first or second of that Name succeeded to the Crown and was consecrated at Rheims the 26. of Septem An Dom. 1350. In the beginning of his reigne hee caused the Lord Ralph of Nesle Cōstable of France to be beheaded for Treason and in his place hee jnstituted Charles of Spaine Count of Angolesme The Truce being broken betweene him and England he betooke him to S. John d' Angely and in his returne he instituted the Order of the Starre in the Noble and Royall House or S. Owen Afterwards Charles King of Navarre caused the Constable to be massacred upon a jealousie which hee had conceived against him on the sixt of Ianuary 1353 and the Lord Iames de Bourbon was substituted in his place In the meane time the King of Navarre whom the King of Prance had pardoned instead of acknowledging his fault complotted against the State of the said King which being discovered he entred into an Amity with the King of England By meanes whereof King Iohn having surprised him sent him prisoner to Paris Hereupon Philip of Navarre his brother in an indignation caused the English to come into Normandy against whom the King intending an opposition was enforced to turne it upon the Prince of Wales in Poicton where having lost the field through his temerity hee was taken Prisoner In the meane time the Parisians at the perswasion of Stephen Martel mutinyed against the Dauphin who tooke upon him the Regency of the Realme and appeased the tumult having first restored the places of Normandy to the King of Navarre who had escaped out of prison Afterwards upon a treaty made at Bretigny the eight of May 1360 a peace was concluded with the English and ratified at Calais the 24. of October In the meane time Philip Duke of Burgundy deceased at Roucere neere Dijon without issue by reason whereof Iohn the King declared himselfe to be his Heire After that he making a preparation for a beyond-sea voyage first came to London intending to make a strong peace with England and dyed there the eighth or ninth of April 1364 leaving Charles the Dauphin Lewis Duke of Aniou John Duke of Berry and Philip Hardy Duke of Burgundy This King shewed magnanimity in his most adverse fortune for Apparet virtus arguiturque malis Vertue will apparent be In the depth of adversity which was verified in this King John who sitting in the English Campe at a Supper prepared for him by the Prince of Wales who had taken him prisoner in the Battell of Poitiers said I purposed to have bestowed a Supper on you this night but the fortune of the War hath made me your Guest The Englishmen for a summe of money having got by composition the Castle and Towne of Gwines King Iohn complaining to the King of England that the Truce was broken contrary to their compact and agreement King Edward answered That Trafficke or Merchandise the surrender of the Castle being by money procured did not breake the former Truce This King when King Edward required homage for the Realme of France as held of England answered that hee could not justly alienate a right inalienable received from his Ancestors and therefore he resolved to leave it entire to his children for affliction might engage his person but not the Crowne of France while hee was King who would sacrifice his life for the preservation of France Hee dyed in England Anno 1364 being a good Prince but infortunate wise in ordinary matters but not in great affaires just but too confident in trusting others temperate in his private life but violent in the publicke government For great vertues meeting with Wisdome doe on the Theater of this life give unto Kings a Crowne of applause and commendation Charles 5. surnamed the Wise the 52. King of France An. 1364. AFter the decease of Iohn the first this Charles 5. surnamed the Wise was crowned the 19. of March Anno Dom. 1364. At the comming to the Crowne hee gained against those of Navarre a very memorable victory under the Conduct of the Lord Bertrand du Guesclin in favour whereof he gave him the Dukedome of Longueville From thence the said Guesclin went to aide Charles of Blois against whom Iohn of Monfort relying upon the English had begun warres for the Dutchy of Bretagne where he was taken fighting valiantly before the Castle of Aulroy against Iohn Lord Chandos High Marshall of England but a peace being made betweene the Duke of Monfort and the Countesse of Blois the King likewise made a peace with those of Navarre and after sent Guesclin to ayde Peter King of Arragon against Peter King of Castile in favour of Henry Sancho and Telco his naturall brothers and also in revenge of the death of his Wife Blanche the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon whom hee had caused to be slaine Peter of Castile being deposed of his kingdome and Henry substituted hee retired to the Prince of Wales who restored him to his former estate After returning into Guienne he imposed upon his Subjects unaccustomed taxations and imposts which caused the Lords of Armaignac and of Albert to appeale to the King of France as to their Soveraigne Lord which was a cause that moved Charles to give an eare to Henry who offered to hold his kingdome of Castile from him so that hee would ayde him in the re-conquest thereof Whereupon the King sent him Guesclin who gained fixe battells against his Enemy and in the fixt Peter of Castile was taken by the Lord de Villaines a French Knight of whom Henry ransomed him and put him to death enjoying by that meanes the kingdome of Castile In the meane time because the King embraced the appeale of the Lords of Gascogne the Prince of Wales denounced warre against him which the King managed so well by the assistance of his brothers that repairing the losses of his Father and Grandfather received by the English hee reconquered Guienne Poictou and Bretagne and deceased in September Anno Dom. 1380 leaving Charles and Lewis under the tuition of their Unkles This King had many vertues shining in all estates both in happinesse and adversity and when the Realme was in the heate of troubles he saved it from ruine so that his fame was spred abroad leaving an honourable remembrance to his posterity Hee favoured Learning and the learned preferring the Schoolemaster Nicholas Oresme He caused the Bible to be translated imitating therein St. Lewis and tooke great delight to read the Scripture and Philosophy and he made Aristotles Ethicks and Politicks and many places of Tully to be translated into French and his favour shewed to learned men cherished their fancies and made them seeke unto the forsaken Muses for witty inventions Hee would heare Suits in open Court and redresse the wrongs of the oppressed and tooke pleasure to advance his houshold servants and gave them meanes for bringing up their sons and marrying their daughters And as he was a favourer of Learning so Bartholl Baldus Petrarch
