seemed to expose France to the mercie of a more horrible and dangerous storme For Talbot comes to the gates of Bourdeaux with goodly âroupes of English Talbot enters ãâã with new Englâsh troupes where he was receiued and tooke the Seneshall of Guienne prisoner being gouernour of the Towne and Iohn de Foux deputie Maior of Bourdeaux and in a maneâ the same day the Nobilitie which had giuen their faâth vnto the King noted befoâe by their speciall names deliuered all the chiefe places of the countrie to the English Fronsac Coloeuures Casâillon Chasteauneuf in Damedoc Cadillac Langen S. Macaire Libârne and Saint Millâon Many townes yeeld to the English And after Talbot who came but to discouer there arriued the next day in safetie foure thousand fighting men from England with foure score ships laden with Meale and Salt meates to victuall the Towne The amazement of this losâe was as great as the ioy had beene of gaine Charles was then at Tours the Earle of Clermont sonne to Charles Duke of Bourbon was gouernour of Guienne He commands him to haue a care to the preseruation of the rest of Guienne and presently he sends six hundred men at armes vnder the command of three Marshals of France and the Lords of Orual and Rouhault who were then neere the King and sends for the rest of his forces with all speed The motiues oâ the reuolt in Guiânne But whilest that all prepare to repaire this losse may we not examine the motiue of this great and sodaine change Some new writers accuse the ill vsage of the French to this people newly conquered which made them to wish for the English being more milde and temperate Lords others blamed the negligence of our French vnfit to keepe that which they had so valiantly gotten But who is he that can finde this first cause truly noted hearing the whole History speake and representing the discontent of the French nation against the gouerment of the English And why did the King dismisse his armie but to ease his people euen with the preiudice of his owne affaires As for our negligence in keeping of that which we haue gotten with much paine it is too well knowne by memorable examples but seeing the affâction of the people of Bourdelois had bin confirmed by many proofes in this voluntary obedience to what end had it serued to put them in fetters as a people vanquished by armes and force them to obedience But to find out the causes we must examine the effects L'Esparre Montâerrand Duras Anglade Rosans and others specified in the register of the oath will bee found straight waies reuolted in these places Captal de Buche protested openly that he was not the Kings seruant so as he might without reproch carrie armes against him for the King of England his maister He might remaine peaceablie within the country inioying his houses being vnder the Kings protection and so make his traffick for the English at his pleasure Iohn King of Nauarre an Arragonois both by birth and humour was an enemy to Charâes for two respects as hauing maried the heiâe of Nauarre and with that mariage the quarrels hatred of that Charles which was Grandfather to his wife The King of Nauarre an enemie to K. Câarles who had so much troubled the raignes of Iohn and Charles the â and as an Arragonois by reason of the quarrels of Naples against the house of Aniou These were two instruments to moue many mens mindes It could not otherwise be but the authoâitie and command of two hundred yeares had purchased England many seruants and such as had alwayes held the English party against France and were not reclaimed to the Kings obedience but by force could not beleeue that they had any such part in the Kings fauour hauing brought
King Henry was descended and they wore the redde Rose for a marke and Clarence from whence the Duke of Yorke tooke his beginning bearing the white Rose for a distinction This rancor of parties hath bathed all England with the bloud of her subiects two yeares shall not passe after this losse but Somerset shall dye in a battaile and King Henry the 6. who had carryed himselfe as King of France shall be prisoner and whereas he sought to ioyne the Crowne of France to that of England he shall loose that of England both for him and his teaching vs that we must neuer thinke to doe harme to another but we shall receiue our share againe and not to dispaire in our greatest afflictions The beginning of this raigne did represent vnto vs a ruined realme and this end restores it to her first beautie Thus was this realme restored from the which the English were quite expelled except from Calais and the heyre recouered the possession of his right the which his successors enioye vnto this day The meanes of this singular deliuerance is worthy to be obserued vnder the conduct of the first moouer the which the wise acknowledge to be in the prouidence of God the Soueraigne of Soueraignes and the preseruer of States whereby he maintaines the societie of mankinde Truelie in the course of these ordinarie meanes which we seeke after Charles holds the first place being both capable of Councell and full of resolution to put in execution He was assisted by great personages in the gouernment of his affaires and for the warres He was furnished with two Constables which serued him faithfully the Earle of Boucquam in his aduersitie and the Earle of Richemont in his p osperitie of two Chancellors worthy men and fitte for the time Of Renald of Chartres Archbâshop of Rheimes and Iohn Iuuenall of Vrsins Baron of Treignel the one for the beginning the other for the end of his affaires And for warriours he had as resolute and happy commanders as might be found in any raigne of whom he had great need But from all this we must ascend vnto the soueraigne cause who hath shewed vs the rodde and cast it into the fire when as it pleased him that by the example of our Ancestors we may more perfectly obserue the causes and remedies of our difficulties Now we drawe neere vnto the end of this raigne but before we conclude we must obserue the estate of the Church finish the discourse of the Schisme wherof we haue shewed the beginning and proceding We haue made relation of this inexcusable conââsion vntil the councell of Pisa which supposing to reforme the scandalous disorders of two Popes being enemies Gregorie and Benedict aduanced a third which was Iohn the 23 so as at one time there were three Popes Iohn at Boulogne Gregorie at Rimini not able to be resident at Rome and Benedict at Auignon This multiplicitie of Popes bred disorder to the great scandale and preiudice of all Christians So as Sigismond not able to cure this infirmity of the mind by force he resolued to haue recourse vnto the authoritie of the church to that end he passed through France England Spaine and Italie perswading all Kings Princes and Potentates to hold a Councel at Constance whether the Emperours of constantinople Trepisonde with the churches of Grece sent their Ambassadors and all Christian nations assisted to the end this councell might be oeconomicall and vniuersall In this Councell Iohn the 23. being accused and found guilty of greuous crymes was first deposed and then imprisoned Gregory the 12. and Benedict the 13. were likewise deprived Councell of Constance Otho Colomne a Romaine gentleman was chosen Pope by the Councel is called Martin the 15. This decree of the councell was accompanied with great and generall complaints by reason of the corrupted estate of the Church the which had exceded farre in some places Saint Bernard had begun in France as doth appeere by diuers places of his writings and by books written vpon this subiect But many of his disciples had followed him in great numbers Gabriell de Roquetaillade Tomas Couect Great complaints against the abuses of the Romish Church and Nicholas Clemangis had filled all France with these complaints But in England Iohn Wiclef and in Bohemia Iohn Hus had perswaded men with greater vehemencie for Bohemia was ready to disclaime the Popes authoritie Iohn Hus teaching them not only to leaue the abuse of manners but âhe doctrine it selfe as is conteyned at large in acts of the councel of Constance It shal be sufficient to coat them my stile not permitting me to set them downe at large The reader that is carefull to see the grounds of this controuersie may go vnto the Originall and I will obserue the effect according vnto the dutie of the historie Wicâefs doctrine was condemned Iohn Hus and Ierosme of Prague came to Constance hauing a pasport from the Emperour Sigismond and the Councell but they were condemned and burnt as heretiks Hus in the Bohemian tong signifies a goose Iohn Hus and Iârosme of Prâgue condemned and burnt Iohn Hus when as the Iudges had pronownced this sentence that he should be burnt he said vnto them I appeale from you vnto the soueraigne Iudge and preseruer of all truth who a hundred yeares hence shall raise out of my ashes a Goose which shall not suffer him selfe to be roasted Sâ as Iohn Hus was burnt in the yeare 1417. and Martin Luther began to shew him selfe in the yeare 1517. There were great complaints against the abuses of the Church made by Peter d' Alliae a Cardinal Iohn Gerson Chancellor of the Vniuersitie of Paris deputie of the French Church The Colledge of Sorbon had giuen him great instructions vpon this subiect but nothing was effected They only make the Pragmaticall Sanction to suppresse the Popes authoritie Gerson returning from Basill died for greefe at Lions But this Councell did not end those two difficulties for the which it had beene called for Peter de la Lune called Benedict 13. being deposed by the councell and retired into Arragon had so incensed Alphonsus King of Arragon as he supported him with all violence The Bohemians take armes for the death of Iohn Hus. against Martin the new Pope And the Bohemians were so moued with the death of these two personages whom they reuerenced as they tooke armes vnder the comand of Zisca a very famous Captaine and did much annoy the Emperour Sigismond Peter de la Lune called Benedict 13. held his court apart doing at Laniscole a Towne in Arragon as Martin did at Rome but this humour brought him to his graue After his death the colledge made choise of Giles Munion who was called Clement the 8. Martin dies in the other seat and his College doth choose a Venetian of the familie of Condelme and calls him Eugene 4. who finds the means to cause the Antipope Clement
pleasing to the Duke as the peace of Conflâns So the King returnes into Touraine Charles out of France iâto GuieÌne the Duke of Burgongne into Hainault where he assembles his Estats and shewes the losse he had receiued for that his men at armes were not so soone ready as the Kings and giues order to be no more surprised vnawares Thus the Estate is pacâfied but the Duke of Guienne was no sooner returned home The Duke of âuiene seeke to marry with the heire of Bourgongne but there springs vp new seeds of diuision He receiues the Earle of Armaignac into fauour and restores him to full possession of the Lands which the King had conficate Lewis moued with this reconciliatsion sends forces and takes the lands into his owne hand disappoints the Earle whome he knew to be a stirring and a factious man and euen then he resolued to diâpossesse his brother of the Duchie of Guienne as he had doone of that of Normandie The Duke foreseing this storme sends often to the Bourguignon and vnder colour to seeke his daughter labours to bind him more fiânely vnto him by that alliance The Bourguignon hauing his heart puste vp with as great conceiâs as his person was susceptible of trauell but exceding the capaciâie of his sence he fed him with hope yet had he no such meaning but preserued her as a most pretious iewel to be courted by many and to serue him at need according to diuers occurrents both of their persons and meanes Neither would he haue so great a Sonne in Lawe as the only Brother of a King of France whome he might not rule at his pleasure neither could he digest the words proceedings of the Duke of Brittaine the Constable The Constable would haue the Duke of Guienne beholding vnto him for this marriage the Britton repined he should haue the honor The King comes to crosse it and with âeason for this alliance had wonderfully fortified his brother who being ioyned with the Duke of Brittaine had gâeatly crossed the Kings estate and his childrens Moreouer the King of England did much disswade the effecting thereof said he to the Duke of Bourgongne if the King of France comes to die without children his brother succeeds to the Crowne and this marriage vniting vnto it so many prouinces and Seigneuries the estate of England were neere her ruine But to what ende serue these affectionate and contrarie poursuits Alasse some one thinks himselfe sound that carries death in his bosome But he that raigneth in heauen Psal. â laughes them to scorne within fewe monethes our Charles of Guienne leauing the world shall leaue his loues So it is that their vehement solliciting extorted some verball promise confirmed by a letter but he had great Corriualls who all pretended to haâe the best part in the pie Nicholas Marquis of Pont Corriuals for the heââ of Bonâgongne sonne to Iohn Duke of Calabria and Lorraine Philop Duke of Sauoie Maximilian Duke of Austria Son to the Emperour Frederke All these marched in equall ranke but in the end Maximilian shal be conquerour yet not during the life of Charles of Bourgongne This marriage gaue a goodly colour to these mediators but vnder the shadowe thereof they treated of other matters They must auoide this storme ready to oppresse the Duke of Guienne Behold therefore the publike Ambassadors and priuate messengers of these three Dukes are sent respectiuely one to another The Lord of Vrfé and Poncet de la Riuiere Agents for Charles of Guienne The Abbot of Begard since Archbishop of Lion is an instrument for the Britton to the Bourguignon they taxe the King to haue practised and suborned what by friendshâp and what by force the Duke of Guyennes seruants to haue already defaced a place belonging to the Lord of Estissac with many other things testifying that the King would soone dispossesse his brother of Guienne if he were not speedily preuented A new league betixt the Duke of Bourgângne Guiâenne and ââittâine against Lewis that to this effect he was armed and ready to enter into Xaintonge The Duke of Bourgongne sends often to the king touching these affaires The King excuseth himselfe and accuseth his brother as hauing treated with the Earles of Armaignac and Foix to his preiudice seeking to inlarge his limits without his priuitie to enter into factions with his enimies yet he promiseth to suffer him to inioy his portion peaceably This promise carryes no credit and works lesse effect the Dukes of Guienne Brittaine insist they presse the Bourguignion yet that it may be done without the assistance of the English the ancient and generall enemie of this Realme seeing that all their coÌmon desââins tended but to the good and ease of the publicke that his assistance with the great intelligence he had with many gouernours Captaines of places did fortifie them sufficiently pleasant people to seeke with a blody wound once againe to abuse the coÌmon people with this baite of publike good to couer their priuate passions with so pleasing a shewe Charles of Bourgougne casts the stone and hides his arme and the better to disguise his proceeding he solicites the English secretly to inuade France on the one side whilst that he seemed blind not to see it .. But it was in vaine the English had more willingly assisted the King if this marriage had allyed the two houses of France Bourgongne In the end behold a number of Princes in great perplexitie the which is more lamentable for that they shall tâouble their heads with so many preiudiciall extrauagant conceptions this confusiân shall in fewe yeares oppresse them in a manner all Lewis particularly fauoured of heauen shall suruiue them and carry away their spoiles They preuaile thus much the Duke of Bourgongne possessed with an earnest desire to recouer Amiens S. Quintin and other townes vpon Somme he armes twelue hundred lances three archers to a Lance well armed weâl mounted The Bourguignââ comes armed into Fâance and good leaders What doth our Lewis In trueth he had too good a iudgement to want foresight he that thought to surprise shal be surprised To diuert the Bourgâignons leauy he had often sent the Lord of Craon and the Chancellour of Oriole who being very trusty seruants in the end coÌclude an absolute peace The King yeelds to the Dâke the foresaid townes Lewis makes a âeace with the ãâã he abandons vnto him the Earles of Neuers S. Paul Constable the one hauing serued the King loyalty at Peronne had purchased the dukes indignation the other hauing nourished hatred and distrust betwixt these two princes for his owne profit had so vnreconciledâie estranged them from him as they bandye ioyntly to his destruction giues him al their lands to incorporate them to his own if he coââd The Duke in exchange forsakes the Dukes of Guienne and Brittaine and their ââigneâries to dispose at his pleasure promising
hundred horse with a sufficient number of foote to keepe the place The Cittizens of Colongne with their neighbours arme sixteene thousand foote and incampe vpon the Rhin right against the Duke to cut off his victualls that came out of Gueldres and to stay the boats with their Cannon The Emperour and Princes both spirituall and temporall do arme as the King had often solicited them they send vnto him to make a triall of his intent Lewis failes not to graunt what they demanded promising twenty thousand men when as the Imperiall army should be at Colongne But he had worke at home Edward King of England discontented The English prepare for France that Lewis had supported Henry and the Earle of Warwicke against him prepares in the Bourguignons fauour fifteene hundred maisters all Gentlemen well mounted and the most part barded which made a great number of horse 14000. Archers all on horse-backe with a great number of foote The Duke of Brittaine hauing already consented to rebellion should receiue three thousand English and ioyne his army with them as appeared by letters written by the hand of Vrfé sometimes master of the Kings horse and then seruant to the Britton the one letter to the king of England the other to Hastings great Chamberlaine of the said realme the which the King did buy of a Secretary of England for three score markes of siluer In the meane time the King treats of a peace with the Duke of Bourgongne to preuent this storme Lewis seekes for a peace of the Duke of Bourgongne is refused or at the least to prolong the truce The Duke excuseth himselfe vpon his word giuen to the English who labours to drawe the Duke from Nuz exhorting him to accomplish the conuentions considering his great charge and that the season fit for warre was almost spent To this ende the Lord Scales Nephew to the Constable makes two iournies to Charles who pretends by friuolous reasons that his honour is much ingaged in this siege and that hee could not rise without great blame Lewis procures to Charles many enimies Lewis to crosse him being alwayes his crafts master in any action eyther of warre or peace procures him many and new enimies It was no matter of difficulty to draw in René the sonne of the daughter of René King of Sicile the heyre of Lorraine by reason of his grandmother after the death of Iohn Duke of Calabria and Lorraine his Vncle and of the Marquis Nicholas sonne to the said Iohn For the Duke being dead Charles of Bouâgongne desirous to vnite thiâ Duchy to his country had caused him to be taken prisoner but he was deliuered in exchange for a young Germaine Prince who was taken studying at Paris and marching presently with his armye hee had easily deuoured that preie if the King following him had not forced him to passe on René Duke of Lorraine René therefore sends to defie him before Nuz and fortified by some French troupes commanded by the Lord of Craon he enters the Duchy of Luxembourg spoyles the country and razeth Pierre-forte a place of the said Duchy and neere to Nancie Sigismond of Austria Sigismond Archduke of Austria had in the yeare 1469. ingaged his country of Ferrete to the Duke of Bourgongne with all the lands he enioyed on eyther side the Rhin for threescore and ten thousand Crownes Charles had placed Peter of Hagenbach there for Gouernour a wicked man a violent extortioner and insupportable both to the nobility people who complaine to Sigismond beseeching him to succour them against the outrage concussions of Hagenbach Sigismond had beene long in dislike with the Suisses his neighbours but by the Kings meanes they were all easily reconciled So they conclude a league in the which the imperiall Citties ioyne Strausbourg Basill Colmar and Slestad and contribute to furnish the summe due by Sigismond to Charles And many Imperiall citties the which they consigne into the hands of a banker at Basill then the inhabitants of these ingaged lands signifie vnto the Duke of Bourgongne that they hold themselues freed of the oath they had made vnto him And holding themselues freed from the Bourguignons obedience they reiect his Lieutenant generals coÌmands To suppresse them he assembles a great troupe of Picardes Flemings Hennuiers and Lombards and on Chistmas day at night a good worke on a good day hee seekes to bring them secretly into Enshem The Cittizens beate them back kill and take many the rest flie to Brizac with Hagenbac The Brizançons arme and are the stronger they ââize on the gouernor expell the soldiars and then do they speedily informe of his mildemeanors giuing intelligence to all their allies and demand Iudges to iudge of the processe They depute some from Alsatia Strasbourg Basill Songoye of the blacke forest Fribourg Berne Soleure and other places who condemne Hagenbach to dâe vpon foure principall crimes The Duke of Bâââgongâââ Lieutenant executed by the Suisses for that he had caused foure men of honour to bee beheaded at âhan without any forme of Lawe to haue made and displaced officers at his pleasure contrarie to his oath to haue brought in forraine nations into places with all liberty and for that he had rauished women forced virgins and committed incest with Nunnes The Duke of Bourgongne aduertised of the death of Hagenbach resolues to be reuenged of such as had beene actors And herevpon Henry Earle of Vittemberg and Montbeliard is taken by the Dukes men Those of Basill aduertised hereof send a number of men with artillery to Montbeliard to stop the Bourguignons passage who suÌmons the Castell the which refusing to yeeld he sends six thousand horse vnder the commande of Stephen Hagenbach to reuenge his brothers death Open warre betwixt the Dukeof Bourgongne and the Suisses and to make war vpon the Bishop of Basill who whilest that Sigismond assembles his coÌfederats spoiles about thirty villages killes takes carries away and ransomes men women children and cattle Behold a strong party made against Charles of Bourgongne by the Kings policy whereby the Suisses entring into Bourgongne take Blasmont beseege Hericourt defeate the Bourguignons that come to succor it and kill two thousand which done they retyre The truce nowe expired as the King had vnderhand stirred vp the Duke of Lorraine Lewis his exploits the truce being expired the Germains and the Suisses against the Duke of Bourgongne sufficiently busied before Nuz he now by open force takes from him spoiles and burnes Tronquoy Montdidier Roye Montreul and Corbye and then sends the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France Generall of this army before Arras and there abouts who spoiles and consumes with fire most of the places lying betwixt Abbeuille and Arras The Inhabitants of Arras force their men of warre to go to field vnder the commande of the Earle of Rhomont the Queenes brother But the Admirall hauing layed a strong ambush sends forth about
