of Austria Emperour comes from Spain into the Low-Countries is Crowned at Aix la Chapelle 564 His Cession and Renunciation of the Empire and his retreat into a Convent 645 Charlotta Queen of Cyprus her Death 512 Charles Bastard Brother to the King of Navarre 589 Charles Duke of Savoy not well looked upon by the King Francis I. 599 Besieges the City of Geneva without Success ib. His Death 636 Charles Duke of Lorraine Son of Francis is brought to the Court of France 646 Count Charolois out of favour with Lewis XI 481 482 483. Joyns with the other Princes and discontented Party and takes the Field 484 c. Makes an Alliance with the English by marrying his Sister Margaret 486 Goes against the Liegeois and chastises the insolence of those of Dinant 488 Chastillon made Prisoner by the English 388 389 Chaumont Governor of the Milanois chaces the Venetians from the Territories of Ferrara 547 Chastisement of Robels after a most noble and royal manner 612 613 Cherifs and the beginning of their Reign 551 Christiern III. King of Denmark 607 Christopher Columbus discovers the New World 516 517 Claude of France Marries Francis I. then Duke of Valois 555 Clement V. Pope 441 Clement VI. Pope 364 His Death 372 Clement VII his Election to the prejudice of Vrban VI. the Cause of a Schism in the Church 396 His Death Coligny Admiral of France 645 Combat of Birds in the Air the one against the other 513 Combat or Battle of Renty between the Emperour Charles V. and Henry II. 638 Combat Naval 642 Combat bloody betwixt Birds of all sorts of Species 426 Comets of an extraordinary magnitude 494 Comines quits the Duke of Burgundy ib. Is taken Prisoner 511 Cominges County United to the Church 458 County otherwhile preferred to that of Dutchy 434 Council of Trent assigned by Pope Paul III. who sends his Legates thither 613 Councel of Eighteen Persons established 485 Councel a Prince that will have sincere Advice ought to hide his own Sentiments 545 Constantinople taken by force by the Turks 465 Michael Corbier a Monk Antipope 359 Courtray Pillaged Burnt and Sacked by the French 406 Creation of a Chamber in each Parliament 357 Croisade in England against the Clementines 407 Crosses appear in the Air and on their Clothes 536 de Crouy Count de Reux ravages the Frontiers of Picardy 606 D Oliver DAin Barber to Lewis XI punished with Death 508 Dampierre Admiral his Death 433 Daufin of France Commands an Army in Roussillon 612 Daufine United and incorporated to the Crown of France 369 David King of Scotland driven from his Kingdom 360 His Death 391 Diepe Escalado'd by the French 455 Difference and Quarrel between the Pope and the Emperour 359 Difference between France and Austria 516 Difference quarrel between the French and the Arragonians for the Limits of the Partage of the Kingdom of Naples 537 Difference and quarrel raised at Venice between the French and Spaniards for Precedency 652 And Doria General of the French Galleys 587 Quits the King's Service and goes into the Emperour's 588 589 Chaces the French out of Genoa 590 Dragut a famous Corsaire or Pyrate gives chace to Andr. Doria's Galleys 634 Joyns the Galleys of France on the Coasts of Tuscany 639 Charles Prince of Duras 368 Most dexterously ruines the Duke of Anjou's Army and remains quietly in Possession of the Kingdom of Sicilia 408 Is Crowned King of Sicilia and Besieges Queen Jane in Naples Usurps Hungary his Death 409 E EClipses 616 Edict of Chasteau-Brian for a search after the Religionaries 631 Edward III. King of England Marries the Daughter of the Earl of Hainault 357 Renounces to the Crown of France ib. 380 Renders Homage to the King of France 358 Declares War against him 361 Recommences War with France 365 Lands in the Lower Normandy comes and defies King Philip de Valois to Fight him under the Walls of Paris and from thence retires to his County of Ponthieu 366 Defeats the French in the Battle of Crecy ibid. Besieges and takes Calais 367 Lands at Calais with a dreadful Army 379 Makes a Peace with France and with Flanders 380 Is defied by the King of France who denounces War against him 388 His Death and his Children 394 Edward Earl of Savoy his Death 358 Edward Son of John Baliol King of Scotland 360 Edward Duke of York Crowned King of England 467 Edward of York King of England utterly forsaken by the English flies into Flanders to the Duke of Burgundy 492 Returns into England and recovers the Throne 493 Lands at Calais 496 Accommodation with France 497 His Death 509 Eleonor Queen of France procures an Enterview between the Emperour and the King 608 Elizabeth Queen of England 651 Openly embraces the Protestant Religion ib. Emmanuel Emperour of Greece comes into France 419 Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy Commands the Imperial Army in the Low-Countries 635 Empire of the East its end 465 C. d'Enguien gives Battle to the Imperialists and gloriously gains the Victory 616 Enterprise of the French upon Genoa very shameful 522 Enterview of the Kings of France and England Charles and Richard 413 Enterview of the King of France and Castille 482 Enterview of the Kings of Fr. Engl. 497 Enterview of the Kings of France and of Arragon 544 Eugenius IV. Pope 454 d'Eureux John in Bretagne 394 Expedition of the French and the Venetians against the Turks without Success 536 F FAction very pernicious in Paris 377 Famine and Plague 393 Federic utterly dispoiled of his Kingdom of Naples takes refuge in France 536 His Death 542 Felix lays down his Papacy in favour of Pope Nicholas 461 Ferdinand otherwise Ferrand Bastard of Alphonso of Arragon King of Naples 518 His Death ib. Ferdinand and Isabella conquer the Kingdom of Granada 516 League themselves with the Venetians and the Pope against the French 521 Surnamed in Raillery John Gipon makes Inroads upon the French 525 Usurps Navarre 551 Shares the Conquests of the Kingdom of Naples with the King of France 536 Drives out the French and makes himself Master of all 538 c. Makes a Peace with King Lewis XII 542 Receives from the Pope the investiture of the Kingdom of Naples 554 His Death 560 Ferdinand Son of Alphonso King of Naples abandons his Kingdom 520 Restored by means of the Italian Confederate Princes 521 His Death 525 Ferdinand Brother of Charles V. elected King of Hungary 584 Elected King of the Romans 593 Emperour 652 Ferdinand King of Hungary defeated of his Armies by the Turks 606 Flemmings abandon the French and acknowledge Edward of England for their King 362 Flanders over-run and ravaged by the English 397 In great Troubles split into divers Factions 403 Florence troubled by the two Factions of the Passy and the Medecis 501 Cast off the yoak of the Medicis and return to their popular State 586 Reduced under the Dominion of the Medicis 562 De Foix Gaston General of the King's
Lord 1197 Amongst all the events of this War which amounted only to Burnings and Plunderings is to be observed what hapned to Philip de Dreux Bishop of Beauvais Cousin german to the King This Bishop being taken in the War Armed and Fighting by some of Richard's Soldiers was detained a long time in an uneasie prison The Pope would interpose his recommendation to Richard for his deliverance and in his Letters he call'd this Bishop His most dear Son But Richard having sent word back in what posture and manner he was taken and having sent his coat of Maille all Bloody with order to him that carry'd it to ask him Behold Holy Father whether this be the Coat of your Son The Pope had nothing to reply but that the Treatment they shewed to that Prelat was just since he had quitted the Militia of Jesus Christ to follow that of the World Death of the Emperour Henry As he had manifested himself as rude an enemy to the Popes as his Predecessors and besides was very odious for his cruelties Innocent III. strongly opposed the Election of Philip his Brother excommunicating all his Adherents and stood up for Otho Son of the Duke of Saxouy and a Sister of Richards who was Crowned at Aix la Chapelle so that there was a Schism in that Empire which had often occasioned one in the Church The King of England the Earl of Flanders and the Arch-Bishop of Colen supported Otho and King Philip on Year of our Lord 1197 the contrary made a League with his Rival The same year died in the City of Acre or Acon the generous Henry Earl of Champagne Titular King of Jerusalem his Nephew Thibauld or Theobald III. of that Name Earl of Blois inherited those Lands he had in France in prejudice of his Year of our Lord 1197 Uncles two Daughters The eldest was named Alix and was Queen of Cyprus and by her was born a Daughter of the same Name whom we shall find making War against Thibauld IV. The Second was called Philippa who was Married to Erard de Brienne Year of our Lord 1198 These bloody and obstinate Wars the particulars whereof cannot be brought within the compass of an Abridgement caused much mischief in France but the greatest was that Philip grew extreamly covetous and became too greedy in heaping up Treasure under pretence of the necessity of raising and maintaining great numbers of standing Forces which are truly very proper to make Conquests and new Acquisitions but some times become oppressive to the Subjects and destructive to the Laws of the Land As he was the First of the Kings of France that kept Men in pay and would have Soldiers always ready to employ them in what he pleased he set himself likewise upon making great exactions upon the People ransoming or taxing the Churches and recalling the Jews who were the introducers of Usury and Imposts But however he was very frugal and retrencht himself as much as possible knowing and considering ☜ that a King who hath great designs ought not to consume the substance of his Subjects in vain and pompous expences Year of our Lord 1199 At the end of two years War the Pope by his intercession procured a Five years truce between the two Kings during which Richard as covetous of Money as he was proud having intelligence that a Gentleman of Limosin had found a vast Treasure and carried it into the Castle of Chalus he went presently and besieged him he was wounded there with a Cross-bow and his debauchery having envenom'd his wound he died of it the Eleventh day of April in this year 1199. He had introduc'd the use of Cross-bows in France before that time Sword-men were so generous and brave that they would not owe their Victory but to their Lances or Swords they abhorr'd those treacherous weapons wherewith a coward sheltred or conceal'd may kill a valiant Man at a distance and thorough a hole Year of our Lord 1199 He had no Children therefore the Kingdom of England and the Dutchy of Normandy belonged of right to young Arthur Duke of Bretagne as being the Son of Gefroy his Brother elder then John without Land but John having seized the Money gained Richards Forces and stept into the Throne In the mean while the Earl of Flanders with his Allies regained the Cities of Aire and St. Omers It hapned that the Kings party took his Brother Philip Earl of Namur and Peter Bishop Elect of Cambray The King refusing to release this last the Popes Legat puts the Kingdom of France under a prohibition so that after three Months time he was constrained to set him free Year of our Lord 1200 The day of the Ascension in the year 1200. Peace was concluded at a solemn Conference between the two Kings between Vernon and Andeley It was warranted by Twelve Barons on either part who made oath to take up Arms against him that should break it and moreover confirmed by the Marriage of Blanche Daughter of Alfonso VIII King of Castille and Alienor Sister to King John with Lewis the eldest Son of Philip to whom King John in favour of this Alliance yielded up all the Lands and Places which the French had taken from him Each had a care to secure his Partisans John was oblig'd to receive his Nephew Arthur into favour who did hommage to him for his Dutchy of Bretagne but yet remained with Philip. Reciprocally Philip pardon'd Renauld Earl of Boulogne and some while after Treated the Marriage between his Son of his own name whom he had by his Queen Agnes and that Earls Daughter Since the repudiation of 1semburge of Denmark King Philip had kept her in a Convent at Soissons and at three years end that is Anno 1196 he had espoused Mary-Agnes Daughter of Bertold Duke of Merania and Dalmatia Pope Celestine III. upon the complaints of King Canut Brother of the Divorc'd Lady had Commissioned in the year 1198. two Legats to take cognisance of this Affair who had assembled a grand Council at Paris of the Bishops and Abbots of the Kingdom but all those Prelats being partly terrify'd and some corrupted durst give no Sentence and the Legats were suspected to favour the Cause of Agnes Afterwards the Holy Father more importunately desired to do justice had sent two more One of them in the month of Decemb in the year 1199. having called the Prelats of France to Dijon notwithstanding the Appeal interjected by Philip to the Pope pronounced Sentence of prohibiton upon all the Kingdom in presence and by consent of all the Bishops and nevertheless that he might have leasure enough to get away into some place of safety he was willing it should not be publish'd till twenty days after Christmass He had reason to fear Philips anger In effect it burst out with furty against all his Subjects against the Ecclesiasticks first whom he believ'd to be all accomplices in this injury for he drove the Bishops from their Sees cast the
Boulogne had served Philip very well since his Reconciliation and had likewise been very well recompenc'd by a great deal of good Land bestow'd upon him in that Country Nevertheless the King suspecting him of holding Correspondence with the King of England demands his strong Holds of him and upon his refusal to deliver them he attaques them and press'd upon him so briskly that he durst not defend them but went away to the Earl of Bar his Kinsman and from thence to Flanders Year of our Lord 1212 Although King John had been Excommunicate the precedent year by the Popes Legat he scoff'd at those Censures But he was hugely astonished when he understood that by a more terrible Sentence the Pope had absolv'd his Subjects of their Allegiance and expos'd his Kingdom as a Prey and that King Philip made great preparations to invade it having already a prodigious number of Vessels ready at the mouth of the Seine The Legat by secret Informations increases his fears and disturbs him to that height as he promises to make his Kingdom hold of the Holy See and to pay a thousand Mark of Silver as a yearly Tribute besides the Peter-Pence When the Legat had wire-drawn all he desired from him he tries to persuade Philip to wave his Enterprize but he was too far engag'd in Honour and Expence to break off so Year of our Lord 1213 All the Lords of the Kingdom in a Parliament held at Soissons the Morrow after Palm-Sunday had promis'd to assist him with their Lives and Fortunes There was only Ferrand Son of Sancho I. King of Portugal Earl of Flanders that refused to accompany him in this Expedition unless he would restore the Cities of Aire and St. Omer which he had gotten from him to have his consent that he might Marry the Heiress of Flanders who was the eldest Daughter of Baldwin V. The King thought that his approach might bring him back to his Duty when he should see him on those Coasts ready to Embarque Therefore when he was at Boulogne he sent him order to come and meet him at Graveline The Earl made them wait for him but he appeared not so that the King resolv'd before he took Shipping to put him in a Condition not to be able to hurt him Year of our Lord 1213 The Towns of Ipres Cassel and all the Country to Bruges submitted to his Sword His Naval Force consisting of One thousand seven hundred Sail having cast Anchor at Dam. While the greatest part were in the Road with scarce any Men comes the English Fleet Commanded by the Earls of Boulogne and Salisbury who took and sunk a great many and laid Siege to the place Philip decamping from before Ghent routs those they had sent on shoar and slew two or three thousand Nevertheless they keeping the Seas and his Vessels not being able to get out without falling into their hands he took out all their Furniture and caused them all to be burnt and the City of Dam afterwards Year of our Lord 1213 Then having wasted and plundred the Territory of Bruges squeezed great Sums of Money from those Citizens as likewise from the Inhabitants of Ghent and Ipres sack'd and dismantled L'Isle he left his Son Lewis and Gaucher Count de Saint Pol in that Country with a strong Body of Horse and Garisons in the Cities of Doway and Tournay only When he was retir'd out of Flanders the Earl Ferrand re-entred and soon Master'd Tournay and L'Isle which Lewis was beginning to repair as in revenge Lewis sack'd and burnt Courtray Philip for the second time goes into Flanders to secure his Conquests and presently Ferrand withdraws but as soon as Philip was gone Renauld Earl of Boulogne took the Field with some Forces he brought out of England But without doing any Exploit only after he scowred about the Country once or twice and attempted two or three Sieges in vain he forced Henry Earl of Louvain and Duke of Brabant who had Married one of the Kings Daughters to joyn with him On the other side King John landed at Rochel with a great Army and having patch'd up again with the Earls de la Marche d'Eu d'Angoulesme de Lezignan and other Poitevins who assisted him with their Forces crosses Poitou made himself Master of some places in Anjou and began to rebuild the Walls of Anger 's his Native City To hinder this Progress the King recall'd his Son out of Flanders and sets him in opposition This Prince takes his head Quarters at Chinon and was seconded with the Forces of Bretagne by Peter de Dreux who this year had Married the Heiress of that Dutchy It was Alix or Alice Daughter of the Dutchess Constance and Guy de Touars Year of our Lord 1213 In the mean while the English wrought diligently about the fortifying Anger 's and enclosed that part towards the River of Maine with a Wall His Soldiers made excursions to the very Suburbs of Nantes on the other side of the Loire surpriz'd Robert the eldest Son of the Earl of Dreux in an Ambuscade who was got over the Bridge to attaque them cut his Men in pieces and made him Prisoner Peter King of Arragon having gotten into his League and under his Protection the Earls of Toulouze de Foix and de Comenges the Vicount de Beziers and others whose Lands Montfort had usurp'd sâ—â—t his Heraulds to deâ—ie him Montfort had left a strong Garison in Muret to make waste in the Neighbourhood of Toulouze This King lays Siege to it in the Month of September His Army consisted of an Hundred thousand Men almost Montfort who was at Castlenaudry having hardly drawn together a thousand or twelve hundred got into the place From whence making a furious Sally upon the King who slighting so small a number set down to eat at the beginning of the Fight cut all his Army off threw him on the ground where his Throat was cut by a private Soldier took his Royal Standard which was carried in Triumph to Rome and cover'd the Field with dead Bodies without the loss of Year of our Lord 1213 above eight Men. The weighty blow of this Club made the Earl of Toulouze and the Inhabitants of that great City fall down at the Legats Feet they offer'd to submit to whatever Conditions he would impose but they could not get off with words it was resolv'd they should be plum'd of all Year of our Lord 1214 This year 1214. France was shrewdly attaqu'd by King John and on the Flanders side by the Emperor Otho and the Counts Ferrand of Flanders and Renauld de Boulogne but both in the one and the other part his Arms remained Victorious Prince Lewis having drawn his Forces together at Chinon march'd resolutely against King John who besieged the Castle de la Roche au Moine upon the Loire between Anger 's and Nantes Being within a days Journey of that place that King was frighted repasses the River in such great haste
all France was left exposed to the plundrings of the licentious Soldiers as well French as English Now at the very hour that Paris was reduced to the extreamest want and it was in the power of the Navarrois and only depended upon him alone to give the mortal blow to France his heart was changed in a moment without any apparent cause but an extraordinary favour of Heaven towards this Kingdom Insomuch as he made his agreement with the Dauphin and referr'd almost all his pretensions to his own free Will in despite of all the arguments and oppositions of his Brother who quitted him and retired to the English at Saint Sauveur le Vicomte Year of our Lord 1359 This Peace saved the City of Paris but did not ease the neighbouring Provinces * for those Garrisonn'd places that had held for the King of Navarre declared for the English that they might still have opportunities to plunder The Lord Auberticour a Hennuger ravaged Champagne by means of certain Castles he held upon the Marne and the Seine Broquard de Fennestranges a Knight of Lorrain drawn into the Service of France with Five hundred adventurers whom he had under his Pay delivered the Countrey of him having defeated and taken him prisoner in a great Fight near Nogent upon the River Seine but himself became a more severe scourge burning and laying all waste till the Dauphin could give him the Arrears due to his Soldiers During all these Wars with the English until Charles VIII had driven them out of France there were many of these Captains whereof some paid their Men out of their own pockets and then hired them out to those that would bid most and others maintained theirs with the plunder they took indifferently on either side These last were called Robbers those that Commanded them were meer Soldiers of Fortune when they were snapt they found no quarter Year of our Lord 1359 There were Propositions of Peace perpetually on foot between the two Crowns King John though he had all manner of liberty even for Hunting and all pastimes and gallantries was very weary of his imprisonment nevertheless he referr'd those conditions the English propounded for his Release to the Estates of his Kingdom They being assembled at Paris for this purpose it was in the Month of May found them so hard that all with one voice chose rather to have War and offer'd very great sums to carry it on but these could not be levied so soon The King of England netled with their Reply raised a formidable Army there were Eleven hundred Vessels and near an hundred thousand fighting Men landed at Calais with his four Sons who began to march although the Season was very far spent They let him keep the Field at his own pleasure the Towns were so well provided that he could not take one neither St. Omers nor Amiens nor Reims where he thought to have been Crowned King of France nor Chaalons Burgundy redeemed themselves from plundering for Two hundred thousand Florins and some Provisions for his Camp Nivernois compounded likewise Brie and Gastinois were ransacked About the latter end of Lent he came and encamped within Seven Leagues of Paris between Chartres and Montlehery and finding they made no one step towards the satisfying his demands he plants himself just before the City Gates with design to oblige the French to Speak or to Fight Year of our Lord 1360 After he had tarry'd there some time without being able to gain either the one or the other he turns back towards Beauss resolved to refresh his Men along the River Loire and in case of misfortune retreat into Bretagne Cardinal Simon de Langres the Popes Legat and the Dauphins Deputies always follow'd his Camp and sollicited him eternally for a Peace One day he being encamped in the Chartrain Countrey there arose a dreadful Storm with so much Lightning and Thunder and such a shower of great Hail that it grievously maim'd a great many of his Men and killed above a thousand of his Horses He took this prodigy as a warning and command from Heaven and turning himself towards our Lady's Church of Chartres which was to be seen about five or six Leagues off made a promise before the Almighty of concluding the Peace besides the Duke of Lancaster with other English Lords pressed him earnestly because his Army was much shatter'd and he had brought over almost all the force of England Year of our Lord 1360 The Deputies on either part met the First of May at the village called Brotigny within a mile of Chartres In this place Treating in the name of the two Kings eldest Sons they concluded upon all the Articles in eight days time On the one side they gave the English King besides what he had already all Poitou Saintongne Rochel and the Countrey of Aulnis Angoumois Perigord Limosin Quercy Agenois and la Bigorre in full Sovereigaty besides Calais the Counties of Oye Guisnes and Pontieu and three Millions in Gold for the Ransom payable at three several Terms of King John who should be brought to Calais and set at liberty after the restitution of those places force-mentioned and upon giving up as Hostages his Three youngest Sons his Brother Philip and other Princes of the Blood and besides all these Thirty more as well Earls as Illustrious Knights and two Deputies of each of the Nineteen Cities whose Names were expresly mention'd On the other hand the King of England renounced the Title of King of France and generally all his other pretensions Year of our Lord 1360 And till the two Kings could ratify the Treaty a Truce was agreed upon for a year In the Month of July King John was brought over to Calais where he was immediately visited by his Children and staid there till the Five and Twentieth of October when King Edward coming thither both of them swore to the agreement of Peace very solemnly That between the King of England and the Earl of Flanders and another between the King of Navarre and King John were made up in the same place and Year of our Lord 1360 this last sworn by the two Philips Brothers of those two Kings the Treaties were confirmed by the Holy Father under the penalty of Ecclesiastical censures against those as should first contravene King John being freed from Captivity the Four and twentieth of October which he had now undergone four years and one Month went to give Thanks to God at the Church of St. Denis in France There he received the King of Navarre into Favour who came and Saluted him The Thirteenth of December he made his entrance into Paris and the City testified their joy by a Present of Plate of a Thousand Marks Year of our Lord 1361 The extream necessity he was in for Money to pay his Ransom made his generous courage stoop to a weakness judged to be more prejudicial to the Honour of the Noble House of France then even the Treaty of Britigny it self
the Battle Year of our Lord 1382. in December The other Cities that had sided with them redeemed themselves by great sums of Money Courtray did not enjoy that favour although they had paid down the purchase the cause of this their misfortune was said to be the resentment of the French for their annual Festivity in commemoration of that Battle they had gained over them in the year 1302. with certain Letters from the Parisians which were found making mention of a League between the Cities in France with those in Flanders for the utter rooting out of the Nobility they were therefore plundered massacred and the Town afterwards set on fire And in effect as soon as the King was gone out of France the Citizens of Paris Rouen Troyes Orleans and several others had taken up Arms upon occasion of the Imposts insomuch that the Princes and the Grandees who sought to make advantage of Confiscations and Fines having easily perswaded the King whether it were true or not that the People had conspired against the Crown that young Prince by their advice and instigation severely chastised those Cities by putting great numbers to death by Proscriptions revocation of Priviledges and excessive Taxes The Parisians as proud but less courageous then the Ghentois went armed forth to meet him in the Plain near St. Denis to the number of Thirty thousand to pay Year of our Lord 1383 their respect to him in appearance but in truth to let him see their strength Nevertheless they did too much and too little for they returned every one to his own home upon his first word of Command He entred their City therefore as into a place conquer'd by force caused their Gates to be unhinged their Barricado's to be broken down took away their Chains and all their Arms their Prevost of Marchants and Sheriffs Offices and afterwards a great many of their Lives who were drowned in the River or hanged or else beheaded Amongst those of the last number was the Kings Advocate John de Marais more guilty for opposing the Princes exactions then for contributing towards their popular commotions After all these punishments they ordered all the Citizens of Year of our Lord 1383 both Sexes to appear together in the Palace-yard The King sitting on his Throne which was raised very high the Chancellour d'Orgemont shewed them the horror of their reiterated crimes in such harsh terms and terrible expressions as seemed to bid them all prepare for death They prostrated themselves upon the ground the Ladies with dischevell'd Hair the Men beating their Breasts all crying out for Mercy The Dukes of Berry and Burgundy fell on their knees before the King who as if he had been moved at their Prayers did with his own Lips pronounce that he did pardon them and did commute the punishment they had deserved to pecuniary Mulcts and Fines This was the true meaning of all that Theatrical project above one moity of their Goods was now exacted from them and then whilst their terror was yet upon them the Imposts were again setled and they were levied with unexpressible extortion The other Cities were Treated in the like manner and these vast sums went almost wholly into the pockets of the Nobility who soon squandring them away agen in foolish and vain expences did in some sort justify those commotions which they so horribly chastised Year of our Lord 1383 The English perceived but too late the fault they had committed in not supporting the Ghentois more early and therefore the Truce being expir'd they resolved to assist them Vrban sounding his Trumpet of war in every corner against the Clementines a Croisado had been preached up in England whereof Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich made himself Chief Being landed at Calais instead of attacquing the French he fell upon Flanders pretending that Countrey belonged to the King of France who was a Clementine The taking of Gravelin and a Battle he won nigh that place over twelve thousand Flemmings brought a terror upon the whole Countrey After which having had a re-inforcement from the Ghentois he laid Siege to Ypres but the King returning personally into Flanders with a powerful Army drove him from that place re-took and saccaged Bergh which the English had forsaken and shut them up in Bourbourgh he might have taken them at discretion had not the mediation of the Duke of Bretagne obtained them terms that were honourable enough The History written by the Monk of St. Denis speaks not a word of the Bishop of Norwich but attributes this expedition to the Duke of Gloucester However it were he that Commanded was forced to go back into England without much credit and almost without any of his Men. Year of our Lord 1383 This rebuke inclined the English to desire a Peace Deputies on either side were sent to the Village of Lelinghen in the mid-way between Calais and Boulogne The Duke of Lancaster would comprehend the Ghentois and the Earl of Flanders opposed it which caused the Conference to end only in a Truce from the Month of October till St. Johns day following of which it was allowed the Ghentois should be partakers Year of our Lord 1384 The Earl at his going thence having retir'd himself to St. Omers was seized with a Malady whereof he died the Three and twentieth of January in the year 1384. this grief attending him to his death that he beheld his Countrey laid in ashes and glutted with the blood of his own Subjects Perhaps it wounded his Heart to hear the Duke of Berry reproach him with most injurious terms That his too obstinate revenge was cause of all those mischiefs Philip I. Duke of Burgundy his Son-in-law succeeded him in all his Estates and carried on the War against the Rebels but with more mildness and a design of reclaiming those stubborn Spirits and bringing them to a true submission rather by policy and perswasion then by force Year of our Lord 1384 During the Truce there were certain Troops of Robbers who ravaged all Guyenne The Mareschal of Sancerre Governour of the Province could not put up their Robberies they having been so insolent as to attaque himself wherefore he cut them all off There was another rising of the Peasants as cruel as those of the Jacquerie who over-ran Poitou Berry and Auvergne and most inhumanely butcher'd all those whose Hands were not hardned with Labour they were named the Tuchins Year of our Lord 1384 their Leader was named Peter de la Bruyere The Duke of Berry drew his Forces together dispersed them and put their Ring-leader to death with many more of his Rustiques Year of our Lord 1384 After the departure of the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Burgundy engrossed all Authority but especially this last The Duke of Bourbon finding he was not able to make head against him quitted the Government of the Kings Person and partly to perform a Vow he had made to go into the Holy-Land went
would leave it to them two He failed not to take his advantage of these inconsiderate words He would not have his Brother be so near a Neighbour to the Burgundian his Interest was to place him at the other end of the Kingdom to break off their Communication That young Prince Weak Year of our Lord 1468. and 69. and Inconstant of mind was Governed by Oder-Daydie Lord of Lescun a Gascon and vain who would needs be a Prophet in his own Country by his means he was persuaded to renounce Champagne and accept of Guienne with the City of Rochel This change was the loss of that young Prince The Cardinal de la Ballue in whose hands the Treaty of Peronne had been Sworn with much regret suffered it to be altered whether out of love to Monsieur or that he would have had the King still in some perplexity This good Prelat and William de Hoeraucoux holding Intelligence with the Burgundian wrote to Monsieur to dissuade him and represented many things to him for his advantage but contrary to the Kings intentions Their Letters having been intercepted and they Seized they ingenuously confessed their practices The King sent the information to his Brother who suffering to be overcome by his Carasses accepted of Guyenne and came to meet him at Tours The Bishop was shut up in an Iron Cage a punishment he well deserved since he was the first inventor of it The Cardinal was convey'd to the Bastille where he remained twelve years the Pope demanding him as liable only to his Justice and the King pressing the Pope to let him have Judges assigned him within the Kingdom to hear his cause Year of our Lord 1469 The good correspondence between the two Brothers seemed to be perfected and the King to gain or wean Monsieurs Heart from the Countries on this side allured him with a great Match in Spain Henry King of Castille had a Daughter named Jeane but whom the Castillians held for a Bastard because he was esteemed impotent in so much as they had constrained him to declare the Infanta Isabella who was his Sister his Heiress The King sent the Cardinal of Arras to demand this Isabella for Monsieur But the Lords of the Country having stollen her away and married her to Ferdinand Infant of Arragon he seeks to have Jane which Henry agreed to A Matter for a long War if Charles had lived The first day of August the King being at his Castle of Amboise instituted an Order of Knighthood in honour of St. Michael and limited the number of Knights to 36 yet was it never filled up in all his Reign The French particularly Honoured St. Michael as the Tutelary Angel of that Monarchy And a better could not be pitched upon to tread down the Pride of the English who carr'd Dragons in their Ensigns then that Prince of they Celestial Militia who is painted with a Dragon under his feet And indeed it had been reported that he was seen at the head of our Army 's sighting against them for the French He imagined by means or vertue of this Collar that he should have drawn all the Grandees of the Kingdom within his clutclies when he held this Chapter And therefore the Duke of Bretagne refused it and the Duke of Burgundy doing yet worse received the Order of the Garter and wore it to his Death The Breton had in his service one Peter Landays his Treasurer a man of Low Birth but very knowing and able to countermine all the Artisices of Lewis XI It was he that led him to all these evasions and emboldned his Master to withstand all his devices and his threats Thus what ever endeavours he could use though he were on his Frontiers with an Army he could never disunite him from the Burgundian but only obliged him by a Treaty made at Saumur to renounce all offensive Leagues against the Kingdom Year of our Lord 1470 In the year 1470. John the Natural Son of Lewis Duke of Orleance left this world aged 70 years having divers years before left the Court because of his almost continual pain of the Gout which the hardships in the Wars had brought upon him This Prince valued in all things says Comines having made himself as able a Counsellor as he was a Captain was one of the principal instruments God made use of to drive the English out of France Therefore the Princes of his Family gave him the County of Dunois King Charles that of Longue-ville the Office of Great Chamberlain and the Lieutenancy General of his Army's and strong Forts A power of so great extent that it hath been communicated to none but himself in the third Race Year of our Lord 1470 The renunciation which the King caused the Breton to make had most respect to Edward of York King of England and Brother in Law to the Burgundian of whom it was hourly reported that he was coming to Land at Calais He was wholly prevented by the Earl of Warwick who in revenge of some injuries received from him set himself to carry on the interests of the House of Lancaster and had even Debauched the Duke of Clarence his Brother He had the foregoing year defeated his Army and afterwards took him Prisoner Then Edward having escaped beat him in his turn So that he was forced to save himself in France about the end of the Month of May this year From thence returning into England with the Succours the King leâ—t him he changed the Scene a second time For all slocked to him according to the Genius of that Country which loves change and Year of our Lord 1471 Edward wholly forfaken fled into Flanders to the Duke of Burgundy his Brother in Law Then King Henry who was in the Tower of London was set at Liberty and Warwick and Clarence took upon them the Government of the Kingdom Though the King still resented in his Heart the affront received at Peronne nevertheless being of a fearful Spirit and the length of any enterprize putting him out of patience if the success were not as swift as his desires he would have lived in peace if the Constable and those that were about him had not excited his resentment to draw him to a rupture They feared and the Constable most of all that a Peace making them appear useless the King might think of retrenching their great allowances and his stirring mind if it were not employ'd abroad might put him upon great alterations at home in his Court. Besides these motives there was also an Intrigue of the Bretons and the Constables in favour of Monsieur As they desired to strengthen him against the King they had inspired him with a desire of marrying the only Daughter of the Burgundian And because they knew the Father would not easily consent to it they believed they should sooner bring it about by force then by friendship and therefore they resolved to engage the King to make a War upon him The Bias they took
make a Peace with the King Ferdinand and the Venetians having brought him a little to heart again he fell to practise his wonted Artifice which was to amuse the King with Propositions of an Accommodation and to engage the Queen to act who by Motives of Conscience Caresses Intrigues and Importunities often disarm'd him and made him relent With this his trouble in Mind occasioned by the death of his Nephew the misunderstanding which arose between the Cardinal Sanseverin who was Legate and la Palice who had the Title of General the little obedience the other French Captains yielded to this last and the ill-timed good Husbandry or sparingness of the Treasurer Pay-Master to the Army did not only render that Victory fruitless but occasioned the loss of the Dutchy of Milan For the Treasurer disbanded a considerable part of the Forces and la Palice left Sanseverin but six thousand Foot and a thousand Horse and led the rest into Milan There being encamped at Pontevica a Place proper to relieve Milan Cremona Bress and Bergamo four thousand Lansquenets which made up two thirds of his Infantry and had been raised in the Territories of the House of Austria were recalled by the Emperor Maximilian at that instant when the Swiss were entring into that Country In few Words the French reduced to two or three thousand Men did wholly abandon all Milanois Maximilian Sforza was restored to that Dutchy by the Year of our Lord 1512 Swiss who declared themselves Protectors of it The City of Genoa revolted and created a Duke which was Janus Fregosa Almost at the same time the King of England sent a Herauld to declare a War against the King and the Emperor who had so often protested never to seperate from him forsook him and knit a new Alliance with Julius Amidst this rout amongst the French the Council of Pisa who were retired to Milan made their escape to Lyons During the time they had been at Milan they held four or five Sessions in which the Fathers had Summond Julius to name some free Place for the Council and to meet there in Person to justifie himself had declared him suspended of the Papal Administration and forbid to pay him Obedience The Council of Latran much more numerous and better authorized thundred with more force especially after the Emperor had owned them In their third Session which was upon a Friday the sixteenth of November a Bull was read which condemned the Council of Pisa their Abettors and Adherents and confirmed the Excommunications and Degradations which Julius had fulminated against the Cardinals and Bishops who composed it As also their Letters Monitorie of the fourteenth of August whereby he put the Kingdom of France under interdiction excepting the Dutchy of Burgundy and tranferr'd the Faires from Lyons to Geneva In the Fourth which was the eleventh of December there was read a Decree which adjourned the King and the Prelates Chapters and Parliaments to appear before him within sixty Days and to shew their Reasons why Year of our Lord 1512 they would not have the Pragmatick Sanction abrogated The Lure which King Ferdinand had made use of to engage the Young King of England his Son-in-Law in a War against France was the Promise he had made him to assist him with all his Forces to conquer Guyenne Upon this assurance the English by the end of May landed a great Army near Fontarabia but Ferdinand had of a long time formed the design of conquering Navarre so that in stead of joyning with him he falls upon that unhappy Kingdom nothing concerned in the Quarrel and took occasion upon the apprehensions of their Army to invade it the more securely and easily Year of our Lord 1512 King John d'Albret had not dar'd to arm himself for fear of giving him that Pretence he desired to oppress him So that as soon as he appeared on the Frontiers he coward-like retired into Bearn and abandon'd the whole Kingdom to him excepting only some Fortresses When Ferdinand had usurped Navarre he sought out some Title to it that he might still hold it He could find no other but the right of War and a Bull of the Popes which left it as a Prey to the first Occupier because John said he Year of our Lord 1512 was an Abettor of the Council of Pisa and an Ally of the King of France Enemy to the Holy See But as to the right of War unless they mean the Force ✚ or Power of the Sword which gives no right but amongst the Barbarians Ferdinand had none at all since John had no way wronged him and was so far from taking Arms against him that on the contrary he proffer'd him free Passage thorow his Kingdom And as to the other Point that Bull so much alledged is no where to be found but could it be produced it could give no right to a Crown which is held only from God and if it could give any it was published say the Spaniards in the Month of July and the Invasion was made in June Which is to chop off a Man's Head and then pronounce his Sentence The Succors which the King sent to John his Ally being ill conducted did him no Service The Duke of Longueville Governor of Guyenne and Charles Duke of Bourbon who commanded them could not agree The King sent Francis Duke of Valois thither His Authority stifled their Discord he entred into Navarre in dispite of the Duke of Alva who was encamped at Saint John's de Pied de Port and laid Siege to Pampelonna but the want of Provisions and Inconveniences of the Season constrained him to De-Camp at the end of six Weeks Ferdinand having reaped what Fruit he could hope for by this War did willingly make a Truce with the King About these Times began the Reign of the Cherifs in Affrica by one Mahomet Benhemet who saying he was descended of the Blood of his Great Prophet and having Sanctified himself in the Opinion of the People by a tedious and long Solitude animated them with a furious Zeal to Make War upon the Christians and those Moors that had made Alliance with them and by the help and means of his two Sons conquer'd the Kingdoms of Fez of Morocco and of â—remissen Year of our Lord 1513 The wrath of Julius had no bounds he had framed a Decree in the Name of the Council to transfer the Kingdom of France and the Title of Most Christian to the King of England When he was just on the Point of publishing it the Heavens taking pitty of him and of all Christendom called him cut of the World the three and twentieth of February He died of a lingring slow Feaver contracted as they said thorow Grief for that he could not persuade or incline the Venetians to make an Agreement with the Emperor So violent were his Passions much fitter for a Turkish Sultan then the common Father of all Christians Year of our Lord 1513 The Cabal of Young Cardinals having observed
between him and the Father in Law 255 Alix of Champagne Regent of the Kingdom 255 Alliance by Marriage between the Kings of France and England 247 Alliance of France confirmed with the Emperor Frederic 299 Alliance of Scotland with France 325 Alliance of the Empire renewed with France 328 Alliance of Scotland renewed with France 348 Amalaric King of the Visigoths 22 Amalasunta cause of the ruine of the Ostrogoths 24 Amaury Count de Montfort made Constable 295 Arnold Amaulry Inquisitor against the Albigeois 239 Amaulry or Aimery Doctor of Paris teaches a new and scandalous Doctrine 337 Amee the Great Count of Savoy and Prince of the Empire augments his Estate by several Seigneuries 345 Of the St. Ampoule or Holy Oyl 15 Anaclet Antipope 239 Anger 's taken by the Normans and retaken 144 Anjou divided into two Counties 141 Anne Widow of King Henry Marries again the Count de Crespy 219 Anseau de Garlande great Seneschal or Dapifer 239 Ansegise Archbishop of Sens. 145 Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury banished 289 St. Anselme writes a Treatise of the Incarnation ibid. Ansgard Wife of Lewis the Stammerer 149 St. Anthony the establishment of his Order in France 233 Apostolick Hereticks 276 Appeals to the Court of Rome 51 Archembault Lord of Bourbon 236 Archbishops at what times the Metropolitans took that Title 114 Archbishop of Reims a great debate between the Bishops of France between Artold and Hugh Son of Hebert Count of Vermandois 206 Of the same again between Arnold de Reims and Gerbert 206 207 Archbishop of Rouen named Primate of Normandy 232 Aribert King of a part of Aquitain 54 His death 55 Arles of the Ancient Rights and Preheminencies of its Archbishop in Gaul 50 Arles Kingdom united to that of Burgundy Transjurane 169 Arles the Temporal Seigneury belongs to the Archbishop of it 335 Great Naval Army 296 Of Coat-Arms and the beginning of their use 225 Armand Clerk of the City of Bress causes Rome to rebel against the Popes 272 Arnold King of Germany of Bavaria and Lorraine 156 Drives Guy of Spoletta out of all Lombardy 160 Arnold Emperor his death his Wife and Children 161 Arnold Count of Flanders 168 Arnold the Fat Count of Flanders 164 Arnold Earl of Flanders does cause the Duke of Normandy to be treacherously slain 178 Arnold the old Earl of Flanders his death 186 Arnold Archbishop of Reims degraded of his Dignity 204 Restored 207 Count d'Argues takes up Arms against the Duke of Normandy to his confusion 144 Of the County of Arragon and its Original 97 Arragon Kingdom its Original 163 Artois made a County and Pairie 301 Artois adjudged to Mahaut in prejudice of Robert grandson of Robert of Artois 347 Robert of Artois commands the Kings Army in Flanders is defeated and slain 330 Artold Archbishop of Reims 179 Arthur Duke of Bretagne 256 Takes up Arms against John without Lands who takes him Prisoner then Assassinates him 262 Asylum in Churches 53 Assembly general appointed in May no more for the future in March 124 Assemblies three sorts of great Assemblies 117 Assembly at Aix la Chapelle 122 Assembly or Parliament of Nimeghen 126 Of St. Martin 126 Assembly general of Franefort 127 Assembly general or Parliament of Mets. 139 Assembly of Coblents 140 Assembly of Meaux 150 Assembly general of Tribur 155 Assembly Synodal of the Bishops of Gaul and Germany at Verdun 180 Assembly of Prelats at Estampes 240 Assembly of the Estates of the Kingdom at Paris 329 Assize of Count Geofry Law for the Partage amongst the Bretons 254 Astolfus King of the Lombards seizes the Exarchat of Ravenna c. makes himself Master of Rome 91 Is constrained by the French to desist from his Enterprize and to restore the Exarchat c. 92 His death 93 Ataulfe King of the Visigoths passes in Gallia Narbonensis 3 Athalaric King of Italy 21 His death 24 Attila King of the Huns surnamed the Scourge of God enters into Gaul is there beaten and vanquished and forced to retire 10 His death 11 Avari ravage Turingia 29 Avari seize upon Lombardy 46 Avari are those of Austratia 104 Are wholly subdued 106 Avarice insupportable of the Ecclesiasticks during the eight Century 116 d'Aresnes John Earl of Hainault becomes Earl of Holland 326 Augustines Friers their Institution and their Establishment 340 St. Avi Abbot of Mici 21 Avignon besieged and taken by King Lewis VIII her Walls thrown down and Moats fill'd up 296 Austerities at the Article of death 288 Austrasia and its extent 20 Austrasia given to Dagobert by King Clotair and the Conduct of Pepin the old Maire of the Palace 46 Austrasians despise the commands of Brunehaut during the minority of King Childebert 34 Will not endure the Government of a Woman 78 Beaten by the Neustrians 78 Austria falls into the hands of the Emperor Rodolph 316 B. Baliol John declared King of Scotland 323 Is vanquish'd by the English taken Prisoner and constrained to renounce his Alliance with France 327 Set at full liberty but despised by the Scots 330 Banners belonging to the Church formerly used in time of War as their Standards 216 Bankers and of their excessive Usury and Extortion 324 Barcelona besieged and taken by the French 107 Bastards not admitted to Prelacy by the Holy Canons 210 The Kings of France not allowed to be Married to a Bastard 246 Bastards Adventurers of Gascongny 352 Battles 32 33 35 Battle between the Armies of Clotair II. and Thierry King of Burgundy in the year 599. 42 Battle near Toul and Tobiae 44 Battle of Tetry 69 Battle of Vinciac in Cambresis 79 Battle very famous near Tours wherein the Saracens were beaten and utterly defeated 82 Battle of Sigeac 83 Battle near Periguex 94 Battle very bloody at Fontenay 132 Battles in the Air. 134 Battle lost by the Romans 185 Battle near Monstreuil Bellay 211 Battle of Tinchelray in Normandy 227 Battle between the French and the English 234 Battle between the Flemings and the French to the disadvantage of the last 330 Battle very bloody between the French and the Flemmings to the loss of the last 331 St. Batilda Queen of France her Elogy 60 61 Bavarians and their Original and establishment in Bavaria under the obedience of France 23 Baldwin or Badouin Earl of Flanders steals away the Daughter of Charles King of Neustria 140 Baldwin the Bald Earl of Flanders 162 164 Baldwin with the Beard Earl of Flanders chaced from his Estates by his Son is restored by the Duke of Normandy 212 Baldwin surnamed the Frisonian chaced his Father 212 Baldwin Regent of the Kingdom of France and Earl of Flanders his death 218 220 221 Baldwin King of Jerusalem 222 Baldwin of Hainault 224 Baldwin XI Count of Flanders makes a League with the King of England against France 257 358 259 Baldwin Earl of Flanders takes up the Cross for the Holy Land 261 Is elected and declared Emperor of Constantinople 263 His death ibid. Baldwin an Impostor pretending
Wife and Marries Bertrade 223 Is Excommunicated because of this new Marriage by the Bishops by the Pope and by a Council at Poitiers ib. Braved by the Lord de Montlehery ib. In fine obtains a dispensation in the Court of Rome is absolved and his Marriage is confirmed 226 His death his Wives and Children 227 Philip Brother of King Lewis the Gross sides with the discontented Party 2â—5 Philip Augustus King of France his Birth 249 His Coronation 250 His Marriage with Isabella Alix 251 He begins his Reign and Government with Piety and Justice 252 He withdraws Vermandois from the hands of the Earl of Flanders 252 He sends succours to the Holy Land and causes the Croisade to be preached 253 Difference between him and the King of England 254 Takes the Cross on him with the King of England for the recovery of the Holy Land 255 Gives chace to the King of England who was entred upon France ib. His Voyage to the Holy Land Order for the Regency of his Son and Kingdom during his absence ib. Difference intervened between him and Richard King of England 256 Takes the City of Acre or Ptolemais ib. Falls sick and returns into France 257 Withdraws the County of Artois from the hands of the Earl of Flanders ib. Declares War against the King of England 258 Repudiates Isemberge his Wife then takes her again ib. Reconciles himself with John King of England 259 Endeavours to accustom the Ecclesiasticks to furnish him with Subsidies 261 Conquers all the Territories of King John which held of the Crown 261 c. Philip the Fair King of France Marries the Queen of Navarre 320 Is Crowned at Reims 322 Accommodates and makes Peace with the Castillian 323 Causes search to be made amongst the Banquers 324 Opposes the designs of the King of England for the subjecting of Scotland and recovering the Cities in Guyenne 325 Is offended with Pope Boniface 326 A great Conspiracy against him 326 Makes War in Flanders his progress 327 c. Confers with the Emperor Albertus 328 Enters into a quarrel with the Pope and hinders the French Prelats from going to Rome whither the Pope sent for them 329 Is Excommunicated by the Pope ib. Takes up Arms to chastize the Rebellion of the Flemings 330 Treats a Peace with the English ib. Makes a Voyage into Guyenne and Languedoc 331 Fore-arms himself against the Bâ—lls of Bâ—niface ib. Assists at the Coronation of Pope Clement at Lyons 332 Appears at the General Council of Vienne in Daufine ib. Undertakes War against the Flemings His three Sons Wives accused of Adultery His death his Wives and Children 336 Philip of Alsace Earl of Flanders his death 257 Philip of Dreux Bishop of Beauvais is held Prisoner 258 Philip Earl of Boulogne 299 Philip Emperor assassinated 264 Philip the Hardy King of France 314 Returns from Afric into France ib. He Arms against the King of Castille in favour of the Princes of Navarre his Nephews 316 Takes up Arms and passes the Pyrenean Mountains against the King of Arragon 320 His death his Wives and his Children 321 Philip the Long espouses Jane of Burgundy 324 Philip d'Euvreux 348 Philip the Long King of France 347 His Wife accused of Adultery 336 Brouilleries in the State 348 His death his Children 349 Philip de Valois passes into Italy against the Gibbelins 348 Philippa Daughter of the Earl of Hainault 352 Peter Son of King Lewis the Gross chief of the House of Courtenay 241 Peter Duke of Bretagne takes Arms against the King 296 Surnamed Mauclerc or Illiterate or Witless 300 His death 301 Peter Earl of Alencon 312 Peter Earl of Arragon Crowned King of Sicilia 317 A villanous and shameful slight 320 Is Excommunicated and degraded by the Pope ib. His death 321 Peter Abbot of Cane refuses the Miter 270 Planet Mars not visible in a whole year 105 Plectrude Widow of Pepin intrudes into the whole Government of France 78 She is constrained to quit the Government to Charles Martel 79 Poissy Gerard Financier 254 Politicks Hereticks 276 Poland honour'd with the Title of a Kingdom 209 Ponce Abbot of Clugny by his Debauches loses the Reputation of his Order 279 Papeliâ—ans Hereticks their Forces and Erâ—ors 276 Popes of the Fourth Age. 5 Popes when they began to change names at their creation 136 Memorable example of their Soveraign power and of an extream severity 209 Of their Elections 247 Have a right to exhort not to command the Kings of France 326 Acts of Temporal Soveraignty they assumed on all occasions during the Thirteenth Age. 337 They would raise themselves above all Soveraigns 293 Gilbert Porct Bishop of Poitiers condemned 289 Port-Royal its foundation 83 Portugal of a Dutchy made a Kingdom 243 Pragmatick of St. Lewis 312 Pretextat Archbishop of Rouen 32 Restored to his See and assassinated 38 Prior of the Monastery of Gristan his History 288 Primacy of the Church of Lyons over the four Lyonnoises 232 Prince that oppresses his Subjects is easily abandonned by them 45 Prince dispoiled of his Estate because of his ill Conduct 161 Priviledges of Monks 282 Bring a Scandal to the Church Buy it off dearly at Rome ib. Prodigy unheard of of Snakes and other Serpents who fought most obstinately 2â—8 Protade Maire of the Palace 43 Provenceaux rise against their Earl and Lord. 301 Provisions of the Pope 236 Petro Brusians Hereticks 276 Puisset Hugh 235 Q. Quarrel between Thierry and Boson 146 Quarrel for the Archbishoprick of Reims 177 c. Quarrel and hatred of the â—arls of Charâ—res and Flanders against the Normans 186 Quarrel famous between the Pope and the Emperors 223 Quarrel between Robert Duke of Normandy and Henry his younger Brother for the Kingdom of England 226 Quarrel of the Popes with the Emperor Henry IV. 227 c. Quarrel between the Bishops and the Monks for the Tenths 228 Quarrel between the Emperor and the Pope for the investiture of Bishopricks 236 Quarrel between the Secular Doctors of Theology and the Orders of Religious Mendicants 307 Quarrel of the Count d'Armagnac and the Lord de Casaubon 315 Quarrel bloody and long for the Succession of the Crown of Scotland 323 Quarrels Little particular Riots do often produce very great Quarrels 325 Qâ—iâ—alet Bishoprick transfer'd to St. Malo's Church of the Twelfth Century R. Rabanus Maurus Archbishop of Ments 173 Race Carolovinian and the end of it Causes of its ruine 198 199 Rachis King of the Lombards turns Monk 91 Leaves his Monastery whither he is forced to return again Radbod King of the Frisians 72 Radegonda Sainct 22 Raillery that cost very dear 222 Raimond Earl of Tolose principal Favourer of the Hereticks in Languedoc is Excommunicated 264 Reconciles himself to the Church 295 Is brought to reason 299 Raimond Earl of Toloze pretends to be Lord of the Marsellois c. 300 Raimond Prince of Antioch Rainfroy Maire of the Neustrians 79 His death 81 Rambold of Orange 224 Ranulf Duke of Aquitaine
Rapes The Emperors Daughter taken away 136 Rebellion of the Sorabes 121 Of the Gascons ib. Of the Bretons 124 Rebellion of Children against their Father punished 144 Rebellion of the Earl of Poitou and Duke of Aquitain 184 Rebellion punished 211 Rebellion of the Aquitains against their Duke 216 Rebellion of the Children of the King of England 250 Reconciliation of the two Brothers Lewis and Charles and their Nephew Lotaire 140 Reformation of Monasteries and Religious Houses 205 Regency of a Woman causes great troubles in the Kingdom 298 Regency of the Kingdom without a King 345 Reliques of St. Denis and his Companions 45 Reliques of Saints carried for Ensigns of War 216 Remistang hanged 94 Remond Count of Tolouse 224 Renauld de Dampmartin 259 Renauld Earl of Boulogne suspected of Intelligence with the English refuses to obey the King 266 Reputation of Isemburge of Denmark by King Philip Augustus 257 Of Havoise of Glocester by King John without Land 261 Retreat of many great Persons into the Monasteries 112 Revolt of Verdun 15 Of Auvergne against their King Thierry 22 Revolt of the Saxons chastised 46 Revolt of the Visigoths in Septimania 65 Revolt of the Turingians the Frisons the Saxons and the Almans who shook off the Yoak of the French 71 The same the Aquitanians and the Gascons ib. Revolt of the Frisons 72 Revolt of Aquitaine 95 Of the Saxons 98 Revolt of the Gascons chastised 107 Of the Duke of Benevent 108 Revolt of Panonia inferior 123 Revolt in Aquitaine 158 Revolt of the Neustrians against their King 177 Of the Normans against their young Duke Richard 178 Revolt in Lombardy 186 Revolt of a Son against his Father 227 Revolt and rising of the Flemings against their Count. 299 Revolt of the Romans against Pope Eugenius 244 Revolt of the Marseillois against the Earl of Provence attended with a long War 300 Revolt and general conspiracy of all Sicilia against the French 319 Reims otherwhile Metropolis of Liege Church of the Twelfth Age. Richard Duke of Normandy 178 Taken away by King Lewis the Transmarine is industriously saved both he and his Dutchess 178 Richard Duke of Normandy in War with the Earl of Chartres 187 Richard without Fear Duke of Normandy his death 204 Richard I. Duke of Normandy his death 208 Richard II. called the Good Duke of Normandy his death 212 Richard III. Duke of Normandy 212 His death 213 Richard Duke of Aquitaine betrothed to Alix of France 250 Richard Duke of Aquitaine takes Arms against the King of England his Father ib. Richard Earl of Poitou refuses his Homage to the King for his County of Poitou 254 Richard Earl of Poitou He quarrels for the County of Tolose and strives to invade it by force of Arms. 255 Falls out with the King of England his Father ib. Richard King of England before Earl of Poitou 256 He accompanies the King of France in his Expedition to the Holy Land ib. Great mis-understanding happens betwixt these two Princes ib. His admirable progress in his Voyage 257 Quits the Holy Land to return to his own Kingdom and is taken Prisoner in Germany ib. Had great Wars with the French 258 His death 259 Richard Brother of Henry King of England lands at Bourdeaux with a potent Army 296 Richard pretended King of the Romans 309 His death 315 Richilda Wife of Charles the Bald is Crowned by the Pope 145 Richilda Countess of Flanders 221 Robert the Strong or the Valiant the Stock of the Capetine Race 140 His death his Children 142 Robert elected and Crowned King of France to the prejudice of Charles the Simple 165 His death ib. Robert Earl of Troyes and of Chaalons 184 Robert I. Duke of Burgundy Chief of the first Race of the Dukes of Burgundy 214 His death 215 Robert called the Frison Earl of Flanders his death 221 Robert King of France 202 He Marries Lutgarde for his first Wife and for his second Bertha Sister of Rodolph the idle King of Burgundy 202 209 Excommunicated by the Pope because of his second Marriage 209 Recovers by the Sword the Dutchy of Burgundy which Otho-Guilliame had usurped ib. Marries for his third Wife Constance Blanche 210 Addicts himself wholly to works of Piety ib. Causes his Son Hugh to be Crown'd 211 Re-joyns the County of Sens to his Domaine ib. Admirable patience 212 Act of Bounty or Goodness more then Royal. ib. He refuses the Kingdom of Italy for his Son ib. Causes his Son Henry to be Crowned after the death of his Son Hugh ib. Institutes by his Authority a Bishop at Langres 213 His death and his Children ib. Robert becomes Duke of Normandy by a fratricide 212 Assists King Henry against his Enemies 215 Constrains the Bretons to do him Homage ib. His death ib. Robert Guischard a Normand Conquers Calabria 218 Robert called of Jerusalem Earl of Flanders 222 Robert Duke of Normandy ib. One of the Chiefs of the first Croisade 224 At his return from the Holy Land he demands the Kingdom of England of Henry his Brother who had seized it during his absence his death 227 Robert Earl of Flanders his death 235 Robert Earl of Auvergne tyrannizes the Bishop of Clairmont is reduced to reason by the King 238 Robert Son of King Lewis the Gross chief of the House of Dreux 241 Robert Earl of Dreux 299 Robert Earl of Glocester 243 Robert Earl of Artois chief of the Branch of that name 297 Accompanies King Lewis in his Voyage to the Holy Land 304 His death 305 Robert II. Earl of Flanders 312 Robert Earl of Clairmont in Beauvaisis Original of the Branch of Bourbon 313 Robert Earl of Artois 315 Commands an Army for the King in Navarre 318 Robert Earl of Artois makes War in Flanders 327 Robert Earl of Flanders 335 Robert de Bethune Earl of Flanders breaks the Truce 348 Rochefort Guy makes War upon his King 234 Rochel taken from the English 296 Rodolph or Ralph King of Burgundy Transjurane and Arles his death 214 Rodolf his Election to the Empire confirm'd 316 Rodolf Rufus elected Emperor Rodolfe Emperor his death 324 Roger Duke of the Normands of Italy passes from thence into Sicilia against the Saracens and makes himself Master of all the Island 221 Roger Earl of Foix. 315 Roger Duke of Pouille or Puglia Crossed by the Pope who makes War upon him 239 The first King of Sicilia 241 Roger I. King of Sicilia his death 246 Roger de Lauria a famous Captain 331 Roger de Mortimer 352 Roger Earl of Alby favours the Albigensis 278 Rollo Rol or Rodolf Chief of the Normands makes himself Master of part of Lyonnois 164 First Duke of Normandy his Conversion to Christianity and his Marriage ib. His death ib. Romain Cardinal Legat Favourite of Queen Blaâ—ch of Castille 140 Rome rebelleth against the Pope 272 Rotrou du Perche 224 Rousselin his Heresies 276 Routiers a sort of Soldiers 248 Routiers Bandits and Robbers favour the Hereticks 249 S. Sacramentaries Hereticks
of France Wife of Lewis XII 554 Takes the Duke of Suffolk for her second Husband 568 Mary Queen Widdow of Hungary Governess of the Low-Countries 601 Mary Princess of Scotland 613 Mary Queen of Scots great Troubles in Scotland for her concern 618 Brought into France 624 Mary Queen of England declares War against France 646 William de la Mark called the Wildboard of Ardenne Beheaded 504 Marseilles Besieged by the Imperialists without Success 577 Martin V. Pope transfers the Council of Siena to Basil 448 Prince Maurice 631 Maximilian Emperour Besieges Terouene 502 Maximilian is Elected and Crowned King of the Romans 510 His Death 563 Maximilian King of Bohemia in contest with Charles V. his Uncle 638 Meaux Besieged and taken by the English 440 Medicis Peter chaced and banished from Florence 520 Medicis Laurence invested in the Dutchy of Vrbin 561 The Medicis restablished in Florence 591 Laurence de Medicis Assassinates and kills the Duke of Florence his unhappy end 606 Cosmo de Medicis Duke of Florence ib. Declares himself against the French and against Siena 640 Melfe the Prince of Melfe or Malsy 616 Mercier Sieur de Novain Favorite of King Charles VI. 411 Milan conquer'd by King Lewis XII and by the Venetians 534 The investiture granted to Lewis XII by the Emperour 542 Abandoned by the French 550 c. Regained by the French and as soon lost for them 552 Falls under the Dominion of the Emperour 578 Mines the way to fill them with Powder to blow up a Wall 539 Pic Mirandulus his Death 520 Moncado Vice-roy of Sicilia slain in Fight 589 Moncins Governor of Guyenne Massacred by the Bourdelois 627 John de Montaigu Favorite of Charles VI. 411 Montargis surprized by the English 453 Montecuculi drawn by four Horses for Poisoning the Daufin 603 John de Montfort remains sole Duke of Bretagne by the death of Charles de Blois 385 Defeats in Battle Charles de Blois abandons Bretagne and retires to England 367 Returns into Bretagne 393 Montmorency a Town not inconsiderable burnt 379 Montpelliers Mutinies of the People because of the Imposts 397 John de Montaigue Surintendant punished with Death 425 Montpensier the Duke made a Prisoner of War 647 Moscovy 502 Muley-Assan King of Tunis dispoiled of his Kingdom by his Son who puts out his Eyes 456 Mutinies and Popular Commotions because of the Imposts and excessive Subsidies 402 403 c. N NAples Kingdom conquer'd by the French and soon after retaken from them 521 Strange Revolution against the French who are driven out of that Kingdom 538 C. of Nassau Prisoner of War 512 The C. of Nassau Ambassador in France 557 Enters into Champagne and Besieges Mouson 567 Makes an irruption upon Picardy Louis of Navarre 603 Navarre Usurped by Ferdinand of Arragon 551 Reconquer'd by the French but soon lost again 565 The D. of Nemours General of the Army for the King in the Kingdom of Naples 537 Slain in the Battle of Cerignoles 538 I. Earl of Nevers goes to the Assistance of the King of Hungary against the Turks 417 Nice Besieged in vain by Barbarossa 615 Nicholas I. Antipope 359 Nicholas the Pope is owned in France 461 The Duke of Normandy Commands a very Potent Army with small Success 365 Normandy over-run and ravaged by the English 374 United inseparably to the Crown 381 Falls under the Power of the English 437 Is wholly regained from the English 463 Is put under the Power of a new Duke 487 Brought to the Obedience of the King 488 O OBservance strickt of the Order of Saint Francis 443 Officers maintain'd in their Offices 489 The mutation of Officers a Cause of great trouble ib. Oliver de Blois attempts upon the Person of the Duke of Bretagne 436 He and his Brothers Condemned to Death 437 Oliver Francis Chancellour of France 623 Orange Prince 510 Orange Prince Prisoner of War 513 Is made Lieutenant for the King in Bretagne ib. General of an Army without Power 586 Order of the Star Instituted or rather renewed abandoned to the Chevalier du Guet 372 Order of the Garter Instituted 371 Order of the Collar its Institution 408 Order of Saint Maurice Instituted 526 Orleans Besieged by the English succour'd and deliver'd by the Pucelle Joane 450 Orleans Charles Duke set at Liberty 458 Orleans John Bastard Earl of Dunois and great Chamberlain his Death 492 Orleans Charles Duke his death 483 Orleans Louis Duke Espouses the Princess Jane of France 503 Orleans Louis Duke Chief of the Council 508 Makes a League and a new Party against the State with the Duke of Bourbon and others 510 Absents far from Court retires into Bretagne forms a new Party against the Government and raises Forces ib. Is made Prisoner of War 513 Commands the French Ships in Italy 519 c. Duke of Orleans second Son of France Commands an Army in Luxemburg his Exploits 612 c. His Death 619 Regal Ornaments 441 Ottranto taken by Assault by the Turks 503 Retaken by the Christians ib. P PAlavicini Manf. 569 De la Palisse Mareschal of France 567 His Death 579 Ambrose Paré Chyrurgeon 619 Paris enlarged and fortified 375 Is oppressed and suffers strangely during the Contest and War between the Houses of Orleans and of Burgundy 426 c. Reduced to obedience of King Charles VII 464 Blocked up by the Princes 486 In great Astonishment 604 Parisians Enterprize upon the City of Meaux to their Confusion 378 Stick to the King of Navarre ib. Divided into Factions Insolence insupportable 377 c. Mutiny because of Imposts take up Arms Arm themselves with Iron Mallets for that reason named Mallotins 403. c. Chastized severely 406 Arm and range themselves under Colonels and Captains 488 Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Burgundy their Institution 506 Parliament of Paris made Semestre 640 Parliament of Bretagne Established ib. Parma Subject of a War between the Pope and the King of France 629 630 c. Pavia Besieged by the King of France 577 c. Taken by Assault and Sacked by the French 585 Paul III. Pope 597 Mediator of a Peace between the Emperour and the King and confers with them 607 608 His Death 628 Paul IV. Pope 642 Makes a League offensive and defensive with the King against the Spaniard 644 Strips the Caraffes his Nephews of all their Offices and chaces them out of Rome 653 Paulin a brave Captain 618 Pembrook E. Lands in Bretagne over-runs Anjou and Poitou 388 Vanquish'd in a Naval Fight by the Spaniards and taken Prisoner 391 The C. de Perigord Archambauld Talegrand Condemned to Death 418 Perpignan surprized by the Spaniard or King of Arragon Philip de Valois King of France 357 Sends to the Navarrins their lawful King and Queen 358 The English declare War against him 361 His advantage over his Enemy 362 Makes a Truce with Edward ib. Becomes hated of the Nobility 365 Is Defeated 366 His Death 370 Philip King of Navarre his Death 365 Philip of Navarre calls the
but very vain Nuns Berte was Married to Ethelbert King of Canterbury in England and the most potent of all the English Kings She was bestowed upon him on condition she should have the free Exercise of the Christian Religion and to this end she took a Bishop along with her She was a very Beautiful and yet a more virtuous Princess who wrought upon the mind of her Husband to embrace Christianity and who insinuated Civility and Politeness amongst the English who were very barbarous till then Chilperic King IX GONTRAN in Neustria and Burgundy at Chaalons SIGEBERT in Austrasia at Mets. CHILPERIC in Neustria at Paris CHerebert's three Brothers immediately re-divided the Kingdom amongst Year of our Lord 570 them and even the City of Paris and put in this Condition which they confirmed by Oath upon the Relicks or at the shrine of some Martyr That neither of the Three should go in thither without the consent of the other two and he that should offer it was to forfeit his share in that City and in the Kingdom that was Chereberts Chilperic notwithstanding his solemn Oaths soon joyned again with his Fredegonde Year of our Lord 571 and that he might have liberty to Marry her he caused Gelasuinta to be strangled in her Bed His Brothers conceived a horror for this Crime and made War upon him Sigebert more hotly then the other being incited by his Wife Brunehaud to whom he was forced to give up for reparation of this Murther the Countreys of Bourdelois Lymosin Quercy Bearn and Bigorre which he had given to his Sister for a Marriage Portion and which he had seized on afterwards The Avarois broke the Treaty and made a Second irruption into Turingia Sigebert presenting himself to give them Battle upon the nick of the On-sett instead of Weapons they made use of Diabolical Enchantments and caused hideous Fantasmes or Spirits to appear most dreadful to the French mens Sight perhaps they had ugly Vizards on or had blacked their Faces Whatever it were it dismaied them so much that it put them to the rout and drove them into a corner where they hemmed them in on all sides Sigebert could not get out from this extremity but by the power of Money and by furnishing them with Provisions which they had great need of Going from hence he made War against Gontran to get from him the City of Arles Year of our Lord 573 and joyn it with those of Aix Avignon and Marseilles which he held in Provence Firmin Count d'Auvergne and Audover drawing near with some Forces the Burghers easily surrendred to them and then drove them out again with more ease For as soon as Celse the Patrician of Arles appeared on the behalf of Gontran they perswaded them to go forth and Fight him assuring them that whether Victors or Vanquished they would receive them again into the Town but when Celse had repulsed them and they desired to be let in they kept the Gates fast shut against them Thus their Men were all cut off or drowned in the Rhosne and they made prisoners Sigebert having Year of our Lord 574 missed his Design agreed the more easily with Gontran Anno 574. Alboinus King of the Lombards was poisoned by Rosamond his Second Wife cruelly enraged for that he had constrained her at a Feast to drink out of the Skull of Cunimond King of the Gepides her Father Clepbus having succeeded him and a while after he being also assassinated by one of his own People the Lombards would have no more Kings and committed the Government to Thirty Dukes each of them having a City Three of the most potent undertook to Conquer upon the score of conveniency that part of Gaui which lies between the Alpes and the Rhosne and entred upon it with three several Bodies of Soldiers But the Patrician Mummole beat them in several Rencounters and drove them out all three Upon the dividing the Kingdom of Cherebert Touraine and Poiton fell to Sigebert Chilperic burned with a desire to accommodate himself therewith at what price soever Year of our Lord 574. and the following This unjust desire caused a cruel War the desolation of many Provinces and in fine the death of Sigebert King Gontran their Elder endeavoured all he possibly could to prevent them and when he could not he sometimes went along with the strongest After two or three Ruptures and two or three Agreements Chilperic who would not let fall his design allured Gontran to his Party took up Arms again and fell into Champagne whilst on the other side his Son Theodebert entred into Poiton Sigebert hearing of it took a positive Resolution to pursue him to the death Having therefore drawn together all those fierce People from beyond the Rhine he penetrated without opposition even to the Banks of the Seine At the same instant he sent Gontran-Boson and Gondesigilus to Poitou to drive out Theodebert thence That young Prince being forsaken by his Men would nevertheless Fight but he was Taken Slain and Stript by Order of Gontran-Boson who afterwards being afraid of Chilperic's wrath took Sanctuary in St. Martins at Tours Year of our Lord 575 With the lamentable news of the death of his Son Chilperic received notice likewise of the agreement between Gontran and Sigebert The same hour overwhelmed with grief and astonishment he went from Rouen whither he had retired himself and shut himself up together with his Wife and Children in Tournay Every thing surrendred to Sigebert Paris opened her Gates to him and his Wife Brunehaud animated by revenge came presently thither with her Children to establish her Throne and push forward her Husbands resentment against Chilperic For this purpose he dispatches away a part of his Army which besieged him in Tournay and he with the other Body encamped at Vitry where he took the Oaths of the Neustrian Lords who having abjured his Brother acknowledged him for their King and lifted him up on their Target or Shield or set him on the Throne Nothing was left for Chilperic but the determinate Courage of Ferdegonde this was enough to save him She by her flattery and caresses knew so well how to Enchant a couple of Citizens of Terouenne Men robust and bruitish that they coming to Sigebert under pretence of entertaining him with some affair of great consequence did stab him in his Tent where they were soon cut in pieces by his Soldiers as she wished Sigebert was very near the 44 th year of his age and about the end of the 14 th of his Reign He had a Son but four years and eight Months old named Childebert and two Daughters Ingond and Clodosuinde the first was Married to Hermenigildus the Son of Leuvigildus King of the Visigoths the Second betrothed only to Recaredus elder Brother to Hermenigildus His Body was interred in St. Mards at Soissons near his Father by whose Order he had finished that Church GONTRAN King of Burgundy at Soissons CHILPERIC King
whom as afterwards with Childeric II. his Son she had great Interest and Power This done Grimoald confidently sets up his Son upon the Throne there are proofs of some Royal Acts he did but this attempt lost him all the veneration the Austrasians had for the memory of Pepin and gave them such horror for their Mayre and his Son that having taken them in some Ambuscades laid for them they led Grimoald to Paris to King Clovis who caused him to be put to death or as others will have it confined him to perpetual imprisonment however there was Year of our Lord 652 no more heard of him It is not said what became of his Son nor whether the Austrasians elected another Mayre Perhaps Erchinoald executed that Office in all the three Kingdoms for since the Decease of Floacat the Burgundians had created none CLOVIS II. Solus Year of our Lord 653. c. In these Minorities there being no Authority great enough to curb the Grandees they audaciously undertook to do any thing what pleased them best and most commonly deciding their quarrels by the Sword they put all the Kingdom into a combustion The Authors of those times accuse Clovis with giving himself up to the Debauchery or pleasures of the Mouth and Women and make a mighty noise for his having plucked off an Arm from the Body of St. Denis to place it in his Oratory They say he immediately fell into a fit of Madness as if he had been smote from Heaven Year of our Lord 655 and attribute to this attempt which at the worst was but an indiscreet Zeal all the mischiefs that afflicted the Kingdom of Franee during the Reigns of his Successors The same year this King aged only 21 or 22 years but having his Brain much shaken Year of our Lord 655 with frequent Convulsions dries up at the Root and dies in the spring of his age He did not Reign Seventeen years if we leave out that whole year wherein Dagobert dyed as the Authors of these times usually do but if we account from the very day he succeeded him he was entring into the Eighteenth he was interred at St. Denis His Mayre Erchinoald had amongst his Domestiques a young English Maid named Batilda of a rare Beauty but whom he had bought out of the hands of Pyrats who had stollen her away amongst some other Captives for in those days they brought great numbers from those parts he bestowed her upon this young Prince for a Wife about the year 548 or 49. and of his Slave made her the Wife of his Year of our Lord 548 King It was given out that she was of the Blood of the Saxon Princes who Reigned in England By this Batilda Clovis had three Sons Clotaire Childeric and Thierry Clotaire was saluted King of Neustria and Burgundy under the Government of his Mother and Erchinoald and Childeric made King of Austrasia whither he was Conducted and left he and his Kingdom under the management of Vlfoad Mayre of that Kingdom Thierry had no share perhaps because he was but yet in his Cradle Clotaire III. King XIII POPES VITALIANUS Elected in August 655. S. Thirteen years three Months EBROIN Mayre CLOTAIRE III. King in Neustria and Burgundy aged at most but Five years CHILDERIC King of Australia aged Three or Four years Year of our Lord 655 THe Government of the Mayre Erchinoald ended with his Life which hapned in a few Months after the death of Clovis the II or as others say a short time before Some with probability enough make him the prime stock of the House of Alsatia whence is issued that of Lorrain of these days which for Nobility yields to none in Chistendom unless that of France The French bestowed that Office upon Ebroin a man active valiant and who being greatly in friendship with the most Holy Men of those times and Founder of some Churches was held a good Man and he lived in that Reputation many years Year of our Lord 655 c. Queen Batilda Governed with as much Goodness Prudence and Justice as any wiâ—e King could have done And indeed for Ten years together there hapned no Trouble in her Sons Reign Before her time the Gauls as well those Infants that lay in their Cradles as their Fathers paid a great Tribute by Poll which restrained many from Marrying or obliged them to expose their Children the good Queen discharged them from it and forbid those Jews that used to buy such poor innocent Children and send them into Forreign Countreys to deal any longer in so inhumane a Trade Nay she bought several that those Infidels had already purchased and likewise such as had been stollen away by Thieves and sold for that purpose but she exhorted them to put themselves into Monasteries which she very greatly desired might be well Peopled She had a very particular care for all that concerned the Church For some time past the Princes had taken Money for Spiritual Promotions and the Bishops sold by Retail what they bought in the Lump She forbad that Sacrilegious Traffick Year of our Lord 656. 57 c. Besides she enriched divers Monasteries with Possessions and precious Ornaments obtained immunities for them and exemptions from Tribute built two famous Monasteries one for Women at Chelles the other for Men at Corbie on the Somme and invited many Holy persons to Court but to tell truth she gave too much access to the Bishops either for the good of the Church or her own Reputation Year of our Lord 664 or 65. Amongst the rest there were two in very great credit and esteem Leger whom she had made Bishop of Autun and Sigebrand we cannot tell of what place This last extreamly proud of the Queens Favour which gave occasion of much jealousie and ill report amongst the envious did so highly distaste the great ones that they put him to death without any form of Process or Trial. After this attempt whether they apprehended the Resentments of that Princess or had slandered and bespattered her on purpose to make her uncapable to Govern they besought her so importunately to retire that she was obliged to condescend Even those whom she had most gratified with her Goodness were of the party Some of the Grandees conducted her to her Monastery of Chelles where of a Queen she became only a simple Nun and yet was more Illustrious in her Humility then she had been in her exalted Greatness She lived till the year 686. Year of our Lord 665. c. It is to be believed that Ebroin the Mayre had managed all this contrivance that he might be left sole Governour for when the Reyns were off his Pride his Avarice his Cruelty and Treachery began to appear bare-faced He seized the Goods he took away the Offices he hunted away the Greatest that were about the Court and forbid any others to come in there without his leave Above all he hated Leger the Bishop of Autun because he was a Creature of
ready to march in he was obliged to recall it because of the Death of Childebert The last of this Kings days was the 15th of April Anno 711. He was Aged about Year of our Lord 711 Twenty eight years and had enjoyed the Title of King Sixteen or seventeen years He was buried at the Church of St. Stephens at Coucy Though he had not the opportunity of doing any Act himself being as it were Tethered by the Authority of Pepin nevertheless they gave him the name of Just rather to distinguish him from the other Childebert then because he deserved it Some give him two Sons Dagobert and Childeric The first Reigned the other was bred up to Learning or clerkship and surnamed Daniel There are those that will make him to be the Son of Thierry the First The Piety of Gontran the Mildness and Justice of Clotaire and the Tranquillity of his Reign after the death of Brunehaud turned the genious of the French already very Devout to be highly Religious and inclined them more generally to Reverence holy things and such as they believed to have a more frequent Communication with Heaven The Kings and Grandees outvied each other who should bestow most Gifts upon the Churches They deposited in those sacred Treasuries even to their very Girdles their Belts their Precious Vessels their Apparel when they were rich and set with precious Stones or Embroidered their Houshold Furniture and any other Rarities which were more for Ornament then use It was then who should build most Churches and Hospitals and who should found the noblest Monasteries The Kings strove to exempt such as they founded from all Temporal Jurisdiction and Charges and to ascertain the full and free Possession of all what they bestowed And therefore because of the assumed power the Bishops had to lay hands on all those Goods and that they disposed of the Donations and Offerings which were made to any of the Churches within their Diocess and for that besides they took some certain Duties for Blessing the Chrisome for the Consecration of Altars for their Visiting and sometimes for Ordinations they obliged them to free them from all such Impositions and even not to meddle with any Monastery but to leave the Correction and Government of the Monks to the Abbot excepting in case he had not power enough to compel Obedience and withall to confer the Sacred Orders to such Monks as should be presented without exacting any thing The Princes on their part did likewise freely bestow many the like Immanities which exempted them as well from Contribution for their Lands and from all Imposts on their Goods as from New-years-Gifts Lodging and Expence of Judges which they claimed from all other People wherever they went to hold their Courts Now these Exemptions were agreed to by the Diocesan but with the consent of his Brethren of the Clergy That of St. Denis the oldest now remaining was conceded by Landry of Paris upon the intreaty of King Clovis II. Anno 659. in the Assembly of Clichy it containeth many more things then the Protocole or Deed of Marculfe That of Corbie was given by Bertefoy of Amiens Anno 664. at the request of Queen Batilda It makes mention that there had been the like heretofore granted to the Monasteries of Agaune and Lerins and Leuxeu Pope Adeodat in the year 672. confirmed that which had been granted to St. Martins at Tours saying That divers others in France had obtained the like without which he would not have given his consent it being contrary to the Canons There was the like granted to Fontenels by Ansbert of Rouen in a Council which he called for that purpose in that City 682. In fine there were few great Abbies that did not obtain the like and ever the last gained something more and enlarged themselves as I may say to the prejudice and cost of the Hierarchy who lent them her Authority to destroy her self and them likewise since the Perfection of a good and holy Monk consists in Obedience and Humility I hardly find any Age wherein the heat for a Monastick Life reigned so greatly as in this Such as were prompted with that Spirit went from one Country to another wandring in every corner to seek out Forests and Mountains which were the more and sooner peopled by how much they were the more solitary and melancholly Ireland Scotland and England sent great numbers of these good Monks into France Colombanus the most renowned of all Irish by Birth having been very well received by King Gontran then by Childebert built the famous Monastery of Luxeu in the Mountain of Vosge His Reputation spreading over the three Nations drew thither a vast number of People and the Sentence of the Council of Mascon in the year 627. who undertook the defence of this Institute against the Monk Agrestin who would oppose him gave him such a Vogue that it spread all over France going an equal pace with St. Bennets and producing most eminent Servants to God as Emery Deile Eustasius and Gal Disciples of Colombanus Eustasius was Abbot of Luxeu and Gal who was likewise an Irishman went and built a Monastery in the Country of the Swissers about which was afterwards raised the City of St. Gall. St. Vandrille built one in the Diocess of Rouen at that place called Fontenelle St. Riquier one in Vimieu St. Vallery and St. Josse two others in the Diocess of Amiens upon the Sea-coast This St. Josse was younger Brother of Judicael King of Bretagne and had for Brother Vinok and two more who all chose to lead the same Life St. Ghislain one in Haynault Romaric one for Nuns in the Vosge in the place where stood his Castle of Romberg St. Tron one in the Country of Liege St. Bavon one at Ghent St. Goar one on the River Woker near the Rhine All these Monasteries to this very day bear the names of these Saints The Princes or Grandees gave them Ground whereon to build them together with the assistance of devout People and sometimes some of them did build at their own Charge and Expence Sigebert King of Austrasia erected twelve A Lord named Bobelen four in the neighbourhood of Bourges Clovis II. or rather an Archdeacon of Paris St. Maur des Fossez The Queen Batilda two very famous ones viz. Corbie for Men and Chelles for Women King Thierry St. Vaast of Arras as an Expiation for having consented to the death of St Leger St. Ouin or Owen filled his Diocess with a great number the most illustrious of them are Fontenelle Fescamp and Gemieges This last as likewise that of Noir-moustier in an Island of Poitou was the work or production of the care of that Philebert whom we have mentioned St. Eloy amongst many others built one at Solongnac in Limousin and one for Virgins at Paris of which St. Aura was the Abbess At this time it is the Church of St. Eloy before the Palace inhabited
that he would have appeared there to answer them had he been called thereto They allotted four Metropolitans to Judge Wenilon who assigned him to give his appearance before them within Thirty days We do not find they continued this proceeding for he died peaceably in his Arch-Bishoprick in the year 865. It is a mistake if we believe this man to be the Subject of those ancient Fables of Ganelon so renowned for his Treacheries in the old Romances Such as understand the old French Tongue know that Enganner signifies to deceive and Gannelon a deceiver a Traytor The Fathers of this Council or perhaps of another held at the same place wrote likewise to the Bishops of Bretagne to exhort them to acknowledge the Metropolitan of Tours and sent them a Memorial to admonish King Salomon to obey Charles King of France his Soveraign which he took little notice of The two Brothers Lewis and Charles and their Nephew Lotaire being reconciled by the mediation of honest men had an enter-view at an Island on the Rhine near Andernac attended by an equal number of Lords who staid upon either hand of the River They shook hands and agreed to meet the following Autumn at a general Assembly which was to be held at Baste But they did not come there having adjourned the enter-view till the next Spring at the Assembly of Coblents At this place the Bishops who were then Masters of the Government through the weakness of the Princes and the little Credit of the Grandees who shewed no courage but in fighting one another and devouring the People contrived the agreement between these three Princes and drew up the Articles or Form to be observed in this Peace which the German first swore to and the two others after him This year 860. the Winter was so hard that the Adriatique Sea was Frozen and the Merchants of the Neighbouring Countries carried their Goods to Venice by Waggons Year of our Lord 860 In several places there was Snow observed to fall of the colour of Blood which will not seem wonderful to those that consider how often it hath Rained the same colour The Bretons continually infested the Territories belonging to Charles wherefore he gave the Dutchy that is to say the Government between the Seine and the Loire to Robert Surnamed the Strong or the Valiant to keep those Marches or Frontiers Which I was willing to observe because he was certainly The stock of that Glorious Race of the Capetines the which should we reckon their Original or Commencement but from this year would have eight hundred and odd years of Antiquity clearly made out from Male to Male and of crowned Heads an Honour which no Line on Earth besides can boast of This year the Bald made a Lord named Thierry Earl of Holland from whom are descended those that have Hereditarily held that Earldom but they have ever had a much limited Authority and such a one as could undertake nothing against the Liberty of that Country Baldwin Earl of Flanders having the support of the German took the confidence to come as far as Senlis and steal away Judith the Daughter of Charles his King the young Widdow of Eardulfe King of England He retired into the Country belonging to Lotaire whence he conducted her to his own and soundly beat those Soldiers under Charles's pay who would needs pursue them The Pope having excommunicated him at that Kings complaint the young Count was so startled that the following year he went to Rome and threw himself at his Feet the Holy Father touched with his submission and the Princesses tears interposed to obtain his Pardon Charles was advised to condescend Nor indeed could the fault be any other ways repaired The passion of King Lotaire bred a greater scandal He had married Thietberge Daughter of Huebert Duke d'outre le Mont-Jou and allied to Charles the Bald Year of our Lord 862 Now in the year 860. having some disgust against her and love for Valdrade Neece to Thietgaud and Daughter of Gontier this being Arch-Bishop of Colen the other of Treves these two Prelates Interessed and Flatterers having Assembled their Suffragans at Aixla Chapelle obliged them to dissolve the Marriage and immediately Lotaire publickly marries Valdrade The pretended Motives for this Sentence were a supposed Incest of Thietberges with her own Brother and the Bishop of Mets his assuring them that Duke Huebert who could do all things in that Court had forced the Prince to take Thietberge for Wife after the death of the King his Father who in his Life time said he had made him Marry Valdrade At this time Nicholas I. was Pope a Prelate of great capacity and one that carry'd it high He wrote concerning this to Charles who before sought to quarrel with Lotaire and indeed would have expell'd him to break this Match had not Louis the German King interpos'd and obliged them to meet at a general Assembly Lotaire appearing there promised to submit to the judgment of the Church and to elude Charles his pursuit appealed to the Pope praying to let this cause be judged by a Council of French Bishops to be held at Mets and whither his Holyness might send his Legats The Holy Father grants his request the Council was assembled in June The two Bishops Goutaire and Thietgaud served the passion of the young Prince his Year of our Lord 863 Presents corrupted the Popes Legats in a word the Council pronounced in favour of the dissolution The two Arch-Bishops had the confidence to carry this Sentence to Rome to have the Popes approbation But far from that he calls a Council in the Lateran Palace by whom they were deposed and both of them excommunicated and it was declared that all the other Bishops who were assisting at this false judgment should incur the same punishment unless they craved pardon by express Legats Thietgaud and Gontaire replied very smartly to the decree he published and framed another whereby they declared him excommunicate himself and contravening even said they the Holy Canons favouring the excommunicated and separating through pride from the society of the other Bishops Which did not a Year of our Lord 864 little encourage the revolt of Photius Patriarch of Constantinople and the obstinate resistance of Hincmar Arch-Bishop of Reims Nevertheless soon after Thietgaud submitted to the Sentence but could not obtain his absolution during the life of Nicholas But the Arch-Bishop of Collen regarded it not still continuing in his obstinacy Charles the Bald's subjects male-contented with his Government had made several Leagues against him he engages his Friends likewise to make one for his service and to meet in all parts of the Country under his Standards to be ready to Year of our Lord 865 March when ever he required it Valdrade had promised to go for absolution to Rome she went twice into Italy And twice repenting her having repented returned back The Pope having therefore Assembled his Church declared her
the divertisement with women and taking counsel only of the lowest and meanest People gave the Lords of Lorraine just cause to forsake him to submit themselves to Louis Those that had the Government of this young Prince brought him purposely to Thionville where they put the Crown upon his Head and Zuentibold endeavouring to revenge it was slain in a Battel fought between them the Year of our Lord 900 3 d. day of August in this year 900. He Reigned five years Charles in Neustria or West-France Louis in Germany Lorraine Rodolph I. in Burgundy Louis in Provence Lambert and Berenger in Italy In the War which Arnold Earl of Flanders made against Hebert Earl of Vermandois Eudes had favoured Hebert and King Charles took part with Arnold to whom he was in some sort obliged for what he enjoy'd Now Eudes being dead Hebert who was subtil and insinuating found means to make friends with Charles and got into so much credit with him that this simple and un-knowing King took the City of Arras from Baldwin and gave it to Count Altmar that he might restore Peronne to Hebert Baldwin or Baudouin coming to the King to beseech him to let him have his Town again was denied with rough language Now Fulk Arch-Bishop of Reims great both by birth and merit was then chief Counsellor to Charles and holding the Abbey of Saint Vaast had excommunicated Baldwin for invading the Lands thereof Wherefore Winomach Lord of the Island Vassal to the Count imputing the affront his Lord had received to the Counsel of this Arch-Bishop way-laid him in a Wood and murthered him for which being pursued and excommunicated by all the Bishops made his escape into England where he was eaten up with Lice It seems this was an Epidemical distemper in those days For we find divers persons in History that died thereof amongst others Arnold the Emperor the preceding year and King Rodolph of whom we shall hereafter make mention The Hungarians began to make themselves known about the latter end of the Reign of Charles the Fatt They then seated themselves in Pannonia having chased out the Huns and from thence became a Scourge to all the Provinces beyond the Rhine and the Year of our Lord 900 Danube as the Normans were to all on this side They were Originally a People of Scythia Brutish and Barbarous beyond all imagination Their Mother 's trained them to inhumanity from their Birth gashing and mangling their Faces that they might have nothing of humane and by swallowing down blood mixed with their own tears before they sucked their first Milk they might grow Blood-thirsty and pitty-less to all mankind They caroused in blood and fed upon raw flesh cut the hearts of those they took Prisoners in quarters and swallowed the gobbets reeking warm had no faith nor truth nor honour no wit but to defraud and contrive mischief always a turbulent and furious courage either against an Enemy or against one another The women were yet worse then the men They had scarcely any other weapons besides Arrows but were so dextrous in the use of them that every one they shot did some execution and every wound almost was Mortal They were all Horsemen very serviceable in flat and open Countries who would notably harrass an Army within their Bow-shot but aseless in Mountainous or Woody places or for Sieges Nor indeed would they ever adventure to come to handy-blows but ever made a running Fight King Arnold had brought them in to fall upon the back of Zuentibold a Sclavonian Prince who would have usurped Moravia and make himself King He being dead they were not afraid to fall upon the Countries belonging to Louis his Son And this year they gained a great victory against his Forces near the Year of our Lord 901 City of Augsburgh and afterwards Plundred Bavaria Scwaben Franconia and Saxony Year of our Lord 902 The year following having good information of the Civil War betwixt Berenger and Louis the Son of Boson they marched into Italy The Italians An. 899. tired with the Government of Berenger and above all with Adebert Marquiss d'Yvree Father of another Berenger who was likewise King of Italy had called in Louis But Berenger I. had made himself so strong with the assistance of Adebert Marquiss of Tuscany that he hemm'd him in and forced him to a promise he would renounce the Kingdom upon condition he would give him free liberty to march home again without farther lett or molestation The oaths of ambitious Princes are as frail and short liv'd as the vows and promises of Lovers the same Adelbert who had supported Berenger's cause turning Coat and solliciting Louis to return thither again that un-advised Prince confides in Faithless men But he had time to repent at leasure For they delivered him up to Berenger who deprived him both of his Empire and his fight That done he forces the Pope it was John IX to Crown him Emperor but so soon as he was gone from Rome the Pope sent for Lambert who was then private in some corner of Italy and Crowned him Which was confirmed by a grand Council held Year of our Lord 902 at Ravenna Berenger Governed 22 years we might say happily enough had it not been for the incursions of the Bulgarians In the Month of August this same year they again entred Italy with a numerous Army and having ransack'd the Territory of Aquilea Verona Coma and Bergamo came at last towards Pavia Berenger mean while had got his Forces together When they saw his numbers three times more then they expected they endeavoured to make a retreat and when he followed and pursued them so close that they could not get off without fighting they profer'd him all their Plunder and their own Baggage The Italians would hear of nothing less then to have them all upon discretion Necessity converted their fear into fury and dispair the Hungarians now attaque their pursuers and cut their Army all in pieces And Lombardy did afterwards become their prey Nor did they attempt to drive them thence but with their money a Bait so sweet that it allured them to return again often In the year 903. a Star appeared near the Pole-Artick which darted from the North-North-East towards the South-West along Train resembling a Lance which passing between the Signs of the Lyon and the Twinns crossed the Zodiack It was seen for three and twenty days For seven or eight years together there was nothing so remarkable as the cruel incursions of the Normans An. 903. Heric and Haric two of their Captains burnt Year of our Lord 903 the Castle of Tours and Saint Martin's Church Year of our Lord 905 An. 905. Rodolph and Gerlon two other Commanders of the same Nation took the City of Rouen upon composition and there setled their Habitation fortifying the Castles that were near them From thence for five years space they made Incursions into all the neighbouring Provinces conquered Constentine and Inhabited
his Death Seulfe Arch-Bishop of Rheims having had some contest with the Kindred of Hetto his Predecessor for having taken some Fiefs from them which they held of the Church was joyned with Hebert's Party to gain their protection and had made him a promise never to assent to any Election whatsoever but whom he pleased Year of our Lord 925 During the Reign of Rodolph of Lewes Transmarine â—nd Lotaire III. there was almost a continual War betwixt the French and the Germans for the Kingdom of Lorrain We shall mention only the great events It is certain that Rodolph reduced a great part thereof to his obedience Year of our Lord 924 They were fain this year 924. to make a Collection for the Normans as Charles the Bald had done several times partly by voluntary contribution the rest by way of a Tax The Duke of Aquitain William I. of that name the Son of Ebles did not submit himself so much as he ought to Rodolph he was obliged to turn his Sword that way William knowing his resolution advanced to the River of Loire which made the bounds of his Dutchy where after some negociations he passed the same and alighting came to Rodolph who embraced and kissed him sitting on Horse-back and the next day granted him a Truce for eight Which being expired the Duke did him Hommage and in requital had the City of Bourges and Berry restored which Rodolph had taken from him Year of our Lord 924 The Italians grown weary of Berenger bestowed the Soveraignty upon Rodolph II. King of Burgundy Trans-jurane Berenger taking no other counsel but from revenge was so unhappy as to make a league with the Hungarians and drew them into Italy Those Barbarians having sacked Mantoua Brescia and Bergamo reduced the celebrated and rich City of Pavia Capital of the Kingdom of Lombardy to a heap of ashes Two hundred of the Citizens escaping the Fire and Captivity redeemed the Walls thereof from the hands of those destroyers for eight Bushels of Silver which they had raked together out of the Ashes and Rubbish of it's ruines This money being received the Bulgarians passed the Mountains and penetrated Year of our Lord 924 even into Languedoc The same Rodolph and Hugh Count of Vienne followed them and pressed so close upon them that those Barbarians partly cut off by the Sword and the rest perishing by the Flux or Dysentery and want of Food enriched greatly those Countries with their Spoil which they came to plunder Year of our Lord 925 The year following Berenger struggling to regain the Kingdom of Italy was slain by his own People at Veronna After his death the Title of Emperor in the West was not conferr'd upon any at least by the Pope or Italians till Otho I. An. 962. By his death the Kingdom remained entirely Rodolph's but the inconstancy of the Italians who were ever hunting out one Lord and Master by another made them resign themselves to Hugh Count of Arles the Son of Brethe to ridd themselves of Rodolph Who being informed that they had Treacherously killed Burchard Duke of Swevia his father in Law withdrew himself into his own Kingdom of Burgundy not daring to attempt any thing amongst such wickedly disposed people Rodolph King of France Henry of Germany Hugh of Italy Rodolph II. of Burgundy Every year almost the Normans made Incursions Besides those that were in Year of our Lord 926 Neustria there were others in Burgundy and towards Artois and at all times they were forced to be making head against them or be in pursuit of them but they had such sure friends amongst the Grandees who would not suffer the Kingdoms grievances to be scann'd that they ever got away scot-free This year Rodolph King of France having surrounded them in a Wood in the Country of Artois they made a Furious Salley unawares in which he was wouned and had been taken without the timely assistance Count Hebert gave him Those that held the Islands in the Loire having been a long time besieged by Hugh and Hebert defended themselves so stoutly that they gave them the City of Nants for their habitation Year of our Lord 927 Notwithstanding the strickt alliance which seemed to be between King Rodolph and Hebert the City of Laon became an occasion of discord between them Hebert would have it for Otho his Son and the King desired to keep it to himself Hebert not able to get it by friendship had thoughts of gaining it by force He therefore draws Charles the Simple out of Prison and carries him to parley with the Normans who suffer'd his confinement with great impatience because he had bestow'd upon them the richest Province of France This menace having effected nothing for as much as Emma the Wife of Rodolph was obstinately bent to preserve Laon and had put her self in there he conducts him to Reims as if designing to restablish him Then was the Queen forced to let go her hold and surrender up the place to Year of our Lord 927 Hebert who being by this means appeased returned Charles to the Castle of Peronne and made a new Oath to Rodolph Year of our Lord 928 In the year 928. Hugh King of Italy came into France we do not find for what reason King Rodolph went towards Lyonnois to receive him and conferr'd with him A crew of Normans gotten into Boulenois made a double Foss or Water-graft round about Guises Afterwards Arnold Earl of Flanders gave it in Fief to Sigebert Year of our Lord 929 Commander of that Fleet who some time after stole away his daughter Eltrude but finding he came to besiege him was in so much dread of his wrath that he hanged himself and left that Woman great with child of a Son named Adolph who was since Earl of Guisnes Year of our Lord 929 Sometimes Rodolph otherwhile Hebert gave hopes of setting the unfortunate Charles the Simple at Liberty and paid him all the respects due to a Soveraign Yet only death took him out of their custody putting a period to his Captivity and unhappiness in the City of Peronna the 7 th Day of October in the Year 929. He was Interred at St. Foursy's in the same City His Reign if we reckon from his Coronation day to that of his imprisonment was 37 years his life 50. He left but one Son named Louis by his Queen * Ogina Daughter of Edward King of England Rodolph King of France Henry of Germany Hugh of Italy Rodolph II. of Burgundy Whilst King Rodolph was gone into Aquitain he had news that the Normans of the Islands in the Loire had adventured to run as far as Limosin He went and Year of our Lord 930 set upon them in the place called Dextricios we cannot well tell where that was and so hemm'd them in that not one of them returned This seasonable victory gained him great esteem amongst the Aquitains and induced them to acknowledg him with a little more submission Year of our
fit we observe that at the Coronations of Kings they forgot not their own Interests nor failed to make them promise solemnly to maintain the Rights of the Church But we do not find them always so careful and zealous for the good of the People and the Prerogative of the Nobility Of those that appeared with most Splendor some were such as were noted for Intrigues and Factions and of them were a great number Ebbon of Reims Agobard of Lyons and Bernard de Vienne active in the degrading of Louis the Debonnaire Ebroin of Poictiers for disposing Aquitain to surrender themselves into the hands of that Emperor who would bestow it upon Charles his beloved Son Thietgaud de Colen and Gontier de Ments touching the marriage of Valdrade And Hincmar of Reims for his resisting the Pope and intermedling with all affairs both of Church and State wherein he acted with as much heat as judgment during the Reign of Charles the Bald. The others were illustrious for their Learning as the same Agobard Theodulfe and Jonas his Successor Rabanus Maurus of St. Bennets Order and Arch-Bishop of Mentz Hincmar of Reims who had been Abbot of St. Denis and the other Hincmar his Nephew Remy de Lyons Adon de Vienne Hilduin Abbot of St. Denis Loup Abbot of Ferrieres in Gastinois Henry Monk of St. Germain d'Auxerre Valafride Strabon Abbot of Richenoue Florus Master of the Church of Lyons that is a Divine and John Scot or Scotus surnamed Erigena This last was a great Philosopher and for the Beauty and Delicacy of his wit highly cherished by Charles the Bald even to the lying in his Chamber But in Theology he passed for one of a raving Brain whose sentiments were not right and sound As for Hincmar de Reims we have his works whereof every one may judge The other Hincmar his nephew very zealons for the Popes authority collected their Decretal Letters and was the first that durst put down the names of some Ancient Popes who till that time had none but which Isâ—dore Mercator had already gathered together Other Canonists followed his error till at length the more judicious found they were but fictitious Adon de Vienne composed a Matyrology which is yet in being Hilduin wrote the life of St. Denis the Areopagite by command of Louis the Debonnaire from the Memoires of Methodius Patriarch of Constantinople who to flatter the French endeavour'd to have two things believed which the Criticks pretend to condemn of false-hood The one that this Saint Denis had been Bishop of Paris the other that those Writings which go under his name were his own We have the Epistles of Loup de Ferrieres which give a great light in the affairs of those times And the Monk Henry wrote the Life of Saint Germain de Auxerre in more Elegant Verse then the roughness of that Age could promise I shall observe en passant that Latin Poetry began to rouze its self under Charles the Bald and amongst other Poets that flatter'd him there was one that made a Piece containing three hundred Hexameters in praise of the Bald where every word began with the Letter C. Some for their good lives deserved to be placed in the Catalogue of Saints as Anscher taken out of the Order of St. Bennet by Louis the Debonnaire to be the first Arch-Bishop of Hamburgh Established by that Emperor and to Preach to the Danes and Swedes the same Rabanus whom we have mentioned Two Audrâ—'s one of Sens the other of Mans Ayos de Bourges Prudence de Troyes Hildeman de Beauvais Foulquin and Hunfroy de Teroüanne Amant de Rodez and Bernard de Vienne This last had Adon above-named for Successor both in his Sanctity and his See But he had very few in that good Christian Maxim so often in his Mouth and ever in his Soul That the Riches and Goods of the Church are the Patrimony of the Poor and that a Clergy-man hath no right to them but for his necessities Nor did he keep any more Domestique Servants but one Priest and one Lay-man Proclaiming to all Prelats by this noble example That he who is great in himself hath no need of other Equipage or Train of Servants to make him appear so LOUIS IV. Surnamed TRANSMARINE King XXXII Aged XIX or XX Years POPES LEO VII in 936. S. 3 years 6 Months STEPHEN IX Elect. in 939. S. 3 years 4 Months MARTIN II. Elect. 943. S. 3 years 6 Months and one half AGAPET II. Elect. 946. S. 9 years 7 Months Louis IV. surnam'd Transmarine in France Otho I. in Germany Rodolph II. in Burgundy Transjurane HUGH and Lotaire his Son in Italy Year of our Lord 936 OF all the French Lords Hugh le Blanc Earl of Paris and Orleans Duke of France and Brother in Law to the late King had the greatest Authority in the Kingdom He durst not however take the Crown because Hebert Earl of Vermandois and Giselbert Duke of Lorraine two very potent Enemies would have broke his Measures He found it therefore more safe to make a King of the Blood of Charlemaine who should be wholy obliged to him for his Crown To this purpose he dispatched a Famous Deputation of Prelats and Lords whereof William Arch-Bishop of Sens was the Chief into England to beseech Ogina the Widdow of Charles the Simple to bring back her Son Louis whom the French desired to own for their King She granted their request but not without great opposition of King Aldestan her Brother He apprehended his Nephew might be destroy'd by some treachery as his Father had been and therefore would not be satisfied with only their Oaths but took Hostages besides Hugh and the other Lords came to receive their King at his Landing at Bullogne tender'd their Hommage on the Strand and thence conducted him to Laon where he was Anointed by Arnold Arch-Bishop of Reims the 20 th day of June Year of our Lord 936 Immediately after his Coronation Hugh who still retained the Administration of the Kingdom carried him into the Dutchy of Burgundy for his own ends for there were some pretences but how grounded we do not well know And Hugh le Noir appropriated it to himself as Heir of the Deceased Rodolph his Brother who had it from Richard his Father on whom Boson had bestowed it when he was made King of Burgundy Le Noir or the Black had therefore Seized on the City of Langres after the Decease of King Rodolph but the new King and Hugh thrust him cut again without striking one blow and engaged him to yeild up one half of the Dutchy to Hugh le Blanc or the White An. 937. King Rodolph died having Reigned 25 years in Burgundy Transjurane and only five in the Kingdom of Arles He left three Children Conrade who Succeeded him but whom Otho Seized upon and detained fourteen years Burchard Bishop of Lausanne and Adeleis a most Illustrious Princess who by her first marriage was Wife to Lotaire King of
years afterwards The Earl of Sens Raynard II. of that name called the Bad using much violence against Leoteric his Archbishop and all the Clergy within his Territory the Year of our Lord 1015 King besieged his City and took it deprived him of his Earldom and rejoyned it to his Demeasns The Burgundians having Rebell'd and divers Lords plundering and committing Robberies in the Province by means of their Castles and Fortified places the King Year of our Lord 1015 went thither and pulled down and destroy'd all those Nests and Dens of Thieves His eldest Son whose name was Hugh a Prince accomplish'd both in Mind and Body giving very great hopes though he were not yet Ten years old He caused him to be Crowned at Compiegne on the day of Pentecost in the year 1017. and afterwards his name was put to all Acts with that of his Fathers Year of our Lord 1017 ROBERT and HUGH his Son Year of our Lord 1018 THe Duke of Aquitain at his return from his third or fourth Pilgrimage to Rome those that made most were the most esteemed found his Country enriched with a new Treasure The Abbot of St. John's de Angery having lighted on the Scull of a Man in a Wall the Report was spread that it was the Head of St. John Baptist The People of France Lorrain and Germany who in those days ran with much Zeal after all sorts of Relicks flocked thither from all parts King Robert the Queen the Duke of Normandy and a great number of other Lords brought their Offerings thither The Kings was a Scollop-shell of Gold which weighed Thirty pounds an admirable Present in such times when Gold and Silver were fifty times more scarce then in our Age. The Danes or Normans beyond Seas having not quite forgotten their custom of Piracy did yet sometimes make Descents in England and on the Coasts of France They had Conquer'd a great part of England and at last made some Kings there This year they landed in Poitou being perhaps informed of the great Crowds of Pilgrims that came to see the Head of St. John and indeed they carried away a great many good Prisoners All the Country Armed to drive them thence The Duke of Aquitain going to attaque them twenty or thirty of his most considerable Gentlemen fell into Holes cover'd over with Branches and green Turfs which the Normans had digged about the Avenues to their Camp This accident disheartned the rest from going on however the Normans fearing a ruder onset dislodg'd in the night and got into their Vessels but they were forced to give them what Ransom they pleased to demand for the Prisoners they had gotten Gefroy Duke or Earl of Bretagne for in those times the Dukes took indifferently the Titles of Earls dying his eldest Son Alain III. of that name succeeded him in his Dukedom and Eudes his second had the Earldom of Pontieure in Partage Alain espoused the Princess Avoise Sister of Duke Richard and by that means Normandy and Bretagne hitherto great Enemies were united in Alliance and Amity Year of our Lord 1020 21 c. There was a War begun from the year 1017. between Richard Duke of Normandy and Eudes or Odon Earl of Champagne and Chartres because Eudes would not give up the City of Dreux granted him in Dowry with Matilda the Sister of Richard who was lately dead so that Richard had built the Castle of Tilleres from whence he made incursions on the Country of Dreux Eudes put himself in a posture to surprize the Garison having with him the Counts Valeran de Meulan and Hugh du Mans but he was soundly beaten and put to the rout Year of our Lord 1022 The War growing hotter he raised so many Enemies against the Norman Duke that that Prince fearing to be overwhelmed sent to Lagman or Lacime King of Sueden to assist him and also Olaus King of Norway who being landed in Bretagne and having forced and sacked the City of Dole marched towards the Chartrain Country All France upon remembrance of their former Desolations fell into an extream apprehension and dread and the King bestirr'd himself with so much activity to quench this Flame that he brought the two Princes to an Agreement and satisfied the Northern Kings who returned again after the Norwegian had received Baptism at Rouen having the name of Robert give him at the Sacred Font. The Emperor Henry and King Robert desiring cordially to take away all cause of difference between them agreed upon an Interview at the River Meuse Whilst the Courtiers on either side were making several Scruples about the Place the Manner and such like trivial Circumstances and Punctillios and the two Princes on the contrary had it in their thoughts to outvye each other in Civility Henry passes the River early in the morning and pleasantly surprizes Robert who the next day repays his Visit in the same manner Both Treated one the other Magnificently and offered each very rich Presents to the other but Robert took only a Book being the New-Testament and a Reliquary or Shrine wherein was a Tooth of the Martyr St. â—incent which was enriched with Precious Stones and Henry a pair of Ear-Pendants Year of our Lord 1024 This last being dead at Bamberg the German Princes elected Conrad Duke of Wormes who could not go to Rome to receive the Imperial Crown till the year 1027. At first the Italian Princes and Prelats hating the Teutonick Nation who Treated them Peremptorily ruling as it were with a Rod in hand refused to obey and sent into Year of our Lord 1025 France to profer King Robert the Kingdom of Italy for his Son Hugh Upon his refusal they Addressed themselves to William Duke of Aquitain very well known in Rome by his frequent Pilgrimages He hearkned to the Proposal understood their Methods sent some thither to found them throughly and after went himself When he was amongst them he found nothing of all they had promised every one demanding of him instead of giving to him they propounded no Conditions but such as were very ridiculous so that finding they had a design upon his Purse and feared his Power he laughed at them and left them The imperious and proud Humour of Queen Constance gave the King perpetual trouble and displeasures who used all means to soften her One day being offended and angry with a favourite of his named Hugh de Beauvais who upheld the Husbands Spirit against her undertakings she makes her complaint to Fulk Earl of Anjou her Cousin intreating to Revenge her The Count sent twelve of his own Country Gentlemen who taking their opportunity when this Favourite was Hunting with the King seized on him and cruelly cut off his Head in the Kings presence without any regard to his Intreaties Year of our Lord 1025 The King was forced to put up this Affront for fear of a greater mischief and withall to endure this Step-mother should Treat his Son King Hugh with the
to St. Omers But as he was retreating towards Monstreuil Eustace Earl of Boulogne who had a great Body of Reserves took Robert and carried him to St Omers He that Commanded the place surrendred it to deliver Richilda for which the King was enraged that he sacked and burnt the City Year of our Lord 1071 The same year Richilda though still assisted by the French lost another Battle in which Eustace Earl of Boulogne being made prisoner his Brother Chancellor of France and Bishop of Paris to obtain his freedom obliged the King to intermedle no more in that dispute Nay which was more he made him Marry Bertha the Daughter of Florent I. Earl of Holland and Gertrude of Saxony who had taken Robert for her second Husband By this means he was engaged to maintain the Cause for his Father-in-law who by his assistance defeated Richilda's Army the Fourth time and so remained Master Year of our Lord 1071 of Flanders Roger Brother of Robert Guischard Duke of the Normans in Puglia was by his Brother sent into Sicilia which was possessed by the Saracens he conquerd d the City of Panormus and Messina which opened him a way to become Master of the whole Island Year of our Lord 1073. and 4. After the death of Baldwin the Regent King Philip being arrived to the age of Adolescency ran into many disorders and vexations with his Subjects Whereupon Pope Gregory VII who sought but the occasion to constitute himself the Judge and Reformer of Princes wrote to William Duke of Aquitain that together with the Lords he should make him some Remonstrances and Declare that if he did not amend he would Excommunicate both him and all the Subjects that obey'd him and would place the Excommunication upon St. Peters Altar to re-aggravate it every day Year of our Lord 1076 The death of Robert I. Duke of Burgundy his Son being deceased before him had left two Sons Hugh and Otho the first of these succeeded his Grandfather Year of our Lord 1077 After William the Conquerour had entirely subdued England suppressed the Rebellion of his Son Robert and quelled the Manceaux he went into Bretagne to reduce them to his Obedience and laid Siege to Dol. The Duke or Earl Hoel implored the Kings help who marching in person to his assistance made them raise their Siege A Peace immediately follow'd but was broken almost as soon again upon another Year of our Lord 1076 score which was for that the Conquerour in the Kings Presence having given the Dutchy of Normandy to his Son Robert before he went to invade England Robert would take possession of it the Father hindred him and the King justified the Son in his demands This was the subject of a new War The Father besieges his rebellious Son in the Castle of Gerbroy near Beauvais In a Sally the Son wounds him and turned him off from his Saddle with his Lance but Year of our Lord 1077. 78. and the following coming to know who it was by his voice he helped him up again with Tears in his eyes and the Father at length overcome by the sentiments of nature and the intreaty of his Wife and Barons gave him his pardon and quitted the Dutchy to him then returned into England Gozelon Duke of the Lower Lorrain who in favour of Baldwin Earl of Monts Year of our Lord 1077. and 78. the Son of Richilda had fought and defeated Robert the Frison being a while after this Victory assassinated in Antwerp the Emperour detained the Dutchy of the lower Lorrain and gave only the Marquisate of Antwerp to Godfrey Duke of Bouillon the Son of Adde Sister of Gozelon and Eustace Earl of Boulongne but Twelve years after for his great Services he gave him the said Lorrain Year of our Lord 1080 The Lords of Touraine and of Maine extreamly pressing Foulk Rechin by force of Arms to set Gefroy his Brother at liberty this barbarous Man rather then release him chose sooner to give the County of Gastinois to King Philp that he might maintain him in his unjustice Some time after his own Son named Gefroy likewise and surnamed Martel moved Year of our Lord 1080 with the miseries of his Uncle forced his Father to set him free but whether it were the Melancholy he had contracted or some Drink they had given him he could never relish the sweetness of his liberty The famous Robert Guischard Prince of the Normans in Puglia after he had gained Year of our Lord 1085 two Naval Victories one over the Venetians and the other over the Greeks died this year 1085. He had two Sons Boemond and Roger the eldest being then upon the coasts of Dalmatia with a Navy his younger Brother seized on the Dutchies of Pouille and Calabria for which the Brothers were contending till the time of the first Croisado or Holy War when the French Lords passing that way to the Holy Land brought them to an agreement Their Uncle Roger held Sicily with the Title only of Earl Year of our Lord 1085 Upon complaints about the vexations and ill Treatment Duke Robert shewed to his Norman Subjects his Father the Conquerour comes over out of England to chastise him but his paternal tenderness did easily admit of a reconciliation The death of Guy-Gefroy-William his Son William VIII aged but 25 years succeeded him Year of our Lord 1086 King Philip a very voluptuous Prince being disgusted with Berthe his Wise made use of the pretence of Parentage which was between them and having proved it according to the course then in use caused his Marriage to be dissolved by authority of the Church though he had a Son by her named Lewis about Five years old and a Daughter named Constance He banished his Divorced Wife to Monstreuil upon the Sea-side where she lived a long time poorly enough Year of our Lord 1087 This Divorce according to Rule and a judicial Sentence being made he demanded the Daughter of Roger Earl of Sicilia named Emma who was conducted as far as the coasts of Provence however he did not Marry her the reason is not given Year of our Lord 1088 William the Conquerour become crazy was under a strict regiment of Dyet at Rouen to pull down his over-grown fatness which did much incommode him The King rallied at him and asked when he would be up again after his Lying in the Duke sent him word that at his Uprising he would go and visit him with 10000 Lances instead of Candles and indeed as soon as he could he got on Horseback he destroy'd all the French Vexin and forced and burnt Mantes But he over-heated himself so much in the assaulting of that place that it set his own Blood and Body on fire and brought a fit of Sickness so that he returned to Rouen where he dyed in a few days By his Will he gave the Kingdom of England to William called Rufus who was bat his Second Son Normandy to Robert who was
they held as what they produced how situated or some particularities of their Castles or such Office they bore Some there were that chose such things as preserved the memory of their brave Feats of Arms or some singular Adventure which had hapued to them or theirs and others in fine would have such as betokened their inclination not to mention those that would needs have their Coats out of a meer fantastical Humour and without any design These glorious Marks and Badges belonged otherwhile only to the Nobility and was not the least illustrious part of the Succession of their Noble Families Now at this time every one hath them the meanest villains are the most curious herein they have not only brought the ✚ Rebus's of the little Citizens Merchants Cyphers Shop-keepers Signs and Artists tools and implements into their Coats under the shadow of Crowns Helmets and Supporters but likewise by a confidence not to be endured they have made choice of the most illustrious things and given occasion to observe that there are no better Coats then the Arms of a Villain or Plebeian Year of our Lord 1096 97 98 and 99. From the first Croisade William Rufus King of England taking the opportunity of his Brothey Roberts absenc had seized on the Dutchy of Normandy Swoln with this increase of Power he promised himself to invade France because he saw the Excommunicated King languishing in the Arms of his Concubine who besides had but one lawful Son of 15 or 16 years of age and was destitute both of Money and Friends Nevertheless this young Prince surpassing his age did by his Courage and Virtue defend himself so well three years together that Rufus was forced to leave him in Peace and retired again into England In that Countrey letting himself loose to all sorts of infamous pleasures tiranny Year of our Lord 1100 and execrable wickedness both towards God and Man he perished in a tragical manner being as he was Hunting shot with an Arrow either designedly aimed at ☞ him or by chance which pierced his very Heart Henry his younger Brother got into the Throne during the absence of Duke Robert who was still in the Holy-Land Notwithstanding the Popes Excommunications the King had renewed society with Bertrade by the consent even of Foulk her Husband being so infinitely enchanted with that Woman that he was often seen at her Feet there to receive all her Year of our Lord 1098 99 and 1100. Commands as if he had been a Slave Some of the Belgick Bishops honour'd the Kings Adultery with the name of Marriage and on their great Feasts according to ancient custom placed the Crown upon her Head to shew or signifie they did not hold her to be Excommunicated but the Popes Legats denied to communicate with him and conven'd a Council at Poitiers in July where he was Excommunicated once more William Duke of Aquitain who feared the like Treatment having committed the like fault for he entertained a Concubine and had forsaken his lawful Wife affronted and abused the Prelats greatly and perhaps his Sorrow and Repentance for it afterwards prompted him to go to the Holy Land as we have observed The King constant in his Affections solicited the Popes Favour so earnestly that he sent some Legats to re-view the Cause Year of our Lord 1101 They assembled a Council at Baugency The King and Bertrade promised to abstain from each other till the Popes Dispensation and thus the Council broke up Year of our Lord 1102 without giving any Judgment The King continued with the recommendation of the Bishops to endeavour the obtaining a Dispensation in the Court of Rome in the end he had it he was Absolved in the City of Paris and his Marriage confirmed so officacious is constancy even in things not commendable The opposition of the Bishops served only to authorize the use of Dispensations from Rome which since have been very common in all matters and occasions Young Lewis whom they named the Prince of the Kingdom and was designed King by his Father it is not specified in what year took the Government of Affairs Year of our Lord 1102 3. and the following PHILIP LEWIS Surnamed the Gross designed King aged 19 or 20 years In those times the Rights of the French were such that they could not legally arrest the Lords nor punish them with death unless it were for Treason but only deprive them of their Lands I mean those they held of the King they called them Honours This was it that gave them Licence to arme to oppress the weaker to rob and plunder and above all usurp the Goods of the Church Year of our Lord 1100 Lewis had to do first with Bouchard Lord of Montmorency against whom he embraced the Cause of the Monks of St. Denis whose Lands that Lord had pillaged and having appeared according to an assignation in the Kings Court of Justice refused to obey the Sentence or Judgment given against him therein He forced him by destroying and burning all his Villages and his Castle it self to submit to Reason In like manner he chastifed Droco or Dreux de Mouchy and Lionnet de Meun who tyrannized this over the Churches of Orleans the other over those of Beauvais Also he humbled Matthew Count of Beaumont upon Oise Son-in-law to Hugh Earl of Clermont in Beauvoisis who having half of the Lands of Luzarches in Dowry had seized upon all and had devested the good Man his Father-in-law Year of our Lord 1103 He durst or would not intermeddle with the quarrel between the two Norman Brothers Robert and Henry The First upon his return from the Holy Land demanded the Kingdom of England of his younger Brother who had usurped it after the death of William Rufus The business after three years Negotiation and War was determined in this manner Robert An. 1107. having lost a Battle at Tinchâ—bray in Normandy was made prisoner by his cruel Brother who deprived him of Sight by placing a burning Bason of Brass before his Eyes whereof he dyed in Prison Thus the whole Succession of William the Conquerer remained in Henry the youngest of his three Sons Year of our Lord 1103 In the year 1103. Lewis passed into England to King Henry I cannot tell upon what design Bertrade his Mother-in-law who could willingly have sent him out of the World sollicited Henry to make him away and this Artifice failing she caused poison to be given him at his return into France which put him in great hazard of his Life Year of our Lord 1104 The King to rid himself of the trouble brought upon him by the Family of Montlehery agreed upon a Marriage with Guy Troussel betwixt Philip his Son and bertrade to whom he gave the Earldom of Mantes on condition that Guy should deliver him the Castle of Montlehery which he did Year of our Lord 1104 At the same time or a little after Guy Lord of Rochefort Uncle of Troussel entirely possessing the Kings
he brought most of them to their Duty one after another Eudes being dead during these Transactions he Treated with Hugh de Puiset who was to inherit that Earldom and making him resign his Right provided he would give him his liberty put himself in possession of that place of great importance at that juncture Year of our Lord 1112 c. Some time after Hugh having re-fortisied le Puiset and committing a thousand Insolencies upon the Neighbouring Countries he besieged him in that place but the Champenois having the rest that were in League together for him failed not to come to relieve it Two great Battles were fought one to the Kings disadvantage the other to his advantage after that they talked of an Accommodation and Hugh obtained his Pardon Milon Vicount de Troyes whom the King had re-setled in Montlehery had withdrawn himself from the rest of the Leagued Party Crescy not being able to draw him in again surprized him by Treachery and after he had led him about to divers Castles bound and setter'd not knowing where to secure him so but the King would deliver him nor how to let him go but he would take his Revenge he caused him to be Strangled in the night and thrown out of a Window at the Castle of Gumet He would have had it believ'd that he had broken his Neck endeavouring to make his escape but the Crime was discover'd and the King with great diligence besieged the Castle of Gumet The wretched Murtherer being condemned to justifie himself by Duel in the Court of Amaulry de Montfort had not the courage to expose himself to that hazard and therefore finding himself Convicted he came and cast himself at the Kings Feet gave up his Lands to him and put on the Habit of a Monk as his Pennance Year of our Lord 1116 Hugh du Puiset being Revolted the third time the King again besieged that Castle razed it and then turned that Rebel out of all his Estate This unfortunate Man having in a Sally killed Anseau de Garlande Grand Seneschal and Favourite to the King and not daring to remain any longer in the Country went a while after to the Holy Land which in those times was the Refuge of Banish'd and Condemned People as it was likewise of true Penitents Year of our Lord 1116 Thomas de Marle Lord of Coucy had been Excommunicated and Degraded of his Nobility Anno 1114. by the Popes Legat in the Council of Beauvais for the Sacriledge and Robberies he committed upon the Churches and the People belonging to the Bishopricks of Reims Laon and Amiens That Sentence had inflamed his Rage to do yet worse even to the setting Fire to the City of Laon and the Noble Church of Nostre-Dame I believe it was that of Liesse to Massacre the Bishop Galderic and cut off that Finger whereon he wore the Episcopal Ring The King who flew about every where with incredible Celerity ran that way before this Robber had seized the Tower of Laon forced and razed his Castles of Crecy and Nogent and brought him to Reason Year of our Lord 1116 17. He quelled likewise another puny Tyrannet named Adam that ravaged all the Neighbourhood of Amiens He had gotten possession of the City Tower which was very strong and gave a great deal of trouble but the King having begirt it for two years gained it and razed it About Ten or Eleven years afterwards Thomas draws the King again upon him by the like Deportment so that he went and besieged his Castle of Coucy It hapned that making their approaches Rodolph Count de Vermandois met him wounded him and took him Prisoner He was carried to Laon where he died miserably of his Wounds Henry King of England was the Boute-feu and Support of all these Revolts Year of our Lord 1117 King Lewis in Retaliation had stirred up against him his Nephew William Son of the Deceased Duke Robert whom he admitted to do Hommage for the Dukedom of Year of our Lord 1117 Normandy and gave him the Castle and City of Gisors the first occasion of the Quarrel This Nephew being thus supported put his Uncle to so much trouble that he was fain to make a Peace with Lewis promising to leave all the Rebels to his Mercy Year of our Lord 1118 Archambaud Lord of Bourbon being dead Hemon his Brother surnamed Vaire-Vache under pretence of claiming his Share detained the whole Possession to the prejudice of the Son and Treated his Subjects especially the Clergy very Tyrannically The King assigns him to plead his Right before the Parliament Upon his refusal to appear he went in Person to compel him and besieged his Castle of Germigny Hemon dreading his Wroth came and craved his Pardon he received him to Mercy and took both him and his Nephew along with him to bring them to an agreement of all their Disputes The Quarrel between the Emperor and Pope concerning the right of Investitures being burst out anew with more heat then ever Pascal II. being Pope the Emperor Henry V. had seized both upon him and all his Cardinals and constrained him to allow him the priviledge of nominating two Bishopricks Afterwards that Pope being at liberty annull'd that Treaty in the Council of Latran and Excommunicated the Emperor Year of our Lord 1118 In this year 1118. Galasius was elected in the room of Pascal or Paschalis but he sought not the approbation of the Emperor who being displeased at that neglect or contempt caused one Maurice Burdin to be chosen a Limosin by Birth and Archbishop of Braga in Portugal to whom they gave the name of Gregory Year of our Lord 1119 Gelasius being then driven from Rome took his way into France to hold a Council there as he did in the City of Vienne but he died the same year in the Abby of Clugny Year of our Lord 1119 The Cardinals that had followed him elected Guy Archbishop of Vienne who took the name of Calixtus II. He was the Brother of Stephen Earl of Burgundy and Uncle of Adele or Alix Queen of France who was the Daughter of his Sister and of Humbert Earl of Morienne and this consideration did fortisie the Holy See with great Alliances against the Emperor Year of our Lord 1119 The whole Kingdom of France having taken his part he came from Vienne to Toulouze where he held a Council Thence he went to Reims where he called another in which divers Canons were made to take away Simony the Investiture of Benefices from Laicks Concubines from Priests and the selling of Sacraments The King was present the Emperor Henry would not be there and having refused to part with the right of Investitures was Excommunicated There was almost the same contest and difference betwixt the Popes and the Kings of France These pretending the Election and Provisions of the Popes were not sufficient without their consent So that it had begot great troubles in the Churches of Bourges Reims Beauvais and
others But the Popes durst not shock these Kings so rudely It was good Policy not to make so many Enemies at once to keep France in reserve as a Refuge against the Emperors and bring down the Germans first because they troubled them most The Peace between the two Kings Lewis and Henry was of no long duration The Friends of the late Duke Robert and William his Son declared for Lewis and the Earls of Anjou and of Flanders served him zealously as Thibald Earl of Champagne served Henry who was his Uncle Year of our Lord 1119 Baldwin Earl of Flanders being wounded upon an assault of the little Castle of Bures in Caux did so inflame his Wound with his Debauches that he died of it at Aumale Charles surnamed the Good Son of his Sister and Camut King of Denmark succeeded him in the Earldom of Flanders and maintain'd himself there courageously notwithstanding that Clemence of Burgundy Mother of Baldwin who was again Married to Godfrey Earl of Louvain endeavoured to make it fall into the hands of a Bastard of Flanders named William of Ypres who had Married her Neece After a world of Ravages Firings Sieges Surprizes and Plunderings of Places after two great Battles fought betwixt the two Kings one in the Plain of Bâ—eneville near Noyon on Andelle where the French had the worst the other near Breâ—euil where the success was doubtful Pope Calixtus as the common Father being come expressly Year of our Lord 1120 to Gisors brought them to agree by persuadin them to restore what places they had taken to each other Thus the Dutchy remained to Henry who gave it to his eldest Son William surnamed Adelin in wrong of William his Nephew This Peace did not put an end to his grief and troubles For a few weeks after he lost his three Sons and with them above Three hundred Gentlemen the flower of Year of our Lord 1120 his Nobility and his best Captains It was a strange misfortune They being Embarqued at Harfleur to go into England their Seamen who were drunk split the Ship as they were getting out of Harbor And at the same time his Nephew's Friends and Partisans stirred up new Disturbances in Normandy and re-engaged the King of France to uphold them Which renewed the Desolations of that Province In Anno 1119. died Alain surnamed Fergeant Duke of Bretagne Son of Hoel who departed this Life Anno 1084. His Son Conan surnamed the Gross or Ermengard succeeded him This Alain if we believe the Historian of Bretagne prescribed certain Forms and Rules for the doing Justice in his Country where before it was administred very confusedly For he Establisht a Seneschal at Renes to whom he would have all Persons to resort unless those of the County of Nantes who had one likewise and began to hold an Assembly or Parliament which judged of Appeals from the Seneschals of Rennes and Nantes for in Matters Criminal there lay no Appeal There were no certain and fixed Officers no more then any certain times for sitting They afterwards made a President in the absence of the Chancellor and a Master of Requests Year of our Lord 1123 The death of Hugh III. of that name Duke of Burgundy to whom succeeded Odon his eldest Son who Married Mary the Daughter of Thibauld Earl of Champagne Year of our Lord 1123 The War grew hotter in Normandy betwixt the French and King Henry and was ca ried on with various success But Henry found nothing more troublesome then his Domestick Officers and Servants who had framed a Conspiracy against his Life He could confide in no body he trembled at the approach of all that came near him he died a thousand times a day for fear they would Murther him and in the night shifted Beds five or six times and changed his Guards not thinking he was safe in any place believing there were none but Enemies about him Year of our Lord 1124 The Emperor reconciled himself with the Pope and laid down the Investitures But his Wrath still boiling in him would needs discharge it self upon France Year of our Lord 1124 He had Married Matilda Daughter of the English King for that reason as likewise for the Resentment he conceived because Lewis had protected Pope Calixtus he raised a very great Army to destroy and lay that City of Reims flat with the ground where Calixtus had held the Council against him Lewis on his side resolved to draw all the Forces of his whole Kingdom together even to the very Priests and Friers so that in a short time he had 200000 Men out of the Isle of France Champagne and Picardy only The Emperor having information of these prodigious Levics found it safer for him not to come into the Country of Messin but retire At his return Triumphant Lewis brings back the Martyrs Holy Standard called the Oriflamme and deposites it again in St. Denis whence he had taken it rendred Solemn Thanks to those Glorious Saints carried their Shrines upon his Shoulders which had been taken down and exposed on the high Altar during all the time of the War and made or confirmed several Grants to that Abby especially the Fair of Lendit out of the City for they had one already within Vpon this occasion we may observe the difference there was between the Forces of France and the Kings For when he made a War for himself he could have only the People of those Countries properly in his own possession and they served but unwillingly but when it was the Kingdoms Cause or Concern all the Forces of France were in action every Lord came in Person and brought all his Subjects along with him Year of our Lord 1125 The Emperor Henry being dead the Princes of Germany brought in Lotaire Duke of Saxony who likewise retaining the Kingdom of Burgundy as united to the Empire Renold Duke of Burgundy refused to acknowledge him For which he would have deprived him of his Earldom and have bestow'd it upon Bertold Duke of Zeringhen and this begot a bloody War between these two Houses who fought till the time of Frederick I. who Married Beatrix the Daughter of Renold This year 1126. the King received the Complaints made by the Bishop of Clermont Year of our Lord 1126 concerning the Usurpations and Tyrannies of Robert Earl d'Auvergne and going Year of our Lord 1126 thither in Person forced the Earl notwithstanding the Rocks and Castles of his High-Lands or Mountains to submit to Reason Five or six years after the repeated Violences of the same Earl engaged him to make a second Expedition and besiege Montferrand The Duke of Aquitain came to relieve his Vaslal but having from the height of a Mountain taken a view of the great Strength and Forces the King had with him he sent to offer him all Obedience and brought the Earl as far as Orleans to demand Pardon and submit to all that should be injoyned him Year of our Lord 1126 Death of