Bociac Plorindes Bonaventure and John Wickliffe of Oxford in England lived in his Reigne But Vertues are not hereditary for Charles sonne to this King degenerated from his Father and the Kingdome of France was afterward punished in the weaknesse of the succeeding Kings so that the confused government brought forth sad effects such as are to bee expected where the rabble multitude have a power unrestrained by Authority and doe swarme and rove about like unruly Bees Charles 6. the 53. King of France Anno 1380. THis Charles 6. about the age of 14. yeares was crowned the first of November Anno. Dom. 1380. In the beginning of his Reigne hee received homage for the Dutchy of Bretagne and enforced the Gaulois to their obedience to their Duke as also he chastised the Parisians who had mutinyed about imposts having Mallets as a token of their faction whereupon they were called Maillotins In the meane time Peter de Craon wounded Clifson Constable of France whereof the King intending a revenge fell into a frensie by reason whereof the kingdome was put into the hands of the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy who laying hands upon Clisson by an Act of Parlement caused him to be deprived of his estate and banished the kingdome The King of England marryed the Lady Isabell the eldest Daughter to Charles whereupon a Truce was concluded betweene the English and French for Thirty yeares But King Richard being afterward slaine shee was sent backe into France without a Dowry by reason whereof the Duke of Orleans presented a combate of seven French against seven English within the lists which combate the French gained Then also upon some rancors and dissentions betweene the houses of Burgundy and Orleans for the government of the Kingdome John the eldest sonne of the late Count of Burgundy caused the Duke of Orleans brother to the King to be slaine the 22. of November 1407 whereupon ensued all the subsequent disorders in France by meanes whereof the King of England gained the famous and memorable battaile of Agincourt and continued his warres for the space of 29. or 30. yeares during which he tooke Rouen and in a manner all Normandy In those times also the Duke of Burgundy was slaine at a Parlement upon the Bridge of Montereau Faux-yonne by those that accompanied the Dauphine who for that fact was by his Father Charles not yet in sense dis-inherited and in his place he instituted Henry King of England to whom upon a peace hee had given in marriage Katherine of France together with the government of France and Paris making warres against the Dauphin untill death which was followed with that of the King who had before given consent to the Duke of Bedford to be Regent in France for young King Henry who was yet in his Cradle This Charles the 6. was of a magnanimous and Heroick soule full of the fire of true valour which upon any brave occasion broke forth in glorious actions which vertue was declared in his younger yeares by this answer to his Father Charles the fifth by whom a Crowne of Gold enchased with precious Stones and a Helmet of Steele fairely guilt being propounded to his choise hee answered hee would rather chuse the Helmet than the Crowne Afterward being crowned King of France this Sonne of valour rising in the spheare of Majesty shined forth with early beames of valour for being shewed by his Officers his deceased Fathers rich Treasury and precious moveables and also his Armory full of warlicke Furniture and all sorts of Armes hee said He had rather have those Armes than his Fathers Riches As this King and his Noblemen marched against the Duke of Britaine being entred the Forrest of Mans a man bare-headed and bare-legged attired in a Coate of white Rugge steps suddainly forth betwixt two Trees taking hold of the Raines of the Kings Horse and staying him said unto him King ride no farther but returne backe for thou art betrayed The King was amazed at this voice and the man being forced with blowes to leave the Raines of his Horse vanished Afterward it chanced that his Page being very sleepy let fall his Lance upon him which carryed the Helmet making a great noise like the rustling of Armes the King starts with amazement at this noise and seeing the Crimson Bandroll of the Lance having his spirits weakened with the former distemperatures transported with the imagination of this sound sleepy with labour and heate he imagins himselfe to be compassed in with many armed men which pursu'd him to the death Charles thus transported with this phrenzy layes hold on his Sword drawes it runnes violently after his Pages and calls them Traytors The Pages conceiving at first that hee had beene displeased for the disorder of the Lance flye from him The King follows after The Duke of Orleance runnes towards him to let him know the cause of his anger The King very violently layes at him not knowing him the Duke flyes and the King follows Thereupon all drawing neare unto him they take his Sword from him and his thick Velvet Jerkin and scarlet Cap and lay him on the ground Pope Urban his Enemy triumphing and rejoycing at his misery said it was a just judgment of God for supporting and assisting his Competitor But the holy Scripture sayes O how happy is he that judgeth wisely of the afflicted representing an admirable example in Job who was accused by his friends that hee was an hypocrite good in shew but not in integrity of life Such is the judgment of the World accounting adversity a vice and prosperity a vertue measuring matters according to their passions and not with reason for GODS Judgments are just and righteous but the causes thereof are unknowne though GOD doth all well whatsoever he doth Henry