would haue dangerously shaken the estate of this realme So the English and Bourgiugnon part from Calais passe by Boullen and drawe towards Peronne where thinking to lodge they were disapointed which gaue some dislike vnto the English Being at Peronne the constable sends Lewis of Creuille to the Duke of Bourgongne excusing himselfe for not deliuering vp of Saint Quintin whereby said he he should haue lost all his credit and intelligence in France and hereafter be altogether vnprofiâable for him The Constables ââiuolous excuse But he was now wholy at his deuotion seing the King of England witâiâ the realme Moreouer he promiseth the saide Duke To serue and succour him and ãâã friends and allies as well the King of England as others and against al men without any exception and intreats him that that writing of his owne hand may serue as a gage of credit with the sayd King The Duke giues his letter vnto Edward assuring him moreouer that the Constable should not only giue him entrance into Saint Quintin He deceaues both King Edward and Duke Charles but into all his other places Both the King and Duke beleeued it The King for that he had married the Constables Neece the Duke for that the Constable was in so great feare and distrust of our Lewis as it seemed he should not dare to faile of his promises They part from Peronne and approching neere Saint Quintin they send some English troupes before to enter the Towne as to the taking of a certain possession But the Negro saieth the prouerbe changeth not his hewe The signall they giue them of their approach neere vnto them are skirmishes and Canon shot Two or three English are slaine and some taken and so they recouer their armie greatly discontented with this dâshonour The Bourguignon to colour this foule and treacherous part The Constable supported by Charles pretends the Constables meaning to be verie good that he could not couer the yeelding thereof with any apparent pretext if at the simple sight of so small troupes he should be amazed that he would be forced therevnto and if all the whole armie marched he would make no refusall But these were âests he desired but to winne time and not to shew himselfe enemy for any man The next day Charles of Bourgongne takes his leaue of Edward promising to returne speedily with all his forces Edward and his men had small practise in the estate of our realme they are not those braue warriers which had so long gouerned our France they needed conduct direction to fashion them to our armes without the which they know themselues at their first ariuall to be vnprofitable Another ãâã in the Duke of Bourgongne but in a short time they are fashioned and become good souldiers In the meane time they are abandoned and the season of doing any thing almost past they must therefore resolue And thus the King discouers that Edward would agree The English had taken the seruant of Iames Grasse a Gentleman of he Kings house but for that he was their first prisoner Edward giues him liberty At his departure Howard and Stanley both in credit with Edward said vnto him Recommend vs to the King your maister if you may speake vnto him Garter the Herald had named these two to obtaine a pasport for the Ambassadors that Lewis should send to treate This message bred some iealousie in the Kings head who then was at Compiegne for Gilbert the brother of Iames Grasse followed the Duke of Brittanie A notable circumstance and was in great credit but being carefully examined they finde he deserued credit Lewis remembers the direction the Herald had giuen him and sodenly takes this resolution with himselfe To send a seruant the sonne of Meridol of Rochel belonging to the Lord of Halles or Scalles in qualitie of a Herald A counterfeit Herald This seruant had his countenance and personage very vnpleasing yet a good wit and a sweet speech But why did Lewis make choise of a seruant whom he had neuer seene but once But well chosen and why amongst so many thousands more capable of that charge he might disauow him if need required as intruding himselfe or at the least aduenturing without his priuitie and at all hazards the losse of a seruant was not great This Herald fashioned after the Kings minde hath his charge deliuered him and is attired with a coate of Armes made likewise in hast of a Trumpets Banner enamelled like a pettie Herald that belonged to the Admirall and then he goes to horseback without any mans priuitie except Villiers Maister of the horse and the Lord of Argenton Being arriued at the English armie he is brought before the King to whom he deliuers his charge That the King his maister had long desired to haue good amitie with him to the end that both their realmes might hereafter liue in peace That since his comming to the crowne he had neuer made warre nor attempted any thing against the Crowne of England If he had receiued the Earle of Warwicke it was onely to crosse the Duke of Bourgongne That the Duke of Bourgongne should not haue procured his pâssâge into France but to make his peace with more aduantage with the King If any others were actors meaning the Constable it was but to serue their owne turnes in âââssing him and to worke their priuate profits not regarding the affaires of England ãâã now Winter grew on that his Armie was not raised without exceeding charge ãâ¦ã âecretly to offer a recompence of all or part The policie of Lewis which was a great perswader ãâ¦ã Thaâ such as nourished this warre betwixt them were some Noblemen and Marchants who made their profit of the peoples losse That if the King of Engââââ youâd giue eare to a treatie the King his Maister would imbrace it with so great aââection as both himselfe and his realme should remaine well satisfied And for ãâã if it pleased him to graunt a safe conduct for a hundred horse the King would leâââ Ambassadors vnto him well informed of his pleasure vnlesse he desired a mutuall enterview in some place mid-way betwixt both Armies then the King should graunt a safe conduct for his part These speeches please and this counterfeit Herald returnes with a safe conduct as he desired accompanied with an other Herald to carrie one from the King with the same tenor Ambassadors sent froÌ both the Kings The next day the Ambassadors of either side meete in a village neere to Amiens For the King came the Bastard of Bourbon Admirall the Lord of S. Pierre and Heberge Bishop of Eureux For Edward came Howard Sellenger and Doctor Morton afterwards Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterburie In truth it was much so to humble himselfe but the waightie burthen of affaires which oppressed our King forced him therevnto who with one stone gaue two stroakes for Lewis sent back his enemie to the great
what did concerne him And at the same instâât hee dispatcheth Contay to the Duke his maister with letters of credit of the Kings owne hand and somewhat to satisfie the Constable he giues the English Eu and S. Vallery to lodge in during the treaty of peace In the meane time oh notable trechery behold one of the Constables ordinarie trickes hee sends his confessor to the King of England with letters of credit The Constables trechery and intâeats him earnestly not to trust to the Kings promises but rather to seize vpon Eu and Saint Valery and there to passe some part of the winter That within two monethes hee would lodge him better Yet he giues him no other security but much hope and an offer to lend him fiftie thousand crownes with many other goodly shewes Edward reiects the Constables counterfeit offers to drawe him from so profitable an accord Edward answers that the truce is concluded and that he will not alter any thing That if he had kept his word he would haue accepted it Thus our Constable dispaires on all sides The King foreseeing that the CoÌstable wold thrust Edward into iealousie resolued by his bounty to take away all cause of suspect 1465. for the effecting whereof he sends Edward three hundred carts laden with the best wine he could get Lewis his policie to preuent the Constables practises and within halfe a League within Amiens Edward lod ging within halfe a league for confirmation of the truce he causeth two long tables to be set vp at the entry of the Towne couered with exquisite meats and all kindes of prouocations to drink with men to attend all comeâs and goers at the table At euery table were fiue or six men of reputation fatt and big the better to incourage the Drinkers amongest others were the Lords of Craon Briquebeâ Bresme and Villiers gentlemen of a pleasant humour and wheresoeuer the English tooke any lodging they might not spend any thing This bounty coÌtinued three or foure daies during the which if Lewis had ment treacherously he had good means they entâcing into Amiens confusedly to the number of nine thousand for of this great multitude some did sing some slept ouercome with wine and drousines But contrarywise he comitted the gard of the gate to English Archers whome Edward at Lewis his request had sent to take in and put out whome they pleased It was then concluded to appoint a place for an entervewe of these two Kings It is done with lesse confusion and hazard in a smal place Picqugny vpon Somme was held conuenient an antient prophesie which the English obserued described this very place To this effect they build vpon the bridge two pentises of wood An entervewe of the Kings the one for Lewis the other for Edward either of them capable of ten or twelue men Betwixt both was a partition with grates to put through ones armes going ouerthwart the bridge that no man might go from the one to the other Lewis made his profit of fore-passed euents he knew that if the barre at Montereau had had no more passage then this Iohn Duke of Bourgongne had not ended his dayes so lamentablie in the narrowe bounds thereof The 28. of August Lewis comes fiâst to the barre accompanied with Iohn Duke of Bourbon the Cardinall his brother and followed only with about eight hundred men at armes Edward comes after hauing with him the Duke of Clarence his brother the Earle of Northumberland his Chamberlain Hastings His Chancellor others and behind him all his army in battaile Either King had twelue men about him foure of the which went from one part to an other to search if there were nothing practised to the preiudice of their maisters They imbrace each other through the grate and sweare vpon the holy Bible to obserue the articles agreeed vpon The othe taken Lewis mingling his serious discours with some mirth inuites Edward to come to Paris that he would feast him with the Ladies and giue him the Cardinall of Bourbon for his Confessor a pleasant man and of free life who willingly would giue him absolution if happily he should sinne in that case Then they conferre together a while without any witnesses And vpon the Kings demand whether the Duke of Bourgongne would not accept of the truce men take an oxe by the horne and a man by his word a nd with the like policie the Duke of Bourgongne might haue bin surprised at his departure from Liege Edward answered that he might doe as he pleased I will summon him againe he saith if he will not harken to it I will referre my selfe to you two This accord being made Lewis begins to play vpon an other string makes the like demande touching the Duke of Brittain for whome he cheefely made the motion But he findes the English resolute in his protection The politike proceding of Lewis as hauing found no friend so kinde in his affliction Lewis surceaseth and with a wonderfull curtesie takes leaue of the King of England contents all his folowers with some kinde words and giues presents to some priuate Noblemen the Heralds trompets who to shew their thankfull mindes began to cry Alargesse for the most noble and mighty King of France a largesse ãâã largesse He hath alwayes made it manifest that he was exceeding suspitious and that from an antecedent he could cunningly draw a good consequence He is no sooner on his way to Amiens but he studies of Edwards facility to harken to the going to Paris that he was a very goodly Prince and of an amorous complexion and that some nice Parisien might stay him longer then his estate required 1475. or at the the least drawe him to passe the sea an other time that his Predecessors had loued Paris and Normandie but too well He therefore desires to see their backes and must by some meanes bring him from this desire wishing rather to haue him his good brother friend beyond the seas then here The necessitie which forced the King against the Burguignon serued for an excuse Moreouer the King was grieued to see the English so resolute to defend the Brittons quarrell he would gladly haue obtained that freedome to make warre in Brittaine the which hee wonderfully affected and made a second motion vnto him by Bousâhâge S. Fierre who returned with this answere That whosouer doth attempt saith he against the Duke of Brittaine I will passe the seas in person and succour him So hee was no more importuned The reason why King Edward protects the duke of Brittanie Edward had an especial cause to entertain the loue of the Duke of Brittanie for at the defeat of Henry King of England as wee haue heard Henry Earle of Richmont and neerest kinsman to the said Henry after the death of his sonne the Prince of Wales saued himselfe with his vncle the Earle of Pembroke and hauing entred a barke in hast they
were with tempest driuen vpon the coast of Brittaine and there forced to take land where they were seized on and led with sure guards to Vannes A verie happie chance for the Duke for while hee holds this goodly gage hee was assured to commaund the forces of England but very vnhappy for the Earle for if hee might haue landed in France Lewis without doubt to crosse Edward would haue laboured to restore him This truce did wonderfully displease some of Edwards househould seruants Lewis of Brettailles among the rest a gentleman of Gascony Edwards seruants discontented with the truce was greatly discontented giuing out that the King his maister hauing in person wonne nine battails had gotten more dishonour by the voluntary losse of this tenth which was in a manner gotten then he had purchased honour in the former nine That the French might with reason laugh at Edwards credulous facilitie Lewis aduertised by the Lord of Argenton of this Gascons free discourse resolues to stoppe his mouth to the end he should not hereafter spend his tongue to the preiudice of this Estate He sends for him Lewis a free buier of meÌs seruices and makes him dine with him offers him great aduancements so as hee will serue him Vpon his refusall hee giues him a thousand crownes presently and promiseth to doe good for his brethren that remayned in France binding him to maintaine as much as in him did lie the friendship growing betwixt these two Crownes Bretailles did not iudge amisse Our Lewis had sometimes a more liberal tongue then was conuenient and feared much least some words had passed him whereby the English might discouer that he mocked him and so it chaunced yet behold how hee couered it The day after this enteruewe being in his Cabinet he fell to iest of the wines other presents he had sent to the English But hee discouered not a Gascoyne marchant dwellâing in England who by chance was crept in to obtaine a lycense of the King for the transporting of certaine pipes of wine freed froÌ impost This marchant might talke he must therefore be woon and staied in France vnder some apparent pretext The King sent the Lord of Argenton to talke with him aduaunceth him to a good office in the towne where he was borne hee giues him a thousand frankes presently to transport his familie the transport of wines he required and a man to condâct him to Bourdeaux but all vppon condition that not he but his brother should make the voyage into England Thus the King made amends for his rashe speech Edward is now vnder saile he was a newe Conqueror Causes that mooued Edward to passe and to returne home into England his presence was therefore more needful in England he did neuer much affect the voyage Two principal reasons dâewe him into the action The one was all his subiects gaping after the possession of this Crowne did sollicit him and the Bourguignon prest him An other was he might reserue a good part of the mony that should bee raysed for this voyage for the Kings of England leuie no thing aboue their reuenues but for the warres of Fraunce But see the policie of Edward he had of purpose brought with him ten or twelue of the chiefe bourgesses of the Cittie whose credit was great with the Commons and who had with all care procured this taxe These men were soone weary with this military toile Presuming that at the first arriuall a profitable battaile should decide the quarrell And to make them tast more fealinglie the sweetenesse of peace from the sharpenesse of warre Edward doth sometimes trouble their heads with doubts sometimes with feares to keepe them from murmuring at his returne into England On the other side he loued his pleasures was of a complexion not able to endure the trauells requisite for the conquest of this Realme and although the King was ouercharged with enemies yet had he prouided well for his defence But see the most vrgent reason of Edwards retreate The performance he desired of the marriage betwixt the Daulphin and his daughter A marriage which made him dissemble many things whereof Lewis will make his profit To conclude as they which haue beene deceiued in their friendship hate without dissembling Edward seâââs the Constables letters vnto Lewis Edward before hee parted from Calais sent the King those two letters of credit which the Constable had written vnto him with all other verball assurances which he had giuen him Sufficient testimonies to accuse and conuince him of those crimes wherewith he shal be hereafter charged Let vs nowe reconcile the Duke of Bourgongne and Brittain with the King Contay was now returned from the Duke of Bourgongne the day of the enterviewe and had found his maister in a good humour when as the English were returned Hugonnet Chancellor of Bourgongne other Ambassadors for the duke meete at a bridge midde way betwixt Auennes and Veruins in Hainault so well accompanied with Archers and other men of warre that one of the English hostages whome the King had led with him tooke occasion to say that if the Duke of Bourgongne had beene followed with many such men when he came to salute King Edward peraduenture they had not made a peace Discontent betwixt the English and Bougguâgnons The Viconte of Narbonne answered That the Duke wanted no such men and that hee had sent them to refresh themselues but six hundered pipes of of wine and a pension which the King gaue them made them hast home to their Country The English mooued herewith It is as euery mansaied replies he that you wold deceiue vs. Do you call the money the King giues vs a pension It is a tribute and by Saint George you may talke so much as we will returne againe This quarrell stayed their proceeding neyther did they preuaile any more the second time when as the King appointed Tanneguy of Chastel and the Chanceller Oriole to heare the sayd Ambassadors at Veruins but the third assembly which was in the Kings Chamber made a full conclusion and in truth Brezey had reason to say one day to the King that his horse was well laden when he was on him A truce betwixt Lewis and the Bourguignons for that hee carried all his Counsell with him for in deed he did effect more in his presence then al his Ambassadors togither where there was a truce accorded for nine yeares according to the other but by reason of the oath which Charles of Bourgongne had sworne to Edward in his choller it might not be published vntill the 17. of October following Edward discontented that the Duke of Bourgongne would treate a part sends Montgomery a Knight very inward with him to the King to Veruins Edward offers to ayde Lewis against the Bourguignon hee requires two things the one that hee would take no other truce with the Duke then that which hee had made the other that hee
death of the Duke of Nemours for if he had liued it is likely that gouerning well his victory hee had with his helpe that giues and takes reaped the fruits worthie thereof But greatnesse comes neyther from the east nor from the west nor from the desert for it is God which gouerns he puls downe one and raiseth an other The Pope still gaped with his olde desire to haue Ferrare in his power But by the intercession of the Marquis of Mantoua the Ambassador of the King of Arragon for that Alphonso was borne of a daughter of olde Ferdinand King of Naples and the Colonnes Alphonso hauing demanded and obtayned pardon of the Pope vpon promise hereafter to do the deeds and duties of a faithfull feudatarie and vassall of the Church Iulius turnes his reuenge vpon the companies wherewith the Florentins had aided the King whome hee caused to bee spoiled by the Venetian soldiars with the consent of the Cardinall of Sion who notwitstanding had giuen them a pasport to passe safely into Tuscane And by the practises of the sayd Iulius who according to the ancient desire of all Popes sought to haue authority in this commonweale the Medicis with the helpe of the Confederats returned to Florence settled themselues by force in the dignity which their father was wont to enioye Italie being for this time freed froÌ the feare of the French forces the King holding nothing but Bresse Creme Legnague the Châsâelet and the Lanterne at Genes the Castells of Milan of Cremona and some other forts all these Confederats gaped after the Duchie of Milan and the Suisses on whome the Pope then partly depended opposing themselues not to suffer this estate to fall into the hands of any other Prince but of such a one as could not maintaine himselfe without their aide and succour Maximilian grandchild to Lodowike Sforce was named Duke of Milââ who made his entrie in the end of December receiuing the keyes from the hands of the Cardinal of Sion Sforce restored to Milan as confirming the sayd Maximilian That he held the possession of Milan in the Suisses name An honorable act and worthy of their generosity not to yeeld the honour which belonged vnto theÌ to the other confederats the which notwithstanding tâey should much esteeme and it may be might haue obtained it for money Nouarre returnes soone after to the obedience of Sforce Then the Genouois recouered the Chastelet of Genes forten thousand Ducats giuen to the Captaine and the Venetians beseeging Bresse Aubigni who defended it resolues to deliâer ât to the Spaniards to breed a iealousie betwixt them euen as a fewe dââes before Palisse had giuen Legnague to the Emperour to nourish a discord bred betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians who beseeged it Octauian Sforce Bishop of Lode and gouernor of Milan sent foure thousand Suisses to conquer Creme for Maximilian Sforce but Benedict Cribaâio corrupted by gifts deliuered it to the Venetians with the consent of the Lord of Duras who kept the Castell This was of purpose to breede a diuision betwixt the Suisses and the Venetians A counsell generally concluded by the French which remayned of this ship-wrake the which in the end wrought some effects but the losse fell vpon the French for with this first disdaine of the Venetians against the Emperour by reason of Legnague behold a newe leuaine of discontent is laied by the Bishâp of Gurce Maximilians âmbassador at Rome Hee made great instance that the Venetians should deliuer Vincence to the Emperour wherevnto neither soliciting intrâaâings nor the Popes threats could induce the Venetians The Pope desyring to gratifie Maximilian that in his fauour he should approue the CouÌcell of Lateran against that of Pisa protested to the Ambassadors of Venice A new League where the Veââtians are excluded That he should be forced to pursue their common weâle both with spirituall and tempoâall armes So as nothing moâed with this protestation the Pope the Emperour the Arragonois renue the league of Cambraye declaring the Venetians to be excluded So the Emperour by the Bishop of Gurce in the next session of ths Councell of Lateran disauowed all them that had vsed his name in the Councell of Pisa and allowed that of Lateran In the meane time the six thousand English promised by Henry King of England were arriued at Fontaraby a Towne seated vpon the Ocean frontier of the realme of Spaine towards France to asâaile ioyntly according to the conuentions of the two Kings of Arragon and England father in Lawe and sonne the Duchie of Gâienne vpon this pretext the Arrogonois had intreated Iohn son to Alain of Albret and King of Nauarre âbut by reason of Katherin of Foix his wife heire of the sayd realme to remayne a newrer betwixt the King of France and him and that for the assurance thereof hee should deliuer certaine places into his hands promising to redeliuer them when the warre should be ended But the Nauarrois knowing well the demanders intent obtaines a promise of succors from King Lewis who to diuert the Arragonois forces treated with the Duke of Aâbe Lieutenant generall for Ferdinand in this army But when the one partie is vigilant and politike and the other âlouthfuâl there soone appeeres great effects The Industry vigilancie of Ferdinand the slackenesse and too great facility of Lewis who abused with the policie and deuises of his Nephew did equally hurt the Nauarrois who suffred himselfe likewise to bee deceiued with the fradulent hopes wherewith the Arragonois entertayned him who seeing the succors of France farre off Nauarre vsurped by the Arragonois the realme vnfurnished of forces and the places not yet fortified enters into Nauarre takes Pampelune and the other Townes of the realme abandoned by Iohn being vnable to defend it and fled into Bearne And hauing no lawfull title to possesse it publisheth that hee is lawfully seized thereon by the authority of the Apostolike sea whereby the sayd realme was giuen to the first that should conquer it by reason of the alliance which Iohn had with the King of France a sworne enemy to the Church and by the Popes bull both beeing subiect to the censure as heretikes scismatikes Without doubt the Pope holds not this prerogatiue of Iesus Christ to giue kingdomes and to expose them in prey for he exhorted to yeeld and not to take from Caesar and the Apostles did not busie themselues to diuide earthly possessions Moreouer is it lawfull for the Pope to vsurpe an other mans right giue away that which is not his owne and consequently the spirituall sword against those he cannot iudge hauing declared himselfe a party After the Conquest of Nauarre the English perswaded Ferdinand to the seege of Bayânâe who without this place made no reckoning of the rest of Guienne But he held that which he long wished for as a commodious Country and very necessary for the safetie of Spaine and could not affect the warre