William VIII Duke of Aquitain Aged Fifty six years He left his Possessions to William IX his Son who was the last Duke of those Countries The Father had Married Emma only Daughter of William Earl of Arles and Toulouze and Brother of Raimond de Saint Gilles By her he pretended to the Earldom of Toulouze but Raimond de Saint Gilles said his Brother had sold it to him before he went to the Holy Land It caused a War between William Duke of Aquitain and Alphonsus Son of Raimond and afterwards again between Queen Elionor and the same Alphonso Year of our Lord 1127 Whilst Charles most justly surnamed the Good prudently governing Flanders relieving the Poor protecting the Clergy and doing Justice to all a Family in Bruges abounding in Riches and in numbers of Men but of Servile Race taking offence for that he had commanded them to open their Granaries in the time of Famine and withall being instigated by the Bastard William of Ypres plotted the Death of this Prince So that one Morning before day-light whilst he was at Prayers in St. Donats Church at Bruges these Villains Murther'd him at the foot of the Altar The horror of the Fact and intreaties of the Nobility of the Country made the King take Horse immediately to revenge this Parricide He besieged the wretched Authors in the Church and having taken them punished the two principal very severely For one after they had put out his Eyes and cut off his Nose was bound to a Wheel planted very high where they pierced him with an infinite number of Arrows and Darts thorough every part of his Body The other was hanged on a Gallows with a Dog tied on his Head whom they beat continually that he might tear his Head in pieces All the rest who fled into the Steeple were cast down from the top to the bottom and dasht against the Ground This done he adjudged the Earldom to William of Normandy Son to Duke Robert as being the nearest or next Heir without any regard to Baldwin Earl of Hainault and to William of Ypre who pretended a Right The last obstinately strugling to carry it by force the King handled him so roughly that he took from him the City of Ypre and all the Lands he held in Flanders Year of our Lord 1128 As little gained Stephen Brother to the Earl of Champagne who was Earl of Boulogne by his Wife though the King of England his Uncle supported him in this design not so much to advance him as out of hatred to the King of France and a fear of the growing greatness of his Nephew William The King finding that with the Assistance of the Earl of Hainaults and Godfrey of Namurs Forces he had besieged Ypres led his Army into that Country again gave them Chace and secured the Country to William However the Covetousness of this Prince vexing his new Subjects with Imposts he wanted not and selling of Offices the principal Cities revolted and invited in Thierry Earl of Alsatia whom they owned for their Prince and in truth he was of the Blood of their Counts by the Female side The King therefore made a third March towards those Quarters and advanced as sar as Artois to serve William but not finding things disposed so as he expected he came his ways back again William did not lose Courage for all this He gave Battle near Alost to Thierry and put him to the rout but pursuing his Victory he received a Wound in his Arm which being ill-dress'd caused his Death and after that all the Disturbances raised in Normandy by his Partisans wholly ceased In this Kings Reign there were four Brothers private Gentlemen of the Family of the Garlands Anseau William Stephen and Giselbert who had the greatest share in the favour of the King in his Council and Offices Anseau had that of Grand Seneschal or Dapifer which he held in Fief of the Earl of Anjou who was the Lord Suzerain for in those times Offices and Dignities were granted in Fief and even the Contributions or Offerings and other Revenues proceeding from the Charity and Devotion of the Faithful Stephen who was Archdeacon of Paris was provided with that of Chancellor and Giselbert with that of Butler Now Anseau being slain at the Siege of Puiset Anno 1118. the King bestowed his Office upon William and he being dead about the year 1120. Stephen desired it rather for himself then for his younger Brother Giselbert This was a Monster that never any Reason nor any Example could justisie a Soldering-Priest making profession to spill Human Blood And indeed all good People had him in horror but his Ambition and the flattery of Courtiers who lay the fairest Colours upon the fowlest Facts stopp'd his Ears that he might not hear the just Reproaches of his Brethren nor the checks of his Conscience His Pride ascended to that height to shock Queen Alix who had Spirit enough not to endure it and it was perhaps for that reason that he would surrender his Office to Amaulry de Montfort who was Married to his Neece the Daughter and Heiress of Anseau Year of our Lord 1128 c. The King not thinking that convenient he dared to take up Arms against him and made a League with the King of England Thibauld Earl of Champagne and other of his Masters Enemies plainly demonstrating thereby that in his former Services his ✚ aim was not the good of the Kingdom but his own Grandeur The King vigorously assaulted the Castle of Livry which they had fortified they shot at him and he was wounded in the Thigh with an Arrow The smart of his Wound redoubling his Anger he forced the Castle and razed it In fine he continued to make so hot a War upon them that Stephen was constrained to renounce the Office of Seneschal But the Party being strong he thought fit to leave him that of Chancellor Year of our Lord 1129 Great toil and labour more then number of years making Lewis old he found it fitting the better to secure the Kingdom to his Family to have his eldest Son Philip Crowned Which was performed in the City of Reims the 14th of April being Easter-day in presence of Henry King of England his Vassal LEWIS the Gross and PHILIP his Son HEnry likewise having no Children by his second Wife caused his Daughter Matilda Widow of the Emperor Henry to be acknowledged and accepted of as Heiress to his Crown and Dominions and Re-Married her to Gefroy surnamed Plantagenet Son and future Successor to Fulk Earl of Anjou The Party was good and besides he made it his choice thereby to divide this House of Anjou which had given him so much trouble from the King of France's Party and joyn it to his Interest King Lewis who had defended the Churches and protected the Clergy changed his Language towards the end of his Reign because they carried themselves too haughtily towards him and would not suffer he should meddle with the
nomination of Benefices nor lay his hand upon their Revenues He turned some out of their Sees and seized their Lands Stephen Bishop of Paris and Henry Archbishop of Sens adventur'd to Excommunicate him but the Pope Honorius annulled their Censures Year of our Lord 1130 Pope Innocent II. Successor to Honorius was no sooner elected but makes himself General of an Army to compel Roger Duke of Puglia to resign that Country to him which he pretended I know not wherefore to belong to the Holy See In the beginning he overcomes Roger and blocks him up in the Castle of Galeozzo but his Son William hastning thither disingages his Father cuts the Popes Army in pieces and takes him Prisoner Now although he set him immediately at liberty again nevertheless the report of his Captivity being carried to Rome caused them to elect another Pope who took the name of Anacletus Innocent not daring therefore return to Rome held a Council at Pisa where he Excommunicated Anacletus From thence he came into France where he called another at Clermont in Auvergne His Cause had some difficulties the King assembled the Prelats of his Kingdom at Estampes to know which Party they must take St. Bernard Abbot de Cleruaux strongly maintained Innocents after his example every one embraced it Nevertheless Girard Bishop of Angoulesmes advice to whom Anacletus had restored the Legation of Aquitain that had been taken from him had so much influence upon William Duke of Aquitain that he declared himself for this Anti-Pope and persisted a year and an half in that Schism vexing those Church-men extreamly who would needs side with Innocent Year of our Lord 1131 One day being the Fifth of October as the young King Philip was riding thorough some Street of the Suburbs of Paris a Hog thrusts himself betwixt his Horses Legs who flownced and curveted in such a manner as threw him on the Ground and then ran over his Body wherewith being much bruised he died the same night To Comfort the King for this loss and the great and sensible grief it was to him and in some measure repair it he was Counsell'd to let his other Son named as himself Lewis be Crowned He carried him to Reims where the Twenty fifth of the same Month he was Anointed and Crowned by Pope Innocent who then held a Council there against the Anti-Pope Peter Laon. It seems it was at this Coronation that they reduced the Pairs or Peers who were hereafter to be assistant at those Ceremonies to the number of Twelve Six Ecclesiasticks and Six of the Laity who were chosen from amongst all the Lords and Prelats of that Quality They did not however take away from the other Pairs their Prerogative of not being Judged by any but their Pairs in matters Feodal as well Civil as Criminal Of these Twelve Pairries are remaining only the six Ecclesiasticks five of the Lay ones having been re-united to the Crown by Confiscation Marriage or otherwise and the sixth which is that of Flanders torn from them by the Emperor Charles V. LEWIS the Gross the Father LEWIS the Young his Son called the Pious or Debonnair Aged about 20 years Year of our Lord 1132 THierry of Alsatia remaining Master and Possessor of the Earldom of Flanders was admitted to render Hommage to the King who received him because it would not have been in his power to drive him out and besides he was his Kinsman Geofrey Plantagenet was come to be Earl of Anjou Fulk his Father being returned to the Holy Land to take possession of the Kingdom of Jerusalem to which he was called by King Baldwin his Father-in-Law He pressed King Henry his Wives Father very earnestly to give him Places and Money for advancement of Succession which begot such a divorce between them that Gefroy besieged and burnt Beaumont and Henry had carried his Daughter back into England had she not been in Child-bed When she was up again she fell into Dispute with her Father and parted very much discontented from him which gave him so much jealousie and anguish that being taken ill of a slow Fever and a Loosness he died the First day of December having Reigned Thirty five years Year of our Lord 1136 c. His Succession no more then his Life was without great Troubles That Stephen Earl of Boulogne of whom we have spoken his Sister Adela's Son being in England seized on that Kingdom and maintain'd himself in it as long as he lived Not content with that he likewise disputed for Normandy and almost totally dispossessed Matilda and Gefroy her Husband The unhappy Province dividing it self in favour of both Parties was ravaged by both and the King of France favouring sometimes the one sometimes the other kept it still in a Flame William IX Duke of Guyenne touched with Compunction resolved to go in Pilgrimage to St. James's in Galicia Before he went he made his Will and Testament wherein he ordained that his eldest Daughter named Alianor should Marry the young King Lewis and should bring him all his Lordships in Dowry For his only Son was dead but he had yet another Daughter called Alix-Pernelle In his Journey he fell sick and died having confirmed his Will His Corps was conveyed to St. James's in Galicia and interred in the Church and yet the Legend-makers do not stick to say That he feigned only that he was dead and stealing away so privately that his own Secretary knew not of it he went and turned Hermit in a Grotto or Cave near Florence where he macerated his Body by terrible Pennance and that it was he who instituted the Order of the Guillermins Of the same Fabrick is the Tale they make of the Emperor Henry V. saying That to do the greater Pennance for his Faults he caused it to be reported that he was dead and retired to Anger 's where he ended his days serving the Hospital but before he died discovered himself to his Confessor and was known by Matilda his Wife who was again Married to Gefroy Earl of Anjou King Lewis was likewise fallen Sick of a Diarrhea which took him upon his return from his last Warlike Expedition in which he had razed the Castle of St. Bricson on the Loire the Lord thereof using to rob the Merchants William's last Will and Testament being brought to him he accepted of the Match bestowed a gallant Equipage upon his Son and ordered a Train of many Lords and above Five hundred Gentlemen with whom he went to Bourdeaux where Elienor Resided and there Espoused her in presence of the Lords of Gascongny Saintonge and Poitou then brought her to Poitiers towards the middle of July Year of our Lord 1137 In that City he heard of the Death of the King his Father which hapned at Paris the First day of August the Thirtieth of his Reign and the Fifty eighth of his Age. His Body was carried to the Church of St. Denis Before this Prince Violence reigned Majesty and Justice were
of Allemans or Almans because this Prince being Duke of the Almans had ever both in his Train and in all Offices more of those People then of any other Country The Italians even in those days called then Tudesâ—hi as they do still Death ravisht from the King his two ablest Councellors which were Suger Abbot of St. Denis the Fifteenth of January and Rodolph Earl of Vermandois the last Prince of the second Royal Branch of that name He having no Children and his Sister being Married to Philip Son of Thierry Earl of Flanders the King who cherished this Philip left him the possession of Vermandois the Subject of a Quarrel in the Reign following Year of our Lord 1152 Whether it were jealousie or scruple of Conscience the King eagerly pursued the Separation from his Wife and obtain'd it by Sentence of the Prelats of his Kingdom whom he had called together at Baugency Immediately proceeding with integrity he withdrew his Garrisons from Aquitain to leave her that Country in freedom and gave her liberty to go whether she pleased keeping the two little Daughters he had by her with him This Woman burning with Love and Ambition Married some Months after Henry Duke of Normandy and Presumptive King of England a Prince both young hot and Red-Haired very able to satisfie her Desires As soon as Alienor was Divorced Lewis sent to demand Constance-Elizabeth Year of our Lord 1152 Daughter of Alfonso King of Castile by Hugh Archbishop of Sens who performed the Ceremony of that Marriage at Orleans and there Crowned the new Queen the Archbishop of Reims protesting in vain that this Right belonged to him only Lewis not able to endure his Vassal should go equal with him nor Henry who had so many great Lordships suffer a Soveraign above him it was imposible they should continue good Friends This last being assigned to appear in Parliament refused to come Lewis to punish him besieged and took the City of Vernon but Henry submitting out of some apprehension he yet had of King Stephen the Lords reconciled him with Lewis who restored the place to him Year of our Lord 1152 King Stephen the Usurper of the English Crown being dead Henry gets into possession of that Kingdom according to the former agreement betwixt them It was not permitted the Kings of France says Yves de Chartres to Wed any Bastards Now there went a report that Constance was such wherefore King Lewis two years after his Marriage would satisfie himself herein and under the pretence of going on Pilgrimage to St. Jago in Galicia took her Fathers Court in his way the most magnificent Prince of those times who received and entertained him Year of our Lord 1154 most Royally at Burgos and took away that suspicion he had conceived Year of our Lord 1154 Divers do in this year 1154. reckon the Death of Roger I. King of Sicily one of the most Warlike and Potent Princes of this Age. He raised the reputation and fame of the Normans to its highest pitch in so much as after him it did ever decline He had a Son named William and a Daughter called Constance the Son Reigned but with so much Injustice Avarice and Tyranny that he deserved the surname of Wicked or Bad. He prided himself most in filling his Coffers and draining his Subjects to the very last Penny Constance being an old Maid Married the Emperor Henry VI. in the year 1186. Year of our Lord 1155 Gefroy Earl of Gien on the Loire knowing himself too weak to oppose William Earl of Nevers who made a rude War upon him allied himself with Stephen de Champagne Count of Sancerre and gave his Daughter to him and for Dowry his Earldom to the Exclusion of his Son Herve The Son thus disinherited by his Father without any fault committed implored the Kings Justice who goes in Person and besieges Gien takes it upon Composition and settles him there Year of our Lord 1159 When Henry was possess'd of England Gefroy his Brother demands Anjou Touraine and Maine according to their Fathers Will but far from giving these he takes Loudun Chinon and Mirebeau from him so that he had been left without any thing had it not been his good Fortune to be chosen by the Nantois for their Earl who having forsaken Hoel stood in need of a Prince to defend them against the Assaults of Conan Year of our Lord 1158 The Enmities between King Lewis and Henry being ready to break forth the Lords found out a way to prevent it yet a while by the Alliance of Henry's eldest Son of the same name with Margaret Daughter of Lewis by his second Wife though both of them were Children and had scarce left off their Bibs The Girl was put into the Father-in-Law's hands and Lewis promis'd to bestow in Dowre with her Gisors and other places in the Normand Vexin which in the interim were trusted to the keeping of the Grand Master of the Knights-Templars to be deliver'd up to Henry when the Marriage should be Consummate The Emperor Frederick composed the Difference between Bertold of Zeringhen and Renauld about the Earldom of Burgundy in such a manner that he dismembred or cut off from it the little Country of Nuctland which is beyond Mount-Jou and the Cities of Geneva Lausanna and Sion to give them to Bertold leaving the remainder to Renauld whose Daughter and Heiress named Beatrix he Married After which keeping open Court with great Pomp at Besancon he received Hommage of all the Lords and Prelats belonging to the Earldom of Burgundy and the Kingdom of Arles who notwithstanding regarded not his Soveraignty but only to obtain a better Title to their Usurpations Those that were common Friends to both endeavour'd to procure an Enterview between him and the King of France and agreed upon the time and place but the King stung with Jealousie at the Grandeur of that young Prince or having some suspicion he would design upon his Person would go attended with a great number Year of our Lord 1159 of Soldiers which caused Frederick to withdraw very much dissatisfied Gefroy Earl of Nantes being dead without Children Conan Earl of Renes or of Little Bretagne seized on the City of Nantes King Henry Brother of Gefroy pretending it belonged to him by Succession undertakes to recover it by force of Arms. Year of our Lord 1160 Conan being hardly press'd buys his Peace by giving him his Daughter and Heiress named Constance for his Third Son by name Gefroy the same as his Uncle deceased After the Death of Pope Adrian the greater number of the Cardinals elected the Cardinal Rowland a Siennois who was named Alexander III. But the Roman People and two Cardinals only gave their Votes for Cardinal Octavian a Roman who took the name of Victor The Right of either side was dubious for on the one hand the Decrees of some Popes had referr'd the Election to the Cardinals only and on the other the Roman
People pretended they had the better Title and had most commonly maintain'd themselves in possession of it alledging the Popes could not deprive them of a Right born with the Church its self and practised in the times of the Apostles Year of our Lord 1160 King Lewis relying upon the Judgment of the Gallican Church whom he Assembled for this purpose at Estampes adhered to Alexander All the West followed his Example excepting the Emperor Frederick who with his Almans and what Partisans he had in Italy fiercely rejected him because he was Install'd without his Approbation King Henry besides the Kingdom of England held the Dutchy of Normandy which had then a part of Bretagne holding of it the Country of Maine Anjou Touraine and the Province of Aquitain His Ambition upheld by this great increase Year of our Lord 1160 of Power made him revive afresh the Right his Wife had to the County of Toulouze For this end having made Alliance with Raimond Prince of Arragon and Earl of Barcelonna he raised a great Army of Aquitains and Routiers amongst whom was Malcolme King of Scotland enter'd upon Languedoc took Mâ—issac Cahors and some other places The jealousie Lewis had of his growing Greatness moving him at least as much as Year of our Lord 1160 61. the Prayers and Intreaties of Earl Raimond his Brother-in-Law caused him to march that way and cast himself into Toulouze but he had so few with him that it was in the power of Henry to have forced that City had not the scruple of falling upon his Soveraign deterr'd him from it After which they were reconcil'd but Henry would not let fall his claim and hold of the Earldom of Toulouze till he bestow'd his Daughter Jane Widow of William II. King of Sicily on Earl Raimond In these days the cursed Crew of Routiers and Cottereaux began to make themselves known by their Cruelties and Robberies we cannot tell certainly why they were so called but they were a kind of Soldiers and Adventurers coming from divers parts as from Arragon Navarre Biscay and Brabant who wandred over all Countries and would be hired by any one that offer'd to take them provided they might be allow'd all manner of Licence The Cottereaux were most of them Foot-Soldiers the Routiers served on Horseback In the mean while Pope Alexander fearing the Emperor after he had pull'd down the Pride of the Milannois might come to Rome did not judge himself a fit match and so retired into France where he remained above three years Year of our Lord 1161 This year he held a Council at Clermont in which he did not forbear to thunder against Victor Frederick and all their Adherents Year of our Lord 1161 The most Potent and most Factious Family in all France was the House of Champagne Lewis to divide them from the English and gain them to himself takes Alix for his third Wife who was youngest Sister to the four Brothers Champenois for Constance his second Wife was dead Anno 1159. and for the two Daughters of his first Bed he gave one to Henry the eldest of the four Brothers Earl of Troyes and the other to Thibauld the second Earl of Blois Year of our Lord 1162 Pope Alexander came to Torcy on the River Loire where the two Kings Lewis and Henry received him with extream submission Both of them alighted and each taking one of the Reins of his Horses Bridle conducted him to the House prepared for him Year of our Lord 1162 A second time the Emperor came into the County of Burgundy bringing his Victor with him and a second time some endeavoured to procure a Conference betwixt him and the King to determine that Difference which made the Schism by the Judgment of a Council They agreed upon the place of Interview to be at Avignon as being the Frontier of either Prince whither the King by Oath obliged himself to bring Alexander But that Pope refusing to go there saying he could be judged by none it broke off the Conference and put the King in very great danger For the Almans having reproached him that he kept not his word plotted to way-lay him and had taken him Prisoner had not the King of England caused his Army to advance to disengage him Thence follow'd a cruel War between the Emperor and Alexander which horribly tormented Italy and out of which the Emperor could not withdraw himself but by the means of a shameful submission craving Pardon of the Pope and suffering him to set his Foot upon his Throat Which hapned in Anno 1177. in the City of Venice Year of our Lord 1163 Anno 1163. Alexander assisted at the Council of Tours Assembled by his order and there he thunders once more against Victor and Frederick He caused some Decrees likewise to be made against the Hereticks who had spread themselves over all the Province of Languedoc There were especially of two sorts The one Ignorant and withall addicted to Lewdness and Villanies their Errors gross and filthy and these were a kind of Manicheans The others more Learned less irregular and very far from such filthiness held almost the same Doctrines as the Calvinists and were properly Henricians and Vaudois The People who could not distinâ—uish them gave them alike names that is to say called them Cathares Patarins Boulgres or Bulgares Adamites Cataphrygians Publicans Gazarens Lollards Turlupins and other such like Nick-names Year of our Lord 1163 Death of Odo III. Duke of Burgundy to whom succeeded Hugh III. his Son There being Peace between the two Kings Lewis employs himself in doing Justice and suppressing Disorders The Inhabitants of Vezelay having made a Corporation would have shaken off the Abbot who was their Lord protected by the Earl of Nevers He compell'd them and their Earl to ask Pardon and break their Corporation The same year he went in Person to â—ight the Earl of Clermont the Earl du Puy and the Vicount de Polignac Lords of Auvergne who denied to forbear plundering of Churches overthrew them and brought them Prisoners to Paris where having detained them a long while he releas'd them upon giving their Oaths and Hostages In like manner he punished the Earl of Chaalons with the loss of his County because he had pillag'd the Abby of Clugny and kill'd above five hundred some Monks some Servants However the Daughter of this Man re-entred upon her Patrimony Year of our Lord 1163 Thomas Becket Chancellor of England elected Archbishop of Canterbury Anno 1163. soon lost the good favour of King Henry for divers causes and particularly Year of our Lord 1164 for stickling too fiercely in maintaining the Priviledges of the Clergy Being banished the Kingdom he retired himself in France in the Abby of Pontigny of the Diocess of Sens whence he gave much trouble to his King and suffer'd not a little himself during six years Year of our Lord 1164 Death of Victor the Anti-Pope in whose stead the Cardinals of his Party elected Guy
de Creme who named himself Paschal and was confirmed by Frederick But Alexander III. recalled by the Romans left France the year following and returned to Rome to put an end to that Schism Year of our Lord 1165 In the year 1165. Lewis had a Son born whom he believed Heaven had sent him in return of his Prayers For this reason he was surnamed Dieu-Donne i. e. Gift of God or God-Gift and after for his brave Acts the Conqueror which Paul Emilius has rendred by Interpretation Augustus and is followed in the same by all the Modern Historians Year of our Lord 1166 The Life of Conan the Little Duke of Bretagne which had been ever full of trouble ended Anno 1166. to make room for Gefroy of Normandy his Son-in-Law This Prince being yet but Fifteen years of Age remained together with his Datchy under the Guardianship of the King his father for some time after which being at liberty he begins a War against him because he would make him do Hommage for his Dukedom a Duty he required by vertue of a Treaty made by Charles the Simple with Rollo Duke of Normandy Year of our Lord 1168 Thierry of Alsatia Earl of Flanders dies at Gravelin Philip his Son governs after him Year of our Lord 1169 70. The Feud was renewed between the two Kings upon several occasions one was the Earl d'Auvergne whom Lewis as Soveraign Lord took into his protection and safeguard against Henry to whom the Earl was a Vassal holding of him in Aquitain the other the support he gave to Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury The War thereupon breaks forth and lasted for two years however it was carried on but slowly and so as the Respect either of them had for Pope Alexanders Mediation brought them to an Agreement for some time Year of our Lord 1170 These two Princes having Conferr'd together at Saint Germain en Laye concluded the Peace betwixt them and there the King of England's Sons rendred Hommage to Lewis for those Lands their Father assured to them by advance of Inheritance Henry of the Dutchy of Normandy the County of Anjou and the Office of Grand Seneschal joyned thereto from the time of Grisegonnelle as also the Earldoms du Maine and de Touraine and the second named Richard of the Dakedom of Aquitain as for the third which was Gefroy he had Bretagne by his Wife and ow'd Hommage to none but the Duke of Normandy The Kings Intercession obtained of Henry that Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury might return into England but he continuing to act with the same heat four Gentlemen of Henry's Court out of Complaisance as mean as detestable having plotted and contrived to deliver their King of him entred the Church at Canterbury where that Holy Prelat was reading Service it was on the Christmas Holy-days and Murther'd him at the foot of the Altar Year of our Lord 1171 Though the King disown'd this Murther and shewed an extream grief nevertheless Year of our Lord 1172 having given cause to commit it if perhaps he did not command it the Pope Year of our Lord 1173 made a mighty business of it from which he could not get clear without submitting to great Pennance and such Reparations and Satisfactions as was ordained by his Legats The Holy Archbishop revered as a Martyr was Canonized the following year and the frequent Miracles wrought on his Tomb attested his Holiness Year of our Lord 1173 Every year almost there was some Rupture then a Peace or Truce between the two Kings either concerning their own proper Interests or that of their Friends and Vassals Lewis had this advantage that being the Soveraign Lord he had a right of hearing the Complaints of Henry's Vassals and of making himself his Judge Year of our Lord 1173 He had stirred up many in Aquitain and Normandy but this year he Armed his own Children against him The eldest with Margaret his Wife being gone to Visit him and having staid some time in that Court had a fancy put into his Head that since he was Crowned he ought to Reign and to demand of his Father the enjoyment either of the Kingdom of England or the Dukedom of Normandy With this disposition and fretted for that his Father had taken some young People from about him who gave him such like ill Counsels he stole away one Night from him and came and cast himself into the Arms of the King Immediately all the young Nobility follows him Queen Alienor favours him his two Brothers Richard Duke of Aquitain and Gefroy of Brâ—tagne joyns with him and those whole Provinces follow their Motions The King of France takes them into his protection William King of Scotland declares for them and attaques England whither at the same time went some French Forces under the Command of Robert Earl of Leicester Year of our Lord 1174 It seemed therefore as if the unhappy Father must needs be overwhelm'd on a suddain but he overthrew all the Enemies Lewis having taken Verneuil au Perche durst not hold it and retreated before him The Earl of Leicester is defeated in England and all those that followed him either slain or taken then all the Kingdom reduced in less then Thirty days by old Henry who went thither presently after this defeat Year of our Lord 1175 The following year whilst he was doing Pennance at St. Thomas Becket's Tomb William King of Scotland his most capital Enemy loses a Battle against his Lieutenants and was taken Prisoner The Fleet of young Henry is dispersed and disabled by Tempest King Lewis who had carried Philip Earl of Flanders with him is rudely repulsed from Rouen so that finding Henry who was come over-Seas again to Relieve this City made ready to give him Battle he hearkens to a Truce for some Months Year of our Lord 1175 Whilst that lasted old Henry going into Poitou and subduing Richard the worst of his three Rebellious Sons who held that Country all the others returned to their Obedience and he enters upon a Treaty of Peace with Lewis who gave him Alix his Daughter for his Son Richard and put her into his hands to compleat the Marriage when she should be Age for it Year of our Lord 1177 The two Kings now grown old were weary of so many Wars and Disturbances Either of them had cause to fear the one the activity of his three most valiant Sons the other the weakness of his only Heir as yet too young so that they confirmed the Peace by new Oaths promised mutual friendship against all others and took up a resolution to go joyntly into Languedoc to extirpiate those Hereticks already mentioned by us But they thought it more convenient first to send the Popes Legat thither with three or four other Prelats to endeavour to reclaim them by Exhortations and Anathema's which converted and brought back a great many and kept the rest within bounds for some time These Hereticks were all called Albigensis because they propaged
most in those Countries under the protection of Roger Earl of Alby who much favoured them Year of our Lord 1178 During the Calm of this Peace Lewis who was extream feeble with Age using the same provident foresight as his Predecessors resolved to have his Son Philip Crowned but it hapning that this young Prince fell ill upon an afright for having lost his way in a Wood as he was Hunting this Ceremony was fain to be put off which was not performed till the year following In the mean time Peoples Devotion increasing towards the Reliques of St. Thomas of Canterbury from the example of King Henry who of his Persecutor was become his Adorer King Lewis passes into England prayed on his Tomb and left very rich Tokens of his Piety there behind Year of our Lord 1177 In sine Prince Philip was Anointed Crowned at Reims on All Saints day by William Archbishop of that City and Cardinal Brother to the Queen his Mother The Duke of Normandy and Philip Earl of Flanders both Pairs or Peers assisting at that Ceremony and holding the Crown upon his Head Year of our Lord 1180 Soon after Philip Earl of Flanders faithful and affectionate to King Lewis procured the Marriage of his Neece Isabella-Alix Daughter of his Sister and of William Earl of Hainault with the new King who was his God-son and treating her as his own Daughter because he had no Children he gives her in favour of this Marriage the County of Artois and the County all along the River of Lys. Year of our Lord 1180 Hardly was the joy of this Festival over when King Lewis died of the Palsy in the City of Paris the 18th or 20th of September Aged as many tell us near Seventy years but according to my Computation not above Sixty three or Sixty four whereof he had Reigned Forty three His Corps lies in St. Denis He was not very happy in his grand Designs and too effeminate or mild in Affairs that required vigour but as Pious Charitable Good Just Liberal and Valiant as any Prince in his Time He can be taxed but for two faults the one against Prudence for Divorcing his Wife the other against the Laws of Nature having supported the Rebellion of Henry's Children against their Father He had three Wives Alienor or Eleanor of Aquitain Constance of Spain and Alix or Alice of Champagne By the first he had two Daughters Mary and Alix who Married the two Brothers Henry Earl of Champagne and Thibauld Earl of Chartres and Blois By the second came Margaret Married first with Henry the young King of England and then with Bela III. King of Hungary By the third he had two Daughters Alix who was betroathed to Richard of England afterwards Married to William Earl of Pontieu Agnes Married to Comnenius the Son of Emanuel of Constantinople and a Son named Philip who Reigned Philip II. King XLI POPES ALEX. III. One year under this Reign LUCIUS III. Elected 29 Aug. 1181. S. Four years three Months URBAN III. Elected in Decemb. 1185. S. One year and near Eleven Months GREGORY VIII Elected in Octob. 1187. S. a little less then two Months CLEMENT III. Elected in January 1188. S. Three years three Months CELESTINE III. Elected in April 1191. S. Six years nine Months INNOCENT III. Elected in January 1198. S. Eighteen years six Months nine days HONORIUS III. Elected in July 1216. S. Ten years eight Months whereof seven during this Reign PHILIP II. Surnamed the Conqueror or Augustus King XLI Aged Fifteen years EVen in the Life-time of Lewis the Young Affairs began to be governed in the name of Philip and by the Administration and Care as I believe of Philip Earl of Flanders who was his Guardian his Governor and his God-father The Methods of Piety and Justice his Father and Grand-father had taken to Year of our Lord 1180 strengthen their Authority had much advanced them in their Design He was therefore Councel'd to pursue them Wherefore immediately undertaking the Protection of the Church he with a high hand went and reduced Ebles Lord of Charenton in Year of our Lord 1180 Berry Imbert Lord of Beaujeu in Lyonnois and Guy Earl of Chaalons upon Soane who oppress'd the Ecclesiasticks At the same time he began to let the Grandees of the Kingdom know how he could order and reduce them for he dissolv'd a powerful League which they had formed against him perhaps out of the jealousie they had conceiv'd of the greatness of the Earl of Flanders and forced the Earl of Sancerre who was the first that declar'd himself to fly to his Mercy Year of our Lord 1181 After the Death of his Father desiring to Sanctifie his new Reign he publish'd an Edict against such as utter those horrible Blasphemies composed or made up of the Name and Body or Members of the Son of God condemning them to pay a certain Pecuniary Mulct if they were People of Quality and to be thrown into the Water if they were meaner People Year of our Lord 1181 Prompted with the same Zeal he caused strict search to be made after all those that were accused of Heresie and sent them to the Fire expell'd all the Jews within his Territories and Confiscated their Estates suffering them to carry away only the Price of their Household-Goods His Piety appeared no less in the expulsion of Comedians Juglers and Jesters or Buffoons whom he turned out of his Court as People that serve only to flatter Vice encourage Sloath and fill idle Heads with vain Chimera's which perverts them and puts their Hearts into those irregular Motions and Passions as Wisdom and true Religion commands us so much to suppress and mortifie Princes were wont to bestow great Presents on those People and reward them with their richest Clothes But he being persuaded says Rigord his Historian That to give to Players was to Sacrifice to the Devil chose rather according to the Example of that Holy Emperor ☜ Henry I. to make a Vow he would henceforth employ his Money towards the maintenance of the Poor Anno 1183. he encompassed the Park du bois de Vincennes with a Wall and stock'd it with Deer which the King of England sent over to him The same year Henry the young King of England died in the Castle of Martel in Quercy Perhaps by the just Punishment of Heaven for having been so often as he was at this time in Rebellion against his Father Year of our Lord 1183 Every private or particular Lord having usurped a Right of making War upon one another after either had sent his defiance there followed Murthers and continual Spoils and Plunderings For which the Bishops and some of the wisest Lords of the Kingdom had endeavour'd to find a Remedy from the year 1044. having ordained the Truce or Peace of God for those Disputes and Contests betwixt particular Men during certain times in the year and certain days of the week with most severe Punishments
against the Infringers even to the killing them in the very Churches which served as a Sanctuary to all other the most enormous Criminals William the Conqueror had Establish'd this Law in England and in Normandy Anno 1080. Raimond Berenger Earl of Barcelonna in his Country Anno 1060. the Council of Clermont had confirmed it Anno 1096. and that of Rome Anno 1102. Now as these Truces were but ill observed and Languedoc and a part of Guyenne principally upon occasion of that War betwixt the King of Arragon and Raimond Earl of Toulouze were most miserably tormented with Factions Murthers and Robberies a certain Carpenter named Durand who seemed a plain simple Fellow Year of our Lord 1183 found the Remedy against these Calamities and a Means to enrich himself He asserted that God had appeared to him in the City du Puy in Auvergne commanding him to proclaim Peace and for proof of his Mission had given him a certain Image of the Virgin which he shewed So that upon his Veracity the Grandees the Prelats and the Gentry being Assembled at Puy on the day of the Feast of the Assumption agreed amongst themselves by Oath upon the Holy Evangelists to lay down all Animosities and the remembrance of former Injuries and made a Holy League to reconcile Mens Spirits and entertain Love and Peace which they named the Peace of God Those who were of it wore the Stamp of this Image of our Lady in Pewter upon their Breasts and Capuches or Hoods of white Linnen on their Heads which this Carpenter sold to them Which had such power over their Minds and had made such Impression that a Man with those Badges was not only in security but likewise in Veneration amongst his most mortal Enemies Year of our Lord 1184 Whether the three Princes of Champagne Brothers to the Queen Mother had gotten the upper hand at Court and put the King out of conceit with the Earl of Flanders or for some other cause the King summon'd him to surrender up Vermandois which Louis the VII had given him only as was pretended for a certain time The Earl being very Potent would maintain the possession passed the Somme with a great Army and came as far as Senlis But upon tidings of the Kings march he turns back the way he came and went and besieged Corbie from whence he decamped again immediately for the same cause The King not being able to overtake him besieges Boves the two Armies drew near to engage Some Mediators put a stop to their impetuous haste and made up the Peace The Earl yielded all Vermandois excepting Peronne and Saint Quentin which they let him enjoy during Life Year of our Lord 1184 To this Agreement the King called all the Bishops Abbots Earls and Barons that served in his Army with their Vnder-Vassals And such was then the Rights of the French The Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Prior of the Hospital of St. John's deputed on the behalf of the Christians from the Holy-Land brought the Keys of the Holy City to King Philip imploring his assistance and representing to him the extream danger it was reduced unto Whereupon having held a great Assembly of Prelats and Lords at Paris he enjoyned them to Preach the Cross or Croisade and to publish it every where and in the mean time sent at his own Expence a considerable Relief of Horse and Foot into that Country The Complaints of the Clergy of Burgundy whom Duke Odo had plundred and the Year of our Lord 1184 Lord de Vergy whose Castle that Prince besieged ingaged the King to march that way and besiege Chastillâ—n on the Seine the strongest Bulwark belonging to that Rebel Who finding his Fort taken by Assault came humbly to submit to his Commands promised to pay 30000 Livers for Reparation to the Clergy and gave up four Castles which however were soon after put into his possession again without doubt because they had some need of him Year of our Lord 1183 84. In Berry there were several Bands of Robbers that wasted the Country they were named Cottereaux and were believed to be tainte â—ith the Heresie that spread in Languedoc because they aimed chiefly to do mâ—schief to the Churchmen the Berriers getting together with the help of some Men sent them by the King cut them in pieces killing seven thousand upon the place The vast Multitudes of eople that flocked to Paris the Kings Train encreasing with his Authority made the Streets so dirty and 〈◊〉 that there was no going in them The King sent therefore for the Citizens and their Provost and enjoyned them to remedy it which they did by Pav ng it with Stone at their own expences I find about this time that one Girard de Poissi who managed the Exchequer brought in thither of his own proper Moneys or Fund Eleven thousand Mark in Silver It is to Year of our Lord 1185 be imagin'd that he had gotten them by the King but however we may say that this Example ✚ will be singular and that we shall never meet a Chequer-man will follow his Example What ever can be done that sort of People will sooner go to the Gibet then be brought to make Restitution Year of our Lord 1185 Margaret of France Widow of Henry the Young King of England is Re-Married to Bela III. King of Hungary Gesroy Duke of Bretagne and Brother of that Henry being come to wait on the King who tenderly lov'd him died of a Distemper at Champeaux and was Interr'd at Nostre-Dames in Paris He had one Daughter named Alienor and one Son only aged but three years The Bretons would give him the name of Artur in memory of that famous King whom the Romancers make to be the Author of the Knights of the Year of our Lord 1185 round Table and many high feats of Arms. He remained under the Guardianship of his Mother and the Protection of the King in despite of all the Efforts of Henry and Richard his Son who made several Attempts to seize upon his Person that they might get Bretagne into their possession The Widow Constance afterwards Married Guy Lord de Thouars The memory of Gefroy is still very famous amongst the Bretons because of that Law he made in his Parliament or Estates General which was called the Assize of Count Gefroy Whereby it was ordained that in the Families of Barons and Knights the Estates should not be shared or equally divided as heretofore but that the eldest should reap the whole Succession and bestow such part upon the younger as himself and the rest of his Kindred should think fit This hath since been thus proportion'd the Thirds amongst all the younger Children during Life to the Males and Inheritance to the Female In time the rest of the Gentry not to yield in Quality to the Barons would needs be comprehended herein likewise Towards the end of the year 1186. a War was raised between King Philip and Henry of England for
to which he replied that Soldiers could not be kept without Money They soon understood what he desired and the mischief pressing hard upon them they were constrain'd to give and immediately the Lords desisted from plundering Year of our Lord 1191. and the following In the interim John King of England summon'd for three several times to answer the accusation in King Philips Court endeavour'd to gain time and made all delays But Philip finding himself strong in Men and provided with Money having no counter-poise in his Kingdom because he held in his own hands the Garde-noble of the potent House of Champagne and the Earl of Flanders was gone into the Levant had resolved to push on against him He therefore gave some Forces to Prince Arthur to pursue his Right having before betrothed his Daughter Mary to him At the same time he entred upon Normandy where he forced five or six places and received the most considerable Lords of the Countrey into favour amongst the rest Hugh de Gournay and the Earl of Alenson who assured him of their Service and their Towns Arthur on his side attaques Poitou the Earls de la Marche and d'Eu Gefroy de Luzignan and their friends being joyned with him His Grand-Mother Alienor had Year of our Lord 1201 put her self into Mirebeau he besieges her there King John hastens thither with so much diligence that he surprizes him one fair Morning napping in his Bed takes him prisoner and sends him to the Castle of Falaize Normandy and Poitou being shaken in this manner comes a Legat from the Pope who ordains the two Kings to assemble the Bishops and Lords of their Countreys Year of our Lord 1202 and by their Consultations put an end to these Disputes John would readily have consented to this Order but Philip who was not willing to give over so fair a Game obliged his who were assembled at Mantes to throw in an Appeal from the Sentence of the Legat to the Pope himself which was to gain time and continue his progress Year of our Lord 1202 The respect for Queen Alienor had still with-held King John from staining his hands in the Blood of the unfortunate Arthur Soon after her death he caused him to be brought to the Castle of Rouen he kept his Court in that City and in a very obscure night he drew him forth thence and led him to such a place that afterwards he was never seen It being justly presum'd that he had murther'd him Constance the Mother of that young Prince demanded Justice of King Philip for that parricide committed in his Territory and upon the person of one of his Vassals He caused John therefore to be summoned before his Peers or Pairs where not appearing nor sending any to excuse him he was by judgment of that Court Condemned as attainted and convicted of Parricide and Felony to lose all the Lands he had in France which should be consiscated and forfeit to the Crown and all such as should defend them reputed Guilty de Laesae-Majestatis Year of our Lord 1203 In prosecution or rather execution of this Decree Philip partly by force partly by intelligence took from him this year almost all the higher or upper Normandy whilst this unworthy lazy Man pass'd away the time with his Wife at Caen as if all had been in a profound Peace We may imagine that if he would have taken some care of his Affairs Philip could not so easily have conquer'd so many places since the single Castle de Gaillard neer Andeley situate on a Rock both very high and steep on all sides endured a Five months Siege but both Heaven and Earth had declar'd against him his friends betray'd him his Subjects became unfaithful and he meanly abandonn'd himself Year of our Lord 1204 The following year Philip made himself Master of all the Cities of the Lower Normandy almost without a blow Rouen it self which was the Capital of the whole Province environ'd with a double Wall and very affectionate to her natural Dukes After a Siege of forty days being informed by the Deputies sent to King John that no Relief or assistance could be had from him surrendred to the Conquerour upon condition he should maintain the Citizens in their Franchises and Priviledges which he agreed to and they obtained Letters or a Charter to secure it a procaution as feeble against an absolute Power as Paper is against Steel Year of our Lord 1204 Two or three other places which yet defended themselves followd the example of Rouen and so it was that in less then three years he gained all Normandy which had had Twelve Dukes of that Nation whereof John was the last who had Govern'd them about Three hundred and sixteen years At the same time William des Roches who had quitted John's party to joyn with Philip secured the Counties of Anjou du Maine and de Touraine and Henry Clement Mareschal of France conquer'd all Poitou for him excepting only Niort Touars and Rochel Year of our Lord 1205 The next year the King himself having gotten a great Train of Artillery forced the Castle des Loches and some places that remained in the hands of the English in Touraine Year of our Lord 1203 The French and the Venetians sailing to Constantinople with only 28000 Men forced the Harbour and afterwards the City though there were above Threescore thousand Fighting Men there deliver'd Isaac out of prison and caused the young Alexis his Son to be Crowned The Tyrant Alexis and his Brother-in-law Theodorus Luscaris having made their escape over the Walls retir'd to Adrianople Year of our Lord 1204 Whilst this Army of the Cross wintered about Constantinople and Isaac and his Son endeavour'd to make good what they had promis'd them for their reward the people upon whom they Levied very great sums of Money mutined One certain Alexis Ducas surnamed Murzufle Great Master of the Wardrobe to young Alexis headed the sedition seized on that Prince whilst Isaac was in his last Agonie and strangled him with his own hands Then caused himself to be Declared Emperour and went forth with the City Militia against the aforesaid Army but they were presently beaten back Constantinople besieg'd and within Sixty days taken by Storm swimming in Blood and a great part consumed by Fire The Conquerours gave power to Twelve of the chief amongst themselves to elect an Emperour upon condition That if he were a French man the Patriarch should be a Venetian and so on the contrary The intrigues of the Venetians for whose interest Boniface Marquis of Montferrat was not so convenient though he seemed most worthy of the Empire manag'd it so that the Electors conferr'd it upon Baldwin Earl of Flanders and the Patriarchat upon Thomas Morosini a Venetian After they had setled things in order within the City they easily conquer'd all what the Grecian Empire possess'd in Europe and formed several Principalities there of which the Marquis de Montferrat who married Isaac's
Widow had Thessaly for his Year of our Lord 1204 share with the Title of a Kingdom upon which condition he gave up the Island of Candia to the Venetians The Grecian Princes preserved Asia to themselves where they established divers Sovereignties Theodorus Lascaris attired himself with Imperial Robes at Nicea in Bithynia and had the largest Dominion for extent Of the Family of the Comnenes Michael had part of Epirus David Heraclea Ponticus and Paphlagonia and Alexis his Brother the City of Trebisond on the Pontus-Euxinus There was the Empire of Trebisond formed which still remained separate and distinct from that of Constantinople till the Turks devoured both the one and the other Baldwin enjoy'd not the Empire two years for going to besiege Adrianople Joannitz or Calojan King of Bulgaria coming to assist the Greeks drew him into an Ambuscade made him prisoner and having carried him into Bulgaria cut off his Arms Year of our Lord 1205 and Legs and cast him into a Precipice where he languisht for three days It was thus given out but many are of opinion that he escaped from that imprisonment However it were his Brother Henry succeeded him in the Empire He left two Daughters the eldest Married Ferrand Brother of Sancho King of Portugal who by this means was Earl of Flanders the youngest had Children by Bouchard d'Auesnes Year of our Lord 1205 King John not attributing his misfortunes to his crime his cowardize or sloth but to the ill-will of his English Subjects particularly the Clergy who had not assisted him in his necessities sets himself upon molesting and vexing them by all Year of our Lord 1206 manner of exactions Guy de Touars who Govern'd Bretagne being Husband to the Dutchess Constance had turned to Philips party and assisted him not a little in his late Conquests He had likewise brought over to him the Vicount Touars his Brother but this year both of them were at variance with him Guy would Cantonnize himself in Bretagne the King begirts him in Nantes and compels him to return again to his Service how-ever the Vicount remained for the English Interest That King having Levied vast sums of Money and a powerful Army in England comes and Lands at Rochel the Vicount Savary de Maulcon and some other Lords joyn with him Philip finding himself too weak contents himself only with providing and strengthening his Towns in Poitou with all speed and then retires to Paris John marches into Anjou takes Anger 's dismantles it and presently after remembring that it was his Ancestors native City causes the Walls to be rebuilt At the same time there were some Bretons who seizing upon the Promontary de Garplic built a Fort there to favour the approaches of the English upon those Shallows These were all the Effects of the great Prowess of King John for being soon tir'd he caused a Truce to be propounded by the interposition of the Pope who threatned Excommunication in case of refusal Philip agrees it for two years against the opinion of the French Lords who proffer'd him all assistance and engaged not to forsake him although the Pope should proceed against him by censures Year of our Lord 1208 The two contenders for the German Empire Otho and Philip had agreed An. 1207. in such sort that Otho who had the approbation of the Pope but was the weaker should leave the Empire to Philip whom if he hapned to die without Children Otho should succeed him and in the interim Marry his Daughter Now this year Philip being Murthered in his Sick Bed by Otho Palatine of Vitelspack the Empire fell to his Competitor who the following year went into Italy and was Crowned at Rome Immediately after he had a quarrel with the Pope about some Enterprize upon the Lands belonging to the Church and those belonging to Frederick King of Sicily Feodary to the Holy See for which he was Excommunicated An. 1210. Innocent III. was then Pope a Prelat of great courage rare merit and who being in the strength of his age was stirring in every place and concern'd himself in every thing driving all things to the height where he met with a weak or divided party England made an unhappy Experiment King John being absolutely resolv'd not to accept of Cardinal Stephen Lanctbon for Arch-Bishop of Canterbury whom the White Friers had Elected to the Popes liking but without the Kings consent and the Pope standing stifly up to maintain and justify this Election the contest grew so hot that the Pope sends to three of the English Bishops a Sentence of Interdiction to be laid upon the whole Kingdom John was so enrag'd that he confiscated the Estates of all the Clergy and resolv'd utterly to abolish Episcopacy in the Nation Commanding them immediately to depart and to secure himself against any personal effects of the Excommunication wherewith he was threatned he took Hostages of the Towns and Nobility The Pope not being able to reduce the Hereticks of Languedoc who had almost gained the whole Province fals upon Raimond Earl of Toulouze because he was their chief promoter and encourager and had caused one of his Legats to be massacred it was Peter de C hastean-neuf a Monk de Cisteaux or White Fryer and the First that exercised the Inquisition He Excommunicated that Earl Absolv'd his Subjects of their Oath of Fidelity and gave his Lands to the first Occupier but without prejudice to the right of the King of France his Sovereignty Such an apprehension seized on the Earl that being come to Milon the Popes Legat at Valence he intirely submitted gave up eight places of strength to the Roman Church to perpetuity as a pawn of his Conversion and the following year to obtain Absolution suffred himself to be scourged with Rods at the Gate of St. Giles's Church where Peter de Chasteau-neuf lay buried and thence dragg'd to that Friers Tomb by the Legat who put the Stole about his Neck in presence of Twenty Arch-Bishops and an infinite multitude of People After which he likewise crossed himself or put on the badge of the Cross and joyned the next year with those that took his and the Towns of his Allies Year of our Lord 1208 It was not his penitence that humbled him to undergo so horrible a shame it was the fear he had of a dreadful storm just ready to break and fall upon his Head For the Pope having turned that sorvent Zeal which animated the People so much to go in defence of tho Holy-Land had this very year order'd a Croisade to be Preached against the Albigenses and many Lords Prelats and great numbers of common People had listed themselves in this Militia the King himself set out Fifteen thousand Men that were to be maintain'd at his own charge These bore the Cross upon their Breast to distinguish them from such as went to the Holy-Land who wore that badge upon their Shoulder Amongst these Heretiques there were some whom they called the Poor
way of appealing to the Councils and notwithstanding goes on and reduces Sussex and all the Southern parts excepting Windsor and Dover The Ambassadors pleaded his Cause earnestly at Rome they shewed that John was justly degraded for his Tyrannies and because he had been condemned to death for the Murther of his Nephew Arthur by the Pairs of France and made it out that the Kingdom since he was Excluded belonged to his Neece the Wife of Prince Lewis Whilst they disputed their Masters Rights he successfully employs his Sword in Conquering Essex Suffolk and Norfolk Having reduc'd them he returns to besiege Dover his Father reproaching him for having imprudently left that place behind him The Pope offended at his Progress confirmed the Sentence of Excommunication against him and although Philip protested he gave him neither Assistance nor Advice prosering even if the Church did so ordain to Confiscate his Lands nevertheless he commanded the Bishop of Sens to denounce him Excommunicate likewise and to put France under an Interdiction but the Prelats assembled at Melun declared they would not submit to that Sentence till they were more fully informed of the Popes Intentions Mean while King John who wandred about the Country hating all his Subjects hapned to dye by Poyson which as it was believ'd a Monk had given him He left three Sons very young Henry Richard and Edmond The hatred of the Englishmen towards him expired with his Life and their Affection for his Son Henry revived being their Natural Lord and one whose Innocence and Tender Age called for their Compassion so that the young Kings Affairs began to prosper and Lewis's to decline He perceiving the English forsook him one after another and his own People afrighted with the thundring Excommunications from Rome inclined to make a Truce with Henry for some Months Year of our Lord 1216 During this Suspension he returns into France to Consult with the King his Father but he fearing to exasperate the Pope refuses to see his Son and would not Confer with him but by the interposition of others Lewis upon his return into England found his Enemies Party were the stronger his Army was afterwards defeated near Lincoln and he besieged in London after that rout Wherefore to free himself from farther danger and retire with Bag and Baggage he was forc'd to Treat with Henry promising amongst other Conditions to surrender all the places he held in England to submit his Pretensions to the Judgment of the Church to use his utmost endeavour to oblige his Father to restore all what he had taken from King John in France and if he could not prevail to do it then himself when he came to the Crown Which was to promise more then he would or could perform Year of our Lord 1216 Henry Emperor of Constantinople and Brother to Baldwin who had been so likewise died Anno 1216. having Reigned Eleven years Peter de Courtenay Earl of Auxerre who Married his Sister Yolant went this year from France to take that Crown Passing thorough Italy he was Crowned at Rome with his Wife took Shipping eight days after and arriv'd in Greece but as he was crossing Thessalie having Pass-ports from Theodorus Comnenus he was made Prisoner by that perfidious Man who slew most part of those Lords that went with them and having detained him three or four years caused him cruelly to be Murthered Yolant a Heroick Woman govern'd the Empire two years after his death in which time the Lords sent to profer the Empire to Philip Earl of Nevers his eldest Son but he refused to accept it and yielded up willingly that perilous Honour to Robert his younger Brother Year of our Lord 1217 When young King Henry was fully setled in his Throne his Council sent Ambassadors into France to challenge Lewis of his Promise and re-demand the Dutchy of Normandy and other Countries taken from his Father They were answer'd with the Confiscation that had been ordered by the Judgment of his Pairs Year of our Lord 1217 18. Whilst the Eari of Montfort in vain besieged the City of Beaucaire Count Raimond brought some Forces from Arragon whither he was retir'd with which he regained several of his places and especially Toulouze which he presently fortifi'd with Intrenchments and Pallisado's Montfort went and laid Siege to it but after he had held it besieged seven whole Months he was slain in a Sally He had three Sons Year of our Lord 1218 Amaulry who succeeded him in the Rights of his Conquests Guy who was Married to Petronella Heiress to the Count of Bigorre as being Daughter of Estiennete the Daughter and Heiress of Count Centulle and Simon Earl of Leicester in England by the Grandmother Year of our Lord 1219 Amaulry was not strong enough to maintain his Conquests the King assisted him first with Six hundred Men then with Ten thousand Foot who not being yet enough to compass that business Prince Lewis upon the Popes earnest Request undertakes that Expedition the second time He happily succeeded in the taking of Marmanda on the Garonne and some other places in Angenois but not in the Siege of Toulouze because his Father recalled him fearing the Troubles that were begun in Bretagne might be created by the English on purpose to set France in a greater flame Year of our Lord 1218 19 and 20. The business was that the Earls Salomon and Conan whom Duke Peter had unjustly thrown out of their Estates being retir'd into the Forests ravaged and wasted his Country with some Bandits they had got together and at the same time the Barons revolted against him because he would arrogate to himself the Guardianship or Wardnoble of Gentlemens Orphan-Sons till they had attained to Twenty years of Age. They had Combined in a League and with Amaulry Lord de Craon very potent in Friends and Alliance who had declared War against him about a certain Castle that Duke had usurped from him This Quarrel complicated with several Interests lasted above two years and ended not but by a great Battle fought near Chastean-briand where the Duke much the weaker in numbers of Men gained the Year of our Lord 1220 Victory and made Amaulry Prisoner The Barons were not brought so low by this bloody loss but they continued the War for some Months but that was only to obtain the better Conditions Year of our Lord 1220 21 and 22. The Truce with the English being prolong'd France enjoy'd a Calm for three or four years during which Philip employ'd himself about the Walling Enlarging Fortifying building Bridges making Causeys and the like conveniencies in all the Cities that were of his Demeasns or belonging to the Crown which Expences though for the publick good was out of his own proper Fund not raised or exacted upon his Subjects but paying very justly for all those Grounds and Houses belonging to private Persons which were necessary for him to have towards carrying on these Publick Works Year of our Lord 1222
also troubled England the Kings William and Henry maintaining it was a Right and Prerogative of their Crown and in all times possessed by their Ancestors For which cause Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had lost his See but at last that difference was composed An. 1107. upon condition the King should for ever relinquish the Investitures in the Church and that reciprocally the Bishops should render him Hommage This was to speak properly nothing but the changing of terms for he that doth Hommage is a Vassal and receives and holds of him to whom he renders it And indeed the Popes could have wished that the Bishops had not done it to Lay-Princes and they had expresly forbid it to those in France but the resolution King Lewis the Gross and his Successors shew'd in this point obliged them to relaxe They durst not at the same time contend both with this great Kingdom and Germany they must leave some place of shelter in time of need and besides they did not so much trouble their Heads to lessen France with whom they had no contests for Dominion as to pull down the Emperours who being very powerful in Italy had still an aim of restoring their Imperial Throne in the City of Rome Besides France was better united and by consequence more difficult to be subdued then the Empire where the Subjects as well those of Germany as those of Italy and the Kingdom of Arles being divided amongst themselves and having all different Interests have at length ruin'd that vast body by their Jealousies and Rebellions It was for this reason the Popes made it their business so much to lessen that power and it is certain that all other Princes of Europe growing jealous of it as the most formidable then in being joyned willingly with the Popes to suppress it The defence of the Holy See and the Authority of the Church admitting a specious pretence to side with them This reflection is not useless Now to return to our Narrative Henry V. sunk under all this weight as his Father had done before In the beginning his Presence made things prosper in Italy but when after various success he was driven thence his burden was left to the mercy of Calistus who confined him to a perpetual imprisonment Then he himself tir'd with the daily Admonitions and Remonstrances from all parts and not able to wade through the many Conspiracies and Rebellions which hourly threatned to or'ewhelm him yielded the Cause at last He utterly renounced the Investitures and promised to leave the liberty of Elections to the Ecclesiasticks This was in Anno 1122. The scandal and persecutions which these Schismes caused in Christendom gave occasion in my opinion for that false prediction which was spread abroad in those days That the world was near its end and the Kingdom of Antichrist was then begun St. Norbert and some other persons of an irreâ—ragable Sanctity preach'd it as a most certain Truth which was but little doubted and begot so much terror that Pope Paschal who fled into France to avoid persecution staid some time in his journey at Florence to see what the event of this dreadful report would come to Soon after the agreement Henry V. being dead without Children the Empire was given to Lotbarius Duke of Saxony and after him to Conrade Those two Princes left the Popes in quiet and made no breach of Peace with them So that there was no more fear of Schisme on that side The Church having rested in tranquillity for eight years began to be disturb'd again by another most dangerous division for after the death of Honorius II. which hapned in the year 1134. two contrary Factions or Interests in the Sacred Colledge elected each a Pope on the same day One the Cardinal Gregory who took the name of Innocent the II. The other the Cardinal Peter Leonis who called himself Anaclet This last had been a Monk at Clugny a scurvy commendation for him to the Order of the Cisteaux which was then become the most predominant in France His Right if examined in due form appeared the best but his ambitious and haughty proceeding spoil'd his Title the great Gifts ☞ he made of things belonging to the Church to make himself Master of Rome gave just cause to believe there was somewhat of Simonie in his promotion and that he deserved not the Popedom since he bought it Many good people were of opinion so says John of Salisbury that in the like contests they ought to have owned neither of those concurrents but have elected a Pope anew who had not privately made any interest for the Popedom which is of such a nature as well as all other Benefices that whoever bribes for it renders himself unworthy of it And indeed King Lewis VII wavered for some time betwixt both parties and assembled the Council of Estampes to resolve him which of the two was the Legitimate The perswasions of Henry II. King of England had already a little inclined him towards Innocent the Council of Estampes fully determin'd it that Council having been satisfied by the discourses of St. Bernard who with much zeal and vehemence set forth the Right and Merits of that Pope After so solemn a decision most of the Princes in Europe declared for him there was only Roger Duke of Apulia and William Duke of Aquitain that supported Anaclet The First that he might have a Pope convenient for him and more easie to be managed then his predecessors the Second having been perswaded by Gerard Bishop of Angoulesme that his Election was Canonical It was thrown in Gerards Teeth that at first he had been of the contrary party but his spleen because he was not continued in his Legation of Aquitain by Innocent drove him to side with Anaclet who indeed confirmed it to him It was one of the handsomest and indeed most profitable employments the Court of Rome could bestow for besides the three Aquitains both Touraine and Bretagne were comprehended in it I divide Bretagne from Touraine because the former had its Arch-Bishop apart this was the Bishop of Dole who since the insurrection of Neomene took upon him to be the Metropolitan The often reiterated complaints of the Metropolitan of Tours and the sollicitations of the Kings of France in the Court of Rome could not obtain a Judgment in this matter for a long while but Philip Augustus tyr'd with their long delays prosecuted it with so much resolution and talked so high that Innocent III. determin'd it by a definitive Sentence in An. 1198. which restored Dol and the other Bishopricks of Bretagne to the Metropolis of Tours We find in the Life of St. Bernard how he withdrew Duke William from espousing the party of Anaclet so that there was none for him but Roger Duke of Apulia on whom Anaclet conferr'd the Title of King of Sicilia upon condition to pay an acknowledgment of Six hundred Crowns yearly to the See of Rome The Kingdom of Sicilia comprehended the
Island so named Apulia Calabria and some other neighbouring Countreys which Roger held in Italy Now although William Duke of Aquitain had suffer'd himself to be brought back to the Obedience of Innocent II. in the year 1135. yet Gerard nevertheless stood up obstinately for Anaclet to the end of his days but some while after he was found dead in his Bed horribly black and blew and swoln About three years after viz. in An. 1138. Anaclet died also his Relations placed another Cardinal in his stead to whom they gave the name of Victor In fine Innocent found it better to buy his peace of them then to leave these Divisions smothering and smoaking any longer and when they were agreed Victor laid down the Tiara and cast himself at his Feet Notwithstanding Roger held out still some time not owning him for Pope because he would not own him for a King till having taken him prisoner in War An. 1193. he came fairly to an agreement with him and got the Title of King confirmed to him Frederick I. being come to the Empire young haughty and ambitious as he was undertook to recover its dignity to which the easiness of Pope Anastasius seemed to chaulk out a way but Pope Adrian IV. who succeeded Anastasius resolv'd to obviate his designs and keep him under as his dependant Hence proceeded a mortal enmity betwixt them which however came not to an open rupture but made Frederick more plainly sensible that it was necessary to have a Pope at his Devotion Adrian being dead An. 1159. it hapned that all the Cardinals excepting three elected Cardinal Rowland who took the name of Alexander III. but whilst he was shewing some kind of unwillingness to accept the Popedom those three that were not for him Elected immediately the Cardinal Octavian who was named Victor The Emperour having notice of it favour'd him first underhand thereby to frighten Alexander and bring him to his bent then openly when he found he could not lead the other as he pleased So he causes his Election to be authorised by the Council of Pisa which he had call'd by his own authority after the example of former Emperours and employ'd all his Interest to perswade other Princes to adhere to him The Kings of France and of England who had been at war having now agreed assembled their Bishops Abbots and Barons the one at Beauvais and the other at Newmarket to discuss the right of the two concurrents the Legats both of the one and other side having been heard Alexander was approved by all and Victor Excommunicated This hapned in the year 1161. The good Title and Right of the former was this year confirmed by a great number of miracles as many Authors write and yet there is one affirms likewise that God wrought some in favour of Victor after his decease In the mean time this last being most powerful in Rome Alexander seeks his refuge in France and remained there three years at the end whereof his Affairs going in a better method in Italy the Clergy and People call him back to Rome An. 1164. To defray the Expences of his journey he was sorced to impose a Year of our Lord 1164 Collection on the Gallican Church Year of our Lord 1164 The same year Victor his Rival died in the City of Luca. Some Prelats of his Faction being assembled at the same place gave the Popedom to one of those two Cardinals that had elected him which was Guy de Crema He lived five years and deceased An. 1170. Those of his party substituted another I cannot tell what Abbot not known but by his debauches they call'd him Calistus III. and Frederick supported him as he had done the two others At the same time there were great stirs in England King Henry stickling to preserve certain pretended Rights which he called Customs of the Kingdom and Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury not to suffer them as being contrary to Ecclesiastical liberty It would be thought strange in these days if a Bishop should hold his Head up so high against his Prince for the like cause but then the best of Men were perswaded that such Liberties were the pillars of Religion The contest lasted seven or eight years and ended not but by the death of the Archbishop who was murther'd in his Cathedral in the year 1170. and the Kings penitence which was so great and so publick that the Church was edified more by such an example then it had been scandaliz'd by his offence The Emperor Frederick was not more fortunate then the two Henrys so that being shatter'd by the Popes Thunder-bolts and more severely yet by his ill fortune driven out of Italy and apprehending the sudden Revolt of Germany he could find no other way to save himself but to ask pardon of the Holy Father and prostrate himself at his Feet to gain his Absolution which was done at Venice in An. 1177. His Anti-Pope Calistus did as much the following year throwing himself at the Feet of the same Alexander Afterwards Frederick had again some Disputes with the Popes Lucius Vrban and Clement III. of that name but he was reconcil'd to Clement and lived well enough with the See of Rome to the time of his death Henry VI. his Son was Crowned by Celestine III. in the year 1191. He undertook nothing directly against the Popes but yet he suffer'd himself to be Excommunicated for detaining Richard King of England prisoner and for not restoring the Money he had extorted from that Prince to purchase his liberty He died without Absolution Anno 1197. Let us now speak of Heresies About the end of the Twelfth age the opinions of one named Rousselin had made a great deal of noise He said the three Divine Persons were three separate or distinct things as three several Angels were but in such sort nevertheless that all three had but one and the same Power and one and the same Will and that if custom would permit it one might say that they were three Gods or otherwise it would follow that the Father and the Holy Ghost had been incarnate These Sophistical impieties were condemned in a Council held at Soissons notwithstanding the Author did not refrain Teaching in private and perhaps he might have made a greater progress if there had not been some watchful persons amongst the rest Yves de Chartres who broke his measures I cannot tell whether it were the same against whom St. Anselme when he was but Abbot du Bec. wrote his Treatise of the Incarnation of the Word which he sent to Pope Vrban II. to examine An. 1094. About the year 1125. one Tanchelin the most profligate of all Mankind infected Brabant and the neighbouring Countreys with his Errors he asserted that the Ministry of Bishops and Priests was a cheat and that the Communion of the Holy Eucharist availed nothing to our Salvation He drew people after him by the magnificence of his Feasts and the pomp of his dress
assign a Council in a place of safety where every one might come Friend or Foe as well those of the Clergy as the Laity to judge whether he or the Emperor had broke the Peace and to consider of some means to restore it again Gelasius II. said the same thing and that he would acquiesce in the Judgment of his Brothers the Bishops whom God had Constituted Judges in his Church and without whom a Cause of that Nature could not be determined Innocent III. wrote word That he durst not decide any thing concerning the Marriage of King Philip II. without the determination of a General Council and that if he should do it he might run the hazard of his Order and of his Office very remarkable words for that they seem to insinuate that a Pope may be deposed not only for Heresie but likewise for abusing his Power In those times they were likewise obliged to govern the Church by Advice of the Cardinals whose Power was raised to such a height since the year One thousand that they were the Collaterals and Coadjutors of the Pope saith St. Bernard that their Priviledges or Rights were greater then those of the Patriarchs and the Primates and that they had the Power of giving Authentick Censures against the Popes themselves The assistance and ability of so many great Men chosen out of all the Western Churches as fill'd this sacred Colledge did not a little help the Popes in bearing the great burthen of Affairs and maintaining and encreasing their Authority in the remotest Countries But when they were once become great enough by their assistance they freed themselves from their dependance and now they only ask them their opinions and do not think themselves at all obliged to follow what they Advise or Councel As for the disposing of Benefices they had gotten the greatest into their own power as the Archbishopricks Bishopricks and Abbies by making themselves Masters of the Elections under pretence of judging those Differences that hapned betwixt opposite Parties and the lesser as the Dignitaries and Canons of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches by their recommendations to the Chapters in favour of those Clergy-Men that follow'd their Court. When having often obtained the thing desired they at length turned such Recommendation into an absolute Command by the instigation of Flatterers and interessed People and then that was follow'd with Reservations and after with Expectatives the abuse whereof went on increasing still notwithstanding the Pragmatick of St. Louis and the Remedies Philip le Bel or the Faire would have applied and lasted till the time of the great Schism when King Charles VI. and after him Charles VII set roundly upon it and brought back all Elections Collations and Presentations to the same method and order as had been Decreed by General Councils without any regard or respect to those pretences and claims the Court of Rome had taken up and exercised In the Fifth Age not only the Bishops but almost all the Church-men on this side the Mountains had taken up that pious Custom of going to Rome to visit the Sepulchres of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul as it were to pay their Hommage and testifie they held the same Faith which those Apostles had preached At the same time they paid their Respects to their Holy Fathers who in length of time converted this Voluntary Devotion into an indispensable Obligation in so much as they highly reproached such as omitted it Dispensations were utterly unknown in the first Ages and when they did begin to give them it was not to allow them to infringe the Canons but rather to absolve those that had infringed them After the Eleventh Age the use grew very frequent I observe four or five causes The continual Wars between private Persons as well as between Princes The multiplicity of Decrees which were so numerous it was difficult to avoid breaking some or other of them The corruption of Manners and the little regard they had for Ecclesiastical Orders or Rules insomuch as they obliged to obviate that scorn by granting Dispensations and they thought to hide or conceal the Transgression by permitting it The Popes however did not dispense in things against our Faith nor against good Manners but in those that were only forbidden or permitted by positive Law As for the Divine Law they did not directly dispense with that but by Interpretation and by Declaration As for the Exemptions of Monasteries we have observed in the Sixth Age how they began by the concessions of the Bishops and how all the Grandees affected to obtain them for such as they founded The first we find that were allowed them was only to free the Monks from Temporal Payments and Duties Afterwards they obtained some kind of Priviledges to be added amongst others That they should chuse their own Abbots That they should be Masters of their own Discipline and that the Bishops should Ordain Priests for them at their Request In fine they found out means to extend them to the Spiritual Jurisdiction and free themselves from any dependance upon Bishops to which three things were required the Bishops Consent the Authority of the Holy Chair and the Pragmatick Sanction of the King The number of these Exemptions encreasing day by day the Pope arrogates to himself the power of giving them and of submitting the Monasteries to the Holy See maugre the Bishops Diocesans He did the very same in relation to some Bishops and some Chapters substracting these from their Bishops and the Bishops from their Metropolitans Vertuous Men could not held their Tongues upon these Disorders their Writings mention it yet St. Bâ—ruard though a Monk and very ✚ zealous for the Holy Chair highly condemned them For to exempt the Abbots from the Jurisdiction of the Bishops what was it else said that great Saint but to command them to Felony and Rebellion and was it not as monstrous a deformity in the Body of the Church to unite an Abby or a Chapter immediately to the Holy Chair as in a Human Body to joyn and fasten a Finger to the Head These favours were not bestow'd gratis at Rome the Abbots and Monks stript their Monasteries to purchase this independance and made them oft-times Tributary to the Holy See of many Silver Marks which they paid yearly The Abbots notwithstanding these Exemptions were still obliged after their Election to render Obedience to their Bishops and by a Writing but the most part refused it so that the Council of Rheims was forc'd to make a Decree to compel them and yet they did over-much care to submit to it which Disobedience was so far carried into a common Right that Henry II. King of England made bitter complaints to Pope Innocent II. for that Hugh Archbishop of Rouen exacted this said Duty of the Abbots of Normandy The Pope perceiving with what heat the King wrote to him sent to the Archbishop that he should for a time forbear to ask that Right too
Monk as well as his own choice The Father might put his Children into the Monastery without acquainting the Mother and even against her will He had that power over them till they were Ten years of Age afterwards that Term was enlarged to Thirteen says Yves de Charâ—res and then to Fourteen as we find it in Gratian. When the Father had resolv'd and destined his Son to Monachism he offer'd him to God in the Church belonging to the Convent wrapped all over or sometimes only the Arm in the Altar Cloth and by that Devotion obliged him so fully that he could not gainsay it But Clement III. and Calistus III. changed that too unnatural Right and Power and declared That those Children ought not to be compell'd to Monastick Life unless they did by their own free choice oblige themselves when they had attained to years of Discretion The Dignity of Cardinals was in great lustre their Colledge was numerous and their Vertue and Birth most eminent France had as great a share at least in this Advantage as Italy Duchesne who has written their Lives very exactly hath noted in this Twelfth Age above Fifty that were Frenchmen the greatest part of them having been bred in Monasteries particularly in the Congregation of Clugny and Order de Cisteaux These last were almost all of them the intimate Friends or Disciples of St. Bernard Galon Disciple of Yves de Chartres Bishop of Beauvais then of Paris Guy Brother of Stephen Earl of Buâ—gundy Archbishop of Vienne and afterwards Soveraign Prelat by the name of Calistus II. Pontius de Melgueil Abbot of Clugny Stephen Son of Thierry Earl of Montbelliard William de Champagne successively Archbishop of Sens and of Rheims Uncle to King Philip Augustus and very powerful in the Government of the Kingdom Rodolph de Nesle Henry de Sully and Albert Brother of the Duke of Brabant were all of illustrious Birth and withall of extraordinary Vertue excepting Ponce or Pontius who was singular for the Disorders of his Life which were scandalous after his re-entry perforce into the Abby which he had once renounced that going to Rome whither he was cited by the Pope he was confin'd to a perpetual imprisonment where a Month after he died And nevertheless a certain Martyrologist quoted by Duchesne does call him Saint The end of Albert was also Tragical but the Cause being brave his Memory is the more glorious He had been Elected Bishop of Liege upon the Sollicitation of Henry Duke of Brabant his Brother The Emperor Henry VI. who hated both of them would not give his consent to this Election The Pope however confirms him and Albert comes to Rheims to be Consecrated which was then the Metropolis of Liege The Emperor took this for an outrageous affront and slighting and dispatches some German Cavaliers after him to take his Revenge These Ruffians having craftily insinuated themselves into a familiarity with the Bishop who then sojourned at Rheims found an opportunity one day to get him out of Town to take the Air and walk and Murther'd him with Nineteen Wounds then made their escape to Verdun and from thence into Germany to the Emperor Four hundred and twenty years after that is in the year 1612. the Arch-Duke Albertus of Austria and his spouse the Infanta Clara Eugenia obtained leave of the Most Christian King Lewis XIII to take his Corps up out of the Cathedral Church at Rheims where it had been deposited till that time and caused it to be convey'd to Brussels in great Pomp. Paul V. compleated his Crown of Honour by Canonizing him as a Martyr for the liberty of the Church which is the Spouse of Jesus Christ I observe Eight or ten other Cardinals who had no other Nobility but what their Vertue acquir'd as one Robert de Paris who with some others so pressed Pope Paschal that he had made him break the Treaty by which he had yielded up the Investitures to the Emperor Henry V. Foulcher de Chartres Matthew de Rheims and Alberic de Beauvais the first of whom had been Secretary to Godfrey de Buillon in his Expedition to the Holy Land the second Prior of St. Martins des Champs or in the Fields and the third a Monk of Clugny and Abbot of Vezelay Stephen de Chaalons Bernard de Rennes these two had likewise been Monks Rowland d'Auranches and Matthew d'Angers all which took their names from the places of their Nativity according to the Mode of Men of Learning who were of mean Extraction There were divers others besides whose Parents are unknown to us as one Yves a Canon of St. Victor raised by his Learning to that Dignity and one Martin who came from the Abby de Citeaux and was Bishop of Ostia a Prelat of an Apostolick Continence and Fragality It is related that he being sent as Legat into Denmark for the Conversion of those Infidels he came back so poor that he Travel'd on Foot as far as Florence herein much more like the humble Apostles of Jesus Christ then the other Legats of those times who comming very beggerlike into those Provinces whither the Popes sent them went thence again loaden with Spoil as from a Country Conquer'd by them and returned back to Rome with an Equipage sit for a King The Bishop of Florence seeing this good Man on foot made him a Present of a Horse not out of generosity but hopes to oblige him to be his Friend in a Process he had at Rome ready to be determined but when it came to Judgment and this good Man to deliver his opinion he Addresses himself to him and said freely he did not know he was to have been his Judge and therefore pray'd him to go to the Stable and take his Horse again that his Vote might be without partiality Neither did France want for Bishops whose Learning Merits Zeal and Piety acquir'd the Titles of Great Men and of Saints Not to mention again that Galon Guy of Burgundy William de Champagne and Albert de Brabant whom we lately ranged amongst the Cardinals France had amongst others seven great Archbishops Hildebert de Tours Peter de Bourges who was of the Family de la Chastre Odvard de Cambray Arnold Amaulry de Narbonne Henry de Rheims Rotrou de Rouen and Hugh de Vienne Arnold had been Abbot of Clerveaux and was the first Inquisitor to root out the Heresie of the Albigensis Rotrou was Son of the Earl of Warwick near of Kindred to the King of England as Henry was to the King of France Louis the Gross but both of them more eminent for their Christian Humility then high Birth Hugh endured rather to be expell'd from his See by the Emperor Frederic I. then to renounce Alexander III. whom he believed to be the true and Legitimate Pope I should never come to an end if I undertook to give an account of all the Bishops of this Age who deserve Immortality and Renown But can we forget Yves and
cannot say how long she survived after the year 1180. but there is yet to be seen in the Parochial Church of that place her Monument and her Effigies also in Stone which over-head is crowned with Flowers The People of that Country assure us That God by divers Miracles hath approved the Devotion they have towards her Lewis VIII King XLII POPE HONORIUS III. All along this Reign and beyond it LEWIS VIII Surnamed the Lyon and the Father of St. LEWIS King XLII Aged Thirty six years compleat Year of our Lord 1223 PHilip Augustus had not caused his Son to be Crowned in his Life-time whether he had a jealousie of him or thought his Family so well Establish'd that he had no need of such precaution to secure the Crown to him He was therefore Crowned at Rheims with his Wife Blanch de Castille the Tenth day of the Month of August The King of England did not assist at his Coronation as he ought to have done in Quality of Pair of France but sent Ambassadors to summon him according to the Oath he had made at London to surrender Normandy to him with all those other Countries that had been taken from King John his Father They receiv'd for Answer That they had been Consiscated by Judgment of the Pairs and that they pretended to have the remainder likewise which he held so far were they from giving back what he demanded Year of our Lord 1022 and 1223. As the People of Languedoc did easily return again to their Natural Lord Raimond Earl of Toulouze Amaury finding himself too weak to stay in those Countries came and resigned and yielded up all the Right and Title he had into the hands of the King who for Recompence made him High Constable It was then but an Employment lasting no longer then the War So that we sometimes find such Lords on whom it hath been conferr'd two or three several times Year of our Lord 1224 Raimond Earl of Toulouze having made his Address to Pope Honorius with all imaginable submission the Holy Father sent to his Legat to call a Council at Montpellier to reconcile him with the Church After which Raimond before an Assembly of the Clergy in Languedoc promis'd and sware entire Obedience to the Roman Church sufficient security to the Clergy for restitution and the enjoyment of their Goods and Profits and the extirpation of Hereticks throughout all his Country Upon this satisfaction the Pope received him to Mercy and owned him for Earl of Toulouze Year of our Lord 1224 But as the resistance and opposition of his Subjects hindred him from making good his Promises the Pope sent a Legat to the King it was Romain a Cardinal that had the Title of St. Angelo to persuade him to undertake that Expedition which he did the more readily because it suited with his zeal and with his Interests Year of our Lord 1224 The two Kings Lewis of France and Henry of Germany eldest Son to the Emperor Frederic had a Conference at Vaucouleurs where they Treated about several Difference between the two Crowns and made divers Propositions but came to no conclusion At his return from thence pursuant to a Resolution had been taken to drive the English wholly out of France Lewis enters Poitou gains a Battle there over Savary de Mauleon General of the English in Guyenne makes himself Master of the Cities of Niort and of St. John d'Angely and generally over all the Places even to the Garonne and receives the Homage of all the Lords of those parts Year of our Lord 1224 There was nothing left but Rochelle where Savary de Mauleon defended himself for a long time expecting Relief from England In fine being basely disappointed and deceived by the King of England's Ministers who sent him Chests full of old Iron in stead of Silver to satisfie the Garison he was forced to surrender the Town the 28th day of July and afterwards pretending whether true or false that he had been Treated in England as a Person whose Faith they suspected he quitted his old Master and went to the King of France After the taking of that important City the Kings to secure it the better to themselves had as it were outvied each other in gratifying it with many great Priviledges by which means it was raised to a high pitch of Renown for its Wealth and Liberty but through their ill management of those Advantages she hath utterly lost them all in these latter times Year of our Lord 1225 The rest of Guyenne had been gained by the French if Richard Brother to King Henry had not landed at Bordeaux with a great Army which raised up the drooping Spirits He took St. Macaire near Bordeaux by Storm but la Reoule gave him a great Repulse and being inform'd that the French Army was at the River Garonne he Ship'd himself again and left order with Aimery Vicount de Touars to procure a Truce There wandred a certain Person about Flanders near this time who said he was that Baldwin Earl of Flanders and Emperor of Constantinople that had been taken Prisoner by the King of Bulgaria He related how he made his escape out of Prison and put them in mind of several Tokens and Circumstances to know him by The Flemings who mightily loved Baldwin gave Credit to this Man and put him in possession of all Flanders Year of our Lord 1225 The Countess Jane Daughter of Baldwin finding her self at a loss for her Husband Ferrand was still a Prisoner at Paris had recourse to the King who sent word to this pretended Baldwin that he should come to him at Peronne He came boldly thither but disdaining or not being able to answer the Questions put to him which he must needs have known if he were not a Cheat the King commanded him to depart his Territories within three days and gave him a safe Conduct Being afterwards forsaken by all the World he endeavour'd to escape away in a disguise but he was taken in Burgundy and carried to the Countess who after ✚ she had made him undergo divers Tortures sent him to the Gibbet as an Impostor His Execution did not hinder malicious People from believing that the Daughter had chosen rather to hang her Father then to restore him to his Soveraignty Year of our Lord 1225 This same year the King being in Touraine the Legat went to him and obliged him to prolong the Truce with Aymery Vicount de Touars the only Nobleman that opposed the King yet in Poictou This Vicount shortly after came to Paris to render Hommage to the King in presence of the King of England's Ambassadors Year of our Lord 1226 The City of Avignon having refused the Army passage was besieged the 14th of June It defended it self obstinately Guy Count de Saint Pol one of the bravest of the Besiegers was slain there the Plague got amongst the Soldiers and the Earl of Champagne Male-content went away without leave The King nevertheless swore he would not
better to spoil and ruine the whole Countrey about Toulouze pull down the Houses root up the Vineyards and burn the Corn which so disheartned the Toulousains that both they and their Earl were forced to submit to what conditions he pleased Year of our Lord 1228 The Treaty was chalked out at Meaux and compleated at Paris the Earl and Deputies of Toulouze being present The Earl was deprived of all his Lands excepting some little fragments they for meer pity left him It was order'd they should all devolve to his Daughter Jane who should be Married to Alphonso the Kings Brother into whose custody she was put forthwith That the Earl should pay Seventeen thousand Marks of Silver part to the King some to the Monks de Cisteaux and the rest for a Foundation of Doctors in Divinity at Toulouze That the Walls of that City and of Thirty more should be demolish'd for performance whereof he should give Hostages and in the mean time remain prisoner That there should be an exact search after Heretiques at his charge and that for pennance he should go and make war five years against the Saracens These Articles Signed he and those of his company that had been Excommunicated were at Nostre-dames of Paris upon Good-Friday bare-footed in their Shirts to receive Absolution of the Popes Legat. That done the Earl returned prisoner to the Tower of the Louvre till he had given his Hostages About the Feast of Pentecost the King gave him the Order of Knighthood and sent him into his own Countrey The Legat went with him and setled the Inquisition which exercised great severities and was again the cause of many troubles and Massacres Year of our Lord 1228 The Male-contented could not disgest that the Government should be in the hands of two Strangers a Spanish Woman and an Italian Cardinal they therefore took up Arms again drew to their party Robert Earl of Dreux elder Brother to the Duke of Bretagne and Philip Earl of Boulogne the Kings paternal Uncle to whom they promised the Crown so that the King feared a second time to be involved by this conspiracy and had been surprized if the Earl of Champagne had not run seasonably to him with 300 * Horse-men to bring him off In Spring the Conspirators turned all their Force against the Earl of Champagne and Brie They demanded those Counties of him for Alix Queen of Cyprus Daughter of his Uncle Henry who died in the Levant and more then that called him Traytor and accused him of having poysonned the deceased King proffering to convict him by Duel a reproach that made him so black and loathsome amongst his Vassals that they joyned in League with his Enemies against him The Count finding so heavy a burthen on his Shoulders and his City of Troyes besieged implores the assistance of the Queen Regent who caused the King to march to his relief and commanded them if they had any thing to say against the Earl they should come and require justice upon him in her Court But they who would not acknowledge her Regency as if the Kingdom had been vacant elected in a private Assembly or Cabal the Lord de Coucy for King who was in great reputation for his Wisdom and Justice The Queen Regent having got intelligence gave immediate notice of it to Philip Earl of Boulogne whom they had made believe they would give the Crown to by this means she took him off from them then by divers politique contrivances made all their designs vanish but not their ill intentions Year of our Lord 1228 For a few days afterwards the Duke of Bretagne by their assistance and Councils took up Arms again and called the King of England to his aid who landed in Bretague with considerable Forces but when he saw the King conducted by the Queen Regent had taken the Castle de Belesme au Perche from the Duke which was held impregnable he Shipp'd himself again The Duke thus abandonned was constrained to betake himself to an agreement Year of our Lord 1229 The very next year he broke it but not without punishment the King having taken all his Holds and Places and gained all his Vassals and Friends shuts him up in his City of Nantes so that to get out of the Briars and make the best of a bad bargain he was forced to render him hommage of Allegiance for the Dutchy The Bretons who pretended they owed but ouly single Homage named him because of his so doing Mau-clerc as who should say Witless or wanting Judgment and Understanding Thibauld Earl of Champagne was ill rewarded for the good services he had done the Queen Regent She took in hand the cause of her Cousin Alix and condemned him to pay her Forty thousand Marks of Silver and sell to the King to raise that Money the Counties of Blois Chartres Sancerre and the Vicount of Chasteaudun Year of our Lord 1230 After all these disorders there was a calm and peace for four years which was only a little disturbed by some tumults caused by the remainders of the Albigensis and the hurly-burlies of the Scholars belonging to the University of Paris It was then the fairest Ornament of the Kingdom and the innumerable numbers of Scholars that flocked thither from all parts of Europe brought great riches to that City which in a manner made all the other Universities in Christendom submit to it Now some of them having been ill handled in some scuffle with the Citizens and not obtaining such satisfaction as they desired they all resolved to quit Paris not without having first published a great many Songs and Licentious Poems which fullied the reputation of the Queen Regent and Cardinal Romain the Popes Legat who swayed her The Duke of Bretagne and the King of England proffer'd to receive them into their Countries and to grant them great priviledges but the Kings Council fearing that capital City might be deprived of so great an advantage and benefit found means to allay their heats and keep them there Year of our Lord 1231. and the following The Inhabitants of Marseilles and the adjacent Countreys being revolted against Raimond Berenger Earl of Provence called in Raimond Earl of Toulouze to Command them because he was next Heir For we must know that Gilbert Earl of Provence and Nice had had two Daughters Faidide who Married Alphonso Great Great Great Grandfather of Raimond de Toulouze and Douce that had married Raimond Berenger Earl of Bacelonna from whom was descended the Earl of Provence now mentioned He therefore accepted of their Homage and acted as their Lord whence follow'd a War that lasted four years between those two Cousins This Earl of Provence having been harrass'd by divers Revolts and other misfortunes was at the end of his days made compleatly happy by the Marriage of four Daughters he had by his Wife Beatrix of Savoy a most Virtuous Princess For all four of them had the honour to be Married to Kings Margret who was
Royal Robes over her Religious Habit of that Order which she had taken some time before her death being besides and long before that time of the third Order of St. Francis according to the Devotion of those times Some modern Historians are much in doubt whether she were elder or younger then Berenguelle who was Married to Alphonso King of Leon. This had the Guardianship of her Brother Henry and that Prince being dead succeeded to the Kingdom of Castille but some have believed that it was by Usurpation upon Blanch her Sister who was then a great way off from that Countrey and they go upon this ground that amongst the Records they find Letters from nine Castillian Lords to Lewis VIII in which they own and acknowledge his Son for their King and say that Alphonso IX King of Castille had declared by his Will that in case his Son Henry died without any Heirs the Children of Blanch were to succeed by right of Inheritance but to tell the truth it does not follow from thence that Blanch was the eldest it is more probable that these discontented Lords grounded it upon this that Alphonso and Berenguelle being of kin within the degrees prohibited Pope Innocent III. had declared their Marriage to be null and the Children that should proceed from that conjunction incestuous Bastards and incapable to succeed So that upon their exclusion those of Blanch came to the succession of Alphonso IX their Grand-father and this is it that gave a Right to the Kings of France which they held a long time to the Kingdom of Castille Year of our Lord 1252 Some Months before the death of Blanch there arose a sharp contest between the Secular Doctors of Theology at Paris whereof William de St. Amour was as it were the Head and on the other part the Orders Mendicants of Preaching Friers and Friers Minors because those Monks as the others reproached them were so far from submitting to the Statutes and Discipline of the University that they aimed to make themselves the Masters The thing was obstinately debated five or six years together St. Amour got the better at Paris but the Dispute being transferr'd to Rome he was worsted and his Book was condemned not as Heretical but as scandalizing those good Fathers They had great credit in that Court and obtained great Priviledges with so much the more facility as their trampling on the Laws increased the power of the Donor and diminished that of the Bishops to whose prejudice they were granted About the beginning of this quarrel Robert de Sorbonne Doctor in Divinity and very highly esteemed by St. Lewis built the Colledge of the Poor Masters of SORBONNE under which Name the Vulgar are wont to comprehend all the Faculty of Theology of Paris In effect it is the most renowned of all those Colledges Year of our Lord 1253 In the year 1253. died Thibauld who was the Fifth of that Name as Earl of Champagne but only the First as King of Navarre His Successor in all his Estates was Thibauld II. or VI. aged Fourteen years under the Guardianship of his Mother Year of our Lord 1254 Conrad the Son of Frederic did not find himself strong enough in Germany to cope against William Earl of Holland pretended King of the Romans he was gone into Italy in the year 1251. and some time after having unhappily caused his Nephew Frederic to be strangled had seized upon his Treasure and upon his Kingdom of Sicilia But this year 1254. was himself poysonn'd by Mainfroy to whom not knowing he was the Author of his death he lest the Regency of the Kingdom and the Guardianship of his Son Conrad the Young vulgarly named Conradin aged but Three years Year of our Lord 1254 It was neer Six years since St. Lewis the King went out of France and Three years and a half that he had been in the Holy Land visiting the Holy Places with an incredible Devotion sortifying the Towns and reviving the courage and affairs of the Christians in those Countreys as much as possibly he could France destitute of any Pilot by the death of his Mother most earnestly desired his return He therefore took Shipping at the Port of Acon or Ptolemais on St. Year of our Lord 1254 Marks Eve and landed at Marseilles the Eleventh day of July Year of our Lord 1254 The King of England who was this year come into Gascongne desiring to avoid the long voyage by Sea obtained leave of the good King to cross thorough France and take Shiping at Boulogne He met the King at Chartres who from thence took him along to Paris where he Treated him Four days together with all the magnificence imaginable The joy and splendor was the greater because the four Sisters Daughters of the Earl of Provence the eldest Married to the King of France the Second to the King of England the Third to Richard his Brother and the Fourth to Charles Earl of Anjou met all there together William Earl of Holland and King of the Romans making War against the Friezelanders who were Rebels to him had lately been knocked on the Head by certain Peasants hid amongst the Reeds when his Horse was sunk into the Snow and Ice The following year being 1256. the Electors basely selling the Honour of the German Nation and their Votes to Foreign Princes gave the Empire some of them to Richard Brother to the King of England others to Alphonso X. King of Castille Richard went into Germany and sojourn'd there above two years having been Crowned at Aix la Chapelle in the year 1247. Alphonso was no way known to them but by his Money and both of them disputed their Right and Title before the Pope for divers years without eve coming to any agreement The Son of Bouchard d'Avesnes cast out by Guy Earl of Flanders and their Brothers of the Second Bed by the same Mother took Sanctuary with William Earl of Year of our Lord 1255 Holland who had vanquish'd Guy and taken him prisoner with one of his Brothers The Mother to be reveng'd had called in Charles Earl of Anjou and given him the enjoyment of Hainault and Valenciennes during his life He regained those Countreys easily enough from the Hollander because he found him fully enough employ'd against the Frisons where he was kill'd as we have related His Son Florent who succeeded him set the two Brothers at liberty for a great Ransom and St. Lewis obliged his Brother Charles to restore Hainault for a sum of Money as likewise the parties concern'd to stand to the award he had made in Anno 1246. Year of our Lord 1256 There being an universal calme thorough all his Kingdom he set himself upon the regulating it by good and wholsome Laws the banishing from it all violence and oppression the instructing others by his good examples and by all manner of Just and Holy Works undertaking the protection of the Weak the Widdows and Orphans procuring with all his
Power the advancement of Religion and the Service of God providing for the nourishment of the Poor the Marriage of decay'd Gentlewomen the maintenance of the Church and above all the ease of the People by the revocation of all Tolls and extraordinary Subsidies and Taxes which the malignity or necessity of former times had introduced and imposed The Titles of the Chamber of Accompts which have been shewed us by Mr. d'Heroval to whose care the History of our Kings of the Third Race is indebted for the greatest part of the new discoveries made known in these last times tells us amongst many other rare and curious things that this truly most Christian King spared nothing for the Conversion of Infidels that for this end he took up all the Jewish Children that were Fatherless or in want caused them to be bred up in the Christian Faith and allowed them two four six Silver Deniers a day for their Dyet or Keeping which was paid out of his own Demesnes and pass'd in Dowry to their Widdows and oftentimes to their Children that these were called the Baptized as those who embraced Christianity being of age were called the Converted That the Duke of Burgundy the King of England and some others practis'd the like in their Countreys which brought over a world of Jews from their obstinacy and that the Kings his successors did imitate him therein till the Reign of King John We have by the same means likewise learn'd that when St. Lewis made a journey any where there was always a Prelate which was ordinarily the Arch-Deacon of Paris and a Lord of some note that follow'd some days after the Court and made inquiry at all the Lodgings and in all the Countreys and Places they had pass'd what wrong or spoil they might have done to the Landlords or to their Lands and the just King made present reparation and satisfaction with his own Money without any complaint made by the party agrieved so far was it from suffering ☞ them to spend and squander away what they had in Fees and Charges to get Justice done to them Year of our Lord 1256 The City of Marscille did not give that obedience to Charles as he expected and desired wherefore he blocked them up with his Army and brought them to that low condition by Famine that they surrendred at discretion to this merciless Prince who caused many of the principal Citizens to be beheaded Year of our Lord 1256 Three sorts of People of Italy the Venetians the Genouese and the Pisans were become mighty powerful in the Levant Seas and for that reason were grown very jealous of Year of our Lord 1256 each other The two first having each of them their several quarters and their Magistrates in the City of Acon or Acre fell to quarrelling with each other upon some private pieque and went together by the ears to their mutual destruction which compleated the ruine of the Western Christians in the East Year of our Lord 1258 In an enter-view at Montpellier the two Kings Lewis of France and James of Arragon Treated the Marriage of Philip then Second Son to King Lewes but who in two years after became the eldest with Isabella younger Daughter of James to whom her Father gave in Dowry the Counties of Carcassone and Beziers Year of our Lord 1258 After this they agreed about their other differences in this manner St. Lewis yielded up to the Arragonian the Sovereignty which France had still held upon Catalonia Barcelona Rousillon Empurs Vrgel and Geronde from the time the French first conquer'd those Countreys of the Saracens And on the other hand the Arragonian yielded to him all the right he pretended whether by Marriage of his predecossors or otherwise by any Title whatsoever to the Counties de Razez Narbonne Nisines Alby Foix Cahors and other parts in Languedoc held in Under-Fief of the Crown of France as also the Rights he had in Provence to the Counties of Forcalquier and Arles and to the City of Marseilles Year of our Lord 1259 The English had still a very passionate desire to recover Normandy and the other Countreys they had lost in France and if Richard could have fixt himself well in Germany he and his Brother Henry might have attaqued France very shrewdly on both sides The pious King was not ignorant of it but he knew likewise that Henry was so dangerously engaged in a quarrel with his Barons that it would be easie to content him with a little and even to oblige him to an acknowledgment and therefore the business having been stated by the Popes Legats the King of England passes over into France together with his Wife his Brothers and his Children and being arriv'd at Paris confirmed the Treaty The substance of it was That he his Sons Brothers and Successors should for everrenounce all claim to Normandy Anjou Maine Touraine and Poitou and that the King gave a great sum of Money to Henry and released to him and his that part of Guyenne beyond the Garonne and on this side Limousin and Perigord upon condition to do Homage-Liege to the Kings of France and take place amongst his Pairs in quality of Duke of Guyenne Immediately upon this the King of England does this Homage and the eldest Son of France hapning to dye he was at his Funeral and helpt to bear his Corps upon his own Shoulders with the other Lords part of the way from Paris to St. Denis Year of our Lord 1260 In the year 1260. a new and strange heat of Zeal inspired many Christian people which was to whip themselves in publique with small Cords or with Thongs of Leather These whipsters were called the Devots and afterwards they were named the Flagellants This Phrensie begun in the City of Perugia in Tuscany by the example and Preaching of a Hermit named Râ—ynier spread it self even into Poland travell'd as far as Greece and in the end degenerated into Superstition and Heresies Year of our Lord 1261 In the month of July of the year 1261. a Lieutenant to Michael Paleologus VIII of that name Emperour of Greece who returned from making a War against Michael the Despote of Epirus made himself Master of Constantinople getting entrance by a hole under the Walls of the Town discover'd to him by some Traitors a thing of great importance which he effected the more easily because the Emperour Baldwin was abroad having carried his Naval force to besiege a little City upon the Black Sea or Pontus Euxinus Thus was it that Constantinople fell again into the hands of the Greeks from whom about two hundred years afterwards it fell under the Tyranny of the Turks The Latins had kept this fragment of the Eastern Empire about Seven and fifty years and as it had begun with a Baldwin it ended with a Prince of the same name The Venetians who had a great interest in this loss put a mighty strong Fleet to Sea wherewith they Commanded the whole
Archipelago and reduced Constantinople Year of our Lord 1262 to such streight that Manuel was upon the point to abandon it But the Genoese in hatred to the Venetians made a League with him and relieved him notwithstanding the intreaties of all the Christian Princes and the Popes Excommunications The Emperour Baldwin yet held for some time after the Island of Eubaea or Negropont The bastard Mainfroy not content to have usurp'd the Kingdom of Sicily without consent of the Holy See domineer'd over the Pope and the Countreys belonging to the Church most strangely Insomuch that Alexander IV. had offer'd that Kingdom to the King of Englands Son Edmund who had accepted it and to this end his Father had laid so many Imposts and Taxes upon the People that most of them made a League against him and were revolted Vrban IV. Successor to Alexander having caused the Crusado against Mainfroy to be Preached stirred up some French Lords to go into Italy who at the very first forced the passages of Lombardy and beat the Saracen Soldiers whom Mainfroy entertained in his Service but soon after their Pay falling short they came back into Year of our Lord 1262 France leaving the Pope more in the Briers then ever Year of our Lord 1262 The better to fortifie himself against his implacable wrath Mainfroy contracted Alliance with James III. King of Arragon giving his Daughter in Marriage to Peter his eldest Son who disdained not the Match because it gave him approaching hopes of having the Kingdom of Sicily Mainfroy having no Male-Children In effect it is by this means the Kings of Arragon have attained it and they must needs own they hold their Right from a Bastard an Usurper and Excommunicated person Year of our Lord 1263 The pious King Lewis did not understand this false policy which has quite other Maximes then are practised taught or allowed by Christianity and natural Justice And for this reason it was that he endeavour'd with all his power to decide the quarrels between his neighbours and not to foment them with this spirit of Charity he labour'd so happily to compose the business between the Barons of England of whom Simon Montford Earl of Leicester was Head with their King that they submitted to what he should ordain He calls his Parliament for this purpose at Amiens and pronounced the Sentence in presence of King Henry However the Barons found some difficulties and exceptions and would not abide by it Insomuch that the troubles continuing the Pope sent to revoke the gift of the Kingdom of Sicily which he had made to Edmund the King of Englands Brother since he could not pursue it and invested Charles Earl of Anjou Brother of St. Lewis His Wives vanity which made her greedily long to have the Title of Queen as well as her other Sisters inclined and perswaded him to accept of it Year of our Lord 1264 It hapned this year 1264. in a Village near Orviete that the Sacred Host cast forth Blood upon the Corporal or fine Linnen wherein the Sacrament is put to convince the incredulity of the Priest that celebrated the Mass Pope Vrban satisfied of the truth of this Miracle instituted the Feast and Procession of the Holy Sacrament to be solemnized the Thursay after the Octave of Whitsunday St. Thomas Aquinas who was then Professor in Theology at Orvieta composed the Office for it Vrban IV. being dead at Perusia the third of October the Cardinals after a vacancy of Four Months elected the Cardinal Guy the Gross a native of the Province of Languedoc who had been Married before he entred into Holy Orders He took the name of Clement IV. amongst his Virtues he is admir'd for his rare Modesty though very little imitated by his Successors He made a protestation at his first coming to the See that he would advance none of his kindred and so exactly did he keep his word that of three Prebendaries which his Brother had in possession he obliged him to quit two and far from Marrying his Daughters to great Lords ✚ as he might well have done he gave them such small portions that they chose rather to make themselves Nuns Towards the end of the Month of July about the beginning of the night a Comet was observed towards the West and some while after a little before break of day it appeared in the East pointing its tail Westward It was visible till the end of September lasting two Months and a half Year of our Lord 1405 Clement IV. upon his advancement to the Holy See ratified the Election his predecessor had made of Charles of France for the Kingdom of Sicily obtained of St. Lewis a Tenth of all the Clergy of his Kingdom for him and lent him all the Money he could scrape together having for that purpose engaged the Revenue of the Churches in Rome Year of our Lord 1265 Charles with this assistance with the Kings help and his Wives great care who sold all her Jewels to raise Soldiers which she cull'd and chose for the bravest got a good Army on foot to go into Italy by Land and in the mean time put to Sea with Thirty great Vessels and sailed to the Port of Ostia He was received at Rome with great Honour by the People declared Senator of that City which was as it were Governour and Sovereign Judge And the year following upon the 28th of June Crowned King of Sicily by the Pope in St. Peters Church upon condition to pay the Pope Eight thousand ounces of Gold and a white Palfrey every year never to be elected Emperour nor to unite that Kingdom to ☞ the Empire For the Popes would have no power left in Italy that was not lesser then their own Year of our Lord 1266 His Land-Army arrived not till about the years end which he compleated in Rome The following he marched to Naples the Guelphes flocking from all parts to List themselves under his Banner The Earl de Caserta quitted the passage du Gariglian most basely to him he afterwards gained the Post of St. Germain guarded by Six thousand Men and in fine the Twenty sixth day of February in the Campagne of Benevent he gained an entire but bloody victory against Mainfroys Army who was slain upon the place All submitted to the Conquerour both beyond and on this side the Fare except the City of Nocera where Frederic II. had placed a strong Garrison of Saracens which yet held out a long time It then appeared that Charles knew not how to Govern his good fortune with Humanity for he let Mainfroy's Wife and Children dye in prison with many Lords of that party and his Army committed horrid cruelties upon the taking of the City of Beneventum Year of our Lord 1267 Nevertheless as he shewed himself very obedient to the Popes Orders he declared him Vicar of the Empire in Italy with the Title of Keeper of the Peace and in this quality he by one of his Lieutenants subdued all the
Gibbelins of Tuscany especially those of Florence and restored all the Guelphes to their Lands and Dwellings In the mean time the young Conradin had sent a Manifesto to all the Princes of Europe declaring himself to be the rightful Successor to the Kingdom of Sicily and imploring their assistance to recover that Succession of his Fathers Insomuch that with the aid of the antient friends of the House of Souaube or Scwaben and some Year of our Lord 1267 adventurers that sought their fortunes he gathered a huge Army and came into Italy about the end of October observing and giving ear rather to the importunities of the Gibbelines who pressed him to march on then the wise Counsels of his Mother who feared the unexperimented Youth of her Son scarce Sixteen years of age would be Ship-wrack'd against the fortune and courage of Charles He had brought with him out of Germany the young Frederic Son of Herman Marquiss of Baden who said likewise he was Duke of Austria being Son of a Daughter of Henry Brother to Frederic last Duke of those Countreys and withal he held himself certain of the assistance of Henry and Frederic Brothers of Alphonso X. King of Castille who upon his arrival in Italy were to declare in his favour Those Brothers having been driven out of Spain by the King Alphonso had retired themselves into Africk to the King of Tunis where they had acquir'd a great deal of reputation Money and Friends Henry having information of the progress of Charles in Italy was come to proffer him his Service with Eight hundred Horse and had lent him a considerable sum of Money In requital Charles had gotten him to be chosen Senator of Rome hut because he afterwards thwarted him in his designs of obtaining by the Pope the Kingdom of Sardinia that Spaniard was alienated from him and secretly conspired with Conradin so that he disposed the City of Rome to receive him driving thence or imprisoning all those that contradicted and when he saw him approaching near he set up his Flags and Arms upon the Gates and joyned openly with him Conradin having spent the Winter at Verona despising the Popes Thunders embarqued at the coast of Genoa on some Vessels belonging to Pisa Being landed in Tuscany he surprized and cut in pieces those Forces that Charles had left there and Year of our Lord 2268 at the same time Conrad being come from Antioch caused all Sicily to Revolt except only Messina and Palermo These prosperous beginnings betraid young Conradin and flattered him to bring him to his death while he was entring into the Kingdom of Sicily Charles quitted the Siege of Nocera and came to meet him resolved to decide the quarrel by a Battle it was fought the Five and twentieth day of August near the lake Fucin now Year of our Lord 1268 called the lake Celano the French gained it but not without much hazard and much blood Conradin Frederic Duke of Austria and Henry of Castille saved themselves by flight but being discover'd they were taken and brought back to the Conquerour After this Victory he took upon him again the dignity of Senator of Rome which he had been obliged to lay down and by the Pope was constituted Vicar of the Empire in Tuscany His Fame would have been beyond a parallel had he been but as merciful as valiant and had not exercised such mortal feverities upon his prisoners of War and such people as revolted from him Year of our Lord 1269 They were so great that being resolved to pass into Africk with St. Lewis the King not knowing what to do with Conradin and Frederic whom it was very dangerous to keep and more to set them free in a Kingdom full of Factions and Rebellion he caused their Process to be made by the Syndics of the Cities of that Kingdom Those Judges having condemned them to death as disturbers of the Churches quiet their Heads were cut off upon a Scaffold in the midst of the City of Naples the Twenty seventh day of October an execution which makes posterity tremble yet with horror but which seemed a retribution of the Divine Justice for those yet more horrible barbarities which Frederic the Grand-father of Conradin had used to all the Family of the Norman Princes Henry de Castille had his Life given him but was confin'd to a prison from whence he got not out till Five and twenty years after to return into Spain Almost at the same time this Conrad Prince of Antioch Son of one Frederic a bastard of the Emperour Frederic II. who was come from the East to the assistance Year of our Lord 1269 of Conradin and had contributed to make the Island of Sicily revolt being taken by some belonging to Charles was hanged and thus ended by the Hangmans hands that famous and glorious Race of the Prince of Scwaben of whom there have been so many Kings and Emperours I should have told you before that Conradin being upon the Scaffold after he had made bitter complaints of his misfortunes and the cruelty of his Enemies threw down his Glove in the Market-place as a token of the investiture of his Kingdoms to such of his kindred as would prosecute his quarrel a Cavalier having taken it up carried it to James King of Arragon who had Married a Daughter of Mainfroy's The abuses and the designs of the Court of Rome were grown to such a height and come to that pass that the King St. Lewis though very devout to the Holy See made this year a Pragmatique to stop the current of them in France especially touching the dispensation of Benefices This same year the Marriage of his Daughter Blanch was made with Ferdinand eldest Son to Alphonso X. King of Castille the Pope having given his Dispensation for the near consanguinity between the parties The Nuptials were celebrated at Year of our Lord 1269 Burgos Philip Brother to the Bride Edward Prince of England James King of Arragon the Bride-grooms Grand-father Alhumar King of Granada and divers other Princes and great Lords honoured the Solemnity with their Presence and it was expresly said in the Contract that if Ferdinand died before his Father her Children should represent him and succeed to the Crown The affairs of the Christians in the Levant being reduced to the last extremity by Bendocabar Sultan of Egypt the exhortations of the Pope and the zeal of St. Lewis stirred up those of the West to make one more great attempt to support them The King of Arragon and Edward eldest Son to the King of England promised to Second St. Lewis and his Brother Charles to go thither with all the force of Italy The number of Adventurers of the Cross consisted of Fifteen thousand Horse and Two hundred thousand Foot which were divided in two Armies to attaque the Saracens in two several places at once Year of our Lord 1270 The Arragonian and the English undertook to go and make War in the Holy Land the Arragonian
came to the Crown Three hundred years after by King Henry the Fourth surnamed the Great The Daughters were named Isabella Blanch Margaret and Agnes Isabella was Married to Thibauld the II. King of Navarre and died without Off-spring Blanch a little before this Voyage to Africk Married Ferdinand called De la Cerde eldest Son of Alphonso X. King of Castille and had two Sons who were unjustly deprived of the Kingdom by their Grandfather because their Father had preceded him and Representation had no place Margaret was Affianced to Henry Duke of Brabant and Limbourg then that Prince turning Monk Married to John his Brother and Successor They had no Children Agnes Espoused Robert Duke of Burgundy and brought him many Philip III. King XLIV POPES A Vacancy GREGORY X. Elected the 1st of September 1271. S. Four years four Months ten days INNOCENT V. Elected in January 1276. S. Seven Months JOHN XXI Elected in July 1276. S. Eight Months NICHOLAS III. Elected in November 1277. S. Two years nine Months Vacancy of Two Months Martin IV. Elected Feb. 21. 1281. S. Four years one Month seven days HONORIUS IV. Elected in April 1285. S. Two years one Month whereof six Months in this Reign PHILIP III. Surnamed the Hardy King XLIV Aged Twenty five years four Months Year of our Lord 1270 THE Christian Army wholly disconsolate for the death of their King and ready to sink under their Toils and Dangers resumed courage and received refreshments upon the arrival of Charles King of Sicily who with his Naval Forces landed at the very time the King his Brother was giving up the Ghost Being come ashoar he came and paid him his last Duty and caused his Flesh to be all taken from his Bones as it was then the Custom when any died in Foreign Countries He carried the said Flesh to Sicily with him and buried it in the Abby of Montreal near Palermo and King Philip kept the Bones which he deposited in St. Denis in France The Funeral being over they continued the Siege Charles having the Command of the whole Army because Philip being fallen Sick could not act At the end of three Months the taking of the place being most infallibly certain though not till the Winter was over King Philip's impatience who much desired to Year of our Lord 1270 go and take possession of his Kingdom and yet more the interest of his Uncle Charles who cared for nothing but to get Money and oblige the King of Tunis to pay him Tribute were the Motives that made them give Ear to Propositions of Peace with that Barbarian King Year of our Lord 1270 They allowed him a Truce for Ten years provided he would defray the whole Expences of that Expedition and that he would pay to Charles as much Tribute as he paid to the Pope Annualy That he would deliver up all the Christians he then held in Slavery That he would grant free liberty of Trade and exemption of Imposts to all their Merchants and would permit them to dwell in Tunis and have the Exercise of the Christian Religion At the end of the Siege Prince Edward of England arrived there with his Forces hoping that after the taking of that place the two Kings would go into the Holy-Land as they had promised but they thought it fitter to return to their own homes and left him to pursue his Voyage Year of our Lord 1270 Heaven seemed to be angry at their return all manner of misfortunes followed them Part of the Vessels wherein Philip was Embarked arrived happily enough at the Port of Trapani or Trapos in Sicily but the others that had King Charles and his on board were overtaken with a moit furious Tempest which destroy'd most of them with the loss of Four thousand Men all their Equipage and the Treasure that was in them Besides all this Thibauld King of Navarre being taken Sick ended his days at Trapani about the end of December his Brother Henry the Fat succeeded him Isabella of Arragon Queen of France being great with Child hurt her self by a fall from her Horse and died in the City of Cosenza Alphonso Brother of St. Lewis was taken off with a Pestilential Fever at Siena and his Wife Isabella de Toulouze died in the same place about twelve days after him So that King Philip cloathed in Mourning Weeds for the Death of his Father his Wife and his nearest Relations after so much Expence and Toil brought nothing back into France but empty Chests and Coffins full of the Bones of the dead Year of our Lord 1271 He staid in Sicily about two Months departed towards the end of February crossed Italy and arrived at Paris in the beginning of Summer He was Crowned at Rheims the Fifteenth day of August or as others say the thirteenth by the Bishop of Soissons the Archbishops See being vacant Of the ancient Pairs of the Laity there was none assisted at this time but the Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Flanders Robert Earl of Artois bore the Sword of Charlemaine they name it Joyeuse At their going thence he intreated the King to go and visit his Country and received him in his City of Aâ—ras with such Welcom and Expressions of Joy as hitherto had not been heard of in France This King passing thorough Rome paid his Devotions on the Tomb of the Apostles At Viterbo finding the Cardinals had been there Assembled for two years together without coming to any agreement concerning the Election of a â—ope he exhorted them to make some end that the Church might be no longer without a Head His good Advice did not take effect till Eight Months afterwards upon their electing of Thibauld de Piacenza Archdeacon of Liege who went Legat into Syria with Prince Edward he took the name of Gregory X. Year of our Lord 1271 The Earldom of Toulouze was vacant by the decease of Jane the Daughter of Raimond and Wise of Alphonso Philip put himself into possession pursuant to the Terms of the Treaty made with Raimond in the year 1228. but it was King John that annexed it to the Crown Year of our Lord 1271 This year died Richard pretended King of the Romans The year after his Brother Henry III. King of England followed him and his Son Edward I. of that name who was in the Holy Land succeeded Year of our Lord 1272 Year of our Lord 1272 In a Bloody Quarrel the Earl of Armagnac had against Gerard Lord of Casaubon his Vassal it hapned that Roger Earl de Foix whom the Earl of Armagnac had called to his aid pursued Gerard and besieged him in a Castle belonging to the King whither he was fled and had put himself under his Protection The King angry for the little Respect these Earls had for him marched into those Countries with an Army capable of striking a terrour to the very heart of Spain He besieged Roger in his Castle de Foix and being resolved to level a Mountain wich hindred his approach
to it daunted him so much that he came and threw himself at the Kings Feet He could not however obtain his Pardon till after he had been detained Prisoner a year in the Castle of Beaucaire At his return from the Holy Land Edward passed thorough France and did Homage to the King Being afterwards gone to visit his Countries of Guyenne Gaston de Moncado Lord of Bearn refused to render him Homage Edward seized upon his Person and kept him Prisoner in his Train for a while From whence making his escape the King of England made complaint to Philip Soveraign Lord of Guyenne This King having summon'd his Parliament and Debated the Case gave Judgment in favour of Edward and compelled Gaston to hold his Lands of him The Viscounty of Bearn was Originally a Member of the Earldom or County of Gascongny which held of the Dutchy but had been dismembred and held by Lords who were the Issue of those Dukes till it came to the House of Moncado by the Marriage of the Princess Mary Daughter of Vicount Peter and Sister of the Vicount Gaston deceased without Children This was about the year 1170. The Princess being yet a Minor having put her self I know not for what reason under the Power of Alphonso II. King of Arragon in whose Dominion she had also some Lands was obliged to do Homage for Bearn to that King and to Marry William de Moncado which Advantage Alphonso procured him as a Recompence for his having brought about the Marriage between Prince Raimond Berenger Earl of Barcelonna his Father and Petronella Daughter and Heiress of Ramir le Moyne king of Arragon The Family of Moncado is one of the Nine most illustrious of all Catalongne and are said to be Issue of a Dapifer or Grand Seneschal to Charlemain Year of our Lord 1273 The Electors displeased to see the German Empire so long in confusion met together at Francfort upon the earnest intreaties of the Pope and without any regard to the opposition King Alphonso made resolved never more to make any Emperor that was not of the German Nation So that at that very time they elected Rodolphus Surnamed Rufus who had been Master of the Palace to Othocare King of Bohemia He was Earl of Habspurg a Family which as well as that of Lorrain were the Issue of the Earls of Alsatia and the Mayre Erchinoald He was raised to the Imperial Dignity principally by the Suffrage of Vernher Archbishop Year of our Lord 1273 of Mentz the only Elector almost that knew him and whom he had otherwhile obliged in some Affair of Importance Now it was the more easie for this Elector to do him this good Office because the King of Bohemia and all the other German Princes refused this Title as being much more burthensom then gainful or honourable Year of our Lord 1273 Many and different Subjects required the Assembling of a Council The necessary Regulation for the future in the Election of Popes the Refermation of Abuses in the Church and of Morality amongst the Christians the Differences about the Grecian Empire between Michael and Baldwin and for that of Germany between Rodolph and Alphonso the hopes to unite the Greek Church to the Roman and the pressing necessity for assisting the Faithful that were remaining in the Holy Land to which the Pope had solemnly obliged himself at the time he received the news of his Election Year of our Lord 1273 For these Reasons he had Convoked a Council in the City of Lyons which lies as it were in the midst of the principal Estates of Christendom He came thither himself about the latter end of this year 1273. and was visited by the King who let him have several of his Gentlemen and Officers to serve him for a Guard Year of our Lord 1274 The Council was open'd the First day of May in the year 1274. there were present Five hundred Bishops seventy Abbots and a thousand others as well Doctors and Deputies as Chapters Gregory presided accompanied with Fifteen Cardinals The Ambassadors from the King the Emperor Rodolphus and from several other Western Princes were there Those from Michael the Emperor of Greece arrived there at the Fourth Session and prescuted some Letters from him by vertue of which they were admitted to an abjuration of their Schism and a profession to follow the Faith of the Roman Church especially about the Procession of the Holy Ghost After that the Pope owned Michael for rightful Emperor of the East and forbad Baldwin to bear that Title any longer This was the end for which Michael had feignedly desired the re-union The Election of Rodolph was likewise confirmed but not till after King Alphonso had submitted and referr'd his Right to the disposal of the Pope upon Condition he might have leave which was granted him to take the Tenths of all the Clergy in his Kingdom to make War against the Moors Thus all the Reparations whatever happens are ever laid upon the Peoples Shoulders to make satisfaction who pay for all at last There were several Constitutions concerning the Elections Provisions and the Residences of Benefices They Treated about the setling many Differences betwixt the Princes and Cities in Italy It was Ordained That the Cardinals should be hence-forward shut up in the Conclave for the Election of Popes and they made very severe Decrees against Usurers by vertue whereof the King put them all in Prison thoroughout the whole Kingdom but soon after he released them upon the payment of some certain Taxes which he imposed upon them Which was to tell the truth only the way to teach them for the future to take the greater Usury that so they might have enough both for themselves and for him They granted likewise a great many Indulgencies and Priviledges to such as listed themselves for the Holy Land or did contribute their Money towards that Expedition and they suppressed all the Orders Mendicants excepting only the Preachers and the Minors The Augustins and the Carmelites were tolerated only till a more ample deliberation Two great and Holy Scholastick Doctors died in these times St. Thomas Aquinas Year of our Lord 1274 near Terracina as he was coming to the Council and St. Bonaventure in Lyons after he had been assistant there The first was of the Order of the Preaching Friers the other of the Minors and had been made a Cardinal by Pope Gregory X. Year of our Lord 1274 Philip tired with being a Widower four years cast his Affection upon Mary Daughter of Henry and Sister of John Duke of Brabant Married her at the Bois de Vincennes in the Month of August and Crowned her the year following in the Holy Chappel of Paris on St. John Baptist's day He would needs have the Archbishop of Year of our Lord 1275 Reims perform â—he Ceremony without any regard to the right of him of Sens who was the Metropolitan The 21th of July Henry the Fat King of Navarre died at Pampeluna his
King having read it stood much amazed It must be some Intelligence he gave to the King of Castille Whatever it were he was made a Prisoner carried to Paris thence transferr'd to the Castle of Janville in Beausse then some days afterward brought back again to Paris where he was Hanged on the publick Gallows in the presence of the Dukes of Burgundy and Brabant and of Robert Earl of Artois Guilty enough had he committed no other Crime but the bewitching his King and fettering both his Sacred Person and Mind in his Artificial Snares The Fortunes of all those whom he had advanced were utterly ruined the Bishop of Bayeux his Brother-in-Law made his escape to the Pope where he remained a long time in Exile Year of our Lord 1277 The boundless Ambition of Charles King of Sicilia aspired to all He thought to hold all Italy by the Offices of Senator of Rome and Vicar of the Empire he was contriving the Conquest of the Grecian upon the right Baldwin had to it whose Daughter he had taken for his second Wife and this year 1277. he purchased the Title of King of Jerusalem of the Princess Mary Widow of Frederic Bastard of the Emperor Frederic the II. and Daughter of Raimond Rupin Prince of Antioch and Melisinda Daughter of Aymeric de Lusignan King of Cyprus and Jerusalem This Kingdom had been already annexed to Sicilia by the Marriage of Yolante de Brienne who was Heiress to it and since it hath ever remained so annexed Year of our Lord 1278 But the Pope the Emperor Rodolph and the Emperor Michael Conspired together to put a stop to that Grandeur which run up too fast and threatned to stifle theirs And besides the Pope it was Nicholas III. of the House of Vrsini who not only did not desire to have to so Potent a Neighbour but withall was cruelly offended for that having demanded one of his Daughters for one of his own Nephews Charles had received his insolent Proposition with raillery and contempt Year of our Lord 1278 At the same time the power of Rodolph mightily increased by the Victory he gained over Othocare King of Bohemia who was left dead in the Field Of the Spoils of that Prince whose Domestick he had been he got the Dutchy of Austria and invested his Son Albertus in it His Posterity have still preserved it and have taken the name of it as more illustrious then that of Habspurg Year of our Lord 1278 Not to thwart the Pope who sought to pick a Quarrel Charles quitted the Title of Senator and that of Vicar He wanted but little in Anno 1279. of losing Provence likewise Queen Margaret Widow of St. Lewis his Sister-in-Law disputed it with him as being elder Daughter of Earl Raimond Berengier and implored assistance of the Emperor of whom that County was held because of the Kingdom of Arles Notwithstanding the business being brought to Examination Provence was left to Year of our Lord 1279 Charles upon Condition of doing Homage to the Emperor whose Daughter Clemence should likewise be Married to the Son of his eldest Son His Name was Charles as was his Fathers and Grandfathers Year of our Lord 1279 Edward King of England crossed over Seas with Alienor his Wife and came to King Philip at Amiens to Treat of their Affairs Philip agreed he should have the Earldom of Agenois and surrendred up that of Pontieu which belonged to Alienor by right of her Mother She was Jane the Wife of Ferdinand III. King of Castille and Daughter of the Earl Simon and Mary Daughter and Heiress of William likewise Earl of Pontieu Reciprocally Edward renounced the Dutchy of Normandy but retained Thirty Livers Rent upon the Exchequer or Court of Justice of the Province John otherwhile Lord of the Island de Procida had been devested of his Estate by Charles for having tamper'd in some Conspiracy Being therefore prompted by a cruel Resentment he framed the design to bring the King of Arragon as Heir to the House of Scwaben by his Mother into the Kingdom of Sicilia and made so many Journeys backwards and forwards to the Pope the Emperor and the Sicilians that he brought the Project to his desired issue Year of our Lord 1281 Mean time Pope Nicholas who had projected for the most part what we shall find to break out in those Countries hapned to die and a French Cardinal it was Simon de Brie was Elected in his room he was named Martin IV. This last knew nothing of the Tragical design contrived by his Predecessor and had intentions quite contrary but it being already put in motion he found the effect of it before ever he could foresee the blow The Death of Nicholas did not discourage the Conspirators the Lord de Prochyda continuing his Voyages disguised like a Monk brought from Constantinople Three hundred thousand Ounces of Gold to the Arragonian who was ready to put a great Naval force to Sea under pretence of making War upon the Saracens and had the Craft the better to conceal his intentions to borrow Twenty thousand Gold Crowns of King Philip and even as some say of Charles himself whom he was going to Dethrone Year of our Lord 1282 He lay for some time upon the Coasts of Africa to favour the Enterprize agreed upon and in the mean while Charles neglected the Advice was given him to stand upon his Guard and be aware and employ'd all his Forces for the Conquest of the Eastern Empire in which he did not succeed very well his Fleet having been worsted at Sea by that of the Emperor Michael Whilst he is thus lull'd asleep by his ill fate the Sicilians upon an Easter-day at the first ringing of the Bell to Vespers cut the Throats of all the French that were in the whole Island which they did execute with so much fury and rage that the good Friers Jacobins and the Cordeliers did with pleasure wash their hands in Blood and Murthered their unhappy Enemies at the very Altars The Fathers ripping up the Wombs of their own Daughters if great with a French Child and dashing little Infants against the Rocks They killed Eight thousand in two hours space and pardoned but only one by reason of his rare Probity He was called William des Pourcellets a Gentleman of Provence Year of our Lord 1282 Charles who was at this time in Tuscany more enraged then frighted at so terrible a blow Arms himself powerfully by the assistance of the Pope and the King of France which was brought him by the Earl of Alenson and besieges Messina That City terrified with the glittering of his Arms and the Fulminations of the Holy See would have surrendred at the very first and all the Island afterwards if his just Wrath could have received them to any Mercy but that Prince being grown inexorable dispair puts some courage into their faint hearts and the arrival of the Arragonian who landed at Palermo about the end of August and was
much that he died at Perpignan the 6th day of October He was in the beginning of the Five and fortieth year of his Life and the Sixteenth of his Reign His Flesh and Bowels were interred in the Cathedral of Narbonne and his Bones brought to St. Denis If we consider his Qualities he was Valiant Good Liberal Just and very Pious but too simple and too easie to be deceived If his Conduct it was not over-happy in those undertakings he made abroad but for his Enterprizes at home they could not succeed better for his Kingdom since it grew rich and flourishing by a Peace of Fifteen years continuance without any vexation of Imposts and the maintenance of a most exact and speedy Justice By Isabella Daughter of James I. King of Arragon he left two Sons those were Philip and Charles The first Reigned the second was Earl of Valois and Father of a Philip who came to the Crown By his second Wife Mary de Brabant he had one Son and two Daughters the Son was Lewis Earl of Euvreux From him sprang the Branch of Euvreux into which the Crown of Navarre was brought by Marriage The Daughters were Margaret and Blanch Margaret was Married in the year 1298. to Edwardâ— King of England Blanch having been twice Contracted once with John de Namur eldest Son of Guy Earl of Flanders the other time with John d'Avesnes Earl of Ostrevant eldest Son of John d'Avesnes Earl of Haynault Married at last in the year 1298. to Rodolph Duke of Austria eldest Son of Albertus the Emperor by whom she had a Son but both the Mother and the Child were Poysoned in the City of Vienna Anno 1305. Philip IV. King XLV POPES HONORIUS IV. Eighteen Months Vacancy Nine Months and an half NICHOLAS IV. Elected the 22th of February 1288. S. Four years one Month and an half Vacancy Two years three Months CELESTINE V. Institutor of the Celestines Elected the 5th of July 1294. S. Five Months and an half BONIFACE VIII Elected the 24th of Decemb. 1294. S. Eight years nine Months and an half BENNET XI Elected the 20th of October 1303. S. Eight Months seventeen days Vacancy Eleven Months CLEMENT V. Elected the 5th of June 1305. transfers the See into France S. Nine years wanting five weeks PHILIP IV. Surnamed the Fair King of France XLV and of Navarre also by his Wife Aged Seventeen years and some Months Year of our Lord 1286 After Philip had brought back into France the remainder of the Army and conveyed his Fathers Bones to St. Denis he went to be Crowned at Rheims by the hands of the Archbishop Peter Barbet the Sixth day of January with the Queen his Wife Year of our Lord 1286 Guy de Dampierre had succeeded in the Earldom of Flanders after the death of his Mother and had done Homage for it to Philip the Hardy but neither his Mother nor himself for want either of will or power had not as yet caused the Articles to be Sworn to and Ratified which were made in the year 1225. between Philip Augustus and Ferrand because in truth they were very destructive and ruinous to the Flemmings This year the King having threatned Guy if he did not perform it without delay to own him no longer for his Vassal but to declare a War the Cities and Commonalty of the Countrey were so alarmed and scared that they obey'd his Will and Pleasure Ever since the death of Philip III. Edward King of England had omitted no endeavour to confirm the Treaties with his Successor In the year 1286. being landed in France about Pontieu he was received at Amiens by several Lords whom the King sent to meet him from thence he came to Paris where he was Treated magnificently was present at the Parliament which was held after Easter and going from thence about Whitsontide went by Land to Burdeaux The apparent cause of his Voyage was the desire he had to Compose the business of the King of Arragon because Alphonso the eldest Son and Successor of Peter had Married his Daughter Alienor He forgot not likewise to press earnestly he might have some reparation for Normandy and those other Countries which both his Father and himself had renounced but could obtain nothing in either of these two points Being returned to Burdeaux he solemnly received the Ambassadors from the Kings of Castille of Arragon and of Sicilia all Enemies to France which gave no little jealousie to Philip. John de Launoy Vice-Roy for Philip in Navarre continued the War against the Arragonians But a Lord of the Country named John Corbaran whom he had entrusted with the Command of the Armies having been worsted by their Forces a Truce was agreed upon between the two Crowns The King of England laboured very seriously to Compose the Difference between the Kingdom of France and that of Arragon and Sicilia To this purpose he Conferr'd with Alphonso and Olâ—ron de Bearn and afterwards took the pains to make a Voyage into Sicily that he might Treat with James the Brother of Alphonso who as we have related had seized upon that Island The Negotiations of the King of England were somewhat retarded by the Progress some French Lords had made in that Island But the rest who were going thither to compleat that Conquest being beaten and taken at Sea by Lauria the Admiral they gave a more willing Ear to what was propounded Year of our Lord 1288 The Treaty was carried on so well that Charles the Lame was set at Liberty promising he would bring it so about with the Earl of Valois that he should renounce the Kingdom of Arragon and with the Pope that he should invest James of Arragon in that of Sicily which his Brother Alphonso should yield to him For security whereof Charles gave his Three Sons and Fifty Gentlemen of Quality as Hostages When he was deliver'd from his Imprisonment he did not hold himself obliged to make that good which he had been forced to promise on the contrary being in France he exhorted the Earl of Valois not to desist from his Right to the Kingdom of Arragon and going afterwards into Italy he got himself to be Crowned by the Pope who was then at Geronsa King of Sicilia both on this side and beyond the Fare So that James of Arragon perceiving the Treaty was broke fell upon Calabria where the City of Catensana had revolted in his favour Robert d'Artois laid Siege to it James and his Admiral Lauria hastned to its relief and being beaten went and blocked up Gaieta thinking to make a Diversion but Charles and Robert followed at the same time and besieged the Besiegers so straightly that they reduced them to Famine Then the Sicilian caused I know not how the Popes Legat to intervene who demanded a Truce for two years and Charles not well informed of the extremity wherein his Enemies were consented to it a little too easily at which Robert was so incensed that he retired into France and carried