the fifth King of England Anno 1412. THough it be more easie to succeed in victoryes than atchieve them yet this Henry maintained by the sword that Title of King of France which his Predecessor Edward the third had gained and as King Edward cut down the Flower of France in the Battaile of Cressey so Henry the fift exasperated by the Dolpins of France sending him a Tunne of Tennis Balls sent him backe such Iron Balls or Bullets that the French were neare brought to a great hazzard in this Tennis Court or field of Mars For hereby Henry wonne France teaching Princes that contempt addes a double courage when right is by contumelies sought with greater violence Afterward King Henry tooke Harflew and fought the memorable battaile of Agincourt wherein hee got a wonderfull and unexpected victory by a stratagem of erecting sharpe Stakes before the foote troopes whereupon the Horse issuing violently they were disranked and routed so that the earth blush't with blood to see the French so overtaken and also the Archers upon the nicke of this opportunity sent many showres of Arrowes whereby the whole Army on the French side was discomfited and the English Archers giving backe the French
King of France Anno 1461. LEwis the 11. departing out of Brabant being accompanyed with the Duke Philip of Burgundy and the Count of Charolois his sonne caused himselfe to be crowned King of France the fifteenth of August 1461. The Princes seeing themselves in contempt especially Mounsier Charles his brother who rose up in Armes against him under a pretensive colour for the common good giving him the famous battaile of Montlehery the fifteenth of Iuly Anno Domini 1463. The King for the dissipating of their forces following the advise of the Duke of Milan gave Normandy to his brother which afterwards by subtilties he withdrew from him againe But in the end hee was enforced by the Duke of Burgundy to give unto his brother Mounsier Charles the Counties of Champagne and Brie which hee afterward exchanged for the Dutchy of Guienne by this meanes to weane him from the Duke of Burgundy recalling all the Townes upon this side the River Somme and afterwards against his brother Charles for the withdrawing of the Dutchy of Guienne who immediately dyed not without suspition of poyson Afterwards he made a treaty of peace at Bouvines with the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgundy for the ensnaring of the High Constable S. Paul who had beene the prime sparke of all the dissentions after the battaile of Montlehery In the meane time the King works the Duke of Burgundy quite out with the Emperour Fredericke and with the Duke of Loraine working his ruine at the siege of Mus. Then he takes in many Townes of the Burgundion who had appealed to the English for aide with whom the King had already made a treaty of Piquigny by which Charles the Kings sonne was to marry with the daughter of England when they came to be of age which constrained the Burgundion to make his peace with the King and to deliver the High Constable into his power The Duke of Burgundy was slaine before Nancy leaving one sole Daughter Mary who was marryed to Maximilian the onely son of the Emperour Fredericke by reason whereof the King recovered all the Countrey upon the Somme together with the Dutchy and County of Burgundy But afterwards the Prince of Orange caused the Franch-Conite to revolt After this the King allyed himselfe to the Swisses and recovered the County of Provence from Renatus Duke of Aniou by way of Donation The K. afterwards having marryed his son Charles to the Lady Marguerite of Flanders hee surrendered his life the 30 of Aug. 1483. Hee said that Charles the sage might be a wise man in his Tiring-Chamber or Closet but in giving his youngest brother the Dutchy of Burgundy hee played the fooles part Being told after a battaile that his enemy Count Charolois did lodge in the field He replyed That he having neither Towne nor Castle must needes lodge in a field-bed It was his usuall saying That when pride walketh or rideth afore shame and dishonour like servingmen attend behind Being told that one of the Canons of the Church where hee had heard Masse was dead he gave the Prebendship to a Priest which lay sleeping in an adjoyning Chappell that hee should say afterward that his good fortune came unto him sleeping To a Gentleman that was ready to handle a rich Chaine of gold which a Captaine wore about his neck and was suspected to be made of the reliques of a Church he said Take heede how you touch that Chaine for it is a holy thing He said also that in regard of his troubles at the beginning of his reigne if by the expression of courage and experience he had not procured feare and reverence he might have beene ranked amongst the unfortunate Princes in the last Chapter of Boccace A rich Nobleman having builded a faire Hospitall he said That having made many poore for the Hospitall hee might justly make an Hospitall for the poore and so convert his sinnes into Almes-houses Hee would often say to his Noblemen that his sonne should learne no more Latine than Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare and that the government of the Kingdome and Common-wealth was his best study for other studies would too much soften his minde and Historicall examples unfortunate in their event and successe would discourage him from attempting brave Actions He said also that the Genowayes should not long remaine under his protection for he would bequeath them to the Divell Being advised to send an Embassadour that had many Dignities and Titles he said he is like a peece of Brachigraphy that hath many a Title but Learning very little Being told that the Gout haunted rich men that fared deliciously and wore fine cloathing he said hee would alwaies afterward weare cloathcloathes because the Gout should not take him for a rich man He could finde all things he said in his Kingdome and his Court except truth which was sicke in his fathers time and was now starke dead having before her death made no Confession to a Priest The Realme of France he said was a meddow which he did cut every yeere and as often as he listed He asking a meane fellow which knew not the King when he saw him what he gained by following