hundred Lances eight hundred light horse and fifteene thousand foote halfe French and halfe Lansquenets The whole Countrie was already in a mutinie the Earle of Mussocque sonne to âohn Iames of Triuulce was entred into Ast and Alexandria the French had taken Cremona Sonzin Lode and other places neere and the Milanois had excused themselues to their Duke who was at Nouarre for that hauing no man to defend them they made their composition with the French yet giuing him hope to returne to his subiection when as the Suisses and his confederates should ioyne in field Bartholmew of Aluiane Generall of the Venetian armie had taken Valege Pesquiere and Bresse when as the Kings armie at sea approching to Genes and finding Othobon and Sinibaud the sonnes of Lewis of Fiesque leading foure thousand foote and on the other side Antonel and Ierome Adornes Genes taken with a gâeat number of the country men they tooke Genes from the Fregoses where the victors entring transported with the furie of reuenge the two Fiesques bretheren caused Zacharie brother to the Duke of Genes to be slaine and then to be tyed cruelly to a horse tayle and dragged through the Cittie being present a little before at the death of Ierome their brother who comming out of the Palace had beene murthered by Lodowike and Fregosin brothers to the Duke All this succeeded well but forty thousand Ducats lately sent by the Pope to the Suisses had drawne an infinite number into the estate of Milan thrusting themselues into Nouarre at the first bâute that the French meant to besiege it It was the same Nouarre wherein Lodowick Sforce father to this present Duke was taken prisoner In the Kings campe were the same Captaines Tremouille and Triuulce some of the same Ensignes and Colonels which had sold the father accompanied the sonne in this warre And these presumptions caused Tremouille to make this ouer-bold promise to the King That he hoped to deliuer him the sonne of prisoner in the same place where before he had gâuen him the father The remembrance of happinesse past comforts the hope but let vs take heed least vnder this colour we grow insolent and carelesse Now the arrogancie of our French findes a firme resolution in the Suisses whereof followes a strange catastrophe and an ouerthrow of the desseine The armie batters Nouarre furiously and layes a great part of the wall euen with the ground but whereas the descent was wonderfull hard and dangerous so as Tremouille aduertised that new Suisses were entred into it and that Altosasz a very famous Colonell brought a greater number which comming by the valley of Aoust approched to Iuree dispairing to take the Towne he retired his Campe to go fight with the succours that came making his accoumpt to breake the enemies rather by their owne disorders for want of pay then by the force of his armes But by the perswasion of Moâin one of their Captaines ten thousand Suisses issue forth in the night the 6. of Iune without horses and artillerie against a mightie armie and better prouided they set vpon our French not asleepe but in a lodging vnfortified The men at armes assemble at the first alarum of their Sentinels range themselues in battaile and the foote vnder their colours The artillerie laide many Suisses on the ground when as the sunne beginning to appeare the body of their armie resoluing rather to be cut in peeces then retire seuen thousand of them fall violently vpon the Laâsequenets who garded the artillerie and 3000. of them plant themselues with their Pikes charged against the horse The Suisses and Lansequenets thrust on with a mutuall hatred and a desire of victory hewe one another with a bloudy furie one while the one shrinkes is chased and recoiles and then the other filling the field with âead bodies wounded men and with bloud in view of the men at armes lodged so as they could not succour the foot by reason of brookes and ditches that were betwixt them So the Suisses after two houres combate remained victors winne the Artillerie turne the mouth of it against our men and put both foote and horse to flight of whom there is nothing remarkeable obserued but that Robert of la Marke Lord of Sedan vnderstanding that Floranges and Iamets his sonnes The memorable valour of Robert de la ãâã Colonels of the Regiments of Lansquenets lay among the dead carcases moued with furie and a fatherly affection he runs into the middest of the Suisses troupes and in despight of them laies the eldest vpon his horse and the yongest vpon one of his men at armes bringing them aliue out oft the conflict being reserued to shew future proofes of their valour There died about fifteene hundred Suisses with the Author of this glorious Councel Of ours the most part of the Lânsquenets fighting and of the French flying vnto the number as the Italian Authors say of ten thousand All the horse in a manner saued themselues the Suiâes not able to pursue them for want of horse all their baggage was lost and two and twenty pecees of great Artillery with all the horse appointed for the same Doubtlesse it was one of the most glorious battailes that euer the Suisses wonne whereby we obserue that to bee surprised and preuented takes away all iudgement of command from the best commanders daunts the soldiers courage breeds confusion in order This victory being gotten all places which had declared themselues for the French craue pardon and purchase their peace for money Milan for two hundred thousand Ducats the tâst according to their power to be distributed to the Suisses to whom was due the glory and profit of this victory gotten by their bloud and valour Octauiân Fregose aided by three thousand Spaniards commanded by the Marquis of Pâscare enters Genes and causeth himselfe to the preâudice of Iohn his brother to be created Duke of Genes Aluiane fearing least this happy successe of the Suisses and Spaniards should draw them vpon him retires himselfe takes Legnague from the Germaines besiegeth Verona but in vaine and then lodgeth his armie within Padoua The two chiefe Authoâs of the Councell of Pisa Bernardin Caruagial and Frederic of S. Seuerin amazed wââh this route went and craued pardon of the Pope and were restored to the ranâe oâ Cardinals In the end of the yeare the Castels of Milan and Cremona returned to the Duâe of Milans obedience so as the King held nothing in Italy but the Lanterne of Genes the which wee shall see taken and razed by the Genouois Without doubt he that seekes profit farre from his owne home is oft times forced to returne poore and naked Troubles in ãâã by the Engââsh The King thus dispossessed of his estates in Italy turnes his thoughts now armes to crosse the attempts of England Henry King of England hauing at the Popes perswasion resolued to inuade the realme of France agrees with the Emperour to giue him six score
thousand Ducats to enter Bourgongne at the same instant with three thousand horse and eight thousand and foote Germaines and Suissâs promising the Suisses a certaine summe of money to ioyne their forces with Maximilian being content they should reteâne a part of Bourgongne vntill they were fully satisfied According to this agreement the English enters the marches of Picardie camps before Therouenne with fiue thousand horse of combate and aboue fortie thousand foote But the English forces did not molest France at land only the Admirall of England ran along the coasts of Normandie and Brittanie And the King to resist their incursions caused foure Gallies to passe the straight of Gibralâar vnder the charge of Captaine Pregent At the first incounter the Admirall chased Pregent into Brest Here Pregent turnes his force fights with the Admirall and hurts him whereof he died within few daies after After that foure score English ships and twenty Normands and Brittons ships fought with equall forces ours hauing the winde But in the end Primauguet a Britton Captaine of the Nunne which Queene Anne had caused to be built beset by ten or twelue English ships and resolute to sell his death dearly grapled with the Regent the chiefe ship of the enemies fleete and fiering it burnt both the one and the other with all that was in them Therouenne was defânded by two hundred and fiftie Lances and two thousand foot whilest the King prepared two thousand fiue hundred Launces ten thousand Lansquenets led by the Duke of Gueldres sixe thousand others Thârouâââe beâeeged which the Duke of Norfolke brought being fled long before out of England and tenne thousand French to succour the beseeged who in the meane time molested the enemie day and night with their artillerie with the which the great Chamberlaine of England was slaine and Talbot Captaine of Calis lost a legge The troupes assembled the King sent them to Aire vnder the comand of Lewis of Longueuille Marquis of Rotelin Captaine of the hundred gentlemen of his houshold Victuals grew scant in Therouenne when as the Lord of Pieâes gouernour of Picardie and the French Captaines chose out the most resolute of all their troupes and gaue them charge to carrie victuals to the Towne And for that their enterprise had happily succeeded retyring too confidently and reproching the enemie of couardise hauing no intelligence of their intent the English hauing sent their horse and fifteâne thousand foote to cut off our mens passage who did ride on their nagges disarmed they charge them vnawares being readie to wade through a riuer that passeth at Huchin they kill about three hundred and take many prisoners amongst others the Marquis of Rotelin Bayard la Payete Clermont of Aniou and Bussy of Amboise all the rest casting away their Launces and trusting to their heeles and horses saued themselues by flight And therfore they call it the battaile of spurres which caused the yeelding of Therouenne the which was dismantled The incounââ of ãâã to take away all cause of discord betwixt the Archduke Charles who by ancient right pretended it and the English who challenged it as conquered from the enemie by the sword From Therouenne Henry went to campe before Tournay following in this resolution not so much the actions of a good Commander in the warre seeing the taking of this place lying within the low Countries brought him small profit as the perswasions of Maximilian hoping that this Towne pulled from the French might in time returne to the obedience of his grandchild Charles to whome they pretended it appertained Tournay taken Tournay vnfurnished of men of warre and dispayring of succours for that the King not being maister of the field nor of sufficient force to incounter the English could not succour it saued her selfe from spoyle paying a hundred thousand Crownes To crosse the English at home The Scots defeated the King had stirred vp Iames King of Scotland an ancient allie to this Crowne but the chaunce of armes was nothing fortunate for him neither at land nor at sea for ioyning with the English armie where Queene Catherine was present he was vanquished vpon Til and slaine with aboue twelue thousand Scots After these victories the end of October approching Henry left a great garrison in Tournai The English retire dismissed his strangers and toke his way towards England carrying no other recompence for so great and sumptuous a preparation for warre but the Cittie of Tournay But some desseins vpon Scotland fallen into a pupils hands hastned him home An other storme threatned France The Suisses armed according to the former conuentions the King sends Tremouille vnto them to disperse them vnder whome many of the Colonels had receiued the Kings pay But neither by presents not promises preuailed he any thing onely he had a secret intelligence giuen him from some Captains to prouide for the defence of his gouernment of Bourgongne whether the Pope the Emperour Sforee did thrust them And behold foureteene or fifteene thousand Suisses with the troupes of the French Countie a thousand horse The ãâã enter into Boââgoâne and the artillerie which the Emperour gaue them vnder the conduct of Vlric Duke of Wirtemberg camped before Dijon Tremouille was returned with a thousand Launces and six thousand foot who by his practises had greatly altered the Colonels when as the multitude doubting the faith of their Captaines takes the artillerie and batters the wall Tremouille not able to resist the force of this nation which increased daily flies to the last remedy and without expecting any authoritie from his Maiestie agrees with them That the King should renounce the rights he had to the Duchy of Milan should pay them 400000 crownes within a time prefixt which they preteÌded was due for their seruices in the former wars and for assurance therof he gaue for hostages his nephew of Mezieres Bailife of Dijon and foure bourgesses of the said towne who sauing themselues awhile after in Germanie escaped the threats of this people to cut off their heads if the King did not ratifie it Doubtlesse these were wise men to saue their heads from the Suisses choler A very preiudiciall accord for the King if he had beene constrayned to ratifie it But was it not better to lull the Suisses asleepe then to loose Dijon Our Lewis is now freed off two incombrances the English and the Suisses But the exemption of present dangers freed him not from a relaps for the English departing threatned to returne in the spring and prepared alreadie being loth to stay any more so long at the warre The Emperour had the like intent to annoy him The Catholike King deuised as was discouered by a letter written to his Ambassadour resident with Maximilian the meanes to draw this Duchie of Milan to Ferdinand their comon granchild yonger brother to Charles the Archduke shewing that by that meanes all the other estates of Italie should bee forced to take their law
from them that it should be easie for the Emperour assisted with the armes of Arragou and Naples The Emperoâr affects to be Pope to make himselfe Pope the which he had alwaies desired since the death of his wife being installed in S. Peters chaire he should renounce the Imperial Crowne in fauour of the said Archduke Moreouer the bad affection of the irreconciliable Suisses was apparent The flight of the hostages had newly incensed them who threatned Bourgogne or Daulphinè The Pope desired greatly the whole extirpation of the Counsell of Pisa especially for matters decreed either by the authoritie of the sayd Councell or against the Popes authoritie the which not reuoked must needs breed great confusions Yet could he not obteine this abolition before the King did ratifie it Three Cardinals were therefore appointed to redresse these disorders But the greatest difficultie was about the abolition of Ceâsures which the King said they had incurred thinking it a thing vnworthie of the Apostolike sea to graunt if the King did not demand it the which his Maiestie would not yeeld vnto whereby both his person and his realme had beene taxed of schisme In the end the King ouerruled by the earnest sute both of the Queene and his subiects wearied with so many crosses resolues to yeeld to the Popes will hoping heâeafter by this meanes to find him fauorable And therefore at the eight session of the Councell of Lateran which was in the end of the yeare the Kings agents in his name and by his command renounced the pettie Councell of Pisa adheâing to the Councell of Lateran and so obteined full reâiâsion of all things committed against the Romaine Church Amidst so many forraine vexations which infiâitely troubled the Kings mind there chanceth a home-bred affliction The death of Queene Anie the death of the Qâeene his wife A Princesse indued with most verâues incident to an honorable Ladie and for this cause greatly lamented of the whole realme This death was the accomplishmeÌt of the marriage betwixt Francis Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesnie and Claude the Kings eldest daughter the the which had bin deferred till then for that the Qâeene loued not Lowise of Sâuoâe mother to the said Francis affected more to haue Charles of Austria afterwards Emperour for her sonne in law The Realme being reduced to the obedience of the Church of Rome the Pope to whome the Kings greatnesse was commonly fearefull begins now to feare least his power should bee too much suppressed and that the enemies of France should hereafter ioine their forces to the preiudice of the Romain Court. To balance âhing in such sort as he might subsist in the middest and that the meanes which ayded ââe of his intentions should not hurt an other considering that the irreconciliable hatred of the Suisses might force the King to resigne his rights of the Duchie of Milan to the Emperour and Catholike King in regard of the marriage which they pretended a very preiudiciall thing to the common libertie of Italie and holding it also dangerous to haue the King to recouer it hee perswaded the Suisses that their extreame hatred might force the King to take a course no lesse hurtfull to the libertie of their common weale considering the little loue with Maximilian and Ferdinand did beare them then to the Church and all Italie Moreouer to make the Kâgs descent into Italie more difficult at all euents 1514 he labours an accord betwixt the Emperour and the Senate of Venice who being resolute either to haue a firme peace concluded or open warre would by no meanes giue care to any truce for that had beene to settle the Emperours affaires and busines in those Townes which hee inioyed The Popes perswasions were fruitlesse with the Suisses the Emperour and Venetians made him Iudge of their controuersies but without decision for either partie hee onely commands them to surcease from armes vntill the pronunciation of his sentence The Catholike King could not more firmely assure the realme of Nauarre then by a peace Our Lewis he proloÌg the truce for a yeare adding to the former articles one that was secret That during the truce the King might not molest the estate of Milan That which the Pope could not get of the Suisses hee obteyned of the King of England Henry discontent that his father in law had againe deceiued him by the prolongation of a truce without his consent grew daily more vnwilling to make warre in France The Pope desiring by some kindnesse to win the Kings loue and fearing daily that Lewis oppressed with enemies would allie himselfe both by a peace and consanguinitie with Maximilian and Ferdinand he sent the Cardinall of Yorke to perswade his King That remembring what correspondencie of faith he had found in the Emperour the Catholike King and the Suisses and contenting himselfe with his happie passage and returne hee should ceasse any more to afflict France with his forces The Cardinall finding Henry disposed to peace whome the Duke of Longueuille a prisoner taken in the warre had alreadie moued and Lewis desiring it with all hâs heart hauing sent the Generall of Normandie but more vnder colour to treat of the deliuerie of the Duke of Longueuille and his companions in prison they made an agreement betwixt the two Kings in the beginning of August for their liues and a peace after their death vppon condition A peace with the English That the King of England should enioy Tournay and the King of France should pay him sixe hundred thousand Crownes That they should bee bound to defend the estats one of another with tenne thousand foote if the warre were by land and sixe thousand if it were by sea That the King of France should furnish the King of England with twelue hundred Launces at need and the King of England with tenne thousand foote but at his charge that should haue neede This peace was confirmed by the marriage of Lewis with Mary sister to Henry Lewis King of France marries Mary of England But the Pope was not perswaded so great a hatred might so sodainly bee conuerted into amitie and alliance For as hee had made the first motion so did hee expect to bee made acquainted with the conclusion wherein hee made accoumpt to reserue this clause That the King should not inuade the Duchie of Milan for a time The Emperour and Catholike King were exceeding iealous yet the last assured hiâ selfe to receiue two contents The one that the Archduke his grandchild âas out of hope to giue his sister in marriage to Lewis The other that Lewis beiâg in possibilitie to haue heires males the succession of Francis Earle of Angoâlâsme should remaine doubtfull whome hee hated exceedingly seing him greatly inclyned to restore the Realme of Nauarre to the ancient estate The Suisses reioyced not for any affection they beare vnto the King but foreseeing that Lewis hauing truce with the Arragonois and peace with the