Nations when the accidental Quarrel of an English Mariner with a Mariner of Normandy upon the Coast of Guyenne where they had landed to take in fresh Water set them against one another First Ship and Ship endeavour'd to plunder or take what they could singly on each side then they brought Fleet against Fleet. The English had the worst their King Edward demanded restitution of such Merchants Goods as had been made Prize in these Scuffles Philip on the contrary Summons him to appear in his Court of Parliament as his Vassal Edward sent his Brother Edmund but Philip not satisfied with that caused him to be declared Contumacious and ordered his Lands should be seized Year of our Lord 1292. 1293. In Execution of this Decree the year following the Constable Rodolph de Nesle seized several Cities in Guyenne and even that of Bourdeaux which was the Capital Thus a Riot between Private Men blew their little Sparks of Contention into a flame of War which one may say proved very fatal to France since it gave way to the overthrowing of her ancient Laws and Liberties and the introducing and establishment of divers Charges and Subsidies on the People The increase and burthen whereof is ordinarily followed with Revolutions and Seditions as it fell out this year by a great Commotion hapning at Rouen but which had the same end and event as all the like Enterprizes generally come to that is to say the Hanging of the most froward and hottest and the Banishment or Ruine of the rest Year of our Lord 1294 The King of England vexed at the loss of those places in Guyenne sollicited all Princes against France particularly the Emperor Adolph with great Sums of Money and Guy de Dampierre Earl of Flanders with the hopes oâ— the Marriage of his Son Prince of Wales with Philippetta that Earls Daughter Adolph sent to defie the King in haughty language but they gave him no other answer but a Sheet of white Paper For which he shewed no other Resentment but by Threats and so turned his Arms against some German Rebels Year of our Lord 1294 As for Guy having been allured to Paris with his Wife and Daughter by Letters from the King fraught with Expressions of Kindness he was much amazed to find himself made a Prisoner there It is true that about a Twelve month after himself and his Wife were set at liberty but his Daughter they kept still to break the Measures of that Match too pernicious to the French Year of our Lord 1294 In the year 1294 the Cardinal Benedict Cajetan by intrigues or by deceit and fourbery obliged Pope Celestin to resign the Popedom and by the same Methods got himself to be elected he was named Boniface VIII His Ancesters were Originally Catalonians and had taken the name of Cajetan because they first dwelt near Cajeta before they transplanted themselves to the City of Anagnia where he was born Year of our Lord 1294 At his advancement to that Dignity he endeavours to mediate a Peace between all Christian Princes He could not procure it between France and England but he setled that between Arragon and France King Alphonso was dead and James his Brother succeeded him It was agreed that Charles Earl of Valois should renounce the Kingdom of Arragon wherein he had been invested by Pope Martin V. upon which Condition the Arragonian repudiating Isabella de Castille for being too nigh of Kin should Marry his Laughter set the three Sons of Charles the Lame and other Hostages at liberty and surrender Sicily and what he had Conquer'd in Abruzza but Frederic his younger Brother to whom Alphonso had by his last Testament will'd that Kingdom got himself to be named King by the Sicilians Since then that which we call the Kingdom of Sicilia was dismembred in two that beyond the Fare which was the Island and that on this side which they called the Kingdom of Naples They were again re-joyned in Anno 1503. and are to this day in the same hands Year of our Lord 1295 The Sons of Charles the Lame being set at liberty the eldest named Charles entred into the Order of the Friers Minors The following year he was by the Pope promoted to the Archbishoprick of Thoulouze which he accepted not of till after he had made his Vows The King of Englands heart was much set upon two things the one to Subject the Kingdom of Scotland and the other to recover the Tows in Guyenne He thought the first was pretty well advanc'd having obliged Baliol to render him Homage and to compass the second he prepared a mighty Fleet and had strengthned himself with Friends and Alliances But Philip to prevent his designs induced the King of Scotland already threatned by his Subjects who scorned to subject themselves to the English to break the Treaty he had made with Edward and Allie himself with France and for security of this new Bond of Alliance he promised to give the eldest Daughter of the Earl of Valois to his eldest Son whose name was Edward At the same time he caused the People of Wales also to rise who out of a wild and untamed humour for Liberty were easily heated and drawn into the Field The great devastations and spoil they made this time in Pembrook-shire and thereabout broke all the King of England's Measures He was forced to go in Person that way to stop their progress and lay aside the business of Guyenne till he had quell'd those hot and stubborn old Enemies as he did having overmaster'd almost all of them in four Months time About this time the Principality of Milan and Neighbouring Cities was fixed and perpetuated in the Family of the Vicounts to which Otho Vicount Archbishop of Milan contributed not a little Matthew his Brothers Son was created the first Year of our Lord 1295 Duke this year 1295. and took the Investiture of the Emperor Adolph who likewise gave him the Vicarship or Vicegerency of the Empire in Lombardy Year of our Lord 1295 In Pistoya a City in Tuscany as then powerful enough it hapned that the rich and numerous Family of the Cancellary were divided in two Factions the one of the White the other of the Black The first joyned themselves with the Guelphes the second with the Ghibelins and that fury and madness spread over all Italy and caused insinite Seditions and Murthers Year of our Lord 1295 Pope Boniface was Proud Haughty Imperious and Undertaking he thought all the Princes of the Earth must bow to his Commands but he found a Philip of France at the head of them a young Prince of no very patient Humour more Potent then any one of his Predecessors and who had a Council consiting of People that were Year of our Lord 1295 stout and impetuous So that Boniface who ardently pursued the Design he aimed at to oblige all Kings to the Holy War having sent to tell both him and the King of England that they must make
a Truce upon pain of Excommunication he made Reply That he took no Rule or Law from any one in the Government of his Kingdom and that the Pope had in this case no right but to Exhort and Advise not to Command This was the first occasion of Enmity betwixt these two great Powers Year of our Lord 1296 There were two more almost at the same time The one that Boniface received the Complaints of the Earl of Flanders who implored his Justice because Philip denied to restore his Daughter to him The other for that he erected the Abby of St. Antonine de Pamiez to a Bishoprick and put the Abbot of St. Antonine into it Observe en passant that this City was other while called Fredalas King Philip was offended at this Erection and more yet with the choice of the Bishop his name was Bernard Saisset because he believed him a Factious Man and too much devoted to Boniface Nor would he suffer him to take possession and therefore Lewis Bishop of Toulouze administred in that Church for two whole years together Year of our Lord 1295 and 96. The War was still carried on in Guyenne by the Earl of Valois and the Constable de Nesle and then by Robert Earl of Artois The English had for Commanders there John Earl of Richmond and Edmond the Kings Brother To what purpose would it be to relate the taking of many petty places and the divers small Skirmishes The French say they won two Signal Victories one of them was gained by the Earl of Valois and the other by the Earl of Artois It is certain that Edmond being beaten by the first near Bayonne was forced to retire into that City where he died and the Earl of Lincoln who commanded that English Army afterwards having lost many of his Men before Daqs durst not stay for Robert d'Artois and retreated Year of our Lord 1296 In the mean while a most dangerous Storm was forming against France A League was made at Cambray by the Interest of the King of England whereinto he entred with the Duke of Brabant the Earls of Holland Juliers Luxemburgh Guelders and Bar Albert Duke of Austria the Emperor Adolphus and the Flemming himself all which sent their several Cartels of Defiance to King Philip but none of them vexed him so much as the Challenge from the Earl of Flanders because he was his Vassal The Earl of Bar began the Attaque by ravaging Champagne but he retir'd when he heard how Gaultier de Crecy Lieutenant of the Kings Army burnt and plundred his Country Soon after the Queen being advanced that way to defend her Country of Champagne he was so saint-hearted as to surrendet himself to her without making any desence They sent him Prisoner to Paris from whence he could get no Release but upon very hard Conditions For he did Homage to the King for his Earldom which he ever had pretended to hold in Franc Alleud or Free-Tenure and moreover he was condemned by a Decree of Parliament to go and bear Arms in the Holy Land till the King were pleased to recall him Year of our Lord 1297 As for Florent Earl of Holland he was kill'd by a Gentleman whose Wife he had Dishonour'd His Son John died soon after him by eating of some ill-Morsel John d' Avesnes Earl of Haynault their Cousin and nearest Relation inherited Holland and Frisland Year of our Lord 1297 The greatest burthen of the War fell upon Flanders King Philip marched into the Country with a vast Army to whom the Queen joyned her Forces after she had subdued the Earl of Bar. He took L'Isle by a three Months Siege and Courtray and Douay without much difficulty whilst on the other hand Robert Earl of Artois gained the Battle of Furnes where the Earl of Juliers was so ill handled that he died of his Wounds Year of our Lord 1297 Adolphus detained in Germany by the private Troubles the French started amongst them or the Sums of Money Philip gave him under-hand did not bring the Flemming that Relief which he expected Withall they found a way by the all-powerfulinfluence of Money to debauch Albertus Duke of Austria from the Party who brought over with him the Duke of Brabant and the Earls of Luxembourg Guelders and Beaumont As for the King of England who was there in Person and had his Navy at Damm and his Land Forces in the Country Towns he brought more inconvenience then assistance to the Flemming Besides we may add that the greatest Cities in Flanders as Ghent and Bruges had been against the making of this War and amongst them a Faction had declared for the French who called themselves the Portes-Lys or the Flower-de-Luce-Bearers Now the King being retired to Ghent with the Earl of Flanders could find no other way to Charm the Swords of the French in those Countries but by a Truce The intercession of the Earl of Savoy and Charles King of Sicilia obtained it with difficulty for them from the Tenth of October till Twelfth-day for Guyenne and to S. Andrews Holy-day for Flanders only Edward knew how to employ that time to good purpose Having passed the Sea he went against the Scots who had shaken off the Yoke and not only forced their King John and his Barons to do Homage to him a second time of which a Charter written in French was Signed and Sealed and to renounce the Alliance with France but likewise kept him Prisoner a while with some of those Lords confining them in the Tower of London resolving not to release him till he had made an end of his Disputes with the French Year of our Lord 1298 The Truce being expir'd he made ready to return into Guyenne by the Month of March in the year 1298. Nevertheless as either of these Kings had partly what they desired that is the King of France the Towns in Flanders and the King of England the Kingdom of Scotland it was not difficult for their Ambassadors who met about it at Monstreuil on the Sea Coast to prolong the Truce to the end of the year It was agreed That the Allies of both Kings should be Comprised by consequence John Balâ—ol ought to have been so but they could never obtain his liberty and that all the places Conquer'd in Flanders should be in the hands of Philip during that Truce The King of England had obliged himself by Oath to the Flemming not to make a Peace till they were restor'd but in the mean time he agreed his Marriage with Margaret the Sister to Philip and that of his Son Edward with Isabella the Daughter of that King Year of our Lord 1298 The Money that Adolphus had received on both hands from the Kings of France and England was the cause of his Ruine and on the contrary what Albertus had taken for the same end served to raise his Fortune For this last having made use of some of it to corrupt the Princes of Germany who were displeased
at Malan but broke out more fiercely at Bruges where the French Garrison being all knoc'd on the Head the Towns of Furne Bergh Bourbourgh Cassel followed and Guy Earl of Namur one of the Flemmings Sons laid Siege before the Cittadel of Courtray The King raised a great Army to chastise the Rebels and gave the Command of it to Robert d'Artois That Prince marched to relieve Courtray with Ten thousand Horse and Forty thousand Foot The Flemmings though they were but ill Arm'd had neither Nobility nor Cavalry durst resolutely wait his coming and gained the Victory with the slaughter of Twenty thousand French amongst which number was that Prince himself above Twenty great Lords with him and Peter Flota principal cause of those misfortunes This was on the 9th of June Year of our Lord 1302 To revenge this bloody affront the King takes the Field himself with above an Hundred thousand Men but the assurance of the Flemmings and the intelligence sent him by his Sister the Queen of England that if he hazarded a Battle he would be betraid to his own Men hindred him from proceeding any farther then Douay besides the Autumnal Rains rendred his march very difficult This War very troublesome in it self would have been much more so had the King of England medled in it as he ought to have done after he had engag'd the Flemmings Their troubles help'd to advance his Affairs after his having prolonged the Truce two or three times with the French he converted it at last to a final Year of our Lord 1303 Peace The Treaty was concluded at Paris the Twentieth day of May 1303. It was agreed that Philip should restore to him all what he had taken from him in Guyenne and should grant him a Patent for the investiture of that Dutchy John Baliol was set at full liberty but the Scots despised him as a Man of little courage who had twice bowed the knee before the King of England and would not own him for their lawsul King so that he remained in France where he ended his days as a private person It is not said what the fortune of his Son Edward was However although the English had wholly subdued Scotland it nevertheless hapned that some years afterwards Robert Son of Robert Bruce raised that Kingdom again which seemed to be extinguished and freed it from the bondage of England Year of our Lord 1303 Now the courage of the Flemmings being untameable their old Earl who grew weary of his imprisonment obtained a Truce by the means of Ame Earl of Savoy during which interval they permitted him leaving his Sons in hostage to go to his Towns in Flanders to endeavour to bring them back again to the obedience of the King The same year the King having had information that there was a dangerous Faction brooding in Languedoc and in Guyenne took a progress into those Countreys where he visited and highly caressed the chief Cities and Nobility At his return Guy de Luzignan Earl of Angoulesme and Lord of Cognac having no Children resigned his Lands to him to the great prejudice of three Sisters he had The King to make those Sisters some manner of reparation gave them I know not what Lands in Angoulmois Queen Jane his Wife Heiress of Navarre Champagne and Brie built and founded in the University of Paris that famous Colledge that bears the name of Navarre and Year of our Lord 1303 which even to this day has been the Cradle or rather Nursery of the most illustrious Nobility of France She died about the end of the same year The Earl Guy not having been able to gain any thing upon the Flemmings the King resolved to make them bend by force He got together the most numerous Army that had been levied of a long time of French Germans Spaniards and Italians and put himself at the head of them At the same time he had a Fleet at Sea commanded by the famous Roger de Lauria This Admiral gained a bloody Battle against Philip one of the Flemmings Sons who besieged Ziriczea that held for John Earl of Holland who by this means preserved Zealand and kept it The King soon after Year of our Lord 1304 gained another at Land near Mons the Eighteenth of August but not without great danger to his Person Above five and twenty thousand Flemmings were slain there For all these rebukes they would not stoop nor give over but having shut up shop in all their Cities and got an Army on foot of Sixty thousand fighting Men they came before l'Isle which he then held besieged demanding Peace or a Battle This Year of our Lord 1304 furious resolution obtained them a Peace upon condition that they should enjoy their Liberties Goods Priviledges and strong Holds that the Earl should be restored to his Earldom excepting those Lands on this side the River Lys which should remain to the King as likewise the Cities of l'Isle and Douay till the Earl should be more fully agreed with him and the Flemmings paid down the sum of 800000 Livres The prisoners set at liberty the Earl Guy went to visit his Countrey and his Children Being returned to Compeigne upon his faith as he had promised to finish the Treaty he died some few days after aged Fourscore years His eldest Son Robert de Betune succeeded him in his Earldom Year of our Lord 1303 The preceding year before he undertook this Expedition King Philip had consider'd how to pre-arm himself against the Bulls of Boniface and for that purpose had Year of our Lord 1303 convoked a second general Assembly of his Subjects at Paris The Earls Guy de St. Pol John de Dreux and William du Plessis Lord de Vezenobre did there accuse the Pope of Heresie and divers things so horrible that a Christian can hardly tell how to name much less to believe them Duplessis offer'd to prosecute him before the Council adhering to the Appeal heretofore brought by Nogaret and putting himself under the protection of the Council and the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul The King promised to procure the Convocation and in case Boniface should any way proceed against him formed his Appeal as Duplessis had done Moreover fearing his People too much oppressed with Imposts and dissatisfied with the Government of his Ministers should chance to fail him in his necessity he found it necessary to prevent all stirs and factions that might be set on foot in favour of the Pope to have Writings or Letters of all the Provinces Cities Corporations Churches Religious Houses Prelats and Lords of his Kingdom who approved of his Resolution and joyned therein with him Year of our Lord 1303 During these proceedings Nogaret was gone into Italy to seize upon the Person of Boniface under pretence of bringing him by fair means or by foul to the Council The Pope had retired himself to Anagnia the place of his Nativity where he thought himself in greater security then in Rome and there
the rest were so overloaden It was perhaps for these reasons they were accused for having by a Compact made with the Jews these had been restored in the Reign of Lewis Hutin and Intelligence with the Turks cast some of their Ordures or some Bags of Poyson into the Wells and Fountains thereby to infect all those that were in Health with their fowl Leprosie or else to poyson them They were besides guilty of several Crimes against nature so that great numbers were condemned to the Fire the rest shut up very close within their Lazar-Hospitals As for the Jews the Populace did justice upon those themselves and burned a great many The King drove the whole Nation of them out of the Realm Year of our Lord 1321 His Council had resolved to settle over all France the same Weights the same Measures and the same Coyns but as under the pretence of some Expence and Charges they would be at they would likewise take the Fifth part of the Subjects Goods The Princes and Prelates who had a right of Coyning Money would not suffer the Kings Commissaries to go on in this Reformation they appealed to the Estates and Leagued themselves with the Cities so that the Impost being not raised the Reglement was let alone Year of our Lord 1322 During these Disturbances Philip loaden with the Curses of his People and hated of the Clergy because of his too frequent exaction of the Tenths fell sick of a Quartan Ague wherewith he langushed five whole Months and in the end died at Bois de Vincennes the Third day of January He lived One and thirty years and Reigned Five years and six weeks His Corps was conveyed with Ceremony to St. Denis his Heart to the Cordeliers at Paris his Bowels to the Jacobins Ever Year of our Lord 1322 since St. Lewis these good Fathers claim it as a special Right to have some part of the Entrails of our Kings which were not given them without Foundations He Married but one Wife to wit Jane who was Daughter of Othenine Earl of Burgundy and was also his only Heirese her Sister Blanch having been forced to Encloister her self to expiate her Crime By this Jane he had Three Daughters Jane Countess of Burgundy and Artois who Married Eudes IV. Duke of Burgundy and brought him these two Earldoms Margaret who had for Husband Lewis Earl of Flanders Nevers and Rhetel and Isabella who first Married Guignes Dauphin of Viennois and afterwards John Baron de Fanlcongmey in Franche-Comte Charles IV. King XLVIII POPE JOHN XXII During all this Reign CHARLES IV. Called the Fair King of France XLVIII and enjoying the Kingdom of Navarre Aged Twenty eight years Year of our Lord 1322 THe Succession of the Males being well setled Charles came to the Throne and was Crowned at Reims the Eleventh of February without any opposition all the Pairs assisting thereat excepting the King of England and the Earl of Flanders The named Gerard de la Guerre Native of Clermont in Auvergne and of mean Parentage had held the Soveraign management of the Treasury under Philip the Long and had been the grand Projector of the Imposts In the beginning of this Reign being sought for and taken for his Depredations he was put to the Wrack and Examined which they did so rudely that he died in the midst of those Torments This prevented not the dragging his Body thorough the Streets and hanging him on the Gallows at Paris There was afterwards a general search made for all the Farmers and such as were any ways concerned in the Revenues who were for the most part Lombards and Italians horrible Usurers and Exacters Their Goods were all Consiscate and they sent back into their own Country as beggerly as they came thence The King had been indulgent enough in not putting his Wife Blanch to Death who had been condemned for Adultery When he came to the Crown the desire of having Children prompted him to repudiate her under pretence of Parentage and after she had taken on the Vail at Maubuisson he Espoused Mary Daughter of the Emperor Henry of Luxembourg Who dying in the year 1324. in her first Child-bed and the Infant some few days after he Married for the thrid time Jane Daughter of Lewis Earl of Evreux his Uncle having to that end obtained a Dispensation from the Pope After the death of Lewis de Nevers Earl of Rhetel which hapned at Paris for he had retir'd himself into the Court of France and also the death of Robert de Bethune his Father Earl of Flanders which followed soon after the eldest Son of Lewis bearing his Fathers name enjoy'd all those three Earldoms But Robert de Cassel his Uncle pretending to be the nearest by one degree because he was the Son of Robert whereas Lewis was but Grandson presented himself to the King demanding the Investiture of that of Flanders In the mean while Lewis went immediately to take possession without rendring him that Devoir Which so irritated the King that although this young Prince were his Nephew he caused him to be summoned before the Parliament and kept him Prisoner The Parliament taking this weighty Affair into their Cognisance pronounced in favour of Lewis who being set at liberty did Homage to the King and gave Oath never to re-demand the Cities of Lisle Douay and Orchies The King confirmed the Appennage given by the Father to Robert de Cassel He likewise made an Agreement between William Earl of Haynault and Holland with Lewis who desisted from disputing with him for the Islands of Walcheren One Jordain Lord of the Island in Aquitain had committed many enormous Crimes and Murthered an Usher of the Kings with his own Mace as he was summoning him to appear in Parliament He was notwithstanding so much a fool as to come to Paris trusting to his great Alliances and upon his having Married the Neece of Pope John XXII But for all those Considerations he was committed Prisoner to the Chaâ—tellet and by Sentence dragg'd at a Horses Tail and hung up on the Gallows at Paris Year of our Lord 1323 and 24. The King had cause to compalin of Edward because he had not assisted at his Coronation and that his Seneschal of Bourdelois had placed a Garison in a Castle which the Lord de Montpesat had built in a place which was Land belonging to France Wherefore after some Negotiations in which the English seemed not to proceed fairly he sent Charles de Valois his Uncle into Guyenne who set so close upon the Skirts of Edmond Earl of Kent Brother to King Edward in the City de la Reoule that he obliged him to Capitulate and then pass immediately over into England to persuade his Brother to give the King satisfaction promising that if he could not obtain it to return as his Prisoner In the mean time the Earl of Valois made an end of the Conquest of Guyenne excepting only Bourdeaux St. Sever and Bayonne Year of our Lord 1324 and
1325. The Council of England found it necessary that Queen Isabella who was Sister to Charles the Fair should pass over into France with Edward his eldest Son to Negociate the Peace She managed the business with a great deal of Skill and finished the Treaty contriving it so that her Son Edward was invested in the Dutchy of Guyenne and the Earldom of Pontieu for which he did Homage to the King The King of England had too near him the two Hugh Spensers Father and Son the last having been bred with him in an unbecoming familiarity had an absolute empire over him and made him do what ever he desired The English Lords having made some Conspiracy and taken up Arms against this Favourite he drew them to a Parly where he caused them also to be seized against the Publick Faith and afterwards chopt off the Heads of Two and Twenty Barons amongst whom was Thomas Earl of Lancaster Son of Prince Edmond who when living was Brother to King Edward Pursuring his design he kept Queen Isabella and the Earl of Kent the Kings Brother at distance from the Court and likewise did privately seek to destroy them whether for that they had been in the Conspiracy with the Lords or that he apprehended their Credid or Interest and this was the chief ground for their coming into France Year of our Lord 1325 King Charles received his Sister with all the tenderness of a good Brother kept her a great while in his Court Treating and Honouring her according to her Quality and promised her assistance both of Money and Men as much as he well could without breaking with the English to Chastise that insolent favourite who continued to take off all those Heads that stood in the way which his Ambition led him to Unhappy Flanders was hardly ever without Troubles The Flemmings had but little affection to their Earl because he was too much French by inclination and resided but little in that Country He had a long and bloody Contest with the Citizens of Bruges Robert de Cassel supported them because he would have had him been kill'd They made John Earl of Namur his Uncle Prisoner and a while after they also did detain himself But when the Pope had laid an Interdict upon the Country when those Mutineers had been beaten by the Ghentois and they found the King was sending Forces to his relief they were forced to bend the Knee and humble themselves before him He Chastised them by great Fines the loss of their fairest Priviledges and by the banishment of a great number of the hottest Spirits Year of our Lord 1325 It was above a year that Charles Earl of Valois languished with a Distemper which was very odd and yet more painful Who knows whether it were not the effect of some cruel Poyson The Physicians not knowing either how to find out the true cause of the Malady nor any Remedies the poor Prince falls into an imagination that it was a Divine Punishment for the too eager and severe pusute he had made against Enguerrand de Marigny They have not forgot to mention his Penitence and to enumerate the satisfactions he offer'd to his Memory but perhaps these proceeded from a Mind as sick and as much out of tune as his Body After all if God so severely Chastised a Prince for persecuting a publick Robber and bringing him to Justice by unjust Methods and with an ill intent what did not that Robber deserve who for so long a time had tormented Millions of innocent Souls Year of our Lord 1325 and 26. The Spensers dreading the Storm which threatned them from the Coast of France obliged Edward earnestly to re-demand his Wife and they made use of so many Arts and scattered so much Money in King Charles his Court and even in the Popes to make him bestir himself for them that at length Charles won by their Presents or frighted with the fears of a Rupture not only retracted those Promises he had made his Sister but likewise upon pain of Banishment forbid all Knights to assist her and Commanded her to go out of his Countries Year of our Lord 1326 One Roger de Mortimer a Gentleman of Normandy was very much in the favour and good opinion of this fair Princess the Spensers had taken occasion to raise some Jealousie in the King her Husband and detain this Roger in the Tower of London but having sound means to escape he was come over into France and perhaps this was none of the least Arguments for which King Charles who was an Enemy to that unclean Folly would endure her no longer and so abandon'd her Year of our Lord 1326 At her leaving the Court of France she retired disconsolate into the County of of Pontien then into Hainault where she was so happy that John Brother of William the Earl declared himself her Knight-Errant caused her to be well and kindly received in his Brothers Court and having mustred Three hundred Knights more he carried her back into England No sooner was the news of her being landed known but Henry Earl of Lancaster the Brother of Thomas came to her the Earls Barons and Knights flock'd thither from all parts She besieged the King and both the Spensers in Bristol Spenser the Father and the Earl of Arundel Son-in-Law to the younger Spenser were taken in the City and beheaded The King and Spenser the Son who were retired into the Castle and from thence thought to make their escape in a Bark were taken at Sea The Favourite according to his Sentence given by the Barons was drawn on a Hurdle thorough the Streets of Hereford then led to the top of a Ladder where the Executioner cut off those parts that had transgress'd and plucked out his Heart then threw it into the Fire and quarter'd his Body Year of our Lord 1326 As for the King the Lords made his Process degraded him of his Royalty and condemned him to perpetual Imprisonment to put his Son Edward III. in his stead Afterwards the Friends to this unfortunate Prince by practising several means to save him compleated his ruine It was resolved to dispatch him out of the World and that after a most cruel manner They thrust a red hot Iron up into his Fundament through a Pipe of Horn fearing the burning should be discovered His Wife in her turn was punished by her own Son in the same horrible manner of revenge Year of our Lord 1326 In the mean time young King Edward Married Philippa the second of the four Daughters which the Earl of Hainault had by Jane Daughter of Charles Earl of Valois Divers Bands of Gascon Adventurers whom they called the Bastards perhaps because their Chiefs were such ravaged Guyenne They went into Saintonge where they seized upon the City of Xaintes but perceiving that the Captains whom King Charles had sent thither were resolved to give them Battle they withdrew in the night having set Fire to the City Year of our
and misused him so strangely that he durst not go into any of them but Ghent The King as his Lord and of near Parentage took his part and entred Flanders with an Army of Twenty five thousand Men. The Flemmings had posted Sixteen thousand upon a Hill near Cassel to guard their Frontier He coming to encamp in a Valley beneath them they had the confidence to go and attaque him and appointed three Bodies at the same instant to make their way to his Tent to the King of Bohemia's and to that of the Earl of Hainault thinking to surprize them all three unawares His Person was in great danger but whilst the bravest of his Men stood as a Rampart and put a stop to the Enemy the rest Armed themselves and charged the Flemmings so stoutly that the three Princes defeated those three Parties not one Man of them escaping All Flanders quell'd by this great shock submitted to his Mercy He caused several hundreds to be Hanged Banished and Confiscated and the year after dismantled five or six of their Towns which allay'd their heat for some time but did not extinguish it The severest punishment for those that are corrupt Officers of the Treasury and indeed the most beneficial to the Publick is not the hanging of them but to pare their Rapacious Talons so close that they may not be in a capacity to deserve it Peter Remy Sieur de Montigny had succeeded to Marigny and la Guette in the management of the Treasury their sad example had not so great influence upon him as the passion to enrich himself as they had done So that by Sentence of Parliament where there were Eighteen Knights Five and twenty Lords and Princes and the King himself present he was Condemned to be Drawn and Hanged as a Traytor at the Gallows of Montfaucon which he had caused to be rebuilt His Confiscation amounted to Twelve hundred thousand Livers a prodigious Sum for those times Of the Six great Pairries of the Laity the Kings had appropriated four to themselves to substitute others in their place and erected many new to wit Beaumont le Roger in Anno 1328. for Robert d'Artois and Anno 1329. the Barony of Bourbon this with the Title of Dutchy that with the Title of Earldom Then afterwards in several years Alenson Evreux Clermont in Beauvoisis all for Princes of his Blood and upon Lands truly of much lower Dignity and Consideration then those of the former six Pairries but as much above those of this Age as the Princes of the Blood are above Private Gentlemen Edward Earl of Savoy was come into France to demand assistance of the King against the Dauphin de Viennois and the Earl of Geneva his perpetual Enemies Year of our Lord 1329 Dying at Paris and leaving only a Daughter John III. Duke of Bretagne Husband to this Princess made earnest sute to have the Succession but the Estates of Savoy wherein presided Bertrand Archbishop of Tarentaise declared That the Salique Law took place there and called Aymon Brother of the deceased to that Crown Year of our Lord 1329 Upon the first Summons they sent to Edward by two Lords who had express Commission according to the custom of Fiefs he promised to come and do Homage to the King of France The seizure of his Fiefs of Guyenne and Ponthieu was therefore deferr'd and he came to Amiens in great Equipage After he had there in vain demanded the restoring of what had been taken in Guyenne from his Father he did Homage But it was with his Tongue and in general words only intending to Advise first with his Barons what was to be done When he was returned into England he sent Letters to King Philip under his great Seal in which he declared That that Homage was Liege and that he owed it for the Dutchy of Guyenne and the Earldoms of Ponthieu and Monstereuil Year of our Lord 1328 The Troubles that hapned in England had hindred him from performing that Devoir sooner His Mother with her Mortimer had made him believe that his Uncle Edmund Earl of Kent had plotted to take away his Life Indeed thaâ— Earl endeavour'd to get King Edward II. out of prison who was his Brother and as he thought yet living Upon this Information young Edward causes him to be seized and condemned to death somewhat too lightly but afterwards Mortimer and the Queen his Mistress were Treated in the same manner For the young King weary of their scandalous deportment caused the Gallant to be hanged upon pretence of several Crimes and his Mother to be shut up in a Castle where they hastned her end a very just act had it been done by any other hand but that of a Son The discord between Pope John XXII and the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria grew to that extremity that Lewis being in Italy after the example of the Emperour Otho degraded John of the Papal Dignity and in his place substituted Michael de Corbiere a Frier Minor under the name of Nicholas V. Michael de Cesenna General of that Order and divers of his Monks supported him mightily by their Preachings and Writings These Monks and others of the Imperial party having spread many reproachful and bloody Invectives thorough all Christendom against Pope John XXII an Assembly of the Clergy was held at Paris where the Bishop in his Pontifical Habit attended by many other Prelats and Clergy-men declared to the People in the Church-Porch of Nostre-Dame the Attempts and Mistakes of Corbiere and pronounced Excommunicate both the said Corbiere the Emperour Lewis and Michael de Cesenna with their Adherents Two things ruined this Party the Emperours ill Conduct which forced him to go out of Italy and the disagreement between the Friers Minors many of whom having forsaken their General it weakned his Interest so much that in the end he was disowned by all of that Order So that Corbiere after many Adventures being caught and brought to Avignon in the year 1330. begged pardon of John XXII with a Rope about his Neck but he could not get off so they put him in prison where he died some Months afterwards Year of our Lord 1329 We must not confound this Assembly above-mentioned with another which was held in the same City and the same year 1329. upon complaint the Kings Judges made by the Mouth of Peter Cugnieres Kt. Counsellor and Advocate-General of the Parliament touching the Usurpations and Attempts of the Clergy upon the Secular Jurisdiction The business was discussed in a Council held at Vincennes then again in the Assembly of Parliament Cugnieres spake earnestly and to the good liking of all the Nobility who applauded him Peter Roger elected Archbishop of Sens afterwards made Pope and Bertrand Bishop of Autun who was a Cardinal having undertaken the defence of their Body replied very eloquently The Clergy was in great danger not only of being lopt off in part but quite rooted out of their Jurisdiction The King at
last by a Decree of the Twenty eighth of December maintained them in their possession protesting it was his hearty desire to augment the Rights and Priviledges of the Church rather then any way dimish or infringe them for which reason they gave him the Surname of the Good Catholick Notwithstanding after this shock the Authority of that Body hath been so much weakned especially by Appeals in all Cases that now they really believe they have more just cause of Complaints against the Secular Judges then the Seculars had in those times against them Year of our Lord 1330 France being in Peace King Philip following the foot-steps of his Predecessors had conceived a desire of undertaking an Expedition into the Holy-Land To this purpose upon his return from a Pilgrimage he made to Marseilles with a very small Attendance in performance of a Vow he had made to St. Lewis Bishop of Toulouze he visited the Pope in Avignon and discoursed in particular with him about his design Towards the end of the year he summon'd the Estates of his Kingdom and laid before them the passion he had for the Holy War By their advice he sent to demand permission of the Pope to levy the Tenths of all the Clergy in Christendom and many other things but so extraordinary that he could obtain no favourable Answer Year of our Lord 1331 The English could not well digest that Edward had so easily renounced to the Crown of France They ceased not from spurring him on opportunity seeming to present it self favourably because Scotland which France was wont to make a counterpoise to England was extreamly embroil'd For Edward the Son of John Baliol who for a long time led a private Life at his House in Normandy with a small Force had recover'd that Crown and driven out King David who was retired to the Court of France together with his Wife and Children After the death of Mahaut the Earldom of Artois sell Jane of Burgundy Wife of Philip the Long and according to the Articles of Marriage was given to Blancb her Daughter the Wife of Eudes Duke of Burgundy Robert d'Artois who could not yet forbear his pretentions to that Earldom renewed the Process and produced certain Grants under the great Seal which he said he had found by Miracle He believed the King being his Brother-in-Law and owing him so great obligation would not search too deep after the truth of it But the King because it concerned the interest of his Daughter who was much nearer to him then his Sister caused these Letters Patents to be examin'd so exactly that they were found to be false and a Gentlewoman of Artois that had counterfeited them was burnt alive for it they having accused her as being a Sorceress Robert enraged for the loss of his Process and of his Honour slew to reproaches against the King so much the more injurious as they were true and so exasperated his anger that he was pushed on to the utmost extremity against him They seized upon his Confessor whom they obliged by force or promises to bear Witness against him his Wiâ—e was laid hold on though she were the Kings own Sister and after some delay for want of appearing he was Banished by sound of Trumpet and Proclamation through all the Suburbs of Paris and his Estate was declared to be Confiscate He then knew there was no more quarter for him and would have taken Sanctuary at the Earl of Hainaults but the Kings wrath did not suffer him to be so near he excited the Duke of Brabant to make War upon the Hanuyer Robert not to be a Cause of the ruine of his Friend went out of those Countries and resolved to all the extremities whereunto dispair does usually hurry Men of courage he goes to the King of England and by force of blowing the Coals kindled the Flame that set all France on Fire Year of our Lord 1332 In the mean time the King of England strenghned himself with Alliances Moneys and all sorts of Ammunitions for some great Enterprize He had in his Party the Earl of Haynault the Emperor Lewis his Brother-in-Law several German Princes with the Cities of Flanders and to have the greater power in the Low-Countries and over the Princes along the Rhine he purchased at a dear rate the Quality of Vicar of the Empire The King was secure of the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Lorrain the Earl of Bar the Kings of Castille of Scotland and of Bohemia but especially of this last whom he had made fast by many several ties For besides that he had Married a Sister of his and his Son Charles born of that Wedlock had been bred in the Court of France he also Married his Daughter Bonne to John Duke of Normandy The Nuptials were compleated at Melun The Designs of the English being not yet formed gave Philip no apprehension so Year of our Lord 1332 that he was taking up the Cross for the Holy Land and with him three other Kings Charles of Bohemia Philip of Navarre and Peter of Arragon with a great number of Dukes Earls and Knights The Clergy took but small joy in it so mightily were they oppressed with extraordinary Exactions as if they had a design to ruine the Churches of France to go and restore those in Palestine Year of our Lord 1333 Upon the design of this War Philip endeavour'd to make Peace between all his Neighbour Princes he brought the Duke of Brabant to an agreement with the Earl of Flanders and the Earl of Savoy with the Dauphin de Viennois The difference betwixt the first was for the City of Malines It belonged to the Bishop of Liege and to the Earl of Guelders the Bishop had sold his part to the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant claimed it saying he was the Lord of the Fief It was concluded it should remain to the Flemming unless the Duke would rather chuse to reimburse him 85000 Crowns With that was agreed the Marriage of three Daughters of the Brabanders with Lewis eldest Son of the Flemming William Earl of Holland and Renauld Earl of Guelders Year of our Lord 1333 Pope John XXII had publickly preached at Avignon That the Vision or Joyes of the Blessed Souls and the Pains or Torments of the Damned were imperfect till the final day of Judgment and endeavour'd to make this opinion pass current for the Doctrine of the Church The Faculty of Theology of Paris courageously opposed it He tried to get them to own it by two Nuncios whom he sent to them the one was the General of the Cordeliers the other a famous Jacobin Doctor The most Christian King did not judge the Pope to be infallible but order'd the question to be discuss'd by Thirty Doctors or the Faculty of Theology who confounded the Cordelier Nuncio whereupon a Decree was made and Sealed with their Thirty Seals which he sent to the Holy Father exhorting him to believe those who
understood Divinity better then did the Canonists of the Court of Rome So that the Pope perceiving his Opinion was not well received and entertained said he had propos'd it only by way of Disputation or Argument Year of our Lord 1334 He died the year following leaving an immense Treasure scraped together by his exactions made upon the Clergy of France Peter Fournier Cardinal of very mean and low birth but greatly eminent for his Moderation and Frugality succeeded him in the Holy See and took the name of Benedict or Benet XII Year of our Lord 1335. and the following Arthur II. Duke of Bretagne had married two Wives the First was Mary Daughter and Heiress of Guy Vicount Limoges The Second Yoland Daughter of Robert IV. Earl of Dreux and one Beatrix Daughter and Heiress of Amaury V. Earl of Montfort by Mary came three Sons John II. who was Duke after his Father Guy who had for his part the Earldom of Pontieure and from whom came a Daughter named Jane and Peter who died without Children Of Yoland came a Son named John who had the Earldom of Montfort as his Great Grandfather by the Mother had Duke John II. having no Children and his Brother Guy being dead in the year 1330. leaving only a Daughter which was Jane it was easie to foresee that great troubles would arise for the succession of the Dutchy between this Daughter and John de Montfort for this last pretended that he was one degree nearer then she was and besides being a Male he ought to exclude her Now as Duke John had a particular affection for the House of France from which he was descended by the Male line he had it in his thoughts to avoid the destruction of Bretagne for to exchange this Dutchy with the King for that of Orleance or to leave it in Sequestration in his hands to restore it to which of the pretenders he pleased The Lords of the Countrey not able to endure either of these two methods he bethought him of Marrying his Niece to Charles de Chastillon Brother of Lewis Earl of Blois and Nephew by his Mother to King Philip de Valois upon condition he should take the Name the Motto and the Coat of Arms of Bretagne The Marriage was consummate in Anno 1339. The Duke kept him with him and Treated him as his presumptive Successor John de Montfort dissembling those pretences he had to the contrary Year of our Lord 1336 Edward having attained to full majority prompted by his own great courage and the Favours Fortune had newly bestowed in a Victory over the Scots was easily led by the continual instigations of Robert d'Artois animating him to recover the Kingdom of France by the Sword He thought it convenient to begin with complaints and accused Philip before the Pope for having ravished that Crown from him during his Minority The Pope having given him no other Answer but an exhortation not to disturb a Prince who had taken on him the Cross for an expedition to the Holy Land the young King impatient of such long delay sent to defie King Philip. All his Allies every one in particular except only the Duke of Brabant accompanied his Year of our Lord 1336 Cartel with their own and the Bishop of Limoges was the bearer Some time before the King having intelligence that they were preparing to make the Rupture went to Avignon with John Duke of Normandy his eldest Son to visit the Holy Father Benedict XII as well to justifie himself of the accusations of the King of England as to cut out work for the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria by rendring his agreement with the Pope more difficult Year of our Lord 1336 The defiance being signified Gautier de Mauny began first by opening the War on the Flanders-side surprizing the City of Mortagne not the Castle then that of Thin l'Evesque which he kept to bridle Cambray that shew'd it self for the French The King of England's Lieutenants likewise began the War in Saintonge by the taking of the Castle of Palencour the Governour whereof for having but poorly defended himself lost his Head at Paris Thus the expedition to the Holy Land was broken off the King called back the Forces he had at Marseilles and kept the Genoese in his pay the best Men for Sea-service in those days with theirs and the assistance of the Castilians he sent a Naval force to the coasts of England where they did a great deal of mischief there being no less then Sixty thousand of them under pay Year of our Lord 1336. and 37. At the same time his Land-Army commanded by Rodolph Earl of Eu and Guisnes his Constable entred Guyenne and gained the Lands of the Vicount de Tartas The Earl de Foix who succeeded him in that employ did likewise conquer many other petty places Year of our Lord 1337 The Cities of Flanders whereof Ghent is as it were the Head hesitated some time between the fear of the power of the French and the distress and indigence the English drove them into expresly having prohibited the carrying to them any Wools out of England into their Countrey but when an English Army had deseated one of theirs in the Island of Cadsant James d'Artevelle whom Edward had gained by the power of Money and Presents mtroduced his Ambassadors into Ghent and Treated his Alliance with that City This Artevelle was a private Brewer and Beer-Merchant but crafty undertaking and politique who had acquired almost the absolute Government in Flanders and maintained Agents in all the Cities So that the Earl could not possibly stop the torrent and was constrained to quit the Countrey Year of our Lord 1338 During all this Edward who after the Declaration of War had returned to his own Island came and landed at Scluse with an Army and Fleet of Four hundred Sail went by Land to Colen to confer with the Emperour who confirmed the Title of Vicar of the Empire to him and promis'd to attaque France with the Forces of Germany provided he might have such great sums of Money as he demanded Year of our Lord 1338 At his return from Colen he encamped some days before Cambray an Imperial City but wherein the Bishop had suffer'd Prince John the Son of King Philip to enter Finding he could do little there he passed the Scheld to give the King battle The two Armies were nigh each other about the Village of Viron-fosse in Cambresis The King much the stronger in appearance forbore to give battle because Robert King of Naples a great Astrologer had sent him word that in what place soever he should venture to fight the English he should lose the day and run his Kingdom into an extream danger The remainder of the year was spent in picquering and sending forth small parties to make inroads upon one another Year of our Lord 1339 For the Flemmings as the three Cities of L'sle Douay and Orchies stuck much in their Stomachs they proffer'd their Service to
the King in case he would surrender them which being denied they acknowledged Edward to be King of France and gave him their Oaths of Fidelity then did he begin to take that Title upon him in all publick Acts and to put the Flowers-de-Lys in his Coat of Arms and in his Seals However I find that the year before he had by a Declaration forbid any to call Philip by the name of King of France but only Earl of Valois Year of our Lord 1339 Having shortly after passed over into England to recruit himself with Money there was nothing done in all this year but sacking or plundering and some skirmishes that were not decisive In the mean time the King by his Craft and Money together had found means to take the Emperour off from the English Interest Insomuch as he repeated his Title of Vicar of the Empire which he had sold at so dear a rate to him Year of our Lord 1340 But whatever skill they did make trial of in tampering with the Flemmings they could not be brought over again and their Earl not daring to return into that Countrey nor put any trust in Artevelle kept himself within l'Isle The Pope upon the Kings request had put their Countrey under Interdict and all their Priests obey'd very exactly which did at first cause a great consternation but the King of England sent some that were less scrupulous amongst them who opened the Churches and officiated boldly Year of our Lord 1340 The Duke of Normandy this was John the eldest Son of Philip after he had made strange havock in Hainault laid Siege to the Castle of Thin-l'Evesque on the Sambre because it did much incommode the City of Cambray The French and Flemmish Armies were there once more near each other but the Flemmish now withdrew themselves without blows the besieged observing their retreat set fire to the place and made their escape As soon as the King of England had recruited himself with Money and Men he came and landed a Second time at Scluse and overthrew the French Fleet that lay Year of our Lord 1340 upon that coast in wait thinking to hinder his attempt The discord between their Admirals there were two of them was the main cause of their defeat Year of our Lord 1340 This advantage having abated the edge of their courage King Philip retired and distributed his Army in the several Garrisons The King of England sent to defie him in single combat one to one or else a hundred on either side or both Armies in a pitch'd battle He was answer'd That a Lord accepts of no challenge from his Vassal Some days after he besieges Tournay which was reduc'd to great distress but the long and vigorous defence of the besieged saved the place by the Truce that was then made Year of our Lord 1340 Mean time the Flemmings were cut in pieces before St. Omers Robert d'Artois who Commanded them was not only in danger of losing his Life there but afterwards being pursued by the Populace who cry'd out he had betray'd them was forced much wounded as he was to make his escape to the King of England Year of our Lord 1340 The French Garrisons were drawn together in a Body to relieve Tournay Philip had made divers attempts for that purpose had lost all hopes of succeeding in it when on the suddain Edward condescends to a Truce whether by the mediation of the Widdow Jane Countess of Hainault who was his Sister and Mother of the Queen of England at that time retired to the Convent of Fontenelles or as Villain tells it because of the desertion of the Duke of Brabant whom the King had gained by his Money and besides being unwilling that City should fall into the English hands went away from them with all his Forces It was to last from the Twentieth of September to the Five and twentieth of June following and was again prolonged at an Assembly which shortly after was held at Arras upon the earnest desires of the Popes Legats Year of our Lord 1341 John II. Duke of Bretagne dying this year 1341. upon his return from Flanders whither he had attended the King that War which he so much apprehended broke out in his Countrey and kept it in a flame for two and twenty years space For John Earl of Montfort being very liberal of those Treasures he had in Limoges secur'd himself of the best Soldiers and of the Cities of Brest Nantes Rennes Hennebond and Avray Then foreseeing his Antagonist would have recourse to the King of France his Uncle he goes over into England where he contracted a secret Alliance with Edward and also did homage to him Year of our Lord 1341 During this progress Charles de Blois comes unto the King as to his Sovereign Lord. The Dutchy was a Fief of the Crown of France ever since the Dukes Peter de Mauclere and John le Roux his Son had acknowledged it to be held of the Crown and moreover it was a Pairrie Philip the Fair having grac'd it with that Title in Anno 1277. in recompence for that John II. had brought him Ten thousand Men to the Siege of Courâ—ray Besides both of the contenders had presented their Petitions to the King to be admitted to do homage which no doubt but either of them would have performed in any manner required and for this reason the King Year of our Lord 1341 referr'd it to the judgment of the Pairs who caused both parties to be summon'd to make out their Right and Titles The Duke of Bretagne appeared but finding by the very first words the King spake to him that not only his Cause but likewise his Person was in danger he makes his escape one fair night into Bretagne with three more himself disguised like a Merchant â—aving left all his Officers at Paris who put a good face upon it as if their Master were not sled but kept his Bed for some indisposition The better to cover his evasion he left a procuration with one of his people to act and carry on this Cause before the King and Pairs and produce what Deeds and Papers were necessary to maintain his Right His adversary had done the same but either of them notwithstanding without power of concluding on any thing but only for debating and putting their Arguments and Titles into a method to instruct the Judges Year of our Lord 1341 Upon these imperfect proceedings the Pairs received Charles de Blois to homage and threw out Montfords Petition Immediately Charles and his friends were putting themselves into a posture to execute the Decree the Duke of Normandy entred into Bretagne with an Army and having forced Chantoceaux besieged Nantes where Montford had shut up himself The Nantois terrified at the misfortune of Two hundred of their Burghers taken in a Salley obliged Montford to surrender himself to the Duke who sent him to Paris where he was confined to the great Tower of the Lovre Thus one
would have guessed the business had been at an end but his Wife Margaret Daughter of Robert Earl of Flanders a wise and couragious Princess who made good use of her Head in Council and of her Sword upon occasion as well as the deepest Politician or the bravest Soldier of her time could have done upheld that ruined party and not only so but even raised it again by her heroick Virtue She retired to Brest fortify'd her places put her Son who was but four years old in a place of safety having sent him into England and pressed King Edward so earnestly for the assistance he had promised to her Husband that he sends it by Sea to her It came inde ed somewhat too late to preserve Rennes but early enough to save Hennebond whit her he was retired It was however too weak to maintain the cause the Enemies were Masters of the Field and took the Towns but Charles de Blois I cannot tell by what motive gave her some respite by a years Truce during which this Princess goes over into England to represent the state of her Affairs there Year of our Lord 1342 In the Month of April of this year 1342. hapned the death of Benedict XII This good Pope moreconcerned and affectionate for the exaltation of the Holy See then of his own Family left a vast Treasure to the Church and nothing at all to his kindred but good instructions for the saving of their Souls Peter Roger Native of the Village de Rose in Limosin and Arch-Bishop of Rouen succeeded him by the name of Clement VI. This Man behaved himself quite contrary he scrupled not at all to make use of his Wealth to enrich his Relations and restored the Nipotisine very prejudicial to to the Church Year of our Lord 1342 The Countess Margaret acted so successfully at the Court of England that she brought back a powerful supply commanded by Robert d'Artois The Naval Forces of the Genoese and Spaniards which were under the Command of Lewis of Spain Brother of Alphonso who was Constable set upon them smartly and might well have hindred their Landing if a sierce Wind had not obliged him at night to put out to Sea fearing his great Vessels should run aground their Ships being smaller got to Port near Vannes Robert d'Artois being landed besieged that City and carried it by Assault which he made upon them in the night presently after another very hot one which he had given them in the day time But after that the Captains of the contrary party knowing he had sent the greatest part of his Army to besiege Rennes and that himself staid in Vannes they came and besieged him and press'd so hard upon him by repeated Assaults that they regained the place Himself was hurt in the last attaque and with much ado saved himself by a postern and got to Hennebond from thence he went into England where he thought to find best Chyrurgeons he died of his wounds in London detested of all good and loyal Frenchmen and passionately regretted by Edward who promis'd him to revenge his death And in effect he landed soon afterwards in Bretagne where all at one time he besieged Vannes Rennes and Guincamp protesting he did not intend to break the Truce made with the French but only he would defend and protect the Lands of a Pupil he meant Montfort's Son to whom he had promised his Daughter in Marriage On the other hand the Duke of Normandy thought he did not infringe it if he assisted Charles de Blois his Cousin German Year of our Lord 1342 After divers exploits of War on either part the Duke hemm'd in Edward before Vannes both by Sea and Land Now as the English were reduced to hunger and the French extreamly incommoded with the Autumn Rains they were glad on both sides to get out of these straights by a Truce for two years which was concluded betwixt them only for Bretagne The Legats of the new Pope brought this about and withal got the promise of both Kings that they should send to Avignon to the Holy Father there to determine all their Disputes by a firm and lasting Peace Year of our Lord 1343 The Twenty eighth of January hapned the death of Robert the Wife King of Naples who left his Kingdom to Jane Daughter of his Son Charles and the Sixteenth of September that of Philip King of Navarre Charles his Son who since ws surnamed the Bad came to the Crown under the Guardianship of Queen Jane of France his Mother Year of our Lord 1343 The Duke of Normandy and the English Deputies met at Aviguon to Treat about a Peace and although they could not come to an agreement in any one thing yet nevertheless it was believed they would conclude a Peace at last because the Popes Mediation was pleasing to both Princes But here an unhappy accident falls in their way and not only stopt their proceedings towards a Peace but set them at farther distance then ever they were and overwhelmed France with a deluge of woes Year of our Lord 1344 Oliver de Clisson and Ten or Twelve Lords Bretons of the French party having accompanied Charles de Blois to a Turnament that was held at Paris the King caused them to be all made prisoners upon some suspition of their holding intelligence with the English and soon after beheaded without any Trial or Hearing of their Case to the great astenishment of all the World and indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till then had never been shed but in Battle and indeed this too severe King who revenged even his own mistrusts did so alienate the affection of his Grandees that they served him but very ill when he had need of them upon great occasions Year of our Lord 1344. and 45. The death of these Lords of Bretagne enraged the King of England he was almost like to have done the same to Henry Lord of Leon of Charles de Blois his party whom he held a prisoner but upon the humble intreaties of the Earl of Derby he gave him his Life and Liberty upon condition he should go and declare to King Philip that the Truce was infringed by this Murther and that he was now going to begin the War anew as he quickly did as well in Guyenne by the Earl of Derby assisted by the Gascon Lords under his obedience as in Bretagne by Montforts party till he could go himself and carry a War into the very heart of the Kingdom Year of our Lord 1344 The people of France had liberally granted to King Philip very notable Subsidies of Money for his Wars he raised them by much and which was worse he setled a new one upon Salt for which cause Edward by way of railery called him the Author of the Salique Law This impost which makes the Sun and Water to be sold so dear was the invention of the Jews mortal enemies to the name of Christians as the word or term Gabel denotes
same day which was the Six and twentieth of August His too hasty March and three long Leagues of way had made the French lose both their breath and strength before they engaged the enemy On the contrary the English were fresh and recruited and dispair re-doubled their courage The Genoese the chief strength of Philips Infantry who were commanded by Antony d'Oria and Charles Grimaldi did nothing to the purpose their Cross-bow strings being made useless by a deluge of Rain that fell just upon the first beginning of their Service they retreating from before a showre of the English Arrows the Count d'Alenson who suspected it to be Treachery rides quite over them with his Cavalry and so began the rout We must also take notice that in this famous Battle the English had four or five pieces of Canon which gave much terror for that was the first time they ever saw those thundering in our Wars To all this add that some amongst the Grandees very glad to see Philip engaged upon this occasion made more shew then they did service These causes chiefly gave the victory to the English The Battle lasted from four in the Afternoon till Two the next Morning A great flight of Ravens which a little hefore the Fight were observed to hover over the French Army were esteemed as a presage of their defeat Of the French side there remained dead upon the place Thirty thousand Foot Twelve hundred Knights and Fourscore Banners taken John King of Bohemia Charles Earl of Alenson Brother to the King Lewis Earl of Flanders and Twelve or Fifteen of the most illustrious Counts lost their Lives King John stark blind as he was fought very valiantly having caused his Horses Bridle to be sastned to the Bridles of two of his bravest Knights horses His Son Charles King of the Romans was hurt with three wounds but it is not true that the Kings of Majorca Scotland and Navarre were in this Engagement the two first were in their own Countreys busie enough about their own concerns and the other not above the age of Thirteen or Fourteen years under the tuition of his Mother The King this time Vnfortunate retired out of the Battle under the favour of the night and saved his Person in the Castle of Broye from thence got to Amiens and so to Paris to raise another Army The next day another slaughter twice greater then the former was made by Five hundred Lances and two thousand Archers amongst the common People who being ignorant of what had hapned were marching to the French Camp The English having ravaged all Boulonois at their pleasure went and laid Siege to Calais about the Eighth of September and stuck close to it with the more security upon the news that David King of Scotland was vanquish'd and made prisoner by the Queen of England upon his falling on the Frontiers Year of our Lord 1346 Before the Battle of Cressy the Emperour Lewis was Excommunicated by the Pope and degraded by Five Electors who in his stead placed Charles the Son of John King of Bohemia This Prince after the death of Lewis which hapned in October the following year got his Election confirmed and bought the Claims of two or three others who disputed their Title to the Empire with him because they had been named by some of the Electors Year of our Lord 1347 After the Duke of Normandy had raised the Siege of Aiguillon the Earl of Derby remained Master of the Field regained all that part of Guyenne which lies beyond the Dordogne and having passed the Rivers ravaged and burnt Saintonge and Poitou took St. John d'Angely and kept it sacaged the great City of Poitiers and quitted it after he had refreshed himself there for Twelve days together Year of our Lord 1346. and 47. The Flemmings having lost their Earl at the Battle of Cressy sent a Deputation to the King to re-demand his Son who was their natural Prince Whilst he was in their power they had assianced him to King Edwards Daughter but that Alliance being contrary to his inclination he escaped from them and returned to the Court of France After he had staid there a year he made a particular peace with the English by the consent of Philip his Sovereign It was agreed that he should permit the Flemmings to give them assistance but as for himself he should not intermeddle with the Affairs either of the one or other of the two Princes Year of our Lord 1347 The Flemmings being at Edwards Devotion made great inroads upon Artois and on the other side John de Montforts party got the upper hand in Bretagne by the help of the English For Charles de Blois going to besiege la Roche de Rien Montfort gave him Battle the Twentieth of June vanquish'd him and took him prisoner with his two Sons John and Guy and most of the Lords of his party His Wife whom ambition and the Royal Blood she came of inspired but with too much courage gathered up the fragments and maintained the business so well that he recover'd once more Year of our Lord 1347 It was but in vain that Philip advanced between Wissant and Calais with an Army of One hundred and fifty thousand Men to relieve the City the English had enclosed his Camp with such good Trenches that he could find no way to attaque him The besieged driven to the severest extremity of Famine were forced to surrender the last day of August Fame shall never forget the name of Eustace de St. Pierre the most noted Citizen of Calais and his heroick generosity to save his fellow Citizens Edward mortally enraged at their long resistance would not receive them on composition unless they would deliver up to him six of their principal Burghers to do what he pleased with them The Council not knowing what to resolve and the whole City remaining Year of our Lord 1347 exposed to the revenge of a cruel Conquerour Eustace freely proffer'd to be one of those Six By his example there soon follow'd enough to make up the number who went out in their Shirts with Ropes about their Necks to deliver the Keys to Edward He was so obstinately bent to put them to death that the Queen his Wife had all the trouble imaginable to obtain his pardon for their Lives He drove out all the Inhabitants of the place even the Ecclesiastiques and repeopled it with natural English Robert King of Sicilia having no Heirs of his own Body but Jane the Daughter of his Son Charles Duke of Calabria had Married her Anno 1333. to Andrew Second Son of Carobert King of Hungary the eldest of these two being then but seven years of age It hapned Twelve years afterwards Andrew not being enough to Jane's liking and having been Crowned King by the Pope pretending that the Kingdom did delong to him certain Conspirators made him rise one night out of the Bed where he was lying with her and hanged him at a
Bourdeaux and carried away the King and his Son along with him tg ether with a prodigious number of prisoners Charles the Dauphin Lieutenant then Regent Aged some XXI years Year of our Lord 1356 THere being no Authority left in the Kingdom and the King before his departure having not setled any thing in order all was in a most horrible confusion The Dauphin at the first took only the quality of Lieutenant upon him he believed it belonged to the general Estates to provide for the Government of the Kingdom and the redemption of the King and therefore having called them together at Paris the Fifteenth of October he propounded these two things to them But that hapned then which ever happens in such great disorders where the people have been evilly treated in their prosperity Instead of assistance he met with nothing but complaints and sharp rebukes They would deliberate of nothing in the presence of his Commissioners they demanded to have the Chancellor set aside this was Peter de la Forest Archbishop of Rouen Simon de Bucy First President and six or seven Officers more that had mis-mannaged the Treasury They would have him set the King of Navarre at liberty and would have him be governed and guided by a Council they chose for him upon which conditions they promised to maintain Thirty thousand Men but which should receive their pay from their own hands In the mean time they set up a Council for the Government of the Kingdom whereof Robert le Coq Bishop of Laon was the Chief and Commissioned People that were at their own Devotion to manage the Treasury The Dauphin not being able to perswade them to condescend to any other method nor bias their resolutions made use of some wile to break up that Assembly and upon divers pretences obliged the Deputies of the several Cities to return Afterwards he dispatched others to all the Bailywicks and Seneschals Courts to demand a subsistence of them severally hoping that none in particular would dare to refuse him what when altogether they had boldly denied During this confusion every one imagined now was the proper time to recover their Rights and Priviledges The Nobility began to make Alliance with the Cities The Dauphin found out the way to prevent that union and draw them to himself The Cities on the other hand grew jealous of the Gentry so that to preserve themselves from being pillaged by the Soldiery who had all manner of Licence allowed them they began to fortifie especially at Paris where they chained their Streets repaired their Walls made good their Ditches and enclosed all that quarter of the Street St. Anthoine and St. Pol which before was but the Suburbs Stephen Marcel Prevost des Merchands and Ronsac the Sheriff had full power over the People and govern'd them at their own pleasure Year of our Lord 1356 The unfortunate Gefroy de Harcourt had sold his Lands in Normandy to the English to enjoy it after his decease disinheriting Lewis his Nephew because he would not take up ARms against his own Countrey He had some Forces at St. Sauveur le Vicomte from whence they made their incursions to the Suburbs of Caen and even to Evreux The Estates assembled at Paris had sent four Captains thither to make head against him he marching into the Fields to meet them near the City of Coutances was there defeated and slain had he been taken alive they would have made him pay down his Head upon a Scaffold he chose rather to dye with his Sword in hand The Duke of Lancaster and Philip of Navarre who made War in Normandy with Philip d'Evreux not being able to pass over the Loire to assist the Prince of Wales amidst the danger he was in before the Battle of Poitiers were fallen down into Bretagne The Duke laid Siege to Rennes the Third of December in this year 1356. but Year of our Lord 1356 the place was so well defended that he could make nothing of it in Ten Months time After the example of their Sovereign who had studied more the enlarging of his ☜ power then the publique good every one took care now of his particular interest and overturned all that lay in his way to attain his own ends The Deputies whom the Dauphin had sent into all the Provinces brought nothing back but grievances the only Countrey of Languedoc because they had been less oppressed by Taxes then the rest testified a publique sorrow for the captivity of their Prince and proffer'd to maintain Five thousand Horse for his Service the others refused every thing but what should be ordained by the Estates Year of our Lord 1356 The Dauphin had Commanded some new Money to be Coined but being gone to Metz to confer with the Emperour Charles IV. his Cousin who stood up mightily for the interests of the House of France the Duke of Anjou whom he had left at Paris was compell'd by Stephen Marcel to forbid the carrying it on Year of our Lord 1357 Wanting some publique Authority to get himself to be declared Regent he had summoned the Estates upon the Fifth of February to meet at Paris at the Cordeliers but could obtain no more from them then he had done the former time They forced the Chancellor la Forest to lay down the Seals turned out all the principal Officers of the Treasury caused all their Goods to be seized and inventoried and upon the warm Remonstrances of Robert le Coq Bishop of Laon removed all the Great Officers of the Kingdom even those of the Parliament excepting Sixteen The Dauphin not finding what he reckon'd on Adjourn'd the Assembly till Fifteen days after Easter Whether it were the inconveniency of that time of the year or the greediness and covetous humor of the Gascons each one of them demanding as much reward as if he alone had gained the Battle and taken the King which hindred the English from removing him out of Bourdeaux he passed all the Winter there but Served and Treated as if he had been in his own Courr Year of our Lord 1357 About the beginning of April they transferr'd him into England where he was entertained with as much Honour and Respect as if he had gone over only to pay a kind visit to King Edward They made him a publique entrance at London he was mounted upon a White Horse a mark of Sovereignty and the Prince of Wales on his left hand upon a little Hackney They lodged him in the Savoy palace the King the Queen and the Grandees visited him and gave him all sort of liberty In the mean time the Popes instant mediation obtained a Truce for two years between both Crowns in which John de Montfort and Philip d'Evreux were not comprehended The Duke of Lancaster had sworn not to rise from before Rennes till he had gotten in and planted his Banners upon their Ramparts whist his Army was in apprehension Year of our Lord 1357 of a second Winter and the
which was the selling his Daughter to John Viscount of Milan for Six hundred thousand Gold Crowns in Marriage with his Son Galeas Although the Crown of France and its Sovereignty came to the Eldest wholly and was not to be divided amongst the younger Brothers yet they assigned a share of Lands to them which was entirely theirs which descended to the Daughters as well as to the Sons and which they might dispose of as properly their own Now the King to keep the Body of his Kingdom in more strength and not suffer his great Provinces hereafter to be as it were dismembred by such partage or by any Treaty united inseparably to the Crown the Dutchy's of Normandy and Burgundy Year of our Lord 1361 and the Earldoms of Toulouze and Champagne by Writings made at the Castle of the Louvre in the Month of November in the year 1361. Year of our Lord 1361 In the foregoing Easter Holy-days Death had snatched away the young Philip Duke of Burgundy and in him extinguished the first Branch of those Dukes which had produced Twelve and lasted 330 years He left no Children Margaret of Flanders his Wife being as yet but Eleven years of age and he but Fifteen He was Grandson of Duke Eudes IV. and Son of that Philip who was slain at the Siege of Aiguillon and of Jane of Boulogne who for Second Husband married King John and died the last year Year of our Lord 1361 The Lands belonging to this Prince which came by his Mother returned to the Heirs of that Line which were the County of Artois and the Franche Comte to Margaret Daughter of Philip the Long and the Countess Mahaut and Wife of Robert Earl of Flanders by consequence Grandfather of the Wife this young Duke Poilip had Married Boulongne and Auvergne went to the House of Boulongne as for the Duthcy of Burgundy the Navarrois challeng'd it as being the Son of Jane Daughter of Queen Margaret who was the Wife of King Lewis Hutin and eldest Daughter of Duke Robert Father of Eudes IV. Duke of Burgundy but the King laid his hand upon it as being said he nearer of kindred by one degree being Son of the Second Daughter of Duke Robert whereas the King of Navarre was but Grandson of the eldest Some will say that he did not understand his Rights well and that he should have reaped this Dutchy as he was Sovereign and have maintain'd that Burgundy was a Masculine Fief which reverted to him for want of Heirs-Males Year of our Lord 1361 The Soldiers of all the parties did not evacuate the places without a great deal of trouble and committed the same depredations and Robberies as during the War The Gascons and the Bretons rambled all over Anjou Poitou and Tourain for pillage and plunder and those Bands that were named the Tard-Venus or Late-Comers led by some Gascons having in the same manner treated Champagne Burgundy Masconnis and Lyonnois in a Battle at Brignais near Lyons defeated James de Bourbon Count de la Marche whom the King had given Orders to chastise them for their Thefts after that they divided themselves into two parties whereof one was hired for Money to go into Italy by the Marquis de Montferrat who was in War with the Viscounts of Milan the others fastned on Masconnois and never let go their hold till they were fully gorged like blood-sucking Leeches Year of our Lord 1361. and 62. Those that levy'd the Taxes and Gabelles tormented the People no whit less then the other Robbers The burthen and grievance was so great that infinite numbers of Families quitted France and sought elsewhere for a more easie livelyhood and subjection Such as did know how to secure themselves from all these miseries did not know where to find an Asylum against the Pestilence which for seven or eight years growing worse and worse upon divers returns seized indifferently upon all sorts of People both in City and Countreys There fell by it this year nine Cardinals and Seventy Prelats in the Popes Court and above Thirty thousand People in Paris The Jews were recalled into France for the fifth time another plague added to the Imposts the Pestilence and Famine Year of our Lord 1362 It was the Right or to â—speak properly a practise suffer'd time out of mind amongst the French that they might make War one upon another for their particular quarrels the King forbid it among all his Subjects till all the enemies were quite out of the Kingdom He afterwards added to this Order a prohibition of all Duels Challenges c. as well during the Peace as in time of War Notwithstanding his defence he durst not take notice of the cruel War that was renew'd between the Earls de Foix and d'Armagnac because he feared it might offend the King of England to whom they were Vassals for those Lands in contest between them We had omitted to take notice before how the difference for the Succession of Gaston de Bearn had given birth to this bloody War between these two Houses That Gaston who died Anno 1289. had by Mate Countess of Bigorre four Daughters Constance who married William the Son of Richard of England King of Germany from whom there came no Children Margaret who was the Wife of Roger Bernard Earl of Foix Mate of Gerauld Count d'Armagnac and of Fezenzac and Guillemette of Don Pedro Son of Don Pedro King of Arragon and Brother to James II. That the first and the last left no Children behind them that Gaston their Father by his Testament made them all sharers of the Lands he had in France as well as those in Catalonia and that in case the first dyed without Children he then gave Bearn to the Second who was Countess of Foix. Neither had we observed how Mate Countess of Armagnac finding her self wronged by this Testament had refused to approve thereof That in Anno 1294. Bernard her Son for her Husband Geraud was dead accused the Count de Foix of having falsified it and called him to try it in Combat or Duel in the Court of King Philip the Fair. That by Decree of Parliament in the year 1295. the two parties were admitted to Combat in the City of Gisors but when they were come into the Field the King caused them to be put out again and annull'd the Duel by taking upon him to let them know That this private feud should surcease according to the Law or Rights of the Kingdom during the publique War between the French and the English That the same King in the journey he made to Languedoc Anno 1303. finding he could not bring the parties to an amicable composition made a Decree to settle and regulate their pretensions to which Margaret Countess de Foix her Husband being deceased would not obey That the death of Guillemete the youngest of the four Sisters occasioned new debates and that Philip King of Navarre endeavour'd to determine them Anno 12â—9 by a Sentence of Arbitration
But nothing could quench the irreconcileable animosities of these two Houses nor prevent their seeking all opportunities to destroy each other as they did this year 1362. and the following Year of our Lord 1362 Whilst they were labouring but not effectually enough to have the Garrisons vacated King John took a fancy to go to Avignon and visit Pope Innocent with design as was believed to endeavour a Marriage with Jane Queen of Naples the second time a Widdow defamed indeed for her ill life but who would have brought him in Dower the Counties of Provence and Piedmont being on his way he heard of the death of Innocent but he went forwards and on the eighth day of October assisted at the Coronation of William Grimouard a Native of Montferrat who was chosen out of the Sacred Colledge being but a simple Abbot They named him Vrban V. Whilst he staid at Avignon the Holy Father Preaching for a new adventure to the Holy Land he accepted of the Command of Generalissimo in the Expedition The two Kings Peter of Cyprus and Woldemar III. of Denmark took the badge of the Cross for the same purpose in the same place But the affairs of France not suting very well with this Enterprize was so far from being put in execution that it was not so much as approved of or countenanc'd Year of our Lord 1363 At his return he took possession of the Dutchy of Burgundy but whilst he was yet in that Countrey the Burgundians did so positively make him understand that they could not live without a Prince that was Resident amongst them that he revoked and null'd the re-union he had made of this Dutchy to the Crown and yielded and bestowed it upon Philip his youngest Son who had deserved the Name of Hardy at the Battle of Poitiers To hold it for him and his Heirs begotten in lawful Marriage About the end of this year 1363. King John Embarqued at Boulogne and went again into England the occasion of his voyage was not his love towards a Lady with whom he had familiarity when he was formerly there but upon notice that the Duke of Anjou his second Son and one of his Hostages had escaped out of England this generous King would repair the Honour of that young Prince and demonstrate Year of our Lord 1364 that he had no hand in that juvenile act as likewise to dispose if it were possible King Edward to the expedition of the Holy War Charles the Dauphin Regent for the Second time Year of our Lord 1364 HIs eldest Son to whom he had left the Regency sound himself presently attaqued by his Cousin the King of Navarre upon the pretensions he had to the Dutchy of Burgundy This Prince having rashly sent him defiance before he had any Army ready to justify it lost the Cities of Mantes and Meulan which were taken by Bertrand du Gueselin whose valour was already raised much above the common standard Year of our Lord 1364 In England King John having had many Conferences with King Edward when he hoped to have dispatched all his Affairs was surprized about mid March with a distemper which ended his days the eighth of April He died in the Savoy without the Walls of London after he had lived Two and fifty years and held the Scepter Thirteen years and eight Months His Son the Duke of Berry the Dukes Philip of Orleance and Lewis II. of Bourbon and John of Artois Earl of Eu all Princes of the Blood heard his last Sighs and closed his Eyes The King of England made him a magnificent Funeral worthy the grandeur of that King and becoming his own generosity His Corps was brought back into France and interred at St. Denis upon the seventh day of May. He was esteemed to be the bravest and the most liberal Prince of his time but the same root which produced these virtues did likewise bring forth Pride and the scorn to follow any other Counsel but that of his own Brain attended with prodigality precipitation and that violence which exposed his own Kingdom to pillage and plunder and his own Person to the mercy of his enemies But we must not deny him two great advantages or perfections he had above other Princes that he was frank and sincere and did most inviolably keep his word nor forget that heroick saying attributed to him That if Faith and Truth should be banished from all the rest of the world yet they onght to be found in the mouths of Kings He married two Wives who were named Jane the First Daughter of John King of Bohemia in Anno 1332. and the Second of William Earl of Boulongne and Widow of Philip of Burgundy Earl of Artois in Anno 1349. By the First he had four Sons and four Daughters the four Sons were Charles who succeeded to the Crown Lewis Duke of Anjou and Earl of Mayne John Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Earl of Poitou Philip first Duke of Touraine then of Burgundy The Daughters were named Mary Jane Isabel Margaret the first married Robert eldest Son of Henry Duke of Bar the second Charles the Bad King of Navarre the third John Galeaz Viscount First Duke of Milan the fourth devoted her self to JESUS CHRIST in the Monastery of Poissy By his Second Wife he had two Daughters that attained not to the ripeness of Marriage Charles V. called the VVise and the Eloquent King of France LI. Aged about XXVI years POPES URBAN V. Seven years Four Months under this Reign GREGORY XI Elected the Thirtieth of December 1370. S. Seven years three Months Schisme URBAN VI. Elected the Eighth of April in the year 1378. S. at Rome II. years six Months six Days whereof two years and above five Months under this Reign And CLEMENT VII Elected the Twenty first of September S. in Avignon Twenty six years whereof Two years under this Reign THe prosperous Conduct of this King is the noblest proof we meet with thoroughout all the History of France that the weightiest Affairs are managed better by skill and judgment then by sorce and that success in Year of our Lord 1364 Battle is oftner the effect of the judicious Orders and Contrivances in the Closet then the valour of those that sight them Year of our Lord 1364 His Coronation was performed at Reims the Nineteenth of May. It is to be observed that Wenceslaus of Luxemburgh Duke of Brabant his maternal Uncle John Duke of Lorrain and Robert Duke of Bar though Strangers and Vassals of the Empire did the Office of Pairs there the First representing the Duke of Normandy the Second the Earl of Champagne the Third the Earl of Toulouze The Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Flanders held their natural places and Lewis Duke of Anjou that of the Duke of Guyenne They had just reason to say that never King armed himself so little and yet did so many brave exploits in War as this same It seemed as is Wisdom had tyed Fortune to his
Forces belonging to the Navarrois continued their Incursions in Normandy Year of our Lord 1365 it was believed they might be drawn from thence by a Diversion towards Navarre A League was therefore made with the King of Arragon his Capital Enemy who immediately fell with an Army into that Kingdom The Navarrois had the more apprehension because he knew that France was necessarily obliged to joyn with that Prince the King of England having made a League with Peter King of Castille an Eternal Enemy to the Arragonians Wherefore Captal de Buch and the rest of his Friends applied themselves with so much zeal that they made his peace with the King By this Treaty he renounced all his rights to Champagne and to Burgundy upon condition he should have the Lordship of Montpellier in Languedoc which was given him The Habits of Men of Quality and honest People dwelling in Cities was a long Gown and a Hood almost of the same fashion as the Monks sometimes they threw these back upon their Shoulders and made use of a Cap or Bonnet for their Heads Now luxury and folly had shortned their long Robe so much that their Thighs and the whole motions of their Bodies from their Reins was plainly Year of our Lord 1365 seen They had likewise brought in use a certain sort of Shoes the Toes whereof were turned up with a long neck they named them Poulenes and at their Heels a kind of Spurs The King by his Edicts banished these ridiculous Modes after the example of his Holiness who but a while before had by his Bulls condemned the dissoluteness of Apparel both in the one and the other Sex France could not rid her self of those droves of Robbers that knawed her to the Year of our Lord 1365 very bones The English tolerated them that they might have their help upon occasion and there were not Forces enough besides to suppress them Gueselin found out a way to carry them all off into Spain upon this occasion Alphonso XI King of Castille had had by his lawful Wife a Son named Peter who succeeded him and by a Mistress five Natural Sons the eldest of whom was called Henry and was Earl of Tristemare This Peter was rightly surnamed the Cruel and the Wicked for he shewed himself more a friend to the Alcoran then to the Gospel having alliance and amity with the Moorish Kings He overturned all the Laws and committed all the Injustice and Cruelties that Tyrants can commit He lived in publick Adultery with Mary de Padilla and had in Anno 1361. caused his Wife Blanch to be poyson'd who was Daughter to Peter Duke of Bourbon and Sister to the Queen of France a Princess as vertuous as fair after she had endured all the outrages imaginable for ten years together He put the Lady to death that had been his Fathers Mistress and shed the blood of the greatest in his Kingdom almost every day nor did he spare his own Brothers having Murthered Frederic one of the five who was Grand Master of St. James and often attempted against the lives of the other four Henry being thereâ—ore prompted by a just Resentment for the death of his Brother and his Mother and besides authoriz'd by the Law of Nature which allowed him to defend his life rose up against him with the greatest part of the Nation Leagued himself with the Arragonian and made War upon him for some time Year of our Lord 1365 His Cause in the beginning had not so much success as justice he was overmatch'd and worsted by the Tyrant and took shelter in France The King gave him protection the more willingly because it offer'd a fair occasion to employ his Soldiery It was thought fit for the better countenance of it to let John de Bourbon Count de la Marche Cousin German to the late Queen Blanch have the chief Command in appearance but for their true Conductor Bertrand du Gueselin who was delivered out of the hands of Chandois the Pope the King and Don Henry having paid down his Ransom Year of our Lord 1366 With these Forces and great numbers of the Nobility Volunteers even out of those Countries under the obedience of the English the Count de la Marche and Gueselin carried Henry back into Spain The Pope fearing this Army might approach near Avignon sent them Two hundred thousand Livers with Indulgences The King of Arragon gave them passage and the Dutchy of Borgiae to Gueselin and before they entred upon Castille they regained all those places Peter had taken from him and put them honestly again into his hands Upon the arrival and sight of Henry all the Nobles of Castille excepting one single Knight abandoned the Tyrant They all cry'd out Long live King Henry and open'd their Gates to him in a word he was Crowned at Burgos about the end of March. That done he liberally rewarded with Estates in Lands all such as had follow'd him and thinking himself secure upon the Tyrants flight he discharged the most part of his Forces who would have lain too heavy on his new Subjects reserving only Fifteen hundred Lances with Gueselin and Bernard Bastard of the Count de Foix. Year of our Lord 1366 The Tyrant made his escape first towards Portugal but the King of that Country having refused to allow him any retreat there he got into Galicia and from thence by Sea to Bayonne to implore the assistance of the Prince of Wales The jealousie that Prince had for the fame of du Gueselin made him give an ear to his supplications he promised to restore him and to act Personnally in the Employment To this end he retains the Gascon Lords and the same Companies that had served du Gueselin who were disbanded by Henry but the Arragonian keeping the passages shut and well guarded they could not get to him but with a great deal of difficulty Year of our Lord 1367 There was no other way but by Navarre King Charles the Bad having made a League with either Party found himself perplexed In the end he leans towards the Tyrant and gives him passage and three hundred Lances Whilst he was wavering betwixt both Parties and endeavoured to delude them both he was made Prisoner by Oliver de Mauny who held the Castle of Borgia upon that Frontier It was imagin'd he had contriv'd it so himself to keep his Faith with Henry but Oliver treated him as a real Prisoner and got a good Ransom from him When Henry knew that his Enemies had taken the City of Navarrette he came to meet them and instead of stopping their passage and hindring their having Provisions brought to them which he might easily have done being above three times more numerous then they he gave them Battle This was the Fourth of April between Nagera and Navarrette but he lost it through the Cowardize of his Brother Teilo who betook himself to flight upon the first Charge Gueselin was made Prisoner with the Mareschal d'Endreghen and some
other Captains As for him having fought very valiantly and not giving over till the very last extremity he then escaped into Arragon then came to France where he was received by Lewis Duke of Anjou Governor for the King in Languedoc Year of our Lord 1367 and 68. The Prince of Wales gained mighty reputation amongst the Sons of Mars for having Re-conquer'd Spain in one single Battle but little Honour amongst the better sort for having restor'd a Tyrant and yet much less satisfaction or profit For after the Tyrant had held him some Months in Castille upon the promise of quickly sending him wherewith to pay his Men a Sickness got into his Army and he was forc'd to return again very ill satissied and withall very much indisposed in his Body Year of our Lord 1368 After his departure the Tyrants rage redoubled by all sorts of terrible revenge The Castillians finding they were treated more inhumanely then ever recalled Henry The Duke of Anjou and the Earl of Foix did frankly give him all the assistance they could and du Gueselin and Bernard de Bearn newly set free upon Ransom raised Men for him In few words Henry besieged Toledo the Tyrant attended with Three thousand Horse came to relieve it When he was gotten near Montiel a Village situate upon the Hills which parts the Kingdom of Valentia from New Castille Henry meets him the Battle was fought the Fourteenth of March 1369. the Tyrants Forces ran away Year of our Lord 1369 and he saved himself in the Castle of Montiel There finding himself cooped up without any hopes of escaping he adventures to come to Guesclin in his Tent imagining by force of Presents to persuade him to let him slip away Henry comes just at the same time thither either by chance or otherwise they fell to words then laid hold upon each other and tumbled on the ground The Tyrant in the end was brought undermost and kill'd The manner is not well agreed upon nor whether it were done fairly this hapned the Three and twentieth of March 1369. Thus the Kingdom of Castille remained to Henry and those descended from him who hold it to this day The Widow of the Duke of Burgundy Daughter of the Earl of Flanders and the richest Heiress in Christendom was earnestly Courted both by France and England The Father designed her â—or Edmond one of the King of Englands Sons but the Grandmother Margaret French both by Birth and Inclination opposed that Match with all her power and had a design to fortifie the House of France She therefore pressed her Son with exceeding heat even to the threatning to cut off her Breasts which had given him suck This touched him to the heart he bestowed his Daughter upon Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy but the Nuptials were not compleated till a year afterwards The Prince of Wales had brought nothing out of Spain but great Melancholy a Mortal Indisposition and no Money to pay off his Army He therefore lays an unusual but very small Impost upon Guyenne The Lords his Vassals discontented with him particularly the Lord d'Albret advises the Tenants to make Complaint to them Having received their Complaint they carry it to the Prince and made him some Remonstrances thereon He rejects them in a very offensive manner Whereupon they had recourse to the King of France lately their lawful Soveraign The King entertains them five or six Months in the same disposition and humour waiting a proper juncture to declare his mind He was in the mean time putting every thing in order to that purpose making sure of the Gascon Lords and German Princes with his Money whereof either of them were very greedy drew the Soldiery to his service with the same Bait by the help of Guesclin in whom they reposed great Confidence and made up a Stock of Money by the imposition of Subsidies which the Estates assembled at Paris did freely grant him and which they raised with so much order and evenness that the People were not at all oppress'd Year of our Lord 1369 When he had warily taken all his Measures and knew withal that the Prince of Wales grew daily more Hydropick he granted his Letters of Appeal to the Gascons the five principal of them being the Sire d'Albert and the Earls of Armagnac Perigard Cominges and Carmaing This was signified to the Prince personally by a Knight and a Clerk but far from consenting to this Appeal he haughtily reply'd That he would make his appearance in the same manner as he had done at the Battle of Poitiers and caused them to be taken upon their way back and kept Prisoners charging them with the having rob'd their Host Year of our Lord 1369 At the same time Charles amused King Edward with some Complaints which he sent to him as if he would have brought things to a Negotiation The King of England returned words for words not thinking the effects were so near or that the French durst undertake any thing whilst the Duke of Berry and the other Hostages were in England He thought himself absolute Soveraign in Guyenne by the Treaty of Bretigny but as on his side he had not disbanded the Soldiers and moreover had committed divers Hostilities the King pretended that Treaty was nul and dissolved and that therefore that Prince remained still a Vassal to the Crown Upon this foot it was that he sent to declare a War against him and afterwards his Parliament being assembled upon the Ascension-Eve he sitting in his Seat of Justice made a Decree by which for Rebellion Contempt and Disobedience they declared forfeit and confiscated all those Lands the King of England held in France If Edwards astonishment were great to sind a Prince who was not a Man of his hands thus dare denounce War against him who had won so many Battles his displeasure was no less when he saw this Defiance brought him not by a Person of Quality as the custom was but by a simple Valet or Servant When he understood that the Lord de Chastillon and the Count de Saint Pol had seized upon Abbeville and the rest of the places in the County of Pontieu which were unprovided That the Barons of Gascongue even before the declaration of War had defeated his Seneschal of Rovergne That the Dukes of Berry and Anjou had attaqued Guyenne one towards Auvergne the other towards Toulouze That his Son the Prince of Wales being swoln every day more and more could not act but by his Council and that several Captains and Companies took Service under the French In the interim till he could raise greater Forces he sent him Five hundred Lances and One thousand Cross-bow-men under the Command of Edmond Earl of Cambridge afterwards Duke of York his fourth Son and the Earl of Pembrook his Son-in-Law who went on shoar at St. Malo's and cross'd over Bretagne on the other hand Hue de Caurelee brought him Two thousand Men of those he had in Spain and then
came about twice as many from such as held places in Normandy and Mayne which they sold to go and joyn with him The four bravest Captains he had about him were the above-named Caurelee Eustace d'Auberticour a Hennuyer John Chandois Seneschal of Poitou Thomas Piercy Seneschal of Rochel and Robert Knolles all English To the last of these four he gave the Command of his Forces To the force of Arms the Wise King joyned the power of Religion and Eloquence which can do all things on the hearts of the People He ordered Fasts and Processions to be made over all his Kingdom and sometimes he went himself bare-footed with the rest When at the same time the Preachers made out his Right and Title with the justice of his Cause and the injustice of the English Which had two ends the one to bring back again those French Provinces which had been yielded by the Treaty of Bretigny the other to make those that were under him willing to suffer the Contributions and all other inconveniencies of War The Archbishop of Toulouze alone by his Persuasions and Intrigues regained above fifty Cities or Castles in Guyenne amongst others that of Cabors The King of England would have practised the same methods on his part and sent an Amnesty or general Pardon to the Gascons with an Oath upon the Sacred Body of Jesus Christ to raise no more new Imposts but all this could not reclaim those minds that had bent themselves another way Divers incursions were made by the French into Guyenne and Poitou and by the English into the Neighbouring Countries and in one of them these last took Isabella de Valois the Widow Dutchess of Bourbon and Mother to the Queen of France at her Castle of Bellepeche in Bourbonnois She was afterwards exchanged for the Prince of Wales his Knight The Earls of Cambridge and Pembrook marched even to Anjou and there took the strong Castle de la Roche-sur-Yon from whence they scowred all the Country as they likewise did that of Berry having gained the City of St. Severe which is situate in Limosin upon that Frontier But on their side they suffer'd more loss by far then all this came to the most considerable being that of Chandois who was unfortunately slain in a Rencounter near the Bridge of Lensac in Poitou Besides the ordinary Troops which they called Companies the Lords and Gentlemen often came together and of their own accord drew themselves into a Body for some great Enterprize or else to make Incursion then after such a Riding so they then called it they returned back to their own homes again King Charles had undertaken to raise an Army that should land some Forces in England his Brother Philip was to Command it and they were to take Shipping at Harsleur When he was ready to go on board the Vessels the news was brought him that John Duke of Lancaster King Edwards third Son was landed at Calais and made inroads upon the French Country He was advised to quit his design and turn his force that way Lancaster seeing him in the Field posted himself upon the Hill de Tournehan between Ardres and Guisnes Philip encamps right against him as either to attaque or surround him but before he had been long there grew weary and disbanded his Men. Thus Lancaster had leisure and opportunity to over-run the Country of Caux even to Harfleur and at his return the Country of Pontieu where he took Prisoner Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Cross-bow-men who had seized upon that Country in the name of the King At the same time the Dukes of Guelders and Juliers moved by the Charms of English Sterling Coyn sent to defie the King who soon set up the Duke of Brabant and the Count de Saint Pol to coap with them as taking fire upon some particular Interest There hapned a furious Battle between both Parties at Baeswilder betwixt the Rhine and the Meuse which brought those Princes very low On the one side the Duke of Juliers was slain on the other the Duke of Brabant was taken Prisoner The Emperor his Brother released him and made up the Quarrel Year of our Lord 1369 The Estates being Assembled the Seventh of December granted to the King an Imposition of a Sol or Penny per Liver upon Salt of four Livers upon every Chimney in the Cities and thirty Sols in the Country as likewise upon the sale of Wine in the Country the 13th in Gross and the 4th upon Retail and upon entry at Paris fifteen Sols for every Pipe of French Wine and twenty four per Pipe for Burgundy Wine To which the Cities joyfully consented as knowing these Levies would be well managed and cease again with the War Year of our Lord 1369 The same year 1369. Hugh Aubriot Prevost des Merchands caused the Towers of the Bastille to be built near the Gate St. Antoine the same as we find them at this day Year of our Lord 1370 The first years War had not produced any very considerable event the two Kings prepared themselves with all their might to perform greater matters the second All the four Brothers of France having held Counsel together resolved that the Duke of Anjou and the Duke of Berry should attaque Guyenne that the former should enter about Toulouze in that part that lieth betwixt the two Seas the other about Berry in Limosin and that they should both joyn at Limeges to besiege the Prince of Wales there Year of our Lord 1370 To this effect they thought fit to recal du Guesclin out of Spain where King Henry had bestow'd upon him the Earldom of Molines and the Lands of Soria He came upon the Kings first commands and having joyned the Duke of Anjou took as he was upon his march the Towns of Moissac Tonneins Aiguillon and other Castles less considerable along the Garonne On his part the Duke of Berry made himself Master of Limoges more by his Intelligence with the Citizens and the Bishop who betrayed the Prince of Wales though his Gossip and very good Friend then by his Sword After this the two Brothers knowing that the Prince too Politick to suffer himself to be cooped up had taken the Field discharged their Soldiers Year of our Lord 1370 The King of England on his part had sent the Duke of Lancaster with some Companies of Men at Arms and Archers into Guyenne and given the Command of all his Army about Picardy to Robert Knolls It consisted of above Thirty thousand Men. His march struck a terror through all France even to the Loire for they sacaged Vermandois Champagne and la Brie burnt all round about Paris made the sound of their Trumpets eccho in the very Gates of the Louvre while neither the smoak of those Incendiaries nor the noise of their Martial Musick could move the wise King to hazard any thing nor let one Soldier go out to the Enemy Year of our Lord 1370 Du Guesclin
was almost the only Man who was capable of revenging him for all these Affronts to this end the second day of October he puts the Sword of High Year of our Lord 1370 Constable into his hands which Moreau de Fiennes too much broken with age and toil could bear no longer but gave him few Soldiers that he might only observe the Enemy and not fight them Du Guesclin who had another aim encreased the numbers at his own expence having sold all his Jewels and rich Household Furniture he had gotten in Spain to buy up more Soldiers After he had followed and annoyed the Enemy for some time he had an opportunity to be t up one of their Quarters near the Pont Valain in the Country of Mayne By this means having broke the ice he put them to a rout then defeated them piece after piece till even Knolles himself had much ado to escape Year of our Lord 1371 From thence he turned up into Berry and drove out the English who fled into Poitou cleared Touraine and Anjou and did the like in Limosin and in Rovergne Year of our Lord 1371 He also rendred a most important piece of Service to France having brought the King of Navarre to an Enterview with King Charles In the present posture of Affairs that Prince might have done a great deal of mischief by introducing the English into Constentin where he held Cherbourgh with some other places and into the County of Evreux which was all his own But he being as irresolute as malicious he neither knew how to keep his Faith nor break it to his own advantage Though he had made a Truce the preceding year he still deferr'd the concluding of the Peace by his Artifice In fine he suffers himself to be led to it when he had least need and was contented with the City of Mâ—ntpellier which was put into his possession Upon which Consideration he renounced the English Interest at that time when it would have been more advantage not to do it Year of our Lord 1371 In the year 1367. Pope Vrban V. had made a Voyage to Rome in appearance to give some Orders for the Affairs of Italy but indeed out of anger for that the Army going into Spain had oppressed and extorted a great deal from him After he had staid there two years and an half he returned to Avignon where in short time he died the 19th of December The Cardinals placed in the Holy Chair Peter Roger who was Son to William Earl of Beaufort in Valee and Jane Sister of Pope Clement VI. In the Month of May of this same year David King of Scotland Son of Robert Bruce died without Children Thus that Crown passed into the House of the Stewarts by one Robert who was his Sisters Son He ratifi'd the Truce with the English and prolonged it for thirteen years The Maritine Cities of Flanders being all filled with Merchants had no other Interest to mind but Trade Wherefore neither considering that of their Earl nor Year of our Lord 1371 the Kings they made a League with the English thereby to secure their Commerce which appeared more advantageous from that side then from the French Within a while after the new Constable had re-conquer'd Perigord and Limosin from the English the Prince of Wales though he could not stir but in a Litter draws his Men together at Cognac and went to besiege Limoges His Hurons or Miners of which he had great numbers having thrown down a great part of the Wall into the Ditches the Town was taken by Storm He was so enraged against the Inhabitants that he took cruel Vengeance even upon the very Women and Children above four thousand of them dying by the edge of the Sword This was his last exploit in War afterwards he retired very much indisposed into England where yet he languished three years When he was gone the Affairs of the English ran every day into decay the greatest part of the Lords and Commanders in Guyenne whom his Valour and Bounty tied to his Court going over to the French Year of our Lord 1372 He had left the care of his Affairs to the Duke of Lancaster who stay'd no long time in Guyenne but went over into England to be present in a great Council which was held about the concerns on this side the Water At his departure he Married the Daughter of Peter the Cruel and stiled himself King of Castille his Brother the Earl of Cambridge likewise took the youngest Sister to his Bed Year of our Lord 1372 This was to declare a Mortal War against King Henry who besides being engaged to the Crown of France resolved as well for his own security as out of gratitude to Year of our Lord 1372 serve it with all his power He knew the English were sending an Army into Poitou Commanded by the Earl of Pembrooke he put out a Fleet of forty great Ships to Sea well stored with Canon and Fire-Arms who lay in wait for the Earl of Pembrooke at the chops of the Rochel Channel The Fight lasted two days the Eves-eve and the Eve of St. Johns Feast the Rochellâ—rs looking on in cold blood not to be persuaded by their Governor to go out to the aid of the English who in the end were overcome and all either taken or sunk The Victors carried away the Earl of Pembrooke with the rest of the Prisoners into Spain all laden with Chains This was the Custom both of the Spaniards and Germans towards their Enemies the French and English treated theirs with more generosity and civility ☜ This disaster was the utter ruine of the English Party The Constable besieged Year of our Lord 1372 and took all places with ease After he had help'd the Duke of Berry in reducing St. Severe which was believed to be impregnable he came to take possession of the great City of Poitiers that opened her Arms to him The Commanders that kept the Field were all amazed at it but much more astonished upon the defeat of the Captal de Buch who marching to relieve the City of Soubise situate at the mouth of the Charente sound himself surrounded and taken by the Spaniards whose Fleet hover'd about that Coast No Ransom nor Exchange could persuade the King to set him at liberty a second time he was shut up in a Tower belonging to the Temple at Paris where he died four years after Year of our Lord 1372 The Rochellers could never agree with the English humour scarce compatible with any Nation whatsoever they studied how to withdraw themselves from their Government and for this purpose it was that the Spaniards kept so nigh to favour their design The Castle only hindred them the Mayor bethought himself of a Wyle Having given the Captain a Dinner he presented him certain Letters Sealed with King Edwards Signet out of which he read That they were ordered to make a Muster of the Garison in the Castle and the City Militia There
was nothing of all this in the Letter but the Captain who could not read believed it and drew out the Garison The Mayor had laid an Ambuscade amongst some Ruinous Buildings which cut off his passage and hindred his return Ten or twelve Forelorn Wretches that were left in the Castle Capitulated After this the crafty Rochellers before they would open their Gates to the French made their Treaty with the King and obtained to have the Castle demolished or if we will believe their Memoirs an Amnesty for having demolish'd it before the Treaty Besides this they got so many Priviledges and great Advantages as tended as much towards the putting this City at liberty as for the exchanging their Master After the Constable who represented the King had taken their Oaths of Fidelity he pursued the Conquest of Poitou and Saintonge Most part of the Lords were retired to Touars he laid Siege to it and forc'd them to Capitulate That they should put themselves their Lands and that place under Obedience of the King unless the King of England or one of his Sons did come with an Army strong enough to sight the Besiegers by Michaelmass-day This sort of Composition was practised as long as there was the least faith left amongst Men. It ever included a Cessation of Arms during which the Besiegers taking Hostages of the Besieged raised their Camp and left them all manner of liberty excepting only the admitting more Soldiers into the Garison or to furnish or provide it with Stores Year of our Lord 1372 When King Edward heard of this Capitulation Honour and Necessity rowzing and bringing to his mind the remembrance of his Victories he puts to Sea himself with four hundred Vessels that he might not lose so fine a Country and so many brave Men. But the Winds refused to be serviceable to him upon this occasion they tossed him about for six weeks together and would not afford one favourable gale but what blew him towards his own Ports of England The time being expired the Lords performed the Capitulation after which the Cities of Saintes Angoulesme Saint John d'Angely and generally all the Country even to Bourg and Blaye returned to the Obedience of their Ancient and Natural Soveraign Year of our Lord 1372 John de Montfort Duke of Bretagne looked with fear upon the Prosperity of the French his ancient Enemies and with regret upon the decay of the King of England his Father-in-Law and his Protector but he was not Master in his Dutchy the People would have no more War the haughty humour of the English was not compatible with their Liberty and the Barons dazled with the lustre of de Guesclin and de Clissons Fortune had their Eyes turned upon the Employments and Pensions of the Court of France Thus the Duke was under great constraint If he admitted any English to land upon those Coasts the Common People fell upon them if he quarter'd them in his Garisons the Lords rose up Having placed some in Brest Conquet Kemperle and Henneband they besought the King to send them some Forces to drive them thence and put the Cities into his hands as they did Vennes Renes and divers others The Revenge he would have taken by laying Siege to St. Mahé did but hasten his loss and the Constables march with the Duke of Bourbon Some English Soldiers that he had sent for to strengthen himself withall had the whole Country against them and were all cut in pieces so that although he had some good places left he durst not shut himself in any of them but passed over to England to cry out for help Whilst he was gone the Constable secured them all excepting three Brest Becherel and Derval this last belonged to Knolles he laid Siege to all these at the same time as likewise to la Roche-sur-yon in Anjou This last being farthest off from all Assistance surrendred Brest Becherel and Derval promised to do as much if within a certain prefixed time there appeared not an Army sufficient and that would hold Battle to make the French raise their Siege As for Brest and Derval they saved themselves by this means The Earl of Salisbury was then at Sea to guard the English Coasts against the Spanish Navy Commanded by Evans of Wales whose Father King Edward had put to death to get that Principality Hearing what danger Brest was in he landed in Bretagne encamped and entrench'd himself near that place then sent his Heraulds to the Constable to proclaim that he was come to raise the Siege and expected him there The Constable did not think sit to attaque him in so well fortisied a Post Thus that place was deliver'd At their departure thence Knolles who had defended it threw himself into Derval not thinking himself obliged to stand to the Treaty made by that Garison which cost the Lives of their Hostages and by way of Reprizal the Lives of some Gentlemen whom Knolles had taken Prisoners As for Becherel it held out a whole year at the end whereof no Army appearing on the day prefixed to relieve it it fell into the hands of the French The King of England did not fail of his Guaranty to the Duke of Bretagne he raised an Army of above Thirty thousand Men whom he gave to the Duke of Lancaster to restore that Prince who had the confidence to send defiance to the King of France his Sovereign they landed at Calais the twentieth of July marched thorough and pillaged Artois Picardy Champagne Fores Beaujolois Auvergne and Limosin and descended into Guyenne instead of going into Bretagne as Montfort hoped and expected It was the constant resolution of this wise King not to hazard any great Battle against the English but he ordered his Forces should be lodged every night in some Town should follow the enemy by day and never cease from galling and disturbing them falling upon all straglers and sitting so near their skirts as to keep all Provisions and Forage from them by which means he defeated their great Armies by little and little and made them moulder away to nothing These having been observed and pursued by the Duke of Burgundy as far as Beaujolis and from thence to the Dordogne by the Constable were not only prevented from undertaking any thing considerable but were so much weakned and diminished that scarce six thousand of them got into Bourdeaux Year of our Lord 1373 During this irruption the Duke of Anjou Governour of Languedoc made another much more advantageous into the upper Guyenne He conquer'd several places of little or no name at present but in these days of great importance Two great Judgments a Famine and a * Plague tormented France Italy and England this year 1373. There likewise Reigned especially in the Low Countreys a phrantick passion or phrensie unknown in the foregoing ages Such as were tainted with it being for the most part the scum of the people stript themselves stark naked placed a Garland of
Flowers upon their Heads and taking Hands with one another went into the Streets and Churches Dancing Singing and running round with so much violence that they fell down for want of breath This agitation made them swell so prodigiously they would have burst had not great pains and care been taken to swathe them with bands about their Bellies immediately such as looked on them too attentively were often infected with the same distemper Some believed it an operation of the Devil and that Exorcisms did much help them The vulgar named it The Dance of St. JOHN Year of our Lord 1375 Upon the instant and continual exhortations of the Pope the two Kings entred into a Negotiation to compose their differences For this an Assembly was held at Bruges in Flanders whither they sent their nearest Princes of their Blood and the most illustrious Lords of their Kingdoms It lasted almost two years incredible expence There was first a Truce made for a year to commence in the month of May of this year 1375. which being concluded the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Bretagne passed into England Bretagne not being comprehended their Duke returns with an Army of English and partly by force partly by correspondence regained St. Mahé St. Brieue and seven or eight other places whilst John d'Evreux Brother to the King of Navarre made great spoil and waste all about Kemperlay He had built a Fort thereabouts for his retreat from whence he very much incommoded that City Clisson Roban Beaumanoir and other Lords of Bretagne besieged him in it The Duke hastned thither to deliver him they quickly marched off he pursues them and besieged them in Kemperlay Now when they were just ready to be exposed to his mercy he would have shewed but little to those whom he proclaimed Traitors and Rebels a second Truce wherein they comprized him drew them most fortunately out of his hands Year of our Lord 1375 The minority of the King of France if I do not deceive my self lasted to the age of Twenty years and during all that time all Command all Orders and all Acts were made under the name of the Regent The wise King considered that an Authority so absolute might force or snatch the Crown from his Son if he left him a Minor That the people were it error or custom did not willingly acknowledge a Prince for their King till he was Crowned and that it might be feared lest the Duke of Anjou should make them believe by some former examples or presidents that they ought to chuse one that was in Majority and capable to Govern For these reasons or for others we are ignorant of he made his memorable Ordonnance by the advice of the Princes Lords Prelates University and other notable persons which imports That the eldest Sons of France as soon as they have attained to the age of Fourteen years should be held for Majors and capable of being Crowned and that they should receive the Homage and Oaths of sidelity from their Subjects This was made at the Bois de Vincennes in the month of August 1374. and verified in Parliament the Twentieth of May of the following year We must not however imagine that he believed as much King as he was that he could advance the course of Nature and give his Son the Sence and Wit that age alone can bestow since the same Year and the same Month he made a Declaration which mention'd that in case he died before his Son should have attained to the age of Fourteen years he left the Guardianship and Government of him and of his other Children as also the Government and Defence of the Kingdom to the Queen Mother she was then living and joyned with her the Dukes of Burgundy and of Bourbon with a necessary and sufficient Council of near Forty persons Year of our Lord 1376 The Popes Legats remained still constantly at Bruges and kept the Ambassadors of both Crowns there with them to labour for a Peace But the Propositions on either side being at too great a distance to be brought to a meane they obtained at least a prolongation of the Truce to the Month of April in the year 1377. In Gascongne the Earl of Armagnac thinking to take revenge upon the Earl de Foix who had beaten him increased both his shame and loss He had taken the little City of Caseres and put himself into the place without providing it with Ammunition the Earl de Foix besieges him and without striking a blow reduces him to the extreamest want but he would not agree to give him and his their Lives but upon condition that they should creep out thorough a hole made purposely in the Year of our Lord 1376 Wall which they could not do but by crawling with their Bellies upon the ground nor were they quit for all this affront the Earl of Armagnac and twenty more of the principal paid great ransoms before they could be released The King of Navarre pass'd his word for that of the Sire d'Albret Year of our Lord 1377 During the long absence of the Popes Italy had accustom'd it self to disregard and disown them The People of Rome set up themselves as several petty Tyrants to preserve some Image of their Liberty and by the same Spirit the Cities belonging to the Ecclesiastical State at the sollicitation and with the aid of the Florentines had shaken off the yoak and turned out his Apostolical Legats Gregony IX thinking to redress these disorders and besides being earnestly pressed by St. Bridget of Sweden and by St. Catherine of Sienna two persons who were thought to have a very frequent Commerce with Heaven resolved to transfer the Holy See back to Rome from whence it had been removed Seventy two years He departed from Avignon the three and twentieth of September embarqued at Marseilles and after very great dangers on the Sea Signes of the agitations that change had wrought in the Church he arrived at Rome the Twenty seventh of January following Year of our Lord 1377 King Edward in the mean while had lost the brave Prince of Wales his eldest Son who had left a Son named Richard very young and for two years past found himself much broken and his Brain decay'd with weight of continual business and contention though he were but 65 years of age This was it made him desire to have a Peace and made him willing to relinquish many Articles of the Treaty of Bretigny But death prevented the effects of that disposition and took him out of the World the 21 of June His Grandson Richard II. Surnamed of Bourdeaux succeeded him He had seven Sons whereof five only lived to Mens Estate and were Married those were Edward Lyonel John Edmond and Thomas Edward was the brave Prince of Wales for the other four the First was Duke of Clarence the Second of Lancaster both of them by the Heiresses of those two Houses and the Third Earl of Cambridge then Duke of York the Fourth
Earl of Buckingham and afterwards Duke of Gloucester He had also Four Daughters Isabella who Married the Earl of Bedford Jane who was Wife to the King of Spain Mary that was so to John de Montfort Duke of Bretagne and Margaret to the Earl of Pembrook This great multitude of Children was his strength during his life-time and the ruine of England after his death Year of our Lord 1377 The Wise King had not consented to suspension of Arms but to prepare himself the better Therefore he would hear of no more Propositions and making himself assured of the event o◠the War he began it anew with five Armies He sent one into Artois One into the Countreys of Berry Auvergne Bourbonnois and Lyonnois One into Guyenne One into Bretagne and kept the Fifth near himself as a reserve Year of our Lord 1377 to assist either of the other Four that might stand in need of it They were Commanded by the Dukes of Burgundy of Berry and of Anjou Oliver and the Constable all which behaved themselves so well that the English could not preserve any places of importance but Calais in Belgica Bourdeaux and Bayonne in Guyenne and Cherbourgh in Normandy which was sold to him by the Navarrois Year of our Lord 1378 The eldest Son of that King named Charles as himself was had a great desire to see the King of France his Uncle his Father was just then upon the point of concluding a bargain with the English very disadvantageous to France which was to give them some Lands and Places he held in Normandy and to take the Dutchy of Guyenne in exchange for the defence whereof they were to furnish him every year with Two thousand Men at Arms and as many Archers to be paid by them When his Son therefore went to see his Uncle he would needs take this opportunity to brew some Plot or Conspiracy in France and even to poison the King He had therefore placed about his Son the most crafty and most wicked Men he could pick out amongst others la Rue his Chamberlain and du Tertre his Secretary but was so unadvised withal as to send the Captains of his best places of Normandy His design was discover'd or perhaps prevented the King caused his Son and his Captains to be seized and la Rue and du Tertre to be put into the hands of Justice The Son whatever intercession could be made remained a prisoner Five years the Captains were not set free till the places they belonged to were surrendred to the King du Tertre and la Rue had their Heads cut off At the same time some Forces were sent into Normandy and took all his Holds to the number of Ten or Twelve excepting Cherbourgh which after a long Siege remained still in English hands and immediately dismantled them The Duke of Anjou pressed the English very home likewise in Guyenne The taking of Bergerac and the gaining of a Battle which was fought near the little City of Aymet where almost all the Chiefs and Barons of Gascongne remained prisoners made himself Master of all the Places above the two Rivers the Dordogne and the Garonne Three things weakned the English so much that they had neither the Sence nor Courage nor Forces and Strength to defend themselves One was the Minority of their King aged but Thirteen years the Second a great Plague which depopulated England and the Last the incursions of the Scots who had broken the Truce being incited to it by the King and upon condition of a hundred thousand Gold Florins with the Pay for Five hundred Men at Arms and as many Sergeants Year of our Lord 1377. and 78. The Pope ceased not to exhort the King of France to make Peace and pressed the Emperour Charles to make use of his intercession The Emperour whether out of affection for the Royal House of France or to take measures to secure the Empire to his Son Wenceslaus or for some other subject desired to visit that Court though he were very much tormented with the Gout The King sent two of the most illustrious Earls and two hundred Horse to meet him at Cambray where he kept his Christmass the Duke of Bourbon to Compiegne and two of his Brothers to Senlis himself went beyond the Suburbs of St. Denis to receive him and lodg'd him in his Palace All the time he was in France he entertained him with all the magnificence imaginable paid him all manner of Respects unless such as denote a Sovereignty and which hereafter might give a Title to some imaginary pretences For this reason when they received him into any City they did not ring their Bells nor bring their Canopy of State such as made Speeches did not forget to tell him it was by order of their Sovereign and at his entrance into Paris the King affected to be mounted upon a White Horse and ordered a Black one for the Emperour He came in thither the Fourth day of January and went out thence the Sixteenth returning by the way of Champagne Year of our Lord 1379 During his abode in the Court of France he gratify'd the Dauphin with the Title of Vicar irrevocable of the Empire by Letters Patents Sealed with a Seal of Gold and by others he likewise gave him the same Office for Danphiné with the Castles of Pipet and Chamaux which till then he was possessed of in the City of Vienne Since that we do not read that the Emperours have concerned themselves any more in the ✚ Year of our Lord 1378 Affairs of that Kingdom of Arles nor touching Daupiné which have remained in compleat Sovereignty under the Kings of France who indeed even long before did not acknowledge the Emperour Gregory XI had scarcely been Fourteen Months at Rome when either of Melancholy or otherwise he fell ill of a detention of Urine whereof he died the Seventh of March having declared in his agony that he foresaw grievous troubles and that he did heartily repent his having rather given credit to deceitful Revelations then followed the certain light of true knowledge and good understanding There were in all in the Roman Church three and twenty Cardinals six whereof remained still at Avignon and one was gone upon a Legation Of the Sixteen that were in Rome there were Twelve of them French-men and four Italians all of them foreseeing that the Roman Populace would force them to elect a Pope of the Italian Nation agreed amongst themselves that they would elect one feignedly only to avoid the fury of the People and another in good earnest whom when they were gone thence they would own for the true Pope During this Convention the heat and violence of the People growing more terrible then they Year of our Lord 1378 could have imagined they named the Cardinal Bartholomew Boutillo a Native of Naples Arch-Bishop of Barry in that Kingdom who immediately took himself to be lawful Pope and assumed the Name of Vrban VI. The Cardinals in the
mean time were forced to dissemble till they could have fit opportunity to declare the Truth and to write Letters to all Princes that his Election was Canonical however they gave notice to the King of France that he should give no faith to their Letters till they were out of danger But when upon pretence of avoiding the extream heats in Rome they were retired to Anagnia being moreover offended at the proud deportment of Bartholomew they made the Truth of the matter of Fact known to all Princes admonished Bartholomew three several times to desist from pretending to the Papacy since he well knew they had no intention to elect him and afterwards they proceeded judicially against him and declared him an intruder That done they retired to Fundy under protection of the Earl of that place and there elected one of the six Cardinals Year of our Lord 1379 that had remained in France This was Robert Brother of Peter Earl of Geneva whose Courage was as high as his Birth He took the Name of Clement VII France after several Assemblies had been held of the most Learned of the Clergy and the most judicious Prelats and Nobility adhered to Clement the Kings of Castille and of Scotland who were his Allies did the same the Earl of Savoy and Jane Queen of Naples also although in the beginning she had protected his Competitor But all the rest of Christendom owned Vrban the Navarrois the English and the Flemmings out of spite to France the Italians to preserve the Papacy in their Year of our Lord 1378 and 79. Nation the Emperour in acknowledgment because that Pope before he was ever required had made haste to confirm the election of Wenceslaus his Son the King of Hungary that he might have a pretence to dispoliate the Queen of Naples and the rest for divers interests Peter King of Arragon remained Neutre At first Clement was well armed and in a condition to over-top his adversary having in his service one Sylvester Bude a Captain of Bretagne with Two thousand old Adventurers of that Nation who took the Castle St. Angelo defeated the Romans in Rome it self and made themselves Masters of the City But after another famous Captain who was an Englishman and was named Hacket otherwhile Head of the ✚ Bands of the Tard-Venus and now in the service of Vrban had vanquished and taken him prisoner Clements Affairs went on so ill that he was driven out of Italy and retiring himself to Avignon left his Rival sole Master of Rome This Schisme lasted Forty years either party having great Persons Saints Miracles and Revelations as they said and even such strong Arguments and Reasons on his side that the dispute could never be decided but by way of Cession that is by obliging the two Contenders to abdicate the Papacy so that it is great boldness to call those Anti-Popes who during this Schisme held the See at Avignon Year of our Lord 1379 The death of the Emperour Charles IV. fell out upon the Nine and twentieth of November in the year 1378. in the City of Prague the 63 year of his age Wenceslaus his Son who was elected King of the Romans in the year 1376. succeeded him in the Empire and the Kingdom of Bohemia a Prince deformed both in Body and Soul Year of our Lord 1379 It was a kind of Rebellion in the Earl of Flanders to own any other Pope then his King had done and indeed he shewed him ill will for it and more yet towards the Breton who encouraged him in his obstinacy Besides it had so fortuned that the Flemming by the Counsel of that Duke had caused one of his Envoyes to be staid who was passing thorow his Countrey on his way to Scotland to incite Robert Stewart to break the Truce with the English The King made complaint to the Flemming and Commanded him to drive the Breton out of his Countreys but the Flemming having taken advice of his People who assured him of Two hundred thousand Combatants in case he were attaqued refused to give him that satisfaction The Breton nevertheless went out of Flanders and took refuge in England The place of his retreat aggravated his crime the King orders him to be summoned to appear in Parliament to be judged by his Pairs Not presenting himself he was declar'd by Sentence of the Ninth of December attainted of the crime of Felony and all his Lands as well in Bretagne as all others he held in the Kingdom consiscated for having defied the King his Sovereign Lord and for having entred the Countrey in Arms with the enemies of the Kingdom That which in appearance seemed likeliest to ruine this Duke raised him The Bretons who for a thousand years past had so generously fought for the liberty of their Countrey having discover'd that the King designed more against the Dutchy it self then the Duke alone and that he would take it away from the guilty only to apply it to himself began to complain to withdraw from their affection to the French to re-unite amongst themselves and to make divers Leagues and Associations between the Cities and the Nobless Even the Widow of Charles de Blois by Counsel of the friends of her House sent to protest against that Decree and alledged that Bretagne was not subject or liable to consiscation because it was not a Fief and that if the Dukes had submitted their persons by obliging themselves to certain Service it was not their power to subject their Countrey This year a most cruel War was kindled in Flanders which lasted Seven years The interior cause of this inflammation was the Luxury of the Nobility and the dissolute and excessive expences of the Earl the occasion was a quarrel that rose between one called John Lyon and the Matthews who were six Brothers both the one and the other were very powerful amongst the Navigators or Mariners and between the Cities of Ghent and Bruges for a certain Canal or River which those of Bruges would needs make The Earl took part with these and was cause that John Year of our Lord 1379 Lyon formed against him a faction of White Hats in the City of Ghent He sets up the Matthews to oppose and countermine them John Lyon was found to be the stronger and pushed the contest on to the utmost extremity The Duke of Anjou was mighty greedy of Money and a great exactor his People by his Order or upon their own Authority having laid some new Imposts upon the City of Montpellier which was under his Government but of the Propriety of the King of Navarre the People mutined and killed Fourscore of them amongst which number were his Chancellour and the Governour The Duke hastned thither with some Forces and caused a most horrible Sentence to be given for punishment of that crime but it was moderated almost in every point by the intercession of his Holiness excepting against the Authors of that Sedition who paid down their Heads for it
After all the King coming to know of the capacity of that Duke took the Government of the Province from him and bestow'd it on the Earl of Foix. Whether the King were ignorant of the disposition of the Bretons or thought he could change them he sent for the Lords of that Countrey and screw'd a promise from them that they should assist the Duke of Bourbon and those other Chiefs he would send into Bretagne to execute the Decree against their Duke But the Lords on the contrary sent for him to come thither and stood by him so effectually with their Forces and such as he brought over with him from England that they restored him to most of his Towns This was the greatest and almost the only shock this wise King met with in all his Enterprises He was so transported and sensibly touched that he Commanded all Year of our Lord 1380 the Bretons who should refuse to serve against the Duke to go out of his Kingdom and shewed more severity towards some of them then was agreeable to his nature But this usage did only strengthen the party for the Duke and draw those over to his service that were at that time the ablest Men of the French Armies He durst not even upon this occasion make use of the valour of his Constable who would but unwillingly have drawn his Sword for the destruction of his native Countrey he chose rather to send him into Guyenne to cleer some places from whence the English and certain crews of vagabonds by their connivance foraged the Countrey of Auvergne After the taking of some Castles and beating some of those Bands whilst he was besieging one of them in Chasteau-neuf de Randan between Mendes and le Puy in Velay he was assaulted by a Fever whereof he died the Thirteenth of July his very Name compleated the Work the Besieged surrendred and brought and laid the Keys upon his Coffin The King upon the refusal of Enguerrand de Coucy gave the Constables Sword to Oliver de Clisson Compagnon and Countrey-man of the Deceased no less valiant then the other but very unlikein all things else Unjust Proud Covetous and Cruel Bretagne was then the Theater of War the King had resolved to throw in all his Armies there when he was constrain'd to quit the World and all his Designs Some years before Charles the Bad had caused some poyson to be given him the violence whereof a Physitian belonging to the Emperour Charles IV. had allayed by opening an issue in his Arm to discharge part of its venome that issue being stopt it took his Life away He died in the Castle of Beaute upon the Marne which is beyond the Bois de Vincennes the Sixteenth of September the Sixth Month of the Seventeenth year of his Reign and the Four and fortiethof his Life His Tomb is to be seen at St. Denis his Heart was carried to the great Church of Rouen because he had been Duke of Normandy and his Bowes to Maubuisson and laid by the Body of the Queen his Mother Upon his Death-bed this Wise King could not forget his care for the Kingdom he confirmed the Law concerning the Majority left the Government to Lewis Duke of Anjou his eldest Brother with a Council and the Guardianship and Education of his Son Charles to the Dukes of Burgundy and of Bourbon Commanding them most expresly to take off the Imposts to make some agreement with the Duke of Bretagne if it were possible and to Marry his Son into some potent Family of Germany In all his Conduct there appeared much solidity of Judgment and marvellous clearness of Wisdom and Understanding a great deal of Moderation and Goodness much Frugality and Aeconomy and yet Magnificence and liberality upon occasion He had been carefully bred in the Study of good Learning by Nicholas Oresme a Theologian of Paris and Dean of Rouen whom he made Bishop of Lisieux and indeed he had as much affection for the Sciences and for Learned Men as aversion for Comedians Juglers Buffoons and all those sorts of People who under the pretence of Divertisement corrupt the bravest Souls He delighted to hear the Truth from the Mouths of honest Men and although ☞ he merited the loftiest praises he could hardly endure any and despised them because in all times Courtiers have given the very same both to good and to bad Princes The expences of his Wars did not hinder his Magnificence from shewing it self in the Buildings of the Castle du Bois de Vincennes which subsists to this day and that of the Louvre the other parts whereof we have seen demolished to make room for tho proudest Structure that ever Architecture raised upon Earth but which how great soever it can be shall yet be much less then the King that undertakes it But above all his Virtues the fear of God and zeal to Justice did shine in him to a supream Decree the care of which being the noblest Function of a King he took pleasure in dispensing it himself and very often came to hear the Pleadings in his Parliament where he made them admire his Reasoning and Eloquence speaking so fully to the Subject in hand that there was nothing left for his Chancellour or Attorney-General to say He left considerable Treasures behind him in Lingots of Gold and rich Furniture It is a Problem in the Politiques whether he did well in heaping it up In point of Justice it is none if they may make Millions of People miserable to enrich one single Man And in truth his memory is not exempt from all blame on that side but they throw it upon the Cardinal of Amiens one of his principal Counsellors His Name was John de la Grange an obdurate Soul ambitious and covetous whose great possessions fully demonstrate that he caused the Subsidies to be doubled meerly out of design to enrich himself By Jane Daughter of Peter Duke of Bourbon and Isabella de Valois a Princess much accomplish'd both in Body and Mind he had two Sons Charles who Reigned Lewis who was Duke of Orleans and six Daughters who all dyed very young Charles VI King LII Called by some The Well-beloved King Aged near XII years POPES URBAN V. S. at Rome Nine years One Month during this Reign And CLEMENT VII in Avignon S. Fourteen years during this Reign BONIFACE IX at Rome Elected the Second of November 1389. S. Fourteen years Eleven Months BENNET XII Peter de Luna in Avignon Elected the Twenty eighth of September 1394. S. till his Deposition in Anno 1409. INNOCENT VII at Rome Elected the Seventeenth of Octob. 1404. S. Two years and Twenty two days GREGORY XII at Rome Elected the last of November 1406 till his Deposition by the Council of Pisa 1409. ALEXANDER V. in 1409. S. Ten Months JOHN XXIII Elected the Seventeenth of May 1410. S. Five years Deposed at Constance Ann. 1414. Vacancy from the year 1414. to the year 1417. MARTIN V. Elected the Tenth of November 1417.