the Court The fellow answered I get as much as the King that is maintenance while I live and a sheete when I dye He said that a curious ignorant man having a Library of faire Bookes was like a crooke-backt man having a Bunch on his backe whereby the deformity of the one the ignorance of the other was more discerned He made gold the engine of his actions saying that an Army of silver Launces doth usually winne the victory Great services he said through the arrogancy of the parties performing them or the neglect of Princes regarding them were often recompenced with hatred or ingratitude and therefore the bounty of Princes exceeding desert was more fortunate and happy than desert exceeding the bounty of Princes not enduring to be indebted or obliged Having felt the smart of the English warres he said the King of England was his Brother in his owne Countrey but hee did not like his company in France Having caused a faire goodly Tombe to bee made for the faire Lady Agnes the love of his late Father the Cannons of the Church desiring that the Monument might bee removed out of the heart of the Church into a side I le or Chappell he answered that their request was neither just nor reasonable neither would he suffer her Tombe whom his father loved to be violated After Monsieur Bussi was beheaded and buryed he caused the head to be digged up againe and placed on a wooden pole in the Market place and so being covered with a scarlet Cappe furred with Minivere in regard he had beene a Counsellour of the Parliament A suiter to the King for an Office bein denyed humbly thanked his Majestie who wondring at his moderate yet man-like spirit asked if he conceived a right of his answer yes said the Suiter and I thanke
Italy and obtaine great victories which fell out accordingly and in those Warres nothing was gained but a stinking contagious disease afterwards spred over all France and since then called the French Poxe After this King had ended his warres he builded a Castle at Ambois not knowing that instead of a stately Palace hee should end his life in a base and filthy Gallery He intending to reforme his life it chanced the seventh of April going after with the Queene into the Castle-ditches hee strooke his forehead against the doore of a Gallery whereas he meant to see a set at Tennis This blow driving him to the premeditation of his approaching end hee said to his Confessour that hee would never commit any mortall or veniall sin if he could avoide it which was a good reservation upon this protestation hee fell back ward into an Apoplexy wherewith he had beene troubled and dyed about 11. a clocke at night in a Chamber neare to a Gallery stinking with the urine which every one made as he passed through it being laid on a Matresse such as they could finde by chance In him the direct Line failed and the Crowne came to the Collaterall Line the nearest whereof was Lewis Duke of Orleance and Valois his Successor Lewis 12. the 57. King of France Anno 1499. THis Lewis the 12. succeeded according to the Custome of France to Charles the 8 who dyed without issue and was crowned the 27. of May. Hee repudiated the Lady Joane of France for her indisposition of conception and marryed the Lady Anne of Bretagne Widow to the late King Afterwards having made sure of Milan Genes and Lombardy by the taking of Ludovicus Sforza hee made an accord with the King of Spaine with whom hee conquered the Kingdome of Naples which was after lost by the French through the infidelity and perfidious treachery of the Spaniard Whereupon the King having yeelded his claime and part that he pretended to it unto Ferdinand King of Aragon in favour of the Marriage of Madame Germaine de Foix his owne Sisters Daughter and makes an agreement with the Pope against the Venetians against whom hee gained a battaile the 15. of May Anno Dom. 1509 without any assistance of the Truce Hee withstood the Pope who declared himselfe an Enemy to the French and he tooke many places in the Dutchy of Ferrara which gave an occasion to the Duke to recover what he had lost as also Gaston de Foix raised the Popes Army from before Bologna and relieved the City of Brescia which the Venetians had now beleaguered and having defeated their Army from thence he went to hazard his life before Ravenna having first wonne the field The Lord of Palisse was substituted in his place as Commanmander who sacked it Whereupon the Emperour and the Pope joyning with the English recovered many Townes upon the French and the Spaniard re-entered into the kingdome of Naples VVhereupon King Lewis being moved sent the Duke of Longueville with an Army to re-estate the King of Navarre into his Kingdome but hee was constrained to returne without any effect which was a cause that the King being desirous to re-enter his Dutchy of Milan accorded with the Spaniard and the Venetian and after sent the Lord of Tremoville with his Army into Italy whence he was beaten out by the Swisses In the meane time the King of England besieged Therouenne where was fought the battaile of Esperons after which King Lewis being a widower married with the Daughter of the King of England with whom hee having peace as he was in a preparation for an Army into Italy hee was prevented by death the first day of the yeare 1515. Hee was surnamed The Father of the people This King being instigated and perswaded by some of his familiars to take revenge on the Citizens of Orleance because when hee was Duke of Orleance and when Charles the 8. maintaining warres against him had compelled him to flye into Brittaine they had shut the gates of their City against him But he forgetting their former injury answered That being now King of France hee would not revenge injuries done to the Duke of Orleance Hee being told making warre then in Italy for the recovery of the Dutchy of Millaine that Agnadell was taken by his Enemies who had there taken up their lodging answered Then will I lodge upon their bellies or else they shall lodge upon mine Being advised to preserve his person from the shot of the great Ordnance he answered A rightfull King of France was never slaine with the shot of a Cannon Therefore let him that is affraid come behinde me Hee lying in Campe and a Souldier standing neare him