King more âeuer subiects gaue with greater ioy to their Soueraigne then the French did to hâm âhaâ glorious surname of Father of his people FRANCIS the first of that name 58. King of France FRANCES THE I. KING OF FRANCE .58 1515. HAppie is that Realme saith the wise man which fals not into a childs hands This was the first comfort which reuiued the hearts of the French oppressed with mourning and heauinesse for the death of their good King Lewis the twelfth The second was that they cast their eyes vppon a worthie successor a Prince well borne iudicious and of a generous spirit liberall courteous in the prime of his age and fit for gouernment affable to the people fauorable to the Clergie pleasing to the Nobilitie who doe naturally loue their Princes good countenance and that which all subiects admire in their Soueraine of an excellent beautie Thus capable was he of the royall dignitie Francis being then two and twentie yeares old before Duke of Valois and Earle of Angoulesme tooke vppon him the gouernment of this Monarchie as sonne to Charles Earle of Angoulesme sonne to Iohn Earle of Angoulesme who was the yongest sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans murthered by the Bourguignon at Paris in the time of Charles the sixth who was also the yongest sonne of King Charles the fiât Hee was anointed at Rheims the fiue and twentith of Ianuary being attended on by the Dukes of Bourbon and Alanson the Earles of Montpensier Vendosme and Saint Paul the Prince of Roche-sur-Yon al of the house of Bourbon Then hauing made his entry into Paris a sollemne Tournie kept in Saint Anthonies street he confirmed all the ancient officers of the Crowne and to suppâie those which were vacant hee creaâed Charles Duke of Bourbon Constable of France being void by the death of Iohn the second Duke of Bourbon Anthonie Prat Chancellor for then Steuen Poncher Bishoppe of Paris was keeper of the seale Charles of Bourbon Earle of Vendosme Gouernour of the I le of France making the said Countie a Duchie and a Peere of France the Lord of Lautree Gouernour of Guienne Palisse Marshall of France Boisi his gouernour in his youth Lord Steward and Superintendant of his house with whome he ioyned Fleuremonde Robertet His dessââins Secretarie of State With this title of King of France he tooke vppon him that of the Duke of Milan not onely as descending of the house of Orleans the true heire of that Duchie but also as comprehended in the inuestiture made by the Emperour according to the treatie of Cambraye And for that hee succeeded equally both to the Crowne and the desire his Predecessor had to recouer that goodly estate of Milan he therfore to worke it with more facilitie renued the peace made betwixt the deceased King and the King of England sending home Mary the widoâe of Lewis with a dowrie of threescoore thousand Crownes a yeare· who afterwards married with the Duke of Suffolke Hee also confirmed the alliance this Crowne had with the Senat of Venice The Archduke Charles sent a very honorable Ambassage to the King whereof the Earle of Nassau was the cheefe to doe him homage for the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other Lands which held of this Crowne and the which gaue great hope of a future peace betwixt these two Princes both being yong but marked for great matters to treat a marriage betwixt the said Charles and Renèe the Queenes sister who was after wife to the Duke of âerrare And for that the sayd Earle was greatly fauoured by the Prince Charles the King desirous to gratifie him caused him to marrie with the daughter of the Prince of Orange bred vp in his Court. Charles was yet vnder age but so carefully instructed by that wise Lord of Chieures of the house of Croye whome the deceased King Lewis had made choise of to gouerne him in his youth for that Philippe the father of Charles had by his testament intreated Lewis to accept the charge of his sonne that euen in his yonger yeares hee made him capable to vnderstand the affaires presenting vnto him all pacquets that came causing him to make report thereof vnto his Councell and to determine all things in his presence He did foresee that after the death of Ferdinand his grandfather by the mother the French might crosse him in his passage from Fâanders into Spaine holding it dangerous to stand in the midest betwixt the Kings of France and England vnited togither and not to fortâfie himselfe with this common alliance Moreouer his subiects of the low Countries would haue no warres with the Realme of France The King likewise desired to take from him all motiues to gouerne himselfe hereafter by the councell of his two grandfathers They therefore agreedâ That the marriage proceeding betwixt the Archduke and Rene the King should giue him six hundred thousand Crownes and the Duchie of Berry for euer to her and to heires vppon condition she should renounce all rights of inheritance both from father and mother namely to the Duchies of Milan and Brittanie That after the death of the Catholike King the King should ayd the Archduke with men and shippes to goe and receiue his Realmes of Spaine The Arragonois demaunded a continuance of the truce but the King meaning to put out that clause Not to molest the Duchie of Milan during the truce their parle was fruitlesse The Emperour who ioyned his desseins to the councels of Ferdinand opposed against the amitie of the French The Suisses were as forward as before As for the Pope Francis desired to be freed from all bond to him that he mightt resolue for the best according to the course of his affaires To build vpon these foundations he now imployes his Captaines men at armes and the prouisions which his Predecessor had first prepared and makes his armie march with speed to Lions whether his Maiestie comes in Iuly An armie âo all in the Duchie of ãâã hauing left the Regencie of the Realme to Louise of Sauyoe his mother The Duke of Bourbon Constable led the foreward accompanied with his brother Francis newly created Duke of Castelleraud the Marshals of Palisse and Triuulce Charles of Tremouille Prince of Talmont sonne to Lewis Vicont of Touars the Earle of Sancerre the Baron of Beard the Lords of Bonniuet Imbercourt and Teligni Seneshall of Rouergue Peter of Naurrre whome the King had drawen to his seruice giuing him his libertie without ransome commaunded six thousand Gascons and the Lords of Lorges grandfather to the late Mongomeries Pirault of Margiron Richbourg Iorteil little Lainet Onatilleu Hercules of Daulphine and Captaine Commarque euery one commaunding fiue hundred foote making foure thousand and eight or nine thousand Lansquenets led by Charles Duke of Guelders The King led the battaile followed by the Duke of Vendosme Lorraine and Albania the Earle of Saint Paul Claude of Lorraine Earle of Guise brother to the Duke of Lorraine the
transported with ioy as he falls into a quotidian with a Catarre amidst all his iollitie the which carried him within three dayes after to the graue being the first of December This death did greatly impaire the Emperours affaires in Italy and bred new gouernments new Councels and a new estate of affaires in the Duchie of Milan The Cardinals of Medicis and Sion Alterations after this death went to assist at the election of a new Pope The imperialls reteined fifteene hundred Suisses and dismissed the rest The Lansequenets likewise departed The Florentine companies returned into Tuscanie Guy of Rangon lead part of those of the Church to Modena the other remained with the Marquis of Mantoua in the Duchie of Milan And the Duke of Ferrara making his profit of this occasion recouered with the liking of the inhabitants Bondene Final the mountaine of Modene and Garfagnane he tooke Lugo Bagnacaual and other Townes of Romagnia Likewise Francis Maria being expelled his Duchie of Vrbin by Leo 1522. and called home by the people recouered it in few dayes Our Commanders slept not but the chance was turned The Admirall of Bonnaue with three hundred Launces Frederic of âossoâe and Marc Anthonie Colonnet leading fiue thousand French and Italians Paâma beseeged in vaine went to beseege Parma the which after many distresses incident to the Townes beseeged was pâeserued by the wise resolution and singular direction of Francis Guiciardin gouernour thereof In the meane time the Cardinalls at Rome did striue for Saint Peters chaire The Cardinall of Medicis for the reputation of his greatnesse for his reuenues and glory gotten in the Conquest of Milan had alreadie gotten the voices of fiâteene Cardinals But the rest could not endure two Popes togither of one familie which might haue beene a President to vsurpe a right of succession in the Popedome The most ancient Cardinals opposed themselues against his nomination euery man pretending that dignitie for himselfe which an other sought so greedily During their controuersies Cardinall Adrian Bishop of Derthuse borne at Trect and somet me scholemaster to the Emperour Charles was put in the election not with any intent to install him in the place of the deceassed but onely to spend that morning and by delayes coole the heat of the most violent sutors But the Cardinall of Saint Sixte hauing by a long ãâã amplified his vertues and knowledge some yeelded vnto him it may bee the Eâperour would haue beene displeased if they had reiected his election others followed them so as all the Cardinals agreeing A new Pope called Adrian the sixth by a common consent hee was created Pope when as he least dreamed of it being absent a stranger vnknowne hauing neuer seene Italie and without thought or hope euer to see it Being loth to change his name he was called Adrian the sixth But what shall this poore Fleming get to runne so far to sit in a chaire so much enuied He came from Spaine where the Emperour had made him gouernour in his absence to seeke his death at Rome He shall bee little esteemed during his Popedome and they will bee glad to send him speedily after his Predecessor The winter passed and our souldiars scattered their harnesse to arme againe The warre ââuiued the one sort to preserue their Conquests and the other to recouer their losses To this end the King sent Renè bastard of Sauoie Earle of Villars Lord Steward of France the Maâshall of Saint Chabannes Galeas of Saint Seuerin maister of his horse and the Lord of Montmorency newly created Marshall of France to make a leuie of sixteene thousand Suisses for to succour Lautrec And to crosse him the Emperour by meanes of the King of Englands money estranged from the loue of France sent Ierâsme Adorne to make a leuie of sixe thousand Lansquenets to put into Milan with Francâs Sforce Adorne coming to Trent vnderstood that the Milanois had alreadie entertained foure thousand foote with the which hee retired to Milan whilest the other sixe thousand did arme In the meane time there wanted no practises at Milan by Ierosme Moron and his partisans to kindle the peoples hatred against the French It is not alone in our late troubles that wee haue tried with what efficacie seditious sermons touch the peoples hearts Andrew Barbato an Augustine by profession preaching with a great concurse of people did wonderfully incourage them to defend their religion goods families liues and Countrie A vehement Preacher and gratious to the people leads them as hee pleaseth and it is the ordinarie mask of the wise men of this world to settle their affaires It is no lesse honour to preserue then to get Tenne thousand Suisses were alreadie come and Prosper Colonne to keepe the French from entring into Milan by the Castle and to furnish it with victuall and munition hee caused to bee made after the manner of the ancient Romaines without the sayd Castle betwixt the gates that go to Verceil and Come two trenches distant twentie paces one from another about a mile long and at the end of either of the sayd trenches a Caualier or Mount verie high and well furnished to indammage the ennemie with Cannon if hee approched on that side so as the succours could not enter nor the beseeged go forth Lautrec hauing by chance surprised and defeated the troupe of Lewis of Conzague repayred his Companies and the Venetians assembled theirs about Cremona who being ioyned with the Suisses passed the riuer of Adde the fiâst of March and Iohn de Medicis with them who perswaded by the Kings great and certaine entertainment was newly drawen to his seruice They march like men resolued to assaââe the rampaâ but the trenches stay them the third day Marc Anthony Colonne and Camille bastard sonne to Iohn Iaques of Triuulce Milan beseeged walking togither in a house and deuising to make a mount to shoot from with their artillerie betwixt the enemies two trenches a voâce of Cannon shot from the Towne did beate downe the sayd house and buried them in the ruines thereof Thus Lautrec despayring to take Milan by assault conuertâth all his thoughts to vanquish it in time by famine he wasts the Countrie stops the victual breaks the miâs and cuts off theiâ water But not to fall into their hands whome they feare they dread not death The peoples hatred against the French and the desire of their new Duke whome they expected makes them to endure all distresses patiently Francis Sforce comes to Trent with six thousand Lansquenets who by the taking of the Castle of Croare hauing opened the passage of Po arriued without any let at Pauia The way was dâfficult from Pauia to Milan for at the first brute of their approch Lautrec went to lodge at Cassin and the Venetians at Binasque vpon the way to Pauia There fâll out an accident which helpt Sforce The Marshall of Foix came out of France with money and some troupes of footmen Lautrec sent
to assaile the Duchie of Milan on that side and force the enemie to repasse the riuer of Tesin With this dessein the Admirall comes to lodge at Nouare But the ruine of our men approched Sforce sent Iohn de Medicis against the Grisons with fiftie men at armes three huÌdred light horse three thousand foot who ioyned with three hundred men at armes three hundred light horse foure thousand foot of the Venetians and stopt their passage so as being discontented hauing no escorte of horse not foot as Ranâe had promised them they returned to their Countrie This thorne pulled out of the Emperalls foote Iohn de Medicis takes Carauage baâters downe with his Cannon the bridge which the French had vpon Tesin at Bufalore and nothing remaining of all the Townes betwixt Milan and the Tesin but onely Biagras which lying vpon the great chanell that runnes to Milan did cut off the victuals which were wont to come to the Towne in great aboundance Sforce followed by all the youth of Milan beseeged it accompanied with Iohn de Medicis he battered it foure or fiue dayes was repulsed from the first assault âorced it at the second and spoyled it A spoile deerely sold to the Milanois Biagras was infected with the plague so all the houses of Milan whether any of the bootie caâe were infected with the same contagion which was the death of aboue fiftie thousand persons Biagras taken Biagras taken by the Milanois to stoppe all passages from the French the Viceroy went to lodge at Marignon and the Admirall considering that it was better to hazard the rest of his armie then to perish by famine and pestilence which had greatly diminished his troupes hee tooke the way of Romagnan to ioyne with eight thousand Suisses which were come to Yuree But they strook âhe last stroke They send him word That it should suffice them to retire their compagnions and conduct them into Suisse seeing the King had broken his promise with them by the which they should meet at âurâe with Claude of Longueuille and foure hundred Launces to accompany them Their Countrimen which remained in the campe vnderstanding that their companions were vpon the banks of the riuer of Stesie fled away for the most part to ioyne with them that were newly come In the meane time the Imperials by the perswasion of the Duke of Bourbon followed the Admirall at the heeles The Admirall defeated who to take from the enemie the knowlege of the Suisses disoâder endured the shocke with such men at armes as hee could gather togither but being hurt at the first charge with a shot in the arme and forced through the griefe of his wound to leaue the retreate of the armie to the Earle of Saint Paul and to Captaine Bayard Bayard and Vandenesse performing wondrous deedâ of armes died there Vandenesse presently Bayard thrust through the bodie caused himselfe to be layed at the foote of a tree by his steward his face turned to the enemie as he that neuer turned his backe The Duke of Bourbon poursuing the chase seeing him in this pittifull estate I am sorry for you said hee hauing knowne you so valorous a Knight Sir sayd Bayard drawing towards his end there is no pittie of mee A worthiie speech of Bayard being hurt and dying I die an honest man you are to bee lamented who serued against your Prince your Countrie and your oth and soone after hee gaue vp the Ghost Lorges arriuing with those few French which remayned repulsed such as pursued vnto the bodie of their armie and the Earle of Saint Paul hauing passed the riuer with the losse of few but the brauest of his men deliuered the artillerie to the Suisses who made their retreat by the valley of Aouste and himselfe by Turin Laude Alexandria Nouare and generally all which the King possessed in Italie remained at the victors deuotion The estate of Milan was thus freed from the French and Italie from their present calamities but the roots were not yet cut vppe it was but deferred for a time Then the Duke of Bourbon gaue the Emperour Councell to transport the warre into France The King of Englanâ did wilâingly giue eare vnto it The fauour the authoritie the many followers and the great intelligence which the Duke of Bourbon presumed to haue in France inuited him thereunto To this end the Emperour treated with the English and the Duke of Bourbon That the Duke should enter into France with a part of his armie which was in Italie That hauing passed the Alpes the King of England should pay him a hundred thousand Crownes for the charge of the first moneth and should continue the same monethly vnlesse hee would inuade the Realme with a mightie armie That France should bee conquered for the English and Prouence for the Duke of Bourbon according to the treatie wee haue before made mention of That the Emperour at the same instant should make warre vppon the confines of Spaine and should procure the potentates of Italie to concurre in this enterprise for the freeing of themselues for euer from the inuasion of the French Marseilles is a commodious port to annoy France and to passe from Spaine into Italy Marseilles beseeged by the Imperiaâs According to the Emperours desire and the former treatye the Duke of Bourbon and the Marquis of Pescara march to the conquest of Marseilles The King aduertised of their desseine sends Rance de Cere a man well experienced in warre and the Lord of Brion with two hundred men at armes and three thousand foote for the gard of Marseilles repayred his army and sent to make a leauie of foureteene thousand Suisses and six thousand Lansquenets The Duke and Marquis had now lâen six moneths before Marseilles the King hauing vnited his forces marched with an intent to fight with his enemies before Marseilles who seeing so great a power to approch imbarked their great Ordinance for Genes the lesser they laid vpon Moyles and so made a speedy retreat The Marshall of Chabannes who had the leading of the foreward The Imperiallâ reâââe ân disorder sent foure or fiue hundred horses after them who ouerthrew many and returned with great spoile euery one leauing his baggage behinde him and the Souldiars casting away their armes to bee more light to runne away The King seeing himselfe to haue a goodly army ready and his enemies retyred resolues to cut off their way or to come before them into Italy many disswaded him the season might well diuert him for it was in the middest of October the Regent his mother aduised him to make warre by his Captaines and not in person and the Bishop of Capoua came from the Pope to treate of a generall peace But the heate which transported this good Prince to his owne ruine and dishonour made him to say vnto the Bishop That hee should treat with him by letters and attend him at Auignon with his Mother The
had no sonner turned his backe but Anthony de Leue came and recouered Biagras the 18. of the sayd moneth and prepared to passe into Lomeline to take Vigeue and Nauare but Lautrec aduertised of this attempt sends backe Peter of Nauarre with six thousand French foote and some men at armes who chased the Spaniard into Milan setled Sforce in Biagras The Lansquenets being arriued Lautrec tooke the way to Plaisanee where the Duke of Ferrare it may be well pleased to see the Pope against whom he had beene long incensed receiue some disgrace leauing the Imperialls ioyned in League with the King and there was concluded the marriage of Hercules his eldest sonne with Renée the yongest daughter to King Lewis the 12. The Marquis of Mantoue a friend to the strongest did likewise ioyne with the confederats The Emperour then foreseeing that the inuasion of the realme of Naples by Lautrec would force him to call backe his forces which hee had in the territories of the Church he sent his Comisson to set the Pope at liberty which done after many treaties he agreed the last of October The Pope deliuered To attempt no thing against the Emperour neyther for the estate of Milan nor the Realme of Naples To pay three hundred and fiftie thousand duâats that is three score thousand presently to the Lansquenets and thirtie fiue thousand to the Spaniards the like summe within fifteen dayes and the rest three moneths after The Pope to free himselfe from prison fled to those remedies which hee had before his restraint neglected hee made Cardinals for money the most of them saith the histoââe being vnworthy oâ so great an honour Necessary it was that the Court of Rome should thus be disgraced that they might lâsse meâdle in worldly affaires looke to their spirituall duties The 10. of December was come when as the Spaniards should conduct the Pope to a place of safetie but knowing the bad affection of the Spaniards especially of Don Hugues de Moncade Viceroy of Naples by the death of Launoy and âearing a worse condition or some other change he deceiued his gardes the night before disguised like a marchant he went secretly out of the Castâe saued himselfe in Oruiete but his hostages payed his ransome A rare example to bee noted in the Church since the time it came to that greatnes To see a Pope issued from one of the greatest families in Italie âallen from so great a dignitie to loose Rome to be a prisoner and to haue all his estate possessed by the violence of Christian armes then in few moneths to be restored to his seat and by the meanes of the eldest son of the Church to recouer his estate greatnes authoritie Without doubt the Emperour suffering himselfe to bee so much prest for the Popes deliuerie shewed that the Counsell of Spaine was more gouerned by ambition then deuotion The Pope being at libertie he exhorted the Confederats to draw their Companies out of the territories of the Church that by their example the Imperials might make their retreat according to promise as in deed they did he gaue thankes to Lautrec in particular for that he had assisted him in his deliuerance adding that he was as much bound vnto the King and hâm as if hee had beene freed by his forces But the Moore changeth not his hewe He held saith the historie his accustomed disposition hauing not by his imprisonment left his craft and couetousnesse As the Kings of France and England required him to reioyne his armes and means with them and their allies sometimes hee fed them with hope that he would imploy himselfe for a generall peace and the good of all Christendome sometimes with excuses that wanting men money and authoritie his coniunction with them would be fâuitles and giue the Imperials occasion to wrong him in many respects Lautrec stayed at Bologne attendâng directions from the King eyther of a full resolution of peace or to proceed in his course of armes The Emperour offred to settle Sforce in his estate and to compound with the Venetians Florentines other confederats But the Emperour and the King stâod vpon the point of honour which should trust other A point which plainely discouered the bitternes of their spleene The King would not be bound to draw his armiâ out of Italie before he had recouered his children yet hee offred to put hostages iâto the King of Englands hands for performance of whatsoeuer hee should be bound vnto if vpon the deliuery of his children hee did not presently withdrawe his armie The Emperour was obstinate and saying that hee could not trust him who had once deceiued him The King of France and England proclaimed war against the Emperour The Ambassadors of France and England tooke their leaues of the Emperour and according to their maisters Commission proclaimed war against him The Emperour accepts it cheerefully but to stay the Ambassadors presently to send them fâfteene leagues from Bourges where then the Court of Spaine remayned to giue them a gard of shot halberds and not to suffer them to conferre or to write in any sâât Was not this to violate the Law of Nations The fire is now kindled they dreame of nothing but warre Lautrec proceeds in his course he takes the way to Rimini Antone and Rââanate chaceth the Imperials before him into the realme of Naples where we sââll soone see the expliots of his armes The King aduertised of the detention of the Bishop of Tarbe his Ambassador who was afterwards made Cardinal of Grandmont he coÌmitted Nicholas Perienot Lord of âranuelle the Emperours Ambassador to the Chastelet at Paris staied al marchants sâbiects to the Emperour But this was not all The Emperour had before time at Crenado when as they treated of a peace betwixt them sayed That he would willingly end all controuersies with the King 1528. by a single combat of his person against the Kings he now deliuers the same words vnto the Herald that denounceth warre vnto him adding That the King had basely and treacherously broken his faith with him The King would not haue refused it but his Ambassador did then wrong him in concealing this speech It may be the Emperour had such an intent He was a most vaâiant Prince but our Francis did yeeld nothing vnto him in courage Hee had no sooner intelligence of his challenge but calling togither the twentie eight of March all the Princes all Ambassadors with the whole Court into the great hall of the Pallace at Paris King Francis challengeth the Emperour to the combat sitting in his royall seate he caused Iohn Robertet one of his Secretaries of Estate with a loud voyce to reade a Cartell signed with his owne hand That the Emperour accusing the King to haue falsified his faith had spoken vntruly and as often as he did speake it he did lie To the end therefore heeshould not deffer the deciding of their controuersies