he forsook them the very same night and fled to his own Countrey of Burgundy He had been condemned some Months before at the Suit of the Clergy to end his days between four Walls for crimes of Impiety and of Heresie and shewing himself a most bitter Enemy to the Scholars and Heads of the University The Sedition at Rouen which hapned at the same time was called the Harelle The Populace took a wealthy Merchant and perforce gave him the Title of King then leading him in triumph about the City compell'd him to declate an abolition of all Imposts The King was counsell'd to punish the Mutiniers and not let fall any of those Impositions He began with Rouen going thither in person he caused a Gate to be beaten down that he might enter by that breach Commanded all their Arms to be carried into the Castle punish'd a great many of the Faction with death then set up the Imposts with Taxes and Fines Year of our Lord 1381 To compass their ends the more readily amongst the Parisians they pretended to listen to the intercessions of the University and a Deputation of some honest Burghers who went to wait upon the King at the Bois de Vincennes and to consent at last to the suppression of the Imposts and forgiveness for all excess committed in their Mutinies only they excepted those that had any hand in forcing the prisons of the Chastellet Under this pretence a great many were taken and the Prevost of Paris not daring to execute them publickly threw them into the River by night at several times This severity not being capable to fright the Parisians so far as to make them consent to the setling of the Imposts they fell to Treaty with them which ever proves advantageous to the Superiour against his Inferiours By this means the Court got an hundred thousand Francs of the City to whom perhaps they would have given double the sum could they have done it with Honour to have had the liberty of returning thither Year of our Lord 1382 England was not less troubled with the like Commotions having a King under age and Governours extreamly covetous Never was that Kingdom in so great danger The Commons revolted against the Nobility who in truth kept them in a most servile condition One John Valee a Priest of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury had so well catechised and instructed the Countrey fellows by divers Discourses after they had been at Church concerning the equality that God and Nature made amongst all Mankind that they conspired the destruction of the Rich and Noble To this end they flock to London in several parties under pretence of demanding justice of the King and stirred up all the Counties to joyn with them like so many packs of Blood-hounds For some Months the Citizens and Gentry durst not stir but these Russians having neither Head nor Council nor Discipline their Captains being surprized and executed they were soon dispersed and beaten home with Cudgels like so many brute Beasts Because of these disorders the English entred upon a Conference with the French to make a Peace Boulogne was the place they met in the Deputies not coming to a conclusion made only a Truce for one year during which time they went and entangled themselves in that War which Ferdinand King of Portugal made against John King of Castille The Earl of Cambridge who had married a Daughter of Peter the Cruel carried some Forces thither fancying he might regain Castille both to his own advantage and the Duke of Lancaster's his Brother France failed not to assist the Castillan and thus the French and English having a Truce in these parts made War upon each other in Spain Scarce had it lasted eight Months when the Portugais not receiving from England all that assistance they were promised claps up an agreement with the Castillans and made the English their enemies The hundred thousand Francs they drew from the Parisians was the Duke of Anjou's last hand who did not forward those Impositions but only to have the greatest share himself for his voyage to Italy whereof this was the Subject After Clements party were ruined at Rome Vrban thinking to revenge himself upon Jane Queen of Naples perswaded Lewis King of Hungary to send him Charles de Duraz surnamed Peaceable to come and take possession of that Kingdom to whom he proffer'd the investiture as being the nearest of the Males This Prince had all the obligations imaginable to Queen Jane or Joane for he was of the very same Blood as she Son of Lewis Count de Gravines who was the Son of John VIII Son of Charles the Lame and therefore Brother to King Robert She had bred him with as much care and tenderness in her Court as if he had been her own Child she had married him to the Princess Margaret her Neece she designed to make him her Successor and kept his Children at this very time in her own Family The execrable ambition for a Crown rendred him ingrateful and made him break thorough all these obligations and noble endearments The Queen finding he was coming with an intention and preparation to Dethrone her had recourse to France her first Original and adopted the Duke of Anjou for her Son and presumptive Heir in Anno 1380. King Charles the Wise after the example of St. Lewis would have spared nothing to establish his Brother in the Throne but hapning to dye the Enterprize was left in suspense In the mean while Charles lost no time for being Crowned King of Sicilia Year of our Lord 1381 at Rome in the beginning of the year 1381. he marched towards Naples where being received without opposition he besieged the Queen and her Sister Mary in the Castle del'Ovo forced them in fine to surrender after his having defeated and taken Otho of Brunswic Janes fourth Husband and caused both of them to be strangled in prison Year of our Lord 1381. and 82. Those succors the Duke of Anjou was leading to that unhappy Princess being now useless and Charles by that time setled in the Kingdom the Duke was hesitating whether he should pass the Mountains Pope Clement who had but this one way to Dethrone Vrban engag'd him by such great allurements and advantages as plainly manifested he did not care whether he ruin'd the Church both in her Spirituals and Temporals provided he could but compass his own establishment Year of our Lord 1382 It was about the end of the last year the Duke had certain news that Queen Jane was Besieg'd and caused his Forces to march towards Provence The Pope invests him with the Kingdom of Sicilia and Crowned him at Avignon the Thirtieth day of May. Jane had been dead eight days but as it was not known in a long time he gave him only the Title of Duke of Calabria The Provensals were not satisfied or consenting to the adoption of the Duke much less would they own him for their Sovereign
affectionate to the Princesses which hapned the Sixth day of January in the year 1386. Year of our Lord 1386 The same year the Widow-Queen and her Daughter going into the Countrey fell into the hands of Horvat Governour of Croatia one of King Charles's Partisans or Confederates who to revenge the death of his Master caused the Widow and the Murtherer Gato to be massacred He kept the Princess some time then sent her to Sigismund having first obliged her by all sorts of Oaths to pardon him Sigismund did not think himself bound by her promises and therefore having surprized him made him dye amidst a thousand torments Year of our Lord 1386 The news of Charles's Murther being brought into Italy Thomas de Sanseverin caused Lewis II. eldest Son of the deceased Duke of Anjou to be proclaimed King and Clement VII to be owned Pope Afterwards Marguerite the Widow of Charles being retired to Cajeta with Ladislaus or Lancelot her Son aged about Ten years he reduced almost the whole Kingdom and Naples it self Thus all things went on smoothly for Lewis till Mary de Blois his Mother and Governess having sent Clement de Montjoye Nephew to Pope Clement with the Title and Authority of Vice-Roy the Sanseverins thinking themselves under-valued were alienated from her Service and turned to Ladislaus Year of our Lord 1386 In the mean while Lewis was put into possession of Provence and invested with the Kingdom of Naples by Clement but it was not without great trouble before the Provensaux would acknowledge him the Kings Counsel themselves inciting them underhand to a Rebellion upon divers motives because they would have disposed them to give themselves up to France After Five or Six years Truces and petty Wars the Council resolved to attacque the English not in Guyenne only but even in their own Island For this end they made the most formidable preparations of Men Engines and Ships that ever yet were seen They bought up or hired all the Vessels they could light on from the Ports of Sweden to those in Flanders they built a City of Wood which was to be taken in pieces to shelter themselves upon their Landing The King went to Sluyce to take a view of his Army and Navy consisting in Nine hundred Vessels The Duke of Berry's envy and jealousie retarded the progress he would needs break the design because he was not the contriver In order to which he made them wait for him till the Fourteenth of September when the Seas began to appear un-navigable So the Forces drew off into Quarters part of this numerous Fleet were scattered by Tempests the English pickt up many that were wrack'd or stragled Year of our Lord 1386 There was no reason to trust the Duke of Bretagne too much because of his too many Obligations to the English and the consideration that their suppression must he his ruine wherefore they warily minded his actions but he to justify himself laid Siege to Brest which they yet held as a bridle to Bretagne The Constable assisted him in the undertaking the place was mightily streightned but when they were at the last gaspe the Duke of Lancaster who was going into Spain with great Forces made them raise the Siege The occasion of his voyage was this Ferdinand last King of Portugal had no Child but a Daughter born of a Lady whom he had taken from her Husband He caused this Girl to be owned as his presumptive Heyress as likewise the Mother had been owned Queen and married her to John King of Castille who was a Widower and had two Sons but when he died the principal Cities of Portugal apprehending the Castillan bondage had more mind to have a bastard Brother of Ferdinands for their King his Name was John Froissard names him Denis thorow a mistake instead of saying he was Grand Master of the Order D'Avis The fortune of the War was favourable to the Bastard he gained a Battle at Juberot against his adversaries the Castillans having out of an ugly jealousie suffer'd the Gascons and French to be defeated who took their part with above Eight thousand Men and then were afterwards themselves defeated Notwithstanding this advantage it was to be feared the Castillan would be able yet to crush them and therefore the Bastard sent to the Duke of Lancaster inviting him to come and pursue the right he had to the Kingdom of Castille as on the other hand the Castillian had recourse to France Year of our Lord 1386 The Duke of Lancaster passed therefore into those Countreys with a huge force conquer'd a part of Castille and struck such a terror into all the rest that King John made some overtures of Peace but he spun out the Treaty awhile expecting the French succours when he sound those did not come the Duke of Bourbon their Conductor marching very slowly he concluded the Treaty the Duke of Lancaster Sealed it by the Marriage of two of his Daughters one with the King of Portugal and the other with the Castillans eldest Son This little piece of Honour cost the English very dear the losses they suffer'd by contagious Sicknesses in Spain and afterwards by Storms in their return were so great that the Duke of Lancaster hardly carried home the sixth part of his Men and not one but in a languishing condition half dead with malady and pain At last by a just punishment from Heaven Charles the Wicked who had blown up so many flames and burnt so many entrails with his violent poysons was most cruelly burnt himself He had caused his Body to be wrapp'd all over with Sheets drenched in Spirit of Wine and Sulpher to corroborate the natural heat decay'd by his debauches this took fire I know not by what accident and broiled him to the very bones whereof he died three days after being the First of January in the year 1387. Charles called the Noble his Son succeeded him Year of our Lord 1387 The Constable Clisson and the Admiral John de Vienne had so fill'd the King's Head with the expedition for England that he makes another preparation to execute it this year The state of Affairs was very favourable all England was in combustion against King Richard because he had put mean and vile People into places of the highest Trust who bear all the sway which his Uncles could not endure nor indeed would they have the Power lodged in any other hands but their own Now when France was on the point of making advantage of these troubles the Duke of Bretagne either of intelligence with the English or without thinking of them was cause of interrupting the Enterprize this time as it had been formerly Clisson was then in Bretagne to dispatch the Forces that were at Treguier that they might go and joyn with those at Sluyce but at the same time he was Treating of the Marriage of one of his Daughters with John the Son of Charles de Blois whom he had purposely got out of the hands
drift being to keep them from agreeing all together upon one method or expedient Year of our Lord 1396 The Gallican Church did not allow of Confessors to such as were condemned to suffer death by the Law in this particular she followed the usage of the antient Canons which did not admit to the Communion those that were branded with enormous crimes The Monk of St. Denis observes in this year that Charles the VI. was the first that granted them this favour and says the honour of obtaining it was attributed to Peter de Craon because he set up a Cross of Stone nigh Montfaucon where those poor wretches use to make a stop to be confessed In those times they did not hang any criminal within their Cities they would have been thought too much polluted ✚ by that infamous execution but they cut off their Heads In many places they led the condemned persons on foot to the Gallows and that before break of day Year of our Lord 1396 The Seigneury of Genoa rather then submit to the command of John Galeazo Viscount of Milan put themselves under obedience of the King and transferr'd all the right of propriety they had to him The Kings Commissioners left the Government to the Doge or Duke after he had first resigned his Power and Dignity into their hands but in a little time they gave that Command to Boucicaut The Factions in that Seigneury had very near destroyed and brought it to nought The City was filled only with Robbers and Murtherers the Noblest were banished thence Merchants durst not open their Bank those most in power made War upon each other from street to street and had raised Towers at each corner of their Palaces to defend themselves The Mareschal desiring to settle some Order and his own Authority amongst them commanded they should bring all their Arms into his Palace forbad all Assemblies cut off the Head of Boccanegra and a dozen or fifteen more of the most Factious made strict inquiry after such as had committed notorious crimes raised and entertained several Companies that kept Guards in all the Markets and publique places and built two Castles which had communication with each other the one named the Darse at the mouth of the Port the other in the City called the Chastelet Year of our Lord 1396 The Twenty seventh of October was appointed for the stately and magnificent enterview of the two Kings upon the confines of their Territories between Ardres and Calais where they confirmed the Truce The King of England espoused the Daughter of France and rendred up Brest to the Duke of Bretagne and Cherbourgh to the King of Navarre who three years afterwards sold it to the King France having granted succors to the King of Hungary against Bajazeth the Duke of Burgundy gave them John Earl of Nevers his Son to be their Leader He had in his Army Two thousand Gentlemen of quality besides the Earl of Eu Constable Admiral John de Nienne John le Maingre-Boucicaut Mareschal of France Henry and Philip Sons of the Duke of Bar Guy de la Trimouille his Fathers Favourite and other Lords Year of our Lord 1396 At first they performed such valiant acts as are almost incredible but their follies and dissolute lives did after render them ridiculous to the very Turks Besides their presumption swoln by success engaged them with the Hungarians in the Siege of Nicopolis and then in a Battle the Twenty eighth of September where the Hungarians not caring to second them as they ought they were all cut off or taken prisoners Bajazeth caused above Six hundred to be hewed in pieces in presence of the Earl of Nevers and having made him dye almost as often with his threats and terrors he reserved him with Fifteen more of the great Lords for whose Ransom he obliged himself to pay Two hundred thousand Ducats That sum being made good to them five Months afterwards they were all set at liberty The Earl of Nevers arrived in France about the end of March following It is said that Bajazeth was so far from taking any Oath that he should never make War again upon the Turks that he exhorted him to take his revenge and promised he should ever find him in the Field ready to give him any satisfaction Year of our Lord 1397 The King was seized with the Fourth Fit of his Malady more severely then all the former had been He recover'd it again but was ever after troubled with it at least three or four times each year The Earl of Eu dying in his imprisonment amongst the Turks the Earl de Sancerre who was a Marescal of France was honoured with the Office of Constable Year of our Lord 1397 We must observe the better to understand what we shall relate hereafter that this year King Richard for some conspiracy whether real or pretended put his Uncle the Duke of Gloucester to death as also the Earl of Arundel and divers other Lords and banished the Earl of Derby Son to the Duke of Lancaster who sheltred himself in France and began to Reign very tyrannically The Emperour Wenceslaus King of Bohemia took a fancy for what reason I know not to visit the Court of France the King went to meet him as far as the City of Rheims this was in the Month of March and received him with as much magnificence as affection That Prince shewed his brutality the very second day the King had invited him to Dinner and when the Dukes of Berry and Bourbon went to fetch him from his own Lodgings they found he was already drunk and taking his Nap to refresh himself and digest his load of Wine Next day the King Treated him the Entertainment and Mirth had lasted longer if the King had not found a Fit coming upon him which brought him back to Paris He left the Duke of Orleance with him to keep him company and confer with him about the means of putting an end to the Schism Year of our Lord 1398 The Kings Council being weary of Bennets playing fast and loose and daily disappointments did decree according as they were advised by a great Assembly of Bishops Abbots and Deputies of the Universities that the whole Kingdom should be subtracted from his Obedience till he would condescend to the Session propounded and that in the mean while the Gallican Church conformable to her antient liberty should be governed by her Ordinaries according to the Holy Canons Bennets Cardinals approved of this substraction and forsook him retiring themselves to the new Town of Avignon but he stood it out and having gotten some Arragonian Soldiers to serve him for a Guard shut himself in the Palace of Avignon The Mareschal Boucicaut had order from the King to besiege him there he acquitted himself faithfully and pent him up so close that in a few days he would have been reduced to want of Provisions when order came to him from Court to change the Siege into a Blockade and suffer refreshments
to be carried in Bennets Artifice and his Money had gained some of the Grandees who contrived this for him Year of our Lord 1398 The Earl of Perigord Archambauld Taleyrand tormenting the Countrey with the help of the English to whom he had ally'd himself and especially the City of Perigueux which belonged to the King was forced in his Castle of Montagnac brought to the Parliament and condemned to death The King gave him pardon for his life but bestowed his forfeited Estate upon the Duke of Orleans Archambauld de Grailly Captal de Buch having a Right to the Earldom of Foix as having married the Sister of Earl Matthew dead without Children got into possession of it by the Sword The King would not endure this because he was a Vassal Year of our Lord 1399 to the English and from Father to Son very affectionate to that party He therefore sent the Mareschal de Sancerre who pursued him so close that he was compell'd to desire a Cessation during which he came to the King and submitted himself to the judgment of the Parliament giving up in the mean time his two Sons in Hostage The Parliament declared in his favour conditionally he would relinquish the English and the King put him in possession This was in the year 1400. Year of our Lord 1399 Constantinople was invested by the Turks and in the greatest danger Pera which is as the Suburbs to it and from whence they fetched all their Provisions was very likely to be taken It belonged to the Seignory of Genoa the Mareschal de Boucicaut going thither with only Twelve hundred Men secured it and by consequence the City After he had disengaged all the parts round about and made the Turks retire whom he worsted in several Rencounters his Pay and Soldiers failing him he came into France to sollicite for a greater reinforcement bringing the Emperour along with him leaving the Lord de Chasteaumoran in Constantinople to defend it The discords in the Court of England caused by the ill Government of Richard and the ambition of his Uncles ended in a most Tragical Catastrophe Henry Earl of Derby became Duke of Lancaster by the death of his Father puts King Richard prisoner in the Tower of London Deposed him by the Authority and Consent of Parliament who degraded and condemned him to a perpetual imprisonment Then he took the Crown the Eighteenth day of October and was anointed with a Holy Oyl which some English say was brought by the Virgin Mary to St. Thomas of Canterbury whilst he took refuge in France This Ampoulle or Bottle that contains the Oyl is of Lapis and on the top stands a Golden Eagle enriched with Pearls and Diamonds Notwithstanding this Unction some while afterwards he gives way to the out-cries of the People who demanded that the unfortunate King might be strangled The London Citizens held Richard in execration because he had deliver'd up Brest and Cherbourg to the French The Duke of Bretagne who enjoy'd some repose after the many traverses which Year of our Lord 1399 had disturbed him from his Infancy died the First day of November in the Castle of Nantes He left his Children to the custody not of his Wife Jean of Navarre but of the Duke of Burgundy and Oliver de Clisson who alone were able to trouble them He had three John Arthur and Giles In the Month of November of this year 1399. a Comet was seen of an extraordinary brightness and darting its train towards the West It appeared only for one weeks time and was by Prognosticators held as a sign of those great Revolutions Year of our Lord 1399 that hapned all Chistendom over especially in the Kingdom of Naples and the Empire Lewis of Anjou had peaceably enough enjoy'd the better part of the Kingdom of Year of our Lord 1399 Sicilia when Thomas de Sanseverin Duke de Venousia offended for that he did not conclude upon the Marriage of his Brother Charles Earl of Mayne with his Daughter made him odious to the Neopolitans and introduced Lancelot and his Mother into the City where he was Crowned King and invested by the Pope of Rome So that Lewis having only some Castles left returned into France to crave assistance The Electors could no longer endure the Vices and brutish drunkenness of Year of our Lord 1400 Wenceslaus they degraded him and in his stead elected Henry Duke of Brunswic a generous Prince and great Captain and this Henry being basely assassinated upon his return from the Diet by the Count of Waldeck they substituted Robert Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine who was of the Electoral Colledge The Duke of Milan fearing left he might dispossess him shout up all the passages and hindred him from going to take the Imperial Crown at Rome and Sigismund King of Bohemia having procured himself to be chosen Guardian to Wenceslaus his Brother under this Title made many of the German Princes of his party who adhered to the House of Luxemburgh or rather made this a colourable pretence to avoid the owning any Sovereign Year of our Lord 1400 This year 1400. the Court of France received Emanuel II. Emperour of Greece who came to give the King thanks for his assistance and to crave more help of him He met with all manner of good Entertainment but nothing else unless it were an annual Pension for his subsistence He remained almost two years in France at the and whereof news being brought of the defeat and taking of Bajazeth by Themir-Lanc the King lent him the Lord of Chasteaumorand with two hundred Men at Arms and gave him a sum of Moneyto re-conduct him to Constantinople There was not any thing of advantage presented it self which the Duke of Orleans did not embrace with passion he undertook the quarrel of degraded Wenceslaus Year of our Lord 1401 and raised a good force to restore him but being informed of the ruine of his whole party he came back again The desire to Rule and ambition for Government grew hotter every day betwixt him and the Duke of Burgundy Twice had they displaced each other from that advantageous Post and besides the Burgundian resented it highly that the Duke of Orleans would have the Duke of Bretagne to be thrust out of all who was his Wives Cousin-german and his own surest friend The frequent punctillo's between their Wives exasperated them more than their own true interests the Duke of Burgundy's being the elder Heiress of a vast Estate and sprung from very Noble Blood despising the other who in truth had been much beneath her had she not been considered as Wife of the Kings only Brother Year of our Lord 1401. and 2. The Duke of Orleans had then the upper hand and was seized of the management of Affairs the Burgundian could not quit his part both the one and the other got their friends together and Paris was surrounded with Soldiers The Orleannois had called in the Duke of Guelders with Five hundred
War upon the English and a very beneficial diversion for France Observe we hear a great mark of the power of University of Paris as they were going in Procession to St. Catherine du Val near the Hostel of Charles de Savoisy Chamberlain to the King some of that Lords Domestique Servants quarrell'd with the Scholars and coming insolently into the Church with their Swords drawn committed great Outrage there The University prosecuted this business with so Year of our Lord 1404 much heat that by a Sentence in Parliament to whom the King referr'd it three of Savoisy's Servants were whipp'd and banished and his Hostel or House razed by sound of Trumpet excepting his Galleries where on the Gate we have seen an Inscription containing the Fact which was obliterated when they rebuilt the House It is now the Hostel de Lorrain Year of our Lord 1404 The Treasury being quite exhausted by the Duke of Orleans who was a gulph that nothing could fill up or supply fast enough he called the Council together to give Orders for some new Levies John Duke of Burgundy who had taken his Fathers place opposed it publickly and thereby gained the love of the Parisians However the plurality of Votes inducing him to a compliance with the rest they laid new Impositions upon pretence of raising great Forces The Princes had agreed to lock the Money up in one of the Towers belonging to the Palace and no one was to touch a Penny of it without the knowledge and consent of all the Duke of Orleans for all this Engagement scrupled not to come one night with a strong hand and take away the best part of it Year of our Lord 1405 The Thirtieth of April Lewis Dauphin of France and Duke of Guyenne espoused Marguerite Daughter of John Duke of Burgundy and John's eldest Son his name was Philip was betrothed to Michelle the King's Daughter Year of our Lord 1405 When Bennet was confirmed in the Papacy he vexed the Clergy as he had done before and would have Levied the Tenths but he found the University in his way who put a stop to his Undertakings In the mean time his Soldiers having consumed all his Silver even his very Plate the Duke of Orleans because he had nothing else to give him went to Avignon to press him in the behalf of the King to labour for a re-union in the Church as he had promised For this purpose he sent a Legation to Boniface where they set upon him with so many reasons to consent to the Abdication that having nothing to reply he fell sick and died upon it His Cardinals elected Cosmo Meliorat who was called Innocent VII He likewise appearing to be well enough inclined to some methods of accommodation Bennet resolved to confer with him promising himself to gain him by his skill or by the strength of his genius which was prevalent Thus he went to Nice and from thence passed in some Gallies to Genoa being accompanied by Lewis II. King of Sicilia They were scandaliz'd both at Court and in the City of Paris at the too close Year of our Lord 1405 union between the Duke of Orleans and the Queen especially since the death of Philip the Hardy whom she ever dreaded and also because they took the whole management of the Government to themselves and oppressed and loaded the Kingdom with redoubled and violent exactions The Queen they said sent one part of it into Germany and employ'd the other in all sorâ—â— of profusions whilst the Kings Children were in a pitiful equipage and himself was left to rot in his own ordure without any care of undressing him or exchanging his foul Linnen They were not only hated by the People but the other Princes the Dukes of Burgundy and Bretagne retired from Court The King having a lucid interval and understanding the reason of his Uncles absenting and heard the general complaints against the Queen and his Brother he thought it necessary to call a great Assembly and sent for the Duke of Burgundy thither This Duke thought it unfit to come without bringing a good force along with him as well for his own security as because he knew the Queen and her Duke had a design to seize upon the Kings Children and prevent that double Alliance he would contract between his and them Upon the noise of his arrival the Queen and Duke take Alarm and withdraw to Melun having left order with Lewis of Bavaria Brother to the Queen to bring away the Dauphin and even the Duke of Burgundy's Children to the Castle of Pouilly The Burgundian who was arrived at the Louver gets upon his nimblest Horse with a good guard of brave fellows gallops thorough Paris without stop or stay and made so much haste that he overtakes the Dauphin at Juvisy and brings him back to Paris with his own consent and in despite of the Bavarian Year of our Lord 1405 This Rupture was followed with justifications on the Burgundians part who gave his reasons for this action in presence of the Kings Council and the University as also for his reproaches and the drawing of Soldiers together on either side All Paris was in a perpetual Allarm the Dukes of Berry and of Burgundy fortify'd themselves in their own Houses the Duke of Orleans breathed Fire and Flames and the Burgundian omitted nothing to gain the favour of the People The Duke of Bourbon and the University labour'd in vain to make a reconciliation the King of Sicily had as ill sucess but at last the King of Navarre and the Duke of Bourbon after several goings and comings brought it about the two Princes embraced each other in Paris and swore mutual friendship with their Tongues but in their Hearts quite other things lay hid Year of our Lord 1406 England was in a bad condition by reason of the Famine that pinched her and the defeat they received by Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland who would revenge the death of King Richard The Constable Albret and the Count d'Armagnac had taken or by Intelligence and Money got possession of above Threescore places in Guyenne The Dukes of Orleans and Burgundy undertook to drive them totally out of France the first by attaquing them in Guyenne the other about Calais to which he was to lay Siege The Duke of Orleans lost both his time and reputation before Blaye and before Bourgh the Second after very great expences durst not approach near Calais Thus neither reaped any thing but shame and the Burgundian increased his hatred against the other whom he accused of having spoiled his design by craftily hindring the Levies of those sums of Money had been allotted for the payment of his Forces Year of our Lord 1406 The valour of the Mareschal de Boucicaut encreased the power and reputation of the French not only in Italy but thorough all the Levant The City of Famagousta belonged to the Seignory of Genoa they having gained it from the King of Cyprus that King
encreasing his astonishment he sent the Earl of Nevers his Brother to the King then the Countess of Hainault his Sister and afterwards the Duke of Brabant his other Brother who made several Journeys to Court to endeavour to put some stop to the Kings wroth but nothing less would serve then the Confiscation of all his Lands Year of our Lord 1414 Happily for him the King fell ill again In this interval taking breath a little he got a Garison into Aras the Princes brought the King thither and besieged the Town It made an obstinate defence perhaps encouraged by advice from some of the Besiegers So that their Army growing tir'd and weak by Sickness the Countess of Hainault took this opportunity and sollicited the Duke of Guyenne so earnestly who had all Authority in his hands that without consulting the rest of the Princes he granted a Peace to the Duke of Burgundy This was made about the end of September but the Agreement or Articles were not Signed till the sixteenth of October at Quesnoy The Conditions were very hard upon the Burgundian That five hundred of his Men should be excluded from the Indempnity That several Officers belonging to the King the Queen and the Dauphin who favoured him should be removed That he should not come near the Court without express Order from the King under the Great Seal and by Advice of the Council It was added That for the Kings Honour his Banner should be set upon the Walls of Arras the Governor displaced and the Burghers obliged to take an Oath of Fidelity to the King Year of our Lord 1414 We have not taken notice what the English did both by Sea and Land these two last years against the French as being of little importance nor how they Conquer'd several places in Guyenne the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord d'Abret siding with them because they had been banish'd from the Court The Animosity of that Nation would allow of no Peace with France but their King Henry V. the Son of Henry IV. who died of a Leprosie the twentieth of March in the year foregoing sought to make an Alliance with the French that he might be supported against the inconstant and factious humour of his own Subjects so that the Duke of York was come into France the preceding year for that very purpose In the Month of February of this same his Ambassadors came to make Overtures and demanded Catharine the Kings Daughter agreeing to a Truce for a year to commence from the Year of our Lord 1414 second day of the same Month. A strange Rheum called the Coqueluke tormented all sorts of People during the Months of February and March and made them so very hoarse that the Bar the Pulpits and Colledges became all dumb It caused the death of most of the old People that were aflected with it Ladislaus of whom we have made mention was become Master of the whole Kingdom of Naples but as he was too much addicted to Women and besides mightily hated for his Cruelties he was this year poisoned after a Villanous manner Year of our Lord 1414 He found his Death in the Fountain of Pleasure and Life Jane II. of that name his Sister Widow of William of Austria succeeded him she was then forty years old and nevertheless her many years were so far from quenching her Passions they rather inflamed them to the highest excess The Council of Pisa had ordained that another general one should be held within three years and in the mean time was continued by Deputies At the expiration of that time John XXIII had called one at Rome for the year 1412. which being not numerous by reason by reason of the troubles occasioned by Ladislaus was put off till another time Now the Emperor Sigismund being gone into Italy in the year 1412. about some Disputes he had with the Venetians the Pope sent some Legates to him to appoint the place and time for the Council They agreed upon the City of Constance on the Rhine and as to the time the Pope assigned it on All-Saints-day of the following year Year of our Lord 1414 Notwithstanding it was not opened till the sixteenth of the Month by the Pope himself The Emperor came thither upon Christmas-Eve and sung the Epistle at the Holy Fathers Midnight-Mass being in the Habit of a Subdean The second Session was not held till the second day of March following He was present at divers afterwards array'd in his Imperial Robes Year of our Lord 1415 In this Session the Pope sitting on his Throne being turned towards the Altar read a Schedule aloud wherein he promised and gave his Oath that he would renounce the Papacy in case the two others Gregory and Bennet did renounce or happen to dye Now whether this act were by compulsion or that he had done it without reflecting on the Consequences he immediately repented and fearing lest they should take him at his word he ran away by night to the City of Schaffhausen under the protection of the Duke of Austria Year of our Lord 1415 After he had wandred some Months from one City to another forsaken by that Duke and not able to find any that could afford him a secure retreat he was taken Prisoner brought back to Constance and deposed the eighteenth of May by the Council He then made a vertue of necessity and submitted to the Sentence very calmly Gregory did likewise submit to the Judgment of the Council and gave in his Cession by Proxy Bennet only remained obstinate and kept himself shut up in his Castle of Paniscole in Arragon till the year 1424. when he ended his days Even at his death he commanded a couple of Cardinals who had all along kept him company to elect him a Successor They put a Cannon of Barcelona in his place who took upon him the name of Clement VIII and King Alphonso caused this Idol to be adored for five years in hatred to Pope Martin with whom he had some quarrel then obliged him to lay down his pretended Tittle Anno 1429. Year of our Lord 1415 The Treaty concerning the Peace and Match between France and England was yet continued and three or four solemn Embassies were sent on either side They offer'd the King of England Eight hundred thousand Florins of Gold and to give up to him fifteen Cities in Guyenne and all Limosin as a Portion for the Lady Catharine He seemed to give ear to these Propositions yet demanded every day some new thing to hinder the concluding of it His design was to fall upon France his Subjects desired it with so much passion that the whole Kingdom would have risen against him if he had not satisfi'd their longing It was suspected likewise that he was encouraged to it by the instigation and correspondence of some Traytors at least he was assured he should have but half the French to deal with it being impossible for the two Houses of Orleans and Burgundy ever to be
united Year of our Lord 1415 When all his Forces were in readiness he made no scruple to declare his Pretensions and after he had written Letters full of Protestations and Threatnings to the King whom he stiled only his Cousin Charles of France he came and landed at Havre de Grace at the mouth of the River of Seine where he put on shoar six thousand Men at Arms thirty thousand Archers and all other Necessaries proportionably With these he laid Siege to Harfleur The place defended it self bravely by the courage of four hundred Men at Arms and seven or eight Lords of that Province that had thrown themselves in there In fine it was taken by assault and sacked perhaps not without some secret intelligence or at least the cowardize or baseness of the Chiefs of the French Army who took no great care to relieve them The blame fell on the Constable d'Albret In the mean time the King having set up the Oriflamme or Standard at St. Denis got his Soldiers together The English had lost a great many of their bravest Men upon their Attaques Diseases reigned in their Army and a scarcity of Provisions for they were forced to keep close together reduced them to great streights Insomuch as having held his Quarters for three weeks together along the Sea Coasts they were forced to remove and took their march towards Calais They crossed the Country of Caux the Earldom of Eu and the Lands of Vimeu with intention to pass the River Somme at Blanquetaque Year of our Lord 1415 The French Army which was as yet nothing but a multitude of Rascals pickt up in haste durst not attaque them in their march but when the King who was come in Person to Rouen had sent fourteen thousand Men at Arms and all the Princes to them excepting the Dukes of Guyenne Berry Bretagne and Burgundy it wa resolved they should go and fight them and instead of strongly guarding the passages over the Somme whereby to ruine them they went to way-lay them on the other side of the River and lodged themselves at Azincour in the County of St. Pol. The English being tired seeing the French to be four times stronger then themselves and believing they should be utterly lost if they came to an Engagement sent to profer them reparations for all damages done from the time of their landing in France But their Offers were rejected and Battle presented for the next day being the five and twentieth of October Year of our Lord 1415 The same causes that made them lose that of Crecy and that of Poitiers made them again lose this same I mean the necessity or desperate condition they reduced them unto either to vanquish or to dye their impetuous precipitation the confusion in which they fought all the Chiefs striving to be in the Head besides the ill order of their Van-guard drawn up so close that none but the first Ranks had room to stir themselves and the inconvenience of the Soil so fat and slippery with the Rain and withal so deep that they stood half way the Leg in Myre The Field was bestrewed with Six thousand of theirs and with Sixteen hundred of the English Amongst the slain were the Earl of Nevers and Anthony Duke of Brabant Brothers to the Duke of Burgundy the Duke of Alenson the Constable d'Abret the Duke of Bar the Mareschal de Boucicaut the Admiral Dampierre the Archbishop of Sens Brother of Montaigu and the Vicount de Lannois Son of the same Amongst the Prisoners the Dukes of Orleans and of Bourbou the Earls of Vendosme and Richemont and fourteen hundred Gentlemen The Army indeed Victorious but as much shatter'd as if they had been vanquish'd had much ado to crawl to Calais from whence their King Henry went over again into England Year of our Lord 1415 This great misfortune begot such Civil Discords as made the Wound much greater The Duke of Burgundy went on with his design of usurping the Government and he believed this Juncture very favourable towards it But when it came to be known that he was marched to Dijon with the Duke of Lorrain and ten thousand Horse to come again to Paris they brought the King back with speed and the Duke of Guyenne quartered Men in all the places thereabout The Burgundian being arrived at Lagny sent to the King to desire he might come to him and that the Duke of Guyenne might receive his Wife again whom he had pack'd away to entertain a Mistress He was promised satisfaction in this second thing he demanded but for the first he could never obtain it he was expressly forbidden to come near Paris but only with his own Servants There had been no security for him he found they had put all his Friends in Prison Hang'd up all his Soldiers they could light upon and sent for the Count of Armagnac his greatest Enemy to take the Constables Sword The mischief proceeded principally from the evil Counsels of certain Plagues in Court who for their private Interests promoted the differences between the Princes and plunged the young Duke of Guyenne into all Debauchery The University and Parliament made loud Complaints and moved that young Prince so much that he did promise to take some order but in few days afterwards he fell sick of a Loosness whereof he died the Five and twentieth of December not without visible marks Year of our Lord 1415 of Poyson The Count d'Armagnac being arrived at Paris the nine and twentieth of the same Month set aside the Propositions for Peace envenomed the Sore instead of healing it and made himself absolute Master of the Government having obtained the Soveraign Administration of the Treasury and the Command of Captain General of all the Fortresses with power to put in what Governors and what Garrisons he pleased After the death of the Duke of Guyenne the Succession to the Crown was to fall to his second Brother John Duke of Touraine The Earl of Hainault whose Daughter he had Married had carried him into his Country all honest Frenchmen wished he might return to inform himself in all Affairs In the mean time to gain the affection of the People and shew he was not engaged to any Party he Commanded both of them to lay down their Arms. The Burgundian who had stood gaping idly in Lagny was glad of so fair a pretence to retire He went back into the Low-Countries vexed to the very Soul that his Enemies should deride him and call him John de Lagny not much in haste The Emperor Sigismund desiring to procure the Churches Peace and also a Peace amongst Christian Princes made a Voyage into France and from thence Year of our Lord 1416 into England but without any success because the Constable refused the Truce for four years which he had propounded betwixt those two Crowns The King received him magnificently at Paris and was willing he should take his place in Parliament but it was not so well
relished that he should upon any occasion assume the Authority to bestow the Order of Knighthood upon a Gentleman He resolved to erect the Earldom of Savoy to a Dutchy for Ame VIII and divers Authors tell us he had made choice of the City of Lyons for that purpose Year of our Lord 1416 but the Kings Officers let him know it would not be suffered wherefore he performed the Ceremony at the Castle of Montluel in Bresse out of the Territories of the Kingdom However the Letters Patents for the said Erection are dated from Chamberry the Nineteenth of February It is fit we observe that ever since the time of the Carlian Race the Title of Count or Earl was as eminent as that of Duke and it seems the Grandees liked it better since we find some who having Dutchies yet took the names only of Counts Such in France was the Count of Toulouze who held the Dutchies of Septimania and Narbonne and the Earl of Savoy did the same though he had the Dutchies of Chablais and Aouste which he did not omit amongst his Titles But as Men who in length of time change their humours and fancies had an imagination that there was something greater in the Title of Duke Ame VIII Earl of Savoy was willing to have that Title given to the Earldom he bore the name of Year of our Lord 1416 France met with nothing but misfortune upon misfortune the defeat of the Constable before Harfleur which he besieged then of the Naval Forces upon that Coast the continual Incursions of the Burgundian Troops the death of the Duke of Berry who was the only Person that could have allayed these Disorders the King of Englands second landing this was at Tonques with the loss of divers places in Normandy taken by his Forces Besides all this the earnest endeavours of both Parties to make an Alliance with him but the Burgundian with most industry and forwardness enraged that they had thrust him out of the Government and the Earl of Hainault his Cousin to get a support for the Dauphin John his Son in Law whom the Orleans Faction would deprive of his Birthright to prefer and advance Charles Earl of Pontieu his younger Brother Year of our Lord 1416 The new Governor rendred himself daily more odious by Exactions without measure equality or justice laid upon the Clergy as well as the Laity for which reason the Parisians heartily desired the Burgundians return and indeed there was a Plot discovered to have let in his Forces The chief Conspirators paid down their Heads for it the rest were imprisoned all who were suspected banished even Members of the Parliament and University the Burghers Arms seized upon their Chains taken away and the Butchers Company abolished Year of our Lord 1417 The passion for Government did so far transport the Burgundian that he Conferr'd with the King of England at Calais and renewed the Truce for his Countries only which was in some manner an obligation not to assist the King at all From thence retiring to Valenciennes he had confidence with Duke William Earl of Hainault and the new Dauphin his Son in Law They sware mutual assistance against all their Enemies So the Dauphin declared himself against the Armagnacs and promised the Duke he would never return to Court till he carried him along with him It was therefore resolv'd that the Earl of Hainault should go thither to treat of those Affairs but should leave the Dauphin at Compeigne Not being able to obtain the recalling of the Burgundian he threatned to carry back the Dauphin home with him whereupon they intended to detain him till he had given up the Dauphin but having private notice he craftily made his escape But they secur'd themselves of the Dauphin another but a more wicked way by giving him Poyson of which he died the eighteenth of April Charles his Brother a sworn Enemy to the House of Burgundy succeeded to the Title of Dauphin and of Duke de Touraine and which is more to a right of inheriting the Crown to the great satisfaction and joy of the Duke of Anjou his Father in Law who was mightily suspected to have had some hand in the removal of the two eldest out of the World that his Son in Law might Reign Year of our Lord 1417 But his joy was not long lived dying in the following Month of August He left three Sons Lewis Rene and Charles the two first had successively the Titles of King of Sicilia Charles was Earl of Maine The Kings Person the Dauphin and the City of Paris were in the hands of the Constable d'Armagnac the Queen only was some kind of counterpoise to his Power They living with much freedom and licence in her Family it was easie for the Constable Year of our Lord 1417 to fill the Kings head with jealousies against this Princess so that he commanded one named Bouredon to be taken thence and thrown into the River as a Party concerned in those Intrigues and afterwards sent away the Queen his Wife as it were a Prisoner to Tours She could never be brought to forgive him this injury nor even the Dauphin her own Son it being by his consent although he were not then above the age of Sixteen years The Queens confinement the lamentable death of the two Dauphins the displacing of a great many Officers the plundering of all the open Country by the unpaid Soldiers the depredations of the Armagnac's who robbed the very Shrines in the Churches furnished the Burgundian with specious Pretences to publish his Manifesto's and to send to all the chief Cities to desire they would be assisting towards the restoring the King to his liberty The most part of those in Champagne and Picardy with the Isle of France received him with open Arms because he put down all Subsidies However all was nothing unless he could get into Paris he marched round about it approaching or going farther off for two Months together according to the Advice he had from his Friends that were in the place Whilst he was besieging Corbeil he goes away in haste to Tours with some Troops of Horse and having had a Conference with the Queen at Marmoustier whither she was come purposely under a pretence of taking the Air he brought her with him to Troyes From that time she claimed the Regency Year of our Lord 1417 In so favourable a juncture the King of England failed not to push on his Affairs Caen Bayeux Coutance Carenian Lisieux Falaise Argentan Alenson and in fine the greatest part of Normandy surrendred themselves up to him without scarce a blow given excepting Cherbourgh which defended it self three Months and yet the Constable chose rather to see the Kingdom lost then his Authority and the Burgundian consented rather to have it dismembred by the English then governed by his Enemy In Germany there were several Companies of Vagabonds began to strowle about having no Riligon no Law no Country or Habitation their Faces
had taken all the pains imaginable to find out some way to reconcile the two Parties perceiving as little faith on the one side as the other he retir'd into his own Country and renewed his ancient Alliance with the English only for his Year of our Lord 1418 defence When now he thought himself out of all trouble he found himself fallen into the greatest Peril Marguerit de Clisson Widow of John de Blois Earl of Pointieurs a Woman ambitious even to the highest Crimes never left provoking her Sons she had four in all to seize upon the Person of the Duke that they might enter upon the Dutchy of Bretagne which she told them was their Inheritance The Dauphins Council offended because the Breton did not Arm himself against the English Treated underhand with these Brothers and gave them Letters and Orders to prosecute their design To effect this they made use of all sorts of means to get into the Dukes favour went to visit him at Nantes gained great Credit with him by their Respect and Complaisance in fine engage him to go and divert himself at their House of Chuntoceaux in Anjou upon the Second of February Going thither with his Brother Richard unarmed and with little Company as being unwilling to give them too great trouble Oliver the eldest of the four causes him to be set upon and taken by forty Horsemen well armed who carried them away bound Legs and Arms to the Castle of Paluan in Poitou From thence they were removed from place to place all the year round causing divers reports to be spread sometimes that they died in despair at other times that they were drowned and lastly that for a Pennance they were both gone on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem there to end their days They had made account that if they could but once catch these two Brothers they should find strength and friends enough to get themselves into possession of the Dutchy but the Act was so base that even their most devoted friends were ashamed Year of our Lord 1419 to own it All Bretagne moved with the horror of the Fact and the lamentations of the sorrowful Dutchess took up Arms and sent her above Fifty thousand Men to recover her Husband In the absence of Arthur Earl of Richmond whom the English would not set at liberty the Bretons chose Commanders of their own Nobility to lead them Chantoceaux was besieged The Duke was not then there as they had hoped but Marguerit de Clisson and one of her Sons were in it The breach being made this Womans heart failed fear seized upon her Spirits she dispatches Messenger after Messenger to her Son Oliver to intreat him if he would ever see her again alive to release the Duke The Dukes Head was a pawn sufficient enough to answer for his Mothers notwithstanding he was so weak as to let him go But he had beforehand made him sign to what Articles he would The Estates of the Country never regarded them the four Brothers were brought to their Trial who were condemned to die their Houses razed their Lands confiscated and given to great Men that so they might never be recover'd again Year of our Lord 1419 During these Brouilleries King Henry had laid Siege to Rouen from the Month of June The importance of that City and the constant fidelity of her Burghers deserved some care should be taken to relieve them They first endeavour'd it by treating with the King of England concerning the Marriage with Catharine of France by the Mediation of the Popes Legats who for that purpose carried the Picture of that beautiful Princess to him Then that Project having failed he making too high demands they got some Forces together and carried the King as far as Beauvais but they were found too weak to attempt its relief The Besieged being in the greatest extremity make their address to the Dauphin this was the fairest Jewel of the Crown which was so near being lost he took no care for it considering the place as rather belonging to the Duke of Burgundy then to France What Miseries did they not undergo Thirty thousand died of Famine hunger forced them to eat their very Bed-straw and all the Leather they could come at The King of England refusing to receive them on any other terms then at discretion they undermined five hundred Rod of their Walls and in their extremity resolved to set fire on the Timbers that propt it and then sally out of the breach both Men and Women and take their fortune either in Death or Victory This desperate Resolution gave the King some apprehension he allows them tolerable Conditions and was contented with the payment of three hundred thousand Gold Crowns and three of their Chiefs whom he should name of those one called Blanchard lost his Head Upon these Conditions he confirmed all their Priviledges He made his entry the nineteenth Year of our Lord 1419 of January The taking of this City brought in all the rest of Normandy and that Province for some few years returned to the obedience of the English from whom it had been conquer'd two hundred and fifteen years past by King Philip Augustus They did notwithstanding negotiate between the two Kings and at the same time between the two Parties of Armagnacs and Burgundians A Truce for three Months Year of our Lord 1419 was agreed upon between the two Crowns after which there was to be an Interview near Melun to conclude on the Peace and Marriage Men of most Judgment foreseeing France must be ruined if it came to that never left off till they had made Truce betwixt the two Factions The Dauphin would have had it for three years the Burgundian for two Months only his aim was that if within that time he could make a full and perfect agreement with the Dauphin they might with their united Forces fall both joyntly upon the English when the Truce expired if not he would make a Peace with them that he might be the more enabled to quell the Dauphinois The first not succeeding well he comes back to Treat with the English To this purpose there was an Interview between both Kings in a Park prepared for it near Melun in the midst whereof they had pitched a Tent for the Conference The King of France being fallen ill at Paris the Queen supplied his place and carried thither but only the first time Madam Catharine whom the King of England sought in Marriage They met in this Tent frequently almost three weeks together the King of England coming from Mantes and the Queen from Pontoise where they were lodged The Dauphins Council knowing what they treated on sought to the Burgundian for an Accommodation and flattered him with a perfect Reconciliation The Duke did ardently desire it and therefore being pleased with that hopes he stood on higher terms with the English and would scare condescend to any thing that he demanded Thus they began to shew some coldness and then were picqued
at one another the Burgundian breaks off the Treaty and thinks of nothing now but to accommodate Affairs with the Dauphin They conferred therefore in the open Field near Povilly le Fort within two Leagues of Melun between the two Armies each of them attended by half a score Horsemen and there they made a Treaty in which they sware to love and assist each other like Brothers submitting themselves in case of any failure to the Soveraign Judgment of the Holy See After which they agreed to meet upon the Bridge de Year of our Lord 1419 Montereau Faut-yonne the Eighteenth of August each accompanied with ten Men armed to determine all their disputes in a most amicable manner The Servants belonging to the deceased Lewis Duke of Orleans particularly Taneguy du Chastel and John Louvet President of Provence procured these Interviews for no other end but to find an opportunity to revenge the death of their late Master upon him that was the Author of it They durst not attempt it at Pouilly but they put things in better order at Montereau by the contrivance of certain Barriers which being made in appearance for the mutual safety of them both served as a snare or trap to that unfortunate Prince The day being come the Dauphin arrives at Montereau the Duke made him wait almost fifteen days His friends forewarning and advice his own pressentiment all humane prudence and reasonning forbid his going thither the power of his ill destiny dragg'd him along by the horrid treachery of a second Dalila I mean the Lady de Gyac his Mistress or perhaps it was the hand of Divine Justice for the Blood of his own Cousin and so many thousands of Men as had been spilt in that Quarrel To allure him the better they delivered up to him the Castle of Montereau but wholly unfurnish'd of Provisions or Artillery From thence he descended to the Bridge with his ten Men and placed a guard at the end While he was kneeling before the Dauphin Taneguy du Chastel and some others leaping over the Barriers Massacred him by several wounds his People making but a slight defence only Nouailles Brother of Captal de Buch who was kill'd with him We must believe this act was done without the Dauphins order for he was not above Seventeen years of age and Heaven would never have permitted a Prince designed to wear the Year of our Lord 1419 Crown of France should have perpetrated so horrible and base a piece of treachery However it were the event made it appear how much those wounds did blemish his Honour and not only proved hurtful to him but almost mortal to the whole Kingdom For Philip the only Son of the deceased although a very good Prince highly undertakes to revenge his Fathers death and wanted not for means to do it All that were friends to that House all those that were discontented came and tendred their service to him compassion and horror for this Murther renewed and heated the affections even of such as were grown coldest the Parisians sent to assure him of their Services and he to gain the love of the People obtained a Truce of the English to the exclusion of the Dauphins People who were come to Rouen to desire the same thing for which they made great profers From this time the French the English and the Burgundians began to mix and live together as if they had all been but one Nation but the difference of their humours and interests would suffer no long unity amongst them Year of our Lord 1419 On the other hand the Dauphin gathered up all his Friends in the Provinces of Poitou Orleannois Berry Auvergne Lyonnois Dauphine Provence and above all thought to secure himself of Languedoc He took away that Government from the Earl of Foix and gave it to Charles Count de Clermont eldest Son of the Duke of Bourbon From these Provinces it was that he drew his Succours that maintained him Besides the Kings of Castille and of Scotland with the Duke of Milan suppli'd him in his necessities with some of their Forces Year of our Lord 1420 According to what had been agreed upon the King of England and Philp Duke of Burgundy met at Troyes where the King and Queen were and there the Peace was Treated together with the Marriage of Catharine of France with King Henry Which was first sworn to by all the Lords there present and then by all the good Cities that were of their party The Marriage was compleated the Second day of June This Treaty amongst other things contained That King Charles named and owned Henry for his Heir to the Crown of France That however Henry should not take the Title of King of France during the life of Charles but that he should have the quality of Regent and the government of Affairs That the two Kingdoms of France and England should be united and held by the same hand viz. by Henry and his Heirs but that they should not depend upon one another and should be governed according to their Laws That all Priviledges and Rights should be preserved to all Estates and to every particular Person That no Treaty of Accommodation should be made with the Dauphin without the consent of both the Kings the Duke of Burgundy and the three Estates of both the Kingdoms The two Kings afterwards with the Burgundian having taken Sens and Montereau journyed towards Paris Melun made the King of England know how much all France might cost him he was four Months before it and not able to force it Famine only did what his Sword could not The Besieged surrendred upon composition but contrary to the faith given they were all detained Prisoners At their departure from thence the two Kings made their entrance into Paris the first Sunday of Advent and the next day the two Queens The Duke of Burgundy having tender'd his complaint before them and their Councils in the Hostel St. Pol the Dauphin was summon'd to the Table de Marbre with the usual formalities and afterwards as attainted and convict of Murther was declared unworthy of all Succession namely of that to the Crown of France and banished the Kingdom to perpetuity From this Sentence given by incompetent Judges against all Right and contrary to the Laws of the Kingdom he appealed to God and his Sword and transferr'd the Parliament and University to Poitiers at which place the most illustrious Members of those two Companies did not fail to appear Thus almost every thing was double in the Kingdom there were two Kings two Regents two Parliaments two Constables two Chancellors two Admirals and so of most of the great Officers not to mention the multitude of Mareschals of France whereof each Party made seven or eight Year of our Lord 1420 This year 1420. the Portugal Navigators defray'd and encouraged by Henry Duke of Visen Son of John King of Portugal sailing at large in the Ocean found in their midway between Lisbonne and
the Fortunate Islands a little Island which they named Madera because it was full of Wood or Materials fit for building From thence steering along the exteriour coasts of Africa they there discover'd several large Countries and in time sailed to the East-Indies which till then were unknown at least those parts towards the Sea Pope Martin and after him his Successors bestowed upon the Portugals all those Lands by them discover'd or to be discover'd from the Cape which lies at the end of Mount Atlas to the Indies When the King of England had sojourned some weeks at Paris he laid Siege to the City of Meaux the only place the Dauphin had left upon the Rivers of Seine and Year of our Lord 1420 Marne After a three Months brave defence the Besieged capitulated the ninth of May the Inhabitants had their lives and liberties but all the Soldiers were sent Prisoners to divers places where they let them cruelly perish for hunger The Bailiff named Lewis de Gas had his Head cut off in the Halles at Paris The City taken King Henry went into England to draw over a new supply of Men and Money So great was the fondness of the French for the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples that Lewis Duke of Anjou forgetting those disasters of his Father and Grandfather and abandoning his own Country to the mercy of the English suffers himself to be cajolled by the promises of the Pope and Sforza who called him to dispossess Queen Jane a Princess lost in her Reputation by her continual Galantries Year of our Lord 1421 or Amours The Affairs of Lewis being in a pretty good posture in that Country Alphonso King of Arragon who held the Island of Sicilia undertakes the protection of Jane she having adopted him her Son Sforza does reconcile himself to her and in a word there was nothing left for the poor Angevin but the way to walk home again Year of our Lord 1421 One of the first seeds of division between the English and the Duke of Burgundy was about Jacqueline Countess of Hainault Holland Zealand and Friseland After the death of John Dauphin of France they had Married her to John Duke of Brabant Son of Anthony and Cousin German to Duke Philip but the young Gossip not being satisfied with her second Husband a Man of little merit prosecuted for a Divorce and consederated with some Captains to carry her away as it were by force into England where she Married Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother of King Henry This undertaking turned much to the contempt of Philip who besides observed that the English began to treat him with more pride and endeavour'd so to settle their affairs as they might have no further need of him Year of our Lord 1421 The War was very hot in every Province on this side the Loire particularly in Champagne Picardy and in the Countries of Perche Maine and Anjou The Duke of Clarence Brother to King Henry having got together eight or ten thousand Men went and besieged Bauge in Anjou John Earl of Bouchain a Scot and the Mareschal de la Fayette marched to its relief gave him battle and won it He was slain upon the place with two thousand of his Men the rest escaped through the Country of Mayne into Normandy This Earl of Bouchain had brought three or four thousand Men from his own Country to the Dauphins service in recompence he gave him the Constables Sword Year of our Lord 1421 The Field being clearly left to the French the Dauphin accompanied with his new Constable and the Duke of Alenson regained some places in the Countries of Perche and the Chartrain In the mean time Henry being come back from England with a great reinforcement and in a rage and fury for the defeat and death of his Brother did endeavour all that was possible to meet with the Dauphin He marched by Chartres and Chasteaudun lodged in the Suburbs of Orleans and not meeting him in the Field but a violent Dysentery that took off three thousand of his Men he falls upon the City of Dreux which being surrendred upon Composition he goes to rest himself at Paris and sends over his Queen who was great with Child to be deliver'd in England Year of our Lord 1421 Whilst he lay at the Siege of Dreux an honest Hermit unknown to him came and told him the great evils he brought upon Christendom by his unjust ambition who usurped the Kingdom of France against all manner of right and contrary to the will of God wherefore in his holy name he threatned him with a severe and suddain punishment if he desisted not from his Enterprise Henry took this exhortation either for an idle whimsey or a suggestion of the Dauphinois and was but the more confirmed in his design Year of our Lord 1422 But the blow soon followed the threatning for within some few Months after he was smitten in the Fundament with a strange and incurable Disease the acuteness of its pain made him go to Senlis to seek for cure The Queen his Wife was a while before this returned out of England having brought forth a Son to whom they gave the same name as his Fathers Both she and her Husband made their entry with great splendour into Paris and kept open Court at the Louvre upon the Feast of Pentecost each Crowned with their Royal Diadems but the People that went to see the Ceremony had cause to regret regret the liberalities of their ancient Kings and detest the niggardliness or pride of the English who gave them none of their good Cheer nor did vouchsafe to profer them one Glass of Wine The Dauphin in the mean time had besieged the City of Cosne on the Loire and the place had capitulated to surrender if they were not relieved by a prefixed day with an Army able to give them battle The Duke of Burgundy got a great number of Men to go thither the Dauphin being informed of his march did not think fit to stay for him but raised his Siege Year of our Lord 1422 The King of England though already indisposed was gotten into his Litter that he might be present at this memorable Action While he was at Melun his distemper encreased so much that he could proceed no further but made them bring him back to Vincennes where he died the eight and twentieth day of August He had only one Son who was named Henry he left him to the education of the Cardinal of Winchester his Uncle who bred him in England gave the Government of that Kingdom to the Duke of Gloucester and the Regency of the Kingdom of France to John Duke of Bedford to whom he recommended above all things to give content to the Duke of Burgundy never to make any Peace with the Dauphin unless Normandy were yielded to be left in full Soveraignty to the English and not to release those Prisoners that were taken at the Battle of Azincour till his Son were
come to his majority Year of our Lord 1422 The one and twentieth of October following King Charles VI. the weakness of whose Brain stupified with so many relapses made him a prey to every one that could but come to deal with him ended his Life and his unhappy Reign in his Hostel of St. Pol at Paris attended only by his first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber his Confessor and his Almoner His Funeral was at St. Denis no Prince of the Blood went to it not even the Duke of Burgundy who was ashamed to give place to the Duke of Bedford This last as soon as the Ceremony was over caused young Henry his Nephew to be proclaimed King of France Charles VI. Reigned two and forty years and five and thirty days and lived fifty two He had by Isabella of Bavaria six Sons the three first of them died in their infancy the other three Lewis John and Charles appeared on the Theater and the last survived him and Reigned He had the same number of Daughters Isabella Jane Mary a second Jane Michel and Catharine The first was Married to Richard II. King of England then to Charles Duke of Orleans the second died in her Cradle the third devoted her self to God in the Convent at Poissy the fourth Married John VI. Duke of Bretagne the fifth Philip who was Duke of Burgundy and the last Henry V. King of England Before him the Kings of France were wont at all Ceremonies to appear with all their Regal Ornaments and wear some marks about them every day as their Robes lined with Ermines and a Crown upon their Hoods or their Hats In the Army a Coat of Armour Sem'd with Flower-de-Luces and a Hoop with Flowers pretty high upon their Helmets This King neglected all these Ornaments and did not distinguish himself at all from other People so that he seemed to have degraded himself of all Royalty That Quarrel which Pope Boniface had with King Philip the Fair was the Rock whereon the Papal Power both Spiritual and Temporal was split and shipwrack'd which till then had Master'd had Lorded it over the Emperors and other Western Princes The translation of the Holy See to Avignon brought them lower yet by removing them out of their natural place and laying open their defects which exposed the Court of Rome to the great contempt and scorn of all that did but make the least observation on their ill Conduct But to say the truth France that thought to aggrandise it self by this Spiritual Power of the Popes Court gained nothing but their Vices with the plague of Litigious Disputes and the Maletost or extraordinary Taxes But if the multitude of Cardinals were an advantage to the State France might have vaunted that she alone had as great a number as all the other parts of Christendom besides We have seen how Clement V. promoted to the Papacy by a method not strictly Canonical extinguished the Order of the Templers who were found to be all guilty in France but innocent in divers other Countries John XXII was the first who made it a fixt and permanent right to reserve the Fruits of vacant Benefices for the Holy See He bestowed the same Honour on the Bishoprick of Toulouze but thinking it too rich and of too great extent he divided it into five whereof Toulouze is one Montauban Lavaur Rieux and Lombers are the other four which he would have to be its Suffragants as also Mirepoix and Lavaur created new by him Moreover he restored the Bishoprick of Pamiez to that of Toulouze which had been taken away and brought under Narbonne by Boniface VIII when he erected it To recompence Narbonne in some manner he made two more in the same Territory these were Alet whose See was first at Limoux and St. Pont de Tomieres He likewise made four for that of Bourges Castres of a portion of that of Alby St. Flour of part of Clermont Vabres of part of Rodez and Tulles of part of Limoges He likewise erected four for the Archbishoprick of Bourdeaux which had been dismembred Condon from the Territory of Agen Sarlat from that of Perigueux Maillezais and Lucon from that of Poitiers Most of these sixteen Churches were Abbies changed into Bishopricks and their Abbots converted to Bishops The Popes return to Rome was attended with a Schism of forty years which troubled all Christendom but afflicted France particularly overthrew the Discipline of Elections and of Collations filled all the Churches with Mercinary Pastors nay hungry Wolves and absorded all her Revenues not only by ordinary Taxes upon each of them by Annats and Rights of Provision but by extraordinary Taxes and Tenths The Princes first the Duke of Anjou then the Duke of Berry and after him the Duke of Orleans favoured the cupidity of the Popes of Avignon that they might share in the prey the Cardinals gorged themselves the Prelats either for want of courage or in hopes of getting into fatter Benefices gave their consent the lesser ones were so much under the pawes of the Wolf they durst not so much as open their mouths The University of Paris alone opposed these disorders and notwithstanding the Princes menaces the corruptions of the Court of Avignon the tricks and artifices of the Popes that were Competitors they saved the Temporals of the Gallican Church and restored the Universal Churches Peace by extinguishing the Schism And truly this great work is in the first place due to their zeal and labour and in the second place to the care and perseverance of the Emperor Sigismund who called and maintained the Council of Constance and who made divers Voyages into Italy France and Arragon to establish Unity and Peace There was not in all the Kingdom so powerful a Body as the University as well for the multitude of her Scholers which sometimes exceeded the number of thirty thousand as because she was the Nursing Mother of all the Clergy of France The remonstrances she took the liberty to make to the Princes the care she had to procure the reformation of the State during the troubles and that which hapned to Savoisy are very strong proofs of it But we will add two more The one that in the year 1304. the Prevost of Paris having caused a Scholer that was a Clerk to be hanged they carried their complaints to the King and left off their Exercises till they had satisfaction He was fain to go to the Pope for his absolution The other was thus in the year 1408. William de Tignonville who was at that time in the same Office having likewise sent a couple of Scholers to the Gallows who well deserved it but were Clarks was forced together with his Lieutenant to go and unhang them to kiss their Feet and cause them to be brought with great ceremony to the Matburins where yet their Epitaph is to be seen We find by the Letters of Pope John XXII that the Oriental Languages the Greek the Arabian the
of all these was Lonvet the President of Provence who had an ambition to govern in despite of all the Grandees He chose rather to be the ruine of his Master whom he had strangely fetter'd then to be thrust away from him so that Year of our Lord 1425 he found means by his contrivances to animate him against the Constable but the Constable made his Party so good that the King found himself abandoned of all the Grandees and all his places refused obedience to him excepting Selles and Vierzon Then he saw it was high time to discharge Louvet and all the rest Taneguy generously sacrificing his fortune to serve his King begged leave to be gone as his Reward Louvet upon his retreat as his Master-piece of Court-craft put the Lord de Gyac in his place The Constable had no little ado to reconcile himself to the King who fled before him that he might not see him At length he suffers him to approach that he might get assistance of the Breton Who being in the end satisfied by the expulsion of his Enemies came to him at Saumur rendred him Homage and gave him his Contract and the Contracts of all the Lords within his Dutchy under Hand and Seal commanding them to go upon his Service They did him but little good but they might Year of our Lord 1425 have done him a great deal of hurt The Seventh of September Charles the Noble King of Navarre ended his Life Blanch his only Daughter Married to John the Brother of Alphonso King of Arragon was his Heiress Year of our Lord 1424 and 25. As on the one hand these Broils prejudiced the Affairs of King Charles on the other hand the Quarrel which hapned between the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Gloucester about Jacqueline Countess of Hainault and the Duke of Brabant her lawful Husband did much retard nay set back those of the English forasmuch as it diverted the Forces of those two Princes who would undoubtedly have wholly subdued France had they joyned them to the Duke of Bedfords Jacqueline would not endure that the Duke of Brabant whom she affirmed was nothing to her should enjoy her Lands and the Duke of Gloucester who had Married her did serve and assist her in that Quarrel The Duke of Bedford desiring not to distaste the Duke of Burgundy endeavour'd to patch up some agreement between the Parties the Duke of Brabant submitted but Gloucester regarded it not but still pursued the right of his pretended Wife with Sword in hand Year of our Lord 1424 and 25. He and the Burgundian pickered by Letters and went on so far as to defie each other to a Personal Combat agreeing upon the time the place and the Weapons The Duke of Bedford having assembled the chiefest of the French and English Lords brought that Challenge to nothing and declared that there was no just or legal cause for Combat And to testifie to the Burgundian that he had no hand in the Enterprizes of his Brother he desired they might see one another at Dourlens as they did upon the Eve of St. Peters day This did not hinder them from making a brisk War in Holland where the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Burgundy tried their Forces but at two years end the Pope having declared that the Marriage of Jacqueline with the Duke of Gloucester was of no value that Prince desisted from his prosecution and Married a Damlet whom he entertain'd Year of our Lord 1425 The English had taken and fortified the City of Pontorson nigh Auranches from whence they perpetually molested Bretagne the Constable laid siege to it and regained it in a short time He was not so happy at Saincte James de Beuveron which they had repaired His Soldiers having forsaken him for want of their pay he made a shameful retreat and left all his Artillery and Equipage to the Enemy Pontorson was afterwards besieged by the English and having surrender'd the Duke of Bedford came to the Frontiers of Bretagne with a great Army upon which the Duke was so astonished that he renounced the Alliance he had made with France returned to that with England and promised to do Homage to King Henry The shocks great Captains meet with does often times proceed from the malice Year of our Lord 1426 and envy of those that are of the Kings Council whose care and province it is to provide for the subsistance and payment of the Armies The Constable knew that Gyac was the cause of his disaster because in stead of sending him Money he stop'd the current from running that way and diverted it to his own use and entertained his Prince in solitude and private pleasures that he alone might enjoy his Person and his Favours For this reason in the Month of January following he went with a strong hand to surprize him in his Bed at Issoudun and after some slight formalities of Justice caused his Head to be cut off or as others relate drowned him Year of our Lord 1426 Another Gentleman named le Camus de Beaulieu undertook to supply the place of Gyâ—c and tread in his footsteps some while after People were amazed to see the Constable rid himself of him as he had done of the other The Mareschal de Bouslac by his order slew him in the open Street and almost in the Kings sight in the City of Poitiers He remembred too well what the Favourites had contrived at Montereau and against the Duke his Brother wherefore he would suffer none to be near the King of whom he was not well assured he therefore places the Lord de la Trimouille at Court whom he judged to have sentiments contrary to the two former his House owing all their good fortunes and rise to the Dukes of Burgundy But this Man soon blinded with his new fortune as well as those whose post he now had taken he kept the Princes as much at distance as he possibly could so that even the Constable himself retired into Bretagne This proceeded to a kind of a War which divided the Court and retarded all the Kings Affairs for seven or eight Months Year of our Lord 1426 and 27. It would be endless to take notice of all the Sieges Fights and Enterprizes in these Wars both Foreign and Domestick There was not a City or Burrough but had Garrisons Forts and Castles were built in all convenient places upon Hills on Rivers in narrow ways and in the open Fields Every Lord had his Soldiers or to speak more properly his Bands of Robbers who maintained themselves by feeding on the poor Country People I shall therefore mention only the most remarkable Events in this place that the French raised the Siege of Montargis in the year 1426. and the year after recovered the City of Manse which had been taken by the English during the divisions of the Court. The Siege of Orleance was yet much more memorable and more important The Year of our Lord 1428 Earl of
honour Those were the four heads of her Accusation but which they proved very ill as being unable to make out any thing clearly against her but only that she cloathed her self in the habit of a Man and had taken up Arms which they imputed a Crime because said they that change of habit stained the modsty of her Sex and flatly contradicted the express command of God against it Peter Cauchon Bishop of Beauvais in whose Bishoprick she was taken the Vicar to the Inquisition some Doctors in Divinity and Canon Law were her Judges the Chapter of Rouen during the vacancy of the See lending them place After divers captious interrogatories they condemned her to perpetual imprisonment the bread of sorrow and bitter water of affliction but the English not being satisfied with moderate injustice pressed them so earnestly that some days afterwards they said she had relapsed in putting on the Habit of a Man again Excommunicated her and delivered her over to the Secular Power who burnt her alive the Thirtieth day of May in the Market place of Rouen Being on the Pile of Faggots she foretold the English that the hand of God was lifted up to strike them and that his Justice would not only drive them out of France but pursue them even into England and make them suffer the same calamities and mischiefs they had inflicted on the French It is related that her heart was found entire amongst the ashes and that a milk white Dove was observed to fly out of the midst of the flames a token of her innocency and her purity Year of our Lord 1431 Charles Duke of Lorrain died in the year 1430. without any Male Children There was a debate for the succession between Antony Earl of Vaudemont his Brother who pretended that Dutchy was Masculine and Rene d'Anjou already Duke of Bar who had Married Isabella who was but the third Daughter of Duke Charles but the two elder had renounced the Dutchy The Burgundian in hatred to the House of Anjou the capital Enemy to his and the Duke of Savoy his Allie assisted Antony and fortune was kind to him in the Battle that was fought between Bullegueville and Neufchastel in Lorrain For Rene's Army was totally routed Lord Bazan a great Soldier slain and Rene taken and led away to Dijon to the Duke of Burgundy who detained him till the year 1437. Year of our Lord 1431 After the death of the Pucelle the English Affairs went still worse and worse To remedy this they brought their young King to Paris and Crowned him with a double Crown in Nostre-Dame the Twenty seventh of November and withal the better to retain the Duke of Burgundy who was ready to start from them they confirmed the donation of the Countries of Brie and Champagne to him Year of our Lord 1431 The Lord de la Trimouille made ill use still of his favour and interest against the Constable and the rest of the Lords One day he being with the King at the Castle of Chinon they by confederacy brought two hundred Men in thither who took him in his Bed gave him a wound in the Belly and led him Prisoner to the Castle of Montresor The Queen her self consented to it and therefore soon appeased the King and that his fancy which never could be satisfied without some particular favourite might not be left unfurnished she helped Charles of Anjou Earl of Mayne to gain the Kings good will and more then ordinary kindness La Trimou I le was not set free till he deliver'd up the City of Touars which he had usurped and the King in an Assembly of the Estates at Tours owned all that had been done in respect to him Year of our Lord 1431 By vertue of what had been ordained at Pavia by the Council and the Pope the Council of Basle began this year upon the Three and twentieth of July under Engenius IV. who newly succeeded to Martin V. There was never any good correspondence between him and the Fathers of this holy Assembly For if on their part the Fathers at the very first gave him to understand that they would put some curb to his Authority by stoutly maintaining that ancient rule That the Council is above the Pope he on his part made them know that his greatest desire was to dismiss or dissolve them But as he could not so suddenly do it because the Emperor upheld them he was obliged to confirm the Council after two years of Controversies Year of our Lord 1431 32 33 and the following The War was carried in all the Provinces of France with various success but very feebly Do not wonder to see it languish in this manner for seven or eight years together the weakness of both Parties was the cause thereof they wanting Money could set no great Armies on foot Add to this the weakness of the two Kings Henry of England for his minotity and Charles of France for the easiness of his mind still held in leading-strings by his Favourites and Mistresses Year of our Lord 1431 The Twenty fourth of November in the year 1431. Lewis of Anjou King of Naples died at Cosenza in Calabria without any Issue The Second of February the year following Queen Joan or Jane ended her life also and left Rene the Brother of Lewis to inherit her Kingdom The Pope confirmed this Institution but as Rene was yet a Prisoner to the Duke of Burgundy Alphonso King of Arragon had full leisure to seize upon the Kingdom In this Jane ended the first Branch of Anjou which had produced above thirty other Sprigs furnished Hungary and Poland with Kings and lasted near two hundred years Year of our Lord 1434 Ame VIII Duke of Savoy wearied with the noise and perplexity of Soveraignty had made his retreat to the delicious Hermitage built by himself at Ripailles and taken on the habit of a Hermit with two more Gentlemen his Confidents having resigned his Estates to Charles his Son Earl of Geneva whom he had Married some years before to Anne Daughter of Janus King of Cyprus Year of our Lord 1435 Amongst an infinite number of petty Combats hapning within these two or three years I do not meet with any that was considerable but that of Gerbroy a little City near Beauvais Saintraille and la Hyre had undertaken to fortifie it and the English to hinder them These although three times more in number were beaten the Earl of Arundel their Achilles mortally wounded with a Culverin Shot in his Heel and eight hundred of their Men left dead upon the place Year of our Lord 1434 and 35. The earnest intreaties of the Council and the Pope to the Duke of Burgundy did at length incline his good nature to shew his just resentment and to take pitty of the miseries of France His Treaty had been first begun and rough drawn by Ame Duke of Savoy who in the year 1423. had mediated a Truce between the King and him for the Dutchies of
on all hands crying out a la queue Many had their Brains beaten out in the Streets the rest escaped to the Bastille where they made composition All the little Neighbouring Forts were an Accessory to this Reduction In the Month of August following the King recalled the Parliament the Chambre des Comptes and the University thither The English had declared themselves Enemies to the Duke of Burgundy by all Acts of Hostility upon his Countreys and by underhand-dealings to stir his Subjects up to Rebellion in those days very much knit to and concerned for England as well by Commerce and Trade as out of a real hatred they had towards the French He would therefore needs revenge himself by taking of Calais which he esteemed no great difficulty and laid Siege to it with a numerous Army In the midst of this Enterprize the Flemmings finding it spin out to a great length fell into an imagination that they were betray'd and herding together in several small parcels on a suddain made up all their packs in great confusion leaving their Provisions and Artillery behind for want of Waggons to carry them off All that their Duke could possibly do for them was to cover them with his Cavalry leâ—t the English should have charged them and after that to follow them The Duke of Gloucester who had sent word that he was coming to give him Battle not finding him there entred into Flanders where he increased their former jealousie by his burning all those places he came near Year of our Lord 1437 It was impossible for Rene of Anjou to obtain his liberty of the Duke of Burgundy without paying him an extraordinary Ransom yielding up several places and consenting to a Marriage between his eldest Daughter whose name was Yoland as then but nine years old and Ferry eldest Son of Anthony Earl of Vaudemont the means whereby Lorrain returned to the Males of that House Year of our Lord 1437 In the interim they carried the King into Lyonnois and Dauphine to make Moneys in those Countries and the following year he went even to Languedoc for the same end Upon his return he laid Siege to Montereau Faut-yonne which submitted not till after a long resistance From thence he came to make his entrance into his good City of Year of our Lord 1437 Paris the fourth of November and then he might truly call himself King of France having replanted his Throne in the capital City of his Kingdom Year of our Lord 1438 These long and tedious Wars did necessarily produce great licentiousness and daily Robberies The Soldiers not being paid lived at discretion and the extream scarcity of all things rendred them most inhumane There were divers Bands commanded even by the Kings best Officers who under colour of seeking for subsistence ran from Province to Province rifling all they could lay lands on Those called Escorcheurs and then the Redondeurs committed strange disorders By these ravages the flight of the Husbandmen and Peasants who neither ploughed nor sowed and the continual Rains during two years 1437 and 38. ensued a great Famine and then a horrible Mortality over all France especially at Paris and its Neighbourhood That City was so depopulated the Wolves came and devoured Children even in the midst of the Street St. Anthoine They were forced that they might rid themselves of those Beasts greedy of humane Flesh to make Proclamation that any one should have twenty Solz a piece for every head of a Wolfe they brought to the Magistrate Pope Eugenius and the Council of Basil were imbroiled to that height that Eugenius declared the Council dissolved and called another to Ferrara and on the other hand the Prelats that were at Basil having summon'd him divers times to come thither began to think of deposing him with the greater confidence for that the Most Christian King seemed then to favour them having forbid the Prelats of the Gallican Church from going to Ferrara Year of our Lord 1438 This Discord in the end turned to a Schism he that might have extinguisht it hapning to die I mean the Emperor Sigismond who ended his days in Moravia the Eighth of November 1437. Albertus Duke of Austria his Son in Law succeeded him in the Kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia and the year following in the Empire by the suffrages of the Electors The Clergy of France ever since the translation of the Holy See to Avignon had suffered infinite oppressions by the Court of Rome And therefore the King having assembled them at Bourges to find out some way to reconcile the Pope to the Council who had each sent their Legats they embraced the opportunity which they could never have since the Council of Constance and made their remonstrances touching those insupportable abuses The King desiring to provide against it order'd them to apply the most convenient remedies To this end by advice of his Council they framed that so celebrated Reglement called the Pragmatique which preventing any the like Enterprizes of the Court of Rome might well be termed the Bulwark of the Gallican Church Year of our Lord 1439 Eugenius transferr'd his Council of Ferrara to Florence where they treated concerning the uniting the Greek to the Latine Church their Emperor John VI. assisting with a good number of his most illustrious Prelats But in the mean while those who were assembled at Basil though reduced to a small number and not well agreed amongst themselves deposed Eugenius and elected Ame VIII Duke of Savoy who had retired himself as was before related to the solitude of Ripaille France Germany and most part of the West paid their obedience to him during the life of Eugenius but after his death all of them almost turned to Nicholas V. Two years after Rene was delivered from captivity he went into his Kingdom of Naples where according to the example of his Predecessors his entrance was very happy but his exit very different Year of our Lord 1439 The Siege of Meaux by the Constable although long and full of difficulty succeeded happily for the French but that of Auranches in the Lower Normandy being ill managed by the same Person and the Duke of Alenson brought them nothing but shame the English having made them raise it and taken part of their Bagage and their Ammunition At the Sollicitation of the Dutchess of Burgundy and the Popes Legats a great Conference was held between Graueline and Calais the Deputies of France England and those of Burgundy meeting to treat about a Peace The English not receding from that Condition that Normandy and their other Conquests should be left to them in full Soveraignty they parted without doing any thing in it Year of our Lord 1440 The King by inclination was well enough disposed for the good of his Country and we observe that from this very time even to the Reign of Henry II. the Kings did often and willingly make use of this term The Publick Concerns of Our
Duke of Bretagne ended his days at the Castle de la Tousche near Nantes He left his Dutchy very much enriched and improved by a long Peace and mightily Peopled by that War which Year of our Lord 1443 made its Neighbouring Countries desolate particularly Normandy From that single Province there went above thirty thousand Families to inhabite in Bretagne and a great part of them at Rennes which mightily enlarged it and gave occasion to inclose with Walls that quarter of the Town which is named the Basse-ville He had three Sons Francis Peter and Giles whereof the two eldest were Dukes of that Country successively The foregoing year the English laid Siege to Diepe The Dauphin being returned out of Guyenne went thither in quality of Lieutenant-General for the King and chaced them shamefully thence But the Earl of Sommerset landing at Cherbourgh with six thousand fighting Men pierced as far as Anjou and Bretagne defeated the Mareschal de Loheac and the Lord de Rueil then returned loaden with spoil back to Rouen Year of our Lord 1443 Year of our Lord 1440 or 42. In the year 1440 or 1442. is placed the Invention or at least the first use of Printing which would be as excellent as it is wonderful were it not that like Fame whose clearest Trumpet it is it vends as many ill things as it does good ones The City of Leyden in Holland attributes the honour to it self in behalf of Laurent Johnson one of her Burghers Mentz for a Gentleman named Gutemberg Some allow it to one John Mentel of the same City Those deceive themselves that say it came from China for although it be true that they printed there a long time before yet was it not with Letters separate and movable as are ours theirs were graved on plates Year of our Lord 1444 The two Kings loved their pleasures enough to make them have but little love for War The King of England was the first that made mention of an accommodation the Deputies met at Tours where not being able to agree a final Peace they made a Truce of eighteen Months the Twentieth day of May and the Marriage of Marguerit Daughter of Rene of Anjou with the King of England to whom she was conducted by the Duke of Suffolk By consent of both Kings it was thought good to throw the French and English Forces upon the Countries of the Empire which were fat and but poorly defended The apparent pretences were to assist the House of Austria against the Swisse to revenge some incursions the Count de Montbelliard had made upon the Territories of France to affright the Council of Basil that they might put an end to the Schism and to take part with Rene of Anjou Duke of Lorrdin in his contest with the City of Metz for their having assisted Anthony Earl of Vaudemont his Enemy but the real design or cause was to discharge the Kingdom of those troublesom Sons of Mars the Soldiers Year of our Lord 1444 The Dauphin leading these Men there were near 20000 Horse parted from Troyes in the Month of July took Montbelliard and from thence went into Alsatia between Basil and Strasbourg Basil fortifi'd it self and called the Swisse in to their aid He sought four thousand near that place who rather tired then overcome died all upon the place but sold their lives at double the number There were but sixteen escaped others say but only one single man who being returned home to his Canton lost his Head as a deserter The Dauphin judging by this that he should gain nought from them but by losing too much himself and withall being gorged with spoil and observing the heavy German Body began to move he retired for fear of being over-matched and went to joyn with his Fathers Army that lay before Mets. He besieged that Town in favour of Rene Duke of Lorrain The Citizens seeing the Country wasted and ruined for seven or eight Months together bought their redemption at the rate of three hundred thousand Florins of which the King had two hundred thousand and the other hundred thousand they give Rene acquittance for who owed it to them The Army paid with this Money were all disbanded excepting fifteen hundred Men at Arms as many Coustilliers these were Foot that accompanied the Horse and three thousand Archers This was the establishment of what they called Companies d'Ordnnonance Year of our Lord 1444 and 45. He caused them to be quarter'd and cloathed and fed in the Towns but the Vulgar who look no further then the present and will never consider what may happen hereafter minded nothing but how to ease themselves of this burthen and granted a Tax in Money for the subsistence of these Gents-darmes not considering that when once this Tax was setled it would not be in their power to say either how long it should last or how much or little it should be increased or diminished Year of our Lord 1444 The Tenth of November was fought the bloody Battle of Varnes between the Turks and young Ladislaus King of Hungary He had solemnly sworn a Peace with them having unhappily broken it by the Popes instigation who dispenced him of his Oath he most unfortunately lost his Life and all his Army a wound that bleeds yet to this very day The Counties of Valentinois and Diois were united this year to Dauphine Lewis de Poitiers who possessed them had in Anno 1419. given them by his Will to Charles V. who was then Dauphin upon a condition to furnish fifty thousand Crowns to pay off his Debts and Legacies and in case he failed so to do he then gave the succession to Ame Duke of Savoy The Dauphin not having done it Ame was got into possession and had setled a Governor there But this year upon a Treaty at Bayonne agreed the third of April Lewis the Son of Ame gave up all the right he had in favour of the Dauphin Lewis who in retaliation quitted to him the absolute Siegneury and Homage of Foucigny Year of our Lord 1445 and the following During the quiet and soft minutes of the Truce the King enjoy'd the sweet pleasures of his Gardens and languished amidst his Amours and Mistresses Ease and prosperity had plunged him into daliance and effeminate softness His greatest inclination was Agnes Soreau a Gentlewoman of Touraine a very agreeable and generous Lady but who setting her self up as equal with the greatest Princesses became the envy of the Court and a scandal to all France Year of our Lord 1445 The King of England lived much more reserved He was a devout Prince fearing God and of a gentle disposition but having no great Spirit or parts and loving nothing but his Wife he suffer'd her to possess him wholly This Princess bold and undertaking beyond the nature of her Sex would needs take the Helm and make her self absolute To this end she gives some sinister impressions to her Husband concerning his Uncle Humphry Earl of Gloucester
who then had the Government and prevailed with him at last to put him to death without any form of Process Which excited the hatred of all the great ones against her and made them think of ruining her that they might preserve themselves Year of our Lord 1444 or 45. King Charles was then not much above the age of forty three and the Dauphin who was already two and twenty trod upon his Heels and would have plaid the Master in so much as one day at Chinon he gave a box on the Ear to the fair Agnes There hapned another incident worse yet then this He had bargained with Anthony de Chabanes Earl of Dammartin to assassinate some body that had displeased him James Brother of that Earl who was Grand Maistre of the Kings Houshold dissuaded him from it The King coming to the knowledge of this gave the Dauphin a sharp reprimand The young Prince to excuse himself charged the Earl as having suggested this base design first to him the Earl boldly denied it in the Kings presence and offer'd to justifie himself by Combat against any of the Dauphins Gentlemen that would undertake it The King then found the malignity of his Son abhorred it and commanded him not to see him in four Months time but to go into Dauphine He retir'd with menaces and being once gone thought no more of returning but to Cantonise and Reign alone without any dependance but on his malicious fancies The City of Genoa in a few years had changed their Lords and Governors four or five times The Fregoses and the Adornes who were of their principal Citizens disputed for the Siegnory amongst themselves Barnaby Adorne had usurped it Year of our Lord 1445 with the Title of Doge Janus Fregose pretending he would put it into the Kings hands having treated with him for that purpose made use of the Forces and Money of France to make himself Master then kept it in his own hands and Year of our Lord 1446 scoffed at the French Year of our Lord 1446 The King had for a while adhered to Pope Felix or at least stood Neuter but when informed that Nicholas was elected in the room of Eugenius he would let all Christendom understand he approved his Election He sent a famous Embassy to tender his obedience which perhaps brought in the custom of those stately and expensive Embassies of Obedience which Kings now send to every new Pope Year of our Lord 1447 The Government of the Viscounts at Milan after its having lasted One hundred and seventy years ended this year by the death of Duke Philip And that Estate was claimed by divers Pretenders as either having a right or thinking it would be of great convenience and necessary for them The Emperor Frederic the Duke of Savoy the Venetians Alphonso King of Naples and Charles Duke of Orleans Now as it truly appertained to this last according to the Conditions of the Contract of Valentine his Mother he went thither with some Forces but the Milanese intending their own liberty he could get no more then only his Earldom of Ast Afterwards those People having for many years undergone much trouble and affliction by the contending Parties that strugled for the Mastery fell as we use to say out of the Frying-pan into the Fire by accepting for their Duke Francis Sforza who had Married a Bastard of Duke Philips Year of our Lord 1448 There were but little Infantry in France The King that he might have some that were good and well maintain'd ordained that every Village throughout the Kingdom should furnish him with and pay one Foot-Archer who should be exempt from all Taxes and Subsidies For which they called them the Franc-Archers These made a Body of two or three and twenty thousand Men. Year of our Lord 1448 The Truce prolonged three or four several times was not to end till about a Twelvemonth after this time a Captain of the English Party this was Francis de Surienne extreamly greedy after Prey surprized the City of Fougers belonging to the Duke of Bretagne where he met with a Booty of above Sixteen hundred thousand Crowns and at the same time the English made irruption in Scotland which was also comprehended in the Truce as well as Bretagne but they were soundly beaten there England began likewise to be imbroil'd within its self by reason of some new Tax which King Henry would raise in London which hath most commonly been the occasion or at least the pretence for a Civil War Year of our Lord 1448 The Duke of Bretagne and the Scots likewise make their complaints to King Charles for this breach of the Truce The English are summon'd to repair the damage they disown'd Surienne indeed but for the rest gave no satisfaction but put off's and delays All this was suffer'd six Months they imagine the French are afraid At length the Duke of Bretagne flies out and with the Kings consent surprizes at the same time the Pont de Larche above Rouen Conches near Evreux Gerbroy not far from Beauvais and Cognac upon the River Charente Year of our Lord 1449 By force of many Intreaties Negotiations and Menaces the King overpersuaded Felix to set his hand to the re-union of the Church He renounced the Papacy more gloriously then he had accepted of it His Conventions with Nicholas V. were such that he seemed to quit it as a thing belonging to him which he conferr'd as a favour upon his Rival For he made his demission in the Council which he had purposely transferr'd from Basil to Lausanna and after he had deposited his Pontifical Ornaments the Fathers elected Nicholas who left him perpetual Legat in all the Countries of Savoy Montferrat Lyonnois Swisserland and Alsatia and received all those Cardinals he had created into the Sacred Colledge Year of our Lord 1449 The disturbances of England continuing King Charles found the opportunity so favourable that he resolved to chace the English out of his Kingdom He had made the Earl de Foix Lieutenant of his Armies from the Garonne to the Pyrenees and the Earl de Dunois in all the Kingdom in such sort nevertheless as he rendred respect and honour to the Constable when they both met in the same place The first had Order to take all places the English held at the foot of the Pereneans thereby to block up the passage against John of Arragon King of Navarre who had made a League with them and obliged himself for a certain Sum of Money to keep and guard Mauleon de Soule for them a place very strong in those times and situate upon a high Rock For this purpose he had taken it into his protection and had placed his Constable in it The Count de Foix was Son in Law to that Prince however he had more regard to the Kings Orders then his Father in Law and scruples not to besiege it The Navarrois knowing it wanted Provisions Arm'd himself to relieve it and came within two
Leagues but finding he was too weak and that his prayers availed not with his Son in Law he retreated and his Constable was forced to capitulate The Castle of Guissant which is within four Leagues of Bayonne surrendred likewise after three thousand English whom the Constable of Navarre and the Year of our Lord 1449 Mayor of Bayonne sent by Water to their relief had been beaten by the Besiegers At the same time Veneuil in Perche was taken by the contrivance of a Miller in revenge for that the English had beaten him the great Tower held it out yet a while In the interim the Count de Dunois by the small resistance he met with from Pont-Audemer Lisieux Mantes and the Forts that were round those Cities perceiving the English were at a low ebb sent the King word that Normandy was sorely shaken He was besides informed that the Duke of Bretagne with the Constable had taken Coutances and that the Inhabitants of Alenson had restored their Duke to his City and besieged the Castle which immediately capitulated Upon this good news he departs from Vendosme where he got his Forces together came to Verneuil thence to Louviers and Pont de Larche to summon the City of Rouen whose Inhabitants were disposed to shake off their yoak Year of our Lord 1449 The Earl of Sommerset who was in it with three thousand English did not permit his Heraulds to come near Which could not prevent a party of the Inhabitants from placing many Frenchmen upon their Walls but the rest not joyning with them that design miscarried These would first make their Conditions with the King as they did the next day Their Archbishop Rodolph Roussel who was chief of the Deputation obtained security and liberty for the Persons and for the Goods of all those that were within the City as well English as French whether choosing to remain there still or to remove elsewhere if they desired it When he had given an account of the Treaty in the Town-Hall the English endeavoured to frustrate the execution by seizing on the Gates and Walls but the Inhabitants soon dispossess'd them and forced them to retire to the Bridge the Castle and the Palace The Fort St. Catharine held but little Sommerset having few Provisions in the old Palace capitulated within fifteen days That himself and all his should go out with their Lives and Goods and all their furniture for War excepting their great Guns That they should pay fifty thousand Gold Crowns and all such Debts as they owed to the Bourgois and the Merchants belonging to that Country That they should be obliged to procure the surrender of Caudebec Moustiervilliers Lislebonne Tancarville and Honnefleur and for Hostages should leave the Sire Talbot and five or six more of their principal Commanders The Tenth day of November the King entred the City in Pomp and celebrated the Feast of St Martin the ancient Patron of Gall. Year of our Lord 1449 and 50. Notwithstanding the inconveniences of the Winter Season he laid Siege to Harfleur which was the first place that was conquered by the late Henry King of England It surrendred upon the Twelfth day of January As did Honnefleur afterwards which held out but a few days Year of our Lord 1449 At the same time the Duke of Bretagne and the Constable reduced Valongne with six or seven other little places and after a long Siege regained likewise his City of Foulgeres Year of our Lord 1449 These prosperities were not without some mixture or allay of sorrow to the King In the year 1449. while he was at Jumieges they poysoned his dear Agnes de Sorean without whom he could not live one moment To comfort him Antoinetta dt Maignelais Dame de Villequier Cousin to the deceased took her place but she was not sole Mistress the impotence of age stirring up this Kings desires he entertained a great number of beautiful Damsels at least to satisfie the pleasure of his Eye Some would needs have it that some of the Dauphins friends made away Agnes and that he who did most contribute to it was the famous James Coeur Keeper of the Kings Plate Master of the Moneys or Mint-Master of Bourges his Native City a Merchants Son and one that managed all the Treasury There are such wonders related of his Riches his Credit and his Buildings that Chymists would fain persuade us he had the Philosophers Stone In Anno 1452. an Accusation was framed against him in the Kings Council and all his Goods were seized as well for the Crime above mentioned as for those of Concussion Exaction Transportation of Money out of the Kingdom falsifying of Coyn counterfeiting Seals selling Arms and Powder to the Sarrasins c. He appeared voluntarily to justifie himself he was Arrested and removed to several Prisons Finally the King being satisfied that he was guilty says the Decree of the Nineteenth of May 1453. of all these Crimes and yet remitting the pains of death for the services he had rendred him and upon the intercession of the Holy Father condemned him to make Amende Honorable to pay a hundred thousand Crowns and confiscated all his Goods Some time after the Parliament restored him in his Reputation and Estate after he had paid his Fine Towards the beginning of this year 1450. there landed three thousand English at Cherbourgh commanded by Thomas Kyrle who drawing a Party out of the Garrisons made up a gross of six thousand Men with which he adventur'd to take the Field The Constable having heard of their march goes forth to seek them although he had not half their number of Men. He met and fought them nigh the Village of Fourmigny between Carentan and Bayeux along a small River which ran behind them These new Levies joyned with such as had never hunted together could not stand before the old experienced Soldiers who had so many brave Leaders and Warlike Nobility to encourage them few of them escaped since they counted three thousand seven hundred seventy four that were slain and fourteen hundred Prisoners Year of our Lord 1450 This blow brought them to their last gasp they appeared now no more but upon the Walls of some places yet remaining in their hands The King being gone into the Lower Normandy found no great difficulty in besieging them nor much more in taking them Vire Bayeux St. Sauveur le Vicomte Falaize Caen defended themselves but weakly Caen made its composition upon St. John's Eve They provided the Earl of Sommerset and four thousand English he had about him with Vessels to transport them into England but not to any other place The City was given up to the King the Second day of July Falaise the Twentieth of the same Month. The King made his entrance into Caen the Sixth Nothing remained but Cherbourgh the Constable had besieged it after the surrender of Caen Thomas Govel who was Governor with a thousand Natural English gave it up the Eleventh day of August Thus was
all Normandy regained by the French or to speak more properly helped to recover it self in one year and six days The King desiring the remembrance should be preserved and that eternal thanks should be rendred to God ordained general Processions should be made in the Month of September of the same year and annually hereafter upon same day that Cherbourgh surrendred Year of our Lord 1450 After the King had given Order for all the Affairs of this great Province leaving only six hundred Lances and their Archers he turned towards Guyenne and this same year open'd the passage over the Dordogne by the taking of Bergerac which was besieged and mastered by John Earl of Pontieure and Vicount of Limoges He was one of the four Sons of Marguerite de Clisson who was restored to the Estate belonging to his Family by Duke Francis pursuant to the Treaty made at Nantes in Anno 1448. As the loss of the Battle at Fourmigny made the English lose all Normandy the defeat of the Bourdelois made them lose all the rest of Guyenne Amanjeu d'Albret Lord d'Orval going to scowre about the Neighbourhood of Bourdeaux with seven hundred Horse only there came forth ten or twelve thousand Horse and Foot English and Bourdelois who ran confusedly upon him as to a certain Victory D'Orval knowing whom he had to deal with charges them briskly puts them to the rout strewed the ways and Fields with a thousand of those giddy-brain'd Fellows and carried away a great many more to Basas Year of our Lord 1452 The following Summer the King who was still at Tours having drawn together a great many Men resolved to compleat the Conquest of Guyenne much crest-faln at that shock The Count de Dunois is Lieutenant General the Count de Pontieure Foix and Armagnac attaqu'd it at the four corners the English were beaten and gave ground every where so that having no more then Fronsac Bourdeaux and Bayonne the Count de Dunois having besieged Fronsac they capitulated to surrender those three places if upon St. John Baptists-day there appeared not in the Field and near Fronsac an Army able to give them Battle Which not having been able to do they executed the Agreement excepting only as to Bayonne whom they abused with the flattering hopes that the King of England was preparing to come and relieve it Personally The French Generals made their triumphant entry into Bourdeanx the Nineteenth day of June Year of our Lord 1451 In vain did the English struggle obstinately to keep Bayonne after some assaults the apprehension of being taken by Storm obliged them also to capitulate on Friday the Twentieth of August The Governor John de Beaumont with all the Garrison were made Prisoners of War and it cost the Inhabitants forty thousand Crowns of Gold to be spared The favour of Heaven was so benign towards the French or the Peoples fancies so strong that upon that same Friday they beheld a white Cross in the Air over Bayonne which seemed to instruct them that God would have them to forsake the red Cross of England and take up that of France This place being reduced the English had nothing left them in all France but only Calais and the County of Guisnes If we search into the causes of this so suddain and wonderful a revolution we shall find it was the neglect of the English in not well providing and strengthning their places their wont of good Commanders the hatred the People had for their scornful and imperious way of Government On the other hand the union and hearty zeal of the Nobles and all the French Militia the good order and discipline in their Armies the huge stores and provision of Canons and all sorts of Warlike Engines Pioneers and Ammunitions and the new method of approaching and attaquing of Towns by Works and Trenches but above all the Civil War that Richard Duke of York had kindled amongst the English Year of our Lord 1451 and 52. That Duke knew how to make such use of the disgust that Nation had taken against the Government of Queen Marguerite who was a French-woman as to raise himself amidst their discontents up to the Throne which he pretended was due to him rather then to Henry For he descended but only by the Female side from Lionel of Clarence who was second Son of King Edward III. and Henry came but from the third Son who was John Duke of Lancaster his Paternal Great Grandfather Year of our Lord 1452 These Divisions were calmed for a while upon the intreaties of the Lord de L'Esparre deputed from the City of Bourdeaux and the Lords of the Country of Bourdelois who taking distaste at some new Impost that was laid upon them offer'd to restore that Country to the English Talbot the bravest of that Nation and the most zealous for its honour being therefore landed in Medoc with four thousand Men was brought into Bourdeaux by the Citizens the Twenty fourth day of October and about the latter end of the year having received a like reinforcement from England he made himself Master of Castillon Cadillac Libourne Fronsac and some other small places besides The Bourdelois had taken their opportunity when the King was just going to engage in a great War against the Duke of Savoy who apparently must have been upheld by the Dauphin and by conseqence had correspondence in the very heart of the Kingdom Year of our Lord 1452 The Kings quarrel to that Duke was because he had agreed the Marriage of his Daughter Charlotte and the Dauphin without his consent This was the true motive of the War but that he might have some apparent cause he had taken into his protection certain Lords belonging to the Estates of Savoy who having joyned in a League against their Princes chief Minister named John de Compeis were for ever banished by a Sentence given at Pont de Beauvoisis The King advanced even to Fores to restore them but being informed the English were landed at Bourdeaux the Duke being come to wait upon him at Feurs he suffer'd himself to be overcome by his most humble submissions and agreed to a Peace Year of our Lord 1453 The following year he marched to Lusignan in Poitou thence to St. Jean d'Angely for the recovery of Bourdelois His Army besieged Castillon Talbot coming to its relief with six thousand Men was beaten and slain together with his Son His defeat caused the surrender of the City the utter ruine of the English Party and after that the regaining of Bourdeaux For they perceiving Fronsac Libourne Langon Cadillac and all the other Towns about them were reduced the King quartered at Lermont all Relief and even all Provisions failing them surrendred upon composition which the King would never have granted them if a great mortality had not swept away his Men. However the better to curb and keep this City which the interest of Traffick and reciprocal Marriages inclined to be for the English he banished forty
night and go towards Burgundy Fear is an evil Counsellor all were of that opinion the Lord of Contay only hindred that retreat which would have turned to a rout The next day they had certain intelligence that the King was decamped and gone to Corbeil and a few hours after they were assured the Breton was arrived at Estampes Thus the Field was left to the Charolois which filled his head with so much pride that it may well be said that day was the cause of all his misfortunes The next day the King fearing to be hemm'd in descended directly to Paris along the Seine The same night he supped in the company of the principal Ladies of that City to gain their hearts by the power of that insinuating Sex and to have a Party amongst the Beauties to oppose the intrigues of those that were for the interests of the Princes He also highly commended the Fidelity of the Citizens and to allure the People he caused to be proclaimed in all the Suburbs an abatement upon Wines from a fourth part to an eighth part and a general revocation of all Imposts the five great Farmes only excepted These favours being against his will did not last long no more then the establishment he made of a Council of eighteen persons six of the Parliament six of the Body of the University and six of the chiefest Citizens by whose Counsel and advice he promised to be governed according to the remonstrances of the Clergy the Parliament and the University The danger past he kept nothing of all this but a mortal hatred against those that had made the proposition and particularly against the Bishop who first mentioned it in the name of the rest This was William Brother of Allen Chartier a man of great vertue and hugely zealous of the publick good ✚ Being in want of money he made great borrowings amongst his Officers Which was the first occasion of making employments vendible for he set aside those that had refused to lend him what he demanded About fifteen days after having well provided for the security of the City he went into Normandy to raise men and Money In the mean time the Count de Charolois marching to meet the Breton took the House d'Estampes to refresh his Soldiers and dress the wounded which were to the number of almost two Thoúsand At the end of three days the Breton arrived having with him the Counts of Dunois and Dammartin the Mareschal de Loheack the Lords de Bevil de Gaucour and d'Amboise 800 Men at Armes and six Thousand Light-horse It hapned one day that Monsieur a young Prince who had but a faint heart seeing the wounded men who were carried thorough the Streets of Estampes and the sick that crawled up and down let fall some expressions which signified his repentance for that enterprize The Count de Charolois heard it and perhaps he heard likewise that the Bretons upon the rumour that had been spread how the King was slain in the Battel of Montlehery had consulted of a means to rid themselves of him that they might govern the new King alone upon which he imagined that he might be left betwixt the Hammer and the Anvil and in this apprehension he sent to Edward King of England to treat of an Alliance with him and desire to have his Sister Margret His design was but to entertain him with hopes that he might make no League with the King for he mortally hated the House of York and was for the interest of Lancaster nevertheless by over-acting the dissembler he engaged himself so far as to compleat the marriage and took the Order of the Garter Year of our Lord 1465 When the Princes had staid two Weeks at Estampes they resolved to return before Paris to try a second time whether they could move them to declare themselves for the publick good Having therefore foraged the Country of Gastinois they passed the Seine over a Bridge of Boats between Melun and Montereau At this passage John of Anjou Duke of Calabria and Lorrain the Son of good King Rene and a great Captain joyned them with the Forces of both Burgundy's He had but eight hundred Horse but of the very best and amongst his Foot which were but few five Hundred Swisse the first that were seen in France When all the other Lords were come with their Forces there were near a Hundred Thousand Horse in that Army The Burgundian had his Quarters at Charenton and was lodged in his Castle of Conflans the Dukes of Berry and Calabria at St. Maur and the rest at St. Denis and the places thereabouts In this multitude of principal Officers there was no Head considerable enough to command this vast Body they staid three days before Paris without doing any thing Perhaps they might have forced it by assaults had they undertaken it for there were but five hundred Lances and some Bands of Archers however they rather furnished themselves then starved the City to a Compliance It is true they narrowly missed the gaining of it by Treaties and Intreagues For some out of a desire to see the Blockade at an end and the rest for fear of some sad event gave Ear to certain Letters brought them by the Heralds from the Brother of their King They sent Deputies to him from the Chiefest of the Clergy the Parliament the University and the Citizens The Bishop was Speaker At their return notwithstanding the contrary orders of the Count d'Eu who was Governor it was concluded at their Town-Hall that they should desire the King to Assemble the Estates that the Princes might come into Paris in small companies and that they should be furnished with Provisions for their money The King being informed thereof returned to Paris the 28 th of August and broke off this project Had he staid two days longer he might perhaps have found the Princes in Paris and the Gates shut against him Had that hapned he had resolved to have retired to Lewis Sforza Duke of Milan his good Friend who had sent him a relief of seven or eight Thousand Men that mightily harrassed the Duke of Bourbons Country Year of our Lord 1465 After his Arrival no day passed without Skermishings unless upon some Truces which were renewed divers times for four and twenty hours only There had been a Conference agreed upon by Deputies the third of September which was held at Mercers Grange From that hour there was nothing but bargaining to debauch people the Confederates grew jealous of each other that Party disunited and the Kings grew strong and better fortified and Confirmed It was resolved the Council of Sforza Duke of Milan should be followed which was to dissolve the League at what price soever and for that purpose to grant to every one in particular almost whatever he demanded The King had very near made an agreement which each of them excepting only about the Appenage for his Brother they being obstinately bent to have Normandy allowed him
for this was to assure him that they had Infallible Intelligence how to surprize the Dukes Towns and make his Subjects revolt in the very Heart of Flanders Upon the hopes of these great advantages he sent an Usher of the Parliament to Summon him even in the very City of Ghent to give satisfaction to the Count d'Eu from whom he detained some Lands belonging to the County of Pontieu In stead of appearing upon the Summons he levy'd Soldiers at half Pay but having been at this charge three Months seeing no Body moved he thought it was only a huffe and dismissed them The House of Burgundy spared their People so much that they kept up no Militia nor Garrisons in their Towns they thought that by Treating their Subjects well they were Guard good enough However when he had laid down all his Arms he received divers informations that all was ready to overwhelm him John de Chaalons Prince of Orange and some of his Domestick Servants for sook him Baldwin one of his Bastard Brothers he had eight Plotted to poyson him the Breton renounced his alliance and the Constable Seized upon the City of Saint Quentin Then he that had feared nothing began to apprehend every thing He got together with much ado three hundred Horse with which he advanced to cover his other Cities on the Somme But upon sight of him those of Amiens turned their backs and received the Kings Forces Abbeville would have done as much if Desquerdes had not hinderd it He retired therefore to Arras with more hast then he went forth and sent a private messenger to the Constable to pray him not to push things forward to extremity He received for answer that unless Monsieur would declare for him he could not be served in it But that he was ready to embrace his defence if he would give his Daughter in Mrrriage to him A Note from Monsieur conveyed to him in a piece of Wax assured him the same thing and the Breton gave him intelligence that all his Towns even Bruges and Ghent were upon the point of revolting and that the King was resolved to besiege him whithersoever he went But the more they will force him the more he stands out against them Not being followed so closely as he might have been by the King he resumes his Courage gathers up Men takes the Field and having gained Pequiny presents himself before Amiens and Fired his Guns at the Town to invite the Constable to give him Battel But finding the great numbers of men coming which the King got together at Beauvais he retreated back and wrote a very Submissive Letter to him which in gross discovered the Artifices of those that Animated the King against him The King who found he was as little secure as the Duke amongst such double dealing People agreed to a Truce for a year the 12 th Day of May. St. Quintin remained the Constables and was at last the cause of his ruine The Treaty Signed the King went into Touraine Monsieur to his Apennage of Guyenne and the Burgundian to Flanders During this War Edward of York with a Moderate assistance which the Burgundian and secretly furnished him withal for he apprehended to offend the Earl of Warwick had by the favour of the Duke of Clarence his Brother whom he had regained by the intrigues of a Woman re-enters England gained two Battels one against Warwick who was killed on the spot the other against young Edward Son of King Henry and the Queen his Mother in which that Prince was slain The Queen became a Prisoner to the Conqueror whom afterwards King Lewis redeemed by a ransom of 6000 Crowns Thus Edward re-establisht himself in his Throne and maintained it till his Death Year of our Lord 1471 Sigismond Duke of Austria having need of Money which that House hath ever been in great scarcity of till the time of the Emperor Charles V. engaged his County of Ferreie for a Notable Sum to the Duke of Burgundy The Duke puts ☜ in a very courteous Governor he was called Hagembach who laying great exactions was the first cause of the Germans hatred towards his Master Year of our Lord 1471 Pope Sixtus the IV. this was Francis de la Rovere Elected in the Room of Paul II. to follow the example of his Predecessors Sollicited the Christian Princes to unite themselves against the Turks For this purpose he sent the Cardinal Bessarion a Greek by Birth and a person of great merit to the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy The Cardinal having seen the Duke first the King was so much offended at it that he made him wait a long time before he would admit him to his presence and giving him Audience he rallied with him and treated him as a Grecian Beard The Truce displeased the Duke who had made it by compulsion neither was it to the good liking of Monsieur nor the Breton nor the Constable thus all four sought to re-unite themselves rogether The marriage of Monsieur was the only tye that could be secure the Burgundian promised it though he had no mind to it and upon this foot they renewed their League The Constables solliciting the other Princes to enter into it the Duke of Bourbon gave notice of his practices to the King who wisely dissembled it contriving to be quit with them by the same method For he every day pared away somewhat of his Brothers Apennage threw one rub one day and another the next Debauched his Friends from him corrupted his Servants and got them to reveal all their Masters secrets By the Treaty of Constans John Court of Armagnac had been restored to his Lands the King had caused them to be again Seized on in the year 1468. And had given them to Monsieur with the Government of Guyenne Monsieur being discontented had caused that Count to return put him into possession of his Estate and by his means and with the assistance of the Counts de Foix and the Lord de Albret he raised Men either that he might not be Surprized or to undertake something Year of our Lord 1471 Whatever his designs were they were blasted by a detestable and cruel remedy He loved a Lady Daughter of the Lord Monsereau and Widdow of Lewis d'Amboise and had for Confessor a certain Benedictine Monk Abbot of St. John d'Angely named John Favre Versois This wicked Monk poyson'd a very fair Peach and gave it to that Lady who at a Collation put it to steep in Wine presented one half of it to the Prince and eat the other her self She being tender died in a short time the Prince more robust sustained for some while the assaults of the Venome but how-ever could not Conquer it and in the end yielded his Life to it Year of our Lord 1471 Such as adjust all the Phenomena's of the Heavens to the accidents here below might have applied to this same a Comet of extraordinary Magnitude which was visible four score days