being slaine with a Cannon shot and shewed unto the King hee smild and said He is but a little cold in his hands This King having commanded that a company of Foot-men should be levied of strong active men and at the day appointed a company of old Souldiers as appeared by scarres being presented unto him said These men as it seemes by their wounds were more willing to take than to give blowes Whereupon the Souldier replyed They were not valianter than we for they wounded us but we slew them To a Gentleman that boasted of his scarres and wounds in his face and desired the King to reward his service hee said Take heed hereafter of turning backe thy face when thou art flying from thy Enemy He being disswaded from making Warres on the Venetians being a wise and prudent people said Wee will set so many fooles upon them that shall beard them to the teeth that they shall not know which way to turne To certaine Embassadours of Greece that demanded succours against the Turke he objected this old Verse Barbara Graeca genus retinent quod habere solebant The Lords of the Parliament refusing to admit a Councellour for his ignorance and insufficiency though preferred by the King he asked them how many Councellours there were They replyed an Hundred Then said the King cannot you many wise men make one become wife A Courtier being wonder'd at for his great stature and accounted a Gyant the King said it is no wonder for his Mother tooke paines to make him and perhaps hee had many Fathers He told the Ladies of the Court that Hinds had at first Hornes as well as Harts but for their pride and rebellion against the Harts Nature offended therewith deprived them of their Hornes to shew that Wives should be obedient to their Husbands Hee told the Duke of Angolesme his sonne in law that a certaine Father and his son travelling towards a Towne the sonne said that now they were almost at the Towne but yet they afterward travelled untill it was night before they could get to the Towne whither being come the Father said to the Sonne Henceforth Sonne never say I am at the Towne till thou art past the Gates He said also that Asses were happier than Horses for Horses runne post to Rome to get
those Benefices whereof Asses are possessed Being asked to marry his Daughter the Lady Claudia to a strange Prince he said I will make no alliance but with the Kats and Mice of my owne Kingdome Francis 1. the 58. K. of France An. 1515. FRancis of Valois Duke of Angolesme as next the Collaterall Line Masculine succeeded Lewis the 12 who dyed without heires Males He was consecrated at Rheims the 25. of January 1515 at which time Charles of Bourbon was made Constable of France The King having taken Prosper Collonne and obtained two battailes against the Swisses tooke Milan After by the perswasion of Pope Leo the tenth the Milaners revolted and immediately after Charles of Bourbon tooke part with Charles the fifth Emperour The King accompanied with the Marshall of Chabanes having recovered the Dutchy of Milan into his power he went to besiege Pavia where he was taken and by the industrious treaty of Madric Anno Dom. 1525 hee was sent backe into France Afterwards Charles of Bourbou was slaine skaling the Walls of Rome which was taken by the Spaniards with the Pope Anno Dom. 1529. a Treaty of Cambray was concluded and the children of France were sent backe into France with Madame Elianor The King and the Pope by Embassies came to an agreement at Marsilles where the Marriage of Henry Duke of Orleance with the Countesse of Bologne the Popes Niece was solemnized After this the King sent the Lord of Montmorency against the Emperour who intended to come against Marsilles who enforced him to retire into Spaine and afterwards invaded France upon the Coast of Picardy and sent another Army to Piedmount against whom the King sent his forces which tooke Suse Villane and Montcalier which caused the truce of Nice for ten yeares during which the Emperour passed through France into Flanders In the meane time Caesar Fregose and Anthony Rincon the Kings Embassadours to the Turke were slaine by the Imperialists Whereupon the King according with the Duke of Cleve against the Emperour tooke Luxembourg Landrecy and other places Of which the Emperour being certified besieged Landrecy but in vaine On the other side the Lord of Anguyen the Kings Lievtenant in Piedmont having gained the battaile of Cerisolles tooke Carignan whereof the Emperour being advertised made a preparation against Paris but perceiving the French too powerfull in forces demanded a Peace which was published at Paris This being done the King intends a Warre against the English at Boulen with whom having made Peace hee went to pay his debt to Nature at Rambouillet the last of March 1547 and lyes interred at St. Denis To one that desired pardon for another that had used ill speeches of his Majesty this King said Let him for whom thou art a suiter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much At Paris in an Oration against Hereticks hee said If my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off from my body and cast it into the fire Hee said that hee was sorry that the Gentlemen of his Realme being most serviceable and ingenious were not qualified with Learning to be capable of Civill offices as well as Military since Vertue is the formall cause of Gentility which should exceed base low dispositions by an eminent exaltation of goodnesse deriving their pettigree from Heaven for Vera est Nobilitas quaedam cognatio Dijs True Nobility is a certaine affinity to the Gods A Treaty of peace being propounded and ready to bee concluded betweene the Emperour Charles the fift and this King Francis hee said Peace and amity betweene us cannot long endure for the Emperour cannot abide an Equall or Companion and I cannot endure a Master Henry the 2. and 59. King of France Anno 1547. HEnry the second succeeding to the Crowne on his birth day was consecreted at Rheimes in August 1547. Hee sent the Lord of Esse into Scotland for a defence ofthat Countrey and built a Fort over against that of Boullen immediately after the Commons of Guienne mutined upon taxations whilst the King was in Piedmont from whence being upon his returne into France he caused them