place of his named Baux The King gaue money to repaire the losses Amongst his chiefe champions the Emperour lost Anthonie de Leue Marc Busthein another Captaine of Lansquenets his kinsman the Count Horne Baptista Castalde and many other men of accoumpt Let vs apply here that holy Oracle speaking of Senacherib King of the Assirians Thy bragging hath come vnto mine ears I will put my ring into thy nostrils and my bitt into thy mouth and will make thee returne the way thou camest And Thus sayed the Eternall touching the King of the Assirians he shall not enter into this Cittie neither shall âe shoot an arrow therein he shal not present himselfe before it with shield nor cast c. Behold the Earle of Prouence in imagination who had lately threatned the Prouinces of this Realme with fire and sword and swallowed vp the Crowne thereof by presumption ashamed and confounded in his retreat hauing lost halfe of his troupes turmoyled by the pesants who vsing the armes of his sicke men and of those that were dead seize vppon the passages and straights beat downe the bridges vpon the riuers which were then very violent charge them in front in flanke and behind and the light horsmen led by the Earle of Tende Bonneual Langey and Iohn Paul de Cere follow them so close as they had no meanes to forrage leauing the waies from Aix to Freius couered with dead carcases and men languishing harnes lances pikes harguebuses and all other armes pel mel on a heape The King resolued to march after them and wheresoeuer he should ouertake them to giue them battale and so passe into Italie where at that instant he had a mightie armie in field But he is diuerted from his desseine by letters from the Marshall of La-Marke Hee had no more meanes to hold Peronne long the walls were beaten downe in many places famine pressed the beseeged they wanted harguebusiers and poâder So the King caused some part of his men at armes to march speedily and tenne thousand French foote Of the Earle of Nassau resolute to follow after by great marches to raise the seege or to recouer the Towne before the enemie should fortifie it and furnish it with victuals God would preserue him from this toyle and giue him lâisure to take breath The Imperials being alwayes repulsed with losse of many and sundry assaults the myne wherin they had long labored prouing fruitlesse besides the death of Phillip of Boâlinâilliers Earle of Dammartin ouerwhelmed in the ruines thereof in a countermine he made to blow vp the enemies myne whose death was reuenged with the slaughter of three hundred Lansquenets and twentie of their men at armes at the last assault giuen by the Tower that was vndermyned and the Towne being releeued with fiue hundred shot euery one carrying ten pounds of powder entring by meanes of a General alarum giuen by the Duke of Guise with two hundred horse and al the trompets he could recouer they dislodged in the night about the middest of September continuing their burning as they had begun France by the grace of God is now free from enemies But nothing is now perfectly happie There are crosse newes which trouble the Court. The English Ambassadors that were neere the King ill affected to his Maiestie and without doubt no faithfull seruants to their master giue him intelligence That the Emperour seeing that hee could neither by spoyle or any other meanes prouoke the King to battaile made shew of a retreat to draw him to poursue him and so to fight or else retyre to take a geeater leape and to inuade Prouence sodenly when as the French forces should bee farthest off That the Emperour himselfe the better to colour his departure gaue out that famine and mortalitie had diminished his forces of one third part and the rest had runne the like danger if he did not retired yet notwithstanding he had no such want of victuals as was supposed and since his comming out of Italie had not lost aboue two thousand men That since the taking of Montiean and Boisy no man durst giue any alarume to the Emperours Campe nor yet follow it at their dislodging These impostures and false impressions had wrought such effects with the King of England as Pomeray being sent from the King to three ends To satisfie him of the truth touching the enterprise of Prouence To procure his liking of the marriage of Magdaleine a daughter of France with the King of Scots and to learne the King of Englands intention vppon the motion before made touching the marriage of the Duke of Orleans with Marte of England daughter to the said King hee had much a doe to alter him any thing from the opinion hee had conceiued But the marriage of Scotland did so incense the King of England as hauing layed open vnto Pomeray his greefes and the causes of his discontent vpon this article hee sent him backe without any conclusion being loath to haue his neighbour so highly allyed The cause of warre betwixt England and France There comes an other matter of greater importance the Country of Tarenâaise in Sauoy had lately shaken off the French yoake To reduce it to his obedience the King sent the the Earle of Saint Paul Duke of Esâouteuille by his wife with French troupes of horse and foote and the Earle of âârstemberg with his companie of Lansquenets to whome for the purging of their offence the Country was abandoned to the spoile with the Towne of Conââans Beeing thus punished they afterwards performed the dutie of subiects and the Duke returned into France with much honour and glory Let vs now discharge our promise and conclude the yeare with the exploits of the assembly made at Mirandole by the Italian Captaines pensioners to the King Their first desseine was vpon Genes and to this effect they came speedily and closely hoping eyther by surprise or by the partisans of Caesar Fregose to become masters of the Towne but a Luquois of the troupes of Cont Guy stealing away in the night had discouered the enterprise to the Cittizens So the Earle retyring his campe halfe a League from Genes betwixt two mountaynes hee suddenly caused many ladders to bee made which prouing too short made the successe fruitlesse These Captaines had no Cannon to make any batterie moreouer Turin being beseeged required their presence They therefore turne head The Imperialls aduertised of the Earles approch abandon the seege and leaue the field at the deuotion of this newe army The Lord of Annebault seeing the Campe disâodged sallies out after them and in passing takes the Tower vpon the bridge of Pau by composition the taking whereof the Emperour had so highly commended and the Lord of Burie tooke Groillan the come and wine that was found there serued to refresh Turin The Towne of Quiers was taxed by the Imperialls at fiue and twentie thousand Crownes but whilest the soldiars were busie to force the Inhabitants to pay this
come out of Albe and Quieras he forceth the passage of Suze against Cesar of Naples who kept it with ten thousand men chaseth them two miles wins all their baggage makes the Marquis to retyre all his forces to Riuole and Montcallier leauing Pignerol at libertie opens a way by the taking of Villane from two hundred Spaniards which were cut in peeces addes to his conquests Riuola abandoned by the Marquis turnes head to the enemie incamped on this side the riuer of Po right against Montcallier but hauing the bridge to fauour him to retyre when he pleased he begins the skirmish with his light horsemen against theirs kills many takes some and looseth few he chaseth all their troupes beyond the bridge who breaks it after them but with the hazard of their liues that remayned behind Those of Montcallier come with a great shew of affection and repaire it and then receiue into their Towne all the souldiars which the Daulphin had left to guard the riuer whilest the armie passed at Carignan The Marquis dislodging still left in Quiers Don Anthonie of Arragon his brother in law with foure thousand men and himselfe recouered the Countrie of Ast. Thus our men being at libertie on all sides become masters of Poirien Riue de Quiers Villeneufue d' Ast Montafié Antignan and of all other forts vnto the gates of Ast of Quieras Albe and Fossan whether they retyred all the Corne of the Country which did serue for the victualing of the Campe and places of conquest About thirtie thousand sacks of corne which the Marquis had gathered togither but had not leysure to bring from Montcalier and much other munition found in diuers places supplyed Turin for a yeare During these actions the King comes accompanied with the Earle of Saint Paul the Cardinall of Lorraine and many other great personages And as his Maiestie tooke councell at Carignan with the Daulphin and the Lord Steward newes comes vnto him that the garrison of Vulpian kept the valley of Suze The King comes into Piedmont and for that Riuole nor Villare had any horsemen to stay their incursions they did wonderfully annoy those that followed the Campe. Hee presently sent away Martin du Bellay and very happily They had newly seized vppon six moyles laden with money for the payment of the armie driuing the moyles and the treasorers in the midest of them Du Bellay passeth the riuer of Doüaire intercepts their way and ouertakes them three miles from Vulpian he makes them to leaue the moyles and only with the losse of the Treasorers which they carried away brings them safe to Riuole The conclusion of this Councell was to beseege Quiers where the King would imploy the first fruits of his last forces But the great commander of battailes ãâã him a more fauorable issue Truce betwixt the two Princes The truce of Picardie had giuen libertie to the ãâã of Hongarie and likewise to the King to send some gentlemen into Spaine to ãâã a peace or a generall truce and the deputies had so well performed their ãâã as a suspension of armes was concluded on either side from the eight and ãâ¦ã of Nouember vntill the two and twentith of February following whereby euery oâe enioying that whereof hee should bee found seized at the time of the pubââcation the garrisons of Turin Vorlin Sauillan Montdeuis and other frontier places were no t slacke to inlarge their limits as farre as they could nor to put men in the Kings name into all the small places and castles there about Three dayes after the truce was proclaymed the Marquis of Guast came to ââsse the Kings hand whome he receiued very gratiously and the king making the Lord of Saint Montiean gouernour of Piedmont he left William of Bellay his Lieutenant generall in Turin Francis Earle of Pontreme at Pignerol the Baron of Castell-pââs ãâã Sâuillan Charles of Dros a Piedmentois at Montdeuis hee had surprised and kept the place from the Imperials when they were the strongest in field Lodowike of âârague at Vorlin and Nicholas of Rusticis at Carmagnole he dismissed his Suisses and taking his way to France he sent the Cardinall of Lorraine from Lions with Montmorency the Lord Steward to Locate where the Emperours deputies should meet concerning a peace betwixt their Maiesties The confusions had bin great their splene not easily to bee pacified which made them to prolong the truce for sixe moneths more After all these toyles and painfull endeuours the loyall seruice of the most worthy deserued reward which make the King being at Molins to aduance Anne of Montmorency to bee Constable of France the place being void by the reuolt of the Duke of Bourbon he gaue his place of Marshall to Montiean and that of the Marshal la Marke deceased to Claude of Annebault It was now time to suppresse these infernall furies An enteruew at Nice which had so long troubled the quiet of Christendome with such fatall combustions and that the Pope doing the office of a common father should therein imploy his authoritie Hee procures an enteruew of these two great Princes at Nice and himselfe assists being about threescore and fifteene yeares of age in the beginning of Iune Their mutuall hatreds had taken too deepe roots in their hearts and that fatall and bloudie checke which his brother Ferdinand King of Hongarie had lately receiued from the Turke had nothing mollified the Emperour Time doth pacifie discontents Ten yeares were sufficient or neuer âo dispose both the one and the other to a generall peace A truce foâ ten yeares The Pope therefore seeing that by the full deciding of their quarrels he could not confirme a finall peace he propounded a truce for tenne yeares the which they concluded betwixt their Countries and subiects and then euery one returned home But Charles was borne to bee a perpetuall scourge to this realme and many yeares shall not passe before âe put vs in alarum with an vnworthy and base motiue of new confusions Let vs now see how he worketh like a foxe to produce effects for his owne benefit The Emperors polâicy The Gantois being opprest with many extraordinarie tributs had spoyled the Emperours officers who growing desperate and seeking to fortifie themselues against the reuenging wrath of Charles they secretly offer obedience to the King as to their Soueraine Lord. The King performing the dutie of a good brother and faithfull friend giues the Emperour intelligence thereof The Emperour deuiseth by some notable examples to suppresse the Gantois insolencies But the passages thither were not very certaine By Germanie the protestants might somewhat hinder him By sea a storme might as well cast him vpon the coast of England as vpon Flanders the diuisions he had with the King of England by reason of the diuorce of Queene Katherine his Aunt would not suffer him to take any assurance from him France was very comodious for him to this end he demaunds the Kings word for his
Quotidian So finding his houre come he disposed of his conscience and of his house he greatly recommended his subiects and seruants to the Daulphin his successor and the last day of March The death of Franâis the â in the yeare 1547. being fiftie and three yeares old hee changed the painfull and continuall toyles of this mortall life with the eternall rest which the happie inioy for euer A Prince wonderfully lamented both of his subiects and strangers whose vertues deserue to bee placed among the most famous valiant Courteous bountifull iudicious of a great spirit and an excellent memorie A louer of learning and men of merit to whome arts and sciences owe the perfections they haue gotten at this day hauing by his bringing vp of youth founded Colleges in Paris in the Hebrew Greeke and Latine tongues assembled from all parts of the world learned men and of good life and by this meane cleered the darknes of Ignorance wherewith the world had beene so obscured by the malice of time and negligence of former ages A Prince fauoured with many good yet crost with as many bad and sinister fortunes Happie notwithstanding that no aduersitie could euer make him degenerate from a noble and royall mind nor from the true beleefe of a good and faithfull Christian. Happie and blessed in his end to haue pacified all forraine confusions which had so long troubled his estates and his subiects quiet But without doubt hee had beene far more happie if he could haue left his realme free from those fatall diuisions which euen in his raigne had so miserably diuided his subiects and shall cause hereafter strange combustions the first consideration whereof makes my haire to stand vpright and my heart to tremble at that which is to come HENRY the second 59. King of France HENRY .2 KING OF FRANCE .59 · NAture his age and the good education he had receiued vnder his father in the gouernment of the Estate 1547. did countenance him in this succession the which he receiued on the same day that he was borne and confirmed it in Saint Germaine in Laie by the restâtution of the Constable of Montmorentie by the publication of many goodly ordinances for the reformation of apparell ordering of the Treasure prouiding for the poore suppression of new erected offices gouernment of the riuers and forrests maintenance of Iustice and releeuing of his subiects but aboue all that necessarie lawe against blasphemers as we may see in the Originall Doubtlesse this was a commendable beginning and worthy the homage he did owe to the Soueraigne Lord as an acknowledgment of the fee whereof he tooke possession if he had not polluted it with the mournfull spectacle of that bloudie and fatall combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaigneray whereof he would be an eye witnesse and behold the laters bloud shed contrarie to all mens opinion by Iarnaâ being the weaker and newly recouered from sicknesse So shall we see in the end of this raigne that Gods diuine Iustice doth suffer That the man which did thirst after an others bloud shall finde some one to drinke his owne The restoring of the Constable disapointed the Cardinall of Tournon The Constable restored and the Admirall of Annebault touching the chiefe gouernment of the State and the Lords of Longueual Esâars Boncour Framezelles Antibe Grignan the Baron of la Garde the Generall Bayard and many others accused some for theft some for other disorders in their charges did somewhat trouble the Court It was an olde saying That he which eaâes the Kings Gooâe will cast vp the feathers a hundred yeares after but since they haue turned this saying into a Prouerbe He that steales a hundred thousand crownes from the King 1548. is quit if he restore ten thousand So some preâaâââd by ãâ¦ã others escaped rigorous punishments through fauour In the meane time the ceremonies of the Kings Coronation were ãâ¦ã Rheims and hauing receiued it the 27. of Iuly by the hands of Charles of Lorraine Archbishop of Rheims Henry the 2. crowned he made a voyage into Picardie and did visit the ãâ¦ã were made about Boullen then did he prepare an armie to succour Scotland ãâã whom the English made warre for that the Lords of the countrie had refused to giue their Princesse Mary Steward in marriage to yong Edward hoping by this bond tâ vnite the two realmes of England and Scotland to the preiudice of the French of the common alliance betwixt France and Scotland The Lord of Essé was chiefe of the armie Peter Strossy generall of the Italian bands d' Andelot Colonnell of the French âoote the Reingraue chiefe of the Lansquenets An armie in Scotland marching by land against the English forces and Leon Strossy Prior of Capoua by sea spoiled the English of the greatest part of their conquests but the confirmation of the peace lately concluded betwixt the deceased Kings of France and England ended this warre and brought back our aduenturers into France 1548. Francis at the end of his daies had well foreseene the leuaine which should soone breed new combustions with the Emperour Henry must be heire to his quarrell aâ well as to his crowne and knowing that the Pope had a fresh and iust cause of indignation for the murther of Peter Lewis Duke of Parma and Plaisance his sonne and sortââ inuasion of Plaisance by Ferdinand of Gonsagne Lieutenant for the Emperour in Italieâ he sent Charles of Lorraine lately honoured with a Cardinals Hat this is he that shall minister so much matter to talke of him vnder the successors of Henry to draw the Pope from the Emperours partie to the Kings alliance but death shall frustrate the Pope of his intended reuenge Commonly men fish best in a troubled streame many knowing this new King to be of a mild spirit addicted to the delights of Court little practised in affaires they kindled a desire in his minde to reuenge the wrongs the Emperour âad done to France whereof they vrged for a testimonie the death of Vogelsberg beheaded in Ausbourg at his returne from the Scottish warres for the Kings seruice Oâ the other side the Emperour grew not a little iealous of the progresse the King made into Bourgogne Bresse Sauoy and Piedmont as if he had carried with him an alarum ãâã to sâârre vp the people to the following warre And it may be it had then been kindled but an home-bred mutinie staied it for a time During the Kings voiage the extorsioâs of the tol-gatherers and farmers of Salt Sedition for the customes caused the commons of Guienne Xainâonge and Angoulmois to rebell In few weekes forty thousand men go to field armed with all kind of weapons the Ilanders ioyne with them and with a common consent fall vpon the tol-gatherers The people of Gasconie do presently follow this pernitious example The commons of Bourdeaux rise finding la Vergne Estonnac Maquanan and others Tribunes fit for their humors they