his Councel to hearken to an accommodation The procedure of the Burgundian who had made them expect too long and which was worse the double persidious dealing of the Constable and the approaching Winter they having no one place to shelter themselves in gave them a plausible pretence to do so In few days the Deputies for the two Kings agreed upon conditions It was a Merchandized Truce for nine years the Burgundian and the Breton to be comprized if they would 73000 Crowns of Gold ready Money for the English and the Marriage of his Daughter with the Dauphin for whose maintenance King Lewis would allot the Revenue of Guyenne for nine years or 50000 Crowns ayear which should be carried to the Tower of London to the King of England Year of our Lord 1475 When the Duke had notice of what was treating he came in great hast he being the Sixteenth of his Company to find Edward He spake loud he thundred and braved him But neither his fury nor his reproaches having done good he turned short home again The Truce agreed whilst the Kings were to sign the Treaty the King of England came with his Army to lodge within half a League of Amiens The King sent him 300 Waggons laden with the best Wines and gave order they should permit as many English as desired to come into Amiens and that nothing should be spared to make them welcome Which lasted three or four days It was afterwards resolved the two Kings should have an enterview on a Bridge which was erected at Pequigny upon the Somme with a Barriere grated betwixt them And there they ratified the Peace the 29 th of August That done the King of England with all the Lords of his Retinue repassed the Sea very well satisfied with the good Wines and the sine French Gold there having been 16000 Crowns distributed in Pensions amongst such as had most Credit with their King The Burgundian shewed himself a little refractory till in the Month of October he accepted of a Truce In the mean time his Choler discharged it self upon the young Rene Duke of Lorrain whom he stripp'd of his Dukedom all but Nancy which defended it self above two Months Then the Constable who thought to have plaid upon all the three Princes promising to each of them his Town of St. Quentins found himself exposed as the Butt for all three to Shoot at and unhappily for him his Wife who was Sister to the Queen hapned to Die This Lord so powerful who wanted neither for Servants nor Money nor strong Holds wanted both Courage and Brain all of a sudden and fearing all the World durst not Trust any one In fine he retired into the Burgundians Country whom he guessed the most exorable and who in effect gave him security to go thither He was no sooner gone out of St. Quentin but the King Seized it and gave notice of it to the Burgundian Summoning him to deliver up that Infidel in Exchange of that place conformably to an Article of the Truce between them The Burgundian was then before Nancy which was necessary for him to keep Lorrain in awe and to joyn the Low-Country to the Dutchy and County of Burgundy For fear therefore lest the King should disturb him in that Conquest he caused the Constable to be Seized at Mons whence he was transferr'd to Peronne and ordered his People to deliver him but not till a certain day remote enough in which time he believed he should take Nancy and then promised himself by that space he might revoke his order But the place defended it self so well that he could not master it within the said time and nevertheless his people delivered up the Constable with his Letters sealed Writings and other pieces to convict him Year of our Lord 1475 They gave him not leasure to bethink himself he was led to the Bastille the 2 d of December examined by some Commissary's condemned to Death by the Parliament and Executed in the Greve the 19 th of the same Month. A Lesson Written in Letters of Blood for such as would make themselves a Terror to their Princes Year of our Lord 1475 After the City of Perpignan had endured a year and a halfs Siege and a Famine to the very Eating of Leather it Surrendred to the French about the end of this year and thus the Country of Roussillon remained once more in the French hands Year of our Lord 1476 The eighth of January following was Published an Edict of the Kings which enjoyned all the Bishops to go to their Diocesses on pain of a Seizure of their Temporals to prepare themselves for a Council which he said was necessary He likewise Ordained that all such as came from Rome should be obliged to shew the Papers they brought All this to frighten the Legat the Popes Nephew it was John de la Rovere who would undertake too much Lorrain being Conquer'd the Burgundian cast his thoughts upon many other Provinces King Rene made him hope for Provence he disposed of the Estates of Savoy almost as much as of his own the Dutchess adhering to him fearing lest he should bring the Uncles of her Pupil to invade that Dutchy From thence he went into Italy where he had an Alliance with the Duke of Milan and a great ascendant by Fame over all the petty Princes of that Country But before this he would needs compel the Swissers to stoop to his Laws where he went so much resolv'd hating them besides already that he refused their most humble Submissions and the offers they made to enter into his alliance and to renounce all others even that with the King An Invasion they had made upon the Lands of James of Savoy Count de Romont served him for a pretence to Attack them the quarrel between them and that Count proceeded from a very small occasion which was for a Cart Load of Sheep Skins he had taken from them Against this Rock it was then that his querellous Ambition went to make Shipwrack and dash it self in pieces They were as yet but Peasants and very little known but who had all the Strength and Force of a Natural Valour never yet softned by the Luxury of their Neighbours Year of our Lord 1477 To tell it in few words the 5 th of April he lost his Infantry and his rich Equipage at Granson the 20 th of June all his Forces even to the number of 18000 Men before Morat and in fine the 5 th of January being the Eve of Twelfth-day his own life and the Grandeur of his House before Nancy Year of our Lord 1476 After the Battel of Morat Duke Rene who was come thither with the Swisse and the Germans and by his Valour had contributed much to the Victory went and retook his City of Nancy The Burgundian after that unfortunate day finding all his Allies abandon'd him and his Subjects began to despise him was fallen sick with Spite and rage from which not being
d'Imbercourt They likewise called in the Bishop of Liege the Duke of Cleves and the Son of the Count de St. Pol. They were all divided about the marriage of the Princess Ravastein desired to have her married to his Nephew the Son of the Duke of Cleve The Chancellor Hugonet and the Lord d'Imbrecourt to the Dauphin and the Gauntois to some German Prince The Deputies from these were gone to the King of France in behalf of the States of Flanders and said they had full power to negociate a Peace The King shewed them maliciously some Letters from the Princesses Council which mentioned the quite contrary Their brutish Pride believed the Council plaid upon them and prompted them immediately to revenge As soon as they were return'd to Gaunt they laid hold on Hugonet and Imbercourt made Process against them under pretence of some concussions and cut off their heads not being moved with the humble Prayers and Intreaties or the abundant Tears of their Princess who with dishevel'd Hair came to the place of Execution to Implore the Lives of her two faithful Servants With the same fury they took away Ravastein and the Dutchess Dower from her gave her a Council of their own chusing and drew Adolph of Guelder out of Prison to command their Forces Ever since the War for the Publick Good the King had always had a Mortal desire for revenge against James de Armagnac Duke of Nemours This Lord after the Death of the Count d'Armagnac had retired himself into the strong Castle of Carlat in Auvergne in the year 1476. Peter de Bourbon-Beajeu had order to take him He could not have compassed it by force he makes use of fraud giving his Faith he should have no hurt yet nevertheless he brings him to the Bastille About seven or eight Months after the Parliament had orders to proceed against him Those men of honesty could not find any thing charged upon him sufficient to make him Guilty the King sends them to Noyon the 20 th of June to teach them their Lesson and put out of their places such Counsellors as refused to conclude he deserv'd Death The rest returning to Paris Chancellor Peter Doriole presiding they condemned him the 4 th of August to lose his Head and the same day the Sentence was put in Execution The King would have his two Sons who were yet but Children stand under the Scaffold that their Fathers Blood might run down upon their Heads Year of our Lord 1477 The Flemmings and the Duke of Bretagne earnestly Sollicited the King of England not to suffer the Heiress of Burgundy to perish without assisting her but the King amuzed him still with the Marriage of the Dauphin to his Daughter and spared neither Presents nor Pensions to all that were about the King who besides was over-burthned with Fat too much addicted to his pleasures and who feared dangers greatly because he had greatly suffer'd His Brother George Duke of Clarence having medled too much in his affairs or for some other cause which was never known fared but very ill he caused him to be drowned in a But of Malmesey In these times Oliver le Daim the Kings Barber who made himself a man of great importance had taken a Commission to reduce the City of Gaunt thinking he had much Credit amongst them because he was a Country mans Son of those parts The Gauntois baffled him as he deserved Retreating thence he by surprize got the Kings Forces into Tournay that from thence he might molest the Flemmings The Gauntois having taken Arms went Head-long to attack this place But they were ill handled and Adolph de Gueldres killed in their retreat This was about the beginning of July Year of our Lord 1477 It had been their design that he should Marry the Princess who very glad to be so deliver'd from him resolved in fine to determine which to take of the many that aimed to get her She therefore chose Maximillian Son to the Emperor Frederic to whom she had plighted her Faith in her Fathers Life time The Marriage was Consummated at Gaunt about the end of July He was so poor that his Wife was forced to be at the charges for the wedding for his Equipage and the maintenance of his Servants At first she got no advantage by a Husband who had no assistance from his Father very covetous nor his Uncle Sigismond rich enough in money but of a very poor Spirit Nevertheless upon the consideration of his Father who was Emperor the King being entred into some Conferences with him found it fit to grant him Truce for a year and to restore to him Quesnoy Bouchain and Cambray which were in the Territories belonging to the Empire Others say they drove out the French Garrisons and rendred themselves to Maximillian The Lord de Craon this was George de la Trimoville who commanded the Kings Army in Burgundy treated the Prince of Orange ill and did not restore him to his Lands as the King had promised notwithstanding he had express orders This was the cause that the Prince joyned himself again with Claude de Vaudrey and some other Noble-men of the Country and led away almost all the Province from him It is true that the Battel he afterwards lost nigh Montguyon brought back the Dutchy but the War did not end there as to the County Amongst other events the Lord de Craon shamefully raised the Siege before Dole The King was so angry that for this and his plundrings he set him aside and put Charles d'Amboise Chaumont in his place This man laid the foundation of the first League which the Kings of France have had with the Swisse He stipulated that the King should give a Pension of 20000 Livers yearly to the Cantons and as much to some particular people for which they should furnish him with six Thousand men to be paid by him and should give him the first Rank amongst all their Allies at which they made some difficulty because the Duke of Savoy had ever held it The Truce being expired Maximillian caused some Forces to enter Burgundy who more by the Factions of the People that regretted their ancient Princes then by their own proper strength took Beaune Chastillon Bar Semur and divers other places with so great facility that if the Emperor Frederick had assisted his Son never so little he had at that time re-conquered all the Dutchy The Lord d'Amboise who had money and men in abundauce chased them almost as easily out again as they gotten in and thereupon the Truces were renewed for some Months The Kings of France had for a long time had a good number of Gentlemen Pensioners to attend and to Guard them King Lewis encreased the number and gave them a Captain ✚ His impatience to know speedily all that passed in every part of his Kingdom was the occasion of setling the Posts and Couriers who for a long time were only for the Kings Service Italy had divided it self in
Instrument of Oblivion or Abolition the Twentieth of June The Mareschal de Rieux declaring openly for him received some of his men into Ancenis and took upon him the command of the Army as for Rohan and Quintin his Brother they adhered to the Royalists The Lord de Laval was not suffered to remain Neuter as he would fain have done they forced him to deliver up Vitre to the King Dole was taken and sacked The Duke of Bretagne's affairs had a good aspect for those two or three Months that the King was at Paris Rieux regained Vannes d'Albret brought him a Thousand Horse and the King of England sent him some Foot In retaliation the Kings Army commanded by la Trimoville taking the Field in the Month of April took Chasteau-Briand and razed it gained Ancenis then Besieged Fougeres a Rich place and of great importance which surrendred and after that St Aubin du Cormier The French and Bretons Forces Leagued together joyned in one Body to go to the relief of Fougeres contrary to the wise Counsel of the Mareschal de Rieux Being on their March they were informed the place had Capitulated and Saint Aubin du Cormier likewise The Kings Army commanded by la Trimoville apprehending they would go and retake St. Aubin marched up to them The Battel was fought near the Burrough of Orange between Renes and St. Aubin the 28 th Year of our Lord 1488 of July La Trimoville obtained the Victory the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Orange who alighted and fought for the Bretons were made Prisoners six Thousand of their Men being slain Year of our Lord 1488 The Dame de Beaujeu did soon after set the Prince of Orange at Liberty he having Married her Husbands Sister and made him Lieutenant for the King in Bretagne But she kept the Duke of Orleans with great care in the Castle of Lusignan and afterwards in the great Tower at Bourges Some days before this Battel there had been another fought in the Air Great Flocks of Jays and multitudes of Pies grappled so furiously with their Bekes and Claws against each other that a Vast deal of ground was quite coverd with their Dead Carcasses The fidelity of the Breton Lords was sorely shaken by this rude Shock The Vicount de Rohan encouraged to declare the pretensions he had to the Dutchy as being the Son of Mary Sister and as he alledged partly Heiress of Duke Francis I. caused Dinan and St. Malo's to fall into the Kings hands this last place was plundred But Renes very couragiously told the Herald that came to Summon them That they would sooner chuse to be nothing then to be unfaithful The Duke thus ill handled by the blind Baggage Fortune was advised to endeavour an accommodation with the King To effect this he sent the Count de Dunois and wrote to him with that submission not usual from the Dukes of Bretagne The King had great pretension to that Dutchy and demanded the Noble Guardianship of the Daughters they agreed upon Arbitrators to judge the right of it But in the mean while he consented to a Peace with the Duke upon condition he should not marry them without his leave that he should renounce all Foreign Leagues and Alliances and should let him keep those places he had Conquer'd in that Country The Treaty was agreed in the Castle of Vergy in Anjou where the King was at that time and Signed at Coiron by the Duke Soon after the Duke grown very old overwhelmed with Sorrow and hurt with a fall from his Horse died at Nantes the 9 th day of September having Reigned two and Thirty years By his Will he appointed the Mareschal de Rieux Guardian to his Daughters with whom he joyned Odet-Daydie Earl of Cominges his Gossip and Intimate Friend and allotted Frances de Dinan Dame of Chasteau-Briand to be their Governess They were two Anne and Isabeau the latter Died about two years after At this time they retired to the City named Guerrande Year of our Lord 1488 The Duke of Lorrain after the Death of the Breton reconciled himself to the Court upon hopes of obtaining some assistance towards recovery of the Kingdom of Naples Opportunity presented it self very fairly most of the Barons of that Country being revolted against King Ferdinand by reason of his Tyrannies and invited Rene to come and take possession of that Crown His Holyness Pope Innocent VIII did favour him whose Galleys with Julian de la Rovere Cardinal of St. Peters waited for him a long time in the Port of Genoa and the French Nobless shewed a great deal of eagerness to follow him But those that Governed the King thwarted this Prince as much as they possibly could as envying him the Glory of this Conquest So that making too long delay the Pope makes an agreement with Ferdinand and such as had faln off cast themselves upon his Mercy which did but ill Succeed with them for he made them all Prisoners and Alphonso his Son coming to the Crown commanded their Throats to be cut The Prince of Salerno wiser then the rest would not trust to it but retired to Venice resolving to seek out some abler Protector The Lorrianer withdrew into his own Country greatly confounded and ashamed and much sunk in his Reputation The Bretons being somewhat at their ease on the French-side were embroiled amongst themselves about the Marriage of their Dutchess Anne The Mareschal was obstinately bent to have her married to the Lord d'Albret to whom the Father had promised it in Writing But Montauban her Chancellor and the Earl de Cominges thought it too inconsiderable a Match and too weak to restore the Affairs of that Dutchy being ruined himself the King having Seized on all his Towns in Gascongny and besides the Princess had no manner of inclination for him So that as soon as ever she had attained the Age of puberty she made her protestations against that promise which were declared to him personally The Count de Dunois opposed it as much as they but for another end He aimed to have her Married to the Duke of Orleans whereas the rest designed her for the Arch-Duke Maximillian Their Disputes grew so high it had like to have come to blows The Dutchess got out of the Mareschals hands being assisted by her Chancellor and the Count de Dunois The Mareschal way-laid her thinking to stop the journey but his respect made him desist and leave her her presence having disarmed him Fearing to be Besieged in Redon by the French she would needs retire to Nantes the Lord d'Albret and the Mareschal refused to admit her but only with her Family-attendance upon this refusal she goes to Renes where the Inhabitants made her a Solemn reception Thus there were two Parties Cantonized the one at Renes with the Dutchess the other at Nantes with the Mareschal who was her Guardian and Authorized by the Orders of the defunct Duke During these Garboils the King seizes upon the
he had scraped together in his Hereditary Estates and amongst the People of the Low-Countries in superfluous Expences was with much ado got thither upon the earnest Sollicitations of the Pope who desired to have him in Italy to Counter-ballance the Power of the King He assigned him a day whereon he was to be at Guardia which is on the Confines of the Valley of Trent and Milanois to discourse with the King but because in the mean Time the Inhabitants of Treviso had denied Entrance to a Governor whom he sent thither and set up the Venetian Colours he made his Excuse upon this fresh Accident that he could not be at the Rendezvous This resistance of Treviso made the Venetians find they had with too much hast abandoned what they possessed in the Terra Firma This grain of Hope and Comfort dispell'd their fear Maximilian's slowness gave them time to take breath and their Courage began to rouze after they had by repeated Supplications the meanest and most abject that can be imagined mollified the Pope so much as to admit and hear their Ambassadors whatever Instance or Arguments the Emperors and the Kings could urge to the contrary But nothing was so favourable to the Recovery of their Affairs and to the Ruine of the Emperor as the Kings departure who notwithstanding promised to assist him with five hundred Men at Arms for whilst he neglected to take Order for the preserving his Places and minded not to gain the Affection of the People nor Curb and keep them in Awe by strong Garrisons they had partly per-force partly by Surprize regained the most important City of Padua This was about the time the King returned into France Year of our Lord 1509 The Emperor who had none but vast Designs had projected to besiege Venice and crush that Republick in the very Head but this was neither the Popes nor the Kings intention but by delaying it too long he had not the opportunity to do it the King and Ferdinand having called home their Naval Forces Besides it concerned his Reputation to recover Padua in which the Confederates but particularly the French assisted him pursuant to the Treaty of Cambray He laid Siege to it with six and thirty thousand Foot 1800. Men at Arms and a thousand light-Horse but there were in the Town twelve thousand Foot two thousand Horse two hundred Sons of Noble Venetians Volunteers every one of them resolved to be buried in a City the preservation or loss whereof decided the Fate of the Republick And indeed they defended themselves so bravely that the Emperor decamped the seventeenth day of the Siege and having disbanded almost all his Troops retired greatly inraged with the Confederates Nevertheless a more strict Alliance between the King and him was again cemented he wanting his Assistance to get satisfaction of Ferdinand who kept back all the profit of the Administration of the Kingdoms of Spain They both referr'd this difference to the Councel of France which ordained that Ferdinand in case he had no Children should have the Administration of Castille but should annually pay fifty thousand Ducats to the Emperor and as much for the maintenance of the Pupil Year of our Lord 1510 In the mean time his Holiness was reconciled to the Venetians notwithstanding the Kings and the Emperors remonstrances and took off their Excommunication having imposed what Conditions he pleased upon them He was daily more and more alienated from the King and every Hour forged some complaint or other against him for things of no consequence and most commonly without any just Grounds On the contrary the King sought all means and opportunities to regain his Good-Will but his Care and good Offices proved ineffectual as to that purpose his Holiness creating him Enemies in every Corner For at the same Instant he solicited the Swisse against him by his Instrument Matthew Schiner Bishop of Sion whose vehement Harangues moved and agitated that Savage People as a Storm of Wind blows the Leaves He likewise animated the Young King of England Henry VIII who mightily dâ—sirâ—d to signalize his Name and Advancement to the Crown by some Glorious Enterprize To which he was likewise prompted by Ferdinand his Father in Law who desired to embarass the King fearing he should tear the Kingdom of Naples from him Henry's Father was dead the Year before about the one twentieth of April A small occasion of Interest served to bring Julius into the Field Alphonso Duke of Ferrara had some Salt-pits at Comachio and the Pope was in possession of those of Cervia This last had wont to vend his Salt in Lombardy but Alphonso Year of our Lord 1510 had treated with the King to furnish him at a much cheaper Rate Now Augustin Ghisi Farmer of the Popes Salt-Pits having complained of it to his Holiness he commanded the Duke to break off this bargain with the King and upon his refusal began to make War upon him with design as it appeared to embroil the King and have an occasion to quarrel with him The Swisse on their Side sought to make some brawl they demanded some old Debts and an Augmentation of their Pensions of twenty thousand Livers yearly It had been no more then â—his Summ alone all the time of Lewis XI and now was raised to sixty thousand The addition they pressed for was not considerable considering the great danger they could put Milan into but they proceeded in such an insolent manner that the King believed himself obliged in Honour to refuse them He would also let them see that he could do well enough without them having engaged the Vallies of Sion and the League of the Grisons to his Service They were so offended at this his slighting them that they devoted themselves entirely to the Pope under this specious Title of Defenders of the Holy See for a thousand Florins Pension for each Canton The Lord de Chaumont Governor of the Milanois going to the Assistance of the Ferrarois drove the Venetians out that Dukes Country and by the taking of several Places brought their former Terror again upon them Thereupon the â—ive and twentieth day of May died at Lyons George d'Amboise the wise and prudent pilot of France a Minister without Covetousness or Pride a Cardinal with one single Benefice who having no other aim for Riches but to encrease the Publick Store heaped up for himself a Treasure of Benedictions to all Posterity Every one mourned him excepting Julius who alone rejoyced for having ascended the Holy Chair as he had done by Steps not altogether Canonical he apprehended lest if the King had become strongest in Italy this Cardinal might have made his Process and degraded him for it It might be thought that his hatred being now no longer enflamed by that Object should have extinguished of its self but on the contrary being now freed from those Fears which somewhat daunted him it broke forth with all its Violence and yet without any ill Effect for that
the Fossez but at their return not standing well upon their Guard they were Charged and put to the rout The Battle was fought the eighteenth of August near Guinegaste it was named The Battle of Spurrs because in this Fight the French made more use of them then of their Swords The more Valiant notwithstanding shewed great Personal courage which they paid for the Duke of Longueville and the Chevalier Bayard were hemm'd in and carried away by the English Terovenne capitulated fifteen Days after The two Princes not being able to agree who should have it commanded it to be dismantled against the express Terms of the Capitulation and burnt it all excepting only the Churches Tournay fearing the like Fate surrendred in good time to the Kings of England who built a Citadel to bridle them About the same Time James IV. King of Scotland the only Ally the King had left him having marched into England to make a Diversion was beaten by the English Army and slain upon the Spot the seventeenth of September Year of our Lord 1513 The King's Spirit bore him up bravely against all these Adversities but he had a Domestick trouble greater then those of all his Enemies This was his own Wife who moved with the Scruples common to her Sex could not endure he should be at variance with the Pope and should maintain a Council against him She still making a noise in his Ears upon these two Points he was oft-times forced to keep Peace within Doors to lay down his Arms when his Affairs were most promising and in a fair way of bringing Julius quickly to reason In fine being quite tyred and overcome by her Importunities and the remonstrances of his Subjects whom she stirred up on all Hands he renounced his Council of Pisa and adhered to the Latran Council by his Procurators who caused his Mandate to be read in the eight Session the fourteenth of December Year of our Lord 1513 the Pope then Presiding He likewise promised to appear concerning the Business of the Pragmatick but because of those Enemies who encompassed him round on all Hands he demanded a competent Time which was granted him The Cardinals de Sancta Croce and Sanseverin went to Rome to cast themselves at the Feet of Pope Leo and presenting themselves in the Council in the Habits of simple Priests craving pardon on their Knees acknowledging they had justly been degraded by Pope Julius and detesting the Assembly of Pisa as Schismatick were restored to their Dignities and took their Places in the Sacred Colledg After these submissions the Pope seemed in appearance to be satisfied with the King but did not omit underhand to incite the Emperor to make War upon him that he might be so much embroil'd as not to have leasure to return into Italy Year of our Lord 1514 Queen Anne survived but few Days after this reconciliation which she had so infinitely desired She died the ninth of January at the Castle of Blois Her Husband loved her so entirely that his Heart bowed under this Asslication he put on Black for Mourning shut himself up for several Days in his Closset and turned all the Fidlers Comedians Jugglers and Buffoons out of the Court. Having no Children he with great tenderness bred up Francis Duke of Valois whom the Laws of the Kingdom appointed necessary Successor Queen Anne out of a hatred she had ever conceived for Louisa Mother of this Prince had hindred his Marriage with her Daughter Claude The King would have it consummate the eighteenth day of May at Saint Germains en laye Himself had as then no thoughts of re-marrying but the Duke of Longueville who was Prisoner in England and endeavoured to make a Peace between the two Crowns having talked of a Marriage between the King and Mary the Sister of King Henry the good Prince hearkned willingly to it out of the desire he had to settle his People in Peace and the King of England inclined thereto as perceiving the Fourberies of Ferdinand his Father in Law who had disappointed him three several times Year of our Lord 1514 The Peace and Marriage were made in London on the same Day being the second of August The King of England was to hold Tournay and Lewis obliged himself to pay him six hundred thousand Crowns at two payments as well for the Expences of his War as for the Arrears of the Pension that had been promis'd by the Treaty of Pequigny and confirmed by that of Estaples in 1492. In this Summ they had deducted his Wives Portion which was four hundred thousand Crowns The Marriage was compleated at Abbiville the tenth Day of October Year of our Lord 1514 The young Duke of Valois who was all fire and flame for the fair Ladies did not want some Sparks for this new Queen and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk who loved her before this Marriage and followed the Court of France in Quality of Ambassador from England had not extinguished his first Flames But the remonstrances of Arthur de Gouffier Boisy having made the Duke of Valois consider whose Governor he had been that he was going to play a ticklish Game and had reason to apprehend the like from the Duke of Suffolk the wean'd himself of his Folly and caused every Motion of that Duke to be narrowly observed The good King's Grave was not far distant from his Nuptial Bed As he was raising a Potent Army to re-pass the Alpes making himself secure of Fortunes favour since he had gained the King of England his most dreadful Enemy a fit Year of our Lord 1515 of Vomiting seized upon him in his Hostel des Tournelles at Paris and brought him so low that he died of it the first day of January Anno 1515. He was fifty three years of Age and had Reigned seventeen His Humour was open gay and easie he loved to hear the Truth and that of things even concerning himself without shewing any Anger unless it reflected on the Honor of some Ladies of whom there were not many Stories to relate the Queens severe Chastity and his great and manly Soul above those triflings and vain divertisements that begets so much Corruption having made them keep themselves mightily reserved He pleased himself in reading of good Books and cherish'd and advanced Learned Men but more those that were able to instruct and do him Service then such as could only flatter and please the Ear with their soft difcourses Never Prince loved his People so much nor was so much beloved as he As he spared them as much as he could himself so he took care they should not be a Prey to the Grandees and Sons of War He had so well regulated the last that often times the Provinces would request it as a Favour and Advantage that he would send them Companies of his Men at Arms. He was more then once observed to have Tears in his Eyes when he was forced to lay some little Subsidy upon them and upon
the prospect he had of what would be squander'd and wasted in Luxury and vain Prodigallity by Francis I. after his death he sighing said Ah! we labour in vain this great Boy will spoil all Two Male Children he had by Anne of Bretagne died in the Arms of their Nurses There were only two Daughters left Claude who was married to Francis I. and Renee who in Anno 1528. was by that King married to Hercules Duke of Ferrara a petty Prince whom he made choice of purposely that he might not be able to contend with him for the Dutchy of Bretagne FRANCIS I CALLED The Great KING AND THE Father of Learning King LVII Aged XX Years and about four Months POPES LEO X. near seven Years under this Reign ADRIAN VI. Elected the 4th of January in the Year 1522. S. 1 Year and above eight Months CLEMENT VII Elected the 29th of November 1525. S. 10 Years and above 10 Months PAUL III. Elected the 13th of October 1534. S. Years and one Month whereof 12 Years and a half under this Reign Year of our Lord 1515. in January THis is the third time in the Capetine Race that the Scepter for want of Male-Children in the direct Line passes in a collateral Line Lewis I. Duke of Orleans had two Sons Charles who was Duke of Orleans after him and John who was Earl of Angoulesme Lewis XII was the Son of Charles and from John came another Charles who was Father of Francis I. who succeeded to Lewis XII He was crowned at Reims the five and twentieth of January and took the Title of Duke of Milan with that of King of France When this Prince appeared on the Throne in the Flower of his Youth with the Meene and Stature of a Hero with wonderful dexterity and address in all the noble Exercises of a Cavalier Brave Liberal Magnificent Civil Debonnaire and well Spoken he attracted the Adoration of the People and the Love of the Nobility and indeed he had been the greatest of Kings if the too high Opinion of himself grounded upon so many fair Qualities had not inclined him to suffer himself to be entangled in the Snares of Women and the Flatteries of Courtiers who corrupted his Mind and made it spend its self most in outward vain Glory and superficial appearances His first Cares were to seek the Alliance and Amity of the Princes his Neighbours The King of England taking yet to Heart the Infidelity of Ferdinand his Father in Law continued the Peace with him on the same Conditions as he had made with his Predecessor and to last during both their Lives The King sent back Queen Mary to him who afterwards married the Duke of Suffolk The Arch-Duke likewise being thereto obliged by the Flemmings who in no wise would have a War with France and besides judging there might be danger to let things stand without any Colligation between France and England sent the Count of Nassaw Ambassador to him who after he had rendred the Homage due for the Counties of Artois and Flanders treated a perpetual confederation between the two Princes Year of our Lord 1515 The Band and Knot that was to tye this fast was the Marriage in future of his Master with Renee the Queens Sister It was stipulated under terrible Oaths and great pains of refusal on either Part for which Francis stak'd down the Faith of several great Lords and twelve of his best Cities for security The Conditions were six hundred thousand Crowns of Gold and the Dutchy of Berry for her and for her Children That she should renounce to the Succession of Father and Mother namely to the Dutchies of Milan and Bretagne and that the King should be engaged to assist the Arch-Duke with Men and Ships to go and take Possession of the Kingdoms of Spain upon the Death of Ferdinand his Grand-Father It would have been very easie also for the King to have confirmed the League made by his Predecessor with the Venetians but Ferdinand refused the continuation of the Truce unless upon the same Conditions as the last which was that he should not meddle with or touch the Dutchy of Milan Which the King not having accepted of the said Ferdinand the Emperor the Swisse and Sforza Duke of Milan made a League which imported That to compel the King to renounce that Dutchy the Swisse should attack France by the way of Burgundy That in order to it they should receive three thousand Ducats Monthly from the other Confederates and that King Ferdinand should fall with a powerful Army into Guyenne or Languedoc The Pope for whom they had left room in this League did not enter till the Month of July when he found that the King who had kept this design conceal'd all the Winter marched in good earnest to pass the Mountains Upon his access to the Crown he supplied the Offices of Constable and Chancellor with two Persons whereof one caused great mischiefs to France in this Reign only and the other was the occasion of such as were felt then and perhaps may last to all the following Ages He gave that of Constable to Charles de Bourbon who afterwards stirred up great Troubles against him and that of Chancellor to Antony Duprat at that Time first President of Paris who to furnish the Prodigal and conquering Humor of a young King with Money suggested to him the Sale of Justice by creating a new Chamber of twenty Counsellors in the Parliament of Paris and so proportionably in all the others to augment the Tailles and lay new Imposts without waiting the Consent or Grant of the Estates as was the ancient Order and Practice of the Kingdom Year of our Lord 1515 All the Apparel for War being ready the King went to the City of Lyons where he staid some time till Trivulcio and the Lord de Morete with the Mountainers whom the Duke of Savoy had sent to them could find a Passage over the Alpes for his Troops which were arrived in Dauphine For the Swisse who had posted themselves at Suza and those Parts hindred their way by Mount Cenis and the Mount of Genevra which begin both in that Place The Popes Army and that belonging to Ferdinand were encamped on the other side of the Po towards Piacenza and Parma and Prespera Columna had come and lodg'd himself with a thousand Horse in Villa Franca which is within seven Leagues of Saluzzes where he thought himself very secure When with incredible difficulty and by meer strength of Arms Trivulcio had made them sling and hoyst the Artillery over the tops of the Mountains and from thence with no less toyl let them down again in the Country of Saluzzes the King's Forces passed the Alpes at Dragonniera Roquepavier and other Passes which are nigh Provence La Palice who was passed one of the first having correspondence Year of our Lord 5115 with some Inhabitants of Villa-Franca used so much Skill and Celerity that he surprized Prospera as he was sitting down
to Table and made both him and all his Prisoners Some days before Emard de Prie with five or six thousand Men was gone to Genoa to attack Alexandria and some other Towns on this side the Po. Octavian Fregosa had at the same time treated with the King who left to him the Signeury of Genoa to be not a Duke but only Governour in his Name These tydings brought to Lyons the King parted from thence the fifteenth day Year of our Lord 1515 of August accompanied by seven Princes of the Blood and an infinite number of Great Lords having before-hand left the Regency to Louise de Savoy his Mother who was stiled Madame As he was going forth arrives an Ambassador from England to let him know from his Master that he ought not to pass into Italy for fear of disturbing the Peace of Christendom which only served to discover the inconstancy of that Prince and the jealousy he had left a young King should out-strip him in the Race of Honour who had lived a much longer time King Ferdinand's Menaces signified as little as the King of Englands Remonstrances He was but too well pleased that the first Efforts and Attempts of this new Conqueror were to fall upon Italy and not upon Spain And therefore as soon as he was certain of his March that way he disbanded the greatest part of his Forces and little cared for that League he was entred into for the defence of Milan This Shock or Surprize of Prospera Colomna's being very considerable because Year of our Lord 1515 it was the first essay of the whole Enterprize greatly changed the disposition of the Minds of the Emperor the Pope and even the Swisse who after having burnt Chivas and Verceil retired to Novarre whilst the King was assembling his Troops at Turin He immediately set forwards to follow them without delay being informed how they began to disagree and judg'd he had a fair opportunity either to vanquish them during their disunion or to treat the more advantageously with them And indeed some of their Chiefs began to give ear to the Propositions that were made by him but knowing he was come to Verceil they dislodg'd from Novarre and retired to Galerate He followed the same Pace and got into all their Towns without striking one Blow Being thus repulsed and at variance with each other they set a Treaty on Foot by the mediation of Charles Duke of Savoy their ancient Allie He obtained them all the satisfaction they could hope for that is to say great Summs of Money as well for their Pensions as to make good the Treaty of Dijon and a very fair settlement in France for Duke Sforza in recompence for his Dutchy of Milan But thereupon arrives a re-inforcement of ten thousand Men from their own Country who desiring to have their share in the Honor and Spoil as well as their Compagnons whom they found very rich broke off all and led them back to Milan This did not however take away all hopes they might be pacified by adding an over-plus Summ to stop the Months of the most Troublesom and Active but one Day when all seemed to be at an end and the King was ready to send Money for performance of the Articles the Cardinal of Sion whilst they were all met to make the final Conclusion begins to Harangue them with so much earnestness that he made them take up their Arms to come and Charge the French who were lodged at Marignan within a League of Milan and expected no less then such a sudden Onset Therefore the thirteenth of October about four in the Afternoon they came and Charged the French Van-guard with impetuosity who having been forewarn'd received them much better then they imagined they could not however hinder them from gaining the enclosure of their Camp and some Pieces of Canon But the King hastning to that part with the Flower of his Nobility and Gentdarmerie prevented them from piercing any further Never was there a more furious scuffle not heavier Blows the Fight lasted four hours in the Night nought but their over weariness made Truce between them till break of Day but did not part them many of both Parties lying down by each other all the Night The King with his Armor on rested himself upon the Carriage of a Gun where the great Thirst his toyl had brought upon him made him relish even a little Water mixed with Dirt and Blood brought to him by a courteous Soldier in his Morion Year of our Lord 1515 He did not waste all the Night in reposing himself but the greatest Part in placing his Guns his Musquetiers and Gascon Cross-bow Men. The Day appearing the Swisse returned to the Assault with more vigour then the Night before but the Cannon broke their Battallions the Bullets and Arrows made a great Slaughter then the Horse sallied and ran over them some of their Companies were driven into a Wood who were all cut in Pieces About nine in the Morning the rest thinking themselves vanquisht because they had not been able to Vanquish and withal observing Alvaine approach with the choice of his Venetian Cavalry began to make their retreat towards Milan none endeavouring to pursue them excepting Alvaine who thinking to Charge them in the Rear soon found by their fierce resistance that they dreaded their Italian Lances but little This was all the Share he had in this Battle whatever the Authors of that Nation are pleased to relate The French kept the Camp cover'd with ten thousand dead Swisse and three or four thousand of their own Men but of the bravest and for the most part Gentlemen Francis de Bourbon Brother to the Constable the Prince of Talmont only Son of Lewis de la Trimoville Bussy d'Amboise Nephew to the Cardinal of that Name the Count de Sancerre and eight or ten other Lords of Note were slain there Claude Duke of Guise who commanded the Lansquenets in the absence of Charles Duke of Gueldres his Maternal Uncle was trod under Foot a German Gentleman his Esquire saved his Life at the expence of his own by covering him with his own Body and receiving the Blows they made at his Master This ill Success begot new discords between the Swisse those that would have agreed with the King demanded Money of Sforza that they might be gone they knew well enough he had none and thereupon they returned by way of Coma which the King had left open for them The rest follow'd them the next day but left fifteen hundred of their Men with Sforza to maintain the Castle together with five hundred Italians he had there promising in a short time to come back to his assistance as likewise on his side the Cardinal of Sion going to the Emperor for the same purpose vow'd to return again speedily So that upon this assurance he shut himself into the Castle with one John Gonzague Jerome Moron and some Milanese Gentlemen The City surrendred the next day
to the King but he judged it was not convenient for his Majesty to enter into it 〈…〉 had the Castle likewise which he ordered should be Besieged by the 〈…〉 and Peter de Navarre As soon as he came first into Italy the Pope had feignedly begun to Treat with him After the Battle of Marignan he was in so great haste thorough fear that he treated without disguise not waiting the Resolutions of the Swisse Diet nor the Emperors who earnestly conjured him not to do so Amongst other Articles the King took into his protection his Person the Ecclesiastical Estate Julian and Laurence de Medicis and the Estate of Florence obliged himself that from that Time forward the Milanese should be furnished with Salt from Cervia consented free Passage should be allowed for the Vice-Roy of Naples Forces to retire promised not to assist or protect any of his Feudataries against him Reciprocally the Pope was to withdraw the Soldiers he had sent to the Emperor against the Venetians and surrender Piacenza and Parma to the King and Modena and Reggio to the Duke of Ferrara The Constable not relying solely upon the Success of those Mines with the which Peter de Navarre had vaunted to take the Castle of Milan in a Month made use of Money which does its effect more certainly then Gun-Powder and corrupted some Captains so that they began to Mutiny The Swisse Cantons assembled at that time at Zuric were just sending away a powerful Relief to Sforza and the Pope who had not yet concluded his Treaty would not have failed to joyn his Troops and those of Naples but Moron who was all the Councel the unfortunate Sforza had persuaded him to make a Composition with the King He yielded him all his Rights to the Dutchy conditionally he should have a certain Summ of ready Money to pay his Debts thirty thousand Ducats Pension to be paid him in France or given him in Benefices with a Cardinals Cap and several other Conditions for his Servants and such as had been of his Party The Treaty signed he came out of the Castle and was conducted into France by some Lords little bemoaned for being fallen from that high Degree of Soveraignty because the exravagancy of his Mind and his more then brutish Vices had rendred him unworthy of it The Castle being surrendred nothing more opposed the Conqueror Hugh de Cardonna with Ferdinand's Army retired to the Kingdom of Naples and the Pope dissembling his displeasure for the restitution of those Places he had been obliged to make went to Bologna to confer with the King face to face He arrived there the nineteenth of December and the King two days after On the Morrow he rendred him Obedience his Chancellor Antony du Prat pronounced the Words bare-headed and on his Knees the King standing by cover'd Year of our Lord 1515 confirmed them by bowing his Head and Shoulders After that they lock'd themselves up for three Days together in the Palace There it was that the young King for vain hopes and by the Advice and Counsel of his Chancellor condescended to abolish the Pragmatick and to make the Concordat Whereby the Pope conceded to the King the right of nominating to Bishopricks and Abbeys in all the Territories of the Kingdom of France and Dauphine and the King granted to the Pope the Annates of those great Benefices upon the foot of their currant Revenue which were augmented above the one half since the discovery of the Indies The Holy Father very free of other Folks Money made him a Present of two Tenths upon the Clergy and the Title of Emperour of the East But the King refused the last At the same Time the renewed Alliance with the Swisse was concluded notwithstanding the Contrivances of the English It was upon these Conditions That they should serve France with and against all excepting the Pope the Emperor and the Empire That they should surrender the Valleys of Milanois That the King should pay them six hundred thousand Crowns and should continue to them their Pensions Five of the Cantons did at that time refuse to Sign to this Year of our Lord 1515 When the King had taken Care for the security of Milan where he left the Constable with seven hundred Men at Arms and ten thousand Foot Soldiers he parted from Bologna the fifteenth of December and by great Journeys came to his Mother and his Wife who staid for him at Lyons Year of our Lord 1516 His happy Progress and his new Alliances kindled the greater jealousy in the Emperor King Ferdinand and the King of England his Son in law in so much as they 〈…〉 common Consent to make a War upon him both in Italy and France at the 〈◊〉 time To which the King of England was inclined with the more heat and â—â—erness as being incensed for that the King hindred him from governing the young King and the Kingdom of Scotland by such People as were dependant on him But as they were taking their Measures for this Design it hapned that King Ferdinand as he was going to Seville died in the little Village of Madrigalet the two and twentieth of February of a Dropsy occasioned by a Beverage which Germain his Wife had given him to enable him to get Children Guichardin making his Elogy says there was nothing to be reproved in him but his not observing or keeping his Word and that as for the Avarice they reproach him with it was manifest at his Death he was not stained with it because he left but very little Money in his Coffers He adds that this Calumny proceeded from the corrupt judgment of Men who more applaud the Prodigality of a Prince which oppresses and grinds his Subjects then the good Husbandry of One that thriftily manages their Substance as a good and careful Father of his Family ought to do He left the Government of Arragon to his Bastard Son Bishop of Saragossa and that of Castille to Francis Ximenes Cardinal Bishop of Toledo His Daughter Jane was Distracted still and shut up in a Castle where she clambred along the Walls and crawled up the Tapistry Hangings like a Cat. Four Months after on the six and twentieth of June John d'Albret who might have made some stirrs in the Kingdom of Navarre whence Ferdinand had turn'd him out ended his Days in a Village in Bearn Catharine de Foix his Wife survived him but eight Months Their Son Henry aged but fourteen years inherited the Title of that Kingdom of which he had nothing left him but the little Parcel on this side of the Pyreneans Year of our Lord 1516 The Death of Ferdinand gave King Francis the opportunity and desire of marching his Armies into the Kingdom of Naples which in this juncture was half revolted He imagined that Charles having need of him for a Passage that he might go and take Possession of the Spanish Dominions and withal being under the apprehension of some trouble in the Succession to
into their Hands and retired to Mantoua The Emperor continued the Truce for five Years with the Venetians for twenty thousand Crowns they were to pay him each Year and the King desiring to fasten and secure the Confederation with the Pope by some fresh Ties gave up into his Hands again the writing whereby he had obliged himself to surrender Reggio and Modena to the Duke of Ferrara Christendom enjoy'd a most Vniversal Calm when She was troubled with two of the most horrible Scourges or Plagues that did ever torment Her Selim the Turkish Sultan having conquer'd Syria laid Ismael Sophy's Power in the Dust extinguish'd the domination of the Mamalucs in Egypt by the utter defeat and death of Campson the last Egyptian Sultan vaunted that in quality of Successor to Constantine the Great he should soon bring all Europe under his Empire and at the same Time the Bowels of the Church began to be torn and rent by a Schisme that hitherto no Remedies have been able to take away The first Evil gave occasion for the birth of the second Pope Leo desiring to oppose all the Forces of Christendom against the furious Progress of the Turks had sent his Legates to all the Christian Princes and formed a great Project to attack the Insidels both by Sea and Land Now to excite the Peoples Devotion and get their Alms Year of our Lord 1517. 18 19. and the following and Benevolence for so good a Work he sent some according to the usual Custom in such Cases practic'd to preach Indulgences in every Province This Commission according to the allotments made of a long time amongst the four Orders Mendicants belonged to the Augustins in Germany Nevertheless Albert Archbishop of Mentz either of his own Head or by Order from Rome allots and gives it to the Jacobins The Augustins finding themselves wronged in their Interest which is the great Spring even of the most Religious Societies Camplain make a Noise and fly to Revenge Amongst Year of our Lord 1517 these there was a Monk named Martin Luther of Islebe in the County of Mansfield Doctor and Rcader in Theologie in the Vniversity of Witemberg a bold Spirit Impetuous and Eloquent John Stampis their General commanded him to preach against these Questors They furnished him but with too much Matter for they made Traffick and Merchandize of those sacred Treasures of the Church they kept their Courts or Shops rather in Taverns and consumed great part of what they gained or collected in Year of our Lord 1517 Debauches and it was certainly known besides that the Pope intended to apply considerable Summs to his own proper use Perhaps it would have been better done to prevent these Disorders only to have reremoved the occasion of his clamor but the thing seemed not worth while to trouble their Heads about it In the mean time the Quarrel grew high and was heated by Declamations Theses and Books on either side Frederic Duke of Saxony whose Wisdom and Vertue was exemplary in Germany maintained him and even animated him as well for the Honor of his new Vniversity of Witemberg which this Monk had brought in reputation as in hatred to the Archbishop of Ments with whom he had other disputes He at first began with proposing of Doubts then being hard beset and too roughly handled he engaged to maintain and make them good in the very Sence they condemned them in They had neither the Discretion to stop his Mouth or seize upon him but threatning him before he was in their Power he takes shelter and then keeping no more Decorum he throws off his Mask and not only declaimed against the Pope and against the Corruptions of the Court of Rome but likewise opposed the Church of Rome in many Points of Her Doctrine And truly the extream ignorance of the Clergy many of them scarce able to read the scandalous Lives of the Pastors most of them Concubinaries Drunkards and Vsurers and their extreme negligence gave him a fair advantage to persuade the People that the Religion they taught was corrupt since their Lives and Examples were so bad At the same Time or as others say a Year before to wit in Anno 1516. Ulric Zuinglius Curate at Zuric began to expose his Doctrine in that Swisse Canton and since almost every Year new Evangelists have arisen in such Swarms that it would be difficult to number them Year of our Lord 1518 Every Day brought forth some occasion of difference between the King and Charles of Austria the Lords de Chevres and de Boisy met at Montpellier to determine them but the Death of de Boisy made that great Work be left imperfect William his Brother Lord de Bonnivet much less wise then he held the same Rank in the Kings Favor who made him Admiral of France Year of our Lord 1518 About the same Time John Jacques Trivulcio lost it and died for Grief at the Burrough of Chastres under Montlehery Lautree his antagonist had given the King an ill impression of him upon his being made a Burgher amongst the Swisse and his Brother and others of his Kindred puting themselves into the Venetians Service There had been some Seeds of division sowed between the King of France and the King of England their Counsels before things grew to a greater height thought sit to unite them by a new Alliance The Admiral therefore going to London made a Treaty to this effect That the King of England should give his Daughter as then but four years of age to the Daufin not yet compleatly one year old That there should be a defensive League between the two Crowns and that Tournay should be restored to the King of France who should pay two hundred and sixty thousand Crowns for the Expences the English had been at there and three hundred thousand more in twelve years time besides that he should acknowledge to have received other three hundred thousand for the Dowry of the little Princess The King not having the Money ready gave six Lords in Hostage and by this means got Tournay It was likewise agreed that the two Kings should have an entre-view at their convenient time between Boulogn and Calais In Maximilian's Councel it was judged more proper for the Grandeur of the House of Austria to give the Empire to the Arch-Duke Charles his Grandson then to Ferdinand his younger Brother to whom for the same reason King Ferdinand his Grand-father would not leave his Kingdom of Arragon who bred him in his own Court. And therefore Maximilian treated with the Electors to get them to design him King of the Romans but before he had accomplished that affair he died at Lints in Austria aged sixty three years the two and twentieth day Year of our Lord 1519 of January in Anno 1519. After his Death King Francis and Charles declared themselves Aspirers or Competitors for the Imperial Crown without shewing however the lest picque against one another Of the Capetine Race none but Charles
Earl of Valois had hitherto desired it The Swisse denied Francis their Intercession with the Electors the Pope pretended to favor him but he was not either for one or other Year of our Lord 1519 of these two Princes because they were too Potent and if he recommended Francis it was to get the Suffrages from Charles and by this Intrigue to turn their Eyes and Thoughts toward some other German Prince The Electors for the same reason were in suspence a good while at the beginning the Palatine Triers and Brandenburgh seemed to be for Francis and the latter promised to gain the Archbishop of Ments his Brother likewise But when he had singer'd his Money and it came to give their Votes Ments pleaded stoutly for Charles and Brandenburgh seconded him Triers kept his Word The reputation of his Victories in Italy spake advantageously for the King and the War the Turks threatned Germany withal ought to have made him more considerable then Charles who had as yet done nothing and promised but little more But he was not of the German Nation besides the more he seemed to merit the more they feared he would reduce the German Princes to a low condition as his Predecessors had reduced those of France and if there were apprehensions of oppression on either Hand it did not appear so visibly on Charles's side nor seem to be so neer in likelihood from him who was five years younger then the other and of no very promising Genius In fine upon all these considerations and with three hundred thousand Crowns brought even a year before into Germany and not distributed but to good purpose Charles carried it and was elected at Francfort the twentieth of June being at that instant in Spain whither he was gone almost two years before Though King Francis set a good face upon it yet this refusal went to his Heart and he could not but imagine that Charles being Master of so many great Estates would revenge the Injuries done to his Grand-father and those of the House of Burgundy For this reason he applied himself with more care to gain the friendship of the Pope and the King of England but the Pope followed Fortune and invested Charles with the Kingdom of Naples notwithstanding the constitution of his Predecessors which forbid that the said Kingdom and the Empire should be in the same Hand Year of our Lord 1520 The election of Charles of Austria hastned the enterview of the King and Henry of England This was done in the Month of June between Ardres and Guines The two Kings equally Pompous and Vain made their magnificence appear to the highest profusion Francis expended more there then the Emperor did at his Coronation and put his Nobless to great inconveniences who ever imitate their Princes but more readily in their Excess then in their Wisdom This enter-view was called the Camp of Cloath of Gold After they had saluted each other on Horse-back they went into a Pavilion erected expresly with two or three Ministers of State belonging to either King and there talked a few Moments about their Affairs That done they left the care thereof to them and spent ten or twelve days together in Feastings and Turnaments at Nights Francis returned to Ardres and Henry to Guines Before they parted they confirmed their Treaty by solemn Oath upon the the Holy Communion which they received together But soon after Francis who too credulous built already on the Amity of the English might plainly perceive what stress he was to lay upon so jealous and so inconstant a Foundation Charles V. coming from Spain by Sea to the Low-Countries that from thence he might go to Aix to take the Crown passed first over into England and saw Henry with less splendor and perhaps more Fruit then he For the King of England promis'd him that in case any Difference hapned between him and Francis he would be Arbitrator and declare himself Enemy to him that would not stand to his Award or Judgment His Intention was not to joyn with either the one or the other but to keep himself in the midst and be sought to by them both giving them to understand that he could make the Ballance sway to that side he turned to As he seemed to point out to King Francis at their late enter-view at Ardres where over his Tent Door he had caused the Figure of an Archer to be placed with these Words He that accompanies or joyns with him is Master This was the Method he used all his Life The two and twentieth of October Charles was crowned at Aix la Chapelle and assigned a Diet at Wormes for the Month of January following In the mean time not staying for the Judgment of of the Assembly being at Colen he condemned Year of our Lord 1520 Year of our Lord 1520 Luther's Books to the Fire as Heretical but this so hasty proceeding he made more Friends and Defenders then Enemies In revenge Luther without respect either for Pope or Emperor was so confident as to burn the Book of the Decretals which he asserted to be contrary to the Word of God in several Passages he had extracted from them Year of our Lord 1520. 21. The Spaniards grew angry that their King had left them to go into Germany andbesides they could not endure the Government of the Flemmish for after the Death of that memorable Cardinal Ximene he left the Administration of Affairs to the Lord de Chevres They complained that those Strangers heaped up all their fairest Pieces of Gold and that they took into their Hands or sold the greatest Offices and the richest Benefices amongst others the Archbishoprick of Toledo wherewith the Lord de Chevres had provided his Brother Some Grandees of that Country who thought to do their business in the absence of a Prince whom they esteemed of little Courage kindled the Fire and made a League which they called la Sancta Junta Toledo and the greatest Cities came into it and the Chief Officers that commanded their Forces were John de Padillia and Antonio d'Acugno Bishop of Zamora They had a Design of giving the Kingdom of Arragon to Ferdinand Son of that Frederic that died in France and to make him come in with some Colour would marry him to Jane the Frantick Mother of Charles V. whom they siezed upon but whether he doubted the event or stood upon the Honor of keeping his Faith he rejected the proposition and would not stir out of the Castle where Charles V. had left him In the mean while the Vice-Rois of Castille and Arragon with the rest of the King's Servants having armed themselves against the Rebels lopp'd off by little and little the Branches of that Party and then fell'd it almost quite down by the defeat of their united Forces and the deaths of Padillia and the Bishop both slain in that Battle Now whilst the Vice-Rois had drained the Garrisons of most of the Places in Navarre to defend
themselves against the revolted it had been easie for King Francis to have regained that Kingdom but he did not dream of it till the Spring following and then he sent an Army thither commanded by Andrew de Foix Lord de L'Esparre Brother of Lautree who recover'd it all in few days He met Year of our Lord 1521 no resistance but at the Castle of Pampelonna who stood out till he battered them and then surrendred upon Composition Innigo de Loyola d'Ognez a young Gentleman of Guipuscoa who had put himself into the Castle with some other Volunteers was wounded upon the Walls with a Splinter by a Cannon Shot which broke his Thigh and made him Lame all his Life After which being retired to his own House he was touched with a most fervent Zeal and Devotion and was afterwards Institutor and Head of the great and famous Company or Society of Jesus which hath extended it self into all the Parts of the World L'Esparre instead of satisfying himself with Navarre and putting it in a good Posture entred upon Castille and besieged Logrogne The Vice-Rois who returned from subduing the Rebels and who nevertheless would not have thought of assaulting him if he had not first fallen upon their Country marched Year of our Lord 1521 directly to him to fight him Now his Lieutenant General Saincte Colombe having cashier'd part of his Men that he might put half by his false Musters into his Pocket he found himself too weak and retired near Pampelonna And there he committed a second Fault greater then the first for without staying for a re-inforcement of six thousand Men who were coming to him out of France he rashly gave them Battle and was beaten for his Pains and so grievously wounded in the face that he remained blind Pampelonna and all the rest of the Kingdom was lost in as short a time as it had been reconquer'd The Emperors Councel to prevent the Revolts of the Nobility of the Country affectionate to their Natural King caused all the Castles to be demolished and dismantled all the Towns excepting Pampelonna du Pont de la Reine and d'Estella Year of our Lord 1521 This War did not contravene to the Treaty of Noyon since the six Months were expir'd but there were otherguess Subjects of hatred between Charles and Francis For this last complained that Charles did not pay him the hundred thousand Crowns as he had promis'd by the Treaty of Noyon for the maintenance of his Daughter and by consequence that he had no mind to compleat the Marriage That his Agents had spoken ill of him in the Diets and in the Courts of the Princes of Germany That he had debauched Philbert de Chaalon Prince of Orange from him and that he cabaled in Italy to put the Dutchy of Milan in disturbance Charles on the contrary was angry that he had taken under his Protection William Duke of Gueldres a sworn Enemy to his House and to the Low-Countries and said that he unjustly detained from him the Dutchy of Burgundy Francis was the more forward to undertake because he levied Subsidies as he pleased whereas Charles could get no Money without a great deal of trouble the Kingdoms of Spain and the Low-Countries having yet in those Times all their Liberties and Priviledges entire but then he was a much better Manager and made but very few idle Expences In such a disposition were they towards each other that nothing could be able to prevent them from coming to Daggers-drawing but a third Party The King of England kept himself Neutral enough and designed only to be Arbitrator The Pope did not do the same for he first Treated a private League with the King wherein he obliged himself to assist him for the regaining the Kingdom of Naples for his second Son upon condition he should bestow a part thereof upon a Nephew of the Holy FAthers and that the other Part during the Minority of the young Prince should be governed by a Legate from the Holy See Year of our Lord 1521 This was to speak properly to keep it all for himself Then three Months after he changed his Mind and turns to the Emperor's side Some believed he did this as burning with a desire of regaining Parma and Piacenza which Julius II. had possessed himself of though unjustly Others said it was that he was angry they did not receive his Bulls at Milan with submission enough nay that sometimes they rejected them with scorn Whatever it were he entred into a League with the Emperor for the mutual defence of their Countries to re-establish Francis Sforza in the Dutchy of Milan and to recover the Dutchy of Ferrara for the benefit of the Holy See to which it appertained The Lord de Chevres who was then at the Diet of Wormes having heard of this Treaty which was made without his knowledg died of grief repeating these Words often Ah! what a World of Mischiefs His Brother the Archbishop of Toledo whom he had taken along with him went out of this World sometime before him The King being at Remorentine in Berry upon Twelfth day as he was sporting and in jest attacked the Count de Sainct Pol's House with Snow-Balls who with his Companions were defending it with the same Artillery it infortunately hapned that a Fire-brand thrown by some hot-brained fellow hit him on the Head and grievously wounded him for which they were forced to cut off his Hair Now he having a very large high Fore-head and besides the Swiss and Italians wearing short Locks and long Beards he found this Fashion more pleasing to his Fancy and follow'd it His example made all France coppy this Mode who held it till the Reign of Lewis XIII when by little and little they shortned their Beards and let their Locks grow till at last they left neither Hair on the Cheeks nor on the Chin and Nature not being able to furnish them with a stock so thick and long as they fancied would be most becoming they have thought it best shave their Heads and wear Perruques of Womens more delicate and longer Hair for Ornament Year of our Lord 1520. 21. Now here begins the event of the Melancholly Prognosticks of the Lord de Chevres Robert de la Mark Lord of Sedan and Duke of Bouillon having suffer'd disgrace in the Court of France because of the many Robberies committed by his Gentsdarmes went to the Emperors whither he was enticed by the Bishop of Liege his Brother a man very powerful there Now it hapned that the Emperors Councel received an Appeal from a Judgment which the Pairs of his Dutchy of Bouillon had given in a certain Cause between the Lords de Simay and Year of our Lord 1521 d'Emery Robert being turbulent and impetuous took this for an Affront to his honour and would revenge it He came therefore to the King at Remorentin who was under cure of his Wound and his Wife having before-hand prepared the way reconciled himself to him
which they called la Bicoque three Miles from Milan where there is a very spacious House and Gardens round about it enclosed with deep Ditches and Fields parted in divers places with Water Channels which are derived and brought thither according to the Custom of that Country to water their Grounds Prosper Colomna who thought the Victory secure stood his ground waiting their coming Lautrec assaulted them on three Sides himself on one Hand his Brother on the other and the Swisse in the place of most Difficulty and to gain their Cannon The two first did no great Matters as for the Swisse they attack'd with fury but the height of the Fossez stopping them the Artillery made them fall in heaps and the Arquebusiers who were placed amongst the Wheat taking them in Flank they were well paid for their rashness by the death of three thousand of theirs so that they were constrained to retire and having rejoyned the French they together returned very orderly to their Quarters at Monce The next Day their Blood being cool'd and Lautrec having passed the Addo near Tressa they even took their walk homewards thorow the Territory of Bergamo so disheartned and baffled in Courage for having met with such unconquerable resistance that for divers Years they did nothing worthy of their ancient Valor but indeed became more pliable and much more manageable then before For Lautrec having put things in Order at Cremona he retired into France to sollicite for a supply of ten thousand Men which the Admiral Bonnivet was to transport to those Countries Year of our Lord 1522 As soon as he was gone Prosper besieged Cremona and Lescun who was in the Place believing it could be no prejudice to his Honor if he made such Composition as should secure the King's Affairs without hazarding ought capitulated to leave the Place within forty Days which expir'd the six and twentieth of June with Arms Colors flying and his Artillery if within that time there did not come an Army that should pass over the River Po by force or should take some considerable Place in the Dutchy of Milan He likewise promised that all the others held by the King in Milanois should be evacuated excepting the Castles of Cremona of Novara and of Milan The time being come he got some few days more to be added having purposely started new Difficulties about the evacuation of some Castles which being setled he executed the Treaty and came back into France Before he departed he had the further displeasure of being informed how Prosper Colomna with his Army had made himself Master of Genoa and made Antony Adorna Duke the City was surprized during a conference of capitulation which is a very dangerous time and opportunity This last Blow taking away all hopes from the King of being in a capacity to gain any thing in Milanois this year he recalled those Forces he was sending and who were already got into Astesan Though the miscarriage indeed proceeded from his own Negligence in not sending Supplies till too late amusing himself in Hunting Dancing and amongst the Ladies nevertheless John de Beaulne Samblancay Surintendant of the Finances suffer'd for it Madame enrag'd that he should dare to justify before the King that she had diverted the three hundred thousand Crowns designed for Lautrec resolved to ruine him The Chancellor Duprat Minister of her revenge and who besides had some jealousy of the Credit of that grave old Man whom the King called his Father ordered a Commission to try him who condemn'd him to be hanged In the mean time they made use of all Ways and Means to get in Money Then did they begin to alienate the Sacred Demeasnes of the King they continued to sell Offices of Judicature to create great Numbers of new ones without which the Monarchy had been upheld eleven hundred years together to raise the Tallies and to lay several new Imposts Publick report accused the Chancellor for advising all these things which bred so much disorder who to flatter the Covetous humor of a Woman and the ostentation of a Young King furnished them with expedients and confidence to overthrow all the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom whereof by his Office he was Guardian and Defender Year of our Lord 1522 The King had no less to do in Guyenne and in Picardy The Emperor going into Spain thorow England had prevail'd with Henry to take his part against Francis Arriving in Castillia he soon suppressed the remainders of the Santa Junta punishing some few of the Seditious pardoning the rest and rewarding such as deserved it Particularly Ferdinand of Arragon who had refused to be Head of the League He did him great Honour and Married him to Germaine de Foix Widdow of his Grand-Father King Ferdinand who was extraordinary Rich but almost past the Age of Child-bearing With the Forces that were remainders of this insurrection and some others he made up an Army which besieged Fontarabria and the King of England Landed another at Calais having first sent a Herald to defy the King at Lyons This being commanded by his Brother in Law the Duke of Suffolk joyned with the Count de Bures Governor of the Low-Countries who had one of twelve thousand men but both these made no progress and the English were diminished one half in five Weeks time after they took the Field Year of our Lord 1522 Whilst the Christian Princes were thus engaged to their mutual destruction Solyman the Turkish Sultan who Succeeded his Father Selim II. two years since was now lodg'd upon the Ramparts of Christendom For the preceding year he took the City of Belgrade in Hungary and this year he wrested Rhodes out of the hands of the Knights of St. John's It was believed Pope Adrian might have saved it if upon his Arrival in Italy he would have sent thither the fifteen hundred Foot he brought along with him instead of ordering them to March as he did into Milan For they might have got in by the help of the Venetian Fleet then on those Seas and by the favour of those Winds which wasted in several other Vessels It were difficult to name a Siege more Famous then this same either for the dreadful numbers of the besiegers for the brave resistance of the besieged or the many and furious Assaults There were above fifty Mines and twice as many Countermines about this place It was batter'd with above six-score thousand Canon Shot so that most of it was blown up into the Air or beaten down to dust The Turkish Army consisted of two hundred thousand Men of whom above fifty thousand were Slain and as many perished by Sickness The fifth Month of the Siege the Knights having no more Gun-Powder left no Pioneers Year of our Lord 1522 nor 〈◊〉 hardly any men for defence some lying by of their Wounds or of Sickness others dropping down with over-Working and Toyling they accepted of the Capitulation proffered them by Solyman which was to go
forth with Bag and Baggage and all their Galleys and Vessels that were in Port. He made his entrance upon Christmass-Day Year of our Lord 1523 The Grand Master Peter de Villiers-l'Isle-Adam to whose conduct and Heroick Vertue the greatest Honour of this Generous defence was due setting Sail with his Knights and four thousand of the Inhabitants as well of that as of the Islands depending on it retired to Candia where he Winter'd From thence he went to Sicilia and three months after to Rome the Pope giving those Knights his City of Viterbo for their Retreat Six Years after in Anno 1530. they placed themselves in the Island of Malta The Emperor bestowed it upon them to cover his Kingdom of Silicia and they accepted it with the consent of all other Christian Princes in whose Territories their Order had any Lands or Possessions Year of our Lord 1523 The loss of Rhodes being partly occasioned by Pope Adrian's Fault it concerned him in Honour to repair it Therefore upon that consideration and to make his name glorious he employ'd all his cares to procure a Peace or at least a Truce betwixt all Christian Princes that so they might make War upon the Insidels with their united Force Francis would yield to nothing but a Truce and that a very short one this did not sute with the Popes designs So that not being able to overcome him by his Exhortations nor by the threats of the English nor upon the consideration that he made himself odious to all Christendom he would needs bring him to it by Force and thus of a Common Father he became a Partial and open Enemy Prompted with this Spirit he acted so powerfully with the Venetians that he broke them off from his Alliance and made a League with them the Emperor and the King of England to thrust him out of Italy The King had therefore all the great powers of Christendom against him nevertheless his passion to recover Milan did so over-rule his mind that he was resolved to go thither in Person at the Head of his best Men had not the Conspiracy of the Duke of Bourbon which he happended to discover kept him back And though this did strangely embarass him yet he sent Bonnivet thither with an Army For divers years past Madame had sought all opportunities of doing some displeasure to Charles de Bourbon and the Chancellor and Admiral employed themselves most willingly to gratifie both her passion and their own For Bonnivet Year of our Lord 1523 imagin'd if he could ruin him he should have the Connestables Sword and the other had a secret grudge against him for having denied his Family some Favour in Auvergne It did not satisfie Madame that she had deprived him of the Chief Functions of his Office and hindred his Marriage with Renee the Kings Sister she had process against him likewise in Parliament to strip him of the Dutchy of Bourbon and the other great Estate of Susanna his Wife who Died without Children in the year 1521. The Succession whereof as she pretended did belong to her as the next Heiress Indeed she was Daughter of Margaret and Philip who was Lord of Bresse and afterwards Duke of Savoy and that Margaret who was Daughter of Charles I. Duke of Bourbon and Sister to Peter who had the same Dutchy after John II. his Brother and was Father of this Susanna above mentioned As for Charles de Bourbon he was Son of Gilbert Earl of Montpensier who was Son of Lewis Uncle of Duke Peter and by consequence he was farther removed than she But besides that he made it appear by very ancient Titles by Solemn Judgments and Decrees and by many Examples that the Lordship of Bourbon was a Feif Masculin he shewed likewise how in his Contract of Marriage with Susanna he was acknowledged the right Heir of that House and as for the other Estate there was a mutual donation between him and his Wife by vertue whereof he enjoy'd it 'T is true that Susanna was then in minority and not authorized by the Judge but she was authorized sufficiently by the presence of King Lewis XII the Cardinal d'Amboise and four or five and twenty Princes Bishops and Eminent Lords He believed his cause would have been very good in any other times and against any other Party But as soon as they Commenced this process he imagin'd it was before resolved and concluded and that he must Infallibly be cast before Judges who were all Creatures of Madame's or of the Chancellor And this last Affront which reduced him to extream inconveniences blinded him so with rage and revenge that without any consideration of what he was and what he might come to be he casts himself into the Emperor's Arms having Treated with him by the assistance of the Lord de Beaurien Son of Adrian de Crovy Count de Rieux The King of England came into this Treaty It imported That all three were to share France betwixt them That Bourbon should have the Ancient Kingdom of Arles with the Title of King and as a Seal to this Alliance the Emperor should give him his Sister Eleonor who was the Widdow of Emanuel King of Portugal Bourbon had a particular pretension of his own Head to Provence because Year of our Lord 1523 Rene Duke of Lorrain had yielded up the right he had to Anne of France the Mother of Susanna and Anne by her Will and Testament had given it to him Now while the King was at St. Peter le Monstier on the Confines of Nivernois and Bourbonnois two Normand Gentlemen Matignon and d'Argouges Houshold-Servants belonging to the Connestable discovered all their Masters correspondence to him He would needs be satisfied from his own Mouth saw him in the City of Moulins and told him his whole mind The Connestable owned that he had been Sollicited by the Count de Rieux but stiffly denied that he had given any ear to it They would perhaps have laid hands on him if they durst But indeed the attempt would have been dangerous in the midst of his own Country for he was mightily beloved by the People and the Nobility and the King had but four thousand Foot with him and five hundred Horse so he only commanded him to follow the Court. The Connestable taking his Litter under pretence of some indisposition went easy Journeys At la Palice he had news that a Decree was made the of August which put his Estate under Sequestration thereupon he dispatches Huraut Bishop of Autun his Confident to the King to beseech him to stopt he execution of it and to assure him that this favour would bind him for ever to his Service but he was informed they had stopp'd the Bishop six Leagues from that place Then flying from the King's indignation he retired to his Castle of Chantelle where all his richest Goods were And there having intelligence that four thousand men were coming to besiege him he went forth by Torch-light When he had Rode a
Lord 1524 Bonnivet Subsisted near upon two months in his Post near Biagras But when the Enemy had surprized Vercel upon him which cut off his Provisions and forc'd Biagras he was constrained to retire towards Turin Charles de Bourbon Chief of their Army followed him in the Rear Bonnivet having a Wound in his Arm got away before for fear of falling into his hands and hastening forwards in a Litter left the charge and care of the retreat to Bayard and to Vendenesse Brother of La Palice They acquitted themselves generously but both of them were Slain by Musquet Shot It is said that Bayard finding himself so wounded in the Reynes that he could sit no longer on Horseback caused his men to set him on the ground with his Face turned towards the Enemies and that Bourbon finding him in this posture and condition and telling him that he very much bemoaned and pittied him he answer'd That it was rather himself was to be pittied for having taken up Arms against France which had given him Birth and had so tenderly bred him That ☞ he should remember that of all those that had born Arms against their Country their ends had been Tragical and their memory Shameful The rest of the Army being not pursued retired towards the Alpes the Swiss returned to their own Country by the Valley d'Aoste the French by Turin Near Suse they met Claude Duke of Longueville with four hundred men at Arms and heard they were making new Levies of Swiss to come and joyn them And thus it was that King Francis never sending his Supplies in time and always in small Parties was at vast expences and did not do his business throughly After the departure of the French Forces the Confederates easily regained those places they yet held the Castle of Novara Surrendred to Sforza Loda to the Duke of Vrbin and Alexandria to Ferdinand d'Avalos Marquiss of Pescara It is observed that in this War of Italy they began to make use of such great and ponderous Musquets that two men were fain to carry them one after the other they loaded them with round Pibbles and fired them lying upon a Rest These were the Ruin and Destruction of the Men at Arms who before this feared nothing but the Canon Notwithstanding all this ill Success Madame did so well manage and prepare the Kings mind in favour of Bonnivet that he laid all the blame upon the blind Baggage Fortune and received him into as great Favour as he had been before Thus this Favorite governing him almost absolutely inclined and perswaded him to raise a huge Army and to go in Person to carry on this War imagining that if he succeeded the Honour would be attributed to his Councils if not then the Kings disgrace would wipe out the Stains of his former Misfortunes Clement the VII in the beginning of his Pope-ship had sent Legates to the Emperour the King and the King of England to bring them to a Peace or at least to a Truce The King would have a Truce for two years the Emperor a Peace for ever the King of England neither a Peace nor a Truce because Thomas Woolsey Cardinal Bishop of York had put it into his head that by the correspondence and means of Charles de Bourbon he might be able to make good the pretensions of his Ancestors to the Kingdom of France With this prospect he made a new Treaty with the Emperor wherein it was said That Bourbon entring into France with his Forces of Italy the King of England should furnish him with one hundred thousand Crowns a month from the first of July to the last day of December unless he rather chose to land there himself there with a good Army In which case the Governours of the Low-Countries should furnish him with what Artillery was necessary and four thousand Foot That at the same time the Emperor with his Spanish Forces should make an Irruption into Guyenne That the Pope and the Princes of Italy should be invited to contribute towards the expences That Bourbon should be restored to all his Lands and that he should have the Kingdom of Arles but that he should own the English to be King of France He absolutely refused this last condition as the Pope and the Venetians to contribute any thing As to the remainder the Treaty held good For immediately Bourbon having drawn together all the Forces the Emperor had in Italy entred into Provence with thirteen hundred Foot and three thousand Horse His design was not to Stop there he intended after he had taken La Tour or the Tower of the Port of Toulon the City of Aix and some others to Year of our Lord 1524 go directly to Lyons from thence into Berry imagining the Nobility of his own Countries would flock to him and increase his Army that the People very much oppressed with new Impositions would cast themselves into his Arms and that by thus taking off the payment of Taxes and Subsidies he should deprive the King of the chief and true Sinews of War But the Emperors Council who aimed at their Masters ends not at Bourbons obliged him in despite of his former project to besiege Marseilles He there found a strong Garrison and men well resolv'd his Attaques did not advance much in six weeks time In the interim the King had leasure to set his Army on Foot which he had not designed to raise till the following Spring and to send part of them into Provence under the Conduct of La Palice He seized upon Avignon Scoffing at the Enemy who had neglected this City and from thence when he heard the King was Marching with the other part of the Army he advanced to Salon de Craux Bourbons was ruin'd by the length of the Siege and the want of pay for the English had paid him but for one month and the Emperor could not Supply him with those German Recruits he had promised him wherefore having notice that the King was parting from Avignon to come and Assault him he re-imbarqued part of his Cannon and retired in great haste The least success carried King Francis much further then either prudence or the uncertainty of events could warrant Being informed that Milan was wholly destitute of Forces and withal knowing that the Estates of Castille had refused money to the Emperor that the Confederate Estates of Italy would not aid him and that the King of England had raised no Souldiers although it were now the month of October he resolved to follow Bourbon by long Marches and perswaded himself that if he could but either reach him or get before him nothing could be able to hinder him from regaining that Dutchy The most knowing of his Officers approved not this resolution They considered it was upon the coming in of Winter for mid October was past that they left France exposed to the Incursions of the English the Flemmings and the Spaniards and the concealed Practises of Bourbon Many did likewise
think it an ill Omen to this undertaking that he was clad in Mourning for his Wife who died the twenty eighth of July But he stop't all their mouths by saying openly that they did not please him by speaking against it and knowing that his Mother was hastning from Avignon to disswade him he avoided meeting her but left her the Regency of the Kingdom The advantage both of the one and the other Army consisted in their diligence it was who should be the nimbler The King arrived at Vercel at the same time the Enemies got to Alba whence they got in two days to Parma having marched six and thirty miles in one day They had resolved to keep Milan and were Encamped at Binasque But upon the approach of his Van-Guard they abandoned that City to retire towards Loda His old Commanders were of opinion he should not leave off pursuing them for they were put to their last Shifts and shewed themselves half conquered throwing away their Arms as they marched and if these were but dispers'd there had not one place been left them but Pavia and Cremona with the Castle of Milan which wanting Provisions would have Surrendred in a short time Bonnivets advice was contrary and carried it The King left La Trimouille with six thousand men in Milan to Besiege the Castle and went to lay Siege before Pavia the 27 th day of October The Revolution of these Affairs in Milan appeared much greater then they were at Rome Pope Clement began to treat a new Confederation with the King in Secret and in the mean time propounded a Truce to both the Princes The Emperor who was then in Spain having heard his Envoy to whom the Regent had given passage through Provence and Languedoc did not reject it for he saw the King of England instead of lending him money demanded that again which he had advanced and the Venetians fearing the encrease of his Power or the Kings Forces denyed to renew their Alliance with him But the King flatly refused it as if it must have robb'd him of an assured Conquest He thought himself already so certain of Milan that he made a Detachment of ten thousand Foot and six hundred men at Arms with some Horse of his own Army under the Conduct of John Stuard Duke of Albany to go and Conquer the Kingdom of Naples and soon after he sent again four thousand more to Savonna commanded by the Marquiss de Salusses to make War upon those of Genoa Year of our Lord 1524 There is great likely-hood though the Italians deny it that it was upon the Sollicitation of Pope Clement not that he would have had Francis hold that Kingdom and the Milanois together for that were to have placed the Holy See between two Barrs but because he hoped to procure some great matters for himself by the help of the French Forces Perhaps the King fancied that Lanoy who was the Vice-Roy would quit all other Interests to preserve that and that he would draw all his men out of Milan to follow the Duke of Albany but he not only did not fear that so small an Army could take a Kingdom where there were so many strong places but he ceased from all apprehensions concerning Pavia and refused to hear any more of a Truce At two months end the Siege was found to be no more advanc'd then the first day The Garrison was strong the attaques feeble and languishing there was often want of Powder and always want of Order In the mean time Charles de Bourbon returned from Germany with a Supply of ten thousand Foot and a thousand Horse from the Frenche-Compte and joyned Lanoy's Army neer Loda These made up together seventeen thousand Foot seven hundred men at Arms and as many light Horse besides the Francontois With these they resolved to try all manner of ways to put some relief into Pavia which however was in no danger yet unless it were from their own Garrison who were ready to Mutiny for want of Pay Year of our Lord 1525 There was between Pavia and Milan almost in the mid-way a little place called Castle Saint Angelo which would have cut off their Provision had they left it behind them Bonnivet having confided so Important a place to an Italian he wanting either courage or sidelity quitted the Town as soon as they began to Batter it and retreated into the Castle which he Surrendred the same night After the taking of so Important a Post the wisest Captains were of opinion the King should raise the Siege and retire to Birasque They remonstrated to him that the Army of the Enemy being not paid would disperse within fifteen days that his own was a third part weaker then they made him believe that two thousand men who were coming to him by Savona were cut off by the way that the three thousand Italians of John de Medicis Disbanded themselves since their Commander in Chief being wounded upon an Assault was carried out of the Camp that six thousand Grisons had left him upon pretence of going back to defend their own Country where James de Medequin a Milanese Captain of the Castle de Muz had purposely and perhaps by their own Agreement surprized Chiavenna which is as it were the Key All these Arguments and Reasons were too weak to draw him from thence Bonnivets obstinacy and the shame he fancied it would be to quit his design after he had with so many Magnificent Speeches proclaimed that he would take the place or die before it obliged him to stay there and as we may say bound him Hands and Feet to deliver him up to his ill fortune There was not above two hundred paces distance betwixt the two Armies The Enemies could keep theirs together no longer for want of pay and withal they observed there was nothing but confusion in the Kings and that the flatteries of the Favorites sway'd more then the Councils of the oldest Captains this made them take the resolution to go and present the King Battle who was lodged in the Castle of Mirabel in the midst of Pavia Park and if he refused it to enter into the Town draw forth the Garrison that could hold out no longer and leave a new one in their room The night of the 23 d. or 24 th of February they drew near the Park Wall and having thrown down about threescore fadom of it marched directly to Mirabel this being a little before the break of day Although the Kings Guns were planted in a place of advantage yet could they do but little Execution during the obscurity but when it grew light they began to thunder upon their Rear insomch as it broke their Ranks and made them run into a Hollow way The King observing this disorder from his Camp which lay high was transported with joy at the same instant word was brought him that the Squadrons of the Duke of Alenson and Philip de Chabot-Brion had defeated a great body of Spaniards and
taken four Pieces of Canon Then believing they were half routed he imprudently went out of his Camp where they durst never have set upon him and goes on to charge them Year of our Lord 1525 He fell upon them with so much Impetuosity that at the very first he broke in amongst their Horse and with his own hand slew Fernand Castriot Marquess of Saint Angelo but the Arquebusiers they had mixed with their Horse put his to a Stop Then comes Bourbon and Lanoy who rallied their own and gave a furious charge The Duke of Alenson who cover'd the Swisse with four hundred men at Arms betook himself to flight and retired to Lyons where some days after he died with grief and shame The Swisse lying open made but a poor Fight and then withdrew the Lansquenets or German Foot who were but three or four thousand Fought to the last moment and were all cut in pieces All the Storm fell then upon the King His Horse being kill'd under him he defended himself on Foot some time without being known But meeting and knowing Pomperan he surrendred himself to him The Baggage and Cannon were taken eight thousand of his men killed upon the place amongst others Lewis de la Trimouille the Mareschal de la Palice Francis Earl of Lambesc Brother to the Duke of Lorrain Aubigny Sanseverin and Bonnivet this last too late as it was said for the good of France and divers other Lords of Note Together with the King were taken the Mareschal de Lescun René Bastard of Savoy these two died of their Wounds Henry d'Albret King of Navarre Francis de Bourbon Earl of Saint Pol the Mareschal de Montmorency Florenges Brion Lorges Rochepot Montejam Montpesat Langey Curton and a great number besides Upon the noise of this event the Garrison that was in Milan forsook it immediately and all the Dutchy fell to the Imperialists The next day after the battle Lanoy fearing the Souldiers might Seize upon the Kings Person to secure their Pay conveyed him to the Castle of Pisqueton and Committed the Guard of him to Captain Alarcon One cannot well conceive the divers effects the news of this great event produced all over Europe It caused infinite joy in the Court of Spain jealousie in that of England an universal affliction to France together with a marvellous consternation which was not much less amongst the Italians who with all their great wisdom and politiques saw themselves exposed as a prey to the Conquerour The French besides the particular sorrow every one resented for the loss of some Kindred or dear Friend did likewise participate in the common Calamity and apprehended lest France having none to defend her now they had lost their King the Flower of their Nobility and best Souldiers should be Invaded by the Emperours Forces Bourbons and the King of Englands The Venetians very wise in Adversity did endeavour their utmost with the Pope to form a League against this Torrent They were of opinion to raise ten thousand Swisse immediately to joyn a good body of Horse with them to exhort the King of England for his own interest to come into a League with them and to inform and instruct Madame in all these points who would not fail to contribute her utmost Cares The Pope consented to all and had given order for a Courier to go into England but the Spaniards having gotten the wind of it gave him such great assurance he should have whatever conditions he desired of the Emperour that as he was very irresolute and besides feared to be put to expences and never knew how to time his business he recalled his Courier changed his mind and made a League with the Emperour The Treaty made he obliged the Duke of Albany whom till then he had amused in Tuscany to Disband all the Italian Troops he had and Ship all the French at Cornet Port to send them back to their own Country lending him some Galleys for that very purpose those the Regent had sent not being sufficient to Transport them The Emperor having received the News of Pavia with great Moderation in so much as he would not suffer them to make Bonfires saying there was greater reason to Mourn for such Victories over Christian Princes then rejoyce it gave some reason to hope that he would make the same use of the advantage he had over his Prisoner in moderation towards him And indeed when he propounded to his Council after what manner he should Treate him His Confessor pleaded that he ought to release him generously and without conditions because it would be a most Christian-like Act worthy of a great Emperour famous to all Posterity which would make the King really his inferior and become ever obliged to him and would tye him more Strictly then any Treaty they could make with him But Fredric Duke d'Alva and after him all the rest of the Council being of opinion Year of our Lord 1525 he was not to be set free till they had so weakned him that he should be hereafter unable to give them any further trouble and that the abatement of his Power would be the re-establishment of the ancient Empire over Europe the Emperour declared that he was of their mind He therefore sent the Lord de Beaurien into Italy to propose to the King who was yet in the Castle of Pisqueton the conditions he desired for his release That he should renounce to the Kingdom of Naples and the Dutchy of Milan That he should surrender up to him the Dutchy of Burgundy which was the Patrimony of his Ancestors That he should give Provence Dauâ—iné and Lyounois to the Duke of Bourbon to be joyned with his other Lands and make them an independant Kingdom That he should Satisfie the King of Englands demands To which Francis replyed That a perpetual Imprisonment would be less severe to him then those conditions That they were not in his Power because they shock'd the Fundamental Laws of France to which he was Subjected but that he offer'd to take in Marriage Eleonora the Emperours Sister to hold Burgundy in Dower and Hereditary for the Children that should be Born of that Marriage to restore the Duke of Burbon to all his Lands and to give him his Sister Margaret Widow of the Duke of Alenson to satisfie the English in Money to pay a Ransom such as King John had paid and to lend him a Land Army and a Fleet whenever he would go into Italy to receive the Imperial Crown If the Regent mother to the King was troubled with grief she was much more so with Fear She apprehended to lose the Regency which Paris and the Parliament very ill satisfied with her conduct would have put into the hands of Charles de Bourbon Duke of Vendosme But that Prince either out of discretion or fear which in this circumstance made it vertue and merit seeing his Family already too hateful in the Kings Eyes refused to take it upon him He went
himself to the Regent at Lyons where she had called an Assembly of Notables to get them to confirm her Authority As for the King of England he at first expressed a great deal of joy for the Kings being taken and dispatched one to the Emperour to perswade him to enter into Guyeme assuring him that at the same time he would make an Irruption towards Normandy and proffered to send his Daughter that he might Marry her according to some Propositions that had passed between them But on the other side he sent to the Queen Regent of France to let her understand he was not unwilling to unite himself with France for the deliverance of their King And that which inclined him to it was not so much the neglect the Emperour shewed in leaving his Daughter and seeking the Daughter of the King of Portugal as the Impressions of the Cardinal Woolsey his grand Governour who was enraged for that the Emperour since he had overcome his difficulties cared no more for him nor wrote any more to him with his own hand nor Subscribed himself Your Son and Cousin as he had done before The Jealousie and the Evil Dispositions that Cardinal infused in his Masters mind against the Emperour were one of the first helps towards the saving of France For the King of England who had equipp'd a Fleet to land in Normandy dismissed it without demanding his Expences of the Regent and made a League with her to preserve the Crown of France entire so that the King could not dismember it to gain his freedom and he promised to assist him with men and to lend him moneys when ever need required The King had been now above two months in the Castle of Pisqueton and neither Lanoy nor the Council of Spain could yet resolve upon the place where they might safely keep him For the Kings Galleys were at Sea which hindred them from carrying him to Spain And if they kept him in those Countries it was to be feared their half mutinous Souldiers should seize upon him and let him escape They would willingly have had him to the Kingdom of Naples but having not many men they apprehended the Pope or the Venetians might attempt to rescue him on the way Amidst these Difficulties Lanoy found an expedient which was to make him consent or think it best to go into Spain To this purpose he endeavours to perswade him that if he did but discourse with the Emperour they would soon agree together and that in case they could not he would bring him back into Italy The King who ardently desired it believed it and not only commanded the French Galleys that were cruising to let him pass but likewise so ordered it that the Regent lent six to the Vice-Roy who pretending to Sail towards Naples transported him into Spain this was about the middle of the Month of June He was Year of our Lord 1525 lodged in the Castle of Madrid far from the Sea and the Frontiers with the Liberty of going forth to take the Air when ever he pleased but always surrounded with Guards and mounted upon a Mule He had thought that upon his arrival he should see the Emperour but notice was given him that it would not be convenient till they had first agreed upon all Articles and that those might be treated upon he gave leave to the Mareschal de Montmorency to return into France and permission to Margaret the Kings Sister to go into Spain In the mean while he a granted a Truce till the end of December for fear said he left some new difficulties should arise but in effect to Suspend any Enterprises of the Italian Potentates and their League which should have put Milan into very great danger had they bestirred themselves well in this juncture And truly this translation broke all those measures the Pope and the Venetians would have taken with the Regent and put them into an extream Consternation It did no less allarm Bourbon and Pescara having been done without Communicating of it to them They wrote very sharply to the Emperour concerning it and with Invectives against Lanoy whom they accused of cowardise and pride together for having said they by his timidity like to have made them lose the Battle of which notwithstanding he pretended to claim the whole honour Besides Bourbon apprehending with great reason lest the two Kings if they conferred together should agree to his prejudice did not so much look after the affairs of Milan as his own and had no patience till the Galleys that carried the King were returned that he might go aboard and hasten to find the Emperour The intentions of the Italian Princes in driving the French out of Milan was not to introduce the Spaniards there but to restore Francis Sforza and yet the Emperour carried himself as absolute Master and the unfortunate Sforza was to speak properly no more then the Treasurer who paid the Souldiers at the expence of his poor People Jeremy Moron who was his Chancellour and his principal Counsellour sought therefore to set his Master and his Countrey at Liberty the Pope and the Venetians proffered to contribute towards it all these together imagined they might make advantage of Pescara's discontent and propounded to make him King of Naples the opportunity being favorable whilst Lanoy was in Spain and all the Forces almost Disbanded The Pope who was Soveraign Lord of that Fief joynes in this business and approves of it Pescara pretended to give Ear but acted the Scrupulous and the man of Honour doubting whether he might serve the Soveraign Lord which was the Pope to the prejudice of the Lord the present Occupier which was the Emperour To resolve this they were fain to consult under feigned nams all the most eminent Lawyers of those times At last he seems to yeild and to treat a League with the Pope the Regent and the Venetians for this enterprise When he had found out the whole intrigue he discover'd it to the Emperour and confirmed his relation of it by the confession even of Moron who imprudently surrendred himself into his own Hands He afterwards redeemed his Life for twenty thousand Crowns Thereupon Pescara took an occasion to deprive the unhappy Sforza of his Dutchy he gained all his strongest places by a wile and then shut him up in the Castle of Milan with a circumvallation But he dyed at the beginning of December before he could reap the Fruit of his perfidiousness He was a man had neither Soul nor Heart of a quick and piercing Wit but Crafty Malicious and who instead of Honour was stored with nought but Arrogance The Regent laboured Incessantly for the Liberty of her Son Margaret Dutchess of Alenson being arrived in Spain in the month of September propounded the Marriage of the King with Eleonora Sister to the Emperour But that Princess had been promised to Bourbon who earnestly demanded her and thwarted the whole Treaty with his interests which were difficult to be adjusted So
that Margaret was forced to return without effecting any thing leaving however Francis de Tournon then Bishop of Embrun Gabriel de Gramont Bishop of Tarbes who were since Cardinals and John de Selve First President of Parliament to continue the Negociation This Princess had scattered so much money in those Countries that she gained some of the Emperours Council and most of the Kings Guards with whom she Year of our Lord 1525 had formed a contrivance for his escape The Emperour having some hint of it and at the same time received the news of Moron's design in which the Regent had some hand caused him to be more closely confined then before The King conceived so much grief for this hard usage and for that in the six months time he had now been in Spain he could not once come to see him that he fell very Sick Then the Emperour fearing he might lose his advantages together with his Prisoner made his Interest his Civility and gave him a visit It was very short but full of tender Expressions Consolations and hopes of sudden Liberty So that the King took courage and comfort and by little and little recovered his health When this danger was over the Emperour was not over hasty to perform those Promises he had made Twice was he upon the point of Marrying his Sister Eleonora to Charles de Bourbon Notwithstanding he was advised to keep her still in reserve to make an Alliance with the King if it were needful and indeed he was obliged to do so when he left feared it For having information of a great League and very great Forces raising by all t he Potentates of Italy the King of England and the Regent he considered the Marquiss of Pescare was dead Milan ready to revolt his Forces dissipated or in Mutiny no Commanders for his Service in those Countries and that therefore the Confederates might turn him out of all there before he could put things in order These Motives made him condescend to a Peace and to set his Prisoner at Liberty but in such a manner as according to common opinion was neither just nor Honourable nor Advantagious The Envoyéz of France who had full power from the Regent as she had from Year of our Lord 1526 the King her Son having had several Conferences at Madrid with the Emperours Council in which they on either part disputed the Rights of the two Princes especially that of the Emperour to the Dutchy of Burgundy concluded the Treaty the Thirteenth of February which was That the King should marry Eleonora with two Hundred Thousand Crowns for her Dowry and should marry the Daughter of that Princess to the Dauphin when she came to Age That he should be conducted to Fontarabia and set at Liberty the Tenth of March and that his two Sons or at least the Eldest or in lieu of the Second twelve Lords should enter into Hostage for security of what he promised Which was amongst other things to pay the Emperor Twenty Hundred Thousand Crowns in Gold for the Ransome of his Person To yield to him the Dutchy of Burgundy with the Cities of Noyers and Chastel-Chinon the County of Charolois the Vicounty d'Aussonne and the Prevosté of Saint Lawrence in all entire Soveraignty Moreover the homage of the Counties of Artois and Flanders and his pretensions to the Estates of Naples Milan Genoa Ast Tournay L'isle and Hesdin To get Henry d'Albret to renounce the Kingdom of Navarre and if he could not oblige him to it not to assist him To restore within Forty dayes the Duke of Bourbon and all those that had follow'd him to their Lands As likewise to give Philibert de Chaalon his Liberty and his Principality of Orenge and to Michael Antony his Marquisate of Saluces To afford no assistance to the Duke of Guelders and to procure that his Cities upon his death should return to the Emperor To pay the Arreares of the King of England's Pension which amounted to Five Hundred Thousand Crowns To lend the Emperor when he should go to take the Imperial Crown in Italy twelve Galleys and four great Vessels and to pay him Two Hundred Thousand Crowns instead of the Land Army he had promised him Moreover the King engaged upon his Faith that if he could not procure the full execution of all these Articles he would voluntarily return to his Prison and disengage his Promises at the price of his own Person Whatever promises he made the wisest Spaniards nay even those of the Emperors own Council unless such as had a particular hand in the contrivance and management of this Treaty never believed that he intended to perform it and presaged that their Prince after all would reap no other benefit but the reproaches of all Christian Princes and an immortal War with France And indeed his Chancellor Gatinare absolutely refused to Sign it and protested he would not so much abuse that Office the Emperor had bestowed upon him to the prejudice even of the Emperor himself When after his refusal the Emperor had signed the Treaty with his own Hand he visited the King at Madrid and from that day till the time of his departure they shewed to each other all the marks and tokens of a sincere and cordial affection Year of our Lord 1526 They went in the same Coach to Visit the Infanta Eleonora whom Francis betroathed that very day Eat together discoursed in private of their Affairs and were often in publick observed to laugh and discourse familiarly The Eighteenth of March Lanoy and Alarcon with Fifty Horse brought the King near Fontarabia to the brink of the River which parts France from Spain The same day Lautrec Governor of Guyenne brought the Kings two Sons the Eldest being scarce eight Years old to the hither Shoar A great Boat lay at Anchor in the middle of the River At the same time the Spaniards put the King into a small Bark and the French the Kings Sons into another and at the same time they exchanged them making them pass over the great Boat whence they received them into their little Barks on the further side So soon as the King was got to Land on this side he mounted a Turkish Horse and spurr'd away if he had feared some surprize to Saint John de Luz where he found his Mother and his Sister At his getting out of his Prison which had confin'd him Thirteen Months he fell into the Captivity of a fair Lady Anne de Pisse-leu whom his Mother brought purposely thither to divert him after his tedious Melancholy He afterwards honoured her with the Title of Dutchess d'Estampes As soon as he was in France he began highly to complain of the Inhumanity of the Emperor and say That promises made under Imprisonment are Null That a Vassal is Criminal who forces his Lord to give him his Oath That the Laws of the Land would not permit him to dismember any part of it He spake thus to the Ambassadors that were
about him he wrote likewise to the Pope the King of England and the Venetians The Assembly of Notables he called at Cognac said the same and the Estates of Burgundy did absolutely refuse to change their Lord though in appearance he pressed them to it as much as he could Then the Emperor trembling with Rage and Shame perceived that his evil Council with his own greediness had deceived him and hearing that all Italy was but ill disposed towards him he sent away Bourbon with his Galleys giving him Money and the Government of Milan to which he joyned the hopes of adding the Title of that Dutchy when he should have utterly dispoliated Sforza if he could convict him of the Crime of Felony He likewise sent Hugh de Moncado to the Pope to endeavour to satisfie or rather amuse him and commanded him to pass thorough France with order to go no farther if the King would give him up Burgundy Ever since the Treaty of Madrid there had been a League in hand with the King of England and the Princes of Italy which sometimes was laid aside and then again revived when the King was informed by Moncado that the Emperor was absolutely resolved to have the Dutchy of Burgundy and no other condition in exchange he was constrained to conclude it for fear they should comply with the Emperor It was proclaimed the Twenty Eight of June at Cognac between the King the Pope the Venetians the Florentins and Sforza to procure the Release of the Kings Children restore the Kingdom of Naples to the Holy-See and maintain Sforza in the Dutchy of Milan the King reserving nothing to himself in Italy but the City of Genoa Lanoy who had followed the King to sollicite the execution of the Treaty of Madrid seeing the quite contrary took his leave and retired having first summon'd him to return to his Imprisonment according to his Parole given All seemed to favour the Confederates the People of Milan were revolted upon the cruel and proud avarice of the Spaniards their Troops were all shattered and reduced almost to nothing and the Marquess du Guast had not sufficient authority to restrain them But of all the Members of this League there were none but the Venetians that did in part perform their Obligation the Pope proceeded slowly and ambiguously Sforza suffer'd himself to be amused by the Spaniards Artifices and the King aiming at nothing but to disengage his Children did not carry things on Vigorously Besides he hardly ever acted any thing but by fits the pleasures of Women and Hunting made him forget all business He never gave any Orders but when it was out of Season and when he had begun to repair the fault at a double expence he would let all fall again and give over in a moment Thus his Army conducted by the Marquess de Salusses could not get thither till September and his Galleys from Marseilles did not joyn early enough with Year of our Lord 1526 Doria's to regain the City of Genoa and prevent Bourbons Landing But which was the worst Francis de la Rovere Duke of Vrbin General of the Venetian Forces out of certain jealousies for the future and old resentments of time past against the House of the Medicis who had otherwise deprived him of his Dutchy and who still reserved some pretensions would not by any means advance the Popes Affairs too much He might with ease have relieved the Castle of Milan the Burghers would have Seconded his Design and driven out the Spaniards had they been assisted but he left them exposed to the violence of their cruel hostes who miserably saccaged them and tormented them so grievously that many to escape out of their hands gave themselves a voluntary death Afterwards those People that belonged to the Pope and Sforzas men pressed him so earnestly that he could not refuse to approach Milan and either besiege the City or force the Circumvallation about the Castle But Charles de Bourbon being got in with Eight Hundred men only he decamped by Night and obliged the other Commanders to follow him in so much as Sforza reduced at last to the extremest Famine Surrendred the Castle the Twenty Third of July to Charles de Bourbon not renouncing to the Dutchy however and reserving a certain Revenue to himself and the liberty of going to the Emperor to make out his own Justification In all the rest of this War the Duke of Vrbin behaved himself after the same manner he by his Malicious delayes retarded the reduction of Cremona which had Capitulated made them lose the opportunity of forcing Milan after he had received a re-inforcement of Fourteen Thousand Swiss and Five or Six Thousand French whom the Marques de Salusses brought him and that of taking Genoa for which Andre Doria required but Fifteen Hundred men which he would never send him The Colomnes Enemies of Pope Clement and incited by the Imperialists had taken up Arms against him he had raised men likewise to defend himself then suffering himself to be lull'd asleep by a deceitful Peace he disbanded them About the end of October they got into Rome with Three or Four Thousand Men gathered together the Cardinal Pompey Colomna having conspired to kill him and invade the Holy-See which had been Executed if he had not timely made his Escape into the Castle Saint Angelo Having miscarried in this they plundred his Palace and even Saint Peters Church then besieged him in the Castle Hugh de Moncado who was apparently the contriver or abettor of this Conspiracy became the mediator for an Accommodation Which doing he constrained Clement to Treat with them to renounce the League for Four Months and to withdraw his Forces Five Weeks after that is to say about the end of November he being ashamed of his base Cowardliness excommunicated the Columnas and degraded the Cardinal Pompey In the mean while Lanoy who returned from Spain had time to bring Soldiers from Naples Towards Hungary there happened a great and mischievous business to the House of Austria They would fain have made the World believe that Francis had occasioned it and that it was he had drawn the Infidels into those Countries Solyman falling upon that Kingdom the young King Lewis was forced by the General of his Army he was named Paul Tomore a man of Quality and one who having a long time born Armes was turned Monk of the Order of Cordeliers and then promoted to the Archbishoprick of Colacse in the Vpper Hungary to give him Battle It was upon the Twenty Ninth of August in the Plains of Mohac's where he was overcome and drowned in the Neighbouring Marshes All the Flower of his Nobility were Slain there and afterwards the whole Country over-run by the Turks and drenched with the blood of near Three Hundred Thousand of his poor Subjects That was but the beginning of the Calamities of that unhappy Kingdom Ferdinand the Emperors Brother founding himself upon the Right and Title of Anne his
Wife Sister of King Lewis who had likewise Married his named Mary and upon certain Contracts made by his Predecessors with the Kings Mathias and Ladislaus prevailed to be Crowned King by part of the Hungarians and John de Zapols Vaivod of Transilvania Earl of Scepus was elected by the other Cabal This being the weaker had recourse to the protection of the Turk which occasioned a long series of misfortunes and desolations in Hungary equally plagued and rent in pieces by the Barbarians and those that said they were their Kings Amidst the uncertainties of the Emperors Affairs concerning Milan he had proffer'd a Ten Months Truce to the Confederates whilst they were trotting backwards and forwards to Rome Venice and France about this same he received news that his Fleet was safely arrived in Italy and that Fourteen Thousand Lansquenets which George Baron of Fronsberg had raised at his expence this was the third time he had done him the like Service were entred into Milan By this means his Affairs being in a good posture he spake no more of an Accommodation Year of our Lord 1527 The Pope had broken the Treaty made with the Vice-Roy of Naples and the Confederates to make a diversion Assaulted that Kingdom by Sea and Land The Count de Vaudemont who had his pretensions to it as being descended from Rene Duke of Lorrain who had the Rights and Title of the House of Anjou commanded the Sea Forces and Rance de Cere the Land Army for the King The Popes irresolution and covetousness ruined all their Progress in that Country for it hindred the providing of those things that were necessary for their subsistence and on the other hand the King failed in furnishing almost every thing that he had promised Thus the Land Army wasted for want of provisions and all the Fleet gained upon the Coast was soon lost again Upon this the Pope had Information that Charles de Bourbon was marching towards Rome he was so terrified that he made a Truce of Eight Months with Lanoy Vice-Roy of Naples without knowing whether Bourbon who depended not upon Lanoy would accept of it He had made account that the Army of the League which was in Milan would hold him still in play or if he should march out that the others would follow him every where but that Prince not knowing how to satisfie the grievous out-cries and complaints of the People whom he had eaten to the very bones nor the Mutinies of the Soldiers who were every moment ready to fall upon him in this extremity and dispair of all things resolved to go forth and seek out a Subsistence for them He therefore passed the Po the Twenty Ninth of January leaving Antonio de Leve at Milan with Eight Thousand Men for the defence of the Dutchy There were some believed his design was to seize upon the Kingdom of Naples that to this end he held correspondence with the King that by private Agents he was reconciled to him and that from France they were to furnish him with a certain Sum every Month to maintain his Army but that the said Money not coming and their heat and insolence increasing daily he was constrain'd to promise them the plunder of Florence or Rome There is great probability it was a thing of meer necessity and that the Duke of Vrbin contributed more then a little towards it having an aking Tooth to be revenged of the Pope who still gave the Title of Dutchess of Vrbin to his Niece Catharine and the Florentines who detained from him Montfeltra and some other Lands which Pope Leo X. had taken from him and engaged to them Indeed it was said that Duke had promised Bourbon not to oppose his March if he went that way and Guichardin assures us that if the Pope would but have restored Montfeltra to him it would have obliged that Duke to serve him after another-guess manner then he did Now Bourbon having sojourned forty days in the Neighbourhood of Piacenza was encouraged say some by the Duke of Ferrara who turned two Months before to the Emperors Party to March directly to Florence or to Rome The Pope was so fickle and so easie to believe what he desired that although he knew he was entred into Romagnia nevertheless he dismissed his Forces and relied upon the assurances Lanoy perhaps deceived himself by Bourbon gave him that the said Prince would go no farther He soon found the contrary for Bourbon being entred into Tuscany and not daring to attack Florence by reason all the Confederates Forces were about it resolved to go and fall upon Rome Upon the noise of his March the Pope leaves all things intirely to the Conduct of Rance de Cere who not having time to raise good and able men pickt up Five or Six Thousand amongst the Estafiers or Lacqueys and Grooms belonging to the Cardinals such rescals as were much more likely to affright then defend a City Wherefore the Fifth of May Bourbon who had encamped himself in a Meadow near Rome sent to demand passage thorow the City and receiving no other answer but a denial the next morning he went head-long and made an Assault at Year of our Lord 1527 a breach which was in the Wall of the Burrough Saint Peter He was twice beaten off the third time a Musket shot laid him dead on the Earth but his Soldiers after two hours dispute forced the Burrough About Evening they pass'd the Bridge over the Tiber and entred into the City mad with revenge and the desire of plunder The Pope instead of retiring into some place of Safety as he might have done shuts himself up in his Castle Saint Angelo with Thirteen of his Cardinals Whatever can be imagined of Barbarity Impieties Sacriledge Cruel and Horrid acts excepting Fire were committed upon the sacking of this great City It lasted two whole Months during which time the Spaniards who say they are such good and sound Catholicks did much out-do the Germans who openly professed they were of Luthers Sect and sworn Enemies of the Papacy Although the King of England had been one of the warmest Promoters of the League against the Emperor nevertheless because it was not concluded in his Island as he desired it might he had not hitherto contributed any thing towards it but remained neuter Now Cardinal Woolsey having suffer'd himself to be enticed by King Francis under whose protection he hoped to shelter himself against the general hatred of the English in case his Master should happen to die propounded a Marriage between the King or his second Son and his Masters Daughter and contrived to conclude on which of the two she should be bestowed there should be an Inter-view betwixt Boulogne and Calais Upon this assurance a new Confederation was made between them towards the latter end of April Wherein it was agreed That the King of England should renounce all claim to the Crown of France upon the payment to him of Fifty Thousand Crowns
Pension Yearly That in the following Month of July they should commence the War in Italy the English with Nine Thousand Foot Soldiers the French with Fifteen Thousand and Horse and Artillery proportionable That they should make known this League to the Emperor and Summon him to deliver up the Children of France and enter into the Peace of Italy If not within one Month afterwards they should declare a War against him After this Confederation the News of the Popes being taken coming the King made another with the Venetians the Fifteenth of May That they should joyntly maintain Ten Thousand Swiss and pay them alternatively by the Month That the King should send Ten Thousand Foot under the Conduct of Peter de Navarre and that the Venetians should entertain the like number of Italian Infantry The Imperial Army was near Thirty Thousand Men Hugh de Moncado and Dugast having brought thither all the Forces from Naples Had they found a General fit to employ or Command so great a Body they might have given Law to all Italy but these were nothing but Mutiny and Confusion and they were so fleshed with the City of Rome it was impossible to get them out thence The Vice-Roy and the Marquess Dugast fearing lest the Foot Soldiers should fall upon them fled away by Night the Prince of Orange remained and had the Title of General but no Power the Army would take Orders from none but themselves So that the Duke of Vrbin had a fair opportunity to come and deliver the Pope and yet he made so many delays pretending sometimes one excuse then another Advancing Retreating ranging about that at length the Pope reduced to extremity Surrendred himself the sixth day of June and because it was upon conditions impossible for him to perform amongst others to pay down four hundred thousand Ducats ready money and to deliver up Places which were not in his disposal he remained a Prisoner six whole months and in great misery under the custody of Captain Alarcon a Spaniard who formerly had the custody of King Francis During all this his Estates being guarded only by the People for as much as they were interested the Venetians his Allies Seized upon Ravenna and Cervia with the Salt-Pits Sigismond Malatesta on Rimini the Duke of Ferrara upon Reggio and Modena and the City of Florence which was almost brought under they Yoke of the Medicis threw it off and returned to their Popular State of Government The Debaucheries of the Souldiers the Nastiness of the Germans and the excessive heats of the Weather had Engendered a Plague in Rome so that those Robbers dying in heaps part of them went into the Field to take the Air. The Confederates Army diminished apace likewise and were retired towards Orvietta Year of our Lord 1527 from whence they went to the Lake of Perugia otherwhile named Trasimene In the mean time the Holy Father was in great danger as well because the Plague was got into the Castle Saint Angelo and had taken off some of his nearest Houshold Servants as because the Spanish Captains would carry him to Cajeta with his thirteen Cardinals and from thence he apprehended to be transferred into Spain The Emperour desired it most passionately and indeed they had conveyed him thither if the Prelates and Spanish Lords had not made him know they thought it contrary to Christian Piety thus to detain in Prison and like a Slave mis-use and treat the Head of all Christendom I cannot imagine after all how they could be reconciled with or judge of the proceedings of their Prince who commanded publick Processions to be made in Spain to ask of God the deliverance of the Pope as if himself had been two different Persons that is in Italy a Barbarous Persecutor and in Spain a Zealous Servant to the Holy See The Union between the Kings of France and England becoming more strict and the Emperour having refused to Surrender the Pope and the Children of France they were resolved to carry the War into Italy with all their Forces The King of England was to furnish thirty thousand Crowns in Gold per month for the payment of ten thousand Lansquenets very good men commanded by Lewis de Lorrain Count de Vaudemont and Cardinal Woolsey being come to confer with the King at Boulogne brought over three hundred thousand Crowns to lend him if he had any need of them The seventeenth of September the King having called an Assembly of the most Notable Persons of the three Estates of the Kingdom for their Advice what he should do touching the deliverance of his Children offered to return to Prison if they judged he were so obliged to do rather then act or undertake any thing prejudicial to the State The twentieth of that Month each of the three Orders separately answered That his person was the Kingdoms not his That Burgundy was a Member of the Crown whereof he was but Uâ—uâ—ructuary That ☞ therefore he could not dispose either of the one nor of the other But withal which was the true Motive for calling this Assembly they offered him two Millions of Gold for the Ransom of his Children and assured him that if it must come to a War they would spare neither their Lives nor Fortunes Lautreâ— had been named General of the Armies for the League according to the desire of the King of England but against his own will fore-seeing by experience of times past that when once they had engaged him in that employment and he gon afar off from them they would furnish him with nothing either in time or in quantity sufficient He passed the Mountains in the beginning of the Month of August with part of the Army And till the remainder were come he Besieged the Castle of Bosco in the Alexandrian Countrey where a thousand men were in Garrison which he forced to Surrender at discretion From thence he went before Alexandria which he likewise constrained to Capitulate then to Pavia which not Submitting in due time was taken by Assult and Saccaged and the Governour made Prisoner This was Lewis de Barbiana who was named Earl of Beljoyeuse At the same time André Doria a Genoese but General of the French Galleys and Caesar Fregosa with French Forces brought Genoa under the King's Obedience and Alphonso Duke of Ferrara forsaking the Emperours Alliance took that of France He was absolutely sixed by the Honour the King did him promising Renee Sister of the late Queen Claudia to his Son Hercules who notwithstanding did not Marry him till ten months afterwards which was in July 1528. They did not omit in the mean time to Treat about a Peace with the Emperour The Ambassadors of France England Venice and Sforza were at Burgos for that purpose Not being able to incline him to reason they took their leaves Year of our Lord 1527 and 28. and immediately afterwards the Heraulds from the two Kings declared War against him The Emperour having sent those Ambassadors twenty Leagues distance