to be punished by the Constable and made his enterance into Paris proclaimed open warres against England and renewed his allyance with the Swisses Pope Iulius the third being incensed against the King for the City of Parma solicited the Emperour to take up Armes against him and to beleaguer Parma and Mirandula whereupon the King made a prohibition of sending to the Court of Rome for matters of Benefices and in the meane time he tooke Quiers S. Damian and other places of Piedmont on the other side the Burgundions and Hannuyers over-runne the Countrey of Santois above Peronne but to requite them the King making an expedition into Almany by the policy of the Constable seezd of the Metz and the Countrey of Messin and tooke the Duke Dutchy of Loraine into his protection Afterwards hee joyned forces with Duke Maurice who falsifying his faith in his returne invaded the Dutchy of Luxembourg taking the Townes of Tvoy Montmedy Lumes and Civay In the meane time the Emperor marched to the siege of Metz whence he was forced to dis-encampe with the losse of 30000 men and threw himselfe upon Therouenne which he tooke with the Castle of Hedin The King on the other side tooke Mariembourg and other Townes in Piedmont After that the Emperour quitting the Empire retired himselfe into Spaine to live a solitary life and a peace for five yeares was concluded between the Emperour the Kings of England and France which continued not long For warres being renewed betweene the said Kings the day of St. Laurence to the losse of the French in revenge whereof the King tooke Cales Gnines Hames and the County of Oye Peace after being made by the marriage betweene King Philip and the Lady Elizabeth of France and of the Duke of Savoy with Madam Margarite sister to the King and in the continuance of the solemnity the King running at Tilt was hit in the eye of which hurt he dyed at Tournells the twentieth day of Iuly Anno Domini 1559. and lyes interred at St. Denis in France This King having the good inclination of his Nature confirmed by being well brought up under his Father ordained many good Lawes for the reforming apparrell providing for the poore maintenance of Justice and releeving his oppressed Subjects but especially hee made a Law against swearing and blaspheming and herein he did singularly well but he disgraced these good actions by permitting a bloody and fatall Combate betwixt Iarnac and Chastaignery Gentlemen upon the giving the lye performed at St. German in Lay on the sixeteenth of July before the King and divers Princes and Noblemen wherein Jarnac held the weaker got the better and gave the other many deadly wounds whereof he dyed whereupon the King did forbid all Combats Thus hee beganne his reigne with this Tragedy and ended it with his owne For at the marriage of
moneths or thereabout and in France Twenty yeares nine moneths and thirteene dayes Lewis the 13. and 64. King of France Anno 1610. LEwis the 13. at his age of eight yeares seven Moneths and seventeene dayes succeeded his Father Henry the Great and the fifteenth of May Anno Domini 1610. he sate personally in the Court of Parliament then sitting at the Augustines where in the presence of the Queene his mother who sate by him of the one side foure Cardinalls foure Ecclesiasticall Peeres of France some Princes of the Blood and other Princes who met in that assembly also of the Constable with many Dukes and secular Peeres of the Marshalls of France and Officers of the Crowne of Governours of Provinces of Presidents and Counsellors of the Parliament he by the Mouth of the Lord Sillery his Chancellour declared his Mother to be Regent in France that shee might have the tuition of his person and the administration of the affaires of his Kingdome during his minority with all authority and power according to the charge of that Court given the day before The same Moneth the criminall indictment was preferred against the most inhumane Parricide Francis Ravaillac and on the 23. of May he was declared guilty and justly attainted and convicted of the crime of Laesae Majestatis in the highest degree in the great Court and Chamber of Turnella in Paris before all the Assemblies Presidents Counsellours and Commissioners at the request of Du Viquit Atturney Generall to the King whose place and authority was there then to inquire against this Francis Ravaillac for the murther of his late Soveraigne Henry the fourth King of France and Navarre Whereupon this Ravaillac with a sad and death-like countenance holding up his guilty hand before this great assembly presently confessed guilty and that he became this his Countries shame onely by the instigation of the Divell and not any other accomplices and confederates would he reveale but in a Satanicall manner vowed himselfe to secresie and being found guilty he was with a strong guard of armed men conveyed to prison which otherwise by the violence and rage of the common people had beene torne in peeces such was their love they owed to their late King for which Fact he was condemned to pay his forfeit before the great gate of our Lady Church in Paris and thence to be conveyed to the place of execution and in the meane time to make him confesse he was to be pinched with hot Pincers upon his breasts armes buttocks thighes and the Calves of his legges his right hand to be burnt off with fire of brimstone with an order that in those places where hee was so pinced melted Lead should be powred boyling Oyle Pitch Rozen Waxe and Brimstone melted altogether This being done that his body should be torne in pieces and dismembred by foure horses and that his Limbes should be burnt and consumed to ashes and cast into the winde all his goods to be confiscate to the King that the house wherein he was borne should be demolished and never any Edefice upon that ground to be built that within fifteene dayes after the publication of this sentence in the towne of Angolesme his Father and Mother should depart the Realme and never returne againe upon paine of being hanged without any other proceedings It was also forbidden in the aforesaid High Court that his brothers sisters uncles and all others that beare the name of Ravaillac to whom it was enjoyned to change it into another name upon the same