his presence to enioye the Mothers affections to haâe authority within the realme Finally the second of December after two monethes seege the King signed their capitulation Saint Iean yeeded That they should depart with their goods armes horses and Enseignes âisplayed and of foure monethes should carrie no armes for the pretended reformed reââgion But as this seege is famous for that it was valiantly followed and defended so is it lâkewise famous by the breach of faith giuen by his Maiestie At their going forth they spoile them of their armes apparell and money the Duke of Aumale and the Marshââl of Vielleuille are notable to make good the Kings promise nay the Duke of Aâioâs presence can not restrayne their insolencies They robbe their baggage they take away their horses they spoile their men And to encrease their villanies the regiment of Sarricu being lodged at Saint Iulian hate a League off comes ouerthwart beats kills murthers and casts them into the riuer and happie is he that can escape in his shirt to recouer Angoulesme where Piles and some others holding them selues by reason of this treacherous and vnwoâthie vsage contrarie to the Lawe of armes freed from the conditions wherevnto they were bound by the capitulation The composition âroâen went to the Princes to vnderstand their pleasures The historie obserues aboue ten thousand men of warre lost before Saint Iean fiue thoâsand Cannon shot spent fiue and twentie or thirtie Commissaries of the artilâerie slaine in their charge many shronke away and in the end the Campe was diminished eighteene or twenty thousand men The army tired with labour and prest with want of victualls and other discâmmâdities dislodging from Saint Iean d' Angely gaue the Princes leysure to determââe of their voyage and the King retyring to Anger 's assigned the Princes deputies tââtâer to begin the yeare following by the countinuance of a treatie of peace begunne in the moneth of Nouember A treatâe of Peace Beauuais la Nocle and Teligny come thether in February and returne with no other answere to the Protestants 1570. but a libertie to liue within the Realme fâee fââm seaâch in their houses and for their safetie two Townes which Biron shâuld naâe vnto them in the which they might do what pleased them without their impugning the Kings authoritie nor the quiet of the Realme his Maiestie oâfring to restore them to their charges except such as had beene dismissed by the ãâã of Iustice and the money growing by the sale thereof receiued by the Kângs commandement but forbibidding all exercise of religion but the Catholike Apâstolike and Romish banishing all ministers out of the Realme and ãâã them to disarme to send backe presently their forraine forces and to yeelde ãâ¦ã Townes possessed by the violence and force of armes In the meane time postâs flie into England and Germanie and to diuert or staie the succours and strengths wâich the Protestants might expect from thence the brute flies that a peace is made in France The Princes and Admirall thinking they were but deuises to hinder their affaires Enterprise vpon ââurges fatall to the vndertakers euery one prepares againe to put on harnes their forces were dispersed into diuers Prouinces those about Bourges had an enterprise vpon the Towne by the practise of a souldiar who by treacherie makes them to loose thirtie men at the entrie and as many prisoners So hee that thinkes to take is often taken himselfe The reduction of Poictâu had likewise brought Marans and the Castell of Beauuâiâ âpoâ the sea to the Kings obedience 1570. Angoulesme and Rochell only remained to the Protestantâ They had lost Lusignan but Blaye Taillebourg the Isles of Xaintonge Marennes and ârouage were yet at their deuotion To trie Rochelle the King threatens them by his letters and by promises he seeks to winne the Gouernours of Flâye and Taâllebourg Pardailâan and Romegou They answere saith the Historie the King wisely and Lansac couragiously War in Poictou You cannot be more greeued said Pardillan to attempt to force mee in this placâ then I shall be for the âhame losse and confusion which I shall cause you to receiue or anâ other that shall attempt it Româgou speakes in the same sence The effect was more to be feared then words yet Lansac attemped nothing against them The Islands had mâch annoyed the seege of S. Iean d' Angâly and the Lansquenets escaped from Montcontour were dispersed there The Earle of Lude Puigaillard and la Riuiere Puitaillé gouernours the one of Angeâs the other of Marans with eight Cornets of horse and tweâtie enseigns of foote force the said Islands and make such a slaughter as there remained not aboue three hundred fighting men La Noue the Princes Lieutenant in Guienne studied to recouer Brouage a place of greaâ importance for the Rochelois when as the Baron of la Garde attempting vppon Tonne-Charente made both their enterprises to proue vaine Rochelle is now blockt in on al sides Ludeand Puigaillard had an armie in Poictou la Riuiere-Puitaillé the elder held Marans and other places there abouts the yonger commaunded in Brouâge Landâreau Viceadmirall held Olone The Brittons and Bourdelois cut off the Rochelois victuals by sea La Garde then Generall of their galleyes did runne often times euen into their hauen but to presse them on all sides hee would gladly haue beene maister of Tonne-Charente La Noue had vndertaken the defence thereof who vnderstanding the Barons practise so planted his shot as at his enemies first landing he slue their commaunders and many others gaue libertie to the slaues and became master of the galley and if heate had not too soone transported them the rest commiâg to enter into Charente and resolute to land they could not haue escaped death or prison This galley did afterwards serue Româgou to beate the Catholikes in many places And if La Garde preuailed nothing by force his pollicies were of as small effect So as he lost his time men and money and did nothing of moment Contrariwise the defeat of some troupes at Nouaille by the hargubuziers of la Noue vnder the leading of Scipio an Italian Ingener In Guyenne Xaintonge Angâulmoiâ and the recouerie of Marans by la Noue vppon Chaperon Gouernour of the place after the death of the elder Puitaillé lately diceased was the cause of the winning of tenne or twelue other places thereabouts and gaue the Rochelois meanes to enlarge themselues The spoile of Olone did enrich them furnished them with fortie good vessels with some armes and Canon and a good number of prisoners and diminished their enemies strength of about foure hundred fighting men This reuiuing caused Puigaillard and Fernacques to make enterprises vppon Langon and Gué of Nelugre and by the recouery of Luson to molest Marans and Rochell againe if that la Noue had not speedily taken this Fort from them that came to seize on it and slue Sforce a valiant Gentleman the head of a
ruine the house of Bourbân and to aduance that of Guise sowe a pernitious seed of rebellion throughout the Citty and frame a petty Councell of the chiefe Cittizens who take the câarge of the sixteene quarters of the Citty and Sâburbes to practise all they could aâd to entertaine them with discourses grounded vpon the malice of the time full of schisme heresie and tyrannie This petty Councell compounded of Rocheâlond Compans a Marchant Cruce a Proctor La Chapelle Louchart a Comissarie aâd Bussy le Clâââ a Proctor brought their deliberations and proiects to the grand Councell âhich coâsisted of Doctors Curats Preachers and other men of marke Iâ short time they make a great brotherhood and fiâding themselues strong they adueâtise the Duke of Guise of the affection of the good Catholikes of Paris that is the name which the Leaguers challenged to themselues and their zeale to the preseruation of religion and the rooting out of the contrary and the ruine of tyrannie Hee conferres with his bretheren and sends both to giue and to take an othe in an assembly held in Reims a place at Paris Then the most fact ous are sent to the Townes and Prouinces of the realme with good instructions to ioyne new confederates to their body vnder a pretext to fight against heresie and tyrannie Trumpets of rebellion Then might we haue seene the chiefe pillars ouerthrowne that support a Prince loue and authoritie and hatred and contempt to supply their places The Preachers publikely in all places diâ terme the King a tyrant and fauourer of heretikes The people did applaud them and from this deadly hatred which they had conceiued against the King his Councell aâd fauourites sprung that fury which was soone after dispersed ouer all the body of France The better to countenance this League they present it to Pope Gregorie the 13. that he might blesse it and declare himselfe the God-father The League presented âo the Pope as made for the ornament and support of the Catholike and Apostolike Romane Church Gregory was well pleased they should attempt any thing against the Huguenots but he did not approue those popular rebellions which were made against a most Christian and Catâolike King neither would he be the fire-brand of a warre which he could not quench And âo he sent the Deputies back without aây answer But not approued The Leagâe impatient to attend the resolution of Rome layes open his desseignes and makes them plausible causing one of the chiefe Princes of the bloud to be an actor and carry the bable They publish that the King dying without children hee hath no heyre nor successour but the Cardinall of Bourbon a Prince broken in yeares without hope of issue or to suruiue the King who was sound lustie and yong But they secretly season the simple peoples mindeâ wiâh that vniust vsurpation of the Capets vpon the âeires of Charlemagne they Print Bookes they cast forth diuârs Libels yea some Preachers make it the text of tâeir Sermons Two principall fire-brands inflame the League Assembly at Montaubaâ The assembly made by the King of Nauarre and the Depâties of that party at Montauban to resolue of the meanââ to mainteine themselues if the League abusing the Kings name and authoriâie should seeke to offend them And the voyage of the Duke of Espernân to the Kâng of Nauarre to conferre priuately with him in the Kings name 1585. The chiefe of the League presume that the King meanes to arme and to impâoye the King of Nauarres forces against them D Espernons voyage into Gasconiâ They seeke to preuent him and to that intent they send forth many Commissions but least any should controule them they cloake them with the Kings name wherwith they maintaine themselues to be well allowed as a thing done for his Maiesties seruice The King in the end of March desauowes them and forbids all leuies of men of warre Motiues of the League To iustifie themselues and their rysing they publish the motiues of the Cardinall of Bourbon who notwithstanding serued them but as a Cipher with the Princes Noblemen Townes and Catholike Commonalties to oppose themselues against heretikes That they had contemned the resolution of the Estates to make warre against heretikes and to disanull all Edicts made in their fauour That the succession of the King of Nauarre whereof hee hath conceiued a great hope sence the death of the Duke of Aniou would cause great confusions within this realme That preparations were alreadie made both within and without That by an accord made at Magdebourg the fifteenth of December last past the troupes of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Condé the Queene of England the King of Scottes the Count Palatin the Dukes of Saxony Pomerania and Wirtemberg of the Landgraue of Hessen the Suisses and other Protestants should ioyntly enter into France before the fifteenth of Aprill next following That the Huguenots would not yeeld vp the Townes which they held for the assurance of the last Edict of peace That there is great abuse in the prouision of offices in the leuies of money in the inuention of excessiue imposts Then they complaine of the mignons in Court who abusing the Kings name and bountie keepe the Princes and Noblemen that were truely Catholike from all accesse to his Maiesty perswading him that it is necessary for the preseruation of his Estate to diminish their authority they braue the Nobility dispose of gouernments in fauour of their followers wast the treasure oppresse the people restrayne the libertie of Iustice ruine the Clergie with tenthes and extraordinarie charges And then they declare That these iust motions and the sodennesse of the mischiefe had thrust them into armes the small credit they had with the King hauing no other meanes to let him vnderstand their complaints and in the end they protest that their taking armes was onely to restore the Church of God to her true and auncient dignity vnder the exercise of one religion throughout the realme To restore the Nobility to their honour and freedome to ease the people of extraordinarie charges inuented since the raigne of Charles the ninth and not to imploy the money leuied thereby but for the Kings seruice To require the King to prouide for his succession against the publike and priuate calamities which the pretentions and contentions for the same might cause and to chase from the Court such as abused his fauour and authority In the ende they protest and vowe not to laie downe armes vntill their proposition bee fully executed and that his Maiestie had preuented the daunger the feare whereof hath made them to take armes These false impressions had wonderfully incensed the people but when as they talke to them of a sinode held at Montauban and of a Diet in Germanie where they complotted to inuade France and to chase away both masse and Priestes they take the words of these passionate men for Oracles of truth They presse
it vpon his owne head But these men had diuided it amongst them giuing the rest to vnderstand that they fedde themselues with vaine hopes To cast more wood and oyle into the flames of their diuision and to ruine one by another matters were so handled as the 15. of August The Duke of Guise escapes the yong Duke of Guise escaped out of prison from Tours and not farre from the riuer found a troupe of horse appointed by the Lord of La Chastre to conduct him This escape caused many bonfires and greatly reuiued their hearts who held this Prince fitte to make a King of the Vnion But the cleere sighted thought with reason that his arriuall at Paris would rather ruine then aduance their partye and the deuises and practises of other pretendants must needs soone kindle an extreame and common ielousie amongst them Whilest these consult with their most trustie friends and seruants Noyon taken by the King what effects might grow by this new accident the King in the same moneth besieged Noyon in Picardie defeated the succours sent by the League foure times killed their most resolute men at armes tooke many prisoners put the rest to flight and at the Duke of Mayennes nose who to auoyde this check which the League was like to receiue attempted vpon Mante sought to force his Maiesties Suisses lodged at Houdan and approched neere to Noyon but would not fight heaping shame vpon his enemies hee forced the besieged to yeeld to his obedience and moreouer went and dared him to fight before Han. Let vs returne into Daulphiné to behold the most memorable and most fatall defeate for the enemies of this Crowne the most vertuous expedition of armes which for these many yeares hath most broken their desseignes vpon Prouence and Daulphiné The ãâã of Sauoy defeated and most weakened the League in those Prouinces which the Sauoisien affected Don Amedeo bastard brother to the Duke of Sauoy Don Oliuares chiefe of the Spaniards whom the Duke had lately obtained of King Philip his father in lawe the Marquis of Treuiâ and others conducted twelue or thirteene thousand men by the plaine of Pontcharra neere to the Castle of Bayard in the vallee of Graisiâodan Doubtlesse the place should reuiue the memory of that incomparable Knight who by the valour of his armes hath in former times wonderfully tyed the realme to recommend his merits the Lord Les Diguieres meetes them chargeth and ouercomes them leauing two thousand fiue hundred slaine vpon the place carries away many prisoners and most of the Commanders takes eighteene Enseignes with Red Crosses and makes bootie of all their baggage which amounts to aboue two hundred thousand Crownes in Chaines Iewels plate money both golde and siluer horse and armes Two thousand Romaines and Milanois which had saued themselues with Conte Galeas of Bel Ioyeuse their Commander in the Castle of Aualon were the next day at the Victors discretion sixe or seuen hundred were cut in peeces the rest were sent to a place of safetie with white wands in their hands and then sent home into Italy with an oth neuer to carry armes against France The King seeing that neither by the taking of Noyon nor by any other baite hee could draw his enemies to fight doth presse them yet more neerely To this end hee commands that Paris should bee restrained on all sides both by water and land and should enioy no commodities but by the mercie of the neighbour garrisons the which he entertained vpon the tributes and customes imposed vpon victuals which they suffered to passe to Paris and by this meanes emptied the inhabitants purses stript them and drew out of the Citty necessary commodities for his troopes then with one part of his army hee marcheth into Normandie surpriseth Louuiers approcheth to Rouan to tire the inhabitants Rouan besieged who seemed no lesse obstinate then the Parisiens He is no sooner arriued but they crie out for succors and his Maiestie sees them neere their ruine or at the least ready to yeeld to some reason So the King of Spaine sollicited from many partes Succoured by the Duke of Parma and thrust on by the consideration of his owne priuate interest and satisfaction sends to the Duke of Parma commands him to leaue the gouernment of the Lowe Countries in his absence 1591. to the Cont Mansfield to go and free Rouan and to imbrace such occasions as should be offered The Kings happy successe and his enemies miseries drawes the Prince of Parma the second time into France hee parts from Bruxelles with foure thousand foote and three thousand horse and fortified with the succours of Italy and three thousand Suisses hee marcheth by small iourneys for hee wisely conceiued that his Maister sent him into France for the same considerations that hee would haue giuen him the conduct of his armie by sea into England and vnder this shew of armes hee practised an other desseigne To cause the Estates of the League whereof they purposed a conuocation the next yeare to giue the Crowne of France to the Infanta of Spaine whom the father promised to marry with one of the heads of the partie whome the Estates should name This tended greatly to the preiudice of the Duke of Mayenne for hee was marryed Diuision bewixt the Duke of Mayenne and the sixteene and the eldest sonne of Lorraine the Dukes of Guise and Nemours were to marry Hee is therefore now resolutely determined to crosse the sixteene Tribunes of Paris who with their Champions carried away the peoples voyces and aboue all others did feed the Spaniards hopes in this realme to whome inticed by the gold of Peru and his prodigall promises they had already solde the Capitall Cittie The sixteene growne hatefull through their tyranous authoritie feare to be soone suppressed they resolue to preuent it and rather to vnhorse the Duke the better to aduance their affaires according to King Phillips intentions One thing seemed to aduance their desseigne they held prisoner one named Brigard a Proctor of the Towne-house accused to haue had intelligence with the King and of letters written to his Maiestie Brigard escapes out of prison They suspect the President Brisson and the Councellors Larcher and Tardife to haue fauoured his escape In this furie the 15. of Nouember they seize vpon these three venerable persons hale them to the Chastelet cause them to bee strangled in the close prison and the next day hang vp their bodyes at the Greue with infamous writings on their brests This execrable fact might haue extended farther and made the like spectacle of any one that should in any thing haue controuled the actions of these homicides The Duke of Mayenne who treated with Parma posts to appease this tumult hee caused Louchart Auroux Hameline and Emonnot the chiefe authors of this cursed attempt to bee apprehended and executed in the open view of all the people who bowed their backes mournefully at the damnable commands of
But hee will teach vs that the surest stroakes come from the head and if the olde Duke of Guise could by a gallant stratageme recouer a towne from the English most important for the Estate of this Crowne he in like sort by the like exploite will make himselfe the terror of all Picardie 1596 Hee departs from Bruxells and giues it out that hee will succor la Fere. For his first fruites he findes meanes to giue them some releefe of men and munition in March. Calais and Aâdres taken by the Spaniaâd Then in Aprill he causeth his army being very strong to turne head towards Calais beseegeth batters and takes both towne and Castell by assault against all the resistance of the beseeged and puts many French gentlemen to the sword being sent to supply the Castell The Senâshall of Montlimart commanding the French and Aluarez Osorio the Spaniards in la Fere hauing for the space of fiue monethes endured all the toyles of warre and seene the riuer within the towne to rise two or three foote by the labour of men La Fâre lost had the 22. of the sayd moneth by a good composition some-what recompenced this so notable a losse if the Cardinall had planted here the lymits of his victories But contynuing the prosperity of his armies whilest the Kings are weary and demand rest after so great toyle hee goes in the beginning of Maye and campes before Ardres a very strong towne and notwithstanding their great defence became Master thereof the 23. of the moneth and resolues to people these townes of his newe Conquest with straâge Colonies and prepares to adde vnto them that of Hulst in Flanders In the meane time the two armies spend the rest of the Sommer in light roads one into an others Country Warre in Arthois In the beginning of September the Marshall of Biron enters Arthois takes the Casteâl of Imbercourt encounters with fiue Cornets of horse of the Marquis of Varambon followed by fiue or sixe hundred horse of combate chargeth them hee kills all that seeke to withstand the violence of his armes puts the rest in route takes the Marqâis prisoner afterwards had fortie thousand Crownes for his ransome filled the whole Country with feare then inuading the County of Saint Paul he tooke and spoyled the towne and some other places The Cardinall busied at the seege of Hulst hearing that the Marquis was taken hee sent the Duke of Arscot to commande in his place As hee enters into Arâas the French assaile it on the other side spoile the Country about it and laden with bootie the Marshall retires safely to the fronters oâ Picardie Being discharged hee returnes to Bapaume spoiles Hebuterne Benuiller Courcelles and other places defeates such as would make resistance and carries away more spoile then at the first And seeing the Duke of Arscot incamped neere to Arras vnder the fauour of the Cannon intrenched carefully and loath to hazard any thing knowing that he was to deale with one of the happiest and most valiant warriors of Europe they fire all and reuenge as oportunitie would suffer them the Spaniards outrage in places lately taken they make a roade towards Bethune and Therouenne bring away many prisoners furnish their places with Cattell at the enemies cost and without any resistance go and campe in the plaine of Azincourt The Duke supplied with eight hundred âoote ioyned to the regiment of Colonel Bourlote parts from Arras the 5. of October and goes and incampes at Saint Paul The Marshall leaues him there returnes into Arthois runnes vnto Douay spoiles all then returning into Picardie hee gaue the Duke of Arscot meanes to recouer the Castell of Himbercourt who content with this conquest dismisseth his army and disposed of his companies into garrisons Then by the meanes of the Duke of Bouillon the alliance was confirmed and sworne betwixt the King the Qâeene of England and the vnited Prouinces of the Lowe Countries For matters past there is no remedie and the Polititians hold that there is no Lawe more vnprofitable then that which tends to reforme what is past The King therefore to settle his affaires and to prouide for the future resolute not to suffer theâe newe Colonies of Dourlans Capelle Castelet Cambray Calais and Ardres and with the newe yeare to renue a deadly warre against the Spaniard which might not bee attempted without a mighty army An Assâmbly aâ Rouân in âorme of a Parliament nor the army leuied without treasure the which he could not recoueâ without the helpe of his subiects hee assembled in manner of a Parliament the greatest and most discreet of the three orders of his realme at Rouan the fourth of Nouember where the Inhabitants of their owne voluntariâ free will 5596 spent foure hundred thousand Crownes to make his Maiestie an honorable reception where he receiued the gaâter a badge of the order of England by the hands of the Earle of Shrewsburie His Maiestâe desired to deserue these two glorious titles of Deliuerer âestorer of of his estate At his coming to the Crowne hee had found France not onely in a manner ruined but almost all lost for the French but by the grace of the Almightie by the prayers by the good counsell of his loyall Subiects who make no profession of armes by the sword of his Princes and of his braue and generous Nobilitie by his paines and labour he had preserued it from losse Let vs saue it now from ruine said our King speaking to the assembâie Participate my deere subiects with mee in this second glorie as you haue done in the first I haue not called you as my Predecessors did to make you approue my will I haue caused you to assemble to haue your Counsells to beleeue them and to follow them finally to put my selfe into your hands A desire which seldome commaunds Kings that haue white haires and are Conquerors But the vehement loue I beare vnto my Subiects and the exeding desire I haue to adde these two goodly titles to that of King makes mee to find all easây and honorable The sharpnes of winter had layd armes aside and the excessiue raine caused many inundations whereof amongst others followed that of the millers bridge at Paris which sinking on Saint Thomas night was the losse of three hundred persons slaine in the ruines of the building and drowned in the riuer Whilest they examine the resolutions taken in this honorable assemblie and that the King prepares for a mightie armie to chase the Spaniard out off Picardie behold the capitall Cittie of this Prouince strong of seat and well fortified where his Maiestie pretended to make his Arcenall and storehouse for the warre against the Sranger in Arthois and other Prouinces of the Low Countries was surprised in the day time the people being at sermon without force without defence by the practise of some factioâs and the carelesse basenesse of the Inhabitants who standing vpon their ancient