from the Court set Guards upon them then some while after he released them and caused them to be conducted to Bayonne The King treated his Ambassador in the same manner he confin'd him to the Prison of the Chastelet and let him out a few days afterwards Now the Emperour in his reply to the Kings Herauld amongst other things said the King had broke his Faith and besides he bragged how two years before Year of our Lord 1527 and 28. he told the French Ambassador that it were more expedient and brave to decide their quarrels man to man in single combat then to trouble all Christendom and Spill the Bloud of so many poor Innocents not concerned in their disputes The ☞ Herauld having acquainted him thereof he would justifie and clear himself of these two reproaches of Perfidie and Cowardice by a publick Act and such a one as should appear most eminently to the eyes of all Europe He caused therefore a Scaffold to be set up in the great Hall of the Palace where sitting in his Royal Robes attended by his Princes and in presence of all those Ambassadors that were then about his Court he sent for him that belonged to Spain this was Nicholas Perrenot de Granvelle a Native of mean extract in Franche Comie but a man of Brain and caused a Cartel or challenge to be read before him which gave the Emperour the Lie and demanded he should assign the place for Combat and that he would bring the Weapons thither The Ambassador excusing himself from carrying this Challenge he sent a Herald to acquaint the Emperour with it and the King of England at the same time sent him the like defiance by a Messenger of his own Some while after the Emperour sent back a Herauld to the King with his answer The King placed himself in the same posture to receive it but being informed he would appoint no place till after the King should have diengaged his word and his Children he commanded him not to speak And thus all those challenges proved nothing but fine Theatrical Shows It had been agreed between the Kings of France and England that this latter should attaque the Emperour in the Low-Countries But his Subjects having an aversion for a War against the Flemmings because it destroyed their Commerce he rather chose to lend the King thirty thousand Crowns per Month and treated a Truce for all Merchants trading between the Low-Countries France and England to have free liberty for a year Upon the News of Lautrec's marching into Italy the Emperour had sent an Order to set the Pope at Liberty but first to endeavour the tying him to strict and harsh Conditions The Treaty for his freedom being concluded with Moncado whom the Emperour had by provision made Vice-Roy of Naples in the room of Lanoy who was lately dead he would not trust himself there till the next day but that very night slipt away disguised like a Merchant having before caused his Hostages to evade who would have run a great risque Lautrec had regained almost the whole Milanois and might in a short time have mastered Milan if the Kings express orders had not enjoyned him to give up all the Places to Sforza and to go to Rome to deliver the Holy Father When he was entring upon Romagnia he heard that he was escaped and that the Imperial Army upon the report of his March had quitted Rome to go and defend the Kingdom of Naples The Plague had devoured above two thirds of that Sacrilegious Army and it was observed that within the compass of one year there were not two hundred reamining but which in divers manners had felt the refentments of Divine Vengeance He pursued these Robbers by long Marches and having overtaken them at Abbruzzo presented Battle to them They dislodged in the night with great disorder and retired into Naples It was believed that if he had followed them in at their heels he might have expected good success from their Fears but he amused himself in taking of other Places and then when he had missed of so fair an opportunity he laid Siege to Naples Year of our Lord 1528 The Confederates at the same time when he entred that Kingdom were to have fallen upon Sicilia with their Fleet which was got together at Leghorn But they were disabled by a Tempest which so grievously shattered the twelve Galleys equipped by the Venetians that they were forced to put in at Corsu to Refit Rance de Cere and Andrea Doria with the Kings Ships made a descent at Sardinia put the Vice-Roy of that Island to a rout though he had double their Number and entred Pell-mell with him into the City of Sassary which they Plundred This S uccess was the occasion of great Misfortunes For the Souldiers over-glutted with Eating died most part of the Disenterie The King Plunged over Head and Ears in Pleasures became more negligent in sending Supplyes to Lautrec And Andrea Doria having some disputes with Rance de Cere it hap'ned that this last finding more favour then the other at Court the thoughts thereof Aggravated all those other little discontents he had formerly met with from the French Year of our Lord 1528 He had in his mind as it appeared afterwards a great desire of restoring his Country to its Liberty To this end he offered the King two hundred thousand Gold Crowns to let him have the Government of it not to hold it but that he might make a Regulation and he made earnest Applications that the French should give up the City of Savonna to that State because that being the better Port would ruin Genoa and make the City become Desert But the King absolutely denyed him both the one and the other Being therefore Malecontented in his Soul at this refusal and for their not paying him the Prince of Orange's Ransom he carried his Galleys back to Genoa under colour of having been so weather-beaten that they stood in need of reparations The French Army lay Encamped before Naples from mid April Lautrec thinking to have it by Famine and for that purpose was so pressing with Andrea Doria that he sent him the Kings eight Galleys and eight more which were his own all under the Command of his Brother Philippine Upon their Arrival they took three great Vessels laden with Corn which they were conveying into City It was believed that if the Venetian Forces had come in time and had not employed themselves as they did to recover some Cities in the Golf for their Seigneury which they had lost in the time of Lewis XII Philippine and they together might have so effectually blocked up the Port that no Provisions should have been carried in to Naples which began to feel some want The Spaniards did not however get much by the bargain in making such hast to engage Philippine before the Venetians came to joyn him Hugh de Moncado had put a thousand Select Arquebusiers on Board their Fleet thinking
the progress of those Opinions and to reform the Clergy whose dissolute behaviour had given rise to those Scandals The year after Lewis Berquin of Artois for Preching Luther's Errors was burnt in Paris the two and twentieth of March. This very year 1528. were forced the first Seeds Englands Schism The Cardinal Woolsey to be revenged of the Emperour who had deluded him and despised him as likewise to oblige King Francis who slattered his ambition and his avarice had perswaded his Master that his Marriage with Catherine of Arragon was not good it being against the Law of God that a Woman should marry the two Brothers for when Henry took her Year of our Lord 1528 she was then Widow of his eldest Brother Arthur that therefore the Pope must declare it null and that afterwards he might marry with Margaret the Kings Sister Widow of the Duke of Alenson In effect the Irons were put into the Fire and the Pope as things then stood betwixt him and the Emperour hearkned most willingly to it and commissioned two Cardinals Campejus and Woolsey to he judges of the matter upon the place He also sent a Bull to Campejus which dissolved the Marriage with order nevertheless not to deliver it nor to let it be seen but as a Secret But finding the Emperors Affairs succeeded better then his own and that he would make him repent it he sent to Campejus to Burn it and to wira-draw the business After which Catherine refusing to own those two Cardinals for Judges and appealing to the Holy See before whom the Ambassadors from the Emperor and the Arch-Duke Ferdinand protested likewise a Nullity of all that they could judge his Holiness removed and brought it before himself which enraged the King of England beyond expression Mean while Woolsey repented he had carried it on so far because he perceived now that Henry who so earnestly desired the Divorce had no inclination to marry Margaret of France but a Damoiselle of the Queens his Wife with whom he was Furiously in Love She was called Anne Bullen was Imbued with the opinions of Luther ☞ yet withal too gallent and one that could Sing and Dance too well to be wise or staid Henry observing therefore that he retarded the business instead of helping it forward with dispatch let him fall into disfavour and immediately every one turned their backs upon him This proud Cardinal who used ordinarily to say the King and I saw himself forsaken of all his Friends displaced from his Office of Chancellour then Banished to his Bishoprick afterwards made a Prisoner persecuted all manner of ways and reduced to the extremest misery In fine the following year as they were bringing him from York to London to answer to such Treasons as were laid to his Charge he dyed as it hath ever been desired those proud Ministers may die and fall who abuse the Authority of their Masters Year of our Lord 1529 After the ruine of the French Army in the Kingdom of Naples the Spaniards reduced all the Towns and Places at their ease In Milanois the Confederates Army commanded by the Duke of Vrbin regained Pavia which Dugast had taken but the Count de Saint Pol was surprized at Landriana by Antonio de Leva who marched out of Milan not above five Leagues from it In the midst of this danger his Lansquenets proved Turn-Coats his Italians abandoned him he was overcome and made prisoner All his Horse and his Van-guard made their escape to Pavia After this Defeat there was a kind of tacit Truce between the Princes All would have a Peace the King out of desire to get home his Children the Pope upon the consideration of his many former miseries and sufferings and the Emperor because he had obtained what he desired About the Month of June it was first concluded at Barcelona between the Pope and the Emperor very advantageous to the first because the other had a most eager desire to go and receive the Imperial Crown at Rome The principal Conditions were that the Emperor should give his Bastard Daughter to Alexander de Medicis That he should re-establish that Family in Florence with the same Power and Authority it had before they were driven from thence and that he should procure those Cities and Places to be restored which belonged to the Church On the other hand the Pope received him as Homager for the Kingdom of Naples upon the presenting him annually with a white Horse and gave him power of nomination to the four and twenty Cathedral Churches which were in controversie with this he also granted him a fourth part of the Fruits and Revenues of the Church as well in his own Lands as in those of the Arch-Duke Ferdinand to be employ'd in making a War against the Turks In the following Month of July Margaret Aunt to the Emperor and Louisa Mother of the King meeting at Cambray to Treat of a Peace between the two Crowns did conclude it likewise in presence of the Ambassadors from the Pope the King of England and the Venetians It was published the Fifth day of August The Articles were almost the same as those at Madrid excepting that the King retained the Dutchy of Burgundy to which the Emperor reserved his Rights and Actions to be pursued by fair and friendly methods and proceedings It was likewise agreed he should revoke the Sentence of Condemnation pronounced against Bourbon and that he should restore all his Goods moveable and immoveables Year of our Lord 1529 to his Heirs and as to his Ransome he should pay two Millions of Gold Crowns to the Emperor or for his Account to wit 1200000 Crowns ready Money upon the Release of his Children 400000 to the King of England as from him and for security of the remaining 400000. he should engage to him the Lands which Mary of Luxemburgh had formerly in Flanders Brabant and Haynault and which she brought to the House of Bourbon-Vendosme Moreover that he should redeem the Flower de Luce this was a Jewel of Price which Duke Philip the Good had pawned to the King of England whom he should likewise satissie in the Emperors behalf for the Sum of 500000 Crowns in Gold which he had promised to that King in case he did not Marry his Daughter As for the Venetians and Florentines the Allies of France they were comprized in this Treaty after such a manner that they were left to the discretion of the Emperor Although the King of England was discontented that it had been concluded without his knowledge nevertheless standing in need of the King for the vacating of his Marriage he forgave him the 500000 Crowns and gratified his Son Henry whose God-Father he was with the redemption of the Flower de Luce. In return the King so order'd it that the Doctors of his Universities and those of Italy held favourable Consultations touching the Divorce Whilst the Treaty was on Foot the Emperor leaving Spain Landed at Genoa the 12 th of August
Regis Professors at Paris for the Sciences and for the Tongues He had likewise a design to Build a Colledge and to settle a Fund of Fifty Thousand Crowns Revenue for the breeding and maintenance of Six Hundred Gentlemen He got together a huge number of Manuscripts of Ancient Authors which make up that precious Library which is the rarest Treasure of our Monarchs of France In a word he merited the glorious Surname of the Father or Patron and restorer of Learning The long and tedious Wars and his Imprisonment had accustomed the Nobility to all sorts of Violence and Crimes He caused the Grand-Jours or Sessions to be held at Poitiers this is an extraordinary Tribunal of Judges Commissioned Year of our Lord 1531 for a certain time and chosen out of those belonging to the Parliament to punish the most guilty There were others held during his Reign at Rion in Auvergne in the Year 1545. Towards the end of July there was a Hairy Comet observed in the Heavens which was visible all the Month of August The vulgar imagined it foretold the death of Louisa of Savoy the Kings Mother who might justly boast she brought him twice into the World once when he was born and again when by her care she deliver'd him from his Captivity She died at Grez in Gastinois the two and twentieth of September as she was Travelling to her Castle of Remorantin in Berry after a long fit of Sickness she had endured at Fontainebleau From the end of the Year 1528. to the beginning of the Year 1534. the wrath of Heaven was so great against France that there was a perpetual irregularity in the Seasons or to speak truth Summer alone usurped the place of the other three insomuch as in five years there had not been two days Frost together These tedious heats enervated as we may say and decay'd Nature making her impotent she brought nothing to maturity The Trees put forth their Blossoms immediately upon their Fruit Corn did not multiply in the Fields and for want of Winter there were such multitudes of Vermin and Insects that fed upon it at its first tender sprouting up that the Harvest yielded not enough for Seed against the next Season for Sowing This scarcity caused a general Famine then came a Disease which they named Truss-Galant after that a dreadful Plague so that these three destroyed above a fourth part of the People Year of our Lord 1532 Anno 1532. The King made a Journey into Bretagne and there after the deliberation which he procured with no small trouble of the Estates of the Country Assembled at Vannes he United that Province to the Crown and would needs have his Son Crowned Duke at Rennes and bear their Arms with those of France and Daufine The Patent for this Union bears date at Nantes in the Month of August of this Year 1532. During the six years of Peace the Emperor labour'd in Settling and Composing his Affairs in Germany which were much embroiled by the different Sects in opposing the designs of Solyman and more yet in contriving wayes and means to ruine the Affairs or at least blast the reputation of King Francis This year he went to the Diet at Ratisbon where at the request of the Princes of the Empire he reformed the Imperial Chamber and obtained of them and the Cities a very great Supply against the Turk who was making ready to fall upon Hungary with innumerable Forces by Land and upon Italy with a powerful Fleet by Sea He made use of this occasion to demand of the King that he would lend him Money and his Gentdarmerie He answer'd as touching the Money that he was no Banker and for his Horse-men that they were the strength of his State and that he lent them no more then he would his Sword but would fight at the head of them that he might have his share in the Honour or in the Danger But because the Imperialists proclaim'd it was a shame that both he and the King of England should stand idle or with their Hands in their Pockets amidst the danger that threatned all Christendom they made a League whereby they engaged betwixt them to set Four-score Thousand Men on Foot with an Equipage suitable and convenient to Attack the common Enemy and the King in particular proffer'd to defend Italy which the Emperor had denuded of all his Forces in case the Turkish Navy should land there The year was much advanc'd when Solyman appeared upon the Frontiers of Hungary with Two Hundred Thousand Men. Germany notwithstanding their Divisions made a greater effort then ever They opposed him with an Army of Ninety Thousand Foot and Thirty Thousand Horse all modelled Troops The Emperor was at their Head and this was his first Expedition which gave him a gusto for the Trade ever afterwards One Battle would have decided the Fate of either Empire and made one sole Master of the Universe But neither the one nor the other durst run the hazard of so great an Event there were only some Combats between detached Bodies Solyman withdrew first Charles V. afterwards in so great hast that he staid not to drive the pretended King John out of Hungary as he might have done Before his return into Spain he went to Bologna where he confer'd a second time with the Pope Year of our Lord 1532 The Union appeared very strickt between King Francis and King Henry These Princes desiring to confer with each other about their Affaires met in the Month of October at Saint Joquevert between Boulogne and Calais according as they had appointed the foregoing year Henry came to Boulogne to visit Francis who returned him his Visit at Calais Both of them were much dissatisfied with the Pope particularly Henry because he refused to appoint him Judges upon the place to take Cognizance in the matter of Divorce They treated therefore a League defensive with and against all and projected to demand of the Pope one his Assistance to recover the Dutchy of Milan the other a Bull for the dissolving of his Marriage otherwise they would withdraw their Kingdoms from his Obedience till a General Council the only Name whereof as they well knew made him even tremble But the news they received af Solymans retreat somewhat allayed those Propositions and delivered Italy from that approaching War they had threatned it withal The Pope and Emperor saw each other at Bologne with the same Demonstrations of Amitie as the first time but with much different Sentiments The Emperor pressed him to call a Council because he had promised the Germans one to renew a Confederation with all the Princes of Italy for their common defence against the French and to bestow his Niece Catherine upon Francis Sforza He likewise was earnest with him to cast his Spiritual Thunderbolts against the King of England for having Divorced himself from his Aunt Katherine As to the first the Pope not finding himself irreproachable but much hated of the
Italian Princes because he had oppressed the City of Florence which was the place of his Nativity could not be induced to grant it but replyed in general terms he must Communicate the thing first to the other Princes of Christendom As to the second he gave his consent and made a League for some Year of our Lord 1533 Months For the third he excused himself because he had hopes of Marrying his Niece with the Kings second Son a party much more Advantageous then Sforza could be The Cardinal de Tournon and de Gramont were then upon the Negociation with him about this Alliance The Emperor could not believe the King would so much Debase and Vilifie the Noblest Bloud in the World He was much amazed when the two Cardinals shewed him the Powers they had for it Then went he away very ill satisfied with his Holiness though to appease him he promised to give him content in what he demanded against the King of England and Embarquing at Genoa about the end of February he passed into Spain Henry made most Vehement instances to Francis that he would Impetrate of the Pope he might have Judges appointed on the Place The two Cardinals whom we have mentioned being arrived at Bologna the fourth of January in the year 1533 obtained of his Holiness that he would defer the Judgement of that business till the King and he should had seen one another at the place appointed for that Meeting They had agreed upon the City of Nice but the Duke of Savoy making too many Difficulties the Pope consented not without much Repugnance that it should be at Marseilles and that they should come there in the Month of October The Amorous Impatience of Henry could not attend till then he caused his Marriage with Catherine to be Dissolved by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Espoused Anne Bullen in the presence of four or five Witnesses only He was Emboldned thereto by the three Thomases who governed him these were Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Cromwel Lord Chamberlain and Privy-Seal and Audley Lord High Chancellour The thing being done he gave notice of it to King Francis intreating his assistance for what he demanded of the Pope and to keep the business Secret It could not be kept so Private but that in one Months time both the Pope and the Emperor were made acquainted with it Both of them were Netled and Incensed to the greatest Extremity in-so-much as the Pope Pronounced the Sentence of Excommunication against Henry and nevertheless he refrained from Publishing it upon the Kings request who on the one hand being obliged to Henry and on the other desiring to be firmly united to the Pope sought out some way for an Accommodation However he promised nothing to King Henry saving that he would do him all the good Offices he could without prejudice either to his Religion or his Conscience And indeed the Pope desired that he would not press him in that concern beyond his Duty and the rules of Justice Year of our Lord 1533 In the mean time Anne Bullen was deliver'd of a Daughter who was named Elizabeth This was in the Month of September of this year 1533. The tenth of October the Pope arrived at Marseilles in the Kings Galleys who took him in at the Port of Pisa Some days before John Stuard Duke of Albany had brought thither Catherine de Medicis whose Maternal Aunt he had Married John de Bellay Bishop of Paris and afterwards Cardinal Harangued his Holiness in most Elegant Latin The next day after he had made his Entrance into the City the King made his with his Queen The Nuptials between Henry and Catherine were Celebrated the seven and twentieth of the Month with as great Joy as Magnificence The Pope and the King spent several days together being Lodged in two Houses just opposit the Street betwixt them but joyned by a Timber Gallery so that they went to each other unseen and could treat of their Affairs with the greatest Privacy Upon this occasion the King did not forget his usual Magnificence but rather Surpassed it very much He Loaded with exquisite Presents and great Pensions all those Cardinals that were with his Holiness But he made the Beauty of his mind and Eloquence out-shine the luster of his Gifts and that whole Court was satisfied that if there were a richer Prince in the World yet there could not be any one that made a more generous use of his Riches nor that accompanied his favours with so much wit and so much kindness as he The two and twentieth of November the Pope and he parted very well pleased with all their Negociations excepting that the King had extorted from the Pope four Cardinals Hats for four Relations of his Favorites these were John le Veneur Bishop of Lisieux Grand Almoner of France Claude de Giury Paternal Uncle to the Wife of de Brion Odet de Coligny but thirteen years of Age Son of Montmorency's Sister and Philip de la Chambre Brother by the Mother to John Duke of Albany This last took the name of Cardinal of Boulogne he being descended from that House by his Mother As to the rest there was no new League made between the Pope and the King contrary to the expectation of the whole World The Pope promised only to do all he could in favour of Prince Henry his second Son to obtain the Dutchy of Milan of the Emperor for him And as to the business of the King of England the King could not prevail with the Pope to revoke the Excommunication but only that he would not Publish it till he had first tryed by all manner of perswasions to bring that Prince again to reason To this intent he forthwith dispatched John du Bellay Bishop of Paris into England to exhort him not to depart from the Communion of the Roman Church This wise and able Prelate having obliged King Henry to promise him that point provided the Pope on his part would forbear publishing the Excommunication went Post to Rome to carry this good News and demand time to reclaim and fix that inconstant and stubborn Spirit The Imperialists could not prevent him from procuring it but they caused it to be limited to a much shorter space then was requisite Du Bellay therefore sent back a Courier into England with order to return by such a certain time Now the day being come but not the Courier the Imperialists pressed the business so hotly that although he represented that the Frosts and Snows and other Inconveniencies of the Season and Way might hinder and retard him and desired another respite only for six days Yet the Pope refused it and doing in one Meeting what he ought not to have done but in three he Pronounced the Sentence and caused it to be affixed in the usual places Two days after the Courier arrived bringing very ample Powers by which King Henry Submitted himself to the Judgement of the Holy See provided certain Cardinals whom
he suspected abstained from being his Judges and that they would send Commissioners to Cambray to take Information and hear those proofs he would offer The Holy Father perceived then the Fault he had committed by his Precipitating a thing of that Importance and could well have desired to find out some remedy But the time was past his fatal hand had given the blow which made so desperate a Wound as wholly cut off England from the Communion of the Church of Rome For Henry transported with fury that he had posted him up at Rome withdrew himself absolutely from all obedience to the Pope declared himself Head of the Anglicane Church and persecuted severely all those that opposed this change It is observed that if the Pope had deferr'd the Judgement but ten Months death would have disengag'd him from all these Intricacies and cut this knot by taking Catherine out of this World as it did in January following Year of our Lord 1533. and 34. The Kings constancy for the Catholick Faith was then like to be sorely shaken by two strong Temptations the one was the King of Englands Summons Solliciting him to break with the Pope to preserve the strict Colligation that was between them the other the Induction of his dear Sister Margaret who would needs have perswaded him to call in Philip Melancthon and give him Audience concerning the means he had to propound for accommodating the differences in Religion But as to the first he replyed in Substance to the King of England A Friend even to the Alter And for the second the Cardinal de Tournon put by that dangerous blow and fortified the Kings mind so well that he would never after give the least Ear to any of those Reformers but in time did also wean his Sister from that Fondness she had and hankering after Novelties Each day Accumulated more and more cause of Quarrel and War between the King and the Emperor This last had great Jealousie of the Enter-view at Marseille and the Marriage there Solemnized He likewise thought himself highly affronted for that the King was entred into the League of the German Princes Confederated at Smalcalde and he was no less so for his assisting of the Dukes of Wirtemberg in the Diet of Ausburgh where their cause against his Brother Ferdinand was Judged who detained their Lands as also for that William Langey by his Contrivances and his Perswasive and Powerful Eloquence broke the League of Scwaben which had lasted for seventy years to the great advantage of the House of Austria King Francis on his part complained of a very Bloody and cruel injury He had in the number of his Esquires a Gentleman of Milan named Francis de Merveille who had gained much wealth in his Service And knowing that he would be willing to make some shew of it in his native Country he sent him to Milan in quality of Secret Ambassador Merveille was so vain as not to conceal his Employment the Emperor knew of it and made complaint to Sforza with Threats who promised to give him Satisfaction Now it happened either by chance or otherwise that some People of that Country made a Quarrel with Merveille and some body was killed in the Fray The Duke fails not to lay hold of this opportunity to content the Emperor and under colour of Justice but without any form causes his head to be cut off by night and in the Prison This hap'ned a little before the Kings journey to Marseille In pursuance of the Kings League with the Confederates of Smalcalde Philip Landtgrave of Hesse Espoused the Quarrel of the Dukes of Wirtemberg who that he might have Money to prosecute the same engaged Montbelliard to the King and declared War against Ferdinand over whose Army having gained a Notable Victory he re-Established them in their County and obliged Ferdinand to allow all Liberty to the Protestants the Sacramentaries and Anabaptists not Comprised Vpon which condition they acknowledged him King of the Romans The Landtgrave had promised Francis to go into Italy which however he did not and this King with the Design of renewing a War set up a Militia in all his Provinces which he distributed in seven Bodies of Six Thousand Men each they were named Legions This institution lasted not long it would have rendered the People too Powerful and the Government too weak The twenty fourth of September died Pope Clement Two days after the Cardinals being assembled in Conclave elected Alexander Farnese named Paul III. At this time John Cauvin or Calvin aged twenty four or five years began to expose his Doctrine more conformable to that of the Sacramentaries than to that of Luther and which went much farther for it did not only touch upon the inward belief but overthrew all the Exteriour and the Ceremonies He was a Native of Noyon Son of Gerard who was the Bishops Secretary A Man very studious of a sharp and penetrating Wit a Melancholly and Sickly Temper an angry and passionate humour no very smooth Tongue but an Eloquent and Fluent pen and who was oft reproached that he coverd a Violent ambition and extream obstinacy with the Vaile of great Modesty and Humility Year of our Lord 1534 He took the first Impression of those new Doctrines when he was Studying the Law at Bourges from a certain German named Melchior Volmar who taught the Greek Tongue and was entertained by Margaret Queen of Navarre Sister of King Francis A very generous Princess who having a great love for Learning had suffered her reason to be prevailed upon by these Broachers of Novelties It is held that he laid the first foundation of his Sect at Poitiers and there instituted the form of the Lords Supper or Mandâ—cation that from thence he sent three of his Companions into divers Parts to sow his Dogmatisms and that himself retired to Nerac to Gerard de Roussel and James le Feure of Estaples who were there sheltred under the protection of Queen Margaret and had already establisht secretly in that little Court a form of a Church almost the same as he intended to bring forth into the World He stayed but a few Months at Nerac and passed into Italy to see Renee de France Dutchess of Ferrara who was imbued with the same opinions as Margaret Then when Geneva had expell'd her Bishop and the Catholick Religion he there established the Seat of his residence And from thence he sent his Disciples to Preach his Doctrine over all France and the Low-Countries exposing them to all sorts of dangers and deaths which he kept himself far enough off from the fire of Persecution and hazarded nothing but his Paper and Ink. This same year 1534. and the following was acted that Bloody and Horrible Tragedy of the Anabaptists in the City of Munster Those Phanaticks thinking to Establish their Whimseys by subverting the Lawful Power had chosen for their King a Taylor named John of Leyden Their Bishop besieged them and reduced them to
Transactions between them from the time of Lewis XII he accused him of having ever broke the Peace failed in his word disturbed Italy and Germany and unjustly dispossest the Duke of Savoy He concluded by saying That of three things the King must chuse one Either to take the Dutchy of Milan for his third Son upon certain conditions whereof one was that he should restore the Duke of Savoy to his Lands or to accept of a Single combat between them Personally with what ever Weapons he pleased upon some Bridge in an Island or a Boat upon condition that the Victor should employ his Forces according to the appointment of his Holiness to reduce the Heretiques and oppose the Infidels Or to resolve upon a War that should be so Bloody as to ruin one of the two The King slighted these proud boasts but replied to the Accusations by an Apologetique Letter which he addressed to the Pope and Cardinals and which in very modest terms but very Pithy and Energetical cleerly satisfied every point the Emperor had touched upon and retorted all the blame upon himself In the interim divers overtures were made between the Pope the Emperor and the Ambassadors to prevent these two Princes from coming to an absolute rupture The Admiral de Brion had conquer'd all Piedmont to the Douere and found himself in a posture and condition to have conquer'd all the rest for they were terrified and Antonio de Leva who had taken the field and joyned the Duke at Vercel had not as yet got all his Forces ready Notwithstanding the King upon what Vely wrote to him that the Emperor this was before his Harangue had given him notice by Gravelle he would give up Milan to his second Son sent the Cardinal of Lorraine into Italy to conclude that business which he presumed was in much forwardness The Cardinal left order in the name of the King that Brion should not pass the Douere and also promised Antonio de Leva that he should not pass the Sesia and though he was informed by Veley whom he met at Sienna whither he followed the Emperor of what had fallen out since at Rome he forbore not being a confident man and one that thought nothing difficult to speak again of it to the Emperor and to put him in mind of his former promise The Emperor owned that he had given his word for it but that the King having continued to prosecute his War against the Duke of Savoy he was no longer obliged to perform it After this reply the Cardinal sent the King word he ought to provide well for his own defence Nevertheless the Pope who ardently desired to reconcile the two Kings would not give over but represented to each of them the Strength of the other much greater then indeed they were thereby to incline them to a Peace Wherefore the King not willing to begin the Rupture commanded Brion to undertake nothing but withdraw his Forces into Daufiné after he had well provided and Garrisoned the Places unless Antonio de Leva did pass over the Sesia On the contrary the Emperor not only prepared himself for War but likewise endeavoured to stir up all the World against Francis He dispatched an Year of our Lord 1536 Envoy into England to desire the Amity of King Henry and protest that all his resentment was buried in Queen Catherines Grave who died this year in the Month of January And although Henry had answered but very coldly he notwithstanding promised himself and grounded his hopes upon the inconstancy of his humour that if he once saw France invaded he would not forbear attempting somewhat upon the score of his ancient pretensions He had likewise made use of all sorts of Calumnies and false reports concerning the Germans to render the King very Odious He made them believe they were mortally hated in France that they were persecuted that they burnt them alive and that the King not only endeavoured to kindle Discords amongst them that so whilst they were grappling and pulling one another by the Ears Solyman his faithful allie might Invade the Empire of Germany But that he likewise maintained Rascals hired on purpose to set Fire on their Borroughs and Towns In effect this year there were a sort of People not known by whom nor for what they were set on who burnt several as well in France as Germany and especially the City of Troyes William du Bellay-Langey a man of Quality and a good Souldier but whose Eloquence did much greater service then his Valour composed an excellent Treatise in Latin and High-Dutch which was scattered over all those Countries and as well by that means as by the testimony of Dutch Merchants who affirmed they had been kindly used in France he disabused them but not without much ado After the Emperor at the head of two great Armies had made Solyman first retire and then forced Barbarossa to fly he breathed nothing but War His Flatterers who corrupt the minds of the wisest Princes by their excessive praise promised him no less then the Empire of all Europe the Poets and Panegyrists assured him of it and the Diviners and Astrologers no less confident or impudent in their Lying Prognosticks had so boldly foretold it should certainly come to pass that it had made Impression in feeble minds and Credulous Spirits Amongst whom the Marquess de Salusses was one who thinking to prevent destiny that the Emperor might seem to be obliged to him for doing that Voluntarily which he fancied necessity must at last bring him to went over secretly into his service But being as Treacherous as Shallow-brain'd he remained yet a while amongst the French to ruin their Affairs Some have said that the hopes they gave him that the Emperor would adjudge the Marquissat of Montferrat to be his which was Litispendente between him the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Mantoua tempted him to that Infamous baseness The Duke of Savoy expected that the Emperor would employ his Forces to restore him and he already began to think his Affairs seemed to mend For John de Medequin Marquess de Merignan and Antonio de Leva besieged Turin and the King had sent to his Generals to abandon all their Conquests in those Countries excepting Turin Fossan and Cony It was ordered in a Council of War that Fossan should be Fortified The Marquess de Salusses who had the charge of it far from hastning the work retarded it all he could He diverted the Pioneers Provisions Powder and Ball Then when he perceived his Treason began to be discover'd he retired to his Castle of Ravel fathering his retreat upon the disobedience of the French Officers From thence he gave Intelligence of the poor condition of the place to Antonio de Leva who leaving Ten Thousand Foot and some Horse before Turin under the Command of James de Scaleng came and laid Siege to it and yet the purchase came not so cheap as he imagin'd for after he had
so stored them that they had plenty sufficient to furnish that vast multitude and above Thirty Thousand Soldiers ☞ for a whole Year together Which demonstrates that Paris if not surprized is not so easily famished as some might Imagine In retribution the Parisians proffer'd him a store of Brass Guns and to maintain Ten Thousand Soldiers as long as the Enemies remained upon the Frontiers Never was there a more Melancholly Spectacle then the retreat of the Emperors Army miserably shatter'd without being able to come to any Battle The Roads from Aix even to Frejus were all strewed with Armes Horses Baggage dead Corps and men dying Montmorency was mightily blamed for not pursuing them Those that excuse him say that at that very juncture the King received news of the extream danger Peronne was in which obliged him to draw out a great part of his Forces to go and Succour them However Four or Five days after he had Information that the Enemies were returning into Flanders and the thing being taken into deliberation the second time the Emperor making some days stay at Frejus it was concluded to be the safer and more prudent method not to force the Lyon that was running off to turn head and make them feel the effects of desperation His retreat over the Alpes was difficult and Bloody the Daufins Light Horse harcelling him perpetually in his March He at length Arrived at Genoa the second of October and his Army passed thence into Milanois commanded by the Marquess du Guast Governor of those Countries who en passant put Garrisons into the rest of the places belonging to the Duke of Savoy Thus that unfortunate Prince saw his Estates shared betwixt his Enemy and his Friend having scarce any thing left for himself but the City and Castle of Nice where he made his residence After the Emperor had remained at Genoa about Fifteen dayes he went on Board his Galleys the Eighteenth of November and sailed towards Spain He was no more fortunate at Sea then he had been on Land a furious Tempest overtook his Fleet and sunk Six of his Galleys and a couple of great Ships the one carrying his Plate the other his Horses after all which without doubt he was fitter for Consolations then Panegyricks The fear they had conceived in Italy left he should Conquer France had as soon as he was gone armed several petty Princes and Lords whom the great States that durst not openly declare maintained and encouraged underhand The King gave them Guy Count de Rangon to be their General their place of Rendezvous was Mirandola They set ten thousand men on Foot with whom they attempted Genoa a Supply of Eight Hundred Arriving during the time of their Assault made the business miscarry As they were marching towards Ast the Spaniards raised the Siege of Turin and suffer'd them to take Carignian Raconis Carmagnola and most of the Marquisate of Salusses Year of our Lord 1537 On the other hand the Count de Saint Pol with Six Thousand Lansquenets whom the King drew out of his Army ruined the Country of Tarentaise and regained Chamberry which the Inhabitants of that Valley had surprized but Burie whom the King had made Governor beyond the Mountains in place of Brion was hemm'd in and taken with Twelve Hundred men by the Marquess du Guast in Casal which he had just surprized Humieres was sent to Command in his stead with a Re-inforcement of ten thousand Lansquenets of whom Christopher Duke of Wirtemberg was General Upon the noise that the Emperor was going to swallow up all France James King of Scotland remembring the ancient Alliances of his Nation and Predecessors took Shiping with Sixteen Thousand men to come to his Assistance without the least Intreaty The Wind beat him back three several times to his own Coasts At length he got with some Vessels to Diepe from whence he rode post to the King but met him on this side Lyons upon his return In acknowledgment of this so kind and nobly free assistance the King could not refuse him Magdelin his Eldest Daughter though that Prince had before betroathed a Daughter of the Duke of Vendosmes The Nuptials were celebrated at Paris the first day of the Year 1537. but she Died of a Hectick Feaver within the same year and James Married Mary Daughter of Claude Duke of Guife and Widow of Lewis Duke of Longueville The King of England did not much like this double lincking himself to France by two such Matches which was one of the main causes that made him fall off from King Francis and close again with the Emperor the more easily for that Catherine of Arragon his repudiated Wife was dead and he had caused Anne Bullen to be Beheaded on the Green within the Tower for Adultery whether true or supposed Perhaps too he would have made him feel the Resentments of his Anger at that very time had he not been involved in troubles at home for some Nobles and some English Prelates prompted with Zeal to prevent a Schisme and withal apprehending some danger to their own Persons after the example of his Chancellour Sir Thomas Moor and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester whose Heads he had unjustly brought to the block had made a Holy League and taken up Arms against him And although he had dispersed their Forces or sent them home again by granting them conditions of advantage nevertheless he feared they might break out afresh and therefore was contriving underhand to surprise their Chiefs who had just cause to repent as it most frequently happens upon the like occasions to men who dare not rather resolve to die with their Sword in hand There was so little Rain and such great heats during the whole Spring and Summer of the Year 1536. that it begot a prodigious drowth most of the Wells and Springs were dried up the Marshes and Ponds quite parched and the waters of most great Rivers grown so shallow and weak as scarce able to drag along their Languishing Streams being generally foordable in all places and in many passable dry-foot The Kings Councel thought it necessary to do something that might pull down the Emperors Vanity and withal shew the Injustice and the Nullity of the Treaties of Madrid and Cambray To this purpose the King sitting in his Seat of Justice in Parliament the Nineteenth of January attended by the Princes and Pairs after his having heard James Capel Attorney-General who made it appear that the Provinces belonging to the Crown were Inalienable that he could not give away the Soveraignty of Flanders and Artois and that Charles of Austria they gave him only that Name being still a Vassal to the King for those Counties and for Charlois had committed the Crime of Felony It was Ordained That he should be Summoned by a single Edict peremptory and once for all at the nearest place of safe access to answer the Attorney General upon his Conclusions of the Forfeit Reversion and Re-union of those
open he present and bare-headed This done he was shut up in the great Tower of Bourges from whence he could not get out till he had given up almost all he had for his Fine At last he dyed in the City of Paris oppressed with poverty Ignominy and old Age So unhappy that even in this his Lamentable condition he was not pittied When he was Imprisoned the King gave the Seals to Francis de Montolon President in parliament a Person of rare probity a vertue hereditary in his Family The Constables favour did not last long after the loss of Poyer the King forbid him the Court in the year 1542. and would never recal him so long as he lived In the time of this his retirement he built the castle of Esc ouan Common same attributes the cause of his disgrace to the Council he gave for the Emperours passing through France which proved not so much to the Kings advantage as was imagined Perhaps the Cardinal of Lorrain and the rest of his Enemies made use of that reproach to give his Master an ill opinion of him Or perhaps the King conceived some jealousie at his sticking so close to the Dausin who by embracing the interests of that young Prince opposed the raising of the Duke of Orleans and by secret Combinations hindred the Emperour from giving him his Daughter with the Dutchy of Milan which he could not do without holding Correspondence with Strangers and indeed it was said that he in Clandestine manner Suffered the Courtiers of that Prince to travel thorough France Whatever it were the King began to think it dangerous to have men of too great parts in the Administration of Affairs and therefore committed them to the Cardinal de Turnon and the Admiral Annebaut Persons of no Extraordinary Genius or Sagacity but of affections less Interested and wholly devoted to him Year of our Lord 1540. and 41. Whilst the Emperor was at Ghent Martin Duke of Cleve came to demand the investiture of the Dutchy of Guelders You must know that Charles last Duke of Guelders dyed Anno 1537. and William Duke of Cleve and Antony of Lorraine as kindred of the Defunct had pretensions to that Dutchy The Lorrainer was the nearest being the Son of a Daughter of that House notwithstanding the Estates of the Countries called in William to be their Mainburgh he survived but one year and Martin his Son took the Administration Now the Emperour who desired to joyn this piece to the Low-Countries having denyed him the investiture he came into France and put himself under the Kings protection who made him Marry Jane Daughter of Henry d'Albret King of Navarre Year of our Lord 1541 The Nuptials were celebrated the year following at Chastelleraud with such Profusion as cost the poor People dear by encreasing the Gabelle and therefore was called the Salted Nuptials But the Bride being but eleven years of Age the Marriage was not consummated and the Fathers and Mothers never having consented caused it to be dissolved The years 1540. and 1541. were spent almost in nothing but intrigues and Negociations After the truce of Nice the King of England bestirr'd himself mightily he feared lest by the mediation of the Pope the two Kings should agree together to fall upon him He might the Justlier apprehend it because his cruelty had drawn the hatred of most of his own Subjects upon him For he had Invaded and broken open the Monasteries even those of the Nuns which much incensed their Parents who were forced to maintain them he had taken away all Abbey-Lands Abolished the order of Malta and caused the Memory of St. Thomas of Canterbury to be Condemned and his Sacred Bones and Reliques to be Burnt Having therefore reason to fear he courted the Emperor and the King divers ways He offered the first to Marry his Niece Widow of Sforza Duke of Milan to the other he propounded to assist him in the recovery of that Dutchy and promised to declare whenever he should desire it Another while he proffered the Emperor to give his Eldest Daughter she was named Mary to the Brother of the King of Portugal but he would not Marry her as Legitimate for would he have bestowed her as such the King would willingly have taken her for his second Son As for the Emperor he employed all his intrigues to three ends the one was to recover the good Will of the Protestant Princes another to make the Turk believe there was a good and perfect Correspondence between him the King of France and the King of England and the third to amuse the King with new offers he made to give the Low-Countries under the Title of the Kingdom of Belgica to Charles Duke of Orleans whom he called his God-Son The King gave no Faith to this Proposition and replyed that he did not demand his Hereditary Countries but should be contented to have his own again But Solyman was so allarmed at this pretended Union of the three Kings that he flew out against Francis called him Ingrateful and Fickle-pated and had like to put Rincon his Ambassador to death If the Emperor had his hands full of business with the Protestants of Germany his Brother Ferdinand had yet a harder task with the Turks in Hungary John Earl of Sepus had agreed with Ferdinand Auno 1536. upon condition that the part he then was possessed of in the Kingdom should be his during Life with the Title of King and that after his death it should be re-united to the other but contrary to his word he Married with Jane Daughter of Sigismond King of Poland and had a Son by her when he died After his Decease which hap'ned in the year 1540. Ferdinand would Seize upon that part the Widow to maintain her Son had recourse to the Turk thus broke out that Flame of War again which compleated the ruin of Hungary For in the year 1541. Roquandolf General for Ferdinand lost a great Battle near Buda against the Bashaw Mahomet Then Solyman himself coming with a dreadful Army Seized Treacherously upon the Widow and the Orphan and the City of Buda which they held Year of our Lord 1541 It was believed that if the Emperor had immediately joyned his Forces with his Brothers he might have saved Hungary but he was labouring an Accommodation with the Protestants to whom after several Conferences he granted a second Interim and Reciprocally having given them very ill Impressions of King Francis he obtained all he desired from them For the Diet promised him great Supplies against the Turks declared the Duke of Cleve an Enemy to the Empire engaged to contribute to the Restauration of the Duke of Savoy and forbid all Subjects belonging to the Empire from Listing themselves in the Kings Service With all this instead of Marching towards Hungary to make head against Solyman he carries the War into Africa against the Pirat Barbarossa which many interpreted a flight rather then an attaque He Landed and laid Siege to
suffer she should be carried into England The Inhabitants of Rochel of Marennes and of the Islands were revolted upon the endeavouring to settle the Gabel in those Countries The King at his return from Languedoc passed that way to suppress that Commotion About the end of December he entred with his Forces into Rochel and caused great numbers of the Seditious Islanders to be brought before him bound and chained After he had put them into an extream Consternation he suffer'd himself to be overcome with Compassion and from a Scaffold where he was Surrounded by the Grandees of his Court he heard the most humble Request they made him by their Advocate and which they seconded with doleful Cries for Mercy and after he Year of our Lord 1543 had laid open their faults in a discourse equally Tender Majestick and Eloquent he absolutely forgave them caused all the Prisoners to be set at Liberty and all the Soldiers to be sent out of the City He would likewise that day needs be guarded and served at his Table by the Bourgeois His incomprehensible goodness ✚ cloathed them with shame and confusion and left in their Hearts and Memories a mortal regret for having ever offended him This was to chastise them indeed after a most Noble and Royal manner The Princes and Emperor of Germany had so often demanded a Council that in the Year 1536. Pope Paul III. had Indicted one at Mantoua for the Two and Twentieth of May the following Year From that time he had Prorogued it to 1538. then to 1539. at Vicenza but had yet suspended the Celebration for as long time as he should find fit In the Year 1542. he was obliged by the vehement pursuit of the Emperor who pressed him because he was so earnestly pressed by the Princes of the Empire to assigne one in the City of Trent which he did by his Bull of the One and Twentieth of May. He believed this Consideration might serve to bring the two Kings to a Peace but the War growing still hotter betwixt them there came so few Bishops to Trent that Year of our Lord 1543 he was this year 1543. forced to recal the Legates he had sent thither and refer the Celebration of the Council to a more pacifick opportunity In France and Spain they were making greater preparations for War than ever The Spaniards furnished the Emperor with above four Millions of Gold John King of Portugal who was Marrying his Daughter Mary to Philip his only Son gave him very great Sums and the King of England promised him no less This inconstant Prince who could never long agree even with himself being offended for that Francis would not renounce his obedience to the Pope and for intermedling too far about the Affairs of Scotland had made a new League Year of our Lord 1543 with the Emperor who did not in the least scruple to have a Prince in Alliance with him though he were under the blackest censures of the Church a mortal Enemy to the Holy-See and one that had used his Aunt so outrageously That he might be able to withstand so dreadful a Storm the King laid an impost upon the walled Cities for the Maintenance of Fifty Thousand men which ended not with the War as he had promised nor was revoked till under the Reign of Francis II. The Emperor going into Germany went by Sea to Italy whither he also carried Ten Thousand Spaniards in some large Ships and Galleys He could not upon the Popes earnest request refuse to confer with him They met as Bussetta between Parma and Piacenza The Holy Father endeavoured to perswade him to give up those two Cities to the Holy-See and invest his Grandson Octavius Farnese with the Dutchy of Milan since the Italian Potentates would never consent that he should retain it for himself The Emperor gave him only general words and cut the Conference off very short for fear of giving jealousie to the King of England who was subject enough to misinterpretations That Muley-Assan whom he had restored to the Kingdom of Tunis being hardly beset on all hands by the Turks who had taken from him divers of his places came to Genoa to kiss his hand and crave some Assistance Whilest he was absent one of his Sons named Amida usurped the Kingdom The unfortunate Father having given him Battle with some Forces scraped together was vanquished and taken with two more of his Sons by the Rebel who put out his Eyes reproaching him for having served his own Brothers so Afterwards this Parricide being driven out of his Kingdom by the Governour of Goletta where nevertheless he got the Mastery again some while after Muley-Assan made his escape out of Prison and took refuge amongst the Spaniards Year of our Lord 1544 In the Spring time the King gave Command to Antony become Duke of Vendosme by the Death of his Father Charles to revictual Terouane Then himself lead his greatest Forces towards the Low-Countries where he thought to make a considerable Progress while the Duke of Gueldres held the Emperors in play So that about the end of May though he were indisposed he put himself in the head of his Army which was joyned with the Troops of Antony Duke of Vendosme He roved for some Weeks all about the Country of Artois and having often changed his Mind sometimes to Fortifie L'Illiers and Saint Venant another while to besiege Avenes he fixed at last upon the Fortifying Landrecy on the other side of the Sambre After he had given the necessary Orders he came to encamp at Maroles then to refresh and repose himself at Reims where he had caused the Ladies to come to divert him Whilst he was at Maroles the Daufin employed part of the Army for the taking the Castle of Emery which is on an Island in the Sambre and the Town of Maubeuge but a while after he forsook them The Duke of Orleans likewise entred into Luxembourg regained all the Country which had been taken after his going away and amongst other the Capital City which gives it the Name The King was there in Person visited the Place and notwithstanding its vast Circumference and odd Situation would have it Fortified Such as were knowing in the Trade were against the doing of it but because it was like to be a work of great profit to him that should have the ordering of it there was an Engenier ☞ that advised it and undertooke it In the mean while the Emperor having passed out of Italy into Germany came at first to attack the Duke of Cleve and by the taking his City of Duren which he sacked and perhaps by the Assistance of his own People whom he had corrupted frighted him and all the rest of the Country so terribly that he came and craved his Pardon and promised to quit his Alliance with the French and the Title of Duke of Guelders satisfying himself with that of Administrator Which was so suddenly done that the Duke had not time
was upon the Easter Monday The Victory fell intirely to the French they Slew two Thousand of the Enemies upon the Place took their Artillery their Baggage great quantity of Ammunitions four Thousand Prisoners without the loss of any more then two Hundred men in all The Lord de Boutieres who returned into Piedmont upon the rumour there would be a Battle Termes Montlue and de Thais had the greatest share in the honor of that day The first Commanding the Van-guard the second the Light-horse the third the Forlorn-hope and the last the French Bands that is to say the Infantry The nobless of the Court whom a desire of honour had brought thither in post hast shewed that day very great feats of Valour The next day some were Knighted in the Field of Battle amongst others Gilbert Coiffier la Bussiere a Gentleman of Auvergne who having bravely Fought in the first Ranks received this honour from the hands of the Count d'Enghien as likewise from Boutieres and de Thais Which I mention that we may know the Customs of those times and observe that Knight-hood might be Confer'd upon the same man by several Persons one after another The Marquess wounded in the Knee escaped to Milan with Four Hundred Horse only Amongst his Equipage were found several Chariots full of Shackels and Padlocks designed to have chained the French withal so certainly did his pride make him confident of Victory The fruits of this days success were the City of Carignan and all the Marquisate of Montferrat excepting Casal Milan had followed it had the King but sent Supplies of Men and Money but so far was it from this that he recalled Two and Twenty Ensignes of Foot who made up Twelve Thousand Men of whom he stood in need for the defence of the Kingdom being informed that the Emperor who had made a League with the English was drawing a vast Army together near the Rhine and that both were to fall upon France at the same time And indeed the Kingdom found it self this year in great danger these two potent Princes had divided it betwixt them and had projected to joyn their Armies before Paris to saccage that great City and from thence ravage all to the Loire They would have made up together Fourscore Thousand Foot and two and twenty Thousand Horse It is certain that if the Emperor had come directly to Paris he had found Francis all in disorder for having promised himself Year of our Lord 1544 that Luxembourgh would make a long resistance he had not much hast'ned the coming of the Swiss But the good Fortune of France had so disposed things that being tempted by the facility he found in his March of taking Luxembourg which Francis d'Angliure d'Estauges Surrendred very lightly then afterwards the Castle of Commercy the City was burnt Ligny and Brienne he fixed upon the Siege of Saint Disier the three and twentieth of June Saint Disier contrary to the expectation of all men resisted six Weeks by the Valour of that la Lande who had before so generously defended Landrecy That brave Captain was there slain upon the Rampart the Count de Sancerre whom the King had joyned with him took the Command as Chief He finding himself at the end of his Ammunition obtained a suspension of Armes for Twelve dayes which being expired and no Assistance coming he Surrendred the Place From thence the Emperor sent notice to the King of England that he was Marching towards Paris and Summon'd him to be there according to Agreement But the King of England by his Example having resolved also to Conquer some Places sent him for answer that he would advance as soon as he had taken Boulogne by the Sea Coast and Monstreuil He was then before Boulogne with twenty Thousand men and the Duke of Norfolk his Lieutenant before Monstreuil with ten Thousand English and twelve Thousand Flemmings whom the Counts of Bures and de Roeux had brought thither The Emperor not being able to make him remove from thence desired at least he would allow him his Army being much weakned to save his honour by a Truce To which he consented but for his own part refused to hear of such a thing He had a mind to let them see that of himself he was able to make Conquests in France In the mean while the Emperor descended along the Marne and entred so far into Champagne that the Forces of the Daufin watching him close and cutting off his Provisions and Forrage on all Sides he found himself in very great danger of Perishing with his whole Army There were at that time two Parties at Court one for the Daufin the other for the Duke of Orleans This last saved him Anne de Pisselieu the Kings Mistress opposite to Diana de Poitiers who was for the Daufin loved the Duke of Orleans mightily and studied his Interest to the prejudice of his Brothers that he might be her support when the King chanced to fail her This Woman too Credulous looking on the Emperor as already Father in Law to that Prince revealed all the Secrets of the Kings Council to him and it was she who brought it so to pass by means of Nicholas de Bossu Longueval that he made himself Master of Espernay and of Chasteau-Thierry where he met with Provisions in abundance without which all had been lost Fear had like to have depopulated all Paris when it was known that he was in Chasteau-Thierry and that his flying Parties came as far as Meaux some fled to Rouen others to Orleans all the Roads were throng'd with Carts loaden with House-hold Goods Women and Children and that which encreased the disorder was a many Herds of Rascals that Robb'd these poor People The King sent Claude Duke of Guise to Paris to encourage them and himself came thither soon after But the Emperor instead of approaching it took to the left and went to Soissonâ— Being lodged in the Abby called Saint John de Vignes which is in the Suburbs the propositions for a Peace were set on Foot A Jacobin Monk of the Noble House of the Guzmans in Spain mentioned it first to the Kings Confessor The Daufins Party would have none those for the Duke of Orleans pusht it on with extraordinary importunity the King sided with the Latter The Deputies being therefore Assembled at Crespy in Luonnois concluded it the eighteenth of the Month of September The Principal Articles were that the Emperor within two years should at his own choice either give his Daughter or the Daughter of Ferdinand to the Duke of Orleans and for Dowry the Dutchy of Milan or else the Low-Countries and the Counties of Burgundy and of Charolois That if he gave Milan he should keep the Castles of Milan and Cremona till a Child were born of that Marriage That the King should renounce to the Kingdom of Naples and to Milan in case the Emperor gave the Low-Countries to the Duke of Orleans That he should restore the
Duke of Savoy to all his Lands but that he should retain the Towns so long as the Emperor did hold Milan and Cremona That what had been taken Year of our Lord 1545 in those Countries since the truce of Nice the Emperor had taken but one place and the King above twenty should be resigned by either party as likewise all those which had been taken in France and in the Low-Countries This Place being more Advantageous to the Duke of Orleans then to France the Daufin who could not Suffer either the Aggraâ—dising of his Brother nor the damage of the Kingdom made Protestations against it in the Castle of Fontainebleau in presence of the Duke of Vandosme the Count d'Enghien his Brother and Francis Earl of Aumale the second day of December The Kings People of the Parliament of Toulouze did so likewise as to what concerned the Rights of the Crown and the Translation of the Subjects to another Prince That which hastned the King to conclude this Treaty was not alone the instigation of the Duke of Orleans but likewise the unwelcom news he received of Boulognes Capitulating and the extreme danger Monstreuil was in The Mareschal de Biez defended the last most Stoutly though it were nothing worth but his Son-in-Law James de Coucy Vervin a young Fellow easie to be scared as having no experience Surrendred Boulogne most unworthily before it was in danger and when the Daufin was within two days March of the Place to Relieve it Nor did he forgive him for it having ever a strong conceit that he had given it up to favour the Duke of Orleans Monstreuil was saved because the Peace being concluded at Crespy the Count de Bures and de Roeux who were joyned with the Duke of Norfolk had very express Orders to retire The Daufin who had used great diligence to come to the relief of Boulogne finding it Surrendred made an attempt in the Night upon the Basse Ville which was enclosed only with a Ditch without any Wall and yet nevertheless where the English had put their Cannon and Equipage He gained it very â—asily But for want of good Order his men falling upon the Baggage the English came down from the upper Town and though much inferior in Numbers beat and drove them out but not all for there were four or five hundred remained dead upon the place This project failing the Mareschal de Biâ—z had orders to raise a Fort upon the point of Land which lies right over against the Old Tower to hinder the entrance into the Harbour but they having no Water there and it being impossible the Souldiers could abide in it by reason it lay exposed to all Wind and Weather they built another that faced the Basse-Ville or lower Town in a place called Outreaâ— but made it so small that after three Months labour they were fain to fill up the Trenches to enlarge it Year of our Lord 1545 The Affairs of Scotland being Embroiled by the King of England who whatever it cost him would have the Heiress for his Son the King took a care to assist the young one and the Queen her Mother The Earl of Lenox in the year 1543. carried some Forces thither which he sent But that Spark having gamed away the Money which was for Payment of their first Muster went over to the King of England's Service who bestowed his Neece upon him In his room were sent the Lord de la Brosse a Gentleman of Bourbon then Lorges Earl of Montgomery Captain of the Scotch Guards with some Soldiers Some Vandoâ—s were still remaining in the Valleys of the Alpes between Daufiné and Savoy There were of them in the two Burroughs of Merindol and Cabrieres the first being part of the County of Venisse the other in the Territories belonging to the King Since Luther's starting up they began to Preach publickly About the year 1536. the Parliament of Provence whereof Anthony Chassane was then Premier President had made a Decree for the punishing them This had been put by several times but this year 1545. John Menier d'Oppede who succeeded Chassanâ— that dyed suddenly being moved either out of Zeal or because one of his Tenants went away to Cabrieres without paying his Rent undertook to Execute it He raised Forces and joyning them with such as the Vice-Legat of Avignon was pleased to furnish him withal went to Exterminate those miserable creatures and made a general Massacre of all of them without distinction of Age or Sex excepting only such as made their Escape to the Rocks The preceding year Anthony Duke of Lorraine had left this World this year Duke Francis his Son followed him leaving a Son named Charles aged but two years Anthony was fain to use great skill to preserve and poyse himself between the King and the Emperor He Married one of his Daughters to Rene de Chaalons Prince of Orange and Francis his eldest Son to Christina Daughter of Christierne II. King Year of our Lord 1545 of Denmark and Dorothy Sister to the Emperor The King had conceived great jealousies upon it Nevertheless his conduct was so prudent and his proceedings seemed so cordial in his Laborious undertakings to procure a Peace between him and the Emperor that at length he was fully satisfied in him The Council was earnestly demanded for by the Emperor and by the Germans but the Catholicks desired a general one and the Protestants a National where the Pope should not be Judge In the year 1542. Paul III. had indicted it at Trent And nevertheless for divers causes he delay'd the opening of it till the thirteenth day of December in this year which was the third Sunday in Advent The Orders for the Convocation were directed to the Emperor and the King by Name but to all other Princes only in general When the King found he could not recover Boulogne either by force or by way of Treaties he believed the best means to regain it would be to attaque the King of England in his own Island He therefore sent Orders to Captain Paulin to sit his Galleys at Marseilles and bring them to the Mouth of the River Seine got ten great Genoese Ships divers of which perished at the entrance into that River and joyned all the Good Vessels he had in any of his Harbours But intending to Treat the Ladies at Dinner in his great Carrack which was the stateliest Vessel belonging to the Sea the Cooks by their carelesness set it on Fire utterly consumed it and much damnified all those that lay about her by the discharging one hundred Guns she had on Board Which greatly disordered the Feast and gave an ill presage of that expedition The Admiral Annebaut had the Command of the Fleet. He went to seek out the English upon their own Coasts and Seized upon the Isle of Wight The English after some small Firings retired between that Island and Portsmouth in a place surrounded with Banks and Rocks where there was
but one narrow Channel to go in It was not thought sit either to fortifie the Island nor to fall upon them in a place of such advantage but to Land on their Coasts in sight of King Henry who was come down to Portsmouth to see what passed and send forth his Men of War They made two or three Landings with a great deal of Noise but Annebaut perceiving they would not come forth and his Provisions being spent he turned his Prow towards France and arrived there about the end of July The Mareschal de Biez advanced little against Boulogne though the King himself to push the business forward were come with Charles Duke of Orleans his second Son to the Abbey of Forrest-Moustier which is within ten Leagues of it between Abbeville and Monstrevil The Wound which Francis Duke d'Aumale received in a Salley made by the Enemies is a thing very remarkable He returned from the Engagement with the Iron head of a Lance and a piece of the Wooden Truncheon sticking in his head which entered at the Angle betwixt his right Eye and his Nose and came out behind between the Nape of his Neck and his Ear. The Chyrurgeon whose name was Ambrose Paré was forced to draw it out with a strong hand and Instrument and yet he most happily recover'd In the mean time Contagious distempers got into the Kings Army and the Duke of Orleans a Prince of great hopes dyed the eight of September at Forrest-Moustier whether of Venom or of some Poison that was thought to have been given him by some Creatures of his Brothers For they could not endure the King should cherish him so much as he did and be angry that the Daufin notwithstanding his command to the contrary kept correspondence with the Conestable Montmorency whose return they desired because their Master earnestly longed for it The death of this Prince broke all the bonds of Concord if there were any between the King and the Emperor The Envoyez carrying the News of it to the latter and asking how he intended to dispose of the Dutchy of Milan he plainly told them that he to whom he had promised it being no more he thought himself disengaged of his promise He declared his intention with so much the greater confidence as finding his Affairs against the Protestants in a very good posture some of whom as Maurice one of the Dukes of Saxony had taken his Party Frederic the Elector Palatin had Submitted Year of our Lord 1546 John Frederic Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hesse who had declared War against him did not well agree together in-so-much as their vast Army which at first was Seventy Thousand Foot and Fifteen thousand Horse were almost dwindled to nothing and that his own encreased daily by the Supplyes sent him from the Pope and the Princes of Italy and those Forces he drew out of the Low-Countries his Hereditary Lands and from the Catholick Princes A Peace was equally desired by King Francis and by the King of England The first was not in very good health his Army wasted by Sickness and he apprehended those great Forces which Charles V. raised to quell the Protestant Princes of Germany might fall upon him Henry had neither Men nor Money and feared that a Forreign War might favour such as had a mind to rise at home Upon these considerations they named their Deputies about the end of April who meeting at a place between Ardres and Guines after six weeks debate concluded the Peace upon the eight day of June by which the King of England promised to restore Boulogne within eight years and the King was obliged to give him eight hundred thousand Crowns of Gold to be paid by one hundred thousand each year The residue of this same King Francis employed in visiting and furnishing his Frontiers fearing lest the Emperor should attempt something upon him as no doubt he would had the Protestants Submitted so early as he expected Francis was advised to assist them to keep the War out of his own Kingdom and maintain it in his Enemies He might do it with honour they were his Allies he might in Conscience do it since the Emperor by his Manifesto's declared he designed nothing against their Belief but their Rebellion Nevertheless the Scrupulous Counsel of the Cardinal de Tournon diverted him and even to let them know they were to hope for nothing from him engaged him to express his wrath against such as were Professors of their Religion by kindling the Flames of persecution throughout all his Dominions Great numbers of those miserable Creatures were Burnt many redeemed themselves from Fire and Faggots by Singing Palinodia and the more Sagacious by a timely Flight Year of our Lord 1547 The eight and twentieth of February in the year 1547. Henry King of England aged fifty seven years ended the Thrid of his Life which his incontinency had horribly knotted and entangled by the Multiplicity of his Marriages and the terrible change he made in the Anglicane Church He had six Wives Catherine of Arragon Anne Bullen Jane Seymour Anne of Cleve Catherine Howard and Catherine Parre He was divorced from the first and the fourth saw the third die in Child-Bed and caused the second and the fifth to be Beheaded for the crimes of Adultery the sixth survived him and Married Thomas Seymour Admiral of England By the first he left a Daughter named Mary by the second another named Elizabeth and by Jane a Son named Edward as then nine years of Age who came to the Crown immediately after him The rumour of the Emperors Armes gave astonishment to all Christendom the Pope himself Trembled for fear lest having Subdued Germany he should pass into Italy When Francis had therefore well considered the consequences of the ruin of the Protestants he changed his mind and made a League with them obliged himself to receive the Eldest Son of the Duke of Saxony into France and in particular permit him the exercise of his Religion promised to send an Hundred Thousand Crowns to his Father and as much to the Landgrave of Hesse till such time as he could assist them with Forces In the mean while his trouble for the death of King Henry encreasing his inveterate distemper changed a lingring Feavour that was upon him into a continued one and stopt him at the Castle of Rambouillet where he finished his life the last day of March by an end worthy of a most generous Prince and a most Christian King He earnestly recommended to his Son the diminishing of the Tallage which he had raised too much not to recall Montmorency to continue the Cardinal de Tournon to whom he willed a Hundred Thousand Crowns and Annebaut in the Administration told him that the Sons ought to imitate the Vertues of their Fathers and not their Vices that the French being the best people in the world deserved so much the more to be well Treated as they refused their King nothing in his
in the midst of their Sheep-Fold Dessé defended the place when he was slain Francis de Montmorency the Constables Son took up the Command he defended it yet a while but the Ramparts being beaten to Dust by 142000 Canon-shot while he was capitulating without having first made any Truce the Enemies forced those that kept the Breach and put all to the Edge of the Sword even to the very Children Immediately the City was demolished by the Flemmings to the last Stone The Spaniards saved the Governor and a few other Captains in acknowledgment of the Noble Usage they had found from the Duke of Guise at Mets. The Lands belonging to its Bishoprick were afterwards shared between those of Boulogne and Saint Omers Nothing is left of it now but some few Foot-steps of its Situation which may still be seen At his departure thence the Emperor gave the Conduct of his Army to Emanuel Philibert Son of Charles Duke of Savoy This young Prince did from that time strive to render himself worthy by his vertues to recover what Fortune had taken away from his Father He signalized his first and maiden attempt by the taking of Hesdin The Mareschal Robert de la Mark who had undertaken to defend it with a great number of young Lords as little skilful as himself in the Art of defending such a Place not knowing how to resist the thund'ring of the Canon demanded to capitulate Whilst they were treating a Priest from within intending to do some exploit with a Granado by misfortune set fire to a Mine which made a large Breach in the Wall Horatio Farneze Duke of Castro was buried in the Ruines with Fifty more the Imperialists made an assault there and forced the Castle the Garrison was cut in pieces la Mark made Prisoner with many Lords and other Officers and the place wholly razed The King imagining those places would have held out much longer had wasted all the Spring and part of the Summer in Balls and Carousals at the Marriage of his Bastard Daughter with Horatio Farneze so that his Army came but late into the Field When it was joyned near Amiens with that under the Constable it consisted of Fifty Four Thousand Foot under One Hundred and Fourteen Ensigns of Ten Thousand Horse and one Hundred Pieces of Canon With all this mighty Force he did nothing but follow the Duke of Savoy from place to place to endeavour to bring him to a battel He could not besiege Bapaume because there was no water near it The Inhabitants had fill'd and cover'd up all the Wells round the Country From thence he went to attempt the City of Cambray by some Volees of Canon shot they would very willingly have been set at liberty but this would only have changed the Yoak and therefore they held it as good to be under the Emperor still The Constables sickness contracted by his fatigue or vexation that he could do no feats with so gallant an Army put an end to this Campagne Piedmont was like a School of War where the French and Spaniards exercised themselves in divers Combats Enterprizes and Besieging of small places but Year of our Lord 1553 without any so considerable success as to decide their disputes The Mareschal de Brissac had establisht so exact a Discipline that the Souldier even in a Conquer'd Country durst not take the least thing away without the good will of the owner The ransome were settled on either side according to the quality and office of the party taken No War was made either against Husbandman or Merchant but only upon such as bore Arms. The Peasant ploughed and reaped between the two Camps and with folded armes would stand quietly at his own Door and see them fight in Parties and cut one anothers Throats fairly in the midst of his Village Charles Duke of Savoy having lost all hopes of being restored to his Estates found no other end of his misfortunes but in that of his life which ended at Vercel the sixteenth of September a Prince debonnair frank liberal just fearing God and who perhaps had not been altogether so unfortunate could he have been a Man of less honesty We shall hereafter pursue the War of Sienna but in the mean time we say it was the occasion of that of Corsica This Island was very proper to hinder the passing of any Forces from Milanois which were embarked at Genoa to be transported to Tuscany The Banished who were in great numbers especially John Petro de Bastelica d'Ornano put this design into the French-Mens heads and introduced them into most places of the Island The pretence was that the King as Soveraign Lord of Genoa whereof Corsica was a dependance had a right to it and that the Genoese had not only favoured the Emperor but likewise had committed several Acts of Hostility against France The City of Boniface which is the Capital of that Island resisted a long time and stoutly at the end they capitulated Dragut Rais had put Six or Seven Thousand Turks ashore to assist Paul de Termes who Commanded for the King in making that Siege after which he re-imbarqued As soon as he was gone Andrea Doriae regained all those places before Winter came excepting Boniface and Two or Three more France and England held pretty good Correspondence when Death cut the Thrid of young King Edward's Days It was believed to proceed from a slow Poyson and John Dudley Duke of Northumberland was suspected Guilty of that Crime he having suggested to him to institute Jane of Suffolk for Heiress to the Crown however when Queen Mary brought him to his Tryal that was no Article of his Accusation This Jane was Grand-Daughter by the Mother to Mary Sister of Henry the VIII and was Married to this Dukes Son Now from what cause soever proceeded the Malady of Edward it is certain that the foresaid Duke and the Emperor each for himself took their measures upon his approaching death For the Emperor began to make applications for the Princess Mary who by the last Will of King Henry VIII was to succeed to the Crown and the Duke being pusht on with the Ambition to have his Son Reign or out of an apprehension that Mary would turn all things up-side down as being a Catholique perswaded young Edward that being in Majority after the Mode of the Kings of France who are so at thirteen years and a day old he might dispose of the Succession by naming a person who was of the Blood especially since the right of Mary and Elizabeth was doubtful those Princesses not passing currently for Legitimate The King of France advertis'd of the Emperors proceedings and the Designs of the Duke of Northumberland believed it his own interest to support the latter he therefore sent an Ambassador to Edward who encouraged and confirmed the Duke in the pursuit of his project and indeed he went thorough with it And at first there was some likelihood of a happy Issue for according to
the last Will of King Edward and the Opinion of the Great Officers who are ever of the same mind as their Soveraign Jane was designed and appointed to be Queen and after the Death of Edward proclaimed and received in the Tower of London and Mary being the weaker retired into the County of Norsolk But as the people of Ranks and Degrees in the Kingdom were displeased at the great wrong done hereby to the Lawful Heirs and the Spanish Gold and Catholique Party stirred them mightily against it a world of the Nobility and Soldiery flocked from all quarters to Mary So that when the Duke of Northumberland Year of our Lord 1553 Marched with some Forces to go and take her and disperse those Assemblies it hap'ned that the same Officers and Counsellors of State who had allotted the Crown to Jane took and held her Prisoner after which most of those that were with the Duke forsook him and some that staid seized upon his person and carried him to London Year of our Lord 1553 and 1554. Some time after Mary came thither and made her entrance into the Tower the possession whereof was then necessary to such as were to be owned Kings of England When She was once absolute Mistress She cemented her Throne with the Blood of Jane her Husbands her Fathers and almost all her Kindred and after that She spilt much more to restore the Catholick Religion which brought the Estate into such Convulsions as had like to prove mortal and all for an advantage of a short duration The more She establisht and fixed her Authority the more Philip Prince of Spain pressed the consummation of his Marriage with her Though She had very great imperfections both of Body and Mind being infirm ugly and old nevertheless he had conceived some love not for her Person but for her Kingdom On the contrary the King turned every Stone in private and laid every rub in his way to prevent him from attaining his ends but Philips Party acting more bare-fac'd and with the charming Power of Money proved stronger then all those private obstacles the King could contrive against it So that he was betrothed by Proxie the Ninth of June and himself passing over into that Country with Six Thousand Souldiers Married her the Five and Twentieth of July a day he expresly designed as being the Feast of Saint James the Patron of Spain He staid in England till the Month of April of the following year and was Spectator of the Tragick Actions of his Wife to revenge her self for the Conspiracies were hatched hourly against her some upon the score of her Religion others in hatred of her Marriage All this year till the Month of June there had been as it were a tacite suspension of Arms between the King and the Emperor during which Cardinal Pool near of kindred to Mary whom the Pope was sending to England as his Legate to re-establish the Catholique Religion had undertaken to Treat the Peace He had got both their words that they would reciprocally lay aside many of their pretensions but when the Bell was to be sounded each of them stood up stiffer and at a greater distance then ever before The Emperor would willingly have accepted of a Truce and it would have been very advantageous to him by giving the Low-Countries time to settle and if we may so say to soulder themselves with England but for the same reasons it was not so to the King and moreover his Honour nor Interest would allow him to suffer the Siennois to be excluded as the Emperor did absolutely require Besides he had Information that the Emperor was very much indisposed both in Body and Mind that the Gout had deprived him of the use of one Arm and contracted the Sinews of one Leg that the same cause that made him impotent in his Members joyned to the bad success of his Affairs and perhaps complicated with some relicts of his Mothers Frenzy had so invaded his Brain that he could seldom sleep and did nothing else almost by day and night but take Clocks and Watches asunder and put them together again his Chamber being full of them Upon these reports which were for the most part true the King thought he should have an easie bargain of it and took a resolution of carrying the War into his Country He therefore set on Foot an Army of Fifty Thousand Men and divided them into three Bodies Commanded one by the Constable another by the Duke of Vendosme and the third by the Mareschal de Saint André the two last having taken some Forts of little concern joyned with the Constable before Marienburgh which had surrendred to him Some years before Marienburgh was but a little Village where Queen Mary made her Rendezvous for hunting The Situation seemed so pleasant and so convenient to her that She built a new Town there The King having it in his hands went on to fortifie it and to make the Road more secure from thence to the little City of Maubert-Fontaine which is the nearest towards France he likewise fortified the Villa ge of Rocroy Year of our Lord 1554 After he had well provided for Marienburgh he went and joyned the Duke of Nevers who had pierced through all the Ardennes he met him near Givets these are two Burroughs so named just opposite to each other upon the Banks of the Meuse From thence he went to Besiege Bovines whilst the Duke Besieged Dinan Bovines was sacked for having dared to withstand an assault of an Army Royal Dinan capitulated and they put Two Thousand Men in there to preserve it from the violence of the skulking Souldiers but in the night the Germans angry they were robb'd of their Pillage scaled the Walls broke open the Gates and put both the Garrison and Inhabitants to the edge of the Sword Perhaps they were not overmuch concerned at it because they had returned a brutish and most insolent Answer when they were Summoned on behalf of the King Then the Emperor finding himself much better in health takes the Field the King desiring to engage him in Battel assaults forces and razes a great number of Towns and Castles Maubege Bavay famous for its Antiquity Mariemont a Castle of pleasure of Queen Maries and the little City of Bins with the magnificent Castle which She had built He caused these two last places to be burnt to be reveng'd for their having set fire to his Royal House of Folembray There was a personal hatred betwixt these two for certain slighting and spiteful words and I know not what kind of Songs which had been made on either side After he had thus over-run and ravaged Brabant Hainault Cambresis and the Country of Namur he entred upon Artois and Besieged the Castle of Renty which did great injury to the Country of Boulonnois The Emperor came to relieve it and to put some into the place with the more ease would have seized upon a Wood the situation whereof must have been
and Pensions for his Nephews and Friends That the Duke of Ferrara and in his absence a Prince whom the King should name should have the General Command of the Armies This League was held secret for some time the Cardinal de Lorrain at his going to Rome had by his fair words drawn in Hercules de Ferrara to be an Allie but his eloquence had not the same power over the Venetians The Cardinal Nephew did likewise employ motives of interest and those of fear He propounded to give them Ravenna in pawn and Puglia when it was conquer'd threatning in case they did not make a League with him to call in the Turks which they dreaded above all things but all this could not move them On the other hand King Philip foreseeing the Pope would by his Sentence endeavour to deprive him of the Kingdom of Naples and Excommunicate him prepared to assemble all the Cardinals together at Pisa to declare the promotion of the Pope not Canonical and by that means invalidate all that he should do to his prejudice He had thirteen or fourteen very sure on his side without reckoning such others as he might gain besides In the mean time the Duke of Alva informed of those Treaties after he had taken order for the Affairs of Milanois and Piedmont passed by Sea into Tuscany where he conferr'd with the Duke of Florence and from thence went to the Kingdom of Naples At the same time the King who had resolved upon the rupture wrote to his Ambassador at Constantinople his name was la Vigne that he should speak of it to Solyman as if he did it for his sake and by that means endeavour to procure a considerable assistance Solyman much pleased to find that a new flame was breaking forth in Christendom promised wonders and made his Fleet put out to Sea But it served the French only to clear themselves in some sort For an Agent of the Kings named Codignac who was discontented going over to the Spaniards had given the Turks some jealousie upon the Kings designing to make himself Master of Italy as if he from thence intended to pass into Greece as Charles VIII would have done and to encrease their apprehensions he discover'd to them I know not what kind of ancient Prophesies which threaten that the Franc's shall overthrow the Empire of the Crescent Year of our Lord 1555 Though this League were concluded before the end of the year 1555. it did not hinder but by the mediation of Mary Queen of England and Cardinal Pool the King and the Emperor were inclined and at last brought to agree upon a general and trading Truce for five years It was treated at Vaucelles near Cambray the fifth of February in Anno 1556. The Emperor contributed much to it Year of our Lord 1556 very well satisfied that this calm consolidated the new begun Reign of his Son When the Cardinal Caraffa heard of this Truce he made a great complaint to the King that they had abandoned the interests of his House that they left it exposed to the vengeance of the Spaniards and the Florentines He demanded that for security the King would at least be pleased to put those places into the hands of the Pope which were yet left him in Sienna He imagined that by this means he should be sought to by those Princes and that they would be glad to buy his amity and when the King had refused them he importun'd his Uncle so much that he condescended he should go Legate into France to dispose the King to break the said Truce He came in a proud Equipage but concealing his Design and giving out it was to labour for a Peace between the two Crowns He saluted the King at Fontainbleau made him a Present of a Sword and an Hat which had been blessed by the Pope and entertain'd him in private with his grand Designs The King was very irresolute but in the end the Legates vast promises and the opinion he possess'd him with that nothing was able to resist his power and withal the artificial address of Valentinois who had already made Alliance with the Guises by giving one of her Daughters to the Duke of Aumale with the intrigues of the Queen who desired a War in Italy to employ her Kinsman the Mareschal de Strozzi there thrust him into the Precipice and made him resolve to declare a War against the Spaniard But before this the Council thought expedient to send to the Emperor and to King Philip to admonish them to recall the Duke of Alva and his Forces out of the Territories of the Holy-See They had already taken divers places there and even the City of Ostia which the Nephews had neglected to provide The Legate made his entrance into Paris with the Magnificence usual on such Ceremonies At Court and in the City he shewed himself a Cavalier to the Nobility a Gallant in the Ladies Company of a merry humour amongst the gay people made Courtship to the Dutchess of Valentinois and gave her extraordinary fine Presents both from his Holyness and from himself The Queen being brought to Bed of Twin-Girls he had the honour to be Godfather to one of them and gave her the name of Victoria as expressive of the great advantages the League between the Pope and the King would acquire in Italy but soon after this presage vanished with the life of that Princess In the mean time whilst the Army they were to send into Italy was making ready they gave Strozzi orders to assist the Pope to whom they sent Three Thousand Men under the Conduct of Montluc who made the Duke of Alva retire from the Neighbourhood of the City of Rome Then when they had fathom'd Philip's intentions by his haughty reply they judged it was high time the Duke of Guise should pass the Alpes At the beginning of March a Comet with a flaming Train was visible in the Eight Degree of Libra and lasted but twelve days only The Emperor fancied this Phaenomena called him to the other World so that not being able to gain his Brother to a consent of yielding the Empire to his Son he Commissioned some Ambassadors to carry his Renunciation to the Electoral Colledge However they went not till two years after because of the War new breaking out between the two Crowns and Three of the Electors were dead That done he Embarqu'd at Sudburg in Zealand about the beginning of September and went into Spain where he retired into the Covent of Saint Just of the Order of the Hieronymites which is in the midst of a delicious Valley surrounded with high Rocks in the Province of Estramadura eight Miles from Placentia near the Burrough of Scarandilla It is believed this was otherwhile the place of Sertorious his retirement He reserved no more to himself of all his great Train and his large-possessions but twelve Men a little Horse to ride out for Pleasure and Air and one Hundred Thousand
compassion in every one and inspired many with this perswasion that the Belief so good and so understanding a man professed could not possibly be bad The other Counsellors Eustace de la Porte Paul de Foix and Lewis de Faur were severally condemned to retract and suspended from their employments for some time but the heat of these prosecutions being over the Parliament restored them Anthony Fumee alone was fully and wholly absolved As for the other Prisoners which were in great numbers the reiterated commands from Court heightning the severity of the Judges they soon emptied all the Goals They were all sent to death or banishment As for Rohert Stuard being able to find no favour or yet the least recommendation in his behalf from the young Queen who disowned any thing of Kindred or Relation to him he endured the greatest torments of the Rack without confession and by that means was cleered About these times the ordinary and mean people of their own heads or by the suggestions of some Zealots bethought themselves of setting up Images at all the corners of the Streets especially that of our Lady they adorned them lighted Wax Tapers before them and met together in Crowds singing the Litany and other Prayers And if any one passed by without saluting them and staying there or if they forgot to put something into the Box he was taken for a Lutheran and beaten and dragged in the Myre nay sometimes to a Prison The wiser Churchmen who consider'd that those sacred Rites and that worship was not to be used in such undecent places nor by people of that sort took away asmany of those Images as they could and placed them in their Churches Margaret de Lorrain Mother of Queen Mary Stuard Governed the Kingdom of Scotland for her Daughter assisted by Henry Clutin-Loysel who was sent thither from France She being disturbed by the Religionaries of whom James a Bastard of the Kings Earl of Murray was head they dispatched to her a supply of Three Thousand Men commanded by la Brosse a Bourbonnois Loysel was recalled and in his place they sent Nicholas de Pelve Bishop of Amiens with whom they joyned some Doctors of the Sorbon to endeavour to reclaim those that were gone astray either by instruction and perswasion or else by compulsion These Forces had orders when they should have subdued the Rebels to March directly into England and conquer that with the assistance of the Catholicks for the benefit of Queen Mary who pretended she was Heiress thereof and had already taken the Arms into her own Coat Elizabeth having information of it perhaps by the Admirals means furnished the Rebels with Twelve Hundred Men and those together in one Body besieged the Port of Lieth within half a League of Edinborough La Brosse and Sebastian de Luxemburg Martigues put themselves into the place to defend it There were gallant feats of Arms acted by either party during this Siege At last both sides being tyred with the War made up a Peace In which it was agreed that all their differences and disputes should be judged and determined by the general Estates of the Country and that the King of France and the Queen his Wife should quit both the Arms and the Title of Kings of England Pope Paul V. who longed for nothing so much as to establish the Inquisition over all Christendom made his Exit out of this World eight days after King Henry II. The Roman People in hatred for his having put that Yoak upon their necks broke his Statues and pull'd down his Arms in all places where they could come at them The intrigues Year of our Lord 1559 of Vargas Ambassador from Spain and the Caraffa's together kept the See vacant for above three Months at the end whereof was Elected the Cardinal de Medequin Brother to the Marquiss de Marignan by the ways and methods usual in their Conclaves Of whom it may truly be said that he added the greatest lustre to the sacred purple it ever had by bringing his Nephew the great Saint Charles Boromeus into the number of Cardinals Year of our Lord 1560 The Year 1560. began happily enough by a very wholsome Edict ordaining in all Soveraign Companies and all inferiour Courts of Justice that when any places were vacant they should present three persons to the King such as were without reproach and men thoroughly versed in the knowledge of the Law of whom he was to chuse the party he best liked But the importunity of Court flies who ever stick close to what is most corrupted and indeed live by it would not allow so holy an Ordonnance should take place Thus though justice in it self be a most divine and most necessary thing to all Societies yet since the number of the wicked and such as are self-interessed will be eternally the greater such endeavours for setling good and wholesome methods may always be praise-worthy ☜ but will ever prove ineffectual Although the Prince of Condé the Admiral and Dandelot his Brother were notoriously imbued and tainted with the Novel Opinions and favoured to the utmost of their power those that did profess them they had not as yet dared to declare themselves their Chiefs In the end those miserable people being prosecuted with all extremity united together to extinquish those flames that were kindled to consume them but they did not restrain themselves to the defensive only their dispair carried them far beyond those bounds and limits A Gentleman of Angoumois by name George Bary la Renaudie one who had been formerly condemned for some Crime was entrusted by the Principals to go to all the Churches of those pretended Reformed People and perswade them to send their Deputies to Nantes about the time when the Parliament of Rennes was to be transferr'd thither He acquitted himself so well that there came to him at the day appointed to the number of above one hundred and fifty When they had heard his harangue and weighed the opinions of several Divines of their Belief who affirmed they might take up Arms in their own defence and make way for a free access to the King to present their Remonstrances they Elected for their private or nameless Chief the Prince of Condé and under his Authority la Renaudie and resolved that in every Province should be chosen a certain number of Un-Married Men who under such Chiefs by them named should go to Amboise upon a day assigned that they should there present their Petition to the King and seize upon the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal de Lorrain that they might be brought to Tryal by process before the Estates But who could give security or answer for them they would not have kill'd them out of hand and have made themselves Masters of the Queen-Mothers person and the King himself This was certainly all laid to their Charge The design was kept so private that the Guises had advice of it from Forraign Countries sooner then they discover'd
called him Blasphemer in so much as Beze was asham'd of it and endeavour'd to excuse himself to the Queen and filed his rough and grating Proposition a little smoother It had been resolved to reduce all the dispute to two heads the one of the true Church the other about the Eucharist The Sixteenth of September the Cardinal de Lorrain made a discourse as learned as it was eloquent and full of solid reasonings both upon the one and other point which he concluded with this that there could be no re-union of the Sectaries with the Church if they did not believe the reallity of the Body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist The other Prelates rising up applauded this proposition declared they would live and dye in that belief he had explained and besought the King and Queen to persevere and to defend it protesting they would break off the Colloquy if the Ministers refused to yield that point It was continued nevertheless for sometime longer The Four and Twentieth of September Beza strained hard to reply to the Cardinals discourse then entred into dispute with the Catholick Doctors as did his Companions afterwards each in his turn Father Jacques Laynes a Spaniard and Superiour General of the Jesuits whom the Cardinal de Ferrara the Popes Legat who arrived not till a good while after this Conference was begun had brought along with him would not confer with the Ministers but treated them with the epithets of Wolves Monkeys and Serpents and boldly told the Queen that it did not belong to her to hold Assemblies for matters concerning Religion especially since the Pope had convocated a Council The disputes were not discontinued for all that till in fine the alteration having so exasperated and heated their spirits that they were capable of nothing but downright quarrelling they broke up the Conference the five and twentieth day of November month November Some believed the Cardinal de Lorrain had chiefly promoted this who having some kind of correspondence with the Lutherans of Germany thought to make himself head and as it were Pope of that Party opposed to the Roman Church which however as to the exteriour differs not much and in this prospect had promised them to engage the Ministers of France by this Colloquy to subscribe to the Ausburg Confession And indeed towards the end of the Colloquy there came some Lutheran Ministers to Paris and the King of Navarre overpersuaded by the Lawyer Francis Baudouin Tutor to his Bastard-Son joyned with that Church but seeing those of France held at too great a distance and made the difference too wide the Cardinal de Lorrain dispairing to bring his ends to pass became equally an utter enemy both to the one and the other As in this Colloquy the Huguenots had for the first time the liberty allowed them to dispute the controverted Articles of Religion they thought they might have every where that of exercising it and began to open their Temples in every Year of our Lord 1561 Province The Queen-Mother in retribution of the services paid her by the Admiral lent him or feigned to lend him her helping hand in many occurrences and even sent orders to the Kings Ambassador at Rome to be instant with the Pope and Cardinals for obtaining the Communion in both Species and the allowance to pray to God in French which she could not obtain perhaps because as she demanded it openly she obstructed it underhand The Triumviri could not endure the great credit the Admiral was in and retired from Court making Religion the pretence of their discontent The King of Spain who affected the Title of Catholick express'd a great deal of Anger for that they favoured the Huguenots and particularly against the King of Navarre thereby to have a Salvo Conscientiae not to do him right concerning his Kingdom and a pretence to intermeddle with the Affairs of France to which he was invited by some of the most eminent in whom the passion to govern and to supplant their Enemies was more prevalent then love to their Native Country or the honour of this State A short while before a Priest was taken going into Spain with a Petition to King Philip in the name of the Catholicks together with certain very dangerous instructions He was carried to the common Goal The Parliament considering the quality of the persons involved in this business durst not search too deep but thought fit only to condemn him to make amende honorable in full Audience bare-head and his feet bare with a Torch lighted in his hand and to be shut up between four Walls in the Convent of the Chartreux Likewise a Batchellor of Sorbon named Tanquerel having maintained some Thesis wherein he asserted the Pope had an absolute power over all Kings as well in Temporals as in Spirituals and that therefore he might depose them if they deserved it the Parliament ordained that he should make amende honorable and because he absented himself it was said the Beadle of the Faculty should do it for him in the School of the Sorbon before a President two Counsellors and the Sollicitor General and in presence of the Dean and Doctors who were enjoyned to be there upon pain of forfeiting all the Priviledges to them granted by the Kings The Holy Fathers greatest fear was lest he should lose his Authority in France by a National Council the interest of the King of Spain was to gain some Authority by rendring himself necessary and that of the Regent to preserve her own and encrease it The King of Navarre shared in this with her and therefore they could never well accord but all the rest endeavoured to adjust themselves with that Prince The Constable served as mediator to reconcile him with the Duke of Guise and he to bring him to a correspondence with the Pope and the King of Spain His Sentiments concerning Religion were a great obstruction nevertheless they had the Art to manage him so well that they brought him to their bent They propounded to him first if he would repudiate Jane d'Albret his Wife as he might lawfully do said they because she was an Heretick that then he should be Married to Queen Mary Steward who would bring him the Kingdoms of Scotland and of England and when they found he could not resolve upon that Divorce they gave him verbal assurances that the King of Spain would give him up the Island of Sardinia which they described to him as a Country abounding in all things of delight and use in recompence of Navarre This charming illusion was the bait that drew him into their snare Year of our Lord 1562 January In the Month of January of the Year 1562. the Regent who desired to support her self by the Huguenots got an Edict in their favour containing amongst other things the revocation of that in July permission for them to Preach in all parts of the Kingdom excepting in Wall'd Cities namely in Paris An Assembly of the Notables authorized it the
out the Prince and intreat him earnestly to come to Court assuring him that whatsoever had been done against the Protestants was much against her will and that with his Assistance she would endeavour to repair it The Prince began to listen to it and was inclined to condescend when news was brought him that the Huguenots coming out of Church at Sens were all Massacred and their Houses saccaged by the Soldiers the fault whereof was charged upon the Cardinal de Lorrain Archbishop of that City The Prince having heard the particulars said to his People that they must hope for nothing now but from God and their own Courage They then caused white Cassocks of Cloth to be made for all their Cavalry and endeavour'd to animate and keep up their Spirits by Printing several little Books some for their Justification others to bespatter the House of Guise and particularly the Cardinal de Lorrain Year of our Lord 1562 Yet there were many Envoyez and propositions sent from the one to the other The Prince demanded the Edict of January should be observed that there should be Justice done for such as were Massacred and that the Triumviri should quit the Court. They to repel these Attaques presented a Petition that there might be no other Religion in France but the Catholick That all Servants belonging to the King all Governors Officers Magistrates c. should make a publick Profession of it or be deprived of their Employments That all such as had laid violent hands on things Sacred should be punished for their Sacriledge That no man should bear Arms but such as were Commissioned by the King of Navarre upon which Conditions they offer'd to retire from Court month June These Messages having effected nothing towards a reconciliation the Queen would needs confer with the Prince her self the place was assigned at Toury where either came accompanied with about Fifty Horse and all the necessary precautions The King of Navarre was with the Queen The Gentlemen belonging to them who were kept at Eight Hundred paces distance left they should chance to quarrel could not be restrained from running to embrace each other weeping to express both the joy for their present meeting and the sorrow for that fate which threatned to change this friendship into a Scene of fury and these Salutations into the necessity of cutting suddenly one anothers Throats In sine the Queen could not gain her ends The King of Navarre and the Prince picqu'd each other with reproaches and the Conference broke off The Prince had a good part of the Nobles and Soldiery for him The Confederates had the Parisians the Name and Person of the King which are necessarily followed by the Great Officers and Parliament The Six and Twentieth of June the Parliament declared all such as had seized those Cities before mentioned Rebels and guilty of Treason However they excepted the Prince of Condé as if it must have been supposed that the Huguenots detained him by force The Armies on either part took the Field and these being the one in the Country of Orleannois the other in Dunois the Queen made one Essay more which was like to have succeeded to the destruction of both the Factions She proposed to the Prince by the advice of Valence to make the Guises and the Constable quit the Court if he would lay down his Arms and come and put himself into hers and the King of Navarres hands The Prince running inconsiderately into this toyl goes to the Queen at Talsy as soon as ever he heard the Triumviri were retired and by a second imprudence promised to leave the Kingdom if they returned not to Court The Admiral de Coligny and the other Chiefs of his Party mightily in pain and disquiet both for him and themselves came the next day and made him sensible he could not in honour engage his word to the prejudice of what he had promis'd them and was in Conscience bound to make good and thus they obliged him to recal it at the next Conference which was held the following day and brought him back again to his Army Every one admiring the Queen Mother had not taken the whole Covey as she might easily have done with one fair draught of her Net which she could not possibly have forborn had it been for her Interest so to do month June and July The number of Cities the Huguenots had seized were too many for their Forces and kept them scattered at too great a distance from each other they soon lost most of them again together with a great many of their Men Blois and Anger 's were forced with all the Cruelties attending the fury of a Civil War Mans and Tours were abandoned The Duke of Aumale who Commanded the Kings Armies in Normandy for the Duke of Bouillon was suspected of Huguenotisme recover'd all the places about Rouen and the Duke of Estampes Governour of Bretagne Valongne Vire Saint Lo and Bayeux At Vire were the greatest Cruelties committed because the Huguenots had been most cruel there During the Negotiations and the many difficulties there are in Cementing together the several Members of a new made Party where most times three break off whilst they are soddering one the heat of the Princes zealots began to grow cool Most part came to him full of resolution and with the hopes and expectation of being led on to Battle immediately expecting that a few moments either would give them Victory or a brave and glorious death but when they found things were drawn out in Length many desired lieve to return so that being unable to keep them longer together there with him he sent John de Partenay Soubize to Lyons John de Hangest-Yvoy to Bourges the Count de la Rochefoucaud Year of our Lord 1562 to Angoâ—lesme Dandelot into Germany and Briquemault to England the two last to hasten those Supplies which had been promised him in those Countries month July and August The Kings Army was encreased to Five and Twenty Thousand Foot and Five Thousand Horse they were divided in two bodies one of them with whom the King was in Person commanded by the King of Navarre and the Duke of Guise went to besiege Bourges the other commanded by the Mareschal de Saint André was sent to Poitiers This last place was taken by Battery in fewer dayes then the Soldiers had to pillage it it was gained on the first day of August The other was reduced by Composition the Nine and Twentieth of the same Month. They had sustained near upon a Five Weeks Siege and might have held it longer if Yvoy who defended it with Two Thousand Men had not suffer'd himself to be prevailed upon either by fear or the cajoleries and allurements of the Court. And indeed he soon after quitted the Party and retired to his own home month September Bourges being taken most part of the Chief Officers were for going directly to Orleans where they might have coop'd up the Prince and by
long while with Charles de Gontaud Biron Mareschal de Camp and Henry de Mesme Master of Requests In so much as the English Ambassador and the Ambassador from Florence becomeing friendly Mediators it was agreed upon the second day of March The Edict was verified in Parliament the twenty sixth of the same Month. This confirmed Year of our Lord 1568. March c. and restored intirely that which had been made for them five years before revoking and annulling all Exceptions Declarations and Interpretations which had been made to the contrary The more quick-sighted amongst the Huguenots were not for making this Peace which scattered them so wide assunder and exposed them to the mercy of their Enemies without any other Security but the word of an Italian Woman and indeed they named it the Boiteuse i. e. Lame and the Mal-assise alluding to Biron who was Lame and Mesme who was Lord de Mal-assise But the Prince protested he was constrained to it because the greatest part of his Forces disbanded the Nobility were returning to their own Homes which were exposed to Pillage and the Germans might perhaps have sold them for want of pay The Parliament of Toulouze did not verifie it till after they had four express Commands nor before they did cut off the head of Rapin whom the Prince had sent thither to press the Verification having raked up some old Crime against him upon which they made his Process in great hast In consequence of this Treaty the Huguenots raised the Siege of Chartres and gave up several Cities they had taken amongst others Soissons Orleans Auxerre Blois and la Charité upon the Loire Rochel refused to obey and after their example many others Prince Casimir led back his Forces into Germany and went to Heidelberg to give an account of his expedition to his Father the Elector He there found William of Nassaw Prince of Orange who having made his escape from the Low Countries implored his Assistance for the maintenance of their Liberty and his Religion against the Duke of Alva The Cruclties of that Duke the Deaths of the Counts of Egmont and Horn the Troubles of the Low-Countries and the Foundation of the States of Holland by the Marvellous Conduct and un-shaken Courage of that Prince of Orange are the noblest Subjects for History that can be met with in all these latter Ages And indeed it hath been Treated on by several Authors and of so great Merit as they have almost equall'd the grandeur of the Theam and Matter We shall observe only as the most monstrous Year of our Lord 1568 adventure that can be Imagined How Philip King of Spain being inform'd the Infant Don Carlos his only Son and his presumptive Successor who indeed was of a roving Spirit untractable and very dangerous held Correspondence with the Confederate Lords of the Low-Countries who endeavour'd to draw him into Flanders clapt him in Prison and deprived him of Life either by Slow Poyson or by stifling him and in a short while after upon some kind of jealousie Poysoned Elizabeth de la Paix his Wife making her Perish with the fruit then in her Womb as Queen Catherine made it appear after the Secret Informations she had taken and by the Domestick Servants belonging to that Princess when they were come back into France In the time of Peace one of the Admirals principal Cares was to encrease the Navigation and the Trade of France chiefly in those Countries of the other Hemisphear as well for the Credit of his Office as to plant Colonies there of his own Religion He had sent the Chevalier de Villegagnon to Florida as believing him fixt in the new opinions but this man failed him in his promises and rudely handled those of that Profession Afterwards in the year 1562. he dispatched John Ribaud thither with two Ships who Sailing a quite different Course then the Spaniards had wont to do most happily Landed at Florida When he had made discovery of the Country Treated an Alliance with the petty Princes and given Names to several Capes Rivers and Gulphs he built at the end of the Streight at Saint Helens a Fort which in honour of the King was Named Fort Charles and leaving a Lieutenant there together with some Soldiers well arm'd return'd into France after he had promised to come again to them as soon as possible to bring a reinforcement and refreshments Not being able to make good his word by reason of the Civil War that hapned their Provisions failing they shipt themselves In the midst of the Voyage they were so pressed with hunger that they killed one of their own Crew who was Sick and fed upon him An English Vessel who fortunately met them supplied their wants and carried them into England The Admiral not knowing they had quitted the Fort fitted out three Ships at Haure de Grace to go and relieve them René Laudonniere Commanded this Fleet he landed at the Golfe to which Ribaud had given the name of May and made an Alliance with some Petty Kings of the Barbarians but it hapned that whilst he was Sick part of his men debauched by some that were Factious forced him to permit them to go to New Spain to seek for Provisions where having taken a huge Vessel fraught with Riches wherein was the Governor of the Havana they were afterwards surrounded and seized in that Island and all sold or carried into Spain This Piracy gave the Spaniards a fair pretence who were already grown very jealous that the French began to settle in those Countries to fall upon them and allow no quarter They pretended those Territories belonged to them affirming they were the first Discoverers But in truth a Venetian Named Stephen Gaboury prompted in Emulation of Christopher Columbus to seek out new Countries under the auspicious favour of Henry VII King of England had found out and landed upon those Coasts even in the year 1496. long before there Ponce de Leon who was indeed the Person that gave it the name of Florida because he went first on Shoar there upon Palm-Sunday When Laudonniere was ready to return he spied Seven Vessels at Sea this was John Ribaud a very good Sea-man but an ill Soldier and much worse Captain who was made choice of by the Admiral as very affectionate to the Interests of his Party The Spaniards had at the same time sent one Peter Melandez with some Ships to hinder the French from taking root there Ribaud quitting his Fort which he left but slightly furnished with Men went on Board his Ships to Fight them When he was out at Sea a Hurrican a strange kind of Storm very frequent about those Coasts forced and beat all his Fleet in pieces against the Rocks His men getting to Land with their Long-Boats fell into the Hands of the Spaniards who having taken the Fort slaughter'd them all with a more then Canibal Cruelty tearing them piece-meal and plucking out their Eyes They said
Rochellers and a Hundred Thousand Angelots with some Cannon and many Thousand weight of Powder sent them by Queen Elizabeth upon the instance of the Cardinal de Chastillon Year of our Lord 1568 But their Piracy made them a greater and a more lasting fund the Prince inciting both by honour and profit some of the ablest Citizens of Rochel they equipped a small Fleet of Nine Vessels and some Frigats who went out to make prize of the trading Ships belonging to Bretagne Normandy and Flanders having the Ports of England to friend whether they might with security shelter â—hemselves and the Prey they gained which shewed that Queen did by consequence approve the Huguenots taking Armes and engaged in their cause against the King Both Parties had sent to have Men raised in Germany the one in the Countries of the Catholick Princes the others inthe Protestants those for the King were soonest ready Which were Five Thousand Five Hundred Horse Commanded by divers Captains of whom Frederic Marquis of Baden the Rhinegrave Philip and Christopher de Bassompierre were the principal The Princes Levies were conducted by Wolfang de Bavaria Duke of Duke-Ponts The Duke of Aumale with Six Thousand Men and the Duke of Nemours who was gone to joyn him with the Catholick Forces of Lyonnois and the Countries adjacent had orders to stay in Lorrain to hinder his passage Year of our Lord 1569. March The Sharpest Frosts being over the King's Army Commanded by the Duke of Anjou and that of the Princes we shall call it so since all Orders were given in the names of the Princes took the Field again The Royal one was newly reinforced with Three Thousand Men brought by the Count of Tendes from Daufiné that belonging to the Princes was Marching to meet the Troops of the Vicounts conducted by Piles The Duke of Anjou who from Conflans in Limosin had passed Vienne to come Vertueil knowing they marched to Cognac for that purpose and that as soon as they had joyned with those they would return towards the Loire to wait the Succours of the Duke of Deux-ponts resolved to get the Start of them and pass over the Charente The Huguenots held the Bridges of Jarnac and Chasteau-neuf and their Forces were lodged much at large in the Country along the River side The Duke not able to gain Jarnac at first brush went to Chasteau-neuf There were but Fifty Men in it who immediately surrendred Armand de Gontaud Biron repaires the Bridge with such diligence that half the Kings Army were got over by break of day which was the Thirteenth of March. The Admiral having notice sent Orders to his Foot and Baggage to file off before towards the Burrough of Bassac whilst the Horse could draw together from their distant quarters The sluggish delay of some Troops who were not on Horse-back till about Nine a Clock engaged them to the Combat La Noüe who closed up the Rear-Guard with Four Hundred Horse was rudely handled at the first Charge Dandelot did second him but yet at the second which was much fiercer he was beaten off his Horse and taken In the mean while the Royalists having made themselves Masters of Bassac the Admiral sent word to the Prince who was retreating with his Van-Guard that he wanted his presence and the Prince who never â—an from danger came back upon a round Trot. He fell stoutly upon the first he met but when all the Kings Army was come up he was surrounded His Horse being wounded falling under him he presented his Gantlet to a Couple of Gentlemen Argence and Sainct Jean who gave him their Faith Having set him down at the Foot of a Bush his Leg being broken with a kick of a Horse comes Montesquiou upon a hand Gallop Captain of the Duke of Anjou's Guards who had left his Master to do this worthy exploit and kills him with his Pistol This act which in the midst of the Scuffle would have appeared brave being done in cold blood was looked upon by good Men as an execrable parricide and worthy the punishment due to such as attempt any of the Royal blood The Duke of Anjou neither blamed nor owned it but suffer'd the Princes Corps to be carried whether by chance or in derision upon a she Ass to Jarnac He afterwards gave it to the Prince of Bearn his Nephew who caused it to be Interred in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors at Vendosme After his death the Royalists gave the Huguenots chace till Night approached but there being none but the Cavalry engaged the Slaughter was not so considerable as the Victory There fell not above Six Hundred of the Princes Party amongst whom were above an Hundred Gentlemen and Twelve or Fifteen Lords The number of Prisoners did far exceed the Slain The Royalists lost about two or three Hundred of theirs whereof seven or eight were Persons of Note The Admiral and his Brother with the Horse of that Battalion he Commanded directed their Course toward Sainct Jean d'Angeli and got thither the same day Year of our Lord 1569 The Infantry without sustaining any damage soon passed over the River at Jarnac and breaking down the Bridge from thence retired to Cognac To the same place came the other Commanders with the broken Remnants of the Horse that were left of the Van and the Rear-Guards The Queen of Navarre a Princess endowed with Courage above her Sex came thither likewise with great speed bringing the Prince of Bearn her Son with her as also the Eldest Son of the Deceased Prince of Condé both were named Henry Her generous exhortations and the presence of those two Princes did somewhat revive their shaken resolutions and drooping Courage month March Two dayes after this Queen and the Chiefs going to Saintes Coligny and his Brother came to them and there it was resolved they should refresh themselves and wait the success of the Sieges of Cognac and Engoulesme wherewith the Duke of Anjou had threatned them The noise of this Battel of Jarnac was much greater than the advantage The King arose at Mid-night to have the Te Deum Sung gave notice of it to all the Neighbouring Princes and sent the Colours they had taken from the Huguenots to his Holiness as if they had fought his Battels The Duke of Anjou though Conqueror met with such as knew how to deal with him he attaqu'd Cognac in vain where they had Seven Thousand Men in Garrison and the Intelligence he thought would have prevailed in Engoulesme failed his purposes So that he withdrew into Perigord to maintain his Forces and this was about Mid April Blaise de Montluc and Francis d'Escars had besieged Mucidan he sent Brissac thither who redoubled the Assaults but was unfortunately Slain there As the Lord de Pampadour his Friend had been some dayes before The Place Surrendred upon Composition which was but ill observed for the death of those two brave Lords had so enraged the Catholick Soldiers that violating the Faith
that to take away those Jealousies and Suspicions the King had of him and which might have produced most dangerous effects the Queen Mother began her Practices to obtain the Crown of Poland for him which she undertook by the Advice and Intrigues of Montluc Bishop of Valence For although Sigismund Augustus their King was yet Living it was time to think of another he being very Infirm and having no Children When by many oblique turnings and windings they had Convey'd this News to the Huguenots Ears they were wrapt with Joy and assumed a much greater Confidence Then the Queen of Navarre entirely satisfied and assured came to Court to make up the Match for her Son Pope Pius V. to prevent this Marriage Year of our Lord 1572 which he looked upon to be very prejudicial to the Catholick Religion sent a Legate who perswaded and disposed the King of Portugal to demand this Princess in Wedlock and from thence passed into France to make that Proposition to the King and to exhort him to enter into the League against the Turks The Portuguese put a just value upon this Alliance and proceeding generously made known to the King that he desired no other Dowry but only that he would renounce that with the Turks The King made answer that he was engaged elsewhere for the Marriage of his Sister He excused himself likewise to the Legate upon all those other things the Holy Father demanded but conjured him to assure his Holiness of his filial obedience and gently squeezing his Hands added these words O that I might be permitted to explain my self more At the same time Jane Queen of Navarre over-perswaded by the Admiral who was but too much so himself came to Court It was then at Blois The ✚ King and Queen strove to give her a more then ordinary Reception After some debates concerning the Place and the Ceremonies of the Marriage and that Jane had consented it should be perform'd at Paris in a certain form not much differing from that of the Roman Church the Articles were Signed the Eleventh day of April There wanted nothing but the dispensation from Rome because of their near Parentage to compleat the Nuptials Amidst these Transactions Ludovic returns to Court he was more hugg'd and soothed then ever The King promised him he would send the Admiral into the Low-Countries with a powerful Army there was a division made of those Provinces how they should be shared between France and the House of Nassaw they drew together Six Thousand Soldiers with a great Train of Artillery for that month May and June Enterprise they sent Strossy and the Baron de la Garde upon the Coasts of Bretagne to hinder any Supplies that might come from Spain to the Duke of Alva they dispatched the Mareschal de Montmorency into England to Treat about an Alliance with Queen Elizabeth Schomberg into Germany to exhort the Protestant Princes and Francis de Noüailles Bishop of Dags as Ambassador to Constantinople to stir up the Turks to fall upon the Coasts of Spain The Cardinal de Lorraine and the Cardinal de Pellevé were already gone towards Rome upon pretence of being there at the Election of a new Pope for Pius V. died the first day of May. In his Life time he refused the dispensation for the Marriage of the Prince of Navarre with Madam Margaret Gregory XIII his Successor less rigid or better inform'd easily agreed to it The Wedding day was therefore assigned upon the first of June but upon some difficulty started by the Cardinal de Bourbon it was put off to the Eighteenth of August In the mean time the Queen of Navarre having over-heated her self by hurrying about to get all things ready hapned to die not without suspicion of being poyson'd by a certain pair of scented Gloves she bought at a Perfumers who was a Milanese and one of a very ill-favoured Reputation Though the Admiral held himself secure upon the faith and word of the King he could not however resolve to expose himself in Paris to the Mercy of that populace furiously exasperated against him and in the midst of his most mortal Enemies But here the last bait was made use of and proved so taking he could notwithstand it The King dismisses Prince Ludovic whom till then he had detained in Court gives him a good round Sum of Money and two Officers of great Note i. e. la Noüe and Genlis who were in great Credit with the Admiral to go and try whether by Intelligence they could secure some places of the Low-Countries Ludovic Surprised Mons la Noüe Valenciennes whilst many other Cities in Holland and Zealand took part and stood up for the Prince of Orange He judging this to be certainly an open War between the two Crowns did no longer hesitate but came to the King and into Paris where hitherto he durst not trust himself That which assured him more yet was a permission allowed Genlis to Levy Four Thousand Men to go to the Relief of Mons. However they no sooner entred into Haynault but they were defeated and their Leader taken by the treachery of the French themselves month July The Admirals example drew all the other Lords into the Net The King of Navarre and the Prince of Condé Arrived at Paris the Twentieth day of July bringing a great Train of Noblemen with them as well of such who desired to appear at the Nuptials of the first as others who had been assistant at the Prince of Conde's with Mary of Cleves which was Celebrated in the Castle of Blandy near Year of our Lord 1572 Melun This Mary was one of the three Daughters of Francis de Cleves Duke of Nevers and Sister to the Dutchesses of Nevers and Guise The exceeding Caresses they made them were so extravagant and so visible that if God had not blinded both their Eyes and their understandings they might easily have perceived those Knives they were every hour whetting to cut their Throats The Rochellers sent Messenger after Messenger to advise the Admiral he were best to withdraw himself out of that Gulf of Paris that it was a tempting of God too far by confiding in a King who was violent and passionate even to the height of fury and an Italian Woman who had endeavour'd the destruction of all that was great in the Kingdom But he replied that he would sooner resolve to be dragg'd thorow the dirt and mire of Paris then by his leaving it give any the least occasion for a fourth Civil War It was upon the same foot of Resolution that he stood up so obstinately for the Surrender of the Four Places of Security above three Weeks before the Term was expired There was only Rochel that refused to obey under pretence of their Priviledges The Mareschal de Montmorency much clearer sighted then the Admiral feigned himself sick and disordered with his England Voyage and obtained leave to retire to his House at Chantilly The King of Navarre was betroathed the