penalty All which was published and put in execution the same day by the order of the whole assembly in the aforesaid Court in Paris but before I conclude I will speake againe of the manner of his death because in that place I will not omit some things more worthy of note Afterwards it was provided for the Funeralls and obsequies of the dead King and then the body of the late Henry the third was removed from the Towne of Compeigne to be interred at St. Denis which was performed and the heart of this Henry the Great at the same time was carryed to the Jesuites at la Flech The Sorbone renewed the Decree of the Councell of Constance against Paracides of Kings and by the Court of Parliament upon the Iuine it condemned a Book of Iohn Mariana one of the Society a Spaniard intituled De Rege Regis institutione and caused it to be burnt by the Executioner before our Ladies Church The Martiall de la Chastra being sent with an Army of twelve thousand foot and two thousand Horse to Tulliers which he took the second of September Divers Embassadors came to Paris to the King to bemoane and condole with him the death of his father and King Iames of England sent unto him the Order of the Garter which he received the foureteenth of September The 17. of October the King was consecrated at Rheimes and the next day he received the Order of the Holy Ghost and he gave the Order to the Prince of Conde and returned to Paris where he was magnificently entertained The sixe and twentieth of November it was proceeded and decreed in the Court of Parliament against a Booke of Cardinall Bellarmine touching the Popes authority In Temporalibus which was forbidden to be printed to be sold or kept upon paine of High Treason The seventeenth day of November Anno Domini 1611. the Duke of Orleans brother to the King deceased at St. Germane en Lay and his body was conveyd to St. Denis in France The Lord of Vatan made a kinde of a Rebellion in Berry whereupon his Castle was taken and he carryed to Paris where he was beheaded the second of January Anno Domini 1612. This yeare were solemnized the marriages of the King with the Lady Anne Infanta of Spaine and of the Kings Sister with the Prince of Spaine The yeare 1614 the Prince of Conde retired himselfe to Paris and the Marquesse D'Ancre was made Marshall of France The Statue of Brasse of Henry the Great was by the great Duke of Tuscany sent to Paris and placed with the Horse of Brasse upon the midst of the New Bridge And about that time the Prince of Conty dyed The Prince distasted with the Kings espousalls with the Queene at Burgos made a hurly burly in the Countrey but the Espousalls being ended the Duke of Guise with a strong Army conducted her to Fontarable where shee was received by the Spaniards and an exchange being made the Queene was by the said Duke conveyed to Bourdeaux where shee was most magnificently entertained by the King where hee expected her and the Nuptials were celebrated on St. Katharines day The yeare 1616. such was the rigour of cold weather in January that the Rivers were frozen and the yce was the cause of the fall of St. Michaels at Paris The 16. of August the taking of Peronne was a cause of new commotions and the first of September was apprehended at the Louure and
after kept under a strong guard in the Bastile Many of the Lords retired from the Court as the Duke of Vendosme of Nevers of Guise of Mayenne and Bovillon with other Lords whereof some returned againe the others not which was a cause that the King in Parliament declared the causes wherefore he kept the Prince his brother in hold In the beginning of the yeare 1617. he made a Declaration against the Duke of Nevers in Parliament the 17. of January also in February against the Dukes of Vendosme Mayenne Bouillon the Marquesse of Caevure and the President le Jay Also another Declaration was made in March for the re-union to his Domaines and a Confiscation of the goods of the said Nobility upon the 16. of the said Moneth This King succeeded after the Tragicall death of his Father when great troubles were like to follow but all those clouds were blowne away and this young Prince shined forth like the Sun in a cleare skie First of all hee went to the Parliament and made a Declaration that his Mother should be Queene Regent during his minority Afterward the Jesuites received his Fathers heart with great Ceremony being received into La Flech Here the Arraignment and cruell Execution of the Murtherer Ravilliac deserves to be drawne forth in blacke colours Imagine that Ravilliac was first arraign'd after he had beene put to the Rack then condemned afterward hee was brought out of the prison in his shirt with a Torch of two pound weight lighted in one hand and the knife wherewith he had murdered the King chained to the other then he was set upright in a Dung-cart now hee is doing pennance at our Ladies Church now imagine the raging people are ready to teare him in peeces but the Officers restraine them the Murderer came to the Scaffold he crosses himselfe in signe that he dyed a Papist hee was bound to a St. Andrews Crosse then his fatall hand with the knife chained to it smoaks in a Furnace of fire and brimstone it is consum'd yet hee will not confesse any thing but roare and cry like to a Soule in hell but yet unpitied and then his flesh was pulld off with hot Pincers and burnt then scalding Oyle Rozen pitch and brimstone melted together were powr'd into his wounds and on his navell a roundell of Clay was set into the which they powred molten Lead and then he roared but confessed nothing At last to conclude this Tragedy his body was torne in pieces with foure strong Horses which could not plucke them asunder being so firmely knit together untill the flesh under his armes and thighes was cut In this manner was this Paricide tormented and executed being the horrid picture of a Traytor suffering extreame tortures yet misery nor death could not enforce from him any confession And surely if Hells tortures might be felt on earth it was approved in this mans punishment yet he would reveale nothing but that he did it by the instigation of the Devil and his maine reason was because the King tollerated two Religions in his Kingdome Oh small occasion that for this cause