the cause of this warre fol. 74 Charles subdues the Saxons and perswades Witichind to be a christian ibid. The ofspring of Witichind f. 75 The Institution of the twelue Peeres of France fol. 76 Treachery of Idnabala the Sarazin ibid. Pampalune taken and the Sarazins victorie ibid. The Sarazins enter into Gascoine ibid. Conditions propounded by Aigoland and accepted by Charles fol. 77 Sarazins defeated in Spaine ibid. The treason of Ganelon fol. 78 Rouland defeated at Ronceuaux he dies for thirst ibid Charles reuengeth this treacherie ibid. The end of the Spanish warre fol. 79 Bauiere incorporated to the crowne for rebellion ibid. The limits of the French Monarchy in Germany ibid. The occasion why Charlemagne was proclaimed Emperour fol. 80 Contention in the East âor Images ibid The tragicall death of Constantine fol. 81 Irene his mother banished ibid. Diuision of the Empire ibid. Warre in Italie and in Saxony fol. 82 Charles hâs dâedes while he was Emperour Charles repulst at Venice He diuides his possessions to his children and settles an order for their lawes The Danes reuolt ibid. Charles looseth two of his best sonnes ibid. Rebellion against Charles fol. 83 The Empire confirmed to him his care to rule the Church ibid. A good Instruction for princes to loue pietie ibid. New warre in Spaine crost by secret practises ib. A happy conclusion of Chaâlemagnes life ibid. Charles makes his Will and dies fol. 84 The true praises of Charlemagne and his vices ibid. Lewis the gentle the 25. king and Emperour of the West THe declining of this race fol. 85 Lewis his wiues and children fol. 86 His base facilitie ibid. A furious crueltie his indiscretion ibid. Tragicall rebellion of children ibid. Abuse in the Clergie fol. 87 Lewis imprisoned by his children hee is forced to giue them portions and he dies ibid. Diuision among the brethren and the cause fol. 87 The estate of Lewis his children aâteâ his death Loâhaire thinking to surprize his brethren is surprized and defeated fol. 88 He dies a Monke ibid. An accord betwixt Charles and Lewis fol. 89 Hermingrade daughter to Lewis married to Bosan king of Arles fol. 90 Charles the bald the 26. King and Emperour A Confused and an vnhappy raigne fol. 91 Charles seekes to deceiue his Neece ibid. He is diuerted from the warre of Italie where he dies fol. 92 Lewis 2. called the stuttering the 27. King and Emperour THe princes of Italie oppose against him f. 92 The Pope vsurpes the imperial rights in Italy ibi Lewis dies and leaues his wife with child fol. 93 Regents crowned as Kings ibid. Charles borne after his fathers death ibid. The minoritie of Charles called the Simple the which continued 22. yeres vnder 4. Regents whom they call Kings The 28. raigne vnder Lewis and Caroloman Basâaâds LEwis is defeated by the Normans and dies for griefe fol. 94 Caroloman dyâs of a violent dath fol. 95 Charles called the Grosse 29. King and Emperour GReat hopes of his good gouernment fol. 96 Neustria called Normandie ibid. Charles defeated by the Normans yeelds to a preiudiciall peace ibid. Hee is extreamâly hated and deiected both from Empire and Realme ibid. He dies poorely in a village fol. 97 Eudes or Odon named Regent by Lewis the 2. the 30. King of France THe race of Eudes from whence Hugh Capet sprong fol. 98 Eudes maligned in his Regencie fol. 99 France full of factions ibid. Eudes resignes the Regencie to the King a little before he died ibid. Charles 3. called the Simple the 31. King of France A Memorable League made by Robert brother to Eudes against King Charles fol. 100 Charles put from the Crowne fol. 101 Robert the head of the League and in armes ibid. Robert causeth himselfe to be crowned King fol. 102. The errors of King Charles ibid. Robert defeated and slaine by Charles ibid. Charles taken prisoner by Hebert he dies for griefe ibid. Queene Ogina flies into England with her sonne Lewis ibid. Raoul the 32. King but in effect an vsurper RAâul an Vsurper raignes vnfortunately fol. 103. Necessârie obseruations for great Estates fol. 104 Confusions in France Italy and Germany ibid. Confusion in the East and in the Church ibid. Pope Ioan deliuered of a child in the open streete fol. 105. Lewis 4. the 33 King LEwis a disloyall prince fol. 106 Hee marrieth one of the Emperours sisters Hugues father to Hugh Capât marrieth another ibid. The duke of Normandie tâaiterousây slaââe ãâã 107. Lewis deales trecherously in oppressing the Normanes ãâã The King of Denmarke comes to succour tâe Duke of Normandie fol. 1â9 Lewis taken prisoner at a parle and set free vpon conditions ibid. Richard Duke of Normandy marries the daughter of âugueâ the great ibid. Lâwis seekes to ruine Hugues his brother in Law âol 1ââ Trecherie punished with trecherie Count Hebert hanged ibid. Lewis dies hated of his sâbiects ibid. Lothaire 34. King of France LOthaire a trecherous king fâl 111 He attempt warre against Richard of Normandie but in vaine ibid. Lothaire makes warre against the Emperour ãâã 112. Lorraine giuen to Charles of France by the Emperour ibid. Lothaire dies detested of all men ibâd Lewis 5 the 35. King and the last of the sâcond âace THe last King of the race of Charlemaigne fâl 113. God the disposer of Kingdomes and States ibid. Hugh Capet the 36. King and the first of the third Race CHarles Duke of Lorraine heire presumptiue reiected from the Crowne and Hugh Capet chosen King of France fol. 117 The reason why Chaâles was reiected fol. 118 Hugh Capet held most worthy of the Crowne ibid. His fathers wise proceeding fol. 119 His off-spring ibid. Why he was called Capât ibid. Hugh Capets proceeding to attaine to the Crowne fol. 120. A parliament at Noâon âor his election ibid. Hugh Capet crowned at Rheims fol. 121 Charles of Lorraine begins warre and surpriseth townes ibid. Hugh Capât defeated and in danger ibid. Charles promiseth vnto himselfe a happie raigne ibid. He is taken in Laon carried to Orleans where he dies in prison ibid. Hugh Capet no vsurper fol. 122 The subiects doe homage vnto him ibid. Hee doth renew the orders of the twelue Peeres of France He suppresseth the Mayor of the Pallace ibid. Hugh crownes his sonne Robârt King fol. 123 Roberts veâtues ibid. The Constable succeeds the Maior the Constables authoritie ibid. Hugh decrees that the eldest should raigne alone among his brethren ibid. He suppresseth the Mayor of the Palace ibid. The French cannot subsist but vnder a Royaltie ibid. Paris the chiefe place of Hughes residence ibid. His proceeding against Arnulph bastard of Lothaire who is deposed from his bishopricke ibid. The manners of Pope Iohn the 12. fol. 125 The estate of the Church and Empire ibid. Hugh Capet dies ibid. The Monarchy of France of greater continuance then euer any fol. 126 An order for the vse of this raigne ibid. The names of 13. Kings of the first royall branch of Capets placing Hugh Capet for
the stemme foundation of the third royall race which raigne at this day Robert Philip the âiâst Lâwis 7. called the Long. Lâwiâ the eight Philip 3. called the bardy Lewis 10. called Huâin Henry Lewis 6. called the grosse Philip 2. called Augustus Lewis 9. called S. Lewis Philip 4. called the faire Philip 2. surnamed the long Charles the 4. called the Faire the last of this fiâst branch Robert the 37. King of France THe raigne of Robert long happy fol 129 He preferres Henry his younger sonne to the Crowne before the elder ibid. His disposition ibid. Wise Kings and of long life are happie for an Estate fol. 130 He giues Burgundie to Robert his eldest sonne ibid. Robert makes an agreement with the emperor for Lorraine ibid. He reconciles the Duke of Normandie and the Earle of Chartres ibid. Henry 1. the 38. King of France HIs raigne fol. 131 Contention betwixt the brethren ibid. Odo earle of Campaigne seekes to seize vpon Burgundie fol. 132 Robert Duke of Normandie preferres his bastard before his lawfull children fol. 133 Happie succâsse of the Normans in Italy ibid. Henry dies ibid. Philip 1. the 39. King of France BAldwin Regent in Philips minoritie fol. 134 He punisheth the rebels of Gascoine ibid. He dies much lamented fol. 135 The disposition of Philip. ibid. Philip forsakes Baldwins children ibid. William bastard of Normandie aduanced to the Crowne of England Philip discontented at his aduancement ibid. The Leuaine of dissention betwixt France and England fol. 136 The English enter Guienne ibid. Confusions in Italy betwixt the Emperour and Popes ibid. The Pope incenseth the sonne against the father and takes both Empire and life from him fol. 137. The beginning of the states of Daulphine Sauoy Prouence and Franche Countie ibid. A voyage to the Holy land and the motiue of this enterprise ibid. The names of such as went to the Holy land fol. 138. The number of the Army ibid. The Mahometans command fol. 139 The Christian troupes twice defeated by the Turkes ibid. Godfrey conquers the greatest part of Asia ibid. He is chosen King of Ierusalem ibid. The sonnes of William King of England fol. 140 Philip dies his disposition ibid. Lewis 6. called the Grosse the 40. King THe estate of this raigne fol. 141 Rebels suppressed and punished fol. 142 The Emperour grieued for the ill vsage of his father comes to Rome and forceth the Pope to take an oath ibid. The Emperour degraded by the Popes decree ibid. The Emperor and King of England ioine against France ibid. The French King and the Emperour reconciled fol. 143. Great troubles in Flanders ibid. Crueltie in the citie of Bruges ibid. Lewis King of France punish the rebels fol. 104 Pretendants for the Earledome of Flanders ibid. William of Normandie made Earle of Flanders ibid. The Flemmings chuse them a new Earle and Thierry the new Earle of Flanders defeated ibid. William of Normandie slaine in Flanders ibid. Troubles in Bourbonois fol. 145 The stocke of the house of Bourbon ibid. Philip eldest sonne to Lewis died by a strange accident ibid. Lewis the yong marries the heire of Guienne ibid. Lewis the 6. dies fol. 146 Lewis 7. called the yong the 41. King of France THe estate of his raigne fol. 146 The Christianâ affaires in the East ibid. Godâfrây of Bouillon dies and the Christians loose all in the East fol. 147 The Emperor and King of France resolue to succour the Christians ibid. A horrible massacre coÌmitted by the souldiers of Lewis and by his consent fol. 147 The Emperour and Lewis goe into the East ibid. The Emperor of Greece deales trecherously with the Emperour and the King ibid. The Emperor and King of France make a shamefull returne from the East fol. 149 Queene Elenor vnchast ibid. Lewis pretends a cause to be diuorced from Elenor and restores her Guienne ibid. Elenor marries with Henry King of England ibid. The first Warre betwixt France and England for the Earldome of Tholouse ibid. Great troubles in England betwixt the Father and the Sonne fol. 150. Prince Henry âealous of his owne Father ibid. The Sonnes make Warre against the Father and Lewis supports his Sonne against him fol. 151. Henry King of England reconciled to his Sonnes ibid. Frâderike the Emperor ruines Milan takes Rome and creates a newe Pope ibid The Emperor subiects himselfe basely vnto the Pope fol. 152. Lewis dies ibid. Complaints against the abuses of the Church ibid. Phillip the 2. called Augustus the 42. King of France An excellent King and an excellent raigne fol. 153. His disposition The Iewes banished out of France ibid. Competitors for the gouernment of the State fol. 154. Troubles in Flanders for the Earldome of Vermandois ibid. Henry Prince of England dies before his Father ibid. Phiâlip of France and Richard of England make a Peace ibid. The miserable Estate of the Christians in Asia ibi The Christians in Asia at Ciuill warre fol. 155. The Emperor of Greece murthered by his Tutor ibid. King Philip and Richard King of England make a voiage to the Holy Land ibid. Richard exploits in Asia ibid. Philip stirs vp Iohn against his Brother Richard King of England fol. 156. Richard makes a truce with âelâdin ibid. Hee is kept prisoner by the Emperor and put to ransome ibid. An vnknowne Aduocate pleads against the King for his wife Gâlbârge ibid. Philipâ warre against the King of England and the Earle of Flanders fol. 157. Richârd King of England dies fol. 158. Iohn succeeds Richard and makes a Peace with Philip. ibid. Warre betwixt Iohn King of England and Arthur his Nephew ibid. ãâã murthers his Nephew ãâã ibid. Iohn declared guilty of murther and felony by Philiâ ibiâ Philip takes Normandy and Poitou from Iohn ibiâ Great enemies against Philip and a dangerous League against him ibid. His Victory at Bouines against the Empeâor fol. 159. The Emperor dies for griefe of his disgrace ibid. Iohn makes the Realme of England tributary to the Pope âol 160 He doth homage to the Popes Legat. ãâã Iohns oppression of his subiects is tâe cause of his ruine ãâã The English reiect Iohn and offer the Realme to Philip. ãâã Lewis of France receiued by the English ãâã King Iohn dies for griefe ââl 161. The English change their opinion They ââceâue Henry the Sonne of Iohn and dismisse ãâã of France ãâã Philips Actions Testament and his Lands vnited to the Crowne fol. 162. His death and his conditions ãâã The Estate of the Empire ãâã The Pope opposeth against the Emperor ãâã The Emperor muâthered by Otho who succâeded him ibid. The faction of Guelphes and Gibelius fâl 163. The Popes seekes to haue soueraigne authority ouer Christendome ãâã Orders of Relligious men ibid. Lewis the eight Father to Saint Lewis 43. King of France HIS raigne and death fol. 164. His manners ibiâ Languedoc returnes to the Crowne ibid. Diuers opinions of the Albigeois and their opinions as some write ibid. The Earle of Tholouse
of the Gantois fed by Lewis his policie fol. 274.275 The Gantois ouerthrowne and Adolfe Duke of Guelders slaine fol. 276 Maximillian and Marie maried fol. 277 The politique liberalitie of Lewis fol. 278 The disposition of Edward King of England fol. 279. Is fed by Lewis his dilatorie hopes ibid. He neglects Marie of Burgogne ibid. Affects greatly the alliance with France ibid. A trecherous attempt at Florence against the house of Medicis fol. 280 The mutinie appeased and the murtherer hanged ibid. The battell of Guingaste where many were slain and the French left the field fol. 281 Lâwis seeking to reforme his Realme is hindered by infirmities yet is iealous of his authority eueÌ in sicknesse ibid. The death of Mary of Burgogne pleasing to Lewis fol. 282. Edward the fourth King of England dies fol. 283 Rââhard murthers his two nephewes vsurpes the Crowne ibid. Lewis his disposition in his declining age fol. 284 His inuentions to make beleeue he liued still fol. 285. His death and disposition ââl 286 The Estate of the Church vnder Lewis ââl 286.287 The Estate of the Empire fol. 288.289 The Turkes ouerthrowne twice in Asia winne the third battell fol. 290 Scanderbeg his death and vertues ibid. Charles the 8. the 56. King of France A Breefe rehersall of his raigne fol. 291 His disposition and education fol. 292 Contention betweene the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Beau-ieu for the Regency ibid. Landais gouerns the Duke of Brittaine insolentlie ibid. King Charles his coronation fol. 293 The Duke of Orleans being put from the RegeÌcy discontented leaues the Court. fo â94 The Duke of Brittaine being troubled is forced to deliuer Landais who is hanged fo 295 Charles seekes to diuide the Brittons from their Duke and makes a secret treaty with the Nobility fol. 296 The Brittons reconciled to their Duke and Rieux reuoults from the French fol. 298 Ancenis Casteaubriant Vennes taken for the Brittons fol. 299 Diuision in the Brittish Army fol. 300 The Battle of St. Albin where the Duke of Orleans and the Earle of Dunois are takeÌ prisoners fol. 301 Diuers Townes in Brittany yeelded to the FreÌch fol. 302 The Duke of Brittane after a peace made with the King dyes fol. 303 The pittifull estate of Brittaine fol 304 Anne of Brittaine succored by the English and Spanish foo 305 The Marshall of Riux and the English beseedge Brest and Conquett fol. 306 Maximillian made Arbitrator betweene king Charles and Anne of Brittaine fol. 307 Nantes and Guingam taken by the French fol. 308 A finall peace in Brittaine by Charles his mariage with Anne fol. 309 The practises of the English vpon Brittaine ibid. Arras betrayed to Maximillian fol. 310 Motiues for the voyage of Naples with the waÌts for the voyage âoâ 31â Lodowick Sâorza vsurps Milan and surpriseth the Castle fol. 312 The estate of Italy in 1490. fol. 31â The peace of Italy ruined by Peter of Medicis âol 314 A league betweene the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan fâl 3â5 Charles his right to Naples and Scicilia ibid. He could not be diswaded by his counsell from the enterprise of Italy fol. 316 His voyage to Naples vndertaken without money fol. 31â Lodowicks perswations to Charles with the death of Iohn Galeat Duke of Milan fâl 318 The âlorentines and Peter de Medicis offer king Charles their citty withall other his demaunds âol 319 Peter de Medicis and his bretheren expelled âlârence fol. 32â King Charles enters Florence ibid. The Pope perplexed hauing many enimies sends to the King fol. âââ The walles of Rome and of the Castle St. Angelo fall alone at the kings entrance âol 322 Alphonso frighted with horrible visions for his cruelties crownes his Sonne and âlyes fol. 323 Vpon the first entry of the French into the kingdome of Naples Capna Auerse Nola Naples yeelds fol. 324 Zemin being thrice ouerthrowne by Baiaâet âlyes and is poysoned by Pope Alexander fol. 326 The Venetians discouer to the Turke an enterprise vpon Scrutaây fol. 327 A league concluded against the French fol. 328 King Charles takes order for Naples and goes towards Rome and the Pope âlyeâ fol. 3â9 Sauanoccllas predictions fol. 330 Milan and the whole Dutchy ready to reuolt against Lodowickâ fol. 331 A foule reuenge by the Suisses repaired by a notable peece of seruice fol. 332 The Battle of Fornone where the King is in great danger fol. 3â3 The Army of the league ouerthrowne fol. 334 Ferdinand defeated by Aubigny enters Naples and the most part of the kingdome reuolts from the French fol. 336 Caiette sackt by the French ibid. The Marquesse of Pescara slayne fol. â37 The newe Castle at Naples compounds with Ferdinand ibid. Twentie thousand Suisses at Verceil for the king fol. 339 The Suisses practise to seize vpon the King ibid. The Venetians propositions to the King fol. 340 The beginning of the Poxe ibid. The treachery and couetousnesse of Entraques fol. 341 A newe French fleete in the kingdome of Naples fol. 343 Ferdinands lansquenets defeated by the French fol. 343 A truce betwixt the kings of France and Castile ibid. Charles greatly affects the enterprise of Italie but is disswaded by the Cardinall of S. Malo fol. 344 The last act of this tragedy and the French defeated fol. 345 A dishonorable coÌposition made by the French fol. 346 The Earle of Mountpensier dies with most of his troupes ibid. King Ferdinand dies fol. 347 The Duke of Orleans refuseth to make warre against the Duke of Millan in his owne name ibid. The Duke of Millan perplexed is succoured by the Venetians fol. 348 Reasons to draw the King into Italie fol. 349 The castle of Amboyse built by Charles ibid. His death and disposition fol. 350 Lewis the 12 the 57. king of France THe happines of his raigne fol. 351 The genealogie of Lewis the 12. fol. 352 Lewis his title to the Dutchie of Millan ibid. The Pope capitulates with the King fol. 354 The Venetians and Florentines congratulate his comming to the crowne ibid. Borgia comes to court and commits a treacherous murther ibid. King Lewis associats with the Venetians fol. 355 Millan mutines against Lodowicke and hee flies shamefully fol. 356 Millan beeing yielded Lewis makes his entrie fol. 357 Vitelli besiegeth Pisa is taken and beheaded at Florence ibid. Our Ladies Bridge at Paris falls fol. 358 The estate of the East ibid. Millan and the Suisses reuolt and Sforza recouers it againe fol. 359 Lâdowicke Sâorza taken fol. 360 Millan pardoned by the King fol. 361 The potentates of Italy reconciled to the King fol. 362 The exploits of Câsar Borgia fol. 363 The pittifull death of the Lord of Faenza murthered by Borgia fol. 364 The warres of Naples reuiued fol. 365 The realme of Naples diuided betwixt the Kings of France and Arragon ibid. Fredericke king of Naples simplicitie fol. 366 The lamentable taking of Capua with the souldiers insolencies fol. 367 The capitulation of Fredericke who of king of Naples is