chiefly in that Country Year of our Lord 1573 The Three Armies destined against the Huguenots did but little La Chastre succeeding ill in his Attaques upon Sancerre at the end of Three Months turned the Siege into a Blocade Danville instead of taking Nismes as the Cities of Lyons and Thoulouze did heartily wish because they paid and maintain'd his Army set upon the little City of Sous-Mieres whether with design not to succeed or otherwise I know not for he knew very well they plotted the Ruine of his House and he put as little Confidence in the Kings Council as they did in him He therefore ruined his Army before it and raised the Siege after he had lost Two Thousand men with Henry de Foix Count de Candale slain upon an Assault This Lord had Married his Sister and brought him Twelve Hundred Gascons Villars and la Valette cleared Gascongne of several small Garrisons but could not take Cossade and were constrained to disband their Troops who lived so licentiously that the Commons rose up in Arms to fall upon them The greatest efforts were at the Siege of Roâ—hel Strossy and Biron had invested it the preceding year all the Forces of the Kingdom were come thither and Monsieur himself Arriving there in the Month of February had brought along with him all that were bravest and greatest about the Court the Duke of Alencon month February c. his Brother the Duke of Montpensier all the Guises the Duke of Nevers and even the King of Navarre the Prince of Condé and the Mareschal de Cossé for fear lest they should make some stir elsewhere in favour of the Huguenots After several fruitless Conferences after that la Noüe not being able to perswade the Rocheliers to submit was come out of the Town and they had chosen Six Captains in his sted Monsicur began to express his mind by the roaring Mouths of his Cannon having Four-score in Battery against them In this Siege it was made more manifest then in any other of these last Ages that there is nothing which the perswasion of 〈◊〉 and Religion does not overcome and nothing that can overcome it It lasted Eight Months to reckon from the time of the Blocade the Baron de la Garde had begun within a Month after Saint Bartholomew the City during that time sustained Five and Thirty ☜ Thousand Cannon shot Nine grand Assaults above Twenty lesser ones near upon Seventy Mines very frequent Conspiracies as well by contrivance of some that were Rich who feared to loose their Wealth as by some of the Gentry who have ever some particular engagements at the Court and seldome desert it but in expectation of being called back again to the Cost of whatever Party they Espouse The People labour'd with so much heat that they raised a double Terrass and digged a deep Retrenchment at the place where they batter'd the Town before they could make their breach Besides their men were perpetually making Sallies the Women went along every where with them some to Fight others to carry necessaries and refreshment carry off and dress the wounded and gather up the Spoil others again to throw kettles of scalding Liquor or Oil melted Pitch red hot Iron Hoops Bricks Stones Timber Loggs and the like upon the Assailants heads Their Courage did not fail them though the Assistance from England which Montgommery was to have brought failed them After a long expectation in mid March they appeared but very Slender for as much as the Mareschal de Rais as well by the Intrigues he forged in England as the Pensions the King bestowed on Queen Elizabeths Councellours had notably hindred him from obtaining Year of our Lord 1573 so considerable a Supply as was promised Finding the choice Mâ—n of the Besiegers Army had put themselves into the Kings Ships and the Channel stopt up with an Estacade which they could not gâ—t over but at Spring-Tydâ—s â—e weighed Anchor and went and seized upon Bâ—ll-Isle But hearing the Count de Rais was coming against him with a dozen Ships he quitted it after he had plundred it and retired to the Isle of Wight The Count de Rais under pretence Bâ—ll-Isle wanted some Lord to defend it manag'd his Interest so that the King by his Soveraign Authority caused it to be substracted and dismembred from the demesne of the Abbey of Saincte Croix de Quimperlay and erected it to a Marquisate to bestow it upon him During all the Siege of Rochel those within enjoy'd a perfect health they had established a very good order for the distribution of their Provisions so that they had enough for two Months longer when they were deliver'd For though they were but meanly furnished with Corn they had great Stores of Flesh and Salt-Fish and the Sea shewing her self Charitable and Merciful to that Town which she hath ever looked upon as her Nurse-Child threw upon the Owze infinite quantities of Shel-Fish for the Subsistance and Relief of the Poor On the contrary the Besiegers were under all sorts of inconveniencies the neglect of discipline and the desolation of the Country round about them had caused extream scarcity of Provisions and Forrage in their Camp and a most terrible Infection which bred frequent and contagious distempers But the complement of all those Evils was their general Division which held the Royal Army in perpetual agitations and ready to cut one anothers Throats like Cadmus his Soldiers There were of three sorts of People the Malecontents the Gentlemen were most of them so with the Queen Mother who governed all by two or three Strangers Covetous Proud and without Faith the Faithful these were the Huguenots who had not quitted their Religion but to avoid the ruine of their Houses or for some Interest at Court had followed Monsieur and the New ones whom the fear of being Massacred had forced to go to Mass though they did not believe in it Out of some of each of these was a Club or Party made whom they named the Politiques and these had together agreed that without any more mention of Religion they would demand the Reformation of the State and expulsion of Strangers Amongst the Catholicks the Montmorencies Biron and Cossé were the Chief Heads these were linked together above a Twelve month before the Saint Bartholomew The Duke of Alencon a Prince ambitious and unquiet despised for his low Stature and his ill Meen had desired to be one and having in his tender Youth taken some Impression of the New Religion from those that Educated him had tied himself in strickt Amity with the Admiral believing by that means to make a Party strong enough to equal the Credit of the Duke of Anjou and get some share in the Govâ—â—â—ment To which he was thrust on by the Ambition of his Favourites and by his Sister Margarets Spleen much offended the Duke of Anjou slighted her after he highly cherish'd her Divers considerations proceeding from jealousie suspicions and fear had withheld the
arrival of a new Governour Don Juan of Austria In the mean time the Spanish Troops having mutined plundred the wealthy City of Antwerp where they got so much booty that some private Soldiers were seen to play for Ten thousand Franc's in one night The Catholique Provinces fearing they might be plundered in the same manner united by a Treaty made at Ghent with those of Holland and Zealand Now before they received or admitted Don Juan the Estates would have all the Spaniards sent out of the Countrey and the Treaty of Ghent to be confirmed Don Juan feigned to agree to those conditions and entred the Countrey in Sheeps cloathing but soon changed it for the Foxes skin seising upon Namur Charlemont and Mariemburgh Then the States armed against him drove him back into Luxemburg called in Matthias the Emperors Brother whom they chose for their Governor and the Prince of Orange for his Lieutenant But by the jealousy of the Catholique Lords thwarting the wise Councils of Orange Don Juan had time to receive the Forces brought him by Alexander Farness Duke of Parma with which he gained a signal Battle at Gemblours over the Army of the States and afterwards the Gueux having turned Year of our Lord 1577 the Priests and Monks out of Ghent broke and pull'd down all the Images in their Churches So that the happy success of Don Juan and the attempt of this insolent rabble gave occasion to some Lords already discontented to form a Third Party whereof Montigny was Head and to draw both Artois and Hainault to joyn with them The same Lords finding that the States had Treated with Queen Elizabeth who sent Casimir to them with some German Forces moved with apprehension of the great danger their Religion was in resolved to Treat with the Duke of Anjou to which the States did likewise incline being induced thereto by the practises of the Prince of Orange who had great suspition of Casimir Year of our Lord 1578 This business had been negotiating a year before by the tacite consent of the Queen-Mother but the King did not approve of his Brothers medling with the Low-Countreys Affairs he was too jealous of his advancement and besides too much netled at his Bussy's braving his Favorites every day Now these Picques and Controversies rising higher on either part he caused his Brother to be laid hold on in the Louvre and set Guards upon him but they did their Duty so negligently that he escaped out of their hands being let down by a cord into the Trench under the Louvre and went to the Abby St. Germain where Bussy waited for him and had made a hole in the Wall of the City From thence they got to Anger 's and after they had sojourned there some weeks advanced to Mons in Hainault to conclude the Treaty which was before prepared by one of his Secretaries He promised to assist the States with his Forces and Means to raise Six thousand Foot and Three thousand Horse to maintain them at his own charges for Three Months and to endeavour to bring the Queen of England the King of Navarre and Casimir into this Alliance Reciprocally they promised him that where-ever he should be personally he should Command in Chief with the General for the States That if they accepted of any Lord other then the King of Spain they would prefer him before all That forsecurity and a retreat for his Sick they would give him Quesnoy Landrecy and Bavais That if they could obtain a good Peace they would repay his disbursements and give him a reward worthy of his Grandeur month August Year of our Lord 1578 There never was a business so intangled nor a Countrey more divided and tormented then that same The Arch Duke Matthias had his party amongst the States and amongst the Nobless the Prince of Orange had all the power in the Provinces of Frise Holland Zealand and Vtrect Don Juan of Austria was Governor for the Spaniard but declared an enemy by the States Prince Casimir was there in the behalf of Queen Elizabeth the Duke of Anjou as their Ally and Protector Imbise had seized upon Ghent and Prince Casimir with his Forces was got into those parts as it were to cantonnize himself The Catholique Lords of Artois and Hainault floated between all parties desiring to preserve if it were possible their Liberty and their Religion So that there were Five Armies feeding upon and laying wast that unfortunate Countrey That belonging to the States was of Thirty eight thousand Foot and Eight thousand Horse That under the Duke of Anjou much inferiour for number to what had been promised him by Treaty He besieged Bins and batter'd it so furiously that it surrendred the Fourteenth day being the Sixth of September The civility he shewed month September to that Garrison open'd him the Gates of Maubeuge but the insolence of his Soldiers in the Field caused those of Quesnoy and Landrecy to be shut up against him For vexation of this inexecution and because Casimir kept still in Ghent he would not joyn with the States Army to whom however he had already sent Three thousand Men Commanded by la Noüe but retired into France having first sent to the Arch-Duke Matthias and the Council of the States to let them know the reasons for his departure and give them an assurance of his return The greatest part of his disbanded Troops went into the Service of the male-contented Lords Some Months after Don Juan of Austria hapned to die the King his Brothers jealousie made all his designs miscarry and perhaps hastned his end by some potion as he had the end of Escovado his Secretary and intimate Confident in Spain by cutting the thred of his Life with a keen ponyard His loss caused so great a consternation in his Army that if that of the States had fall'n upon them they might with ease either have forced or dispersed them but Year of our Lord 1578 besides that their disorders were likewise great in that great Body for want of pay the death of Maximilian Crook-Back who Commanded in Chief hapning within Six weeks after broke all that little Union there was between the Lords of the Countrey who fell from the common interest of the publique good to seek their own private advantages During this expedition of the Duke of Anjou into the Low-Countries the King languished still in unactive idleness wherein he was entertained by Villequier and Francis d'O his Son-in-law This last was Surintendant des Finances a Man wholly given up to Luxury who put the King daily upon making new Edicts called Bursaux and by carrying him to the Parliament forced them by his Presence to verify the same This was one of the chief causes of the ruine of this Prince the People observing so frequently that from his Court whence nothing but good and wholsome Laws should have proceeded there came nothing now but Edicts of Oppression and Severity did by little and little lose
their Sluces so that his unfortunate Army was constrained to expose themselves to a march through that great Tract of Water not without loss of above three hundred Men. In fine after they had trudg'd near thirty leagues with incredible difficulties though it was but seven leagues distant by the direct road they arrived at Dendremond which served them as the second Plank after their Shipwrack Year of our Lord 1583. February c. The Queen Mother the Queen of England and the King himself for the honour of the French Nation mediated and interposed to allay the fury of the Flemmings and palliate the fault of the young Prince So much was effected by their Negociations that the States fearing he should give up to the Spaniard those places he yet held agreed with him by a Provisional Treaty That he should have ninety thousand Florins to pay his Army provided he would retire to Dunkirk and remain there whilst they endeavour'd an Accommodation and in the mean time surrender Dendremond and Dixmude month April and May They thought with the assistance of his Forces to raise the Siege of Eiendhoue but Biron who commanded them being ill seconded and withall unprovided of every thing was not in a condition to perform it but had enough to do to struggle for two whole Months together with his necessities Nevertheless the Duke of Parma durst not attaque him in his Camp near Rosendale Mean while the Disorders increased daily in those Provinces thorough the contrariety of Sentiments and diversity of the Interests of the States Deputies who agreed in nothing but their outcries against the French Therefore after the Duke of Anjou had for two Months languished in his melancholy abode of Dunkirk expecting their ultimate Resolution in vain he Embarqued the Eight and twentieth of June to come to Calais month June month July Two days after his departure the Ghentois blinded by their obstinate hatred against the French and the Catholick Religion shut up Birons passage whereby he might have gone to the relief of Dunkirk so that it surrendred upon Composition and after that Neuport Furnes Dixmude St. Vinochs Bergh and Meenen fell into the hands of the Spaniards These losses redoubled their out-cries and mutinies in Ghent and Antwerp in so much as the Prince of Orangé not finding himself any longer secure in Antwerp prudently retired into Zealand with all his Family the Two and twentieth of July having first assigned the States General to meet at Middeburgh A Month after Biron went likewise out of the Country with his Troops and led month July and Aug. them to the Duke of Anjou who was in Cambresis He made signs as if he would have raised more but this was only to have some pretenoe not to come to Court though the King had sent for him His last act had cover'd his face with so much shame and confusion that he avoided the sight of all Mankind wandring from place to place like one berest of his sences and was not able to admit his own Mother into his presence who went on purpose to seek him out Thus did he waste the last six Months Year of our Lord 1583 of this year the King taking little thought for him as knowing the only remedy for these Escapades is the neglect of them But himself troubled with Hypocondriacal Vapours which affect the Brain render the Mind feeble and inconstant possess it with fantastical and airy Visions had suffer'd himself to be led away with a humour of Devotion as little serious as unbecomming his Dignity A Cloister was his most usual Retreat Processions and Fraternities his most frequent Exercise and Pilgrimages his greatest Expeditions From these Devotions he would often in an instant leap into his pleasures afresh and had even found out the art to blend them together During the Carnaval he went by day about the Streets in Masquerade and at night into the Houses where a thousand youthful frolicks were acted then in Lent he went in Procession with the Penitents This year he erected a Fraternity at Paris named Penitents of the Annunciation because he began it on that day They marched by two and two in three Divisions of blew black and white cover'd with a Sack or Frock of those colours having a Vizord on their Faces and a Whip in their Hands or at their Girdle The Cardinal de Guise carried the Cross all the Grandees of the Court even the Chancellor and Keeper of the Seals were of them but not one of the Parliament would be present lest they should seem to countenance and authorise this Forreign Novelty The People were too well acquainted with the disorderly and licentious lives of the Courtiers to be moved with these superficial shews of Devotion and moreover those loads of Oppression laid upon them by the Minions in new Imposts creation of Offices and violent Taxes which were raised a thing unusual in this Kingdom without any Verification of the Soveraign Courts whetted the most slanderous Tongues and Satyrical Pens both against them and against their Master Joyeuse and Espernon level'd at the Duke of Anjou whose grandeur was an obstruction to their vast designs and the Guises were agreed with them on this point Espernon shock'd the Guises and was shock'd by them upon all occasions but Joyeuse would hold in with those Princes because he had Married a Wife of that Family or rather because he desired to make himself Head of the League and gain the support of so strong a Party The Queen Mother had a mortal hatred both for the Guises and for the Year of our Lord 1583 the Minions but she declining in her power found her self under the necessity of making use both of the one and other to ascend again She trod the same path to her dying day yet she endeavour'd to preserve the Duke of Anjou whom either of them sought to ruine and studies to bring him once more to the management of Affairs for her own ends though she were resolved not to let him hold it long Such was the disposition of all Parties then The King himself had put the first thoughts of dividing his Kingdom betwixt them into the heads of his brace of Favourites as if they had been his own Children Joyeuse had conceived a design to get Languedoc and to joyn the Comtat of Avignon to it and to this effect was resolved by the Authority of the King to oblige his Holiness to Excommunicate the Mareschal de Montmorency as a protector and favourer of Hereticks and to give him the Comtat in exchange for the Marquisate of Salusses Now that he might not refuse him this he had contrived an intrigue to seize upon it by means of William Patris Bishop of Grace Favourite of the Cardinal d'Armagnac the Popes Legat in those Countries but the Mine being discovered Patris was assassinated by order from Rome Joyeuse did not give over the pursuing of his point and finding he could get nothing but ambiguous answers
Bouchard and even Chastelleraud it self open'd their Gates to him From thence he advanced as far as Argenton in Berry to aid the City which held for the King against the Castle that stood for the League Which gave so much jealousie to la Chastre that he declared for the League and made the City of Bourges declare with him The happy progress of this Prince and his Proximity gave the King some reason Year of our Lord 1589 to court his assistance in his extream necessity the Duke of Nevers who apprehended month April this medley of Huguenots and Catholicks might bring Religion into danger dissuaded him with all his might and there were withal great obstructions on either hand On the Kings part the fear of farther offending the Court of Rome and scandalizing the Catholicks the Conscience of so soon violating an Oath twice reiterated before the Estates and the shame of being forced to call into his assistance him whom he had so roughly persecuted On the King of Navarres part the just suspicion lest they should sacrifice him to appease the fury of the League for this King that invited him was himself one of the principal Authors of the bloody St. Bartholomew and the constraint of stooping to the Favourites who sported with the lives of those that did not bow the knee before them Notwithstanding Du Plessis Mornay and some others by their prudent management removed all these Obstacles and accommodated every thing between these two Kings upon condition the Treaty should not be divulged till the King should think it fit It contained an agreement of a Truce for a year during which time the King of Navarre should aid him with all his Forces and should give him up all such places as he should take from the common Enemy Reciprocally the King should give him the Pont de Ce upon the Loire and one place in every Bailiwick as a retreat for his sick Men. When the Legat had discover'd this new Confederation he employ'd all his power and interest to incline the Duke of Mayenne to an Accommodation even so far as to offer him Conditions much beyond the power of his Commission The King finding he did but only lose time that in the Dukes Army they gave him no better Title then the Tyrant the Massacrer and dethroned Henry and that the Duke was at Chasteaudun within three days Journey of Tours he caused the Truce to be proclaimed though with a great deal of repugnance There were at Rome some Envoys on his behalf to sollicite for his Absolution and others in behalf of the League to oppose it The thing was found to be much more difficult to obtain of the Pope then he had imagined In that Court the Blood of a Cardinal is not so lightly valued and Pope Sixtus who gloried in trampling upon Crowned Heads would be sure not to let slip this opportunity of magnifying his own power He demanded before any further proceedings that they should set the Cardinal de Bourbon and the Archbishop of Lyons at liberty Charles d'Angennes Bishop of Mans had made him believe the King would grant him this but when in stead of a compliance that Prelat entertain'd him with excuses and ragione di stato and at the same time they were informed by Letters from the Legat of the Kings Confederation with the Head of the Huguenots the Pope le ts fly a Monitory the Fifth of May by which he demanded and commanded to set the Cardinal and the Arch-Bishop Year of our Lord 1589 at liberty within ten days after publication and to give certain notice month May and June thereof within thirty by an authentick Act In default whereof he declared he had incurr'd the Censures Ecclesiastical especially those which are contained in the Bull in Coena Domini of which he could not be absolv'd but by the Pope himself unless at the point of death and upon giving security to make satisfaction cited him to appear personally at Rome within sixty days allowing him twenty days for each Admonition and disanulling all Indulgences Faculties and Priviledges to the contrary granted by the Holy See either to him or to any of his Predecessors This Monitory was published in Rome and affixed upon the Church doors of St. Peters and St. John de Latran the Three and twentieth of May and the Month of June following in the Cathedral of Chartres in that of Meaux and some other Churches in France but the King still pretended cause of ignorance He notwithstanding had well enough foreseen this thing and the apprehension he had of it hastned him to satisfie the King of Navarre by giving him a passage upon the Loire Du Plessis Mornay by his Address brought it so about as in lieu of Pont de Ce a very ill-favoured place he gave him the City of Saumur whereof his Master gave him the Government This security being granted the two Kings met about the Thirtieth of April about the hour of One in the Afternoon at Plessis Les Tours in the Park he of Navarre was come to the Bridge de la Motte which is a Rivolet a quarter of a league beyond Tours and had brought part of his Forces which were quarter'd about two leagues beyond that but would venture no farther Nevertheless d'Aumont and Chastillon having informed him that such mistrust displeased the King pressed him so home that they prevailed with him to pass the River of Cher and come into the Park His old Captains trembled both for anger and for fear lest the King said they in a season wherein treachery may be so advantageous to free himself out of that Labyrinth whereinto another had drawn him should have agreed for his Absolution at the price of this Princes Life and destined his Head a present to the Pope to accompany the Admirals The same day to dispel their fears he returned to his lodgment but the next day by six in the morning and without giving them notice he repasses the River with only one Page and came to the King as he was rising The two Princes spent all that morning and the next in consulting of their Affairs Their resolution in gross was to attaque Paris the principal head of the League and that which gave motion to all the rest They reckon they should for this purpose have the Forces of the Huguenot Party and great numbers of the Nobility a powerful assistance which the King expected from England and a levy of twelve thousand Swiss whom Sancy was gone to raise in the Protestant Cantons After they had remained together two days Year of our Lord 1589 the King of Navarre went to Chinon to bring forward the rest of those Troops he month April had left there In the Provinces the two Parties had had divers Rencounters Sautour a Royalist besieging Mere upon Seine Hautefort who qualified himself Lieutenant General for the Union in Brie and Champagne charged him kill'd or caused most of his Men to drown themselves
This young Prince had for this purpose made choice of the day called the Assumption of our Lady about noon when the City Gates were shut as is usual all the Dinner time Having corrupted one part of his Guards and deluded the other he was let down from the top of a Tower by a Rope brought to him in the belly of a Lute to which a Stick was tied cross that he might sit securely thereon in his descent to the Strand He found Horses laid ready for him on the farther side of the River and spur'd away to St. Avertin a League off from Tours where Maison-forte Son of la Chatre attended with fifty Horse and convoy'd him to Selles and some days afterwards to Bourges It was believed the Ladies about Queen Louisa who were then at Chenonceaux had greatly contributed towards this escape and Rouvroy in love with one of them was suspected to have granted her this one favour upon promise of another The Parliament would have put him to infinite trouble had not Souvray Governor of Tours befriended him mightily in his justification before the King As the King was much alarmed dreading the great name of Guise and the growing fortune of a young Prince who was said to resemble his Father in all things so the League was over-joy'd they made Bonfires every where and the Pope gave publick Thanks to God for his deliverance But the jealousie the Duke of Mayenne conceived caused the fears of the one and the promising hopes of the other quickly to vanish He apprehended his Nephew would easily acquire the same good will and fondness of the People they had shewn to his Father therefore did not reckon him a new Reinforcement but a new Trouble and Competitor nevertheless he sent la Feuillade to congratulate his escape and carry him some Money desiring they might Year of our Lord 1591 meet to communicate together of their common Affairs month September The Prince of Conty and the Vicount de la Guierche both Lieutenant Generals in Poitou the Prince for the King and the other for the League fought to extremity La Guierche met with divers shocks whereof the greatest was at the taking of Montmorillon where he lost his Cannon and all his Inâ—â—ntry he had left them there having shamefully raised the Siege of Belac a Month after he himself unfortunately perished for running to the rescue of his Castle of la Guierche nigh Loches in Touraine which was surprized by a Gentleman named Salerne the Lords d'Abin and de la Roche-Posay who had notice of his march got five hundred Gentlemen together and with those charged him so briskly that all his people fled and as he thought to save himself in the Ferry-boat on the Creuse so many men jumpt in after him that they sunk in the River and were all drowned Bretagne was not only vexed by the French but by Strangers too The Duke of Mercoeur had brought in the Spaniards and given them the Port of Blavet for a retreat where in a short time they so well fortified themselves that it was very apparent they intended to settle there The King had likewise order'd Three thousand English to go into that Country sent over to him by Queen Elizabeth besides those that were landed at Diepe for the Siege of Rouen The Prince de Dombes with this re-inforcement went and besieged Lambale when it was at the point of Surrendring the Besieged re-assumed Courage and the Besiegers lost theirs all of a sudden upon the death of the prudent la Noüe He being got on the top of a Ladder to see what they were doing within the place was wounded in the Head of which he died Bemoaned equally almost by Friend and Enemy a very great Soldier and which was more a very honest Gentleman His Son inherited his good qualities He had been Prisoner four years in the Low-Countries and being upon his deliverance now come to rejoyce with his Father found the last Duty he could ever pay him was to attend him to his Grave Both Parties were now expecting their Foreign Supplies the Duke of Mayenne went to Verdun to receive some Forces from the Pope they were in bad condition their Foot ruined with the Dysentery and their Horse strangely harassed and partly dismounted Those from Germany who came to the King almost at the same time were not so there were Eleven thousand Foot and five hundred Reisters these Levies being made at the Expences of the Queen of England and the free Towns of Germany under the favour of George Marquiss of Brandenbourg Casimir Prince Palatine with some other Princes and by the Negociation of the Vicount de Turenne The King going to meet them with Two thousand Horse order'd them to be Muster'd in the Plain of Vandy on Michaelmas-day and from thence went directly with the news of this conjuction to the Dukes of Lorrain Mayenne and Montemarcian who durst not Year of our Lord 1591 stir out of the Gates of Verdun The latter being withal in great disorder upon the month September news he received from Italy of the sickness of Pope Gregory his Uncle who died the Fifteenth of October month November Whilst the King was in those parts he would needs secure himself of Sedan The Dukes of Lorrain Montpensier and Nevers sought to gain the Heiress for their Sons the first by force the other two by friendship but besides that the difference in Religion was an obstruction to all the three he thought it would make them too powerful on that Frontier And therefore chose rather to bestow her on the Vicount de Turenne whose Estate was far distant from thence and to whom he should thereby acquit himself of those great obligations he owed him He therefore honoured him with the Staff of Mareschal a of France that he might not appear too unequal to match her then went himself into Sedan to conclude the Marriage The Mareschal the night before that of his Nuptials surprized Stenay by Escalado from whence he afterwards made a brisk War against the Duke of Lorrain The Marriage Consummate the King took his way to Noyon and from thence at the instance of the Queen of England who apprehended lest the Spaniards should settle themselves upon the Coasts of Normandy he sent the Mareschal de Biron to lay Siege to Rouen The Duke of Aiguillon Son of the Duke of Mayenne Governor of that Province for the League was but lately gone thence and had left the absolute Government to the Marquiss de Villars This Lord had about him Philip Desportes Abbot de Tyron a no less crafty Courtier then delicious Poet who had disposed him to admit of Propositions for an Accommodation in hopes the King would let him enjoy the Fruits of his Benefices in that Country Now those that had obtained the grant of them from the King caused his demands to be rejected with disdain In revenge whereof he prevailed with Villars to break the Treaty and possessed him
appear more plain to him then any thing else had done Now when they perceived his recovery they repented of having too openly discover'd themselves and endeavour'd to sooth him by new caresses and fairer profers then before And he on his part knew how to dissemble as well as themselves but intended for the future to order his Affairs by other measures then theirs In this mind he essay'd to make a new Party with the Cardinal de Bourbon upon whose Head he promised to set the Crown I cannot tell how far this intrigue was carried on but there is great likelihood the Dukes irresolution hindred the prosecution of it During this universal disorder the Royal Authority was very languishing for the great Cities had their designs for liberty the Lords and Governors for Soveraignties ☜ and private Gentlemen and Captains thought of nothing but Plunder and Robberies for which reason they were all of a mind to prolong the War whence they alone reaped the profit These Purloiners had the fifths of all Prizes Ransoms and Seizures disposed of the Tailles and Publick Money at their own pleasure laid new Imposts upon Passages and Rivers devoured all the labours and substance of poor People Then when they were to march served not above three weeks or a month and so returned again to their own homes But never without grumbling The King might give them new Salaries great Pensions Benefices Confiscations Year of our Lord 1592 grant them all Boons they demanded and engage the clearest of his Demeasns to them yet they were never satisfied month May. It was justly to be feared by him that if the Estates should at last elect a King all the Princes of Italy and the rest of the Catholicks might own him they being concerned only to have a King in France not whether it were he in particular before any other and lest the Pope who had some obligation to the Spaniards for his promotion should continue to assist the League This was Clement VIII for Gregory XIV died and Innocent IX his Successor Reigned but a short time Besides he wanted Money and was vexed to be no more but the Companion of his Subjects These Considerations inclined him to find out some way for an Accommodation with the Duke of Mayenne They entred upon it without much difficulty and without taking in the King of Spain or communicating it to the Lords of either Party as knowing too well those People did not at all desire an end of the Troubles Villeroy and Duplessis were made choice of for this Negociation They came to this Agreement That the King should take six Months time to be instructed by such ways and means as should be no prejudice either to his Dignity or his Conscience That the Nobility of his Party should send a Deputation to the Pope to desire his Authority for it That in the mean time they should endeavour to make a Peace and that he should be owned by those Princes that were united They afterwards further agreed That the Huguenots should enjoy those Edicts had been granted to them before the year 1585. That the Exercise of the Catholick Religion should be restored every where That the Gentdarmerie and Infantry should be regulated That the Tailles and Imposts should ☜ be moderated and that the Priviledges of Officers and of Cities should be preserved But when it came to treat of the interests of the Duke of Mayenne the Propositions seemed so excessive to Duplessis-Mornay that he dissuaded the King from giving ear to them Villeroy forbore not to enter again into Conference with the Mareschal d'Aumont and the Mareschal de Bouillon and to attend the King who was very well satisfied with his franc and loyal proceeding The fruit of these Conferences which lasted two Months proved more then a little for the benefit of the Catholick Religion for the King promised that he would forthwith send the Cardinal de Gondy and Pisany to Rome which did not overmuch please the Huguenots This Treaty being grown publick because too many People would concern themselves in it strangely alarmed the Spaniards and all the other Chiefs of the League The King and the Duke of Mayenne had both like to be abandoned the latter by all his Partisans the other by his Huguenots There were some amongst these who thinking to bind the King yet faster lest he should forsake them fortified themselves with the Queen of England and the Hollander and would needs have given them Year of our Lord 1592 May footing in France A proof hereof was evident by the Enterprise of du Fay his Chancellor in Navarre who having gotten a Commission for the fortifying of Quilleboeuf had scarce raised his Works Breast-high when he would needs Cantonize himself there and denied entrance to Bellegarde to whom the King had given the Government thereof Two or three Envoys from the King did in vain employ both their Persuasions and Menaces to make him lay aside so desperate a design his ambition had taken too high a stand to be brought down so easily he expected a supply of Eight hundred English but two days before the arrival of them he fell sick either of melancholy or otherwise and perished in the midst of his attempt He was so mightily possessed with the humour that death it self could not wean him from it for he gave order they should bury him in one of the Bastions there as if intending still to keep possession So soon as he expir'd Bellegard entred into it Villars thought he might carry the place upon this change and before it were defensible The Duke of Mayenne and he besieged it with four thousand Men but it was either so well defended or so ill attaqu'd that at the end of fifteen days they were constrained to decamp for fear of being beaten by the Count de Saint Pol and Fervaques who were coming to relieve it with Twelve hundred Horse and fifteen hundred Foot Villars going to this Siege had surprized the little Town du Pont-Audemer Whilst he was busie in fortifying it Bose-Rose one of his bravest Captains offended at his arrogance and some scurvy language he had given him seized on the Fort of Fescamp and Cantonized there This Fort was upon a Rock near thirty fathom high towards the Sea which washes the foot of it twice a day but never rises to the top but twice in the year and it was at one of those Spring-Tides that Bose-Rose surprized it by Escalado Villars flew thither immediately to recover it and not able to draw him thence he block'd it up by two Forts wherewith at last he reduced him to extremity but Bose-Rose thought it much safer to cast himself into the Arms of the King then to compound with one he had so much offended After the raising of the Siege of Rouen the greater part of the Kings Army was gone into Champagne he besieged Espernay and out of the apprehension of a relief to come would needs cover himself with a
day the Three and twentieth of April gives three Assaults The Besieged sustained two not without great loss Bidossan was kill'd in the second After this it was time to yield but Campagnoles by an excess of bravour would needs stand a third His Soldiers did not second his Resolution they gave ground and threw away their Arms to save themselves some here some there Such as could get into the Sanctuary of the Churches or avoid the first fury saved their Lives all the rest to the number of above seven hundred were put to the Sword It had been no great difficulty for the King to have made the Spaniards perish for want in Calais had he been assured the English would have served him faithfully but as he had not too much reason to confide in them he returned to the Siege of la Fere having first re-inforced the Garisons of Ardres Monstreuil and Boulogne La month April Fere might have held out much longer by the ordinary rules had it not been for the Consideration of Colas the King of Spain had given Order to Osorio not to stay till the utmost extremity for fear he should be obliged to deliver that Man up to the King so that although he had nothing to fear for at least a Months time he made Year of our Lord 1596 his Capitulation the Fifteenth of May to which Colas Signed Count de la Fere. month May. But in the interim the Archduke marching out of Calais the Third day of May to compleat his Exploits attaqued Ardres a little place but very strong and very considerable for that it covers Calais The Count de Belin and Montluc had shut themselves in to defend it and there were Fifteen hundred fighting Men nevertheless the horrible Slaughters of Dourlens and Calais had so much terrified those Soldiers that they trembled even while they defended themselves It hapned likewise by misfortune that Montluc in whom they had some confidence was slain by a Cannon-ball and afterwards the Basse-Ville was gained and most of those in it knock'd on the Head in heaps just at the entrance into the Upper-Town by reason those that stood there to guard it being more affrighted then the others had let down the Port-cullice and exposed them to the fury of the Besiegers Afterwards Rosne begins to thunder upon the Bastion with his great Artillery which begot so horrible and universal a dread amongst the Soldiers that they even leaped over the Walls or ran and hid their Heads in Cellars Belin himself most extreamly affrighted demanded Composition and surrendred the place the One and twentieth of May. Which having done maugre the Governor named Isambert du Bois-Annebout and without taking advice of the other Captains he ran great hazard of his Life at Court This was the sixth place the Spaniards conquer'd in one year from the French not so much by their own as the Valour of Rosne and about a hundred desperate Frenchmen more who knowing themselves utterly excluded from all pardon and favour endeavour'd to make the King regret them and the Spaniard consider them Now it fortun'd happily for France that the Archduke at his return to Flanders besieging Hulst in the Country of Waes Rosne was there kill'd in an Assault which hapned in the Month of August month August So many losses on the neck of one another the Frontier laid open in four or five places the Sea shut up the robberles of the Soldiers the surcharge of Tailles and Imposts caused an incredible consternation in the minds of the People awakened the Factions of the League and favour'd the Contrivances of the Grandees These well foreseeing that the too sudden establishment of the Regal Power would be the month June ruine of their own suborned the Duke of Montpensier a young and easie Prince to propound to the King That it would do well to give the Governments in propriety to those that held them thereby to engage them to contribute with all their might to the defence of a State in which they really had a share One may well imagine that this Expedient did not over-much please the King nevertheless he treated this Year of our Lord 1596 Prince in such a manner as seeming angry rather with those who had engaged him month June to deliver this Message then with him he put him first into a confusion and then furnish'd him with Reasons enough even to confound them likewise if ever they made mention again of the like to him The Huguenots gave him no less disquiet then did the Grandees of his Kingdom he could not grant them the Edict they craved without offending the Pope and they month July and Aug. to secure themselves deliberated to chuse them a Protector and establish an Order amongst them which realy would have formed as it were another State in the heart of the Kingdom After his Conversion they look'd upon him as a Prince whose interest was to destroy them they interpreted all the Excuses he made for not yet being able to satisfie them as studied Artifice and the remembrance of things past gave them just apprehensions for the time to come And indeed they forsook him in the midst of the Storm and held more Synods and Assemblies in these three last years then in the thirty five precedent The King was labouring at that time to re-unite all the Protestants his Allies in one League against the House of Austria these discontents of the Huguenots cast great coldness and suspicion upon their Spirits so that the German Princes did all excuse month September and October themselves excepting the Count Palatine and the Duke of Wirtemberg who notwithstanding gave him only good words Bouillon and Sancy had much ado to engage the Queen of England who at length made it Offensive and Defensive The King and she obliging themselves reciprocally to send four thousand Men into eithers Country if they were assaulted and to make no Peace or Truce with the Spaniard but by mutual consent The Hollanders entred into it likewise with great willingness and alacrity by a Treaty made the last day of October and promised to march into the Field upon the Frontiers of Artois or Picardy with Ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse The Kings Army was so tired with the Siege of la Fere that he was fain to send them to refresh themselves in the Provinces reserving only some Troops with which the Mareschal de Biron made three several irruptions into Artois He made horrible devastation in that Country by Fire and Sword as well in revenge of the cruel spoil month June July c. the Archduke had made in Boulonois after the taking of Ardres as to teach him hereafter to make a fairer War In the Month of July a Comet was discover'd in the Heavens whose light appeared sometimes pale and faint otherwhile more clear and lively it had a long Train that did extend towards the East and South Another Prodigy appeared in France at the
Lieutenant for the King in those Countries and with the knowledge as they said of the Dukes of Montpensier de la Trimouille and de Bouillon where they propounded to make a Tiers or third Party under the name of Bons Francois and under the Protection of the Queen of England as if the King had not had Strength enough to defend them or had been wanting in Care or Courage But the news they received that the Siege of Amiens went on more successfully then they had guessed stifled this Proposition and dissolved the Assembly Nothing less was expected from the Duke of Mercoeur but that the Truce which was to hold but till the end of March being expired he would make a great Effort to Master the whole Province nevertheless the Kings Agents had so much influence upon him that he prolonged it to the latter end of July Wherein he seemed not well to understand his interest and gave others a just occasion to reproach him with what he had often told the Duke of Mayenne That opportunities had never failed Year of our Lord 1597 him but he had often missed his opportunities month May. As for the Duke of Savoy Lesdiguieres not only made Head against him but carried the War even into his own Country He entred Morienne with Six thousand Men gave chace to Don Salines General of the Dukes Horse took St. John de Morienne St. Michael Aiguebella and divers Castles The Duke on his part Armed powerfully to drive him from his Territories and there hapned many Rencounters between them where the Valour of that Prince and the Experience of Lesdiguieres turned the balance of success sometimes one way sometimes the other till Winter came and parted the two Armies The Princes of Italy took France to be so much lost by the loss of Amiens that the Duke of Florence had the confidence to think of seizing some small fragment for his share During the greatest heat of the League Bausset fearing lest the Spaniards who had an Eye upon Marseilles should seize upon the Island and Castle d'If whereof he was Governor had intreated that Duke to send some Forces to assist him in the keeping them The Duke slipt not the opportunity he sends him Five hundred Men however Bausset still kept the Castle of If and quarter'd them without upon the Island Now one day when his Son whom he had left in his place was gone to Marseilles they seized upon this Castle partly by craft partly by force and drove out all the French They pretended in the beginning to amuse the Marseillois that they would only hold it for the King and defend it against all his Enemies but when the Duke of Guise had built a Fort in the Island of Ratouneau which lies near that of If thereby to cover Marseilles and counter-mine them they openly declared their intention John de Medicis Brother of the Duke of Florence coming thither with five Galleys built another Fort in the Island of Pommegue distant about a Mile from the other two took the Frigats the Marseillois had freighted with Provisions to Victual the Fort of Ratonneau and even told du Vair who was sent to him that those Islands belonged to his Brother the Duke In effect had not the face of the Kings Affairs been changed he would have explained his Pretensions and have urged that the Dutchess his Wife had a right to this Island as being of the House of Lorrain who believed they had so to all Provence The Huguenots after the Kings Conversion made as it were a Band apart and minded their own Interest singly as being now disjoyned from his They had employ'd themselves in no other thing for two years past but holding of Assemblies Politique composed of three Deputies of each Province i. e. a Gentleman a Minister and an Elder They met first at Saumur then at Loudun afterwards at Vendosme Year of our Lord 1597 month July then again at Saumur and lastly at Chastelleraud From all these Places they sent Deputies to the King to beseech him he would convert the Truce which Henry III. had granted them into an irrevocable Peace and he amused them still with fair words delays and many difficulties of his own creating Now when they plainly perceived that the more he setled his own Affairs the less he granted to them that besides he was perfectly well with his Holiness and heaped his favours and caresses on the Leaguers they imagined the coming of the Legat into France was upon some design to prejudice them and that he was just upon making his Agreement with Spain to destroy them utterly These apprehensions and the suggestions of la Trimouille and the Mareschal de Bouillon had made them like to have run to their Arms three or four times nevertheless the more moderate and the more saint-hearted amongst them who conjectured that when Amiens was taken they must lie at the Kings Mercy could not be persuaded to it on the contrary joyning to their Arguments some other means they used at the same time to gain the Deputies in those Assemblies they prevailed so far as to possess the others with Patience and to make them wait for the Edict he promised them Few of them however came to him at the Siege of Amiens the apprehensions some malicious People buzz'd in their Pates Of a Sainct Bartholomew in the Field and the little esteem they guess'd the Court had for them kept them at home As to the rest all that seemed to be most contrary to the Kings Service did on this occasion most promote it for Biron surpassed himself although he had no real affection for him his own Honour call'd him to Action The Leaguers were desirous now to become the Sword and Restorers of the State as they had been the Bucklers of Religion and the Queen of England though much dissatisfied sent him four thousand Men. month June July and August In the Town were Five hundred Garison Soldiers and above threescore Cannon mounted on the Ramparts by this means the Besieged were daily at handy blows with the French destroy'd their Works and their Batteries stopt them upon every turn and sometimes made them even give ground so that it was three Months ' ere they got to the Fosse Amongst a many Sallies they made three very great ones in the last of which were slain Five hundred French and thirty of their Officers The use of Mines which had been but little practised in France during the Civil War was revived in this Siege each did instantly attaque the other by these Subterraneous Fires and oft-times such were going to spring one Mine who found another bursting out under his Feet which blew him into the Air or buried him quick in the Earth The perpetual Combats by night and day much diminished the Besieged sickness had cast a greater number yet upon their Beds and their Medicaments which were Year of our Lord 1597 stale and spoiled in stead of healing
terms with design Biron should take him up and give him some occasion to draw his Sword Biron far from undertaking to justifie the King began to rail much worse at him then the Duke and having once let loose the reins of his impetuous Spirit disclosed all his secrets and made known there was already a Conspiracy formed to dethrone him The Duke surprized and pleas'd at the same instant to hear of this which was above his hopes immediately closed with the Party offer'd all his assistance to the Conspirators and even wrote into Spain to make them partakers of such good tidings But perhaps they might be acquainted with it sooner then himself and Picote have Negociated the thing with the Count de Fuentes who was a Personal Enemy to King Henry IV. This Picote was a Native of Orleans but an ill Frenchman who fled to the Low-Countries Biron had held him Prisoner at Aussonne and there it was he first began to know him From this day the Duke began to caress Biron extreamly and to flatter his vain and ambitious humour Knowing the too great Reputation of this Mareschal gave the King some Umbrage he studied to praise him even to excess before his Face on purpose to augment his jealousie and picque him to let fall some disobliging thing against his valour and brave feats in War In effect he did force two or three very stinging Expressions from him which straightway the Duke convey'd to the Mareschals Ears by Lafin a double and dangerous Man who having corrupted Biron by his flatteries was a great Agitator in this intrigue and made the Conditions between the Duke and the Conspirators After Twelfth-tide they notwithstanding went on to Treat of the Affair concerning the Marquisate there being four Deputies on the Kings part as many on the Dukes the Patriarch of Constantinople also assisting who had Orders from the Pope to use all his dexterity to dispose the King to leave that Territory to the Duke so much he feared the Neighbourhood of the French might bring a War perhaps Calvinism into Italy The Duke on his side made divers Propositions to the King sometimes Year of our Lord 1600 he demanded the Marquisate upon Homage for one of his Sons then offer'd an exchange month January he propounded three several ones The King would hearken to none and persisted to have either a Sentence for Restoral or the Sequestration in the hands of the Pope In fine the Duke approving neither the one nor the other proposed to leave him the Marquisate in exchange for Bresse comprising the City and Citadel of Bourg Barcelonnete month February with its Vicariat even to Angentiere the Valley of Sture that of Perouse and Pignorol with their Territories The King accepted this offer the Treaty was Signed the Twenty seventh of February and they allowed the Duke three Months time to consult with the Lords his Subjects and to have free liberty to chuse either the Reintegrande or this exchange Three or four days after he took leave of the King who conducted him as far as Charenton and left him the Baron de Lux who accompanied him thorough Champagne and Burgundy to the borders of Bresse This year as all others which are the last of an Age in the Christian Aera was named the Holy-year because of the Jubile observed at Rome with the Ceremonies his Holiness is wont to practise upon that great Solemnity It being customary for such Ambassadors as are there to obtain Remission by offring an Almes he from the King distributed amongst the poor two thousand pieces of Gold stamped with the Arms of France Amidst the great affluence of Pilgrims whom either devotion or curiosity for there were many Religionaries brought to the said City the Duke of Bar made one but incognito This Prince after his having lived like a kind Husband with Madam Catharine his Wife for six Months together had suffer'd his Confessor to fill his Head with so many scruples of Conscience that he left her and took the opportunity of this Jubile to go and obtain his Absolution of the Pope and a dispensation for the time to come The Pope did flatly deny him the latter unless Catharine would become a Convert and for the first he so terrified his timorous Conscience that he promised never to cohabit with his Wife but repudiate her unless she would become a Catholick Upon this protestation he was privately restored to the Communion of the Faithful for to have been admitted publickly the transgression being publick he must have undergone a Pennance that was so Two smart words from the King would have made the Court of Rome step over all these difficulties and joyned him again to his Wife for want of this courage the poor Princess did for a while live as a Widow in the midst of Marriage In the Spring time the King being at Fontainebleau was Spectator and in a manner Moderator of the dispute between James Davy Du Perron Bishop of Evreux and Philip du Plessis Mornay This last had compos'd a large Treatise against the Mass Year of our Lord 1600 the gravity of the Matter the quality of the Author the politeness of the Language month May. and the force which at first appeared in his Reasonings and those Authorities drawn from the Fathers to the number of above four thousand had acquired him a great deal of Reputation and that Reputation had been mightily increased by the feeble attaques of all those that had undertaken to refute him The King had great interest and reason this work should be blasted because many suspected he maintain'd and justified the Author who in effect had served him very successfully both with his Pen and with his Sword Now Du-Plessis himself gave him the occasion by his temerity Du Perron who was in his Bishoprick of Evreux bragg'd he would produce five hundred passages in his Book which were falsely alledged maimed or alter'd The Friends of Du-Plessis advised him to reply that if there were any such he would forsake them and stand to those that were not so of which there yet remained to the number of above three thousand five hundred but he too fond of his own labours summon'd Du Perron by a publick challenge to joyn with him and set his hand to a Petition for the King to appoint Commissioners to examine and verifie the Passages in his Book Line by Line Du Perron did not flinch from it and the King named five viz. for the Catholicks the President de Thou Francis Pithou Advocate and John Martin Reader and Phisician to the King for the Huguenots Philip de Canaye Lord de Fresne and President at the Chamber of Castres and Isac Casabon Regis Professor in the Greek Tongue He had sent for this last to be an Ornament to his University of Paris but some years after he went into England It was extream imprudence in Du-Plessis to undertake a Combat where the King and all his Court were Parties and to venture
point and was as sorry and displeased with those that took Pay under the Spaniard On his part there was much more cause to accuse them of infidelity He complain'd that they had sent Forces to the Duke of Savoy that the Count de Fuentes had endeavour'd to form an Enterprize upon Marseilles that they had debauched the Mareschal de Biron and that they yet held intelligence with the Grandees of the Kingdom to stir up the flame of a new Civil War It wanted but little being thus already exasperated at each others underhand dealings of breaking into an open defiance for an Affront the Spaniard put upon the Ambassador he had at Madrid this was Anthony de Silly Rochepot Some month June young Gentleman belonging to his Train amongst whom was his Nephew quarrelling one Evening as they were washing in the River with some Spaniards whom they protested were the Aggressors kill'd two of them The Dead being of the best Families of the Town their Parents and their Friends so stirred up the Rabble that they ran in multitudes to the Ambassador's House to do themselves justice by force The Alcade so they call the Town-Judge could find no other way to appease this fury but by going himself to the Ambassador's and with strong hand break open the doors and carry those Gentlemen away Prisoners This was an attempt justly deserving Punishment to force a place which ought to be held Sacred the King of Spain however did not do justice but even detain'd the Prisoners when the Commotion was over as if they had been liable to his Laws The King therefore made loud complaint to all Christian Princes that they had violated the Rights of Nations and the Majesty of France recalled his Ambassador who departed without taking leave of the King of Spain and Year of our Lord 1601 forbid all Commerce between his Subjects and Spain The People on those Frontiers did already apprehend the miseries of a Bloody War and were the more alarmed upon a Report that the Bell at Arragon which they hold miraculous had rung out divers times of its own accord which never happens said they without presaging some great Accident And that upon Holy Thursday in the Village de Cudos near Basas in Gascongne a Woman uncov'ring her Paste which she had wrapped in a Napkin perceived a Bloody Cross both upon the one and the other This was seen by great Numbers of People and the Vicar of the Parish carried some of it to the Bishop Which may perhaps not seem so miraculous to those that consider how amongst good Wheat there grows sometimes another worser Grain which after its Flower is kneaded will ☜ seem as it had been mingled with Blood Now the Duke of Lerma Minister of King Philip apprehending a War as the bane of his Fortune intreated the Pope in behalf of his Master to become the Mediator for an accommodation and caused the Prisoners to be put into his month August c. hands The Pope deliver'd them into the French Ambassador's at Rome and desired the King to send another Ambassador into Spain assuring him that he should be received with as much honour as he could desire The King thereupon sent Emery Joubert de Barraut in the stead of Rochepot the Principal Officers went forth to meet him at his approach near any of their Cities when he came to Court the Grandees made him their Visits and within three days after he had a favorable Audience During the heat of these Contentions the King being gone to Calais the Arch-Duke who besieged Ostend greatly feared he drew near to disturb him in his great Enterprize and sent to Compliment him in terms as one that is afraid and intreats The King assured him he had not the least thought of molesting him and that he did desire to observe the Peace provided that on the Spanish side they would do him reason And in truth it was not any such thing that led him down to Calais but the desire of Negociating at the nearest distance with the Queen of England That Princess having some Projects to impart for the ruining of the House of Austria longed to confer with him personally and flatter'd her self with the hopes of an month August enterview at Sea between Dover Calais Biron was ordered on the King's behalf to go and make his excuses to her for that he could not participate of that joy Whil'st he was preparing for this Embassy Rosny passed into England to endeavour the discovery of Queen Elizabeth's thoughts He pretended to have no order to see her but only a Curiosity to make a Voyage to London he was soon taken notice of as he desired by some English Gentlemen who carried him to the Queen gather'd as much of her Mind as she would let him know Now when she found the King deprived her of the satisfaction of an enterview which she so ardently desired she went about Forty Miles from London there it was she received Mareschal de Biron treated him with all the Magnificence imaginable From thence she brought him to London where she shewed him perhaps designedly the Head of the Earl of Essex otherwhile her Favorite planted upon the Tower amongst those of many more English whom she had put to Death for conspiring against her All France but principally the King was in great impatience to know if what the Queen bare in her Womb would prove the accomplishment of their earnest wishes Knowing therefore her time drew near he went in haste from Calais to beat her Labour She was deliver'd at Fontainebleau and brought forth a Son who entred upon the Stage of this World on Thursday the Seven and twentieth month Septemb. of September about Eleven at Night he was named Lewis The Father transported with joy did the same day put his Sword into the Royal Infant 's hand according to the Custom of the Kings his Predecessors craving the favour of Almighty God that he might one day make use of it for his Glory and the good of his Subjects The Birth of this little Prince was preceded by an Earth-quake a presage of those terrible Wars wherewith all Europe was to be shaken during his Reign Five days before viz. The two and twentieth of the Month being the Feast of Saint Maurice the King of Spain had a Daughter Born to whom they gave the Names of Anna-Maria-Mauritia Such as pretended to have Skill in judging of future times observing that Heaven had given Birth to these two first Children of different Sexes so near one another did then foretel it was decreed they should Year of our Lord 1601 be one day joyn'd together to produce a Prince that should in his single Person unite the Grandeur of those two most August Houses The Daufin made his first Entrance into Paris the Thirtieth day after his entrance month October into the World his Cradle was carried in a Littiere accompanied by the Dame de Montglas his Governess and the Nurse The
notwithstanding of the Duke D'Espernon who feigned to be very well satisfied though he fore-saw he should have no power in those parts so long as the King lived Ever since the Kings absolution at the Court of Rome the Jesuits had missed no opportunity of employing the Popes intercession with all their art and industry to sollicite their re-establishment pretending it was one of the secret conditions which had been opposed at his absolution But the imprudent conduct of some of their Society in England at Venice and in the lesser Cantons of Swizzerland having brought complaints against them to Rome the Pope grew somewhat cold in the pursuâ—e of it Now as the King was passing by Verdun the Year of our Lord 1603 Rector and Fathers of the Colledge in that City incouraged by la Varenne presented themselves to request of him that the Decree of the Parliament of Paris which forbid the French to send any of their Children to study in the Jesuits Colledges might not extend to theirs The King having returned them a very Gracious Answer they thought it a fit time to try a little further Their Provincial named Armand and three or four of his came to Mets and chusing the week of the Passion of our Lord most proper to stir up mercy and compassion in a Christian Soul got into the Kings Closset upon Holy-Thursday after noon and fell down at his feet The good Prince soon raized them agen and gave them a full Audience The Provincial who was Spokes-man insinuates himself by extolling of his Victories and his Clemency then endeavour'd to justifie his Society from the common reproaches of their Enemies and afterwards concluded by conjuring and imploring his Royal Clemency by the precious Blood of Jesus Christ to shew mercy towards them and to do it in such sort that this favour might depend on nothing but his own goodness that it might be wholly from him alone and that they might have no obligation but to himself They had put down their harangue in writing after he had heard it with all possible humanity he took it out of their hands as if to read it with more attention The Monday following having called them a second time into his Closet he gave them his positive word for their being restored commanded the Provincial to come to him at Paris and to bring Father Cotton then embraced him and all his Compagnons in token he freely forgave them for the time past and would make use of them for the time to come While he was at Mets he received some Letters the Prince Palatine had written in favour of the Duke of Bouillon his Brother in Law In the same place some German Princes came to Compliment him particularly Maurice Landgrave of Hesse N. de Bavaria Duke of Newburg the Duke of Deux-Ponts of the same House and John George of Brandenburg who disputed the Bishoprick of Strasburg with Charles Cardinal of Lorrain ever since the year 1592. the first having been Elected by the Protestants at Strasburgh and the second by the Catholicks at Saverne The Emperor had often endeavour'd to bring them to an agreement but could never effect it The King rather suspended then decided the controversy by sharing the Revenue between the two Contenders but the following year it was absolutely and finally determined by the mediation of Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg upon these conditions amongst many others That John George of Brandenburg should entirely yield up the Bishoprick to the Cardinal de Lorrain for an hundred and thirty thousand Crowns of Gold ready Money and that the City and Baillywike of Oberâ—agh should remain in the hands of Frederic redeemable at the end of thirty years by the Cardinal or his Successors for the sum of four hundred thousand Crowns From Mets the King went to Nancy to visit the Dutchess of Bar his Sister and to give her the satisfaction of seeing a Balet danced which was of her own invention for such things are not to be counted the least important Affairs of the Court It was likewise as some would have it further to convince the Duke of Bar of his scruples concerning that Marriage and to let him know that the devoir of Man towards his Wife being founded both on a natural and a divine right ought to be more regarded then humane prohibitions However it was within some few Months after the Dutchess believed she was with Child The King had designed a longer stay upon those Frontiers that he might draw the German Princes to him by making himself a friendly Mediator of their differences reconciling as much as possible the Protestants with the Catholicks re-uniting in one common League those that apprehended they might be oppressed month April by the grandeur of the House of Austria and scattering Money amongst the Captains and Officers But the News he received that Elizabeth Queen of England was at the Agony made him suddenly leave that place to return to Paris This Princess so much exalted by the Protestants and made so black by the zealous Catholicks was in truth worthy of immortal praise for the grandeur of her courage her marvellous prudence the rare qualities of her mind and above all that tender love ☞ wherewith she cherished her people a vertue which may well cover all the other Vices in a Soveraign but her reputation will be for ever stained with the Blood of a Queen her Cousin which she spilt upon a Scaffold and with that of a great number of Catholicks her Subjects whom she exposed to cruel deaths This severity notwithstanding proceeded Year of our Lord 1603 not so much from her own temper as the Instances of her Counsellors Who by reason of the frequent Conspiracies hatched by an indiscreet and unwarrantable zeal month April against her person had specious opportunities to involve the innocent with the guilty and to encrease her hatred to that Religion by the hainousness of those attempts She died the fourth of April about four in the morning Aged sixty nine years and six months of which She had Reigned forty five and more On her Death-Bed she gave Letters written with her own hands and sealed with her own Seal to Robert Cecil High Treasurer and Secretary with Command he should open them so soon as she expir'd Now whether by these writings she had declared James Steward King of Scotland her Successor or had left the liberty of Election to her Subjects as the last mark of her affection the Lords the Bishops those of the Privy-Council to the late Queen with a great number of the Nobility and the Major and Sheriffs of London being on the same day assembled early in the Morning at the Guild-Hall Elected that Prince for their King and so speedily that they Proclaimed him by eight of the Clock whereof sending him notice to Edinburg he came to London the seventeenth day of May. It concerned France to take care in time to secure the Alliance with this new King for that hitherto
his correspondence and interests had been with the Spaniard his whole Council held that byass the inclinations of his Wife Anne of Denmark who had much influence over him were turned towards them and it was not to be doubted but that the Catholicks who were numerous in England and even all the people because of the advantage of Trade much more considerable from Spain then France would use all their endeavours to oblige him to Treat with King Philip. It was therefore thought fit to send Rosny on the Embassy month May. for it was believed that he being of the Protestant Religion his mediation would be the more acceptable and that they would look upon him as a Minister who knew the Kings greatest secrets besides that his words would have the greater influence upon King James's Counsellors because he had the Purse wherewith to guild his Arguments and make them the more efficacious He had order to demand of that Prince first the continuation of his Amity and Alliances with the King afterwards to sound whether he would incline to assist the United Provinces against the Spaniards If he did not do it frankly to proceed warily and not discover the private designs of the King against the House of Austria but if he did find him disposed to lay open the Methods whereby to destroy that grandeur and reduce it within the limits of Spain only and their Hereditary Countries in Germany For this purpose to make a League month May. wherein should enter the Kings of Denmark and Sweden who should first attaque the Low-Countries and then the Indies to be shared amongst the Confederates and to set up at the same time a potent Caball in Germany to take the Imperial Crown from him He was also commanded if he found the overtures favourable to desire that King to put a stop to the English Piracies who since the Peace of Vervins under colour of a War with Spain had taken for above Three Millions belonging to the French As likewise to demand that the French who Traded in England might enjoy the same Privileges and Franchises as the English enjoy'd in France by the Treaty made between King Charles IX and Queen Elizabeth Anno 1572. month June His whole Negociation is to be seen at length in his Memoirs and how he brought back a Treaty into France made the Five and twentieth of June by which the Prince promised in his own Name and Rosny in the Name of the King of which he made great use though he had no express Commission for it to renew and strengthen the Ancient and never interrupted Alliances between France and Scotland and those between the late Queen Elizabeth and King Henry IV. That a League should be concluded between the two Kings for the Defence of their respective Kingdoms Persons and Subjects and of their Allies Especially of the United Provinces whom they should forthwith assist with Powerful Succours which should be raised in England but pay'd by the King of France the one half in Deduction for what he might be indebted to the English That if either the one or the other were Attaqued by the Spaniard his Allie should assist him with a Land Army or a Fleet of Ships at the choice of him who should be so Assaulted which should consist at the least of Six Thousand fighting Men That if both should at the same time be Assailed or should Year of our Lord 1603 become Assailants each on his part should make War upon the Common Enemy Henry with Twenty thousand Men whom he should send into the Low-Countries and a considerable number of Galleys and other Vessels into the Mediterraneum And James with a Body of Six thousand Men by Land and two strong Fleets which he should send the one upon the Coasts of Spain the other towards the Indies Before this Treaty the King had been greatly afflicted with a Retention of Urine caused as was said by an Excrescence stopping up that Channel The Danger was so eminent that believing he should die he had begun to dispose of the Government during the Minority of his Son When he was Cured he applied himself as before to his Buildings and in procuring Money to be more plentiful and of a quicker Circulation in his Kingdom thereby to make his Subsidies flow in both more abundantly and more readily Trade appearing to him to be one of the most certain means and wayes month June leading to that end it was the Ardent desire of his Heart to make it grow and flourish having the foregoing year erected a Chamber or Council for that end composed of Officers belonging to his Parliament the Chamber des Comptes and the Cour des Aides And because he was not Potent enough at Sea and by that way the Expence was great and the Profit a long time and very uncertain in its coming he thought to succeed better and sooner by Home-Manufactures Therefore he set up of divers sorts Tapestries of the richest Fabrick in the Faux-Bourg Sainct Marceau by means of divers excellent Artists whom he invited thither from Flanders Guilt-Leather Hangings in the Faux-Bourg Sainct Honorē and Sainct Jacques Mills to work and cleave Iron with ease and to cut the same into several pieces which were Built on the River of Estampes Gaases and thinn Linnen Cloath at Mantes upon the Seine Pot-works for coarse and fine Earthen Wares of all sorts at Paris Nevers and Brisambourg in Saintonge Glass-houses for Chrystaline in imitation of the Venetians at Paris and Nevers There had been formerly some at Sainct Germains en Laye in the Reign of Henry II. but the Wars had extinguisht the Furnaces Cloath and Serges Stuffs and Silks in divers Parts of the Kingdom and several other things The Manufacture of Silks was that which took most with the generality and promised the greatest Profit The use of it first began in the East even with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy The Romans having penetrated those Countries by their Conquests could easily have brought away the Art and Use of it but despised it fearing to render themselves effeminate by those softer Garments much fitter for tender amorous Youths and Women than the more rough and martial Men. Afterwards their Courage growing indeed effeminate they suffer'd it to be introduced in the lesser Asia and in Greece about the time of the Empire of Justinian Then towards the year 1130. it made a step into Sicilia and Calabria by means of Roger King of Cicilia who upon his return from an Expedition to the Holy-Land having taken Athens Corinth and Thebes transported all such as wrought in Silk to Panormus Of them the Sicilians learned to breed up those Worms that make the Silk to Spin and Weave it and afterwards brought the Art into Italy and Spain From Italy it came first into the hottest Parts of France as Provence the Comtat of Avignon and Languedoc Francis I. setled it in Touraine thinking to make great Profit by it Nevertheless it was
not common in France for a long time for King Henry II. was the first who wore Silk Stockings at his Sister's Wedding month June Yet till those Troubles hapned which turned the whole Kingdom upside-down under the Reigns of Charles IX and Henry III. the Courtiers did not use much Silk but after that the very Citizens began to wear it frequently For 't is a most certain Observation that Pride and Luxury does never spread so much as during Publick Calamities For which I can guess at no other reason but that it is a Curse from Heaven which ever comes hand in hand with the Plague of Civil War Now King Henry IV. believing this Manufacture might in like manner be set up at Paris treated with certain Undertakers who Built several places in the Tuilleries the Castle of Madrid and at Fontainebleau to breed Silk-Worms they sending every year into Spain for the Eggs and gave order for the planting great Numbers of white Mullberry-Trees and raising Nurseries of them in all the adjacent Parishes the Leaves of those Trees serving as Pasture for those precious Worms or Catterpillers Year of our Lord 1603 In the year 1599. he had by Edict Prohibited all Foreign Manufactures as well of Silk as Gold Silver pure or mixt at the request of the Merchants of Tours who pretended to make quantities sufficient to furnish the whole Kingdom But as those kind of Establishments accommodate only the Undertakers and incommode all others it was soon found that this Project ruined the City of Lyons which may justly be called the Golden Gate of France destroy'd their Fairs and withal diminished the Customs by one half These Considerations tendred to the King as he was never obstinate to prefer his absolute Authority to evident Reason and Demonstration he made no scruple to revoke it In the Month of June Ferdinand de Velasco Constable of Castille passed thorow France on his way to England to finish that Treaty of Peace with King James which Taxis the Ambassador in Ordinary from Spain had begun I shall here observe that he concluded it about the middle of June in the following year to the great regret of the King of France who knew by this what he was to hope for from King James a Prince heedless and timorous a Philosopher in words yet having nothing but the meen of a Soldier And who withal was not yet so well setled in England as to venture or dare to shock any one of his Neighbours month May June July c. Divers things caused great inquietudes in the King There were some which troubled his Divertisements and others that tended to the disturbance of his Kingdom The Jealousies the Queen his Wife had of his Amours the Malice of his Mistresses especially the Marchioness de Verneuil the heats of the Count de Soissons which many times broke out upon Points of Honor for the most part rather imaginary then real and the Insolency's of the Duke d'Espernon were of the first sort The procedure of the zealous Catholicks who sought by oblique Methods to engage him to ruin the Huguenots as on the opposite the Discontents of the Huguenots who endeavour'd to Cantonize that they might not be taken unprovided were of the second We shall Discourse of the two first Points hereafter As for the Count de Soissons being already much offended for that Rosny had refused to allow him a certain Impost upon Linnen-Cloath which he begg'd of the King the false Reports made to him by the Marchioness of Verneuil push'd him on to such an extremity of resentment that he talked of nothing but to be revenged by the Death of Rosny and although the King did openly enough take part with this last he could never allay the Count's Passion but by obliging Rosny to disown by a Publick Writing what he was accused to have spoken of the Count and offer to fight any Man that durst maintain the contrary The Brave Grillon had suffer'd himself to be persuaded to lay down his Command of Mestre de Camp in the Regiment of Guards the Duke of Espernon Collonel of the French Infantry took it to be his Right to Nominate the King would retrench that Right and had destin'd it for Crequy Son-in-Law to Lesdiguieres Espernon after having made all his efforts by Intrigues and by Remonstrances to maintain his pretended Right retired Male-content to Angoulesme Nevertheless being informed the King threatned to follow him he was advised to submit to his Pleasure When the King saw he acquiesced obediently he did him Justice for he order'd Crequy to wait upon him in that Country to make Oath to him and to take his Attach on his Provisions However he reserved the disposal of that Office and the like in all other the old Bodies but would have them be subject to the same Devoirs towards their Collonel That when two Companies hapned to be vacant in the Regiment he would fill up one by Nomination of the Collonel who should not be installed nor take place but from the day they had given their Oaths to that Officer and taken his Attache That as for the like Officers in other Regiments the Collonel should Nominate and he choose Captains out of those so named and as to the Lieutenants Ensign-Collonels Sergeant-Majors and their Ayds Prevosts Mareschaux de Logis and other Officers he should dispose of such by his sole Authority Which raised his Power above that of Princes and almost in a condition to make Head against the King himself month June In the Council his Ministers animated with Zeal against the Huguenots and too much persuaded of the Spanish Grandeur endeavour'd to divide the King from the Protestants to reduce him to an entire submission to the Pope to bring in the Jesuits and to unite him with Spain and Rome thereby to extirpate Calvinisme from all his Territories Taxis Ambassadour from the Catholick King offer'd Year of our Lord 1603 him all the Forces of Spain for that purpose representing that the Huguenots were the greatest Enemies to his Person and often had sollicited King Philip to help them to dethrone him He was indeed but too well informed that the Chiefs of the Huguenots as Bouillon la Trimouille his Brother in Law Du Plessis-Mornay Lesdiguieres and some Gentlemen that were his Domesticks but had quitted him when he went to Mass and almost all the Protestant Ministers had no more that Love for him which otherwhile they had shown but sighed after some other Protector He could not how-ever resolve to treat those as Enemies who had so tenderly nursed and bred him up and had Sacrificed every thing for his sake and he consider'd withal that if he could have forgot their eminent Services he must thereby have alienated from him all the Protestant Princes and have remained alone exposed to the Mercy of the same Power and Persons that had formed the League which was what they desired He chose therefore rather to restrain the hatred
his full Liberty to continue his Correspondence with the Spaniards that he might discover all their Secrets and give him a true account thereof The King seemed to confide in his Promises soon discover'd that he neither kept Faith with him nor his Enemies but juggled with both Thereupon he Commands him to Court The Count excuses it till he had his full and authentick Pardon they sent it to him but with this Clause That he should come to the King He could not find in his heart to relye upon the word of a Prince whom he had so often deceived so that the King resolved he should be Apprehended month July in Auvergne The Count stood much upon his guard and thought there was no Man in the world able to surprize him being so well fore-warn'd Notwithstanding Nerestan and the Baron of Eurre having inticed him into the Field to be present at the Muster of a Company of Gens-d'armes belonging to the Duke of Vendosme surrounded and dismounted him and took him in such manner month Septemb. c. as is at length related by the Historians of those times At the same time Entragues and his Wife were seized in their House at Malesherbes and the Marchioness in her Hostel at Paris The Count was brought to the Bastille and Entragues to the Conciergerie or Common-Goal of Paris It was necessary that all the world might see and know the Spaniards still maintained Factions in France The King therefore commanded his Parliament to proceed against these Criminals The event we shall shew in the next years Transactions Another Faction also did much discompose the King's Thoughts He could not deny the Hugenots leave to Assemble at Chastelleâ—ant and it was to be feared the Intrigues of the Mareschal de Bouillon and Credit of the Duke de la Trimouille month May. and du Plessis Mornay should put them upon Resolutions contrary to his will and interest But Rhosny under colour of going to take Possession of his Government of Poiton broke their measures And la Trimouille falling into Convulsions and then languishing died some while after Aged not above Four and Thirty years He was a Noble-man of great Courage and of most eminent Qualities Year of our Lord 1604 but not of such as suited with a Monarchick state The King diverted himself amidst all these Intrigues with Buildings and other such like Occupations when his leisure would give him leave as tended to the improvement of his Kingdom King Henry III. had begun the Pont-Neuf having built two Arches and brought the Pyles for the rest above the Water mark Henry IV. finish'd it so that People began to pass over about the end of the preceding year He carried on the Works also of the Louver Galleries the Castles Sainct Germain en Laye Fontainebleau and Monceaux which last he had bestow'd upon his Wife After his Example all the Great and the Rich fell to Building the City of Paris was visibly enlarged and embellished The Hospital Sainct Lewis was Erected for such as were infected with the Plague Some private people undertook the Place or Square Royal and others offer'd to make a much finer one in the Marese du Temple They likewise offer'd at many Projects to make several Rivers Navigable which either had never yet been so of else were now choaked up and to open a Communication between the greatest by means of the lesser lying nearest together with some new Channels where it should be necessary to carry it from the month May. one to the other They proffer'd to joyn the Seine to the Loire the Loire to the Soane and the Garonne with the Aude which falls into the Mediterraneum neer Narbonne The Conjunction of these two last would have made that of the two Seas As for that of the Seine and the Loire Rhosny undertook it drawing a Channel from Briare which lies on the Seine to Chastillon above Montargis upon the River Loin and falls into the Seine at Moret In this Channel they Collected all the Waters of the adjacent Rivolets designing to make Two and thirty Sluces to retain and let them go by flashes when needful to convey their Boats He Expended above Three hundred thousand Crowns but the change of Government made this design to miscarry though very much advanc'd It was a long while after taken up again and compleated at last In the Month of October a new Phenomena was observed in the Heavens which appeared four Months together It was at first taken for the Planet Venus because although it exceeded all the other Stars in Magnitude and Splendour yet had it no Tail but Observation soon found it was different from that Planet for they both appeared at the same time John Kepler a very Learned Mathematician wrote a Treatise of its Motion according to the Rules of Astronomy without troubling himself or the World to no purpose like the Judicial Prognosticators who upon this Apparition and the Conjunctions and Oppositions of some other Planets hapning this year and such as were to happen the year following made as is usual divers strange and terrible Predictions month March c. There was for about two Months an extream Scarcity in Languedoc and which would have caused a horrible Famine had they not been furnished with Wheat from Champagne and Burgundy by the Rivers of Soane and the Rhône The Plague also raged in several Provinces of France the soregoing year it had afforded Death a most plentiful Harvest in England When the Plague was ceased in those Countries King James hold his first Parliament in London to whom having made a Gracious and Royal Speech concerning the happy Union of the two Kingdoms the Affection he had for his Subjects the Laws and Regulations they were to make he desired of his Parliament and they granted it That from thence forward the Kingdoms of England and Scotland should be joyned into one Body under the Denomination of GREAT BRITAIN otherwhile used by the Romans Whereupon was Coined that Medal bearing this Inscription HENRICUS ROSAS REGNA JACOBUS His Speech was full of excellent things amongst others That he did not believe as Flatterers would fain persuade their Princes that God bestowed Kingdoms upon Men to satisfie their unruly Lusts and Pleasures but to take care of the Peace and Welfare of the People That the Head was made for the Body not the Body for the Head The Prince for the People not the People for the Prince month March c. The Subtil Scholiasts have so great an itch to bring every thing into Dispute that some Jesuits moved this year three Questions at Rome which begot great Contentions in Year of our Lord 1604 that Court and greater Scandal thorow-out all Christendom The First That it was not an Article of Faith to believe that Clement VIII was Pope which so enraged the Holy Father as without the Intercession of the Spanish Ambassador the Society had been in great Danger The Second That Sacramental Confession might be made
Accompts and a Treasurer of France and in the manner these did proceed none could have just cause of Complaint But when he had named others and it appeared by their management the Council had a design either to destroy or much lessen that Fond which was the clearest subsistence of many Families in Paris the interessed who Year of our Lord 1605 were numerous had recourse to the Prevost des Marchands he being as it were their Guardian This was Francis Miron a man of Courage and Probity and who had no other interest but his Duty and the Honor of his Office He took up the Business with some heat spake very resolutely in the Town-Hall and wrote to the King who was then at Fontainebleau Those of the Council who had a Pique against him for his great resolution too stiff in their opinion imputed as a Crime that he should mention Nero in some Discourse of his and insisted much with the King to have him apprehended The Bourgeois were ready to take up Arms in defence of their Magistrate although he protested he would rather chuse to die than be an occasion of the least disorder It was a great happiness for the City of Paris to have so good and so wise a King as Henry who having in other occasions thorowly tried the Fidelity and Candour of Miron and it being withal his Method to give People time to calm and cool themselves and repent of their rashness he would not push things on to extremity which must have engaged him to severe Chastisements So that the Tenants referring themselves wholly to this good natur'd Landlord and Miron having explained himself with all the Respect and Humility due from a Loyal Subject to his Soveraign he stopt all further proceeding touching their Rents As to the rest Paris does owe this acknowledgment to the honor of Miron that in his Office of Lientenant Civil and of Prevost des Marchands they never had a Magistrate so exact in settling of the City Government their Markets and what else was necessary or that so warmly espoused the Peoples interest or took more pains and care about the Revenue and Rights belonging to them to clear their Debts keep up that Splendour becoming the Capital City of the Kingdom as also to beautifie and furnish it with things that were at once an Ornament and of Publick Advantage The several Streets enlarged many new Paved and made shelving to convey away the Dirt and Water Eight or Nine stately Conduits or Fountains still casting forth their plentiful Streams the River improved with Wharffs Keys and watering places divers little Bridges in places convenient a new Gate at the Tournelle that of the Temple repair'd and open'd after it 's having been shut up above Forty years will be lasting marks and tokens of it to all Posterity But there was nothing so noble as the Front of the Town-Hall which seemed to have been left imperfect for Two and seventy years space to give this Magistrate an opportunity of making it the Monument of his Fame and to exercise his Generosity by employing all the Profits of his Offices to put it into that condition wherein we behold it to this very day As to the Assembly of the Clergy that Body having recovered much force and vigour the Complaints and Demands they had to make to the King were very great Hierosme de Villars Archbishop of Vienne presented the Assemblies Papers to him and was the Mouth of the whole Assembly He made a long discourse upon those vexations the Church suffer'd on all hands the infamous Trade of Benefices Simoniacal Bargains Pensions paid to Lay-men and frequent Appeals as gross abuses He said the cause of all those Disorders was the refusal they had hitherto met with for Publishing the Council of Trent That it was strange the Kingdoms of the Earth which are but as the baser Elements of the Terrestrial Globe should substract and withdraw themselves from the benign Influence of the Church which is the Coelestial World That the things which pass away on the wings of Time should hinder the Fruits of an Eternal duration That they should make Divine Reason stoop and truckle to Humane Policies and if we may so express it subject God in a manner to the Wills of Men. As to the Reception of the Council of Trent the King would not be Positive That it could not quadrare with the Reasons of State and the Liberties of the Gallican Church On the contrary he declared that he desired it as much as they and was very sorry it met with so great Difficulties That he would spare neither his Life nor Crown for the Honour and Exaltation of the Church And as concerning Simonies c. they must lay the blame upon those that practis'd it not upon him for he made no Trade of Bishopricks like the Favorites of his Predecessors but bestow'd them gratis and upon Persons of Merit He afterwards at leisure made distinct replies to all their Papers and amongst other things granted them by an Edict the liberty of redeeming such things as formerly belonged to them and had been sold for little or nothing without due Year of our Lord 1605 form or the Solemnities thereto requisite They were not satisfied with this but must have another to empower them to redeem in what manner soever they had been sold Yet the Parliament put in this Modification or Proviso That it should not extend to the prejudice of any who had been in Possession Forty years upon a legal Title There hapned this year Three Eclipses two of the Moon The first upon the Four and twentieth of March the second the Seventeenth of September and one of the Sun the Second day of October It began about One of the Clock afternoon and for two whole hours caused such a darkness that it seemed as it were Night the disk of that great Luminary being totally obscured by the Moon which appeared black and edged with a circle of light quite round month Decemb. The Astrologers after their wonted manner Predicted it would have most terrible Effects If the Fougade in England had not failed they would have made the world believe that this Phenomena did Prognosticate it Some English Catholicks accustomed to contrive Conspiracies during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth being much incensed against King James for that though at his first coming he had given them fair hopes of enjoying greater liberty than ever in their Religion yet did now keep as severe a hand over them as any before Plotted to destroy both him and all the most eminent of the Kingdom by a Blow the very thoughts whereof begets a horror Robert Catesby and Thomas Percy were the principal Authors These knowing the Parliament was to Sit at Westminster hired the Neighbouring Houses and then some Cellars under the very place of their Meeting filled them with Barrels of Gun-Powder which they cover'd with Coals and Faggots and intended to set Fire thereto when the Houses of
an Affront to all Crowned Heads and a violation of the Security due to every Ambassadour month Decemb. Going to the King to redemand himb he was at first but ill received Sometimes he talked high as representing a great Monarch then chang'd his tone into a softer note as knowing his Secretary ran the hazard of being put upon the Rack The King without appearing overmuch concern'd shewed him what Crime his Secretary had committed and made him sensible that such who debauched and Year of our Lord 1606 corrupted his Subjects to commit Treason against his State were those that violated the Rights of People not he who only secur'd a man that had so visibly abused it The Ambassador having no reply to make to so just a reproach fell upon great Complaints and instanced that the King sent Men and Money to maintain the Hollanders and had attempted to stir up the Morisco's in Spain whereof there was proof said he in the Confessions of divers Criminals that had suffer'd Death in those Countries To the first point the King made the same answer he had formerly given upon the same Subject To the second he said it was an Artifice of the Council of Spain who by the extremity of Tortures had forced those Suppositions from the mouths of some unhappy wretches Executed for other Crimes or had thrust them into their forged Wills and Testaments thereby to have matter to recriminate with some appearance of Truth After divers Replications on either part the King assured the Ambassador that his Secretary should have no wrong done to him and that he would send him the whole result of the Process to see whether he would own it or not month Decemb. During all this Month the Entertainment of the Politicians in their Conversations and the subject of their Writings was to discuss to what Latitude this Security of Ambassadors and their Servants did extend and in what cases they ought to be subjected to the justice of that Country wherein they did reside In the mean while the two Prisoners were interrogated the Secretary confessed all and when they had clearly Convicted him and gotten sufficient proof from him to Convict Merargues the King forbad the Parliament to proceed any further with him and some few days after sent him back to the Ambassador with a Copy of the whole Process But as for Merargues they went thorow with him for an Arrest or Sentence of the Nineteenth of the Month made him lose his Head in Greve and Condemned his Body to be cut in four Quarters which they set up over the four principal Gates of Paris and sent his Head to Marseilles to be there planted upon one of their Gates month February Amidst the Divertisements of the Court to whom the Birth of a second Son of France administred new cause of Festivity the King was seriously minded to restore the Duke of Bouillon upon his entire and not conditioned submission It was nigh upon four years he had been out of the Kingdom and by his Apologies Negociations and the intercession of divers Princes of his Religion had contended with the King not as to his Duty which he said he was ever ready to pay but his Innocency and Honor which he was obliged to maintain In effect they could not Convict him of any Conspiracy not even of the last though there was some reason to suspect him guilty of all The King knew he had stopt his ears at the instant Sollicitations of the Spaniards He remembred the eminent Services he had rendred him in his most pressing Necessities and he desired he might do him more yet hereafter in the shock he intended to give the House of Austria On the other hand he well knew that this Mareschal so long as he was absent from Court would ever keep the Huguenot Party in suspition and it somewhat concerned his Honor to make all Europe see they being well informed of this Affair that it was not without good ground he had so used him Now the only way to satisfie together both his Reputation and his Clemency was to engage him to come and crave his Pardon and Surrender his City of Sedan into his hands which he would needs have in his Power at least for some days that the whole world might understand the Mareschal held both his Life and Fortune from his Bounty The Mareschal did at length resolve to acknowledge he had failed he named his faults however Imprudence and Precipitation rather than Infidelity And though he expressed an impatient desire to wait upon the King yet he excused his coming till all those Clouds and Foggs of Crimes wherewith he had been charged were utterly dispersed it being as shameful for a Master to make use of any Servant while under such ill-favour'd Circumstances as for the Servant to have been wanting in his Fidelity due to so great a Monarch He apprehended no hurt from the King but only from the Counsels of Sully for as he believed him his Capital Enemy he imagined he would persuade the King to keep Sedan and that the apparent Benefit of the State would excuse and cover the Venial Sin of breaking his word Year of our Lord 1606 Him whom we have hitherto named Rosny shall be henceforward called the month February Duke of Sully because at the beginning of this year the King honour'd him with the Title of Duke and Pair which he annexed to the Lands of Sully purchased by this Lord since his favour The Letters Patents were sealed the Nineteenth of February and verified the last day of the Month in Parliament whither the new Duke went to be received accompanied as one who had both the King's Treasury and favour to befriend him and invite them The Business was brought to that pass that the King finding himself in Honor absolutely engaged to have Sedan and the Mareschal obstinately bent not to be dis-seized nothing remained but force that could determine the Controversie In the Council Villeroy and Sully were of different Sentiments concerning this Enterprize Sully openly persuaded the King to go in Person to Sedan Villeroy endeavour'd to hinder it but by more private ways To this end he made the difficulties appear very great the Consequences worse the place impregnable the Mareschal's Correspondence both without and within the Kingdom very dangerous He represented how all the Huguenot Party was ready to rise all Germany ready to take up Arms all England to put to Sea to support it that he had numerous Levies in Swisserland and the Low-Countries who would begin their March upon the first beat of Drum But the King slighted all these Apparitions as vain and airy Fantosmes and if month April they had been real Bodies he ought to have hastned to prevent them When he was gotten to Donchery which is within a League of Sedan with his Forces and had himself taken a view of the place the Mareschal who had still kept his Negociation on foot demanded to confer with Villeroy before
April May and June Mean time the King of France who had received notice from the States that they had accepted of a Truce fearing the business should be managed to the disadvantage of his interest resolved that he might share in the Negociation and make himself as Arbitrator to send thither the President Janin one of the best heads in his Kingdom and Paul Choard Bazenval to labour jointly with Elias de la Planche Russi whom he had sent Ambassador to the States in the stead of Busenval by communicating with the said States and fortifying them with their conceils The King of England likewise would needs have his Ambassadors there and by his example the King of Denmark and the Protestant Princes but those of France arrived there the eight and twentieth of May those from England not till the Month of July and the others about the end of the year The Ratification of Spain carried to Madrid being brought agen to the Hague with some alterations but not all those the States had mentioned did not fully content them Those that desired not the Peace took occasion from thence and from some other incidencies to frame such Obstructions as made them spend four Months in contests only Notwithstanding in the beginning of November the States upon the instances of Father Ney went on to the Negociation month Novemb. and Decemb. but put this down for an immoveable and fixed point That they should not in the least touch upon the foundation of their Liberty and their right of Soveraignty which they had acquired at the Expence of all that was dear to them in the world Now because the Truce expired in January they left it to the discrâ—tion of the Arch-Dukes to prolong it for a Month or Six Weeks In these Messages too and fro was this whole year almost wasted It is held that one of the Considerations which hastned most the Council of Spain to accept of this Truce was their fear of losing the Indies and their Maritime Forces for the Hollanders had taken from them and Burnt within three years above Thirty great Galioons and now newly had defeated their Admiral Year of our Lord 1607 Don Juan Alvarezd'Avila in the very Port of Gibraltar the Five and twentieth month April day of April This Exploit may well be counted one of the most brave and resolute that ever was performed on the Seas Jacob de Heemskerk Commanding the States Fleet consisting of Twenty six Vessels attaqued that of Spain though above a third part stronger than his own and under shelter of the Cannon both of the Town and Castle He pursued the Admiral quite through the Enemies Fleet having given Command not to fire one Gun till they came Yard arm to Yard arm Upon this neer approach the Valiant Hollander had his Legg taken off by a Cannon Ball whereof he died about an hour after but in the interim harangued those with such force that were about him and gave such good Orders that his Men month April gained the Victory Burnt or Sunk the Spanish Admiral wherein d'Avila was and Twelve Ships more took Two hundred Prisoners amongst whom was the Son of d'Avila and kill'd above Two thousand Men whereof above Fifty were Persons of Quality This signal overthrow fill'd all Spain with mourning and carried a very hot Alarm even to Madrid It was believed that if the Victors had pursued their blow they might have forced Gilbraltar and Cadiz too but they retired to Tituan a place upon the Coast of Africa belonging to the King of Fez to refresh and to repair themselves Year of our Lord 1608 We are now in the year 1608. which is to this day called the Great Winter year for the Cold which began to be very bitter on Sainct Thomas's Day lasted above two Months without relenting in the least degree excepting one or two days and congealed or if we may so express it petrified all the Rivers froze most of the young Vine-Roots and other tender Plants starved above half the Wildfowl and Small Birds in the Fields great numbers of Travellers on the Roads and near a fourth part of the Cattle that were housed as well by its violent sharpness as for want of Forrage It was observed that the heats of the following Summer did almost equal the Severities of the Winter and yet the year might be reck'ned amongst the most plentiful The Thaw caused no less damage than the hard Frost had done the Cakes of Ice in the Rivers destroy'd a world of Boats Keys and Bridges The Waters raised by the sudden melting of the Snows drowned the Valleys and the Loire breaking down its Banks in many places made a second deluge in the Neighbouring Campagnes Year of our Lord 1608 That which hapned at Lyons is a wonder worthy to be described There was month February a mountain of Ice-Cakes accumulated on the Saone before the Church de l'Observance the whole City trembled for fear lest upon breaking loose it should carry away the Bridge and therefore made Publick Prayers to avert that Misfortune and Damage a simple Artisan undertook to make it break into little shivers and swim away by degrees without any disorder for a certain Sum of Money agreed upon by the Magistrates of the Town To this effect he on the Shoar right against it lighted two or three small Fires with half a dozen Faggots and a few Coals and falls a muttering certain words Immediately this prodigious glaciated Rock burst with a noise like the report of a Cannon into an infinity of pieces the greatest not exceeding four or five foot But this poor fellow instead of receiving his Reward was in danger of receiving severe Punishment for the Divines said That the thing could not possibly be so done without some operation of the Devil so that his Recipe or Charm was burnt publickly in the Town-Hall Ten or Twelve years after he brought his Action in Parliament for his Reward I could never learn the success of it Henry last Duke of Montpensier after he had languished two years with a Hectick Feaver reduced to suck a Nurses Breast expir'd about the end of February His only Daughter a little before his Death was Contracted to the King 's second Son who dying young she afterwards Married the third whom we have seen Duke of Orleans he came into the world the Five and twentieth of March following Henrietta Catherine de Joyeuse Widdow of Henry re-married some time after to Charles Duke of Guise In the Month of May Charles Duke of Lorraine a good Prince liberal and pacifick passed from this life to the other and had for Successor his eldest Son Henry Duke of Bar and Marquis du Pont. Some perhaps would take it amiss should I forget that the Duke of Neuers sent on an extraordinary Embassy to the Pope to tender him the filial Obedience made his entrance into Rome upon the Five and twentieth of November the most magnificently that ever had been known upon
the like occasion and Year of our Lord 1608 that the Holy Father caused a Jubilé to be published which commenced at Rome month Novemb. the Sixth of September and Six Weeks afterwards at Paris I think I may in this year place the Invention of Perspective Glasses because the use of them began now to grow common in Holland and France A Spectacle-maker of Midleburg presented one which he had made to Prince Maurice which seemed to bring any Object though two Leagues distant within Two hundred paces of the Eye for from the Hague they could easily discern the Dial at Delf and the Windows of the Church at Leyden the year following many were to be had in the Shops at Paris but which could not descry a third part so far as those Some have named them Galileo's Glasses as if that famous Mathematician had invented them but it is most certain this happy Discovery was made long before his time We find manifest footsteps of them in the Works of Baptista Porta and we must acknowledge that the Ancients made use of them if that be true which Roger Bacon saith That Julius Caesar being on the Belgic Shoar opposite to great Britain did with certain great Burning-Glasses discover the Posture and Disposition of the Brittish Army and all the Coast along that Country However it were they have labour'd so happily to bring them to their full Perfection that it will be difficult to make any further Addition or Improvement The marvellous Observations which have been made and are daily taken of the Heaven by the help of them are a most illustrious proof of their Success As to the Subject of the Fougade at Westminster the King of Great Britain who believed that all these Conspiracies proceeded from that Power which the Pope pretended over Soveraigns made an Oath of Fidelity or Allegiance after a new form wherein he obliged all his Subjects to acknowledge that he was their true and lawful Soveraign and that the Pope had neither of himself nor from any other the Power to depose Kings or to warrant any Stranger Prince to invade their Country or to dispense their Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance therefore should Swear to him that notwithstanding any Sentence whatsoever of the Popes they would faithfully obey him and serve him and his Successors and should discover whatever Conspiracies they did know either against his Person or against his State The Pope having notice hereof sent a Brief to the Catholicks to forbid them the taking this Oath George Blackwell Arch-Priest of England being imprisoned upon the refusal he made of it suffered himself at last to be perswaded that this Brief had been extorted and that there was nothing contained in the Formulary of the Oath contrary to the Articles of Faith so that he took it and caused it to be taken by the rest of the Catholicks in England But the Pope by a second Brief confirmed the first and Cardinal Bellarmin wrote a Letter to Blackwel to shew him that the said Oath wounded the Vnity of the Church and the Authority of the Holy-See He published an Apology for this Oath the Cardinal made an Answer the King a reply which he addressed to the Christian Princes Some Authors concerned themselves in the quarrel and it being a contest wherein the power of the Popes was debated as likewise that of temporal Princes it became the exercise and entertainment of the most learned men in Europe for some Months together The States of the United-Provinces had reason to make the Spaniards believe and see that in case the Treaty of Peace were broken off they should be assisted both by France and England wherefore they had several times made instance to the Ambassadors of those Kings that they would enter into a good Defensive League for their preservation The King of France did first agree and Signed it the second day of January notwithstanding the contrary advice of those of month January his Council whom a zeal for the Catholick Religion inclined indirectly to favour the Spaniard the Ambassadors of the King of England having some points to settle with the States touching the liquidation of Arrears of Moneys did not conclude it till four or five Months after Those of Spain deputed for the Peace to wit the Marquiss de Spinola General of King Philips Armies in the Low-Countries John Crusel Richardot President of the Privy-Council to the Arch-Dukes John de Mancicidor Secretary of War to King Philip Frier John Neyen or Ney Commissary-General of the Order of Saint Francis and Lewis Verreiken prime Secretary of State to the Arch-Duke Arrived at the Hague in the Month of January The States deputed Year of our Lord 1608 for the Generality William of Nassau and the Lord de Brederode and the seven Provinces named for each of them one of the most able and best qualify'd they had amongst them The Compliments made on either part they began to assemble the Sixth day month February of February In the first Ten Sessions they produced their Procurations and treated of an Amnesty of Reprisals and some other such Points which passed without much difficulty but when they came to mention the Commerce of the East-Indies there began the main of the Negociation the States insisting to have the full liberty of that Trade the Spaniards to exclude them thinking there were only a few Merchants interested in that Trade and that the rest would not concern themselves much for their preservation but the Company which of late years was set up for the Indies had forty Ships belonging to them the least of five hundred Tun burthen well provided for War and each of the value of five and twenty thousand Crowns Besides fourscore more of six or seven hundred Tun which traded to the West-Indies not reck'ning a great number of smaller bulk for Guiney and the Islands Saint Dominique Being therefore animated by their profit and withal upheld and countenanc'd by Prince Maurice they made so much noise and roused the publick by so many Manifesto's and discourses in Print that their Deputies were obliged to stand to it Seeing therefore they could not agree upon that point they quitted it to pass on to those concerning the reciprocal Trade in the Low-Countries the renunciation of reprisals the declaration of their limits the demolition and exchange of places the Cassation of Sentences of Proscription and Confiscation the restitution of Goods the Priviledges of Cities the disbanding of Soldiers on each side and many other points In the Memoirs of the President Janin are to be seen the difficulties that were created on either part upon different Articles particularly about the restitution of places How the Truce was prolonged two several times the one to the end of May the other till July How Father Ney going into Spain for more ample powers was detained there a long time by the slow motions either natural or artificial of that Council How the President Janin sent for by
the King took a turn into France and how Don Pedro de Toledo who was then going to Germany came at the same time with design as was believed to found month Septemb. the Kings intentions and to take him off from espousing the interests of the States We there find likewise the great jealousies the States conceived upon the Conferences he had with the King the Intrigues and Artifices of Prince Maurice to break this Treaty the different Factions that were formed in that Country for and against it Then the rupture of the said Treaty by the States upon the Spaniards persisting to have the free exercise of the Catholick Religion re-established in all their Territories and that they should lay down the whole Trade and Navigation to the Indies and in fine upon this rupture the retreat of the Ambassadors of Spain who took their leaves of the States the last day of September and returned to Bruxels Those of France and Great Britain particularly the first did not for all this leave off their Mediation but propounded to both parties to make a long Truce at least since they could not agree upon the Articles for a perpetual Peace Prince Maurice opposed it openly because his employment must be at an end with the War He had subject enough to declaim against the artifice of the Spaniard and to entertain the peoples fears and jealousies and talked the more confident and high as having all the Sons of War on his side and the Province of Zealand besides four or five good places in his disposition and the desires of the Protestant Princes who apprehended lest during such a Truce the power of the Austrian House should fall upon their Backs But the Kings honour was too much concerned after he had taken so much pains and his interest likewise to disarm Flanders which he designed to seize upon not to bring this business to a conclusion He pursued it therefore so Year of our Lord 1609 warmly by intreaties and menaces to the States that their Deputies met again month January February March and April at Antwerp on the five and twentieth of March with those of Spain and made a Truce for twelve years which was proclaimed in that City the fourteenth day of April Year of our Lord 1069 It imported amongst other things That the Arch-Dukes treated with them in quality and as holding them for free Provinces upon whom they had no manner of pretence That there should be a Cessation from all Acts of Hostility but that in Forraign Countries it should not commence till a year after That Traffick should be free both by Sea and Land which however the King of Spain limited to the Countries he held in Europe not meaning the States should Trade into those others without his express Licence That either should hold such places as were then in their possession That such whose Estates had been seized or confiscate by reason of the War or their Heirs should have the enjoyment of them during the Truce and should re-enter upon them without any other form of Justice That the Subjects belonging to the States should have in the Kings and Arch-Dukes Countries the same liberty in Religion as had been granted to the Subjects of the King of Great Britain by the last Treaty of Peace Reciprocally the States promised that there should be no alteration made in those Villages of Brabant which depended upon them where hitherto there had been no other exercise of Religion but the Catholick for which the Ambassadors gave their Guaranty in writing The President Janin being returned to the Hague after the Publication exhorted the States in behalf of the King to grant to their Catholick Subjects the free exercise of their Religion but all that he could obtain was that they should be no more prosecuted nor troubled if they did it in their own houses and for their private Families only If the power of Spain received a great shock by this Treaty that which they procured themselves by the expulsion of the Moors was no less After the eversion of the Kingdom of Granada great numbers of Mahometans and Jews were remaining in those Countries who had settled and spread themselves in the Kingdoms of Valencia Chastille and Andalouzia they were baptized and professed Christianity for which reason they were called new Christians but yet did secretly exercise the impieties of their fore-Fathers They were reck'ned to be above twelve hundred thousand of both sexes King Philip informed that for divers years they had sought for and courted the protection of the King of France the Vnited-Provinces the King of England nay even the Turks and the King of Morocco and suffering himself to be perswaded that upon a certain Good-Friday they intended to cut the Throats of all the old Christians in those Countries where they inhabited resolved to thrust them out of his Territories not permitting them to carry away any thing excepting some Merchandize of the Country seizing and detaining their Gold and Silver their Jewels and moveables only he allowed the fourth part to the Nobility in recompence of the damage they sustained by such their banishment for they improved and made the Lands yield more by one third to the Gentry then the Spanish Tenants could do Year of our Lord 1609 and 1610 till March. This Edict was Executed with the utmost severity even against those that were Priests Friers Officers of the Kings and Allied to the most ancient Christian Families they haled and tore them from the very Altars Cloysters Tribunals of Justice the Husbands from the Arms of their dearest Wives the Wives from the Bosoms of their Husbands the Fathers or Mothers from their tenderest Children These wretches part of them transported into Africa part getting into France and Italy did most of them perish after divers manners some were drowned by those very Marriners who pretended to transport them others Massacred by the Arabes many being first stript and then turned away by those from whom they expected shelter died of hunger being in execration to the Christians as Infidels and to the Infidels as Christians so that of this huge Multitude hardly could the fourth part make shift to save themselves Spain will for a long time feel the smart of this more then barbarous inhumanity for the cruel expulsion of so many Myriads of Men together with the continual recruits they are ever sending to the Indies and their natural lazy temper has made of that Country otherwhile the most peopled and the most cultivated in Europe a vast and barren solitude Some Christian Pirates were retired to Tunis and Algier and had there gotten so many of their own stamp together that they held the Streight of Gibraltar as it were shut up and dar'd even attaque whole Fleets The Maloüins not able to endure these Robberies fitted out some Vessels to set upon them Captain Beaulieu their Commander having consider'd of the means to destroy the Year of our Lord 1608 whole force
TABLE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE Contained in this FIRST PART PHARAMOND King I. Page 6 About the year 418. CLODION the Hairy King II. 8 Anno 428. MEROVEUS or MEROVEC King III. From whom the Kings of the First Race have taken the name of MEROVIGNIANS Anno 448. 10 CHILDERIC King IV. 12 Anno 458. CLOVIS King V. 14 Towards the end of the year 481. CHILDEBRT I. King VI. 20 Anno 511. in December CLOTAIR I. King VII 28 Anno 558. CHEREBRT King VIII 29 Anno 561. CHILPERIC King IX 31 Anno 570. CLOTAIR II. King X. 37 584 in Octob. DAGOBERT I. King XI 54 Anno 628. CLOVIS II. King XII 58 Anno 638. CLOTAIR III. King XIII 62 Anno 655. CHILDERIC II. King XIV 64 Anno 668. THIERRY I. King XV. 67 Anno 674. CLOVIS III. King XVI 71 About the year 691. CHILDEBERT II. or the Young King XVII 72 About the year 695. DAGOBERT II. or the Young King XVIII 77 Anno 711. CHILPERIC II. King XIX 79 Anno 716. THIERRY II. called de Chelles King XX. 81 About the year 721 or 22. INTERREGNUM 83 739. CHILDERIC III. called the Senceless or Witlâ—â—s King XXI 86 Anno 743. Second Race of Kings who have Reigned in France and are named CARLIANS or CAROLOVINIANS Anno 752. PEPIN named the Brief King XXII 90 Anno 768. about the end of September CHARLES I. called the Great or Charlemain King XXIII 96 Anno 814 in February LOUIS I. called the Debonnaire or Pious King XXIV Pag. 120 Anno 840 in June CHARLES II. surnamed the Bald King XXV 131 Anno 877. LOUIS II. surnamed the Stammerer King XXVI 148 Anno 879 in April LOUIS III. and CARLOMAN King XXVII 150 Anno 884. CHARLES III. called Crassus or the Fat King XXVIII 154 Anno 888. EUDES King XXIX 157 Anno 893. CHARLES called the Simple King XXX 158 Anno 923 in July RODOLPH King XXXI 167 Anno 936 in January LOUIS IV. called Trâ—nsmarine King XXXII 175 Anno 954 in October LOTAIRE King XXXIII 183 Anno 986 in March LOUIS the Slothful King XXXIV 198 Third Race of the Kings of France called the CAPETINE Line or of the CAPETS 987. in June HUHG CAPET King XXXV 201 Anno 996. ROBERT King XXXVI 208 Anno 1033 in July HENRY I. King XXXVII 214 Anno 1060. PHILIP I. King XXXVIII 220 Anno 1108 in July LEWIS the Gross King XXXIX 234 1137 in August LEWIS called the Young King XL. 242 1180 in September PHILIP II. surnamed Augustus King XLI 252 Anno 1223 in July LEWIS VIII surnamed the Lyon King XLII 295 Anno 1226 in November SAINT LEWIS King XLIII 293 1270 in August PHILIP III. surnamed the Hardy King XLIV 314 1285 in October PHILIP IV. surnamed the Fair King XLV 322 LEWIS X. called Hutin King XLVI 344 1316. REGENCY without a King for five Months 345 A TABLE Of the Principal Matters contained in this FIRST TOME ABbies and Monasteries built and founded in great numbers in France Pag. 73 74 75 Abbies and Bishopricks during the Eighth Age. 115 Peter Abailard is condemned by the Council of Sens and seized at Clugny 276 Abderame marches through Aquitania Tertia forces and sacks the City of Bourdeaux 81 Is vanquish'd and slain in Battle near Tours 82 Abbots refuse obedience to the Bishops 283 Abbots of the Order of St. Bennet take the Ornaments of Bishops ibid. The humble and truly Religious Friers refuse them ibid. Abbot of St. Riquier the first Frier that dared to Confess and preach without permission of the Ordinary 287 Abrodites tributaries to the French 123 Abulas King of the Moors 221 Abuses turned to advantage of the Popes 283 Acre or Ptolemais a Town and Sea-Port of Syria assaulted and forced from the Christians 324 Adalgise Son of Didier endeavours in vain to recover the Kingdom of Lombardy 100 103 His death ibid. Adelbert Marquiss of Yvrée 162 Adelbert Count de la Marche and Perigord 203 Adeleida or Alix second Wife of Louis the Stammerer 149 Adeleida Widow of Lotaire King of Italy sought in Marriage by Berenger 181 Marries Otho King of Germany and Lorraine ibid. Adeleida Daughter of Robert Espouses the Earl of Flanders 213 Adolphus Earl of Nassaw elected Emperor Pag. 324 He sends to defie the King of France in a haughty manner 325 Is deposed his death 327 Adrian Pope 142 Concerns himself in the difference of Lorraine between Charles the Bald and the Emperor Lewis 143 Adultery severely punish'd 336 Aetius General of the Romans in Gaul defeats Attila King of the Huns in Battle and chaces him 10 His death 11 Agnes of France Married to Robert Duke of Normandy 313 Aimer Earl of Poitiers 158 Aix la Chappelle built by Charlemain 105 The Alani and other barbarous People make an irruption amongst the Gauls then pass into Spain 3 Alain of Bretagne defeats and cuts the Nâ—rmans in pieces 1â—7 Alain called Twistbeard Duke of Bretagne his death his Children 184 Alain Fergeant Duke of Bretagne his death 237 Alaric King of the Visigoths besieges and takes Rome his death 3 St. Albert Bishop of Liege his History 292 Albert Arch-Duke of Austria removes â—i Corps from Reims by permission of Lewis XIII ibâ—d Albert Duke of Austria is elected Emperor 327 He renews the Alliance of the Empire with France 3â—8 His death 334 Albigenses Hereticks their Original 277 Are condemned ibâ—d Rejected the New Testament ibid. Albon de Fleury 205 Aletea Paâ—rician punished with death 45 Alexander III. Pope his feigned modesty cause of a Schism 278 His Election confirmed by the Gallican Church as also by the Anglicane ibid. Seeks an Asylum in France ibid. An Emperor and a pretended Pope at his Feet who had disputed that dignity with him 274 Alexander III. King of Scotland his death 323 Alsiel Sultan of Aegypt 324 Alphonso I. Duke of Portugal proclaimed King who was the first King of Portugal 243 Alphonso Count of Toulouze makes a Voyage to the Holy Land his death 245 Alphonso Count of Poitou 297 He Marries the Daughter of the Count de Toulouze 299 Honoured with the Girdle of Knighthood 302 Leads a re-inforcement of Croisez or Crossed to St. Lewis in the East 305 306 Alphonso X. King of Castille elected Emperor 307 He gives up his right to the Empire 316 Alphonso Brother of St. Lewis his death 312 315. Alphonso King of Castille almost wholly dispossest of his Estates his death 320 Alphonso King of Arragon 321 Alphonso of Castille named de la Cerde his death 352 Alexis Son of Isaac Emperor of the East 261 His unfortunate end 262 Alienor Wife of King Lewis the Young 240 Alienor Daughter of William IX Duke of Aquitain Marries Lewis the Young 241 Repudiated by the King she Marries Henry Duke of Normandy and Presumptive King of England 246 Alix Queen of Cyprus 259 Alix Pernelle Daughter of King Lewis the Gross 241 Alix third Wife of Lewis the Young 248 Alix of France betroathed to Richard of England cause of the quarrel
to be Earl of Flanders his unfortunate end 296 Baldwin King of Constantinople comes into France to demand assistance 300 Baviere the Dutchy extinct by the death of Tassillon 103 Bearn Vicounty 315 Beatrix of Savoy 300 Belisarius conquers the Kingdom of the Vandals 24 Benefices the great ones at the disposition of the Popes That the same Ecclesiastick cannot in Conscience hold more then one 301 Perpetuated in their Houses 291 Benevent Dutchy made Tributary to the Emperor Lewis the Debonair 121 Bennet Archdeacon is elected Pope 186 His degradation and his death Bennet XI Pope does things with more mildness then Boniface his Predecessor 332 His death ibid. Benenger Roman Earl of Provence Rebellion of his Subjects 300 Berenger Duke of Spoleta 156 Berenger I. King of Italy 162 Crowned Emperor of the East 162 Forsaken of the Italians and dispossest Calls the Hungarians into Italy His death ibid. Berenger King of Italy with his Son Adelbert is abandoned of his Subjects 188 Banished into Germany ibid. Berenger Archdeacon of Anger 's an Heresiark and Head of the Heretical Sacramentaries his several Retractions and Death 229 Berenger Raimond Earl of Provence his death 303 Bernard King of Italy makes Oath of fidelity to the Emperor Lewis the Debonair 121 Appeases the Tumult of the Romans 121 Conspires against the Emperor his Uncle and is taken Prisoner 122 His death 123 Bernard Earl of Barcelona the Favourite of the Empress Judith 126 St. Bernard opposes Henry the Monk disciple of Peter Bruys in Languedoc 245 Abbot of Clervais in high esteem amongst the Prelats the Grandees and the People 243 Preaches the Croisado by command of the Pope 244 Acquires great Reputation to his Order 271 Causes Innocent II. to be owned 303 Bernard Saisset Bishop of Pamiez made Prisoner 326 Berthier Maire of the Neustrian Palace his unhappy end 69 Bertoald Maire of the Palace 42 Bertradi Daughter of Simon de Montfort Marries Foulques le Rechin who was Aged 222 She leaves her Husband to Marry King Philip though nigh of Kindred 222 Robert de Bethune Earl of Flanders his death 350 Bilicbild Queen of France 65 Blanch Wife of Lewis the Lazy 198 Blanch of Castille Widow of Lewis VIII and Regent of the Kingdom causes Lewis her eldest Son to be Crowned 295 Her death and burial 306 Blanch of France Queen of Castille 313 Blanch of Artois Queen of Navarre 316 Blanch of France betroathed twice and Married in fine to Rodolphus Duke of Austria 321 Blanch of Burgundy 324 Blasphemy Edict against Blasphemers 252 Beomond Prince of the Normands in Apulia 222 Boniface Bishop of Ments takes great care for the re-establishment of Ecclesiastical Discipline by the Convocation of divers Councils 112 113 Boniface Marquiss of Montferat joyns with the French in the Expedition to the Holy Land 256 Is made King of Thessaly ibid. Boniface VIII elected Pope 325 Endeavours to make Peace in Christendom ibid. Makes himself an Enemy to the King of France Philip the Fair divers causes of enmity 326 Arbitrator of the differences between the King of France the English and Flemings 328 Publishes a general Indulgence afterwards called a Jubile 328 Attributes the Temporal Power to himself as well as the Ecclesiastical 329 Disaffected to the French 329 Excommunicates Philip the Fair. 329 Is accused of Heresie and divers other Crimes 329 Ill treated at Anagnia by the French his death 332 Boson Brother of Queen Richilda 143 Is Crowned King of Burgundy defeated and vanquished in Battle 151 Bourges Archbishop takes the Title of Primat and that of Patriarch over the Archbishops of Narbona Bourdeaux and of Ausch 337 Bourgogue or Burgundy united to France and loses the Title of a Kingdom 22 Bourgogne or Burgundy Dutchy yielded by King Henry to Robert his Brother 214 Bourgogne Transjurane and the Kingdom of Arles pass into the hands of the Emperor Conrad and the Princes of Germany 215 Bourgogne or Burgundy County the Subject of a great Quarrel 238 Difference and a hot War between Reinauld Earl of Burgundy and Bertold Duke of Zeringben for the County ibid. Given to Philip the Fair. 324 The Bourgundians make themselves Masters of a part of Gall. Their Conversion to the Christian Faith 8 Of the Mariners Compass and its first invention 330 Brabant Chief of the Dukes of Brabant 210 Brittain Great subdued by the English Saxons 8 Bretagne casts off the yoak of the French 135 Loses the name of Kingdom and takes that of County then of Dutchy 144 In great trouble 184 Subjected to the Duke of Normandy 215 In great trouble 245 Bretons make great Incursions upon the Territories of the French and are brought to reason 56 Subjected to the Crown of France vanquished 123 Obstinate for their liberty 124 Brosse Peter de la a Barber advanced to a Supream Fortune endeavours in vain to ruine the Queen of France 318 Is Hanged ibid. Brunebaud banished to Rouen is set at liberty 35 Gets away the Huns by force of Money 42 Chaced by the Austrasians 42 Leads a Vicious Lewd Life 43 Her unhappy end 45 Bruno Archbishop of Colen 184 Bulgarians have a quarrel with the Avari and are totally vanquished 121 Ransack Panonia Superiora 124 Ransack Lumbardy 162 Burdin favourite of Henry V. Emperor confined to a perpetual imprisonment 274 C. Calistus II. Pope under the protection of France against the Emperor 236 Calistus III. Antipope 272 Canal begun for the Communication between the Rivers of Rhine and the Danube remains imperfect 104 Candia falls under the Dominion of the Venetians 263 Cardinals in great splendour 292 The Cardinals their growth and their authority 282 Fall from their so great power ibid. Carloman Son of Pepin King of Austrasia 95 His death 97 Carloman eldest Son of Charles the Bald revolts against his Father is punished 144 Carloman King of West France Aquitain and Burgundy 148 His death 156 Carloman Son of Charles Martel Duke and Prince of the French in Austrasia 86 He and Pepin shut up their Brother Griffin in a Castle 84 Bring the Duke of Aquitain and the Duke of Bavaria to reason who were revolted 86 Marches afterwards against the Saxons 86 Quits the World and takes on him the Habit of St. Bennet at Mount Soracie 87 Caroloman comes into France on behalf of Astolphus King of the Lombards and is shut up in a Monastery at Vienne and his Sons shaved Anno 754. 92 Caroloman Son of Lewis the German King of Bavaria 148 Great preparation for Italy without effect 146 His death 149 Carmelites their institution and establishment 339 Carobert King of Hungary 334 Castille in trouble and divisions about the Crown 316 Catares Hereticks 278 Celestine Pope lays down the Triple Crown or Thiara 325 Celibate of the Priests 288 Disorder falling thereon ibid. Cenobites 4 Chape or Mantle of St. Martin born at the head of their Armies 244 Thomas de Champeaux Doctor in Theology takes the Habit of a Frier at St. Victors 276 Chanons Regulars in esteem