one servile slave should thu quench the great light of France whose brightnesse glistred thorow Europe One thing this Villaine confessed that of all the severall torments that were invented and laid upon him none was more terrible to him than his losse of sleepe for sixe dayes and nights together for there were appointed severall officers by turnes to keepe him waking by thrusting red-hot bodkins into his breasts and sides so that if he did but offer to winke or give a nod then presently they awaked him with those Irons He was torne in peeces as I said before and his bones burnt the ashes whereof were scattered in the winde as being thought unworthy of the earths buriall This Ravaillac was borne at Angolesme and by profession a Lawyer and was perswaded as it is thought by the Jesuites to perpetrate this bloody act by murdering this Kings Father Henry the fourth the hope of Learning and the glory of Armes Afterward the Duke of Fener Embassadour from Spaine came to Paris and being brought into the Kings presence he said that he came from the King his Master to visite his Majesty This young Prince answered I thanke the King my brother for his good will I will remember him and you also Seeing he desires it he may expect from me all friendship and good intelligence such as hee had with the deceased King my Father Afterward the Lord Wotton Embassadour from England came to Paris and then Embassadours for confirmation of mutuall league being sent into Spaine England and to Rome the King was at Rheims with solemne pompe and great state crowned FINIS The Table of all the Names of the Kings of FRANCE which are contained in this Booke PHaramond the first King of France Anno Domini 429. page 1. Cloion or Clodion the second King of France Anno. Dom. 432. pag. 5 Merovaeus the third King of France An. Dom. 450. pag. 9 Chilperick or Hilperick the fourth King of France Anno 470. pag. 14 Clovis the fifth King of France and the first Christian King of that Nation Anno 485. pag. 18 Childebert the sixth King of France Anno 514. pag. 23 Clotharius the first of that Name and the seventh King of France An. 559. p. 28 Cherebert the eighth King of France Anno 564. pag. 22 Chilperic the ninth King of France Anno 577. pag. 36 Clotharius the second of that name and the 10. King of France Anno 586. p. 40 Dagobert the 11. King of France Anno 632. pag. 44. Clovis alias Lewis the second of that name the 12. King of France Anno 645. pag. 49 Clotharius the third of that name and the 13. King of that Nation Anno 666. pag. 53 Childeric 2. the 14. King of that Nation Anno 570. pag. 58 Theodorick the 15. King of that Nation Anno 680. pag. 62 Clovis the 3. the 16. King of that Nation Anno 689. pag. 67 Childebert the 2. the 17. king of that nation Anno 692. pag. 71 Dagobert the 2. the 18. king of that Nation Anno 710. pag. 75 Clotharius the 4. the 19. king of that nation Anno 719. pag. 79 Daniel alias Chilperick the 20. king of that Nation Anno 719. pag. 83 Theodorick the 2. the 21. king of that Nation Anno 720. pag. 87 Childerick the 3. the 22. king of that Nation Anno 740. pag. 91 Charles Martel Duke and Prince of the French Anno 788. pag. 95 Pepin surnamed the short the first of that name the 23. king of that Nation Anno 752. pag. 101 Charlemaine Emperour of Rome the 24 king of France An. 768. pag. 106 Lewis the Debonaire Emperor of Rome and the 25. king of France Anno 814. pag. 111 Charles the Bald Emperor of Rome the 26. king of France An. 840. pag. 115 Lewis and Charoloman or Carlon the 28. king of France An. 879. p. 128 Lewis the Lubber and Charles the grosse the 29. king of France An 885. p. 126 Eudes or Odo the 30. king of France Anno 891. pag. 130 Charles surnamed the simple the 31. king of France An. 898. pag. 135 Rodulph or Raoul of Burgundy the 32 king of France pag. 139 Lewis the 4 the 33. king of that Nation Anno 939. pag. 144 Lotharius the 4 the 34. king of France Anno 954. pag. 150 Lewis the 5 the 35. king of France Anno 986. pag. 155 Hugh Capet the first of that name the 36. king of France Anno 987. pag. 158 Robert the 1 the 37. king of France Anno 997. pag. 163 Henry the 1 the 38. king of France Anno 1031. pag. 168 Philip the 1 the 39. king of France Anno 1060. pag. 173 Lewis the 6 the 40. king of France Anno 1109. pag. 178 Lewis the 7. was called Augustus being the 41. king of France An. 1131. p. 183 Philip the 2 who was surnamed Augustus the 42. king of France Anno 1180. pag. 188 Lewis the 8 the 43. king of France Anno 1223. pag. 194 Lewis the 9 the 44. king of France Anno 1226. pag. 199 Philip the 3 the 45. king of France Anno 1271. pag. 205 Philip the 4 the 46. king of France Anno 1286. pag. 211 Lewis the 10 who was surnamed Hutin the 47. king of France Anno 1315. pag. 216 Philip the 5 the 48. king of France Anno 1317. pag. 223 Charles the 4 surnamed the Faire the 49. king of France Anno 1322. pag. 228 Philip of Valois the sixt of that Name the 50. king of France Anno 1327. p. 232 A Relation of Edward the 3 King of England who was the first that quartered the Armes of France and made it subject to England Anno 1351. pag. 237 John the 1 the 51. king of France Anno 1350. pag. 241 Charles the 5 surnamed the Wise the 52 King of France Anno 1364. p. 246 Charles the 6 the 53. King of France Anno 1380. pag. 251 A Relation of Henry the 5 king of England who gave a great overthrow to the French at the Battaile of Cressay and still maintained the right left him by Edward the 3. of England Anno 1412. pag. 258 Charles the 7 the 54. king of France Anno 1422. pag. 264 Lewis the 11. the 55. king of France Anno 1461. pag. 269 Charles the 8 the 65. king of France Anno 1483. pag. 281 Lewis the 12 the 57. king of France Anno 1499. pag. 287 Francis of Valois the first of that Name was the 58. king of France An. 1515 pag. 294 Henry the 2 the 59. king of France Anno 1547. pag. 299 Francis the 2 the 60. king of France Anno 1559. pag. 305 Charles the 9 the 61. king of France Anno 1560. pag. 310 Henry the 3 the 62. king of France Anno 1574. pag. 315. Henry the 4 surnamed the Great the 63 king of France An. 1589. pag. 320 Lewis the 13 which now reigneth styled the most Christian king is the 64. King of France and began his Reigne in the yeare 1610. pag. 331 FINIS * Coaleorrest in ur tonge