made Duke of Amou ibid. A treatie betwixt the Emperour and Lewis fol. 368 The beginning of diuision betwixt Lewis and Ferdinand fol. 369 Gonsaâue the great captaines vertues ibid. New broyles in Italie fol. 370 The Duke of Valentinois cruelty ibid. The exploits of the French in the kingdome of Naples fol. 371 The Valentinois fearefull to the potentates of Italie ibid. The Venetians oppose against him fol. 372 The King discontented with the Pope and his sonne fol. 373 A counterfeit peace with the Spaniard but not ratified fol. 374 The Duke of Atri defeated by the Spaniard fol. 375 A generall ouerthrowe of the French and the Duke of Nemours slaine fol. 376 The kings new armie for Naples fol. 377 The estate of the church and the death of Pope Alexander the 6. fol. 378 The Vrsins and Colonnois reconciled bandy against the Valentinois fol. 379 Iulius the 2. chosen Pope ibid. Borgia the Valentinois a prisoner fol. 380 A truce betweene France and Spaine the wars of Naples reuiued ibid. The Marquis of Mantoua general of the French giues ouer his charge of the army fol. 381 The realme of Naples wholly lost by the French fol. 382 Lewis makes peace with the Spaniard and Emperour against the Venetian fol. 383 The death of Fredericke of Naples fol. 384 Lewis seekes by all meanes to crosse the Emperor and his sonne Philip. fol. 385 Bântiuoll deliuers Bolonia to the Pope fol. 386 The death of Philip Archduke of Austria ibid. The death of Borgia duke of Valentinois ibid. An enteruiewe of the Kings of France and Arragon fol. 387 The Suisses forsake the Emperour and Maximilian is defeated fol. 388 King Lewis goes into Italie fol. 389 The Venetians excommunicated by the Pope and ouerthrowne at Agnadell by the French fol. 390.391 The Venetians begin to recouer their losses take Padua and surprize the Marquis of Mantoa fol. 392 Padua besieged againe by the Emperour fol. 393 The Venetians make warre against the Duke of Ferrara fol. 394 The Suisses forsake the alliaÌce of the FreÌch and ioyne with the pope fol 395 A French armie enters Italie and the pope seekes to expell them fol. 396 397 The Suisses retire and the Venetians make an attempt against Genoa fol. 398.399 Eight conclusions made by the French Church against the pope fol. 400 The siege of Bolonia fol. 401 The death of Charles of Amboyse Lord of Chaumont fol. 402 A Councel begins at Pisa and is transported to Millan fol. 403 Bolonia beseeged by the Spaniards where there happened a miracle fol. 404. Brâââe taken by the Venetians and recouered by the French fol 405. The French Army in Italy getts the battaile of Rauenna where ãâã of Foâx is slaine fol. 406.407 Rauenna taken and sackt fol. 408. The French Army disordered they loose Milan fol. 409. Lodowick Sforze restored to the Duchy of Milan fol. 410. Nauar vsurped by the Arragonois fol. 411. A royall Army in the Duchy of Milan and Genoa taken fol. 413. The memorable valour of Robert de la Marke fol. 414. Terouenne and Tournay taken by the English fol. 415. Charles the Emperor affects to be Pope fol. 416. Queene Annâ of France dies and Lâwis marries Mary of England fol. 417. The death of Lewis the 12. and his vertues fol. 418.419 Francis the fiâst of that name the â8 King of France HEE goes with a Royall Army into the Duchie of Milan and takes Genoa fol. 421. His first passage ouer the Alpes fol. 422. The inconstant treachery of the Suisses with the battell of Marignan âol 423. Milan yeelds to the French fol. 424. A League against the King broken by the death of Ferdinand fol. 425. Brescia and Verona taken by the French and deliuered to the Venetians fol 426. Francis Maria chased from Vrbin and Laurence of Medicis inuested in the Duchy fol. 427. Franââ the Daulphin borne fol. 428. A peace concluded with the English and Spaniards fol. 429. Charles the 5. elected Emperor 1520. fâl 430. The beginning of Lutâers doctrine fol. 431. Troubles in Spaine fâl 432. The Pope capitulates with the Emperour fol. 433. The King and the Emperor at open warre Tournay Meziers beseeged and Mouson taken fol 4â4 4â5 Mouson recouered Fontarabâe taken fâl 4â6 The Emperor retreating dishonourably Hedin and Turney are recouered by the French fol. 4â7 The Pope declares himselfe against France fol. 4â9 An ominous signe to the French at Milan Ibid. Errors of the French Army fol 440. Lautrâch odious to his Army fol. 441. Milan taken and sackt iâid Pope Leo his death with the altârâtions afterwards fol. 442 Adâian the 6 created Pope and the war reuiued fol. 443. Milan and Pauia beseeged by the French and Nouarre taken fol. 444. Lâutrech forced to fight by the Suisses and is ouerthrowne fâl 445. Laude and Cremona taken from the French fol. 446. The Venâtians foâsake the French Genoa is taken by the Spaniards fol. 447. Fontarabie beeseeged by the Spaniard and âeleeued by the French ibid. Wars in Picardy Douilans beseeged Teâigny slaine fol. 448. The English land in France take Hedin and returne fâl 449. Rhodes taken by the Turke ibid. The Castle of Milan yeelded fol. 450. A League betweene the Emperor and the Venetians fol. 451. The Duke of Bourbon reuolts and flies disguised fol. 452.453 The Milannois fâaude with the seege of their Towne fol. 454. The Castle of Cremona releeued Baionne beseeged ibid. Fontarabie taken from the French fol. 455. The valour of ãâã with the taking of Roy and Mont-didier by the English fol. 456. Pope Aâriaâ diâs and Pope Clement the 7. chosen in his place ibid. Iohn de Medicis stratagems with the death of Prosâer Colonââ fol. 457. The French charged and ouerthrowne by the Imperialls fol. 458. Briares taken by the Milannois and the Admirall defeated fol. 459. Marseilles beseeged by the Imperials froÌ whence they retreate in disorder fol. 460. King ârancis goes into Italy and takes Milan ibiâ The Esâate of the Imperialls fol. 461. The Pope makes a League with the King who sends an Army into Naples fol. 462. A notable victory gotten by the Marquis of Salusses ibid. The death and worthy exploytes of Pontdormy fol. 463. The Imperiall and French Army approch ibid. Sadde fore-runners of an ouerthrow fol. 464. Battell of Pauia where the French King is taken prisoner fol. 465. The King of England offers all loue to the French King beeing a prisoner fol. 466. The Emperors vnreasonable demands with the Kings resonable offers fol. 467. King Francis carried prisoner into Castile ibid. King Francis released fol. 468. The Marquis of Pescara dies fol. 469. The miserable estate of Milan and Cremona taken by the Confederates fol. 470. Rome surprized and sackt by the Imperialls where the Duke of Bourbon is slaine fol. 471.472 A newe League against the Emperor fol. 473. Genoa Alexandria and Pauia taken by thâ King and the Pope deliuered fol. 474. The King of England and France proclaime war against the
Emperor fol. 475. King Francis challengeth the Emperor to the Combat fol. 476. Henry the eight King of England defies the Emperor and puts away his Wife ibid. The seege of Naples with the discommodities there of fol. 477. Phillipin Doria gets a victory at Sea and the successe thereof fol. 478 The reuolt of Andrew Doria with the great constancy of Lautrech fol. 479. Lautrech dies and the seege of Naples is raysed fol. 480. The French Army wholy ruined with the number that dyed at the seege of Naples fol. 481. Genoa recouered from the French fol. 482. A Peace concluded at Cambray betwixt the Emperor and the French King fol. 483. The Kings childrens ransome paid the Emperor returnes into Italy fol. 484. The Prince of Auranges slaine fol. 485. Causes of the Kings discontent fol. 486. A League of the Princes of Germany against the Emperor ibid. A League and interviewe betweene the Kings of England and France fol. 487. The Duchy of Britany incorporate to the Crown of France fol. 488. The Kings of England and France complaine of the Pope ibid. The Cardinalls meanes to winne the Pope fol. 489. The first motiue of the separation of the Church of England froÌ the Church of Rome fol. 490 The Pope excoÌmunicats the King of EnglaÌd ibid An entervew betwixt the Pope King fol. 492. The estate of England in 1534. fol 493. Charles the Emperors dissimulation fol. 494. The King discontent with the Duke of Sauoye conquers his Country fol. 495 Wars begin in Piemont fol. 496. The Emperors entry into Rome fol. 497. The Emperors protestation at Rome fol. 498. The Kings preparation for Warre with the treachery of the Marquis of Salusses fol. 499. Anthony de Lâua forced to flie out off his Campe. fol. 500. The Emperors conceit of his passage into France fol. 502. Francis the Daulphin poysoned ibid. The Emperors passage into Prouence and the Kings order against him fol. 503 The defeate and taking of Monteian and Boisy fol. 504. The Earle of Nassaw in Picardy takes Guise and beseeges Peronne ibid. The Imperialls defeated fol. 506. Marseilles surprized by the Emperour in imagination fol. 507. The Daulphin comes to the Campe. fol. 508. Exploits in Piedmont fol. 509. The Imperialls retreat and burne Aix ibid. The cause of Warre betwixt ãâ¦ã fol. 511. Pursute against the ãâ¦ã ãâã 512 Hedin S. Paul and ãâ¦ã S. Paul beseeged by the ãâ¦ã Recouered by assault and ãâ¦ã fol. 515. Therovenne victualed and the ãâ¦ã and beaten Francis Marquis of Salusses slaine The Imperialls attempt ãâã and are ãâã fol. 518. Piedmont being like to be lost for waât âf money first the Daulphin and afterwaâd the King goes thither ãâã 51â An enteruiew at Nice with a Truce for ten yeaâs fol. 520. The Emperors passage through France fol. 521. The Kings Ambassadors surprized and murtââred âol 522. Ferdinands Army defeated by the Turke ibiâ The Emperor goes to Algier without successe ibid. The reasons that moued the King to Waâââ fol. 523. Warre in Luxenbourg and in Rossillion with ãâã causes thereof ââl 524. Attempt of Rossillion fruitlesse fol. 526. War in Picardy and Piedmont ãâã A gallant stratageme of Monsieur de Lângây fol. 527. A new French Army in Piedmont where Monsieur de Langey dyes fol. 528 The rebellion of the Rochellois and the Kings Clemency fol. 529. Exploytes in Picardy with the taking of Landrecy and other places by the French fol. 530. The Castle of Emery taken fol. 531. The Imperialls surprised at Bains fol. 532. The Imperialls charge the French in their lodging and are repulst fol. 5ââ The King sends to succour the Duke of Cleues he yeelds to the Emperour fol. 534. Landrecie beseeged distrest and victualled fol. 535. A braue Retreat made by the French fol. 5â6 Nice attempted by Barbarousse and taken but not the Castle Mont-deuis yeelded and the Capitulation bââken âol 5â7 The Imperialles desseigne the French preââpreparations to fight with the sonnâ of ãâã two Armies fol. 5â8 5â9 The battaile of Sârisoles which the Duke of Anguien winnes after hee had bin in grâat danger with the number of the dead and prisoners fol. 540.541 Effects following the victory ãâã 542. Truce in Piedmont warre in Picardy âol 54â Saint Desier beseeged after a furious assault yeelded fol. 544. The King of England takes Bullen and Montrueâl and defeates the French fol. 546.547 The French Kings Army against England fol. 548. The French consult to take the I le of wight and to fortefie it fol. 550. Death of the Duke of Orleance fol. 551. Discription and sack of the Land of Oye fol. 552. A great plauge in the forte before Bullen fol. 553. The death of the Duke of Anguien fol. 554. Of Henry the 8. King of England Ibiâ Of Francis the 1. King of France Ibid. Henry the 2. of that name the 59. King of France THe Constable restored fol. 555. Henry the 2. crowned sends an Army into Scotland fol. 556. Cruelties coÌmitted by the rebells in Bordeaux La Vergnâ drawne with foure horses Ibid. Trobles in England fol. 557. Peace with the English and warre with Italy fol. 559. A leauge betwixt the King and the Protestants of Germany fol. 560. The Kings Army enters into the Country of Metz. fol. 561. Metz yeelded to the French and beseeged againe by the Emperor fol. 562. The Imperialls spoile Picardy recouer Hedin retire from Metz. fol. 563. Terouenne and Hedin taken and sackt and the Duke of Arscot taken fol. 564. The two Armies meete fol. 565. The Arrierband of France defeated and warre beyond the Alpes fol. 566. Sienna in Italy beseeged fol. 567. The Emperor resignes his Kingdome to his sonne fol. 568. Valence and Ostia with other places recouered by the French fol. 569. The Battaile of S. Lawrence lost by the French Ibid. The Pope reconciles himselfe vnto the Spaniards fol. 570. A great Inundation at Rome Ibid. Calais recouered froÌ the English Anno. 1558. fo 571. Francis the Daulphin married to Mary Queene of Scotland Ibid. Persecution for religion certaine Councelors of the Parliament Imprisoned fol. 572. The death of Henry the 2. his children and dispotition fol. 573. Francis the 2. of that name the 60. King of France Factions and alterations in Court fol. 574. Anthony King of Nauar and the chiefe Officers of the Crowne disgraced in Court fol. 575. Anne de Bourg executed and a tumult at Amboyse fol. 576.577 The Protestants petition to the King fol. 579. An Assembly of Princes and Noble-men fol. 580. The King comes to Orleans and the Prince of Condo Imprisoned fol. 581. Commissioners to arraigne the Prince and condemne him fol. 582. The death of King Franciâ the second fol. 583. Charles the 9. of that name the 61. King of France A Parliament held at Orleance put of to Ponthoise fol. 584.585 The Kings Coronation a conference at Poisy fol. 586. A Petition and Protestation made by the Protestants fol. 587. The King of Nauar forsakes the Protestants
fol. 588. The massacre at vaissy fol. 589. The first ciuill trobles fol. 590. The death of the King of Nauar Roan taken the Protestants beaten in sundry place ibid. The Battaile of Dreux where both Generalls are taken fol. 591. The Duke of Guise beseegeth Orleans and is slaine by Poltroâ fol. 592. A peace concluded at Orleans fol. 593 Sundry particular trobles at Meaux Chalons Bar S. Estienne Sens Corbigny Antraia La Charite Chastillion vpon Loyre Gyen Montargis Aurilliac Issodun Mans Vendosme Angiers Blois Mer Tours Poitiers Roan twise beseeged and taken Diepe fol. 595.596.597 598. New-hauen deliuered to the English fol. 599. Duras in Guienne twise defeated with the exploites of Piles and Riuiere fol. 600.601 Particular trobles ân 1562. and 1563. from fol. 601. to 615. A generall Councell at Trent Anno 1564. fol. 615. The Edict of Peace ill obserued fol. 616. Murther of the Protestants at Creuan Tours ibid. Processe against the Iesuites fol. 617. A royall league fol. 618. The Turkes army at Malta ibid. The death of the Pope and Emperor ibid. A Parliament at Moulins fol. 619. The Protestants discontent resolue to Arme with the successe of their enterprise· ibid. The beginning of the second trobles fol. 620. The battaile of S. Denis the Constable hurt whereof he died fol. 621. A treaty of peace renewed but in vaine fol. 622. Charles beseeged fol. 623. A second Peace with the Catholikes discontents and the Protestants complaints fol. 624. The King makes an Army against the Protestants fol. 625. An Incounter at Iassenuille with smal slaughter fol. 626. Succors of money and âââition from England fol. 627. The Battaile of Brissac the Prince of Conde slaine fol. 628.629 The Duke of Deux-ponts comes into France and dies there La Charite takeÌ by the Germains fol. 630. Incounter at Roche-abeile fol. 631. La Charite Poitiers and Chasteleraud beseeged fol. 632. The Battaile of Moncounter and victories after the Battaile fol. 634. Nismes taken by the Protestants ibid. Vezelay beseeged shamefull to Sansac fol. 635. A treaty of peace anno 1570. in February fol. 636. Warre in Poitou Guienne Xantonge and Angoulemois fol. 637. The Protestants fortified the Prince makes a voyage after the Battaile fol. 637. Incounter at Rene-le-Duc truce in the Armies warre in Guienne and the fort of Luson beseeged fol. 639. The third Edict of Peace fol. 640. King Charles marâies the Emperors daughter ibid. A treaty of marriage betwit the Prince of Nauar and Marquise of Valois ibid. The Kings dissimulation with the Princes and Admirall fol. 641. Peace with the English and the Queene of Nauar comes to Court fol. 642. The Admirall comes to Paris fol. 643. The Queene of Nauar suspected to bee poisoned dies ibid. Negotiation of Poland fol. 644. The King resolues and the Duke of Guise giues order for the massacre of the Protestants with the names of the chiefe murtherers and murthered fol. 646.647 The King aduowes the murther with the Noble resolution of the yong Prince of Conde fol. 648. The Guisians deny to take the Massacre vpon them fol. 649. Warre against the Rochelois fol. 651. A decree against the Admirall fol. 652. A Comet in Nouember 1572. ibid. Sancerre beseeged and in great distresse for victualls fol. 653. Sancerre deliuered by an Admirable meanes yeelded after by composition fol. 654. The Duke of Aniou comes to campe and the Duke of Aumaule slaine fol. 655. Rochell after the enduring of nine assaultes makes a Peace fol. 656. Warre in Lanquedoc Quercy seegâ of Sommiers fol. 657. In Gascony Viuaretz Daulphine fol. 658. The Protestants order in Languedoc with their Petitions AdmonitioÌs to the King fol. 659. Chaâles faâls dangerously sick and new practises in Court fol. 660. Beginning of the fourth troubles fol. 661. The Marshall Mommorency put into the Bastile Count Montgomery taken fol. 662. The Prince of Condies retreate into Germany fol. 663. Charles his death and disposition ibid. Henry the 3. of that name 62. King of Francâ COnfirmation of the Queenes regency fol. 665 Danuille suspected at Tholouse associates himselfe with the Protestants ãâã 666. Warre in Daulphine Viuaretz Poitou Fontenay surprised ibiâ Lusignan yeelded and Pousin beseeged fol. 668 Estate of Languedock Livron honored with a second seege fol. 669. Cardinall of Lorraine dies fol. 670. Warre betweene the Marshall Danuille and the Duke of Vsez fol. 671. The Kings Coronation and marriage ibid. Negotiation of Peace fol. 672. Sedition at Marseilles Monbrun defeates Gordââ is afterwards ouerthrowne taken and vniustly put to death fol. 673. L'Edigueres chiefe in Daulphine fol. 674. The Duke of Alanson discontented ibid. The Dukes declaration fol. 675. The Queene Mother goes to the Duke of Alanson fol. 676. The Queene mothers second voyage to the Duke fol. 677. The King of Nauar escapes from Court fol. 678. The fifth Edict of Peace ibid. Breach of Peace preparatiues of new trobles fol 679. The practises desseignes of the house of Guise at Rome and in Spaine fol. 680. The first League at Peronne fol. 681. The Duke of Alanson reconciled to the King the beginning of the parliament fol. 682. The King of Nauars request to the Estates ibid. The Prince of Condes answere ãâã 683. The sixt ciuill warre by the Dukes of Aniou and Mayenne ibid. The Peace of Poytiers Articles of hard Execution fol. 684. The Kings behauior during the Peace fol. 685. The Order of the Holy Ghost erected ibid. Prolongation of Townes granted to the Protestants and newe motiues of Rebellion fol. 686. The Kingâ of Nauarre solicites to ioyne with the League and the Duke of Aniou dies ibid. The League presented to the Pope but not approued fol. 687. Duke Espernons voyage in Gascony and new motiues of the League fol. 688. The Kings the King of Nauares declaration fol. 689. The League weake and the Duke of Guise fortified by a Peace fol. 690. Warre against the Protestants fol. 691. Pope Sixtus the 5. excommunicates the King of Nauar and the Prince of Conde fol. 692. The voyage of Anger 's and the Castle taken fol. 693. The Prince of Conde in route fol. 694 The Prince of Condes second marriage fol. 695. The death of 4. Brethren of Lauall ibid. The Queene mothers conference with the King of Nauar. fol. 696. The Duke of Bouillon chiefe of the Germaine Army fol. 697. The King desires Peace the Duke will haue war which is concluded the Kings Army the Protestants army with the causes of the affliction of France fol. 698. Entrie of the strangers with the errors of their Army fol. 699. Battaile of Coutras where the Duke of Ioyeuse is slaine fol. 700. The Geâmaine Army in Beause charged at Vimorry fol. 701. Death of the Duke of Bouillon fol. 703. Disposition of the Duke of Guise ibid. Death of the Prince of Conde fol. 704. The Duke of Guise leaues the warre of Sedan comes to Paris fol. 705. Barricadoes at Paris fol. 706. The King retires
perplexed there fell out a fauourable occasion to raise him vp againe The Queene being much discontented with him incenseth the Daulphin This young Prince had some of his houshold seruants from the Bourguignon she vsing the authority of a mother The Queene discontents the Daulpin so as he writes to the Bourguignon takes them from him and puts them in prison the reason was for that she feared these men were of the Bourguignons faction The Daulphin takes this as an affront and writes to his father-in-law to assist him The Bourguignon imbracing this vnexpected occasion calls a newe assemblie of his subiects and shewes them these letters And making his profit thereof he giues them to vnderstand how needefull it was to leauy an armye to free the King and Daulphin whom the Orlean faction held in captiuâty and vppon this cause he writes to all the Citties of the Realme intreating them to assist him in so good a worke He abuseth the Daulphins letters and worthy of good subiects to their Prince Hereupon he leauies an armie and goes to field making a publike declaration That he takes armes to set the King and Daulphin at liberty and is followed by many French so as his armie increaseth daily Hauing passed the riuer of Some he enters into Compiegne doth summon Senlis to send him the keyes of their gates as maâching for the Kings seâuice but a countermand comes from the Daulphin which doth frustrate his desseine The Daulphin wonne by the Orleanois protesteth that he had neuer written these letters The Daulphin disauowes the Bourguignon and disauowes the Bourguignon He writes letters vnto him of a contrarye tenour requesting him to forbeare to torment the people vppon so vniust a cause protesting that he was not onely in âull liberty but doth also inioy his authority 1415. by vertue whereof hee commands him to dismisse his troupes and to leaue Francâ in quiet The Bourguignon goes on his course meaning to enter Paris and to stirre the people to a newe âedition and so hee marcheth with his troupes neere to the city He is ãâ¦ã and stayes at S. Denis but his proiect had no successe The Daulphin assures the Cittye walles and the peoples harts against him who seekes by all meanes to speake to the King or people approching himselfe neere the citty sending his Heralds with letâers planting his colours neere the gate and in the ende conuaies a staffe with letters âo it but all this would not preuaile The King doubles the battery of his Edicts against him as guilty of high Treason ãâã guilty or ãâã treason and a disturber of the publike peace commanding all men that were in his armye to leaue him vpon paine of confiscation Hereat the greatest part of his troupes flie away yea his Flemings abandon him who had alwayes protested vnto him in all his assemblies neuer to carry armes against the King nor Daulphin In the ende the King and Daulphin accompanied with the Princes of his bloâd maâch with a goodly armie they besiege Compiegne where the Bourguignon had left a garrison and takes it by composition from thence they march to Soissons a Towne of greater strength hauing taken it by force and Enguerand of Bournonuille his right hand in it The king mârcâeâh with an ãâã against the ãâã he leaues the towne in peace and cuts off Bournonuilles head at Paris with many of his companions to the peoples great content glad of this new bloud and in the ende he passeth to Arras the which he beseegeth with his victorious armie The Bourguignon amazed at these vnexpected euents demaunds peace of Charles obtaines it with much intreatie by the meanes of the Countesse of Hâinault his sister and the Duke of Brabant hir brother It is called the peace of Arras beeing made at that siege This was grieuous to the Dukes of Orleans and Berry who said He sues for peace that both the King and Daulphin had promised them not to laye downe armes before they had vtterly ruined the house of Bourgongne But God wiser then they would vnite all the French to oppose themselues with a common consent against the English their common enemie and will soone shewe that it is a meere vanity for mortall men to nourish immortall hatred against their enimies to satisfie their insatiable reuenge We haue said that Henry the 5. King of England watcht all oportunities to feede the confusions of this miserable raigne and to that end he did sometimes succour the Bourguignon sometimes the Orleanois still supporting the weaker And knowing well the Duke of Bourgongnes humor seeing the Daulphin incensed against him he leauies a goodly army to make a benefit of these diuisions The euent fauoured his desire but not his proiect for meaning to assist the Bourguignon hee findes that he had made his peace with ouâ Charles Hauing landed at Harââeu a sea Towrie seated vpon the Riuer of Sâine he sends his Herald to demaund his daughter Katherine This was a matter farre fetcht Henry the 5. King of ãâ¦ã France ãâã an aâmye and demands ãâ¦ã Kings daughters and a strange course but this daughter must be the ground of many miseries for this Realme and likewise an occasion to free this Realme absolutely from the English by a strange meanes and as wee may say admirable as the course of our History will shewe Henry takes Harfleu by composition Before he takes possession of this conquest he goes âate footed to the Church to giue God thankes He had not his whole armye with him one part attended him at Calais hauing an inrent to ioyne with them so to fortifie his troups With this resolution he lodgeth at Fauille passing through Caux to the county of Eu he comes to Vimeu to passe the riuer at Bâanquetacque an inâamous place by our losse where the passage beeing surprised he takes his way towards Arianes from thence to âaillu in Vimeu seeking to passe the bâidge at Remie but not able to force it he recouers Hangest vpon Some and so passeth the riuer at Voyânne Bâthencourt places ill garded by them of S. Quintin and then he lodgeth at Mouchy la Gaâhe towardes the riuer of Miramont He had in his army six thousand horse and twenty thousand foote That of King Charles was far greaâer of it selfe besides the Burguignons troupes which were drawne togither for another intent then to fight with the English They were in al aboue tweâtie thousand horse and threescore thousand foot The numbers of the English and French armye and therefore Henry did shunne the baâtaile and sought how to saue himselfe through the âennes Our accustomed rashnes and wilfull forgetfullnes of two experiences past against the same nation and in the like occurrents made vs to note with blacke and mournful letters that ouerthrow and calamitie Henry demanded passage to returne into England yeelding vp Haâfleu and other places conquered in this voiage