the French and the Venetians joyned together 262 Returns from the hands of the Latins into that of the Greeks 309 Constantius Count and Patrician in Gall. 3 Crimes how punished amongst the ancient French Divers means to purge themselves thereof 49 Crimes they justified themselves by Combat Croisades and beyond-Sea Expeditions advantageous to Popes and Kings but disadvantageous to the great Lords and the People 224 First Croisade and their happy Exploits 224 25 Croisade preached over all Christendom 223 Croisade for the recovery of the Holy Land 260 Croisade against the Albigeois 264 Croisades affirming the Popes Authority 262 Croisade new of French Lords for the Holy Land 301 Croisade new by St. Lewis for succouring the Christians in the Levant 312 Croisades during the Thirteenth Age. 336 Cunibert Bishop of Colen 56 D. Dagobert Son of Clotaire the miraculous protection of his Person 45 Builds the Abby of St. Denis ib. His Father gives him the Kingdom of Austrasia 46 His Marriage quarrel between the Father and the Son ib. Dagobert I. of that name King of Neustria Austrasia and Burgundy 54 He gives part of Aquitain to his Brother Aribert 54 Too much licence in his Marriage ib. Remains sole King after the death of his Brother Aribert 55 Establishes his Son Sigebert King of Austrasia 56 Disposes of Neustria and Burgundy in favour of his Son Clovis ib. Subdues the Gascons and brings them to reason 57 His death ib. Dagobert Son of Sigebert King of Austrasia shaved and banish'd 60 Is recalled and acknowledged King of Austrasia 66 His death 68 Dagobert II. King of France 77 The Danes and Normands infest the Coasts of France 106 Continue their Piracies 211 St. Denis Areopagite his Corps found intire in the Monastery of St. Denis in France 233 Devotion and Piety admirable in our ancient Kings of France 73 St. Didier Bishop of Lyons suffers Martyrdom 43 Didier King of the Lombards conceives the design of abating the power of the Popes and making himself Master of Italy excites Troubles and Schisms in the Church of Rome 98 Causes of particular enmity between him and Charlemain 98 Is dispossest of his Estate 99 His death ib. Didier is elected King of the Romans after the death of Astolphus Anno 755. Differences between Hugh de Vermandois and Artold for the Archbishoprick of Reims 180 Difference between King Lotair and the Children of Hugh the Great 184 Dispensations their beginning 182 Dissentry horrible in France 34 Divorce of a Marriage the cause of great Troubles 243 Dol in Bretagne made a Metropolitan 134 Brought again under that of Tours 274 Dominion Example of an enraged passion for Dominion 296 Dominicans their Institution and Establishment 339 Dreux Bishop of Mets. 127 Drogo or Dreux Son of Pepin 72 Drogon Duke of Bretagne his death 184 Dutchy of Lorrain given to Godfrey Earl of Verdin Bouillon and Verdun 209 Dutchies of two sorts in France 183 Duel proposed to the King by his Subjects 235 E. Ebles Count of Auvergne and Poitou and Duke of Aquitaine 170 Ebles Baron de Roucy a famous Warrier humbled and brought to reason 227 Ebon Bishop of Reims deposed and degraded 128 Ebroin Maire of the Palace perfidious and wicked 62 69 Is shaved and confined to the Monastery of Luxieu 64 Quits the Monastery to take up Arms. 67 His retreat into Austrasia he there supposes a false Clovis in the place of King Thierry whom he feigns to be dead 67 Causes St. Leger to attaqu'd in his City of Autun puts his Eyes out and shuts him up in a Monastery ib. Is received Maire of Thierries Palace 68 Great Tyranny his death 69 Eclipse of the Sun 213 Ecclesiasticks go to Rome to visit the Holy Places 269 Edmund Brother of Edward King of England his death 326 Edward eldest Son of the King of England goes to make War in the Holy Land 312 Edward Son and Successor of Henry King of England 315 At his return from the Holy Land passes thorough France ib. Passes by Sea and comes to the City of Amiens 319 His Voyage to Burdeaux by France 322 Employs himself to accommodate the differences betwixt the Kingdoms of Arragon and Sicilia 323 A Riot between some particular People makes him break the Peace with France 324 325 Makes a powerful League against France 326 Attaques the Scots and brings them under his Laws 327 Marries with Margaret of France 330 Makes Peace with the King of France 331 His death 334 Edward Son of King Edward Marries Isabella of France 327 Edward II. King of England 332 His Contest with Charles the Fair King of France 351 Odious to his People by reason of his Favourites his unfortunate end 352 Ega Maire of the Palace of Neustria his death 58 Election and the Investiture of the Popes in the power of the Emperor Otho 186 Election of Popes 3â—6 Elections to Benefices 285 Emma Queen of France 168 Emma or Emina Wife of King Lothaire 198 Empire Rome when it ended 13 Empire troubled about the Election of an Emperor after the death of Henry VI. 259 Empire of Greece difference between Michael and Baldwin determined 318 Empire ruined by its dis-union Engelberge Wife of the Emperor Lew's of Italy 156 Enguerrand de Marigny his unhappy end 336 Enterprise of the Pope upon the Bishops of France 203 Enterview of the three Kings of France of Germany and of Burgundy 170 Enterview between Lewis Transmarine and Otho of Lorraine 180 Enterview of the Emperor Henry and King Robert 211 Enterview and Enterparlance of the Emperor Henry III. and Henry King of France 217 Enterview of the King of France Lewis the Young and the Emperor Federic 247 Enterview of the Kings of France and Arragon 308 Enterview of the two Kings of France and England in the City of Amiens 319 Enterview of the Kings of France and Castille at Bayonne 323 Enterview of the King of France and the Emperor at Vaucouleurs 328 Eon de L'Estoille His ignorance passes for a great Prophet is apprehended his death 291 Erchinoald Maire of the Palace 61 Era or manner of accompting of the times by the Mahometans 47 Estate of the Gallican Church after the Conversion of Lewis or Clovis the Great 50 The Fourth Age. 4 During the Fifth and Sixth Ages 17 The Seventh 73 The Eighth 112 The Ninth 170 The Tenth 205 The Eleventh Age or Century 228 Eudes Duke of Aquitaine 80 Makes a League with the Sarecens of Spain and draws them into France 81 c. His death 82 Eudes Count of Paris and Duke of France succeeds in the Estates of Hugh the Great his Brother 155 Is raised to his Dignity and declared King of West France 156 Defeats and cuts the Normans in pieces 157 Quarrel betwixt him and Charles the Simple 159 His death 160 Eudes first Earl of Champagne 203 Eudes Count de Pontieure 211 Eudes Son of King Robert Earl of Champagne disputes the Crown with Henry his Brother 214 Reduced to reason 215 Undertakes
upon the Kingdom of Burgundy and upon the Loire to his own confusion his death 217 Eudes or Otho Duke of Aquitain and Gascongne 221 Rebellion of his Subjects his death Eudes Earl of Corbeil 234 Eudes Duke of Burgundy 347 Eudon Earl of Pontieure seizes the Dutchy of Bretagne to the prejudice of Hoel 245 Eugenius II. elected Pope 124 Comes into France 127 Exarchat of Ravenna and its dependances 92 King Pepin makes a donation of it to the Apostle St. Peter and St. Paul not to the Emperor Constantine ib. Excommunications rendred despisable 270 Their force 290 Exemptions and Immunitles granted to Monasteries 271 Exemptions of Bishops were granted by the Diocesan but with the Consent of his Brethren ib. Exemptions of Monasteries by whom granted and the reasons 268 Expeditions beyond Seas 244 F. Faction strange 150 c. Famine great 〈◊〉 France 59 Famine horrible and cruel 213 Faramond or Pharamond first King of France 6 His death 7 Fastrade Queen of France her Marriage her death 105 c. Favourites of Princes cause of great troubles and uproars 333 Federic II. King of Sicilia is elected Emperor and repasses into Germany 265 Renews the Alliance between France and Germany 266 Federic II. cause of a Schism 272 Federic I. of the name called the Barbarossa Emperor 246 Federic I. Emperor his ambition put a stop by Pope Adrian uphold Victor against Alexander III. Pope 289 Upholds Calistus III. ib. Is unfortunate ib. Asks pardon of his Holines at Venice ib. Goes to the Holy Land 303 Shares his Empire amongst his Children his death 306 Federic Grandson of the Emperor of that name Duke of Austrasia 306 Federic Duke of Austria joyns with Couradin in the War of Sicily his unhappy end 311 Federic of Arragon takes the name of King of Sicily 325 Ferdinand of Castille called la Cerde his death 317 Ferrand of Portugal Earl of Flanders 266 Feast of Fools 293 Feasts or Festivals and of their Celebration 52 53 Feasts of Christmas and Easter Celebrated by the Kings of France with great solemnity 93 Fiefs and their Original 35 St. Filibert imprisoned 68 Financiers prosecuted 344 Financiers and Maloistiers call'd in question and punished 350 Flagellants 309 Flanders made a County 104 Given to William Duke of Normandy Son of Robert 238 Subject of a great feud ib. Divided 330 Revolts and is lost as to France ib. In trouble 351 Flochat Quarrel betwixt him and the Duke of Transjurains 59 Florence Republick in Troubles by reason of the Factions which torment it 330 Flota Peter a Man violent and covetous 329 Formosa Pope cause of a horrible scandal to the Roman Church 161 Forces Difference there was otherwhile betwixt those belonging to the King and those of the Kingdoâ—â— 238 Fulk Archbishop of Reims is assassinated and the Murtherer eaten up of Lice 162 Fulk le Roux or the Red Earl of Anjou his death 164 Fulk le Bon or the Good Earl of Anjou 164 His death 180 Fulk Earl of Anjou a Capital Enemy of the Bretons his death 184 Fulk le Rechin takes Beltrade for his third Wife 223 Fulk King of Jerusalem his death 243 Fulk Archbishop of Reims menaces his King to withdraw his Subjects 266 France and its first establishment in Gall. 20 Divided into Oosterich or Eastern part and Westrich or Western part 20 France the Western part without a Chief 155 Dismember'd in divers parts ib. France united preserves it self against the Authority of the Popes 287 Franciscans and Dominicans of their jealousies against each others and their Enterprises on the Functions of Ordinary Pastors 303 Their Quarrel with St. Amour Vide Quarrel Franciscans Religious their Institution and Establishment 339 French and their Original 2 Their incursions into Gall. ib. The French Nation divided into diverse People 3 Occupy a part of Germania Secunda 6 Their first Kings and of their inauguration ib. Chaced byond the Rhine by the Romans 7 French their Conversion to the Christian Religion 15 They snare the Lands of Gall amongst them to the Loire 17 Their Manners and Customs ib. Cross themselves and make an Expedition for the recovery of the Holy Land Their Conquests 260 c. Fredegonda causes Sigebert to be assassinated and her Husband Chilperic 32 c. She likewise causes Pretextat Archbishop of Rouen to be assassinated 38 Her death 41 Friers Minors or Cordeliers their institution 264 Friers Preachers or Jacobins their institution ib. Friers Preachers and Frier Minors and of their Enterprizes upon the Rights of the Ordinaries 339 Frisons and Neustrians attaque the Austrasians 79 G. Gaifre Duke of Aquitain his obstinacy not to acknowledge King Pepin chastized 93 c. His death 94 Ganelon and his fable 140 Gascogne divided into Dutchy and County its extent 121 Gascogne and Aquitania Secunda ransack'd and desolated by the Normands 142 Gascogne The House of Gascogne resolved into that of Poitiers or Aquitaine 209 Gascons make irruptions upon the French 35 Make themselves Masters of a part of the Novempopulania or Aquitania Tertia 42 Subdued by the French 56 Punish'd for their insolence 121 Reduced under a Duke of their own Nation 143 Brought to reason 209 Gaveston Favourite of the King of England 334 Gaul its situation 1 Conquer'd by Caesar ib. Divided by the Romans into divers Provinces and Governments ib. Its Towns and Cities 1 2 Of their Revolts 2 Part of it conquer'd by the Visigoths another part by the Burgundians and the remainder by the French 3 4 c. Gautier de Bevierre crosses himself for the Holy Land 260 Gauzzelin Abbot of St. Germain des Prez 145 Gedoin Abbot of St. Victor 276 Geffroy Plantagenest Earl of Anjou Marries the King of Englands Daughter 239 Quarrels with his Father in Law 240 Dispossessed in part of his Dutchy of Normandy ib. Geffroy Martel Earl of Anjou 216 Besieges and takes the City of Tours An Act of Piety ib. Geoffrey Martel quits the World and shuts himself up in a Monastery 217 Geoffrey the Bearded 217 Geoffrey Martel ib. Gefrey Brother of Henry King of England is made Earl of Nantes His death 247 Geffrey of Bretagne takes up Arms against the King of England his Father 250 Geffroy Duke of Normandy and Bretagne 249 His death 254 Gelasius is elected Pope 236 Is driven from Rome by the Emperor Henry V. and comes into France ib. Gelasius II. acknowledges the power of Councils 289 General of an Army The divisions betwixt Generals of Armies of a pernicious Consequence 40 Generosity admirable 165 Genseric King of the Vandals sacks the City of Rome 11 Gerfroy Grise-gonnelle Earl of Anjou his death 188 Gerfroy Duke or Earl of Bretagne his death 211 St. Gerard. 205 Gerard Bishop of Angoulesme acknowledges Anaclet for Pope 274 Subject of that acknowledgment ib. His death 275 Gerberge Queen of France endeavours to release her Husband of his Imprisonment 179 Governs the State under the King of Lotaire her Son 184 Gerbert elected Archbishop of Rheims very skilful in
the Mathematicks 203 Deposed 204 Gibellins in Italy 348 Giles Bishop of Rheims degraded of his Bishoprick and banished to Strasburgh 40 Gillon is elected King of France in the place of Childeric 12 Revolt of the French against him 13 Godfrey King of Denmark undertakes against the French 109 Descends into Frisia and pillages the Country ib. Godfrey of Buillon Head of the first Croisade to the Holy Land elected King of Jerusalem his glorious Exploits 224 c. His death Gondebaud King of Burgundy 15 Conquers the two Narbonnensi 16 The Armor between the Seine and the Loire unite with the French 15 Gondebaud calling himself Son of Clotaire comes from Constantinople into France to reap the Succession of his Father his unhappy end 35 38 Gondebaud a Monk employs himself for the deliverance of the Emperor Lewis the Debonnaire 126 Gondemar King of Burgundy 21 Gondioche King of the Burgundians his death and his Kingdom divided amongst his four Sons 13 Gontran King of Orleans and of Burgundy takes too much licence in his Marriage 29 Leagues himself with Chilperic against Sigebert their Brother 32 Adopts his Nephew Childebert and places him in his Throne 33 Seizes upon the Kingdom of Paris and a part of Neustria 37 Takes Fredegonda into his protection ib. Gontran King of Orleans makes War against the Visigoths in Languedoc 39 Effects of the inconstancy of the mind 40 His death ib. Gotelen Duke of Lorraine 221 Goths and their Country divided into Ostrogoths and Visigoths 2 Gregory II. Pope opposes the Emperor Leo stoutly in defence of Images 84 Gregory III. Excommunicates the Emperor Leo. Gregory VII menaces Philip King of France to Excommunicate him if he do not reform himself 221 Gregory VIII Antipope 272 Gregory IX Pope in contest with the Emperor Violent proceeding His death 301 Gregory X. Pope 315 Griffon Son of Charles Martel by his Brothers shut up in Chasteauneuf in Ardenne 84 Is set at liberty by Pepin his Brother 87 Grimoald Maire of the Palace of Austrasia 58 Causes the young King Dagobert to be shaved and sets his Son upon the Royal Throne 60 Grimoald Son of Pepin Espouses the Daughter of the King of Frisia 77 Assassinated and slain 78 Guelphes and Gibbelins two Factions in Italy 303 Girard de la Guette a Financier of Paris advanced to the Gallows 350 Guy Duke of Spoleta Emperour of Italy 156 Chaced out of Lombardy 160 His death ib. Guy of Burgundy dispoiled of those Lands he held in Normandy 2 6 Guy-Geofrey-William Duke of Aquitaine Re-conquers Saintonge then passes into Spain against the Saracens 220 His death 222 Guy Earl of Auvergne deprived of his Earldom 265 Guy Count de Saint Pol. 298 Guy Earl of Flanders vanquish'd and made Prisoner 308 Guy de Dampiere Earl of Flanders 322 Is held Prisoner at Paris with his Wife and Children 325 Guy Earl of Flanders is restored to his County Guy Brother to the Daufin of Vienne a Templer burnt alive 336 Guyemans a faithful Friend of King Childeric's 12 H. Hatred mortal between William of Normandy and Arnold Earl of Flanders 127 Hatred mortal of the Flemmings against the French its beginning 257 Hebert Count of Vermandois His death 162 Hebert Count of Meaux and of Troyes his death 178 Henry Duke of Friuly falls into the Country of the Huns. 105 Henry Duke of Saxony comes to the relief of Paris his death 155 Henry the Bird-Catcher King of Germany 165 His death 170 Henry II. called the Lame Emperour 208 Henry Duke of Burgundy his death 209 Henry Son of King Robert is Crowned and Associated by his Father 212 213 Henry King of France surmounts his Enemies 214 Chastises the Felony of the Sons of the Earl of Champagne his Nephews 216 Expedition of small effect in Normandy 217 He assists the Duke of Normandy against his rebel Subjects ib. Coldness between his Majesty and the Earl of Anjou ib. Divers Emparlances with the Emperor Henry III. 218 Second Expedition into Normandy unsucsessful Causes his eldest Son Philip to be Crowned 218 His death his Wife his Children 218 219 Henry IV. Emperor in contention with the Popes 209 Seized by his Son Henry his death ib. Henry V. Emperor in contention with the Popes Pascal II. and Galasius for the nomination to Bishopricks 223 Is Excommunicated ib. Reconciled to the Pope 234 Arms powerfully against France to his confusion ib. Henry King of England in contention with the King of France 234 235 Is obliged to make Peace with him 236 Renewing of the Quarrel ib. Loses his three Sons at Sea 237 Conspiracy of his Domestick Officers against his Person ib. Declares his Daughter Matilda Heiress of all his Estates In contention with his Son in Law the Earl of Anjou his death 240 Henry Duke of Normandy Espouses Alienor 246 Gets into possession of the Kingdom of England ib. Henry King of England becomes very powerful undertakes against Languedoc for the County of Tholoze 247 Makes War again upon the King of France 249 Arms his own Children against him ib. Accused of the Murther of the Archbishop of Canterbury 250 In debate with the King of France 254 Takes up the Croisade for the recovery of the Holy Land His death 255 Henry the Young takes up Arms against the King of England his Father 252 His death 253 Henry VI. Emperor 256 His death 259 Henry Earl of Champagne Generalissimo of the Christians in the Holy Land 257 His death 259 Henry IV. deprived of the Empire by his Son 272 His ill conduct ib. Henry V. Emperour the cause of a Schism 272 Forces the Pope to agree to what he pleases 273 Renounces the Investitures ib. His death ib. Henry VI. Emperour is Excommunicated 275 Henry pretended King of the Romans his death 304 Henry of Castille takes up Arms against Charles of Anjou King of Sicilia 311 Henry III. King of England comes into France and treats with the King for Normandy and other the Lands his Predecessors had been possessed of 310 Feud with the Barons of his Kingdom ib. His death 315 Henry the Fat King of Navarre 315 His death 317 Henry Count of Luxemburg is elected Emperor 334 Passes into Italy his death 335 Hermengarde Empress her death 123 Hermenegilde takes up Arms against the King of Spain her death 38 Peter the Hermit a Gentleman of Picardy 223 Hildebrand Popes Legat in France 229 Hildegarde Queen of France 102 Hilduin Bishop of Liege unsaithful to his Prince 205 Hinomar Bishop of Laon deposed and persecuted 142 Reabilitated 161 Hinomar Archbishop of Reims 139 His death 153 Hoel Son of the Duke of Bretagne Assassinated 184 Hoel Duke of Bretagne 221 Disputes the Dutchy of Bretagne against Eudes de Pontieure 244 Abandoned by the Nantois 247 Honorius II. Pope his death 239 Hugh Son of Valdrade 151 Hugh Bastard of Valdrade ib. Hugh the Great Tutor to Charles the Simple 155 Hugh King of Italy comes into France 168 Hated of his Subjects 170 Hugh le Blanc Earl of
Paris and Orleans and Duke of France 175 Hugh le Noir or the Black 176 Hugh the Great otherwise le Blanc i. e. the White makes a League with Hebet Earl of Vermandois against their King 176 His death his Children Hugh Capet Son of Hugh the Great 183 Earl of Paris and Orleans ib. Is made Duke of France 184 Elected and Crowned King of France 201 Why he would never put the Crown on his Head after his first Coronation 202 Of the State of the Kingdom of France at that time ib. He assocates his Son Robert to Reign with him 202 Sends his Son Charles and his Wife Prisoners 203 Re-unites the County of Paris and the Dutchy of France to the Crown ib. His death his Wives his Children 204 Hugh de Beauvais Favourite of King Robert 212 Hugh Son of King Robert Associated and Crowned by his Father His death 211 212 Hugh Earl of Vermandois chief of the second House of that name 218 Hugh Duke of Burgundy after the death of Duke Robert his Grandfather 221 Hugh de Saint Pol. 225 Hugh the Grand Brother to King Philip of France chief of the first and second Croisade his death 224 225 Hugh de Crecy 235 c. Hugh III. Duke of Burgundy his death 237 Hugh Count de la Marche is constrained to render Homage to the Earl of Poitou 303 Hugh Abbot of Clugny receives the Ornaments of a Bishop 284 Humbert with the White Hands Earl of Maurienne and of Savoy chief of the Royal House of Savoy 215 Humond Father of Gaifre resumes the Title of Duke of Aquitaine to his confusion 302 Huns make War upon the French 312 Huns Avari in Civil War I. James the Great of Arragon and the finding his Corps about the beginning of the Ninth Age. 114 James King of Arragon 312 James King of Majoraca and Minorca 320 Jane Countess of Flanders 304 Jane of Burgundy 324 Jane Queen of France Heiress of Navarre builds and founds the Colledge of Navarre at Paris 331 Her death ib. Jane of Burgundy 345 Jerusalem Kingdom its end 254 Images and the manner of Worshipping them in France 172 Imbert de Beaujeau commands the Kings Army against the Albigensis 238 Imposts excessive stir up the People to Rebellion makes them lose the respect and love they owe to their Prince 330 Indulgence general otherwise called Jubilee its institution 328 Ingonde Daughter of King Sigebert Espouses Hermenigilde Son of the King of Spain Leuvigilde 38 Her death ib. Ingratitude of Wenilon or Ganelon Archbishop of Sens. 138 Innocency justified by Combat 46 Innocent II. Pope makes War against the Duke of Puglia and is made Prisoner 240 Thwarted by an Antipope he takes refuge in France ib. He Excommunicates the King of France and puts his Kingdom under Interdiction 243 Innocent III. Pope puts the Kingdom under Interdiction 264 He Excommunicates Raimond Earl of Toloze 266 Owns the Authority of the Council and that a Pope may be deposed ib. Innocent IV. Pope takes refuge in France 303 Inquisition established in Saxony 108 Who first exercised it 264 Intendants of Justice or Law 117 Interdict pronounced against England 264 Interdict pronounced against France 259 Interest every thing yields to it amongst the great ones 302 Investitures of Benefices 236 Jourdain de l'Isle in Aquitain hanged on a Gibbet at Paris 351 Irene Empress chaced by Nicephorus 107 Isaac Angelo Emperor of the East deprived of the Empire of sight and of liberty 261 Isabella Widow of John King of England 302 Isabella of Tholoza her death 316 Isabella of France Married to Thibauld King of Navarre Her death ib. Isabella of France 327 Isabella Queen of England passes into France 351 Sent away from Court she retires again into France ib. At her return into England she revenges her self of her Husband by a most horrible treatment Afterwards chastised her self in her turn 352 Isemburge of Denmark Wife of King Philip Augustus repudiated by her Husband 277 c. Italy become a Kingdom 13 In trouble 134 Is horribly rent by the Guelfs and the Gibbelins 303 Italians inconstant 168 Judicael in Bretagne 157 Judith Daughter of Charles the Bald stolen by the Earl of Flanders 140 Judith second Wife of Lewis the Debonaire 129 Suspected and even accused of impurity 130 Ives Bishop of Chastres a great defender of the Discipline of the Canons 223 Justice exercised by such as made profession of bearing Arms under the Kings of the first Race 48 Punishment of Crimes and divers means to purge themselves of several Crimes 48 49 Justification by cold Water by hot Water and by Fire ib. L. St. Lambert Bishop of Liege Divine punishment of his Murtherer 72 Lambert Earl of Nantes 134 Lambert Son of Guy Crowned Emperor in Italy 160 Landry Maire of the Palace 41 Language natural of the first Frenchmen 50 Lasciviousness of a Prince cause of great evils 30 c. Latilli Peter Bishop of Chalons and Chancellor of France put out of his Office and imprisoned 344 Launoy John Viceroy of Navarre 323 Lauria Roger Admiral 320 Legats sent into France 230 Leger Saint Bishop of Autun Persecuted and confined in the Monastery of Luxeu 65 Re-established in his Episcopal See ib. His Eyes put out the Soles of his Feet cut away and his Lips then shut up in a Monastery 67 68 His death ib. Leo IV. Pope his death 138 Leo Emperor disputes the Worship of Images and will have them taken out of the Churches 84 Leo elected Pope 105 Ill treated at Rome has recourse to Charlemain and comes to him 105 c. Makes another Voyage into France 108 Leo Pope acts of severity his death 121 Leo VIII elected Pope in the place of John the XII 185 His death 186 Leo IX Pope comes into France and holds a Council at Reims 217 Is made Prisoner by the Normands of Italy 218 Leo Isauric Excommunicated 266 Letters of Exemption false counterfeited by certain Monks 290 Leudesia Maire of the Palace 67 Levies of Moneys of three sorts 111 Leutard an Heretick his unhappy end 228 Levigildus King of Spain causes his Son Hermenigilde to be strangled 38 His death ib. Lezignan Guy 257 Liturgy or Mass according to the Church of Rome brought into France 102 Locusts in a prodigious quantity 144 Lombards pass into Italy and establish a Kingdom 29 Descend into Provence and the Kingdom of Burgundy to their own confusion 30 Will have no more Kings and commit the Government to thirty Dukes 31 Restore Kingly Government 36 Lombards reduced to reason 186 Lorraine parted in two 143 Given to the Kings of Germany 149 The Soveraignty of that Kingdom remains in Lothaire King of France 188 Lothaire eldest Son of Lewis the Debonaire is made King of Italy and associated in the Empire 122 Lothaire King of Italy His Marriage with Hermengarde 123 Is Crowned Emperor by the Pope ib. Lothaire King of Italy seizes on the Empire of his Father and shuts him up in St. Medard at Soissons then
causes him to be degraded after his publick Pennance 127 128 Lothaire King of Italy difference between him and Charles his Brother touching their shares after the death of their Father 134 Reconciliation with Charles his Brother 138 Changes his Imperial Purple for a Friers Frock ib. His Wife and Children ib. Lothaire II. of Lorraine 139 He repudiates Thietberge his Wife to Espouse Valdrade and that made a great deal of noise 140 The said Marriage annull'd and he Excommunicated by the Pope 141 Passes into Italy against the Saracens his death by Divine Punishment 142 His Children ib. Lothaire Son of the King of Italy 179 Lothaire King of France 183 His Marriage with Emma or Emina Daughter of Lothaire King of Italy 187 Enterprize upon Lorraine 188 Repels and chases the Germans out of France where they had made an irruption 189 Repasses into Lorraine Causes his Son Lewis to be Crowned and to Reign with him ib. His death 189 Lothaire Duke of Saxony elected Emperor 238 Lothaire II. Emperor his death 243 Louis of Aquitaine passes into Italy to the assistance of his Brother Pepin 104 Besieges and takes Narbonne and Tortosae 106 c. Louis or Lewis the Debonaire his coming to the Crown 120 Purges the Court of Scandal ib. His Coronation and of the Empress Hermengarde His continual exercises of Piety and Devotion 122 Concerns himself in the reformation of the Clergy and draws upon him the hatred of the Churchmen 122 Associates Lothaire his eldest Son in the Empire and shares for his other Children ib. Severely punishes the King of Italy his Nephew who had conspired against his Person and his Complices 122 123 Causes all his Bastard Brothers to be shaved ib. Reduces Bretagne to a Dutchy ib. Marries a second Wife after the death of Hermengarde ib. Marries all his Sons 124 Subdues the Bretons ib. Gives occasion of discontent to his Children who conspire against him and shut him up Prisoner in the Abby St. Medard of Soissons 125 c. Does publick Pennance and is degraded 126 c. Is re-established in his Royal Throne 128 Divides again his Estates of France Eastern and Western 129 His death his Wives his Children 130 Of his great care in regulating all that concerned the advantage and administration of the Church the discipline of the Clergy c. 170 Louis Son of Lewis the Debonaire is made King of Bavaria 122 Louis King of Bavaria embraces the Cause of his Father Lewis the Debonaire afterwards turns against him 126 Louis Emperor King of Italy 138 Louis the Germanick usurps Neustria upon his Brother Charles 139 Divides Lorraine with him 142 Troubled and disquieted by his Children 144 His death ib. Louis the Emperor and King of Italy despised by his Subjects 138 Makes a League with Lewis the Germanick against Charles the Bald. 139 Difference about Lorraine 143 Is despised of his Subjects ib. His death 144 Louis the Stammerer Emperor and King of Neustria or West France Aquitain and Burgundy 148 Is Crowned Emperor by Pope John ib. His death 149 Louis III. and Carloman his Brother Kings of West France Burgundy and Aquitain 148 c. Death of Lewis 152 Louis Son of Boson seizes upon Provence 156 c. Louis Son of Arnold Emperor of Germany and King of Lorraine 162 His death 163 Louis the Blind King of Provence 170 Louis IV. called Transmarine is recalled from England owned and Crowned King of France 175 6 Abandoned of all his Subjects in Neustria is constrained to save his life by a shameful flight 177 Makes a Peace and is reconciled to his Subjects 179 Seizes Richard Duke of Normandy ib. His precipitate revenge draws great difficulties upon him 178 Is carried Prisoner to Rouen ib. Is restored to liberty 179 Brouilleries in France 180 c. Is reconciled with Hugh le Blanc and they make Peace together 181 His death ib. Louis King of Aquitain chastises the Revolt of the Gascons 110 Associated to the Empire and declared Emperor by Charlemain his Father 111 Louis King of France called the idle or Lazy Marries a Princess of Aquitain named Blanch. 198 His death ib. Louis called the Gross Son of King Philip designed King takes up the Government of Affairs 226 Passes into England 227 Betrothed to Luciane Daughter of Guy de Rochefort 227 His pretended Marriage with Luciana broken by the Pope ib. Quarrels and brouilleries with his Subjects 234 Defeats the English in Battle about Gisors 35 Renewing of the War between those two Princes 236 Strongly opposes the Emperors Efforts who would needs be revenged because he had protected Pope Calixtus II. 236 c. Reduces the Count d'Auvergne to reason 238 Revenges the Parricide committed on the Person of the Earl of Flanders 239 Causes his Son Philip to be Crown'd ib. Becomes an Enemy to the Clergy his Subjects and is Excommunicated 239 c. His death his Wives his Children 241 Lewis the Young Crowned in the life time of his Father Lewis the Gross 240 Louis the Young he Marries Alienor Daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine ib. Establishes Justice and secures the publick safety 242 Is Excommunicated and his Kingdom put under an interdiction by the Pope 243 Receives Pope Eugenius into France 244 Takes the Cross and goes into the Holy Land ib. His return into France 245 Repudiates Queen Alienor and Marries the Daughter of Alphonso VII King of Castille 243 Goes to St. Jago in Gallicia out of Devotion 246 Difference with Henry King of England for the County of Touloze 248 He makes Alliance by Marriage with the House of Champagne 249 Suppresses the disorders of his Kingdom ib. Enters into War again with the King of England their Reconciliation ib. Takes the protection of the King of England's Children against their Father 250 Passes over into England and goes to visit the Tomb of St. Thomas of Canterbury ib. His death his Wives his Children 251 Louis VIII King of France his Birth 254 Parlies with the Emperor Federic II. 266 His Coronation at Reims 295 Enterview with Henry Son of the Emperor Federic 295 Crosses himself against the Albigenses and makes War upon them in Person 296 His death his Wife and his Children 296 297 St. Louis King of France his Coronation 298 Great disturbances in the State at the beginning of his Reign ib. c. He Vowes to make War against the Infidels 303 Voyage to the Holy Land 304 c. His Army entirely defeated and he made Prisoner of War by the Infidels 305 Is set at liberty with all the rest of the French Prisoners 306 Whether it be true he gave a Consecrated Wafer as a pawn for his Word 305 He visits the Holy Places in the Holy Land 307 His return into France ib. He entertains the King of England magnificently ib. Regulates his Kingdom by good Laws and exercises himself in good Works 308 Endeavours to accommodate Affairs between the Barons and their King Henry 309 Undertakes a new Crosade for relief of
the Christians in the Levant passes into Affrica besieges Tunis his death 312 313 Elogy ib. His Children ib. Louis Son of King Philip and the eldest of the first Bed his death 317 Louis Earl of Euvreux 321 Louis the Debonair deposed by the Bishops 127 Leonis Peter Antipope surnamed Anacletus his real Right enfeebled by his ill Conduct 274 Louis VI. courageously opposes the unjust pretentions of the Popes 306 Louis Hutin eldest Son of Philip the Fair is Crowned King of Navarre 334 His Wife accused of Adultery 336 Louis Hutin King of France ib. He finds the Kingdom in Combustion for the vexation of Imposts and alteration of Moneys 344 Inquisition after the Financiers ib. He takes up Arms against the Flemings 345 His death his Wives and Children ib. Louis eldest Son of the Earl of Flanders accused for designing to poyson his Father 348 Louis Count of Nevers and Rhetel his death 523 Lewis Count of Flanders of Nevers and of Rhetel 524 Louis de Bavierre passes the Mountains 352 Luitgarde Queen of France her death 106 Lutgarde Queen of France 209 Luzignan Hugh Count de la March 438 M. Of St. Magdelane and the finding of her Corps 341 Mahaut Countess of Flanders 345 Mahomet his death 47 Of his Successors 59 Mainfroy Prince of Tarentum Mainfroy the Bastard usurps the Kingdom of Sicilia and disturbs the Pope and Territories of the Church 309 Contracts an Alliance with the King of Arragon ib. His death 310 Manuel Emperor of Greece his perfidiousness and horrible Treason 244 Merchants of France 256 Marches of Spain fall under the Dominion of the French 101 Margaret of Provence Marries King Lewis IX 300 Margaret of Provence accompanies the King St. Lewis in his Voyage to the Holy Land 304 Margaret Countess of Flanders 304 Margaret of France betrothed to Henry Duke of Brabant and afterwards Married to Henry his Brother 313 Margaret of France Marries the King of England 321 Marriages of our first French 49 Marriage of the Degrees prohibited by the Canons 52 Marriage The French did repudiate their Wives when they pleased The Kings themselves had often times several 72 Marriages prohibited such as Marry within the degrees forbidden are most commonly unhappy 223 Marriages prohibited even to the seventh degree 232 Marriage of King Philip with Isemburge of Denmark 258 Marriage of Mary Agnes with King Philip. 260 Marriage of Isabella d'Angoulesme with King John without Land 261 Marriage of Jane de Toulouze with Alfonso Earl of Poitou Marriage of St. Lewis with Margaret of Provence 300 Marriage of Beatrix Countess of Provence with Charles Earl of Anjou 303 Marriage of Berenguelle de Castille with Alfonso King of Leon declared null 306 Marriage between the Princess of Arragon and the eldest Son of the Bastard Mainfroy 309 Marriage of Blanche of France with Ferdinand of Castille 312 Marriage of the Children of St. Lewis 313 Marriage of Philip the Hardy with Mary of Brabant 316 Marriage of Jane Queen of Navarre with the eldest Son of the King of France 320 Marriage of the two Daughters of the Earl of Burgundy with the two Sons of Philip the Fair. 324 Marriage of the Earl of Valois with the Daughter of the King of Sicily 324 Marriage of Lewis of France with Blanche of Castille and of Philip of France with the Daughter of the Earl of Boulogne 241 Marriage of Rodolfe Son of Albert with Blanche of France 328 Marriage of Jane of Burgundy with Philip d'Euvreux 345 Marriage of Margaret of France with the Earl of Nevers and Rhotel 348 Marriage of Jane Countess of Burgundy and Artois with the Duke of Burgundy Of Margaret of France with the Earl of Flanders and Isabella of France also with the Daufin of Viennois 349 Marriage of Mary Daughter of the Emperor Henry of Luxemburg with the King of France 350 Marriage sometimes permitted to the Subdeacons sacriledge in the Deacons 274 Mary of Brabant Queen of France 316 Mary of Luxemburg Queen of France her death 350 Marles Thomas revolts against Enguerand de Boves his Father 227 Excommunicated by the Popes Legat his unhappy end 235 236 Marseilles besieged and rendred at discretion 308 St. Martial revered as an Apostle 231 Martin Governor in part of Austrasia his unhappy end 69 70 Martin IV. Pope Excommunicates and degrades the Arragonian and causes a Croisade to be published against him 320 Martin Monk of the Cistertians a Cardinal his praise 293 Matthew de Montmorency goes to the Holy Land 261 c. Matthew Abbot of St. Denis in France Regent of the Kingdom in the absence of the King St. Lewis 312 Matthew first Duke of Milan 325 Matilda Daughter of Henry King of England declared Heiress of all his Estates 239 c. Maxime seizes on the Empire his death St. Mayeule 205 Malec-Sala Sultan utterly defeats the French Christian Army 305 Melun the subject of a War 208 Meroveus third King of France from whom the Kings of the first Race have taken the name of Merovingians 10 Joyns with the Romans against Attila ib. Continues his Conquests in Gaul his death 11 Meroveus Son of Chilperic Espouses Brunehaud 32 Shut up in the Monastery of St. Calais 33 Escapes from the Monastery his unhappy end ib. Metaphysick of Aristotle 265 Meteors representing Battles in the Air. 257 Metropolitans Their Authority lessened by the Popes 230 Milan Dutchy and their first Duke 325 Militia and Military Discipline in the days of the Carlovinians 117 Militia The first of the Kings of France who had any Forces in pay 259 Milon Vicount of Troyes 325 Milon the Popes Legat in France 264 Miracles supposed 188 Missionaries Apostolick sent into Gaul to declare and preach the Faith of Jesus Christ 4 Mogles People and Nations 302 Monks declaiming against the Temporal Goods of the Church and the Sacraments condemned 276 Monk John the Cardinal comes into France on behalf of the Pope 329 Monks and their first Establishment in Gall. 4 Seize upon Cures Church of the Eleventh Age quit them but retain the Revenues ib. Molay James great Master of the Templars burnt alive 333 Mommole Patrician 34 Monarchy French divided into five Dominions or Governments 156 Monasteries 53 Built and founded in great numbers in France 74 75 Filled with Hypocrites 285 Moncade Gaston Lord of Bearn 315 Money amongst the first French 49 The change and abasing of Money cause of an emotion and rising amongst the Populace of Paris 333 Monothelites France had no share in their disputes 76 Munderic pretends to be King his death 23 Mutiny of the Flemings against their Earl 351 N. Namur chief of the Counts of Namur 216 Nantilde repudiated by King Clotaire II. who afterwards takes her again 55 Narbona held by the Saracens rendred to King Pepin 93 Navarre falls under the Dominion of the French 101 Its beginning to be a Kingdom 125 In trouble and divisions after the death of King Henry the Fat 317 Neomenie makes himself Master of Bretagne and drives
228 c. Saint Amour William great quarrel with the Orders of the Friers Mendicants 307 Saintonge the subject of a great War 208 Saladin King of Egypt tears the holy City of Jerusalem out of the hands of the Christians 254 Saliens ancient People of the French 7 Salomon seizes on the Kingdom of Bretagne 140 His unhappy end 144 Sanc first of the Hereditary Dukes of Gascongne 137 Sanche Duke of Castille makes a Peace with the King of France 323 Saracens become Mahometans 59 Saracens of Africa become the Masters of Spain 77 Saracens pass from Spain into France and make some Conquests there 80 They enter into Languedoc and destroy all that Country 83 Wherefore called Moors 83 They over-run all Provence and lay it waste ib. Torment Italy 146 Savari de Mauleon General for the English in Guyenne 296 The Saxons revolt 52 Throw off the Yoak of the French Dominion 79 Divided into several People ib. Made Tributary to the French 91 Entirely subdued become Christians 108 Schism in the Church caused by the dispute concerning the Worshipping of Images 84 Sclavonians have a quarrel with the French Austrasians 55 Make inroads upon Turingia 56 Sergius II. elected Pope without permission of the Emperor 136 He was not the first who changed his name but Sergius IV. ib. St. Ademar Institutor of the Order of the Templers 290 Sicilia a Kingdom its beginning and extent 242 243 By what means Sicilia fell under the Dominion of the Kings of Arragon 310 Dismembred in two 326 Siege and taking of Angens 144 Sigebert King of Austrasia chastises the Avari out of Turingia 29 Marries Brunehaud 30 Unfortunate taking upon the City of Arles 31 War with Chilperic his Brother 31 Assassinated and slain 32 Sigebert Bishop 62 Sigeric King of the Visigoths 4 Sigismund King of Burgundy abjures Arianism and receives the Orthodox Faith 20 Causes his Son Sigeric to be Strangled his retreat into a Monastery 21 His unhappy end ib. Silingi a barbarous People 4 Silvester II. Pope Example of extream severity 209 Simon de Montfort does Cross himself to go into the Holy Land 260 Simon Count de Nesles Regent of the Kingdom in the absence of St. Lewis the King 312 Of Simony 18 Bishops of Bretagne accused and convicted of that Crime 136 Prelats in France who voluntarily renounced their Benefices for this cause 229 Simplicity too great in a Prince 167 Sobrarve a little Territory in the Kingdom of Arragon 125 Sorabes reduced to reason 121 Spencers Hugh Father and Son Favourites of the King of England 351 c. Their unhappy end 352 Stilicon Massacred 4 Succession of Males to the Crown by preference to the Females 346 Suedes embrace the Christian Religion 110 Suevi over-run and ravage Gaul and then pass into Spain 270 Swiss Their generous Conspiracy against the oppressions of the Lieutenants of the House of Austria 334 T. Tanchelin his errors Church of the Twelfth Age. Tancred Son of Rebert Guischard 224 Tancred causes great discord between the Kings of France and England 256 Tartars make their irruptions their Original 302 Tassilon Duke of Bavaria and his Son Theudon shaved and confined to a Monastery 103 Te Deum Sung by the Benedictins in time of Lent 231 Templers their Institution and Confirmation Church of the Twelfth Age. Are utterly exterminated and their Order abolished throughout all Christendom 333 Thassilon Duke of Bavaria gives an Oath of Fidelity to King Pepin 93 Theodad King of the Ostrogoths his death 23 Theodald Maire of the Neustrians Theodald Son of Grimoald his death 78 Theodebald King of Mets. 25 His death 26 Theodebert Son of Thierry makes War in Languedoc then named Septimania 24 Theodebert Son of Thierry succeeds to the Crown of his Father and makes War against Clotair his Uncle 24 25 Carries his Arms into Italy his death his Children 24 Theodebert Son of Chilperic his death 32 Theodebert King of Austrasia vanquished in Battle and exterminated with his whole Race 43 Theoderic King of the Visigoths joyns with the Romans against Attila his death 10 11 Theoderic King of the Ostrogoths establishes the Kingdom of Italy 14 Theoderic King of Italy passes into Gall and comes to relieve the Visigoths against the French and the Burgundians and becomes King of the Visigoths 16 His death 21 Theudis King of the Visigoths in Spain his death 25 Thibauld Earl of Chartres and Tours 216 Thibauld Earl of Chartres declares War against the King 235 Thibauld Earl of Champagne falls into the Kings disgrace and is severely handled 243 Thibauld Earl of Blois and Chartres 245 Thibauld Earl of Champagne his death 246 Thibauld Earl of Champagne 260 Thibauld Earl of Champagne difference about Alix Queen of Cyprus his Cousin 299 Thibauld Earl of Champagne becomes King of Navarre 301 Thibauld Earl of Champagne becomes Chief of a new Croisade His death ib. Thibaud King of Navarre 312 His death 315 Thierry King of Austrasia otherwise of Mets treacherously abandons Clodomir his Brother 20 c. Makes himself Master of Turingia 21 Chastises the Auvergnats who had revolted against him ib. His death ib. Thierry King of Neustria and of Burgundy 64 He is shaved and confined to the Monastery of St. Denis ib. Recalled and resetled in his Royal Throne 6 Fights unfortunately against Ebroin Maire of the Palace and falls into his hands His death his Wife and his Children 70 Thierry called de Chelles King of France 81 His death 83 Thierry Earl of Alsatia disputes the Earldom of Flanders and remains sole Master and Possessor 168 Thierry of Alsatia Earl of Flanders he passes into the Holy Land 243 Thierry first Earl of Holland 146 Thierry Earl of Alsatia and Flanders his death 249 Thibauld III. Earl of Blois 259 Thibauld Earl of Champagne 296 A Conspiracy against him 299 Tietgaud Archbishop of Triers deposed and Excommunicated 140 St. Thomas Aquinas his death 316 Thomas Prior of St. Victor assassinated in the Arms of a Bishop Church of the Twelfth Age. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury undertakes the defence of the Church is assassinated in his Cathedral ib. Thuringia falls under the Dominion of the French 22 Title of King of Jerusalem annexed to that of Sicilia 319 Treason divinely punished 178 Translation of a Bishop from one See to another condemned 160 Trebisond Kingdom its beginning 263 Truce between the French and the Saracens of Spain broken 123 Truce or Peace of God established in France to prevent Factions Murthers and Robberies 253 Truce with the English and the Fleming 327 Truce with the English 299 Truce granted to the Flemings 330 Trincavel Son of the Earl of Beziers comes hostily upon the Kings Territories 301 Toloze County subject of a War 138 Subject of a great quarrel between the Kings of France and the Kings of England 248 Totila King of the Ostrogoths his death 26 Touars Guy Duke of Bretagne 263 Tournay erected to a Bishoprick Church of the Twelfth Age. Troubles and Factions in Normandy
of Bretagne though promised in Marriage to the Arch-Duke Maximilian she afterwards espouses the King of France 515 Anne Queen of France Wife of Lewis XII her death 554 Anne of Bolen Marries the King of England Henry VIII 591 Beheaded 605 d'Annebaut Mareschal of France 607 d'Annebaut Admiral goes to seek out the English upon their own Coasts 619 Anthony Duke of Brabant 420 Anthony Duke of Lorraine his death and his Children 618 Anthony de Bourbon King of Navarre 642 d'Aramon Ambassador of France to the Great Solyman Sultan of the Turks 629 Archambaud de Grailli Captal de Buch gets into possession of the County of Foix by the Sword 418 d'Armagnac the Count shamefully treated by the Count de Foix. 394 Passes into Lombardy against the Vicount John Galeas 413 Renders himself absolute in the Government of the Kingdom 433 Is held Prisoner at Paris 435 Those of his Faction pillaged and ill treated is restored to his Goods and Offices 494 His death ib. c. d'Armagnac James Duke of Nemours Beheaded 500 d'Armagnac the Bastard 484 Arming a dreadful Navy prepared against England without Success 409 Army Naval against the English 619 Arnaud de Corbie Connestable 428 d'Arras the Cardinal Commands the Kings Army 495 d'Ars Lewis a brave Soldier 541 Artewelle James dextrous undertaking and politick 362 His unhappy end 365 Assembly of the Clergy upon the complaint of the Kings Judges 358 Another at Paris for the defence of Pope John XXII 359 Assembly of the Estates general of France 379 Assembly of the Notables at Paris 428 Assembly of the Notables at Orleans 434 Assembly of the Grandees of the Kingdom at Tours 483 Assembly of the Estates general at Tours against Monsieur the Kings only Brother and against the Duke of Bretagne 489 Assembly of the three Estates upon the Subject of the deliverance of the Children of France Prisoners in Spain 587 Assembly of Ausburgh 593 Avarice of the Captains and Chief Commanders of the Army 's 565 d'Auberticourt Captain Ravages Picardy 379 d'Aubigni 518 c. Commands the Army of King Lewis XII in the Conquest of the Kingdom of Navarre 536 Avignon rendred to the Pope 367 d'Aumale Duke commanded to punish the Seditious in Guienne 627 Austria Erected to an Arch-Dutchy 513 B BAjazeth defeates the Christians in Hungary 417 Is himself defeated and taken Prisoner by Tamberland ib. c. John Baillet Treasurer of France Massacred 377 Balue the Cardinal Legate in France insolent arrogance 491 Betrayes King Lewis XI ib. Is held Prisoner Banquiers and Datary of the Court of Rome great abuses 629 Bar de Philip goes into Hungary against the Turks 418 His death 433 Barbazan a great Captain 453 Barbarossa falls upon the Island of Corfu and destroys the open Country 606 Comes upon the Coasts of Provence 615 Battle famous of Mont-castle in Flanders 358 Battle of Caen. 366 371 Battle of Poitiers between the French and the English glorious to the latter 374 Battle of Brignais 381 Battle of Azincourt 432 Battle of Varnes in Hungary 460 Battle of Fourmigni 463 Battle of Montleherry betwixt King Lewis XI and the Count de Charolois 485 Battle of Granson between the Burgundians and the Swiss 499 Battle of Montguion in Burgundy 501 Battle of Fornoue 522 Battle of Seminare in Calabria between the French and the Spaniards 538 Battle of Aignadel 545 Battle of Orange in Bretagne 513 Battle of Cerignoles in Puglia between the French and the Spaniards 538 Battle of Ravenna 550 Battle of Novarre 553 Battle of Guinegaste ib. Battle of Saint Quintins otherwise of Saint Laurence fatal to France 647 Battle of Mulberg where the Protestant Princes of Germany were vanquished 625 Battle of Cerizolles to the advantage of the French 616 Battle of Marcian to the disadvantage of the French 639 Bavaria Lewis Emperour treats the Pope ill his ill Conduct 359 Robert of Bavaria and Count Palatine is elected Palatine 418 Beauvais Besieged by the Duke of Burgundy and generously defended by the Women as well as by the Men. 494 Belgrade gained by the Turks 572 Bennet XII Pope 361 His Death 364 Bennet XIII Pope of Avignon 424 His Death 432 Betford or Bedford Duke Regent of the Kingdom of France 440 Blois Charles de vanquished in the Battle of Auvray loses the Day the Dutchy and his Life 385 Boniface IX elected Pope of Avignon 414 Caesar Borgia Duke of Valentinois Marries Charlote d'Albret 533 His unhappy End 541 Bourbon James Earl de la Marche 381 Bourgogne Dutchy united inseparably to the Crown ib. The said re-union annulled in favour of Philip the Hardy to whom the said Dutchy was given 382 The E. of Buckingham Lands at Calais with a Potent Army and Marches into Bretagne 402 John II. Duke of Bretagne without Children provides for the Preservation of the Dutchy 361 Bretagne in great Trouble after the Death of Duke John II. 363 c. Subjected to the Obedience of the King 392 In Troubles 511 United to the Crown 594 Bretons disjoyn from the French and recall their Duke refugiated in England 397 Contend with each other about the Marriage of their Princess Anne 514 Brunswick Duke Henry elected Emperour 418 Bull of Pope Julius exposing the Kingdom of Navarre as a Prey to the first Occupier 544 Bull Golden Bull. 373 Bureau de la Riuiere favorite of Charles VI. Bures Governor for the King beyond the Alpes 572 Bussy d'Amboise slain in the Battle of Marignan 559 C CAen the Castle taken and retaken in one Night 373 Calais besieged in vain upon the English 456 Calvin his Birth and the establishment of his Sect. 597 Cambray taken by Intelligence with the Emperour 551 Captains and Generals of Armies The Checks they receive is many times caused by the malice of those who are of the King's Councils 450 Cardinals in great Numbers in France 625 Cartels or Challenges of Defiance between the Kings of England and France to the Emperour 588 Castille falls under the Dominion of Philip Archduke of Austria 542 Chairadin Barbarossa ravages the Coasts of Naples and Sicilia 600 Is beaten by Sea and Land by the Emperour Charles V. ib. Charles of Bohemia elected Emperour 367 Charles King of Navarre being discontented retires from Court 372 Charles IV. Emperour Crowned in Rome 373 Charles V. Surnamed the Wise King of France 384 Makes a memorable Ordonance for the Majority of Kings at Fourteen years 393 His Death and his Elogy 398 His Wife and his Children 399 Charles the Wicked King of Navarre his unhappy end 410 Charles the Noble King of Navarre ib. Charles VI. King of France 400 His Death 441 Charles VII King of France his Coronation 447 A strange Accident which hapned to him ibid. His Death and his Children 467 468. Charles VIII King of France his Marriage with Margaret of Burgundy 504 Declared Major at Fourteen years his Coronation 508 His Triumphant Entry into Rome 520 His Death 525 Of Saint Charlemaine 529 Charles the Fifth formerly Charles
Armies beyond the Alpes his noble Exploits and glorious Death 550 Francis I. King of France heretofore Duke of Valois 556 Seeks the Alliance and Amity of his Neighbour Princes 527 Passes the Mountains for recovering the Milanois his happy Progress 558 c. Renews the Alliance with Charles of Austria 562 Birth of a Daufin ib. Renews the Alliance also with the English 563 Aspires to the Empire after the Death of Maximilian ib. Is hurt with Jeasting and Sporting 566 Sends an Army into Italy 569 Spaniards enter upon Guienne the English into Picardy 572 575 Drives the Imperialists out of Provence pursues them into Italy and lays Siege to Pavia 578 Is made Prisoner of War before Pavia and transferr'd to Spain 579 Is set at Liberty 582 Unites Bretagne to the Crown 594 Makes an Alliance with Solyman against the Emperour and the Venetians 606 Gives passage thorow France to the Emperour Charles V. to go into Flanders and does him all the Honour imaginable 608 Demands reparation of him for the Murther of two of his Ambassadors declares War against him and does attaque him in five several places 612 Carries his greatest Forces towards the Low-Countries and makes a considerable Progress there 614 Attaques the English in his own Country 619 Joyns in league with the Protestant Princes of Germany 620 His Death his Elogie his Wives and his Children 620 621 G GAbelle taken off from Guienne 640 Galeas John his Death 518 Gaunt Revolt and rising the Gantois 465 Gaston Phebus Earl of Foix makes the King his Heir 373 His Death 413 Gaucourt Lewis Prisoner of War 448 Governor of Daufiné beats the Duke of Savoy and the Prince of Savoy 452 Gentdarmerie reduced all into Companies d'Ordonance 457 Genoa puts its self under the Obedience of the King of France 416 Falls under the Dominion of Fregosa 460 Revolts against the King of France who brings them to reason 543 Is surprized by the Italians 572 Brought again to obey the King 587 Restored to Liberty 590 Geneva Revolt drives out their Bishop and changes their Government and Religion 599 Besieged in vain by the Duke of Savoy ib. Genoese relieved by the French against the Barbarians of Tunis 412 Revolt against France 551 Restored to obedience of the King 552 Gentlemen Pensioners of the King 501 Gonsalvo Ferdinand Great Captain 523 Federic de Gonzague first Duke of Mantoua 580 Ferdinand de Gonzague Governor of Milan 623 Gravelle Chancellour of the Empire 600 Gregory XI Pope restored to the See of Rome 394 His Death 396 Gregory XII Pope of Rome 422 Grignan Governor of Provence 618 The M. du Guast Governor of the Milanese for the Emperour 604 Defeated in Battle makes his Escape to Milan 616 Causes two Ambassadors of France to be killed 612 Guerin Kings Attorney in the Parliament of Provence 629 Gueschin Bertrand defeats the Navarrois 384 Made Prisoner in the Battle of Auroy 385 Brings from Spain the Bastard Henry de Castille against King Peter the Cruel his Brother 387 After is vanquish'd and taken Prisoner ibid. Is recalled from Spain by K. Charles 390 Is made Connestable of France his happy Progress 391 Secures all Bretagne for the King of France 392 His Death 397 c. Guienne is all regained by the French from the English 463 Gueldres Adolf Chief of the Gantois Forces 500 501 Guise the Duke Commands the King's Army in Italy 643 c. Guise Claude Duke at the Battle of Marignan 558 The C. de Guise Governor of Champagne repels the Germans 575 The D. of Guise refreshes with Men and Ammunition the City of Peronne 604 de Gyac 437 Beheaded 450 H. HAbits and their Reformation 386 Hangest de Hugueville 427 Harcourt Geffrey calls the English into Normandy 374 Harcourt Lewis Count Beheaded ib. Harfleur taken by Assault and Sacked by the English 418 Henry of Castille rises against King Henry his Brother to his Confusion 386 Denies his Brother in his turn and seizes on the Crown 387 Defeated again in Battle retires into France ib. He returns into Spain and remains King of Castille by the Death of his Brother 388 Henry of Castille defeats the English in a Sea Fight 391 Henry IV. King of England his Death 431 Henry V. King of England he Besieges and takes Rouen and Masters all Normandy 435 c. Marries Catherine of France 439 His Entry and his Coronation in Paris 440. ib. His Death ib. Henry VI. is Proclaimed and Crowned King of France 454 Marries the Daughter of Renee of Anjou 459 Causes Humphrey Earl of Glocester to be put to Death 460 Is vanquish'd by the Duke of York saves himself in Scotland 467 Is set at Liberty 492 Henry VII King of England His Death 547 Henry VIII King of England sees King Francis I. and they make a League betwixt them 594 Causes his Marriage with Catherine of Arragon to be dissolved and Espouses Anne of Boulen 595 Withdraws himself wholly from the obedience of the Pope and declares himself Head of the Church of England 596 Sollicites the French in vain to break with the Pope 597 His Cruelties draw the hatred of his Subjects upon him 611 Henry II. King of France 622 Seeks the Preservation of the Alliance with the Turks 625 Visits the Provinces of his Kingdom 626 Rupture between his Majesty and Pope Julius III. 630 c. Sollicites Solyman to break the Truce in Hungary ib. Quarrels openly with the Emperor 631 Makes a League with the Princes of Germany 632 Makes divers Edicts to procure and raise Money even on the Churches 632 Seizes upon Lorrain and gets the Cities of Mets Toul and Verdun ib. Takes divers places in Luxemburgh 633 Design against Naples miscarries 634 Great arming to small purpose 636 Ravages Brabant Hainault Cambresis the Country of Namur and Artois 638 Makes Peace with the Spaniard 651 Pursues the Religionaries most curelly 653 His Death and his Children 654 Heresies which appeared during the Fourteenth Age. 445 And infected France in the Fifteenth 527 Hesdin forced demolished and razed by the Imperialists 637 Hesse Landgrave takes the quarrel of the Dukes of Wittemburgh Hungary attaqued and desolated by the Turks 597 Humbert Daufin of Viennois makes a Donation of his Seignory of Daufiné to the King of France 369 Humieres Governor for the King beyond the Mountains 606 John Huss burnt alive 435 I JAcqueline Countess of Hainault Holland Zealand and Frizeland is carried away by the English 440 La Jacquerie 378 La Jaille beaten in Artois 642 Jane Queen of Sicily causes her Husband to be Strangled 368 Jane of Burgundy Queen of France her Death 369 Jane or Joan Queen of Naples dethroned by Charles de Duraz. 404 Her Death ibid. Jane or Joan II. Queen of Naples 431 Jane or Joan the Pucelle Chaces the English from before Orleans 451 Carries the King to Reims to be Crowned 451 Her other Exploits 452 c. She is taken Prisoner of War at the Siege of Compiegne by the English her Death
453 Her Memory justified 466 Jane Queen of Naples her death 448. 454 Jane Queen of France takes upon her the sacred Vail in a Convent 534 Jane of Castille loses her Wits 642 Jane Queen of Spain her Death 642 Indies West by whom discovered 516 517 John I. King of France 371 Defeated and vanquish'd in Battle and taken Prisoner by the English near Poitiers 374 Makes Peace with the English and is set at Liberty 380 Repasses into England 382 His Death his Wives and his Children 383 John XXII Pope degraded and another substituted in his place 359 His Death 361 John King of Arragon in War with the Castillian 482 John d'Albret King of Navarre deprived of his Kingdom by the Arragonians 551 Innocent VI. Pope 372 Innocent VII Pope of Rome 420 his Death 422 Innocent VIII Pope favours Reneé Duke of Lorrain against Ferdinand King of Naples 514 Inquisition cause of great Troubles in the Kingdom of Naples 625. Interim granted to the Protestants of Germany 610 Investiture granted to King Lewis XII of the Milanois by the Emperour 541 Investiture of the Kingdom of Naples given by the Pope to Ferdinand of Arragon 547 Isabella de Valois Dutchess Widdow of Bourbon made Prisoner by the English 389 Isabella of Bavaria Queen of France claims the Regency 435 c. Her death 456 Isabella of Bavaria Wife of King Charles VI. the too strict Union of this Princess with the Duke of Orleans gives a Scandal 421 Held Prisoner and afterwards gotten away by the Duke of Burgundy 435 Isabella Queen of Arragon her Death 542 Iscalin Paulin afterwards called the Baron de la Garde goes on behalf of the King to Solyman at Constantinople 612 Italy divided into two Factions for the Pope and for the Duke of Milan 629 Jubilé Centenary celebrated 536 Julius Pope 541 Recovers Bolognia upon John Bentivoglio 543 Enemy of France 547 He Leagues and Arms against the Venetians 545 Reconciled with them 546 Quarrels with the Duke of Ferrara about some Salt-Pits 547 Sollicites the Swiss and the King of England against France ib. Besieges the City of Miranda in Person 548 His Death 552 Julius III. Pope 628 Leagues with the Emperour against the Duke of Parma and the Count de la Miranda 629 Breaks with the King of France 630 c. Juliers the Duke kill'd in a Battle 389 Juvenal John Chancellor 430 K KNoles an English Captain 379 L LAdislas seizes upon Rome and the Lands of the Church 425 Ladislas the Young King of Hungary 460 Landgrave of Hesse Prisoner 624 Languedoc the Government of it given to the Lord de Chevreuse 416 Lanoy 583 Vice-Roy of Naples 584 Laon the Cardinal de Laon his Death 411 Lautrec bravely defends Bayonne 575 General of the Armies of the League in Italy his Exploits 587 c. Governor of the Milanois his Death 590 Lancaster Duke Lands at Calais with an English Army traverses and runs thorow all France without doing any considerable Exploit 387 Lands at Calais and over-runs the Country of Caux 388 Enters France in Arms. 427 Passes into Spain and Conquers a part of Castille 408 League of the King with the Venetians the Florentines and Sforsa for the deliverance of the Pope and the Children of France that were Prisoners 420 League of the Princes against the House of Burgundy 426 League the first the Kings had with the Swisse 501 League and rising of the Spaniards called the Santa Junta 565 League Holy League in England to prevent a Schism League offensive and defensive between the Pope the King of France and the Holy See 605 Leon King of Armenia flying from the cruelty of the Turks takes refuge in France 408 Leo X. Pope 552 His Death 552 D Leve Anthony General for the Emperour in Piedmont 602 Liege in great Troubles about the Election and Establishment of a Bishop 424 Taken by Storm sacked and burnt by the Duke of Burgundy 490 Implacable hatred of the Liegois against the House of Burgundy 424 Limoges taken by Storm by the English 392 Loire the River Loire frozen in the Month of June 484 Lorain Charles Cardinal raises himself and his House very much 629 c. Longueville Duke Prisoner in England 554 Lewis or Lovis of Bavaria Emperour Excommunicated by the Pope degraded from the Empire his Death 367 Lowis the Great King of Hungary Revenges the Death of the King of Sicilia his Brother 368 Lovis Duke of Anjou seizes on the Regency after the Death of Charles V. c. 400 His Death 408 Louis Duke of Orleance Brother of King Charles VI. 412 Is assassinated by order of the Duke of Burgundy 423 The Dutchess his Wife comes from Blois to Paris to complain to the King 424 c. Louis II. Duke of Anjou invested with the Kingdom of Naples 426 Louis of Anjou King of Sicily 430 Louis of Anjou King of Naples 454 His Death ib. Louis XI King of France his return from Flanders and his Coronation at Reims 481 Ill Conduct in the beginning of his Reign 482 His Death his Elogy his Wives and his Children 505 506. Louis King of Hungary vanquished by the Turks 584 Louis or Lewis XII King of France heretofore Lewis Duke of Orleance 532 His Marriage with Jane Daughter of Lewis XI declared null 534 Makes Peace and Alliance by Marriage with the King of England His Death 554 Louysa of Savoy Mother of King Francis I. Regent of the Kingdom during the Voyage of her Son into Italy 580 c. Her Death 594 Luther and of his Defection and going out of the Church the Birth of Lutheranisme 562 Lutheranisme introduced in Sweden in Denmark and Norway 606 Lutherans sought after in France 575 Punished ib. Called Protestants 562 Louret President of Provence 449 Luxury breeds from Desolation 374 M Perrin MAcé 377 Island of Madera's discover'd 439 Mahomet takes the City of Constantinople by force 465 His Death 503 Majority of the Eldest Sons of France Memorable Ordonance 393 c. Mantoua from a Marquisate erected to a Dutchy 592 Marcellus II. Pope 642 Mareschals of France 623 Margaret of Burgundy marries the Daufin of France 504 Margaret of Scotland Queen of France Her Death 506 Margaret of Austria Wife of Charles VIII is sent back into Germany to Maximilian her Father 516 Margaret Sister of King Francis I. passes into Spain 581 Marriage of Charles VI. with Isabella of Bavaria and of John of Burgundy with Margaret of Bavaria 408 Marriage of the Daufin of France with the Daughter of the Duke of Burgundy and the eldest Son of the Burgundian with Michel of France 421 Marriage of Catherine of France with the King of England 439 Marriage of Margarite of Anjou with the King of England 459 Marriage of King Lewis XII with Mary Sister of the King of England 544 Marriage of Philip of Spain with Isabella of France 654 Of the Duke of Savoy with Margaret Sister of King Henry II. 653 Mary Queen of England her Death 651 Mary Queen
English into Normandy 374 Philip Duke of Burgundy Son of John undertakes to revenge the Death of his Father 438 Seeds of Division between him and the English 440 He joyns to Flanders and Artois several other Counties and Lordships 450 He takes in second Marriage the Princess of Portugal 452 Institutes the Order of the Golden Fleece ib. He withdraws from the English and makes his Peace with the King of France 454 Besieges Calais upon the English in vain 456 Philip of Savoy is kept Prisoner 483 Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy his Death 488 Philip of Spain armes Powerfully against France 646 Enters himself upon Picardy 647 Philip of Spain Marries the Queen of England Recalled from England by the Emperour Charles V. his Father 966 Pius II. Pope his Design to make a War against the Turks without effect 467 Pius II. endeavours to extend the Power of the Popes beyond the bounds of all right and reason 482 Pisa shakes off the yoake of the Florentines 520 Pisseleu Anne Dutchess of Estampes 583 Diana of Poitiers Mistriss of Henry the Daufin afterwards King of France 622 623 Pompadour Geffrey Bishop of Periguex 511 Poncher Stephen Bishop of Paris 545 The Portuguese discover great Countries and Sail to the Indies 439 Posts and Couriers established 501 Poyet Chancellour of France deprived of his Office His death 610 Pragmatique abolished by a Declaration of the Kings that had no effect for the opposition it met with 482. 488 Set up by the Gallicane Church 526 Suppressed 526 Abolished by King Francis I. 560 The Praguerie a dangerous Commotion 457 Du Prat Chancellor Archbishop of Sens assembles a Provincial Council 590 Ant. du Prat Cardinal Archbishop of Sens His Death 599 The Provost of Paris Massacred 378 Protestant Princes of Germany and of their great Forces 620 Are vanquished 624 Protestants of Germany when and wherefore so named See Luther Protestants of Merindol and Cabrieres Massacred 618. 629 Provence parted in two 368 Psalter of the Virgin 539 Q QUarrel which arose between the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Bedford 449 Question about Property or Propriety makes a great debate and noise and ended with Fire and Faggot 443 R Giles de RAiz Mareschal of France Condemned to be Burnt alive 458 Rance de Cere General of an Army for the King at Naples 585 The C. de Rangon General of an Army in Italy 604 Ravenna taken and Burnt by the French 550 Rebellion severely chastised 609 Reconciliation of King Lewis XI with his Brother 491. Betwixt the Houses of Orleance and of Burgundy 458 c. Registers Baptisteries Religion Catholique abolished in England 626 Religionaries assemble by Night at Paris and are severely Punished 647 Peter Remi Sieur de Montigni Financier Drawn and Hanged 358 René of Anjou succeeds not in his Enterprize upon Naples 467 René Duke of Lorraine 496 Inconstant and variable ib. Is dispoiled of his Dutchy of Lorraine 497 Is amongst the Swiss and the Germans at the Battle of Morat 498 Is called to Naples to take that Crown 514 Rhodes Besieged by the Turks but bravely defended 503 Besieged and taken by the Turks 572 Richard II. Surnamed of Bourdeaux King of England 394 He and his Uncles Lancaster and Glocester have mortal jealousies of one another 416 He is made Prisoner Degraded and Deposed and Condemned to a perpetual Imprisonment 418 His Death Richard Duke of York excites a Civil War in England 464 Richard Duke of Glocester seizes tyrannically upon the Crown of England 504 505 Richmond Arthur Earl Connestable of France 448 c. Connestable and Duke of Bretagne His Death 466 Rincon Ambassadour of France assassinated 612 Robert the Wise King of Naples His Death 364 Rochefort William Chancellour of France 408 Rochell quits the English and returns to the Obedience of the King of France 391 Rome in great Trouble for the Election of two Popes 396 Attaqued taken by Assault Pillaged and ravaged by the Imperialists 585 586. Of the Rosarie 539 Rouen Besieged and taken by the English 437 Quits the English and returns under the obedience of the King of France 465 Roussillon sold to the King 482 Roussillon and Cerdagne rendred to Ferdinand 517 Rupture between France and the Empire 646 S SAcramentaries write against the Holy Sacrament 598 Eustace de Saint Peter a Burgher of Calais his Heroick Generosity to save his fellow Citizens 367 Saints or holy Persons living during the Fourteenth Age. 445 Salisbury E. Besieges Orleans 451 Lands in Bretagne 454 Salusses Marquiss Commands the King of France's Army in Italy 541 Commands the Army before Naples after the Death of Lautrec 590 Savoy erected to a Dutchy 433 Secret Women uncapable of Secresie 617 Secretaries the Kings Secretaries encreased 640 Sepus John King of Hungary in part 611 Sforza Ludowic surnamed the Moore was the principal Motive that determin'd King Charles IX to the Conquest of Naples 518 Seizes tyrannically upon the Milanois 520 c. Leagues with the Venetians and the Pope against the French 523 Treats with the King of France without executing any one Article of the Treaty agreed upon 523 Ludowic Sforza stripp'd of all his Estates takes refuge in Germany 534 His unhappy end 535 Sigismond Emperour comes to Paris 433 Sixtus IV. Pope solicites the Princes to Unite against the Turks 493 Solyman gets the best part of Hungary and lays Siege to Vienna in Austria 562 Attaques Hungary by Land and sends relief to the King 614 Seizes on Transilvania 630 Duke of Somerset Regent or Protector of England 626 Divisions between him and the Earl of Warwick 628 Agnes Soreau or Sorel Mistriss to King Charles VII 460 Stuard Robert King of Scotland 390 Suffolck Jane designed by King Edward and after his Death Proclaimed and received Queen of England 636 Made Prisoner 637 Swiss beat and utterly defeat the Burgundians in divers Battles 498 c. Refuse to engage against the French in Milan 535 Seize upon Bellinzonne ib. Devote themselves to the Pope against France 547 Beat and drive the French from before Novare 552 Enter into the Dutchy of Burgundy and Besiege Dijon 552 League with the Pope the Emperour the Arragonian and others against France for defence of the Milanese 557 George de Sully 522 T TAlbot a brave Soldier His death 464 Talmont Prince slain in the Battle of Marignan 559 Tamberlan 412 Toledo Peter Vice-Roy of Naples his Death 639 County of Tolosa united inseparably to the Crown 381 John Duke of Touraine Son of Charles VI. declares against the Armagnac's 433 His Death 434 Treaty of Marriage between the King of England Catherine of France Daughter of King Charles VI. 439 Treaty of Alliance between France and the Empire 542 Treaty of Madrid for the Liberty of Francis I. and for a Peace between the said Prince and the Emperour 582 Treaty of Peace between France and England 628 Transilvania invaded by the Turks 630 Truce between the French and English 415 416. Turks and
their Progress in Europe 412 Make a great Progress 562 Ravage the Island of Corfu Raise the Siege of Belgrade 606 Turelupines Heretiques 445 V VAlentinois and Diois United to Daufiné 460 Valentine of Milan Marries the Duke of Orleans 412 Vaudemont Commands the Naval Force for the King at Naples 585 His Death 590 Vaudois in the Alps exterminated Venceslaus Emperour King of Bohemia comes into France 417 Is degraded of the Empire 418 Venetians jealous of the glorious Success of the French in Italy make a League against them 521 Conquer a part of the Dutchy of Milan 536 Their irregular Ambition draws the French Arms upon them as also the Emperour and the Pope and are roughly handled 545 Their Affairs re-settled 546 Shut up the Passage into Italy against the Emperour Maximilian 544 c. Agree with France 552 John de Vienne Admiral of France Lands in Scotland against the English 408 Goes into Hungary against the Turks 417 La Vigne Ambassador of France at Constantinople 644 Villeroy Secretary of State 623 De Villers-Adam Burgundian is by Night introduced into Paris and makes himself Master of it 435 436 P. de Villers L'Isle-Adam Great-Maistre of the Knights of Rhodes 573 University of Paris and its Priviledges 413 Endeavour to determine the Schisme that was in the Church 414 A mark of their Power 420 Their continual pursuits for the re-union of the Church 422 Hinder the Abolition of the Pragmatique 482 Its Reformation 506 Vrban V. Pope ransomed by the Forces that were going into Spain 389 His Death 391 Vrban VI. Pope 396 Baseness and meanness 402 To revenge himself of Jane Queen of Naples he causes Charles de Duras to go thither and take Possession of that Kingdom 404 Sounds a War on all hands against the Clementines 407 His Death 414 Francis Maria Duke of Vrbin 570 The D. of Vrbin General of the Venetian Army 584 Commands the Confederate Army in Italy 591 D'Vrfé Grand Escuyer 508 The Earl of Warwick chaces Edward of York King of England 492 His Death 493 Dukes of Wirtemberg restored to their Countrey 597 Wirtemberg Duke General of an Army 605 Wickliffe X JOhn Xancoins Receiver General convicted of Misdemeanour 466 Y The D. of York Slain in Battle 467 Z John de ZApols pretended King of Hungary calls in the Turks to his Assistance 562 Zizim Son of Mahomet Prisoner to the Knights of Rhodes 503 Is put into the hands of Pope Innocent VIII 515 Zuinglius begins to Vend his Opinions Doctrines and Errors 563 A TABLE OF THE KINGS OF FRANCE Contained in this THIRD PART FRANCIS II. King LIX Page 657 1559. In July CHARLES IX King LX. 673 1560. In December INTERREGNVM 731 1574. In June HENRY III. King LXI 737 1574. In September HENRY IV. King LXII 797 1589. In August A TABLE Of the Principal Matters contained in this THIRD PART A ABbey of Saint Peter sacked Pag. 817 Abbeville sets up the Ensigns of the League 788 Submits to the King 839 Azores faithful to the Prior of Crato 753 Aiguesmortes surprized by Montbrun 728 Aiguillon taken by the Huguenots 709 Aix for the League 744 John d'Alargon de Merargues his Treachery 920 Alba-Royal taken by the Christians 886 Arch-Duke Albert of Austria 854 Takes Calais 855 And Ardres ib. d'Albret Jane Queen of Navarre Aldobrandius makes a Faction 915 Alfonso II. Duke of Ferrara 861 Alenson Duke courts Queen Elizabeth of England 722 Favours the Hereticks 725 Demands the general Lieutenancy of the Army 's 727 The King refuses him ib. Is the only hopes of the Huguenots ib. Escapes and gets to Dreux 741 Makes his Peace 743 Comes to Court 744 Takes the Title of Duke of Anjou Subject of his Animosity against the Huguenots 744 Besieges and takes la Charité 748 The King not willing he should concern himself in the business of the Low-Countries causes him to be secur'd he escapes 751 Comes to Anger 's and from thence to Mons in Hainault where he takes the Low-Countries into his Protection ib. Takes places for his Security ib. Besieges Bins and beats it so furiously that he takes it ib. Maubeuge opens her Gates to him ib. Quesnoy and Landrecy refuse him entrance ib. Alenson resents not the fury of the Saint Bartholomew Pag. 721 l'Allemand Vouzé Master of Requests discovers the Conspiracy of Amboise 665 Alost surprized by the Duke of Anjou 762 Ambassadour of France goes before him of Spain 685 Ambassadours of Poland their arrival to Congratulate their new King 725 Amnistie general granted to the Huguenots 688 Amnistie granted to the Parisians by Henry IV. 834 Amurath III. Sultan 876 Angoulesme seized by the Huguenots 680 Anjou Duke made General of the Armies 698 Fights the Battle of Jarnac 704 Raises the Siege of Poitiers 712 Fights the Battle of Moncontour 721 Excites his Brother to Massacre the Huguenots 717 Is elected King of Poland 725 Is much beloved there at first but soon after hated 726 Anthony King of Navarre 657 Unworthily used 659 Commands an Army for the King 683 Wounded at the Siege of Rouen his Death ib. Anthony Prior of Crato declares himself King of Portugal Comes into France 753 Antwerp taken and sacked by the Spanish Soldiers 751 Missed by the Duke of Anjou 763 Ardemburgh taken by the Hollanders 913 Arras the place where the Duke of Parma died 827 Arrest or Decree of Parliament in favour of Henry IV. 831 Arrest annulling all the Arrests or Decrees made against Henry IV. 838 Arrest or Sentence against Biron 896 Articles of Pacification granted to Rochel by the Duke of Anjou 725 Articles of the Treaty between Henry IV. and the Duke of Savoy 887 Assemblies Nocturnal and Clandestin of the Religionaries forbidden 661 Assembly of the Grandees of the Kingdom at Fountaâ—nbleau to remedy the troubles caused by the differences in Religion 666 Assembly of the Huguenots at Millaud 732 Assembly of the Notables at Compeigne 726 Assembly of the Clergy of France Church 16 th Age. Ast rendred to the Duke of Savoy 675 Aumale Duke Commands the King's Armies in Normandy 682 Austria Don Juan going to the Low-Countries passes thorow France 744 Is Governor thereof 751 Approves of the Pacification of Ghent ib. Gains the Battle of Gemblours 752 His death ib. Suspected to have been Poisoned by his Brother the King of Spain 752 Auvergne redeems themselves from being Plundred by the Germans 742 Auvergne partly debauched from the Service of the King 791 Count d'Auvergne apprehended 914 His long Imprisonment 915 B BAligny natural Son of the Bishop of Valence disposes the Polanders to elect the Duke of Anjou for their King 724. Balagny advises the War against the Spaniard 842 Loses Cambray 849 Balsac Frances Entragues Married with a Natural Daughter of Charles IX 730 Baronius an ardent defender of his Holiness 926 Bellarmine a defender of his Holiness 926 Serves Henry IV. 849 Barry Georges la Renaudie Deputy for the Huguenots 665 Is made Lieutenant to the Prince of Condé ib.
at the end of his dayes 730 His death 729 Description of his Person ib. His inclinations ib. Was a great Swearer 730 His Children ib. Vices Predominant during his Reign ib. Caused his Daughter to be named by Elizabeth Queen of England Chastel John wounds the King in the Mouth or the nether Lip 842 Is Condemned 843 Chastelleraud place of the Assembly of the Huguenots 871 Cemitery or Burial Place allowed the Huguenots at Paris 743 Clement VIII gives some Convents to the Recolts Church 16 th Age. Coligny the Admiral charged with the Death of the Duke of Guise 687 Joyns with the Germans 699 Is Condemned to Death and his Head proscrib'd 707 Takes several places going to Bearn 702 Comes to Court and is highly favoured 715 Is Massacred 719 Company or Society of Jesuites restored in France 907 Condé Princess loved by Henry III. 739 The King would vacate her Marriage and have her for his own Wife ib. Her death 739 Princess of Condé makes the King in Love with her 936 Is carried away by her Husband into Flanders 937 Confederation between Queen Elizabeth of England and the Huguenots of France 683 Conference between Henry King of Navarre and the Duke of Espernon 760 Confusion or amazement of those that were present at the Murther of Henry IV. 942 Councel of France betray'd 911 Courtiers Italians ruine the Kingdom of France 774 Courtiers adore not the Prince but during his Grandeur Cracovia in Uproar upon the departure of Henry III. 732 Croquants a Faction in the time of Henry IV. 840 Curates of Paris assembled to acknowledge Henry IV. 838 Curton dis-engages Florat Seneschal of Auvergne 705 D DAcier Commands a Body of an Army 703 Is made Prisoner 712 Dacier Attorney General preserves the City of Touloze for Henry III. 788 Dandelot Brother to the Admiral de Coligny imbued with the Opinions of Calvin 666 His resolution 696 Is with the Prince at Rosoy 697 Passes the River after the Battle of Paris 697 Makes up a small Army 704 Falls into Poitou 705 Declaration of the Duke of Guise against King Henry III. 769 Declarations of Henry III. against the leagued 788 Decree of the Clergy assembled at Mante declaring the Pope's Bulls against Henry IV. to be Null 850 Deputies of the pretended Reformed Churches have Permission to hold an Assembly at Mante 835 Dispair often-times more advantageous than good Fortune it self 794. 835 Desportes Abbot of Tyron a greater Courtier than a Poet though an excellent Poet for those times 818 Diego d'Ibarra Ambassadour of Spain 821 Demands the Crown for the Infanta ib. Diepe remains faithful to Henry III. 788 Acknowledges Henry IV. 801 The Difference between the Pope and the Venetians 925 Dijon sees Casimir pass by with his Germans 742 Given to the Chiefs of the League 771 Is seized by the Duke of Mayenne 787 Would return to their Obedience under the King and is hindred by the Duke of Mayenne 841 Its Reduction 844 Declaration denouncing a War against King Philip. 843 Directors and Confessors animate the People 775 Disciples of Luther Church 16th Age. Dixmude taken by the Duke of Alenson 762 Rendred to the States of the Low-Countries 763 Doctors of Paris enter into a Conference with Henry IV. 832 Dominique de Gourgues a Gascon revenges the French Massacred in Florida by the Spaniards 701 Doria General of the Spanish Galleys 713 Brings back his Vessels to Naples and forsakes the Christians 714 Doway its Seminary filled with Catholiques too Zealous 758 Dourlens taken by Orleans cause of the death of the Guises 782 Is granted to the League ib. Dourlens will needs be comprized in the Edict of the Reduction of Amiens Under King Henry IV. 839 Drougne a River where was fought the Battle of Coutras 778 Dunkirk in the hands of the Spaniards 758 Taken by the Duke of Alenson 762 Duel famous between Philipin Bastard of Savoy and the Lord de Crequy 876 Duplessis Mornay agrees Henry III. and Henry of Navarre afterwards King of France 791 D'uumvirs of Marseilles 851 E EBion his Errors renewed in the Sixteenth Age. Vide Ch. 16 th Age. Eclipses Three in one year 919 Edict to put Persons that were irreproachable into Offices of Judicature 665 Edict in favour of the Huguenots at the instance of the Queen Regent under Charles IX 675 It was the first that they ever obtained ibid. Edict against Duels 705 Edict Prohibiting foreign Manufactures 905 Edict which gives to Calvinisme the Name of Pretended Reformed Religion Edict against Duels and Bankrupts 934 Edward Prince of Portugal 752 Egmont Count his death 699 d'Elboeuf Duke Prisoner at Loches 790 Elector Frederic of Saxony vanquished and destituted of his Dutchy 937 Eleonor de Roye Wife of the Prince of Condé 658 Eleonor Daughter of William Duke of Cleves 937 Wife of Albert Federic Duke of Prussia ibid. Elgade a City of the Azores taken by Don Antonio Prior of Crato pretending himself to be King of Portugal 760 Taken by the Spaniards ib. Elizabeth de la Paix Wife of the King of Spain and Daughter of France is Poisoned 700 Elizabeth Queen of England assists the Huguenots 662 France declares War against her 689 Takes the Low-Countries under her Protection 762 Courted by the Duke of Alenson 754 Will take no Husband and the reason wherefore ib. Sends the Order of the Garter to the King 768 Puts Mary Stuart to Death 776 Sends assistance to Henry IV. 818 Sends Succours to the Siege of Amiens 860 Receives the Mareschal Biron very well 883 Her Death and her Praise 902 903 Elizabeth Daughter of Henry IV. 943 Is married to Philip IV. King of Spain ib. Emmanuel King of Portugal from whom by Daughters are issued the Dukes of Braganza 752 d'Entragues Espouses Mary Toucher Mistriss to Charles IX 876 Her Daughter beloved by Henry IV. ib. Is Condemned to be Beheaded but receives her Pardon 914 Ernest Archduke proposed to the Estates assembled at Paris to be King of France marrying the Infanta of Spain 831 Ernest of the House of Brandenburg pursues the right of his Nephew upon Cleves 939 Eseovedo Secretary of Don Juan of Austria is Poignarded 752 Espernon Duke Favorite of Henry III. designs against the Duke of Anjou 764 Makes a Party to seize upon the Duke of Guise 770 Being in the highest degree of favour advises the ruin of the Guises 775 Hinders the League from making any great Progress in Normandy 781 Was in the Coach with Henry IV. when he was Murthered 942 The Queen confides much in him 943 Causes her to be declared Queen Regent ibid. d'Espinay the Princess in the absence of her Husband defends Tournay during two Months 758 Essars d'Amoiselle beloved by Henry IV. 934 Estampes taken by Henry IV. 800 Estates assembled at Blois under Henry III. 804 Estates General of the Vnited Provinces treat with the Duke of Anjou 751 Are in Combustion The Duke of Anjou having endeavour'd to make himself Master of Antwerp they notwithstanding sends him Provisions
763 Send Deputies to King Henry III. to proffer him the Government of the Country 769 d'Estree beloved of Henry IV. goes to the Siege of Amiens the murmurings of the whole Army obliges her to quit the Camp 859 Sollicites the King to marry her 869 Her death 871 Europe began to be more enlightned in the 16th Age. Chu 16 th Age. F FAbian Son of Blaise de Montluc assists his Brother Bertrand in his Design for the East-Indies 701 Famagusta the Capital City of Cyprus gainedby the Turks 713 Federick Marquiss of Baden assists the King against the Huguenots 710 Ferdinand Emperour Brother of Charles V. 692 His death ib. Flemmings cannot endure the Inquisition 695 Final taken by the Spaniards 893 Florida whence the Name 700 Florence Duke assists the Duke of Nevers to seize upon Marseilles 769 la Force Massacred at the Saint Bartholomews 720 His Son Escapes ib. Fort Charles in Florida built by the Spaniards and taken by Dowinique de Gourgues 701 Fra Paolo otherwise Pol Soaue writes for the Republique of Venice against the Pope 926 Is like to be Murthered 928 France in Civil War for Religion 679 Hath always the preference before Spain 685 Afflicted with two most cruel Maladies 757 Their King essentially most Christian 798 Francis I. settles the Art of making Silk in Poitou 904 Was not severe against the Huguenots Church 16 th Age. Recalls his Legats from the Councel of Trent ib. Francis II. King of France 657 Falls Sick 670 His Death and Burial 671 Franche-Comte attaqued by the French 842 Promised to Biron with a Daughter of Spain 884 Given to Isabella Clara Eugenia Infanta of Spain 869 Conditions of that Donation ib. Frisia gives all Power to the Prince of Orange 751 Fuentes Governor of the Low-Countries 843 Besieges Cambray 847 Gains a Victory upon the French 847 Obliges Prince Maurice to raise the Siege of Grol 848 Takes Cambray and does not make an ill use of his Victory over the French ibid. Personal Enemy of Henry IV. 878 Fulgentius writes for the Venetians against the Pope 926 G GAbriella d'Estreé beloved of Henry IV. assists at the Ceremony of his Conversion 832 Gantois hate the French and the Roman Religion 762 Gascons in Dispute with the Provenceaux 825 Gaspard Bishop of Modena Nuncio in France 871 Delegated to take cognisance of the Nullity of Marriage of Henry IV. and Margaret of Valois 871 Geneva the Duke of Savoy endeavours to seize it 802 Withdraw from their Obedience to the Bishop Church 16 th Age. Call in Calvin and Farel to be their Pastors ib. Is as it were the Pontifical seat of Calvinisme ib. Gerard Balthazar a Franc-Comtois Emissary of the Spaniards Kills the Prince of Orange with a Pistol 767 Gondi the Cardinal confers with Biron 806 Golf of Venice the Ceremonies used there at the Reception of Henry III. 733 Gregory XIII Pope regulates the Calender 761 Gregory XIV declared an Enemy of the Peace and Union of the Church Enemy of the King and of the State 815 His death 818 Grisons renew the Alliance with Henry IV. 892 Quit the Roman Religion Chur. 16 th Age. Guiche the Countess beloved by the King of Navarre 773 Angry at the King 's forsaking her she endeavours to debauch his Sister 814 Guienne acknowledges Henry IV. 824 Guises make themselves Masters at Court under Francis II. 657 c. Duke of Guise possesses the whole favour of Francis II. 660 The Huguenots would ceaze him to make his Process 665 Fortifies himself with the Name of the King 669 Causes the Prince to be apprehended and prosecuted 670 Gains the Battle of Dreux 686 And makes the Prince Prisoner ib. His Courtesie and Gallantry ib. Lays Siege to Orleans 887 Is assassinated by Paltrot ib. Justifies himself of the Murther at Vassy 887 His Praises ib. Guise Duke returns into France with his Uncle the Cardinal of Lorrain 692 Defends Poitiers bravely and acquires much reputation 706 Is the Principal Author of the Saint Bartholomew 717 Is made the Chief to execute that Massacre 718 Declares for the League and seizes on the Cardinal of Bourbon 768 The Pope compares him to the Machabees 784 Has several Advertisements given him of his Danger 786 Is assassinated by the Order of Henry III. at the Estates of Blois ib. His Body is burnt by Richelieu 787 Guise the Cardinal bears the Cross in a Procession 764 Would make himself Master of Normandy 781 Is hindred by the Duke of Espernon ib. Guise Duke before Prince of Joinville made Prisoner at the Death of his Father 787 Escapes out of Prison 817 Is attaqu'd near Abbeville by King Henry IV. 821 Aspires to the Crown 832 Kills Saint Pol Governor of Reims and makes his accommodation with Henry IV. 841 Reduces Marseilles to obedience of the King 852 Gustavus Ericson introduces the Confession of Ausburgh in Sweden 913 H. HAinaut suffers scarcity 760 Hampton-Court the place in England where the Treaty between Queen Elizabeth and the Huguenots was concluded 683 Havre de Grace deliver'd to the English ibid. Besieged by the French Surrendred 689 Henry d'Angoulesme Bastard Brother to Charles IX has Order from the King to kill the Duke of Guise 712 Henry of Navarre Espouses Margaret of Valois 717 Generosity of that Prince who refuses to kill the Sole Heir of the Kingdom 740 Hates his Wife who hath as little Love for him 750 Henry III. is kill'd on the same day and at the same place where he advised the Massacre of St. Bartholomew 795 Henry Cardinal Archbishop of Evora King of Portugal after the death of Sebastian 752 Henry grand Prior of France Bastard Brother to the King 753 Henry III. King of France and of Poland 737 Leaves Poland 732 Makes his Entrance into Paris 739 Hates the House of Guise 745 Loves the Princess of Condé 757 Forms the design of putting the Duke of Guise to death 780 Besieges Paris reduces it to extremity and is kill'd at Sainct Cloud 795 Heemskerk Admiral for the States of the United Provinces attaques the Spanish Flota is slain his death glorious 790 Henry IV. his coming to the Crown 797 Gains the Battle of Ivry 705 Besieges Rouen 821 820 Beats up the Duke of Guise's Quarters at Abbeville 821 Opposes at Fontaine-Francoise and bears the brunt of the whole Spanish Army and gives proofs of his Heroick Courage 845 Receives his absolution from Rome 849 His consternation upon the loss of Amiens 858 Regains that Town in Sight of the Arch-Duke 862 Demands of the Duke of Savoy the Restitution of the Marquisate of Salusses 876 His Marriage with Mary de Medicis 885 Does what he can possibly to save Biron and in fine leaves him to the Law 895 Loves the Princess of Condé and is ready almost to declare War against the Arch-Duke upon her occasion 936 c. Forms the Design to pull down the House of Austria 938 His Wife Mary de Medicis Crowned 941 Is Murthered 942 Predictions of his death 941
Protests to Francis her Brother she will forsake her Errors ib. She repents it again and writes to Calvin ibid. Mary Stuart Wife of Francis II. 671 Is beheaded Mary of Cleves espouses the Prince of Condé 717 Mary de Medicis Married to Henry IV. 885 Is Crowned and declared Regent 941 Massacre of Vassy the first Signal of the War for Religion 679 Matthias Arch-Duke Brother to the Emperour in the Low-Country 751 Matilda Wife of Alphonso III. King of Portugal the Subject of the Pretensions of Catherine de Medicis to that Kingdom 753 Prince Maurice besieges Newport is beaten at first by the Arch-Duke Albert and at length gains the Victory 880 Maximilian II. succeeds to Ferdinand I. 692 Maximilian Emperour Elected King of Poland 740 Duke of Mayenne leads an Army Royal against the Prince 742 The Spaniards in deliberation for cutting off his head 842 Agrees with the King 851 Puts the King upon the Siege of Amiens 858 Serves well in that Siege 859 Horace de Monte a Neapolitan Archbishop of Arles Named for the dissolving of the Marriage of Henry IV. 871 Montmorency Connestable of France comes to the Assembly of the Grandees Convocated by Catherine de Medicis at Fontainbleau 668 Harrasses the Army of the Huguenots 697 Gives them Battle is wounded to death his great courage in that last moment ibid. The Prince of Montpensier at the Estates of Orleans 670 Seeks the Heyress of Sedan for his Son 818 His Death 824 Morisco's exterminated in Spain 933 Mouker the place where Requesens gained a Battle 751 Moulins place of the Assembly where they made the Famous Edict of that Name 694 Mustapha Bassa enters the Island of Cyprus 713 N. NAmur Surprized by Don Juan of Austria Governor of the Low-Countries 751 Nani Ordinary Ambassadour of Venice to the Pope retires with Duodi the Extraordinary Ambassador 926 Nantes the Parliament of Renes is transfer'd thither 665 The place of the Famous Edict of that name 866 Adolphus of Nassaw vanquish'd by Albert 880 Philip of Nassaw restored to Liberty marries Eleonor of Condé and is restored to his Principality 924 Nemurs Duke put in Prison after the death of the Duke of Guise 787 Escapes 789 Is made Governor of Paris 806 Aspires to the Crown 831 His strange Kind of Death 844 Nerac Jane d'Albret banishes thence the Roman Religion which Charles IX re-establishes 693 Nerestan Philibert Captain of the Guard du Corps is made Grand-Maistre of the Order of Nostre-Dame of Mount Carmel Church 16 th Age. Neyen John or Ney a Cordelier deputed by the Arch-Dukes to mediate a Peace between them and the United Provinces 929 Nevers Duke pursues the Huguenots receives a blow which he feels all his life after 698 Nicholas III. Pope Chu 16th Age. Nicosia taken by the Turks 713 Fra. Noialles Bishop of Dags Ambassadour in Turky 716 Notables assembled at Saint Germains en Laye 765 La Noue Francis a Huguenot Captain his Wisdom in admiration amongst the Catholiques 698 The Nouueaux a Cabal under Charles IX 724 Noyers a Castle of the Prince of Condés a Soldier measures the Fosse or Graft and they would have surprized that Prince 702 Noyon taken by the Duke of Mayenne 829 Besieged by Henry IV. 839 Is taken ib. O d'O Surintendant of the Finances under Henry III. 752 Upon the refusal of the Duke of Longueville declares to Henry IV. the Sentiments of those Catholiques who follow'd him 798 His death 840 His Vices ib. d'Ognagne a Spanish Captain Conducts the Soldiers who surprized Amiens 857 Ochinus Bernardinus Apostatises question whether he were the Institutor of the Capucins Chur. 16 th Age. Orange Prince Founder of the States of the United Provinces 699 Orange Prince is thwarted by the Flemmish Lords 752 Provinces that obey'd him 751. 757 Is elected Lieutenant by the Arch-duke Matthias 751 Puts the Ducal Vesture upon the Duke of Anjou 759 Is assassinated ib. Recovers of his Wounds ib. Discovers the Treachery of Salsede ib. Thwarts the Duke of Anjou 762 Treats the French courteously after their Attempt upon Antwerp Retires to Antwerp 763 Is Kill'd 767 Order of Saint Michael greatly vilified 753 Its Institutor and reasons for its Establishment 753 754 Orders new of Religious are the Promoters of the League Ch. 16 th Age. Order of the Annunciation ib. Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem Ch. 16 th Age. Order of Saint Lazarus ib. Order of the Celestial Annunciado's ib. Order of the Templers ib. Orleans the Prince of Condé goes thither and the Huguenots make it their place of Arms. 686 d'Ossun Surnamed the Brave flies at the Battle of Dreux and for madness starves himself to Death 687 Ostend attempted by the Duke of Anjou but misses his aim 762 Besieged by Duke Albertus 889 How long the Siege lasted 913 c. Oysans a Fort built by Lesdiguieres 785 P PAceco Duke of Ascalone Ambassadour from Spain foments the Division between the Pope and the Venetians 926 Pacification of Ghent 695 Papaux a Name given to the Catholiques by the Huguenots 673 Pareus Ambros accused of having Poisoned Francis II. 671 Paris besieged by Henry III. reduced to extremity and saved by a detestable Monk 794 795 Parliament of Paris gives the Name of Conservator of the Country to the Duke of Guise 667 Parma Duke brings Relief to Don Juan of Austria 751 Commands the Army after the Death of that Prince 752 Takes Maestrickt 757 Takes Breda 758 Takes Tournay after it had been bravely defended by a Lady ib. Invests Antwerp Hath much ado to resolve to come into France 811 Enters Paris and hath Compassion of them 812 Takes Corbeil ib. Retires from Ivetot with great industry 822 Dies at Arras 827 Paul IV. his Death 662 Endeavours to set up the Inquisition every where ib. The Romans beat down his Statuas ib. Paul III. suspends the Council of Trent 668 Approves of the Jesuites Ch. 16 th Age. Paul V. declares the Cardinal de Joyeuse Legate in France for three Months that he may represent him as Godfather to the Daufin the Son of Henry IV. 923 The Paulette its Author and its Establishment 912 Perigueux sacked 740 Perthau Bassa escapes at the Battle of Lepanto 714 Philibert Emanuel Duke of Savoy yields his Right in Portugal to the King of Spain 752 His Death 757 Philip of Spain intermeddles with the Affairs of France under pretence of Religion 678 Sends Ambassadors to Charles IX to sollicite him to depute to Nancy where the Assembly of Christian Princes was assigned 691 Causes the Council of Trent to be Published and sets up the Inquisition in the Low-Countries 695 His merciless Councils ib. Puts his Son to Death and causes his Wife to be Poisoned 700 Seizes upon Portugal 753 Equipps a mighty Fleet against England 783 Gives the Low-Countries to his Daughter Isabella the Conditions of the Donative 869 His Malady his Death his Age and his Successor ib. Philip III. King of Spain is married to Margaret of France
869 Du Perron Cardinal made choice of to go to Rome to demand the Absolution of Henry IV. 848 Compleats the said important Affair 849 His Birth Church 16 th Age. Piali Bassa Admiral of the Forces sent by the Turk to Malta 693 Pius IV. takes the Alarm at a National Council in France 668 His Vanity Vide Chur. 16 th Age. Pius V. makes a League between the Spaniards and Venetians 715 De Piles valiantly defends Saint John d'Angely 708 Poissy the place of the famous Colloquy of that Name 676 Politiques a Faction Ch. 16 th Age. John Poltrot Meré Assassinates the Duke of Guise 687 Prodigles at the Deaths of Henry II. Henry III. and Henry IV. 941 Provinces-Vnited sollicite the French and the English to enter into a League 931 Pseffercon a Renegado Jew advises the Emperor to cause all the Jewish Books to be Burned Chur. 16 th Age. Writes against Renchin ib. Q QVarante of Paris chosen out of several Cities 788 Proclaim Charles Cardinal of Bourbon King 799 Quercy Appenage of Margaret of Valois 755 Quin̄ones Conde de Luna Ambassador of Spain at the Council of Trent disputes the precedency with France 685 John Quintin Speaker for the Clergy at the meeting of the Estates under Charles IX 673 Gives the Admiral Satisfaction 674 R RAbastains Besieged by Montluc where he was hurt 740 The Mareschal de Rais by his Practises hinders Rochel from receiving any relief from England 724 Rambouillet beats the leagued at Sablé and takes many Prisoners releases his Wife 807 Rasats a Faction under Henry III. 740 Rapin sent to Touloze by the Prince they make his Process 699 His death revenged 709 Reformed Religion at what time the Huguenots took that Title 743 Religion makes People undergo every thing 723 Makes even the very Women become couragious ib. La Renaudie chosen by the Huguenots to assemble those of their belief 665 Indiscreetly discovers his Design ib. Kills his Cousin and is Kill'd 666 Re-Union Edict given by Henry III. 783 Is sworn to by the King 784 Jo. Ribaud returns to Florida is ill treated by the Winds and worse yet by the Spaniards 700 Jo. Ribaud sent to Florida by the Admiral builds a Fort there and returns ib. His Men coming away after him are reduced to such Streights by Famine that they eat one of their Sick Company are relieved by the English ib. Rochel enters into the Huguenot Party 698 Fortifie themselves after the Saint Bartholomew 722 Is invested 723 Fortified by the Huguenots it defends its self wonderfully well ib. Rodolph King of the Romans Son of the Emperor Conducts Henry III. 733 Requesens Governor of the Low-Countries 750 Gains a famous Battle ib. A League against him ib. Rosny Surintendant of the Finances 840 Ambassador in England 903 Rosoy in Brie the Rendezvous of the Huguenots to surprize Charles IX at Monceaux 696 Rossius a Physician Hanged 825 De Roüet a Damoiselle beloved by the King of Navarre is cause of his Death 684 Rouen besieged by the Kings Army conducted by the King of Navarre and the Duke of Guise 683 Their Fort Saint Catherine taken by Assault ib. The City taken by Storm and Sacked ib. Besieged and quitted by Henry IV. 800 Roussel Francis May David surprizes the Castle of Vernueil and makes himself Master of the Town after a long Fight 682 N. de Roye Mother-in-Law to the Prince of Condé seized at the Estates of Orleans 670 Rybeirac Second in a Duel to Entragues the first Example of that kind 750 S. SAbellius his Errors in Vogue Sacierge Peter Chancellour under Lewis XII Church 16th Age. Sacramentaries a Name given to the Huguenots ib. Sagner Advoyer of Berne brings a Message for renewing of the Alliance with Henry IV. 898 Saint Cloud the place where Henry III. was lodged during the Siege of Paris and Murther'd 795 Sainte-Croix Marquess takes the Acores upon Don Antonio 760 His cruelty ib. Sainte Soulene draws off his Ships when they were ready to engage 760 They make his Process ib. Saint John d'Angely Besieged by the Duke of Anjou is taken after a rude Siege 708 Saint Luo Favorite of Henry III. forfeits his favour because he would undeceive his Master 772 Hurts the Prince of Condé to whom he afterwards Surrenders himself a Prisoner 778 Salsede Nicholas his Original his Treason and his Death 759 Salusses Marquisate seized by the Duke of Savoy 785 The King redemands it 870 Treaty for the exchange of it 887 Saveuse a brave Picard his death 793 Schomberg passes into Germany on behalf of Charles IX 716 Scbastian King of Portugal loses a Battle against the Moors 752 The Seize or the Sixteen Henry III. resolves to punish them 780 Sollicite the Duke of Guise to come to their assistance ib. Seize upon the Gates of Paris and elect the Duke of Aumale for their Governor 781 Will set up the Government of a Common-wealth or Republick Devote themselves to the Spaniard 814 Own the Duke of Guise for their Head 819 Cause some Presidents and Councellors to be Hanged ib. Obstruct the Reduction of Paris 836 Serini Count defends Liget bravely his generous Death 693 694 Sigismund of Austria King of Poland is infirm 715 Sixtus V. Pope his Ambition 792 Solyman enraged for having missed Malta falls upon Hungary 693 Dies before Ziget ib. Sonnas a Commander of the Savoy Forces that attempted to surprize Geneva is taken and Executed 900 Example of the extraordinary and unheard of Love of his Wife ib. James Spifame quits a Bishoprick to take a Wife Church 16 th Age. Strasburgh redoubles their Guards after the Saint Bartholomew 722 Strossi Cardinal makes a League 744 Surenne place of the famous Conference between the Royalists and the Parisians 830 The Swiss depute to Henry III. in favour of the Huguenots 774 Remain in the Service of Henry IV. 976 Are received and feasted at Paris 898 T TAlsy a place of Conference between the Queen and the Prince of Condé 678 Tanneguy du Chastel his Generosity and Acknowledgment 671 Tanguerel Batchellor of the Sorbonne Condemned by the Parliament for having maintained a Thesis against Kings 678 Tard-advisez rebels under Henry IV. 840 de Thiard a Poet and a Mathematician Church 16 th Age. de Thou Nicholas Bishop of Chartres Crowns Henry IV. 836 de Toledo Roderique General of the Milan Forces for the Duke of Savoy beaten and slain by Lesdiguieres 833 Truchard Maire of Rochel makes the Town enter into the Huguenots Party 698 Toloza exercises many Cruelties at the Saint Bartholomews and Hangs five Councellors 721 Henry de la Tour Vicount de Turenne Contriver of the Association of the Duke of Alenson the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condé 724 Is made Mareschal of France upon his Marriage with the Heiress of Sedan 818 Surprizes Stenay the Evening before his Nuptials ib. de Tournon Cardinal refuses to give place to the Princes of the Blood 676 Trans the Marquess his two Sons are slain 756 Tremblecour Commands the
two causes One was that Richard refused to do Hommage to Year of our Lord 1186 the King for his County of Poitou grounded perhaps on this that it held immediately of the Dutchy of Aquitain The other Henry deferr'd to surrender Gisors and other places of the Vexin which Louis VII had given in Dowre to Margaret who had no Year of our Lord 1187 Children by young Henry Philip sets upon him towards Berry took Issoudun and besieged the Castle-Ruouel The King of England and his Son came to its Relief and sent to bid Battle but the two Armies being ranged Henry's heart failed him he talks of an Agreement promises Satisfaction to Philip and leaves him Issoudun for his Expences in that War Year of our Lord 1187 The Fifth of September Lewis the first born Son of Philip came into the World for which the City of Paris expressed so much Joy that they made the whole week but one Holy-day keeping all darkness at a distance by the infinite numbers of Flambeaux every where Saladin King of Syria and Egypt who from a low Birth was raised to that high power not without great desert after his having obtained many Victories over the Christians at last tears the Holy City of Jerusalem from them whereof Guy de Luzignan was then King it was taken the Second day of October and all the Holy-Land excepting only Tyre Tripoly Antioch and some strong Holds Thus at the end of Eigthy eight years Ended the Kingdom of Jerusalem which Title after it had ambitiously passed through the Houses of divers Princes does at this day make us part of the Catholick Kings At this dreadful news which arrived towards the end of the year 1187. all the Faithful made a great moan never was any sorrow so great or so universal The Kings Philip and Henry being sensibly touched Conferr'd together at Gisors and Trie and resolved to take up the Cross with great numbers of Princes Lords and Prelats to recover those Holy Places out of the hands of the Infidels In remembrance whereof they erected a Cross in the Field where they had resolved upon this Croisade and mutually promised to leave all Disputes in the same posture they then were till after their return from this holy Expedition Year of our Lord 1188 The Month of March following Philip Assembles a Parliament at Paris where it was resolv'd by Advice of the Bishops and Barons to take the Tenths of all Goods Movables and Immovables of all Persons as well Ecclesiasticks as of the Laity excepting only the Monks de Cisteaux the Chartreux de Fontevrault and the Spittles belonging to the poor Leprous People This Impost was called the Saladine Tith Year of our Lord 1188 Whilst they were preparing with great chearfulness and courage for this Expedition Richard for I not what little Injury received of Alfonso Earl of Thoulouze renew'd the old Pretention of his Mother Alienor to that County and endeavoured to recover it by the Sword Philip to disengage his Brother-in-Law and make a Diversion falls into Berry takes all the places the English were possessed of drove out old Henry who was got thither with an Army and pursued him as far as Normandy Year of our Lord 1189 Winter brought them to a Truce In the mean time Richard falls out with his Father and threw himself into the Arms of Philip. His discontent proceeded from his Fathers delay in giving him Alix of France betroathed to him Some believe the old Man cast other looks upon her then he ought towards his Sons Wife and besides by compleating this Marriage he had been obliged according to the Contract to let his be Crowned and give him the Title of King The Physitian Rigord in the History of Philip relates That being at Argenteuil when the Moon was at Full and the Night very clear a little before day-break the Prior of that Monastery and several of the Monks saw that Planet descend in a Moment to the Earth where having rested some time it went slowly up again and took its former place Year of our Lord 1189 The following Spring Philip takes the Field Conquers all the Countrey of Mayne and the City of Mans Touraine and the City of Tours himself having as by Miracle found a Foard in the Loire which he discover'd to his Army At the same time John surnamed Without-Land the Third Son of Henry likewise takes up Arms against his Father who not knowing which way to turn himself leaves Chinon and advances towards King Philip humbly to desire a Peace Philip grants it and reconciles him to Richard upon condition that one of them should accompany him to the Holy-Land Year of our Lord 1189 But Henry as unfortunate in War as he was unfortunate in his Children overcome with shame and sorrow dies three days after he was returned to Chinon Richard succeeds him and then Philip his Brother-in-Law generously restores to him all he had Conquer'd of his excepting Issoudun and the Fiefs he held in Auvergne settling Gisors and all the Vexin for his Wives Portion The two Princes thus united in a Friendship which appeared to be very cordial and so firm that one would imagine nothing could untie or shake it fitted themselves for their Expedition to the Holy-Land appointed the Rendezvous for their Armies at Vezelay and took Shipping Richard at Marseilles and Philip at Genoa Both of them landed in Sicily but Philip not so happily as Richard a furious Tempest having forced him to throw over-board part of his Horses and his Equipage Year of our Lord 1190 Before their departure Philip with the leave and by the agreement of all his Barons left the Guardianship of his Son and the Government of the Kingdom to the Queen his Mother Alix de Champagne and to William Cardinal-Archbishop of Reims Brother to that Queen But fearing they might abuse it he left an Authentick Order in Writing Signed by the Great Officers belonging to the Crown which limited their Power and prescribed their Lesson in many cases Amongst others he would have them bestow vacant Benefices of the Regalia by the Advice of Brother Bernard who was a devout Hermit living in the Bois de Vincennes and that during his absence no Tailles should be levied by any Lords upon their Lands nor in case he should happen to dye by the Regents during the Minority of his Son Year of our Lord 1190 He likewise ordered the Sheriffs of Paris that they should take care to enclose it with Walls and Towers There were no Ditches made the Enclosure on the left hand of the River upwards hath been often enlarged and altred The Burghers of other Cities by their example were ambitious to Wall their Towns and make Ramparts for defence William the Good King of Sicily Son of William the Wicked or Bad being dead without Children Anno 1189. He had an Aunt the Daughter of King Roger named Constance who being almost Thirty years of Age not a Nun as some have
10 Months under this Reign Year of our Lord 1498 LEwis Duke of Orleans Succeeded to Charles VIII as being the nearest to him of the Masculine Line and his Cousin in the third and fourth degree His Age was ripe his Temper very Humane Sweet and Just his Prudence tried and his Ministers honest and disinteressed The long Imprisonment he suffered had made him more merciful and his Adversities had taught him more wisdom He proved the better King by having been so long a Subject and had Learned to moderate the severities of Sovereign commands by having undergone and felt the weight of them The 27 th of May he was Crowned at Reims the first of July he was Crowned at St. Denis the day after he made his entrance into Paris and by a Decree of the Council took the Title of King of France and of both Sicilia's and Duke of Milan This Dutchy belonged to him by Right of Valentine his Grandfather From the first day of his ascending the Throne he incessantly laboured for the felicity of his People easing them from the burthen of Imposts and taking great care that Justice should be Administred duly to them As to the first he diminished the Taxes year after year though they were already easie enough Because he knew the Princes Exchequer to be like the Spleen the less it is the more healthful the Body of the State does ever find it self He did so much abhor new impositions that wanting Money for his War in Italy ho chose rather to expose the Offices belonging to his Revenue to Sale then to take any thing from his People However in length of time he found that such Venality caused those evils he would avoid and therefore would he have taken that off again had he survived but a year or two longer As to the distribution of Justice he Created divers Companies of Judges out of pure zeal to have it equally administred and without any pecuniary Interest which ever since hath been the only end of all such Creations He setled that called the Grand Council which had been before projected by Charles VIII He made a Parliament for Normandy at Rouen to whom he first gave the Title of perpetual Exehequer and three years after he did the same for Provence in the City of Aix He made most excellent Ordinances for the abbreviating of all Process but there happening to be some Articles that touched the Priviledges of the University that great Body stirred in it with too much heat The tumult had proceeded to a Sedition had not the King made hast to get to Paris His presence quelled the hottest Heads amongst them and banish'd the Rector Year of our Lord 1498 Upon his first coming to the Crown he dispatched Ambassadors to the Pope to Venice and to Florence and three Months after he received theirs who brought him complements and excuses King Frederic and Duke Ludovic sent none to him he being their declared Enemy From that hour divers negociations were set on foot Those Potentates were not become much wiser for all the dangers they had undergone they busied themselves more about their little particular revenge then to preserve the common Liberty of Italy Alexander had reconciled himself with the Vrsini but he hated King Frederic to the Death for having denied to give his Daughter to Borgia his Bastard and the Venetians sought to ruin Ludovic because he hindred their aggrandizing and had a design upon the City of Pisa which they endeavoured to appropriate to themselves As for the Florentines they had an extraordinary passion to recover their Towns and made a War to that end Thus all the three blinded by their interest did eagerly Sollicite the Kings alliance An occasion proffer'd it self wherein the Pope might oblige him which was that desiring to break his marriage with Jane Daughter of King Lewis XI he wanted a Commission from him to take cognisance of that affair And to obtain this he gave the Dutchy of Valentinois to his Bastard who straightway laid down his Cardinals Cap. The Pope sent him into France with a Bull which named three Judges for the Kings Tooth these were Philip de Luxembourgh Cardinal Bishop of Mans Lewis d'Amboise Bishop of Alby and Peter Bishop of Sente who was a Portugueze The Bastard would have played the Sir Politique and said he had not brought the Bull the King informed to the contrary gave him a sowre look and assured him he would go forward He was therefore forced to produce it He had likewise brought a Cardinals Cap for George d'Amboise Archbishop of Rouen who managed all Affairs In recompence the King made him Marry Charlota Daughter of Alain Lord d'Albret and Treated a League with him by which the new Duke was to serve him towards the recovery of the Milanois and he afterwards to assist him in dispossessing all those petty Lords who detained the Cities of Romandiola We must observe that about Two Ages before this when the power of the Popes was much weakned such as were then Governours of the Towns belonging to the Holy See had usurped the absolute Soveraignty of them and that they might possess them with some apparent Title had obtained the Seigneury or Lordships thereof from the Popes under the Title of Vicars or Lieutenants upon condition of paying them a certain Tribute yearly but since then had taken no care to satisfie the same and had sometimes even taken up Arms against the Popes The Polentines Citizens of Ravenna had usurped Ravenna and Cerviae but the Venetians had taken them into their hands The Malatestes had made themselves masters of Cesena but that returned again to the Holy See by the Death of Dominique the last of that Branch dying without Children The Riari did yet hold Imola and Forli Pandolphus Malatesti Rimini Astor Manfrede Faenza John Sforza Pizaro as the Bentivogles did Bologna and the Baillons Perugia Year of our Lord 1499 The Kings Marriage with Jane was declared Null by the Commissioners upon cleer proof that Lewis XI had forced him to it though in truth he consummated it afterwards Being at liberty he Married Anne of Bretagne Widdow of his Predecessor and his first inclinations The Nuptials were kept the Eighteenth of January The people of Paris who alone of all the People in France had received much favour from Lewis XI highly murmured that the King should repudiate his Daughter and there were some scrupulous Doctors that blamed him in their Pulpits but Jane patiently underwent that affliction and gave her self up intirely to God spent her days devoutly in the Nunnery of the Annunciation in the City of Bourges where she put on the Sacred Vail Year of our Lord 1499 Before he began to stir at all in the Affair of Italy he bethought himself of securing the friendship of his Neighbours first of the King of England then of Ferdinand and Isabella and afterwards of the Arch-Duke Son of Maximilian Ferdinand and Isabella withdrew their Forces out of
Italy and rendred those places to Frederic which they held in Calabria the Arch-Duke by the Treaty recover'd his Towns of Artois upon condition he should do Homage to the King for that County and for that of Flanders and of Charolois And this he really did at Arras bare-headed and un-girt in the hands of Guy de Rochefort Chancellour of France who was cover'd and sitting in a Chair Year of our Lord 1499 There was more difficulty how to agree with Maximilian because he was engaged with Sforza for which he had received great Sums of Money and had also sent an Army to enter the Dutchy of Burgundy but the Count de Foix having easily repulsed them And Ludovic not having a stock of Riches large enough to satisfie his covetous indigence he was soon persuaded to make a Truce for some Months The Florentines in the mean while and the Venetians composed their differences by means of the Duke of Ferrara whom they chose for Arbitrator but Ludovic embroiled himself so much with the Venetians that they made a League with the King to pluck his Feathers They were to have for their share of the Milanois all the Towns without the River Addo and they imagined that they should soon have the French Kings part likewise who would sell it or suffer it to be lost by ill Government and their Divisions as they had done the Kingdom of Naples But they were mistaken in the account and found soon afterwards that as to the matter of Princes and Estates the next Neighbour being ever an enemy ☞ the most potent is the most dangerous This wretched Ludovic with all his Crast and Fineness in Politiques had not one friend no not so much as the Duke of Ferrara his Father in Law he was fain to have recourse to Maximilian and to the Sultan Bajazeth the ones assistance was slow very costly and not very certain that of the other was infamous and odious Year of our Lord 1499 In the Month of July the Kings Forces entered into the Milanois on the one hand and those belonging to the Venetians on the other In Fifteen days Ludovic lost all his Countrey the Venetians took all beyond the Addo the French went no less swiftly on Novarre and Alexandria defended themselves but ill and were sacked Mortara capitulated Pavia sent their Keys The City of Genoa followed the Dance the Adornes and the Fregoses being at Daggers draw who should deliver it up first In fine none kept their faith to Ludovic neither the People nor Commanders nor Cities In this revolution he sent his Treasures and his Children into Germany to the Emperor Maximilian thither he retired also himself having first well provided the Castle of Milan After his departure the City received the French with joy Bernardin Curtio whom he believed to be the faithfullest of his Creatures took Money of the King and sold the Castle to him which was held inexpugnable A Treachery which appeared ugly yea even horrible to the very Purchasers and which loaded and cloathed the seller with so much shame that he dyed with it about Ten or Twelve days afterwards The King who was then at Lyons went immediately to Milan He made his entrance in a Ducal Habit and Sojourned about three Months in that Country He presently took off a fourth part of their Imposts allowed liberty of Hunting to the Nobles which they had not before and thinking to make them more affectionate to his Service distributed a considerable part of his demeasnes amongst them particularly to Trivulcio on whom he likewise bestowed the Government of all the Dutchy Year of our Lord 1499 All the Princes of Italy excepting Frederic Congratulated his good Success and the Florentines engaged to assist him in the Conquest of Naples upon condition he would help them to recover Pisa again for them Year of our Lord 1499 After this he was obliged to make good his word to Caesar Borgiae he lent him Forces with which he regained the Cities of Imola and Forli In which last was Cathrine Sforza Mother and Tutoress of the Riari whom he led away Prisoner to Rome Year of our Lord 1500. in January The change which happened at the same time in Milanois retarded his progress Ludovic lay in wait to re-enter there were few French in the Towns the Nobility were offended at the Pride of Trivulcio their equal at his too great passion for the Party of the Guelphs and that upon some hubbub he had killed some with his own hand in the open Market place And the people were Scandalized at the Liberty the French took with their wives Ludovic well informed of all these particulars and having regained the affections of the Milanois returns with fifteen Hundred men at Arms who were all Burgundians and twelve Thousand Swisse whom he had raised with his Money not being able to obtain any Aid of Maximilian Upon his Arrival the People receive him with open Arms the City of Coma having chaced out the French Trivulcio perceiving so sudden a change leaves Milan in the night time and very humbly retires to Mortara with his Cavalry All places surrender themselves to Ludovic excepting the Castle of Milan and some of those which the Venetians held This Ebb notwithstanding did not run very low Lewis de la Trimoville whom the King sent with a very good Army meets him near Novarre which had newly Surrendred The Swisse which this unfortunate man had in his Service being gained by those that were in the French Army refused to give Battel and retired Year of our Lord 1500 into Novarre he was forced to follow them All that he gain'd of them was that they promised to Guard him to some place of safety But next day the eighth of April he was discover'd disguised like a private Soldier in the midst of them perhaps themselves made signs to know him by and sent to the King at Lyons He caused him to be removed from thence to Loches where he was shut up till his Death ten whole years with a severity so unusual and contrary to the mercy of that good Prince that it was thought to be a Visible punishment from Heaven The Cardinal Ascagne his Brother was also delivered into the hands of the French by the Venetians who happened to light upon him The Swiss upon their return home Siezed upon the City of Bellinzonne which shuts up the passage to the Mountains on that side so that holding this place they could fall into Milan when ever they pleased At first they would have parted with it for a very small matter of Money but after they had found of what importance it was no proffer could be so considerable as to make them let it go out of their hands Year of our Lord 1500 This revolt cost the City of Milan the Heads of ten or twelve of their Chiefs and a Sum of two hundred thousand Crowns Upon Holy Friday a day of Mercy the Cardinal d'Amboise received the Amende
But the next day he was much amazed to hear that whilst she flatter'd him with the fairest hopes the King following her Council or perhaps his own Fears had made his escape in great disorder by the new Gate to the Garden of the Tuilleries and from thence to the Monastery of the Feuillants where he took Horse That night he went and lay at Trapes near Versailles and the next day at Chartres his Officers followed in a great hurry The Queen-Mother staid at Paris not to pacify those disturbances but to keep things in such a tottering posture that they might ever stand in need of her Mediation and Interposition From Chartres the King wrote to all the Cities and Governours the Duke of Guise from Paris to his friends and partisans The Stile of the former was languishing and fearful on the contrary that of the Duke of Guise and the League Victorious and triumphant They said the day of the Barricadoes was a day resplending with the protection of the Lord of Hosts and conjured the other Cities to joyn with them as Members to their Head To make themselves most sure of Paris they set aside the antient Prevost des Marchands and the Eschevins seize upon the Bastille and the Arsenal as in the Provinces they seized on several Towns the Duke of Aumale upon all in Picardy excepting Boulogne which he attempted in vain three times the Cardinal de Guise on Reims and Chaalons as their friends would have made themselves Masters of the greater part of those in Normandy if the Duke of Montpensier who was gone to take possession of that Government had not prevented them The Queen-Mother ceased not to Treat with the Duke of Guise to which end she made use of the Dutchess of Montpensier whom she cajoled with the hopes of Marrying the old Cardinal de Bourbon These two joyning together perswaded the Duke of Guise to reconcile himself to the King and for this purpose obliged the Leaguers after they had made Processions to appease the wrath of God to go in the Habits of Penitents to Chartres to crave pardon of the King They were conducted Year of our Lord 1588 thither by Henry de Joyeuse who was called Father Angel representing our Lord at his going to Mount Calvary with all the Trinkets and Persons they employ'd in those days to act the History of the Passion Thus travested they went to seek the King who was then at Church and coming before him cast themselves upon their knees and with a loud voice cried out for Mercy For the same end the Parliament sent their Deputies some few days after to let him know they were most sensibly afflicted and concern'd to find he had forsaken his Louvre and to beseech him to return and avert his just vengeance from falling on the Heads of his Subjects He answered to the First that if he designed to ruine the Parisians as they would have made the People believe it was in his power to reduce them to ashes and to the Latter that he would Treat the Inhabitants of Paris as Children that had offended their Father not as Slaves After Dinner having sent again for the Latter he charged them to threaten the Parisians that he would take away their Sovereign Courts if they persisted in their Factious humour Then three days afterwards he sent a Master of Requests to the Parliament to assure them he was resolved to assemble the Estates-General before the expiration of the year that he would carefully endeavour the Reformation of his Kingdom and assure them of a Catholique Successor It is not certainly known what motive obliged him to engage so far but the Duke of Guise judg'd it fit to press him upon that point He therefore caused a Petition to be presented to him in the name of the Princes of the City of Paris and of all the good Catholiques who did beseech him to send for that purpose the Duke of Mayenne into Daufiné with one Army and to march himself into Guyenne with another leaving the Command of Paris to the Queen-Mother to forget the Barricadoes and other irregularities to confirm the Election of the Prevost des Marchands and the Eschevins and above all to put away the Duke of Espernon and la Valete his Brother who countenanced the Heretiques Those enemies Espernon had in the Kings Council greedily embraced this occasion to annoy him the Queen-Mother clubs with them and all together made such an impression on the King that he sent him word He must stay a while away and not come near him or the Court. The Duke did not take himself to be out of Favour for all this He came to wait upon him at his return out of Normandy the King would not admit him to the Council but Commanded him to retire to his Government of Angoumois Before he departed he surrendred up that of Normandy Year of our Lord 1588 and indeed he could not have held it the King bestow'd it upon the Duke of Montpensier One would have thought his absence might have calmed the Tempest In effect the King shewed himself more willing to come to an accommodation but this appeared to be only a design to get some places out of the hands of the League especially Havre and Orleans It was upon the score of Havre that he went to Roüen but Villars who held it a haughty Man and who had engaged his Word to the Duke of Guise soon cut off all his hopes of gaining it As for Orleans Entragues who was Governour thereof did not positively deny to give Obedience to the Orders brought him by Schomberg to render it to the King The Duke of Guise was then just on the point of concluding his Treaty with the King when he heard they were dealing with Entragues he made great instance that City should be one amongst the rest which he demanded for security The King resisted a long time upon this particular at last he was forced to condescend to it but afterwards by a subtilty more ingenious then becoming a great Prince he said they had mistaken in transcribing the Order from the Secretary and that it was there the City of Dourlans not Orleans and this contest was one of the main subjects which led him to the greatest extremities against the Duke of Guise month July However upon this foot was the Treaty made of the Month of July which besides that City granted to the Princes of the League Bourges Dourlens and Monstreüil withal left in their keeping for Four years those places that had been given them by the Treaty of Nemours permitted those others who had declared for them to remain in the same condition they were in Continued their Prevost and Eschevins des Marchands at Paris for two years more and allowed them many other things of good advantage At the same time appeared at Sea that formidable Armado of Philip of Spain which he set forth for the Conquest of England They had been seven years
about preparing and equipping it and every year he laid out above a Million of Gold for the expences The King apprehending that the Leaguers if he ran them into despair might get them to land upon the coasts of France durst no longer deny those things they ask'd of him He gave them that Edict which bare the specious name of Year of our Lord 1588 Re-Vnion By which renewing his Coronation Oath he swear to root out all Schisms and Heresies and never make any Peace or Edict in favour of the Huguenots ordained likewise all his Subjects of what quality soever to swear the same and that his death hapning they should acknowledge no Prince for their King who was an Heretique or abettor of Heresie Declared Rebels and Criminals de Lesae Majestatis those who refused to Sign this Edict and approved all that had been done the 12 th and 13 th of May and since as well at Paris as in other Cities as being done out of pure Zeal for the Catholique Religion He swear this Edict with an appearance of great joy all those that were of his Council and of his Court did the same thing excepting the Duke of Nevers who refused the Oath three or four times till the King enjoyned him to it upon pain of disobedience The Parliament did forthwith Register and make publication of it and all the great Cities received it This done the King returned to Chartres towards the end of the Month and the Queen brought thither the Duke of Guise and presented him to the King There appeared in their countenances and in their discourse and in either of their proceedings so many marks of Confidence and a cordial Affection that the whole Court was overjoy'd at this reconciliation and the most cautelous believed it might be unfeigned At this time the King of Navarre was returned from Bearn to Rochell and sought to gain the favour of that City where indeed he had no very great credit during the life of the Prince of Condé Lesdiguieres was buisy in Danfiné curbing the Cities of Gap and Grenoble with Ports he mated Grenoble so effectually that they demanded a Truce for six Months He and Montmorency had also besieged the Pont Sainct Esprit when the Edict of Re-Union was brought to him It made the Mareschal put up his Sword but hastned la Valete to make a League Offensive and Defensive with Lesdiguieres There was nothing in Daufiné that made head against the last but only Charles de Simiane d'Albigny nor did he spare any thing to gain his amity he offer'd to give him his Daughter in Marriage to share his Authority between them and to leave it solely to him at his death These advantageous proffers had less power and influence over the Spirit of Albigny then that zeal he was confirmed in for the Religion of his Ancestors he ever constantly resisted him but not with so much success as courage month September and October The Provenceaux in the mean time were risen up against Valete the Kings private Orders the Parliaments hatred to the Duke of Espernon and the ambition of Vins who pretended to that Government did but too much animate those Spirits whose Blood is soon heated and easily incited to a commotion The supplies which came to him from Daufiné did but little service when the Parliament had once set him beside the Government most of the Gentry and all the Cities abandon'd him excepting four or five petty places which he maintained till the death of the Duke of Year of our Lord 1588 Guise when the face of Affairs were changed by the Kings changing of his mind month August In the precedent Month of August the Duke of Espernon saw himself in most dreadful danger his kind fortune and great courage drew him out of it Having staid some days in the Castle of Loches after his leaving the Court before he resolved to go to Angoulesme the Mayor of the Town had order from the King to oppose his entrance and not able to do so because Espernon had prevented the Courier he undertook to seize him in the Castle or the Kings House where he lodged He entred therefore with Ten Men well armed under colour of bringing a Courier to him but running rashly into the Wardrobe instead of going directly to his Closet he mist his prey and perish'd with his Brother-in-law who crept in thorow a hole to come to his aid The other Conspirators and their friends who had taken Arms in the City apprehending to be over-born by the Soldiers who came thundring in to the Dukes assistance and the Duke to be starved to death having not eaten in Thirty hours this fear and that necessity made an accommodation between them and obliged them to stand to it Villeroy was taxed as having abused or contrived Letters under the Signet to destroy Espernon but the King clearly owned the business He was grown so peevish that towards the end of the same Month he dismiss'd the Chancellor de Chiverny Villeroy and Pinard Secretaries of State and Pompone de Bellievre Sur-Intendant des Finances At the same time he heaped Favours upon the Leaguers for he put the Seals into the hands of Francis de Montolon Advocate in Parliament whom they revered because of his servent zeal for the Catholique Religion He also declared the Cardinal de Bourbon the nearest of kin to his Blood In effect he was so but not the fittest to succeed and he permitted the Clergy to furnish Five hundred thousand Crowns towards the expences of the War Now that the said Body Ecclesiastical might raise it without alienating their Fund he consented to the erection of an alternate Receiver and two Comptrollers of the Tenths hereditary in each Diocess This Fund was ordained for the maintenance of two Armies which he had raised He gave the one to the Duke of Mayenne and the other to the Duke of Nevers but this was upon the refusal of the Duke of Guise who by advice of the Arch-Bishop of Lyons resolved to remain at Court and got a constant and certain Fund setled to keep his Table of Grand Maistre month July and August The event made it appear that this resolution was not prudent for the beams of his power shining perpetually so bright in the Kings Eyes awakened his resentments which perhaps might else by little and little have been extinguished and laid to sleep in the shades of oblivion He was offended that the Pope should in a Letter call the Duke and the Cardinal de Bourbon Machabéans and say they had saved the people of Israel Besides this the Duke of Nevers and Lognac Captain of Year of our Lord 1588 the Forty-five did perpetually stir up his indignation The Duke of Nevers because he irreconcileably hated the Duke of Guise and Lognac because having in some manner succeeded to the Kings favour after Espernon as Second with Bellegarde Cosin-Germain to that Duke well knew that the House of Guise always enemies